Read Novel Full Chapter 1435: Chapter 740: Immortal Herbs (2)
Chapter 1435: Chapter 740: Immortal Herbs (2)
“Earth… Earth Martial Realm?”
The guard stammered as he repeated, his face instantly turning pale.
Gu Sheng nodded slightly.
The guard suddenly shivered, hurriedly picked up the register book, and respectfully stepped aside.
“Forgive me, sir! According to the rules, those above the Xuanwu Realm are exempt from inspection, please enter!”
The surrounding crowd erupted into gasps and murmurs.
“Earth Martial Realm?!”
“Such a young Earth Martial Realm?”
“Great Wilderness City… could it be the Gu family?”
Gu Sheng ignored the commotion around him and walked straight through the city gate.
The guards all made way, bowing their heads in salute.
He could feel countless gazes, some respectful, some jealous, and some inquisitive, fall on his back, but he had long since been accustomed to it.
As Gu Sheng stepped into Spirit Flame City, the sunset’s afterglow gilded the bluestone city walls with a layer of gold.
He frowned slightly, sensing the completely different aura of this city compared to Great Wilderness City.
At the city gate, two guards in gray-brown leather armor saw him approaching and immediately straightened up, with their right hands clenched and pressed against their left chests—this is Spirit Flame City’s standard etiquette for Earth Martial Realm experts.
“Please enter, sir.”
The guard on the left said respectfully, his eyes filled with undisguised envy. Here in Spirit Flame City, the Earth Martial Realm already counted as a master.
Gu Sheng nodded slightly, though in his heart he was secretly surprised.
Two thousand miles away in Great Wilderness City, the gatekeepers were at least Sect Realm cultivation, while here… his gaze swept over the two guards, who were merely Xuanwu Realm.
He walked into the city casually.
Shops lined the streets and pedestrians were numerous, yet there were few high-level Martial Artists visible.
Gu Sheng, out of habit, first sought a clean-looking inn to settle down.
In front of the inn named “Pine Residence,” two red lanterns hung, standing out in the dusk.
“Are you here to dine or stay, sir?”
The attendant behind the counter eagerly greeted Gu Sheng as he entered the inn.
“Staying, I need a room upstairs.”
Gu Sheng tossed him a Mid-grade Spirit Stone.
The attendant’s eyes lit up, his hands trembling slightly as he accepted the spirit stone.
“Sure! Room number three on the heavenly tier, I’ll take you up there right away!”
Gu Sheng waved his hand.
“No need, I’ll go myself. Prepare some food and wine and send it to the room.”
Just as he was about to go upstairs, his ears suddenly twitched. A table of guests in a corner of the hall caught his attention.
A thin True Qi Barrier surrounded the table; ordinary people could not hear the conversation inside, but to Gu Sheng, it was as if it did not exist.
“…That girl from the Xie family will go into the mountains tomorrow, our people are ready.”
A shrill male voice whispered.
“We must get the Spirit Flame Immortal Grass, once the Xie family’s hope is cut off, Xie Qingxuan won’t be able to resist.”
Another hoarse voice sneered.
“The Second Elder said that after the deed is done, each person will get fifty more High-grade Spirit Stones.”
Gu Sheng did not stop, continuing up the stairs.
He generally did not want to meddle in such matters, but the words “Xie family” stirred him. Among the four great families in Great Wilderness City, one was the Xie family…
Room number three on the heavenly tier was spacious and bright, facing an old locust tree in the inn’s backyard.
Just as Gu Sheng set down his belongings, the room door was knocked.
“Sir, your food and wine.”
The attendant came in respectfully with a tray.
Gu Sheng casually tossed another Low-grade Spirit Stone as a tip, for which the attendant expressed profuse thanks before leaving.
He had just picked up his chopsticks when the door was knocked again.
This time the knock was very soft, carrying a bit of hesitation.
“Who is it?”
Gu Sheng put down his chopsticks, frowning slightly.
There was silence outside for a few seconds before a clear female voice emerged.
“Sir, I apologize for disturbing you, I have an urgent matter to request…”
Gu Sheng scanned with his Divine Sense, a green-skirted girl and a young bodyguard were standing outside the door.
The girl seemed about seventeen or eighteen, with a delicate appearance and features as if painted, but there was a hint of anxiety in her eyes; the bodyguard was in his early twenties, with a stern face, always keeping his right hand on the hilt of his sword.
“Come in.”
Gu Sheng said indifferently.
The door was gently pushed open, the green-skirted girl took a deep breath and entered the room, followed closely by the bodyguard, who cautiously watched Gu Sheng.
“Sir, my name is Xie Qingxuan, from Great Wilderness City.”
The girl saluted, her voice trembling a bit.
“I apologize for the intrusion, but I have no other choice…”
Gu Sheng’s gaze narrowed.
“Xie family?”
Xie Qingxuan’s eyes lit up.
“Senior knows the Xie family? That’s great! I originally came to the Spirit Flame Mountain Range to look for the Spirit Flame Immortal Grass, but the servants I brought were bribed halfway and ran off, leaving only He…”
She pointed to the guard behind her.
“Seeing that Senior has extraordinary strength, I would like to ask you to escort us into the mountains, the reward is negotiable.”
The guard named He suddenly stepped forward and shielded Xie Qingxuan.
“Miss, this person’s background is unclear, we can’t trust him lightly! I am sufficient to ensure your safety.”
Xie Qingxuan frowned.
“He! If you hadn’t been constantly stopping me along the way, I would have found help by now! The depths of the Spirit Flame Mountain Range are fraught with danger, how can you alone at the Xuanwu Realm be enough?”
He’s face darkened.
“Miss, the Family Head instructed…”
“The Family Head is my father!”
Xie Qingxuan’s cheeks flushed with anger, but as she turned to Gu Sheng, her expression changed to a pleading one.
“Senior, you see…”
Gu Sheng put down his wine cup, his gaze sweeping between the two.
“Three hundred High-grade Spirit Stones, to ensure your safety in the mountains.”
“Three hundred?!” He burst out in anger.
“You’re extorting!”
Gu Sheng didn’t spare him a glance, only looked at Xie Qingxuan.
“Whether you agree is up to you.”
He abruptly unleashed the peak momentum of the Xuanwu Realm, pressing toward Gu Sheng.
“Impudent! Are you aware of our Xie family in the Great Wilderness City…”
Before he finished speaking, a flash of energy surrounded Gu Sheng, and He was frozen in place, cold sweat instantly appearing on his forehead.
He was terrified to find that he couldn’t move a single finger!
Seeing this, Xie Qingxuan’s eyes held surprise, then she fell into contemplation. Three hundred High-grade Spirit Stones is no small amount, but if it allows finding the Spirit Flame Immortal Grass to save grandfather…
“Okay, I agree.”
She finally nodded.
“Tomorrow morning, gather downstairs at the inn.”
Only then did He regain his ability to move, staggering back two steps, his gaze toward Gu Sheng full of venom.
Xie Qingxuan, however, shook her head at him in disappointment.
“He, you’ve greatly disappointed me.”
Having said that, she turned and left.
Gu Sheng opened his eyes, a ray of morning light filtering through the window lattice onto the bed.
He didn’t get up immediately but spread his spiritual power like a web, instantly covering a hundred-meter radius around the inn.
Outside the inn, Xie Qingxuan, dressed in white as pure as snow, was looking up at a certain window on the second floor of the inn, her gaze serene.
Beside her, Xie He paced restlessly like a cat with its tail stepped on, the sword at his waist clashing irritably with his movements.
“Miss, I really don’t understand, why insist on traveling with that mysterious guy?”
Xie He suddenly halted his steps, his voice lowered but unable to mask the indignation within.
“Last night was only because he succeeded in his sneak attack. If it were a true combat trial, I…”
“Xie He.”
Xie Qingxuan’s brows slightly furrowed, her voice cold and clear.
“This trip is to find the Spirit Flame Immortal Grass to heal grandfather, not for you to show off and fight hard. With a strong companion, there’s a better chance.”
Xie He’s face turned red, his fists clenching tightly inside his sleeves.
He lowered his head.
“Yes, Miss, your teaching is correct.”
Yet he thought to himself secretly.
Once we’re in the mountains, let’s see how I deal with that guy…
Gu Sheng withdrew his spiritual power, a hint of a smile playing at his lips.
He rose and straightened his clothes, casually hanging an archaic Jade Pendant at his waist, and walked out the door.
Outside the inn, seeing Gu Sheng emerge, Xie Qingxuan immediately stepped forward and retrieved a Storage Ring embedded with blue gemstone from her sleeve.
“Sir, this is the agreed payment, please accept it.”
Gu Sheng took the Storage Ring, scanned it with spiritual power, and found it neatly filled with five hundred glittering Spirit Stones, the Spiritual Energy so dense it almost spilled out of the ring.
He nodded slightly.
“Miss Xie is straightforward.”
“May I know Sir’s esteemed name?”
Xie Qingxuan asked with her hands clasped.
“Gu Sheng.”
“Xie Qingxuan of the Xie family in Huang City, Great Wilderness City.”
She introduced herself formally, then her tone shifted.
“To be honest, this trip is to find the Spirit Flame Immortal Grass to heal a family elder. I’ve heard traces of this Immortal Herb exist deep within the Spirit Flame Mountain Range, but it’s extremely perilous…”
Spirit Flame Immortal Grass? Wasn’t this the rare Spiritual Medicine those Martial Artists talked about in the inn yesterday? It’s said to only grow along the edges of volcanic magma, with just one plant emerging every hundred years.