Before Su Qinian took the initiative to tell her, Li Qingran had no idea that the Sword Pavilion actually had a dedicated medicine garden. She had always assumed that each disciple had their own small plot of land near their cave dwellings, where they grew herbs individually without interfering with each other.
However, upon arriving at the medicine garden, she was surprised to find that not only did the Sword Pavilion possess a proper herbal garden, but it was also quite sizable. Compared to the rundown ancestral hall and the worn-out Sutra Library, the medicine garden looked completely different—lush, vibrant, and well-maintained.
Standing at the entrance of the garden, Su Qinian hesitated for a moment before clearing his throat and calling out:
“Elder Liu, ahem, are you there?”
For a brief moment, there was silence inside the medicine garden.
Then, a furious roar erupted.
“GET OUT—!!!”
With a loud bang, the doors of the medicine garden swung open.
A powerful gust of wind surged outward, distorting the very air.
The fierce wind tore through the ground, snapping grass and shaking the surrounding space.
Su Qinian, unfazed, casually raised a wind barrier around himself, clearly accustomed to this reaction.
When the gust finally died down, he dispersed the wind shield effortlessly and turned to Li Qingran with a calm expression.
“Qingran, the loud voice you just heard belongs to Elder Liu Yuanqing, the guardian of our medicine garden. Don’t be misled by his fierce demeanor—he’s actually a kind person at heart… Qingran?”
Receiving no response, Su Qinian turned around, only to find that Li Qingran had been blown all the way to the cliff’s edge. She was currently clambering back up, her hair in complete disarray, looking like a bird’s nest.
“Ah… well.” Su Qinian chuckled awkwardly. “Sorry about that. My wind barrier was a little too small and didn’t cover you.”
At the entrance of the medicine garden stood an elderly man with white hair, a youthful complexion, and sharp eyes. His expression was gentle—until he looked at Su Qinian. The moment his gaze landed on the Pavilion Master, his eyes practically burst into flames.
“Sect Master Su, I respect your position, but if you dare steal herbs from the medicine garden again, I will fight you for three hundred rounds, even if it kills me!”
Li Qingran turned to look at Su Qinian in shock.
However, Su Qinian completely ignored her gaze and simply laughed.
“Elder Liu, I didn’t come to take any spiritual herbs today. I actually—”
“Steal.” Elder Liu narrowed his eyes.
“I am the Pavilion Master. I am merely retrieving some sect-owned spiritual herbs—”
“Steal!” Elder Liu emphasized again.
“Alright, alright, I’m not here to steal today,” Su Qinian admitted with an exasperated sigh, “This disciple of mine wants to refine the Hundred Herbs Detoxification Pill, but there are many herbs in the recipe that I don’t recognize. So, I’ve brought her here for your expertise.”
“And then you’ll steal herbs from me, right?” Elder Liu remained unimpressed. He cast a disdainful glance at Su Qinian and sneered. “I’m warning you, the spiritual herbs in this medicine garden are the lifeblood of all our Sword Pavilion disciples and a crucial foundation for our sect’s survival. No matter what excuse you give, if you dare take them without permission, I will fight you!”
With a flick of his wrist, he unsheathed his sword. A surge of true energy rippled through the air, causing his robes to flutter dramatically.
Sensing the imminent battle, Li Qingran quickly stepped forward.
She knelt down with both knees and bowed deeply.
“Elder Liu, I urgently need to understand the Hundred Herbs Detoxification Pill formula to help my master detoxify. Please grant me your guidance!”
If the Pavilion Master and Elder Liu continued arguing, a fight was inevitable.
After observing their exchange, Li Qingran had deduced the truth—Su Qinian definitely had a history of stealing herbs from this medicine garden.
It seemed the garden operated independently from the rest of the sect, and Elder Liu held absolute authority over it. His status was equal to that of the Pavilion Master, which explained why he wasn’t intimidated by Su Qinian.
Elder Liu scrutinized Li Qingran for a moment. Seeing her delicate features and earnest expression, his anger softened.
“You are a filial disciple. Who is your master?”
“My master is the Grand Elder of the Sword Pavilion.”
Liu Yuanqing: “Ah?”
Elder Liu was stunned.
Since he had joined the Sword Pavilion later in life, he wasn’t too familiar with the sect’s past figures. As far as he knew, the highest-ranking authority in the Sword Pavilion was Su Qinian himself. There had never been a mention of an ancestor or a Grand Elder. If such a person had existed, the sect wouldn’t be in its current impoverished state.
With no knowledge of this supposed Grand Elder, Elder Liu turned to Su Qinian for confirmation.
Su Qinian nodded. “The Grand Elder left on a long journey years ago. His identity has already been verified at the ancestral hall. So, I’m really not here to steal herbs.”
“If you’re not stealing today, you’ll just steal tomorrow.” Liu Yuanqing snorted before turning to Li Qingran. His expression softened again as he spoke gently. “Since your master needs it, recite the pill formula to me.”
Li Qingran obediently recited the formula once more, then anxiously observed Elder Liu’s reaction.
To her relief, Elder Liu appeared deep in thought rather than confused—unlike Su Qinian.
‘See? Everyone in this sect is reliable… except the Pavilion Master.’
This realization solidified in her heart.
After a long silence, Elder Liu retrieved a thick book, flipping through its pages while muttering to himself.
After a while, he finally closed the book and looked up.
“I recognize all the spiritual herbs needed for the Hundred Herbs Detoxification Pill. More than half of them can be found in the medicine garden. As for the rest, you should be able to purchase them from Lingxi Valley.”
Li Qingran barely had time to feel relieved when Elder Liu added:
“However—”
The moment she heard that word, her heart tightened again, thumping anxiously.
“Elder Liu, please don’t keep us in suspense!”
Su Qinian, who had been idly picking his teeth with a flying sword, finally lost his patience.
“Why are you in such a rush? Do you ever use your brain before speaking?” Liu Yuanqing rolled his eyes and frowned. “The issue is that two of the medicinal ingredients—Longshe Apricot and Xuelan Mandarin—are incredibly rare. These spiritual plants only existed in ancient times and may no longer be found in the Cangyun Realm.”
“If that’s the case, our only option is to search for them in a secret realm.” Su Qinian took over the conversation, glancing at Li Qingran, whose face had turned pale. He offered a reassuring smile. “The Zhongzhou Secret Realm will open in less than a month. It contains remnants from ancient times, so there’s a high chance we’ll find those two ingredients there. When the time comes, all disciples of the Sword Pavilion will enter the secret realm to seek treasures—we’ll definitely locate them. Don’t worry.”
“That’s right.” Liu Yuanqing stroked his beard and nodded. “In ancient times, alchemy sects were numerous. Back then, spiritual resources were abundant, and anyone with a decent background could establish a sect. Among them, Yaowang Valley had the deepest foundations. If you can find its ruins within the Zhongzhou Secret Realm, you may just come across these two medicinal ingredients. After all, Yaowang Valley was famous for possessing every rare herb under the heavens.”
Li Qingran took a step back and bowed deeply. “Sect Master, Elder Liu, though I am not strong, I also wish to enter the Zhongzhou Secret Realm.”
She knew that her fellow disciples would be entering the secret realm to seek their own opportunities. It wouldn’t be fair to expect them to divert too much of their energy toward searching for these medicinal ingredients.
Even if they were willing to help, she didn’t want her personal matter to delay their chances at obtaining their own fortuitous encounters.
Thus, she had to enter the Zhongzhou Secret Realm herself.
She had to retrieve those two ancient medicinal ingredients with her own hands.
Su Qinian and Liu Yuanqing exchanged a glance.
Neither of them wanted Li Qingran to go.
After all, she was connected to the Grand Elder, and her safety was of utmost importance.
However, upon seeing the unwavering determination in her eyes, Su Qinian hesitated for a moment before finally nodding.
“Fine! But on one condition—before the secret realm opens, you must reach the Minor Success stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Only then will I allow you to go.”
Li Qingran lifted her head. Her bright, resolute eyes met Su Qinian’s gaze, and she declared with unwavering conviction:
“Disciple Qingran will not disappoint you!”
