While Chen Ye was pondering, that team of Medicine King Valley cultivators did not go far, but rather stopped near the Demon Vine.
He held his breath and concentrated, peering through the gaps in the fern leaves.
He saw that this team of Medicine King Valley cultivators, consisting of eight people, emerged cautiously in a defensive formation from the depths of the stone stele forest to their left front.
Their bodies were more or less stained with blue-green and dark red smudges, with a strong smell.
Chen Ye gently sniffed, and immediately recognized the scent of the juice from the Blue-Red Demon Tree.
On the surface, the Blue-Red Demon Tree was just a Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer level demon plant, but its deep roots and lush foliage made its combat power comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Evidently, they had engaged in a tough battle before entering the Wood Domain.
The leader was an elder, with crane-white hair and a youthful face, carrying a friendly smile.
The spiritual power fluctuations around him were dense and solid, stronger than those of Wei Shu by a margin.
At this moment, the team was cautiously examining the peculiar Demon Vine.
The split mouths on the vine opened and closed silently, with saliva dripping and emitting a faint sweet aroma.
"Apothecary Xu, this... this is Immortality Juice!"
A disciple of Medicine King Valley, whose breath was at the peak of Qi Cultivation, looked at the sweet liquid with greed in his eyes.
Immortality Juice is actually the condensed juice of extraordinary plants, rich in vitality, capable of prolonging life.
Therefore, it’s called Immortality Juice, highly valuable, and difficult to obtain even a drop.
The elder known as Apothecary Xu’s eyes flashed with a gleam, seemingly tempted.
Another disciple, seeing the fine white teeth on the Demon Vine, turned pale and softly advised:
"Only Second Tier spirit plants can condense Immortality Juice. Apothecary Xu, this Demon Vine looks extremely dangerous, its aura at least comparable to Foundation Establishment Second Layer. This Immortality Juice is likely a trap to lure prey!"
Many Medicine King Valley disciples thought the same.
Better to avoid unnecessary trouble, since the Immortality Juice wouldn’t end up in their hands anyway, they all advised against it.
Chen Ye silently sneered.
Could persuasion work?
Isn’t the reason Apothecary Xu paused because of his greed?
Alas, most of the time, greed is the root of all evil, especially in a grotto heaven?
Crane-haired and youthful Apothecary Xu’s smile remained unchanged, gently saying:
"No worries. This thing is called the Demon Vine, its characteristic is to lie in wait and ambush. Its roots are deep in this land, it won’t easily move, easy to handle."
Apothecary Xu spoke softly, as if teaching the usual habits of spirit plants, talking on and on.
He stared intently at the liquid slowly seeping from the edges of the Demon Vine’s split, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart.
If it weren’t for his dwindling lifespan, at his age, he would’ve stayed back in Medicine King Valley to enjoy life, why risk his life out here?
"I see."
The disciples were convinced upon hearing this, someone tentatively asked,
"Apothecary Xu, the Demon Vine has always been a First Tier demon plant, but the Demon Vine within the stone stele forest has actually reached Second Tier. Could the legend be true?"
Chen Ye’s heart was stirred.
Legend?
He listened closely, and Apothecary Xu, lacking any reservations, sighed and said:
"Hmm... most likely true. When our sect destroyed Hundred Herbs Valley, we learned that a cultivator from Hundred Herbs Valley accidentally entered a grotto heaven. Little did anyone expect, the grotto heaven he entered was actually Songyang Cave Heaven."
Wait a minute...
The destruction of Hundred Herbs Valley by Medicine King Valley happened three hundred years ago.
The current Lingyin Sect’s Hundred Herbs Peak lineage is built upon the remnants of Hundred Herbs Valley’s main line.
And his Hundred Herbs Pill Scripture and Hundred Herbs Furnace came from Hundred Herbs Valley!
Chen Ye was shocked; did Apothecary Xu mean that Songyang Cave Heaven had opened once before?
"Let’s set that aside for now, first let’s go with me to fetch that Immortality Juice!"
Apothecary Xu’s voice was firm as he began leading the disciples closer to the Demon Vine, speaking with enthusiasm,
"Hmph, the Demon Vine is manageable against ordinary demon beasts, but as I said earlier, it won’t easily move..."
He began explaining in a low voice how to deal with the Demon Vine.
The disciples listened attentively, their tense nerves slightly eased, their faces showing admiration.
But Chen Ye, hiding behind the stele, frowned slightly.
Apothecary Xu’s judgment seemed accurate, but everything in the Wood Domain, influenced by the Tao Stele, appeared abnormal.
Can it really be resolved that easily?
Sure enough!
Just as the Medicine King Valley people approached the Demon Vine, a sudden change erupted!
"Swipe—! Bang!"
A dark green figure, accompanied by the screeching sound of air being torn, lashed out like an iron whip from behind a nearby stone stele!
Its speed was astonishing!
Could this be the main stem of the Demon Vine?
Chen Ye was filled with suspicion.
The Medicine King Valley only saw one of its offshoots with the naked eye?
Even Apothecary Xu didn’t foresee this.
That dark green vine, as thick as a human leg, its surface covered with coarse black thorns, creating sonic booms as it snapped through the air!
Its target was a disciple on the edge of the group, a moment too slow to react.
"Watch out!!!" The disciple at the peak of Qi Cultivation exclaimed instinctively with disbelief.
But it was too late!
Thud!
A spine-chilling muffled sound!
The disciple’s waist, along with his protective spiritual light, was pierced instantly, like red-hot iron plunged into butter!
Blood mixed with shattered organ fragments splattered outward!
The dark green vine, like a bloodthirsty viper, pierced his body deeply and then erupted with numerous spikes, crazily embedding into his shell, sucking his blood and energy in an instant as leaf veins pulsed.
Only then did the bewildered and painful expression on the disciple’s face freeze.
Only his head remained lifelike, while his body shriveled like paper.
"Er..."
A gargling sound escaped his throat as he slumped forward, spreading a bloody scent into the air.