The Ten Thousand Medicine Sect Leader practices three major cultivation techniques, which are the "Hundred Herbs Green Green Technique," the "Life Elixir Technique," and the "Medical Skill True Understanding."
From these three major cultivation techniques, one can see that the cultivators of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect excel in planting, alchemy, and healing.
Therefore, the cultivators of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect are essentially divided into three categories: Plant Cultivators, Alchemists, and Doctors.
Precisely because their combat power is not sufficiently formidable, the external strategy of the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect differs from that of other sects.
They have set up Little Struggle Peak, offering numerous benefits to attract outside cultivators to take up long-term residence, thereby enhancing the overall combat power of the sect.
Many cultivators on Little Struggle Peak have lived there for more than a dozen, or even several dozen years.
Usually, it's said that one should not allow others to snore beneath one's bed.
Few sects would attract outside cultivators on a large scale and arrange for them to stay near the sect entrance for a long time.
Yet, the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect accommodates these people and with an excellent strategy, achieves harmonious coexistence with the outside cultivators. Both sides get what they need.
Just as how the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect densely plants innumerable different types of herbs in Medicine Field Mountain, in Ten Thousand Medicine Valley.
The philosophy of this sect is to seek common ground while respecting differences and to coexist harmoniously.
The Ten Thousand Medicine Sect has only one Nascent Soul Cultivator, which is the current Sect Leader Lin Bufan.
Lin Bufan has the moniker of a battle fanatic. He's not obsessed with battling himself but with watching battles.
Back when he was young, he was a well-known battle commentator. His comments were often incisive and insightful.
For many important challenges, people would often invite such commentators to help promote one's martial reputation.
Perhaps observing battles truly has its uses, for Lin Bufan successfully made a breakthrough and reached the Nascent Soul Level. This instantly elevated the medium-sized Ten Thousand Medicine Sect to become recognized as a large sect.
The policies and benefits of Little Struggle Peak were all Lin Bufan's ideas.
Clearly, he possesses managerial talent.
According to the intelligence, even though Lin Bufan is a Nascent Soul Level cultivator, he personally involves himself in many affairs. With him as a role model, it's natural for the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect to have a clear and positive atmosphere.
"Little Zhuo, trying to obtain the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat will be no easy task," Sun Lingtong sighed.
"I've found out that the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat is a treasured legacy of the sect and has always been carried on the person by Lin Bufan himself."
This is only to be expected.
Just like Ning Jiufan who carries the Ice Heart Jade Pot on him at all times.
Sun Lingtong said, "To steal a treasure from the hands of a Nascent Soul Cultivator will be extremely difficult."
"It seems that we can only follow the formal rules, continuously showcase our abilities, and accumulate benefits in order to gain a chance to use the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat."
"This Jade Slip lists the currently strongest Foundation Establishment Cultivators. If you want to trade for the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat, you're going to need to live in a higher-level cave mansion, which will allow you to accumulate benefits more quickly. Therefore, these individuals might all be your rivals!"
Ning Zhuo used his Divine Sense to infuse it into the Jade Slip.
"Demon Cultivator Zheng Xingchen, Sword Cultivator Lai Wuying, these are the two whom most people agree are the strongest. Below them are Demon Cultivator Chang Yan, Mechanism Cultivator Luo Xiao…"
Ning Zhuo's eyes glinted slightly, he hadn't expected to find a Mechanism Cultivator among them, and this immediately sparked the idea of befriending one.
These powerful individuals are all at the Foundation Establishment Level. Golden Core Level cultivators have already been recruited by the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect as Outer Elders and will not enter Little Struggle Peak.
The intelligence that Sun Lingtong had gathered was quite detailed.
It wasn't just profiles of these Foundation Establishment experts, but also scenes of their past classic battles.
This kind of intelligence had always been widely circulated on Little Struggle Peak.
On the one hand, every battle for a cave mansion was public, making it easy for outsiders to acquire intelligence. On the other hand, due to the benefits associated with the caves, a related business of information had evolved.
Sun Lingtong reminded him, "We should not rely too heavily on this intelligence. Conflicts between cultivators happen every day on Little Struggle Peak, and in such an environment, many cultivators keep one or two trump cards hidden. Even if they are exposed, they will quickly research and strive to master new secret weapons."
"When you start challenging your way up in the future, I will secretly make a move in advance to help you probe out the hidden cards of your opponents."
Sun Lingtong was very considerate of Ning Zhuo.
But Ning Zhuo shook his head slightly, "Boss, don't do that."
"The situation in Ten Thousand Medicine Valley is different from that in Mist Hidden Mountain. I want to perform the cremation of the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat to achieve my goal. Yet, this particular Magic Treasure happens to be a treasured legacy of Ten Thousand Medicine Valley."
"So, for me, this overt path is just about continuously probing and gathering intelligence until I can openly access the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat."
"And your covert path is to plan the theft according to the intelligence I gather. Perhaps with my cooperation, your theft might succeed."
"This time, we need even more collaboration!"
Sun Lingtong chuckled with genuine excitement, "Stealing their treasured artifact right under the nose of a Nascent Soul Cultivator within a large sect—this is too thrilling! Just thinking about it, I know it's going to be very interesting!"
Ning Zhuo quickly said, "Boss, this is only our last resort."
"Perhaps, we can find a better way, such as convincing the Ten Thousand Medicine Sect Leader to sell the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat to outsiders."
At these words, Sun Lingtong shook his head, "You expect a sect to actively sell their legacy treasure?"
He felt it was quite unreliable.
Ning Zhuo then said, "I also know the chances are slim, but who can say what the future holds? And I believe that most 'not for sale' items are only such because the price hasn't been right."
Their conversation paused when the sound of a Flying Message arrived.
Moments later, a challenge letter from Hanzhou appeared before Sun Ning and Lingtong.
Sun Lingtong expressed surprise, "Interesting, before Little Zhuo even made a challenge, someone has challenged you."
Ning Zhuo said, "We've just arrived and already acquired cave mansion number two hundred eighty-one. This is all thanks to Lin Shanshan, but it's also made more people curious to measure us."
He then made a guess, "Hanzhou is only the first. Even if I defeat him this time, there will be many others who will continue to challenge me."
Sun Lingtong nodded, "Unless you use mechanical artifacts like the Heavy Blood Ape - Great Victory, creating a huge advantage, making everyone recognize the difficulty and retreat."
Ning Zhuo shook his head, "There is no need for that at the moment."
"I'd rather take a steady approach, using such an environment to temper my own combat capabilities."
"Before, watching the battle between the Black Wind Tiger Demon and Meng Zizhong gave me a lot to think about."
Sun Lingtong nodded repeatedly, "Indeed, we should not overly rely on mechanisms. A good fighter should improve both at close range and at a distance and should not be excessively deficient in any area."
He also gained a lot from his trip to Mist Hidden Mountain.
He continued, "Little Zhuo, you should carefully review the intelligence about Hanzhou. I'll go out again to see if I can discover more news."
Ning Zhuo nodded, taking care to say, "Elder Brother, please be careful."
He stayed within the Cave Mansion, continuing to study the information about Hanzhou, and he discovered that the latter excelled at close combat with astounding defense.
His Magic Artifacts were few; merely with his physical body, he could withstand powerful external blows. Such resilience made Ning Zhuo feel inferior.
"How should I make targeted preparations?"
Just as Ning Zhuo was pondering, someone sent a message through Divine Sense, "Is Ning Zhuo in the Cave Mansion?"
Ning Zhuo's eyebrows raised slightly; he recognized the voice and immediately sensed a Life Hanging Thread, only to find Lin Shanshan had arrived outside the Cave Mansion.
"Miss Lin!" Ning Zhuo performed a courteous gesture, inviting Lin Shanshan into the Cave.
"I hadn't expected that Miss Lin would be the Sect Leader's daughter. A few days ago, your assistance profoundly touched me, filling me with both gratitude and apprehension," Ning Zhuo expressed his politeness.
Lin Shanshan shook her head slightly, her face reflecting worry, and said directly, "The fault is mine."
"I later realized the reason and should not have intervened, causing you to stay in this Cave Mansion upon first coming to Little Struggle Peak."
"Do you know that Hanzhou's challenge isn't of his own volition, but at someone's request?"
"This person's name is Li Jingqing, a businessman who has been sourcing goods from our Ten Thousand Medicine Sect for many years."
Ning Zhuo looked at Lin Shanshan with surprise, deeply grateful.
Lin Shanshan waved her hand, "Young Master Ning Zhuo, don't think that Hanzhou's Cave Mansion ranking is low; it's his deliberate choice."
"This person is nameless and from Hanzhou, which is why he uses this place for identification."
"His strength is formidable, and even my father finds his Cultivation Technique to be quite unique. On the surface, he seems to be a Body Cultivator, but in reality, his technique focuses on the Spirit. It's very likely that he is cultivating both the Upper and Lower Dantian simultaneously!"
Ning Zhuo immediately looked solemn, "Dual Dantian cultivation? It seems Hanzhou has had his own fortuitous encounters to be able to cultivate such an excellent technique without a Sect or teacher, all on his own."
"Miss Lin, what should I do?"
Lin Shanshan reassured him, "Ning Zhuo, since I was the one who brought you to Little Struggle Peak, I share some of the responsibility for this situation."
"That's why I'm here to help you."
"These are Top Grade Fasting Pills. Before you confront Hanzhou, swallow a few and keep a few more in your mouth."
"Hanzhou's offensive moves are quite unique, able to make a person feel hungry and cold, weakening them. Instead of Healing Medicine, it's better to eat Fasting Pills, to fill yourself up. Otherwise, if hunger burns within your organs, it will surely cause a drop in your combat effectiveness."
After finishing her explanation, Lin Shanshan took out a Jade Pendant.
The Jade Pendant was pale red and exquisitely crafted.
Lin Shanshan's face blushed slightly as she took it out. It was something she had worn close to her body since childhood.
"This is the Warm Heart Pendant."
"It will help you maintain your body temperature and warm your spirit."
"Hanzhou is accustomed to creating flaws in his opponents. The peculiarity of his technique lies precisely in this."
"This Jade Pendant will make your spirit more resilient and enduring."
Ning Zhuo unhesitatingly accepted the Fasting Pill and the Warm Heart Pendant. Then, looking intently at Lin Shanshan with his clear black and white eyes, he asked, "Miss Lin, is there anything else?"
Lin Shanshan's gaze darted away for a moment.
She had initially felt that helping Ning Zhuo to this extent should have been enough.
Yet, when actually facing Ning Zhuo, she felt she should do more.
So, she took a deep breath, "That's all I can think of for the short term."
"To help you more, I would need to see your actual strength. Combat is all about playing to your strengths and compensating for weaknesses, thus leveraging your advantages and avoiding shortcomings."
Ning Zhuo nodded repeatedly, "Miss Lin, you are correct! Shall we go to the Martial Arts Arena, so that I can give a special demonstration, how about it?"
"Ah, this..." Lin Shanshan hesitated. Before coming, she had never considered personally reviewing Ning Zhuo's combat techniques.
However, Ning Zhuo did not give her the chance to refuse. He directly opened the door and left the Cave Mansion.
After hesitating for a moment, Lin Shanshan eventually followed him out.
Standing at the entrance of the Cave, Ning Zhuo smiled at her, "Miss Lin, could you please show me the way to the Martial Arts Arena?"
Lin Shanshan showed a resigned smile, "You may follow me."
A moment later.
Sun Lingtong returned to the Cave Mansion, "Little Zhuo, I've bought many Fire-attribute Talismans for you in the market. They can help you dispel the coldness and stabilize your spirit when you fight Hanzhou!"
"Little Zhuo?"
He looked around but could not find Ning Zhuo anywhere.
"Where is Little Zhuo?"