In a short while, under the guidance of Wen Tingguang, a group of people arrived inside the Cangqiong Sect’s Treasure Vault.
It was an extraordinarily grand hall, heavily guarded at the entrance. It was said that there were as many as forty-nine Absolute Kill Formations protecting it. Without a Passage Order, even a powerful figure like Wen Tingguang, if he had trespassed, would have only met his death.
"Kid Ling Feng, you can choose freely from the first layer’s treasures. If you wish to proceed to the second layer, you must tell me, and I’ll lead you up there," Wen Tingguang reminded carefully.
"Are the items on the second layer better than those on the first?" Ling Feng’s eyes lit up, focusing intently on Wen Tingguang.
"Of course, they are better," Wen Tingguang nodded. "However, your realm is far too low. Generally speaking, only those who have advanced to the Origin Transformation Realm and have transformed their True Qi into Primordial Qi can use the items on the second layer."
"I understand, then I’ll just choose from the first layer," Ling Feng nodded slightly. Even the best treasures were nothing more than chicken ribs if they couldn’t be used.
Soon, Ling Feng selected a lower-grade treasure-level sword from the first layer of the Treasure Vault. His Mo Yuan Sword had been destroyed back in Luofeng Canyon, and the soft sword he obtained from Lin Yinyin was not only unsuitable for his use, but it also couldn’t be displayed in public.
Meanwhile, the Treasure Soft Armor he obtained from Lin Yinyin was now worn by Ling Feng. Since it was worn underneath his clothes, it generally couldn’t be seen.
"Kid Ling Feng, you do have a good eye. Although this sword is only a lower-grade treasure, it possesses a rare combination of wind and fire attributes, named Red Fire Golden Wind. In the hands of a Martial Artist with both wind and fire attributes, its power could nearly match that of a mid-grade treasure," said Wen Tingguang.
Ling Feng nodded. Due to swallowing the Tianyang Red Blood Fruit, his True Qi had always carried a hint of domineering and intense fire attribute.
This Red Fire Golden Wind Sword suited him perfectly.
"I say, Young Master Ling, after wandering around so much, you just picked a sword?" Qiaoqiao thought to herself that this guy was probably being a bit too "generous."
Wen Tingguang also felt it was too polite of Ling Feng and chuckled, "Kid, our Cangqiong Sect isn’t grieved by a few treasures. Feel free to pick ten or even eighteen items if you wish. Don’t hold back!"
However, Ling Feng shook his head, "All I need is just one sword. However, as you know, I am a healer. Could you please take me to visit the Spiritual Medicine Garden?"
"Oh!" Wen Tingguang suddenly realized, "So that’s your plan, you rascal!"
"That’s easy to say!" Wen Tingguang nodded immediately. As a healer, he naturally had a special interest in spirit grass and Spiritual Medicine, especially in the Cangqiong Sect’s Spiritual Medicine Garden, which contained many rare species not seen elsewhere.
"Then I must trouble you to lead the way," Ling Feng said with a faint smile.
Yue Yunlan, standing nearby, blinked her bright eyes, her regard for Ling Feng increasing even more.
In no time, Wen Tingguang led the group out of the Treasure Pavilion and along a cobblestone path, arriving at a picturesque location.
This place was the Spiritual Medicine Garden of the Cangqiong Sect.
As soon as they entered the range of the Spiritual Medicine Garden, a rich aura of Spiritual Energy assaulted their senses, as if they had entered a paradise.
Within the Spiritual Medicine Garden, one could occasionally see some disciples distributed throughout, bending over to catch insects and weed. In every corner of the garden, precious and exotic flowers and plants thrived.
Ling Feng scanned around and felt secretly thrilled.
Many of the Spiritual Medicines here were recorded in his grandfather’s medical book, yet he had never seen them before. For a healer, seeing so many rare and exotic items was akin to being in heaven.
"How about it? Our Cangqiong Sect’s Spiritual Medicine Garden isn’t too shabby, right?"
Wen Tingguang saw Ling Feng and immediately chuckled, "These exotic flowers and plants are treasures transplanted from all over the Empire, not only from Sky White Empire, but also from the Western Wasteland, Southern Border, Northern Desert, and East Island. People would go to great lengths to procure their seeds. After a millennium of nurturing, they have created today’s prosperous scene in the Spiritual Medicine Garden."
Ling Feng inwardly nodded. Many of the species here indeed could not grow naturally in the Sky White Empire, and cultivating them required immense effort.
"Ling Feng, my boy, if you fancy any particular spirit flower or herb, just tell me, and I’ll give some to you!" Wen Tingguang laughed heartily.
"This fool, these spirit flowers and medicines are nice, but if one can’t refine elixirs, isn’t it a waste?" Qiaoqiao pouted and couldn’t help but murmur.
"How do you know he can’t refine elixirs?" Yue Yunlan gave Qiaoqiao a glance.
"I’m just guessing. He’s so young, and he has to study medicine and cultivate. If he can also refine elixirs, wouldn’t that be too much for the alchemists?" Qiaoqiao stuck out her tongue and argued.
To Ling Feng, these remarks were amusingly misunderstood by outsiders.
The so-called "elixirs and medicine" are inseparable.
Only mediocre doctors don’t understand alchemy. Although he wasn’t bold enough to boast about his alchemy skills, he still possessed some competence.
At that moment, an elder wearing a purple robe emerged from a palace next to the Medicine Garden, followed by a group of young men and women. Seeing Wen Tingguang, he quickly walked forward and bowed, "Greeting Elder Wen! And the young miss!"
"So, it’s Elder Lee!" Wen Tingguang nodded, noticing the twenty or so young disciples following Elder Lee. After a moment’s thought, his eyes lit up as he realized, "Oh, today is the day for the Medicine Garden harvesting competition!"
"Yes, these disciples are all rather promising youths assigned to the Spiritual Medicine Garden this term," Elder Lee nodded and smiled.
"Interesting," Wen Tingguang’s eyes gleamed playfully. He turned to look at Ling Feng and chuckled, "Elder Lee, I have a little friend here who also knows a bit about spirit flowers and herbs. Why not let him join and compete with your selected disciples?"
"This..." Elder Lee glanced at Ling Feng. As an ordinary Medicine Garden Elder and not part of the sect’s higher echelons, he wasn’t even aware of the Sect Master’s illness, much less that Ling Feng had once treated the Sect Master.
Thus, he assumed Ling Feng was merely Wen Tingguang’s relative, accompanying Yue Yunlan on a casual visit to the Medicine Garden.
Before Elder Lee could respond, a young man in a red robe stepped forward and said, "Elder, please agree!"
This red-robed youth, while looking challengingly at Ling Feng, was clearly the most skilled among this batch of Medicine Garden disciples.
"Alright." Elder Lee, clearly confident in the red-robed youth, nodded and laughed, "Since Elder Wen has spoken, including this young man should be fine."
Ling Feng was baffled. What was this situation, and how had he suddenly joined this Medicine Garden harvesting competition?
"Hehe, kid, just pick the best spirit flowers and herbs you think. As long as you choose them, I can arrange for you to have them all!" Wen Tingguang chuckled, lowering his voice, "Don’t say your older brother doesn’t take care of you. If you manage to win first place in the competition, there’s a chance to obtain a reward of Cultivation and Martial Techniques."
Originally, since Ling Feng wasn’t a disciple from Heavenly Vault sect, even if Wen Tingguang wanted to mentor him, he couldn’t break the rules.
But if Ling Feng could excel in this distant harvesting competition, according to the rules, he could be rewarded with a Cultivation Technique.
Ling Feng’s talent was unquestionable, but he was practicing an inferior method from the Asking Immortal Sect, which Wen Tingguang felt was a waste of talent.
Now facing this opportunity, Wen Tingguang also started harboring his own little schemes.