Next, Han Yu's finger shifted to a cluster of small orange fruits clustered tightly together. "Sunfire Orb Fruits. Sweet in flavor, consumed directly they invigorate the body and improve stamina. Not very rare, but practical for long expeditions."
"Would've been nice if we had them during the Expedition." Wu Shuan sighed.
Then Han Yu's gaze landed on a small grove of dark purple fruits with an almost ominous sheen.
He paused for a moment before speaking. "Shadowplum Fruits. These are special. Their main use is to cleanse the body of toxins that accumulate naturally in cultivators after years of absorbing impure Qi from pills, spirit grains and other things cultivators consume.
Eating one will purge impurities through sweat and exhalation. There are only two fruits here, but they are extremely valuable. They cannot be stored long, so they must be consumed within a week of harvest."
The group went quiet at that. Even Wu Shuan's stern eyes brightened faintly. He knew very well the significance of such cleansing. Impurities could hinder breakthroughs or even block one's meridians over decades.
Duan finally spoke. "Two fruits only. We should decide who takes them."
Han Yu shrugged lightly. "I have no need for them. I've consumed detoxifying pills before, so they won't benefit me much." He said, giving an excuse.
In reality, Han Yu knew his body had little to no accumulated toxins, as it was quite literally 'brand new'.
Fatty Kui spoke up next. "As much as I want to taste the fruits, my Spiritual Gluttony physique makes such fruits ineffective. Master had already warned me about this before. I couldn't even eat the common foundation enhancement pills that work by detoxification."
"That leaves the two of you." Han Yu said after Fatty Kui's explanation.
Wu Shuan hesitated but finally accepted one, while Duan took the other without protest. Both men tucked the precious Shadowplums away with solemn expressions.
Han Yu then knelt before a cluster of herbs that grew close to the soil. "These are Flameleaf Sprigs. Burn them, and their smoke aids in recovering from minor internal injuries. Abundant, easy to harvest. We can buy these in the sect for just a hundred merit points too."
"If you need some discount, I can get them for ten percent cheaper than others." He didn't forget to plug in a bit of his own services as an alchemist.
The group began carefully picking herbs and storing fruits under Han Yu's direction. Leaves rustled softly, and the chamber was soon filled with the faint fragrance of cut stems and fruit juice.
But as Han Yu moved along the final row, his eyes caught something unusual.
Among the ordered growth of spirit plants stood a small, unassuming herb barely a foot tall. Its green stalk was marred by veins of deep blue and black that looked almost unnatural. Two long leaves extended outward, curling slightly at the ends, each tapering into a sharp, needle-like point.
Han Yu froze, studying it intently.
Yet no matter how he examined, he felt nothing. No Spirit Qi fluctuation, no familiar medicinal aura. It was as if the plant were nothing more than an ordinary weed, and yet its strange coloration defied that assumption.
He didn't think some random weed would be planted in such a well curated spirit garden.
"What is it?" Wu Shuan asked, noticing his pause.
Han Yu shook his head slowly. "I do not know. It bears no resemblance to anything in the Alchemy Peak herb records. Its veins… I have never seen such a pattern. Stranger still, I cannot sense any Qi from it at all."
Fatty Kui tilted his head. "Maybe it is useless grass pretending to be important. Like a donkey in tiger's skin."
"Or perhaps," Duan countered, eyes narrowing, "its concealment is deliberate. A plant that hides its nature may be more dangerous than one that flaunts its power."
Han Yu did not touch it. He simply noted its appearance and location. "We should not disturb it now. The Herb Division disciples can examine it later with proper equipment."
The others agreed.
After finishing their harvest, they packed their gains with care, ensuring every spirit fruit and herb was secured for transport. The trees were left untouched, as protocol demanded.
Even so, what they carried now was more than enough to enrich their wallets.
Each disciple looked satisfied, though a lingering unease hovered in the chamber, centered around the quiet, veined herb that stood alone as if mocking their ignorance.
With everything identified and harvested, they now need to consume the fruits that would soon lose their essence. But they couldn't just eat it right away, as there was no telling what kind of danger they might face. They needed to prepare a few things before that.
The group wasted no time in organizing themselves.
Wu Shuan and Senior Brother Duan moved with practiced efficiency, forming hand seals and placing down talismans at the garden's entrance. The glowing barrier that rose up shimmered faintly like a veil of water, sealing the only entry point. It wasn't invincible, but it would at least give them warning if something tried to intrude.
Meanwhile, Han Yu roamed the garden's perimeter, carefully prodding the soil, tapping the roots of the trees, and examining the base of the walls for hidden inscriptions or formation arrays.
He even asked Chitterfang to scurry about and sniff at the undergrowth just in case something small was lying in wait. Nothing stirred.
The little rat eventually returned to perch smugly on Han Yu's shoulder, chittering as if to say, "All clear, time to eat."
Once he was satisfied, Han Yu nodded. "No hidden threats. Just the fruits themselves radiating energy."
That was all the confirmation they needed.
The group arranged themselves in a neat rotation.
Since the spirit fruits were still brimming with their peak potency, delaying too long would cause them to gradually lose their medicinal strength. But consuming them was not as simple as popping one into their mouths. Their Qi-filled pulp had to be carefully refined within the dantian and meridians, otherwise the sudden surge could cause backlash.