Chapter 2: Medicine Mountain

Is it really just the jade hand flower?" Ling Chengye asked hopefully.

In just five years, this grandfather and grandson duo managed to reopen hundreds of stone paths, which left Ling Chengye in disbelief.

Ling Chengye wore a gloomy expression, remaining silent for a while before suddenly saying: "What does the withering of the medicinal herbs in the herb garden have to do with Qin Lie? He has been living in the mine deep within the medicinal mountain for years and should have never visited the herb garden. How could he possibly affect those herbs? Lao San, on what basis do you suspect Qin Lie?"

On the backside of Yaoshan, there are many caves of varying sizes, all formed by the Ling family mining from different angles and directions in the past. These caves and passages are interconnected, and once one enters any of the caves, it is quite easy to find the way deeper into the mountain.

Having spoken, without waiting for Ling Chengzhi to say much, the head of the Ling family once again donned the white ghost's mask, his expression grave as he stealthily made his way towards the mountain path leading to Yaoshan and Lingjia Town

Ling Chengye forced himself to calm down as he navigated through the hundreds of stone pathways in the mine, attempting to reach the innermost depths of the mountain in search of Qin Lie's figure

"Is this thunder... related to them, grandfather and grandson?" Ling Chengye shook his head, feeling that his brother's speculation lacked substantial basis

Over the years, I have been stationed at Yaoshan. After every thunderstorm, I have quietly observed the caves in the mine. On several occasions, I saw Qin Lie emerge from the cave, his hair and skin slightly charred. I can guarantee with absolute certainty that this was caused by lightning!" Ling Chengzhi said with a light reprimand, "Considering the anomalies at Yaoshan and the years of records, I have reason to suspect that this matter is related to Qin Lie! Brother, medicinal herbs do not wither without reason. I believe there must be some peculiar changes within Yaoshan that have led to the withering of the herbs!"

Waving his hand, the head of the Ling family signaled him not to ask too many questions for the time being. He sat down in silence and then, feeling a bit pained, took a recovery pill and began to circulate his energy to adjust his breathing.

After seven consecutive attempts, he found himself returning to the original cave entrance each time. Ling Chengye gradually felt his energy waning, and his complexion appeared somewhat pale. Glancing at the sky, he awkwardly made his way back along the same path to the top of Yaoshan Mountain

... ...

Because in his youth, he was also one of the miners, and he is extremely familiar with this place

The spiritual herbs on the medicinal mountain are the primary source of income for the Ling family. Most of the offerings that the Ling family pays to the Xingyun Pavilion each year are primarily composed of these spiritual herbs. In recent years, the cultivation and harvesting of the spiritual herbs on the medicinal mountain have been managed by Ling Chengzhi. Du Jiaolan has attempted several times to interfere with this area of the medicinal mountain, but her efforts have been thwarted by the Ling brothers through various means.

What phenomenon makes you feel strange?" Ling Chengye was taken aback

On the medicinal mountain, patches of herb gardens resemble blocks of tofu. The spiritual herbs and grasses cultivated within these gardens are mostly of common grade, level three or below. Although their value is not high, they are precious due to their abundance

But now, he has developed a sense of having wandered into the wrong place, as the tunnels within the mountain's interior have increased by more than tenfold!

The medicinal mountain of the Ling family extends from a branch of the Extreme Cold Mountain Range, belonging to the outermost region of the Extreme Cold Mountain Range

Having made up his mind, Ling Chengye did not hesitate for a moment. He directly charged into the cave entrance and swiftly darted deeper inside

Lingjia Town is located on the edge of the Extreme Cold Mountain Range, at the foot of Medicine Mountain

Oh heavens! How did they manage to do it?" Ling Chengye gasped in astonishment

After he regained consciousness, his complexion became exceedingly poor. Unwilling to accept fate, he once again ventured deep into those mines, continuing his search...

However, shortly after Ling Chengye entered the cave, he suddenly trembled violently and gradually became stiff in place

Ling Chengzhi hung his head in frustration, appearing as if he was resigned to being scolded and beaten, yet he did not dare to shirk responsibility

I also do not know what is going on. Ling Chengzhi wore a bitter expression, feeling perplexed within. Since Qin Shan passed away two years ago, the yield of herbs in the medicinal garden has been decreasing season by season. Although the reduction in yield is concerning, it is still manageable, and supplying Xingyun Pavilion is not an issue. It is also my fault for not paying attention to this matter due to being preoccupied with breaking through my realm.

The sky gradually darkened. After a period of recovery, the head of the Ling family regained some of his momentum. He opened his eyes and, before Ling Chengzhi could ask, he said in a low voice: "Do not ask yet! Qin Lie should be emerging from the cave and returning to Lingjia Town now. I will take action against him on his way back to see what is going on with him!"

Compared to the towering, icy mountains of the Extreme Cold Mountain Range, Yaoshan is rather unremarkable, and its spiritual energy is not particularly abundant

Although Yaoshan is not particularly rich in spiritual energy, it is far enough from the Extreme Cold Mountain Range, so the mountain is not excessively cold, making it suitable for the cultivation of spiritual herbs

Ling Chengye fell into silence once more. After a while, he took a deep breath, retrieved a pale ghost mask, and silently put it on. He then changed into a white long robe and said in a deep voice: "I will quietly go to the mine to investigate this matter. It is strictly forbidden to mention it to anyone!"

However, nowadays in this garden of jade hand flowers, the jade hand flowers have not yet had the chance to bloom, and small patches are withering away, causing Ling Chengye's expression to be extremely grim

Hundreds of stone paths intertwine and connect with the original stone path, creating a labyrinthine complexity that is difficult to comprehend, resembling the numerous and peculiar veins of the human body

Ling Chengye furrowed his brows deeply, and after a long silence, suddenly said: "I promised Qin Shan that I would not enter the mine without reason"

By the time I realized something was amiss, I thought I could still manage the situation. I had invested considerable effort in cultivating and conditioning the medicinal herbs, hoping to turn things around. However, I did not anticipate that, starting three months ago, the herbs had gradually begun to wither. Before I could react, large areas of the herbs in the garden had already withered away

In his view, Qin Lie is merely a fool, living a soulless life, and is entirely incapable of having any impact on Yaoshan.

"Elder brother, please let me finish speaking." Ling Chengzhi's expression gradually became serious, "This phenomenon has become more pronounced since Qin Shan's passing! In the past two years, whenever there is thunder and rain, the lightning on Yaoshan has become more concentrated, striking the mountain more frequently! Sometimes, I can faintly sense those powerful lightning strikes, as if they are following the mountain's rocks and penetrating into the mountain's depths..." Sometimes, I can faintly sense those powerful lightning strikes, as if they are following the mountain's rocks and penetrating into the mountain's depths...

In his memory, there were at most twenty tunnels within the Yaoshan mine. Although he had not been here for some years, his recollection of the mine was still quite clear

Half an hour later, the head of the Ling family gradually became disoriented and appeared dazed at the entrance of the cave he had just entered.

Ling Chengzhi forced a smile, "The jade hand flower is still somewhat acceptable, but the cold essence grass and snake crown flower in the medicinal garden are even worse, with a more severe degree of withering. This year, it will be quite difficult to gather the herbs to submit to the Xingyun Pavilion..."

Among them, the Jade Hand Flower, Cold Essence Grass, and Snake Crown Flower are all Grade 3 ordinary spiritual herbs, and they are also the key spiritual herbs cultivated in the medicinal garden. These three types of spiritual herbs are the most fundamental materials for refining the Rejuvenation Pill, and the Nebula Pavilion has a huge demand for them every year

At this moment, the two brothers, Ling Chengye and Ling Chengzhi, are standing in front of a medicinal garden filled with jade hand flowers

Ling Chengye's expression changed suddenly as he exclaimed, "What on earth is going on? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

He still remembers that back then, dozens of members of the Ling family spent three years merely to open up a dozen stone paths leading into the heart of the mountain

Ling Chengzhi hesitated to speak, staring blankly at him, filled with bewilderment and confusion.

"Since his grandfather and grandson entered the Yaoshan Mine five years ago, I have been observing in secret. Over the past five years, there have been few changes on Yaoshan, but there is one phenomenon that is quite strange..." Ling Chengzhi furrowed his brow, pondering as he spoke.

Elder brother, your complexion is quite poor, what happened? Did you discover anything inside m.hetushu.com?" Ling Chengzhi asked with concern after he removed his mask.

Upon hearing this, Ling Chengye finally faced the matter seriously and said solemnly: "Continue speaking!"

"Elder brother, if this matter is indeed related to Qin Lie, and you do not clarify it, it will be very difficult to remedy the herbs in the medicinal garden. The medicinal mountain is crucial to the development of our Ling family. If this situation continues, our Ling family will never be able to gather the spiritual herbs required for payment, and as for the Xingyun Pavilion..." Ling Chengzhi said with great concern

Elder brother, rest assured, I know my limits

Ling Chengye resembled a white ghost, cautiously descending from a remote corner of the medicinal mountain towards the hillside where a cave was located. His feet stepped on the protruding stones, and his hands grasped the hanging vines. His figure floated like a falling willow leaf, silent and unobtrusive, and soon he arrived at the entrance of one of the caves

After the jade hand flower blooms, it resembles a young girl's open palm, with five slender leaves akin to five delicate fingers, hence it is named the jade hand flower. The cycle from planting to harvesting of the jade hand flower is only about six months, and it is not significantly affected by weather changes, making it one of the easiest spiritual herbs to cultivate

Whenever it thunders and rains, the lightning in the sky over Yaoshan becomes extremely intense, with bolts striking the peak of Yaoshan each time, and sometimes I find myself startled by the sight of those lightning strikes. However, before they arrived, no matter how severe the weather was, there was never such a concentration of lightning over Yaoshan, nor would there be any phenomenon of lightning striking directly down.

Looking at the intricate and convoluted passageways before him, which crisscrossed like a spider's web, Ling Chengye was struck with astonishment, feeling not a trace of familiarity.