Chapter 108: Dragon Scale Grass (2)

The deeper they ventured, the more lush the ground vegetation became, even sprouting some low-grade spirit flowers and herbs.

Suddenly, before their eyes appeared a scattering of blue, star-like glimmers. In the dim forest, these lights resembled stars scattered across the night sky.

Chen Guangbo, who was traveling with them, was the first to scream out, “My heavens! So many Water Spirit Flowers! Am I dreaming?”

Shen Duo was equally stunned by the sight—dozens, perhaps over a hundred, of blue luminescent blossoms.

No wonder so many independent illusionists from all corners of the land rushed here to partake in the opening of the Nascent Valley. Just this patch of Water Spirit Flowers alone was priceless.

These were treasures that benefited even those below the rank of Sky Illusionists!

When Shen Duo parted ways with Lei Hang, she had given him quite a few of these.

Chen Guangbo and Huren both turned expectantly and joyfully toward Shen Duo.

With a faint smile, Shen Duo said, “Since you’re in the same team as me, whatever we find along the way will be divided equally into four shares.”

Surprised by Shen Duo’s generosity, Chen Guangbo and Huren hastily declined, “No need, no need. The two of us only need one share.”

Luo Jingbai moved swiftly. In less than fifteen minutes, he had harvested all the ripe Water Spirit Flowers before them and handed them to Shen Duo. She divided over a hundred flowers into four portions, distributing them among Chen Guangbo, Huren, and Feng Jun.

In truth, Shen Duo and Feng Jun had no use for these flowers anymore, but they could be sold at the auction house for gold coins. No one ever complained about having too much gold.

Chen Guangbo and Huren looked at the Water Spirit Flowers in their hands with delight, itching to sit down and meditate while consuming one to attempt advancement.

Acquiring so many Water Spirit Flowers already made their trip to Nascent Valley worthwhile.

Luo Jingbai sneered coldly, watching Chen Guangbo and Huren’s excitement as if they were about to ascend to Sky Illusionists immediately. Inwardly, he arrogantly thought, “These country bumpkins have never seen the world. They’re so happy over these spirit flowers—if they saw the real treasure, they’d probably faint on the spot!”

Shen Duo raised an eyebrow, equally surprised by Luo Jingbai’s words. “Luo Jingbai, you mean the true heavenly treasure isn’t these Water Spirit Flowers?”

Luo Jingbai rolled his eyes. “Of course not. I have a feeling it’s still deeper inside.”

Lowering her voice, Shen Duo shared Luo Jingbai’s discovery with the others. The group immediately became interested and pressed further into the dense forest.

They walked until they reached an ancient towering tree, where they finally halted.

Standing on Shen Duo’s shoulders, Luo Jingbai’s eyes gleamed as he stared at the colossal tree that seemed to pierce the clouds. Just being near it, one could sense an overwhelming spiritual and illusionary energy.

The ancient tree soared hundreds of feet tall, with a trunk too wide for a dozen people to encircle. Its bark was straight and massive, its roots sprawling over dozens of square meters. Lantern Grass with small purple flowers thrived around its base.

Feng Jun looked up at the massive tree and said coldly, “Dragon Scale Grass.”

Luo Jingbai glanced at Feng Jun with pride and whispered to Shen Duo, “This kid does have an eye for things.”

Shen Duo’s bright eyes widened. The name Dragon Scale Grass was well-known across the continent to those with even basic knowledge.

It was a legendary heavenly treasure. Centuries ago, Dragon Scale Grass had vanished from the continent. If any remained, they were monopolized by the four great families—top-tier powers.

Dragon Scale Grass was a high-grade spirit herb, naturally emitting extraordinary and dense spiritual illusion energy. It could serve as the energy core for various advanced illusionary artifacts. A single ordinary Dragon Scale Grass, when consumed by an illusionist, could elevate a Sky Illusionist by an entire rank! For swordsmen, it helped expand their meridians, sharpen their essence, guide sword energy, and assist in advancement. It was a true panacea, irresistible to anyone who saw it.

Following Luo Jingbai’s indication, Shen Duo looked at the tree trunk’s midsection. The bark’s texture was peculiar—like enormous scales neatly arranged along a dragon’s body. In the middle of these bark scales grew a small, ordinary-looking tuft of grass. The grass seemed to notice their gaze and shivered, its leaves curling inward.

Huren stared at the legendary herb with fascination and impulsively stepped forward.

Suddenly, the tranquil space erupted in chaos. The Lantern Grass surrounding the ancient tree instantly enlarged dozens of times. Huge, serrated green mouths, each about the size of a grown adult and topped with a purple flower, burst from the ground. They flailed wildly, emitting disgusting “creak-creak” sounds.

Chen Guangbo was dumbfounded by the sudden turn of events. Beneath those pretty purple flowers around the tree’s roots were monstrous plants with nauseating gaping mouths.

These plants swung their stems and leaves, launching an attack in their direction.

The assault came so suddenly that Huren was caught off-guard. One of the slime-coated jaws clamped onto his leg and flung him into the air. The disgusting mouth was formed by two thick, green leaves edged with sharp, steel-like thorns several centimeters long. Its interior was filled with sticky, translucent sap.

Huren’s leg was bitten hard by the Lantern Grass’s mouth, causing him to cry out in pain. The sharp thorns pierced his calf, and the viscous sap seemed corrosive. Within seconds, everyone saw the flesh on Huren’s left leg being eaten away, revealing horrifying white bone beneath.

Pain nearly overwhelmed Huren’s consciousness. Gathering all his spiritual illusion energy, he struck at the terrifying plant—but it was as if his attack sank into the earth. The strike of a Nine-Star Grand Illusionist was as ineffective as a breeze tickling the Lantern Grass.

The monstrous mouth continued devouring Huren’s leg, shaking it upward as if to swallow him whole and digest him. Overcome by excruciating pain, his mind blurred, and his cries for help weakened.

Just as Huren felt he was about to meet his end, a dark figure charged with overwhelming thunderous energy appeared before his eyes.

Shen Duo’s long sword was enveloped in dense azure sword energy, radiating a cold, piercing light. In the void, the sword energy formed a massive golden blade symbol, then struck down with terrifying force against the Lantern Grass holding Huren.

With a single slash, the monstrous mouth was cleaved in two. Green sap splattered outward, and the sticky liquid corroded the ground instantly, leaving a cluster of small pits.

Shen Duo caught Huren as he fell and carried him to a safe spot.

Feng Jun took Huren from Shen Duo’s arms, supporting him against a tree. By now, Huren had completely lost consciousness. His left leg, bitten below the knee by the Lantern Grass, was nothing but ghastly white bone—no flesh remained.

Chen Guangbo stared in disbelief at his comrade, trembling as he patted Huren’s shoulder, hiding the tears welling in his eyes.

Shen Duo and Feng Jun examined Huren’s wound. Shen Duo turned gravely to Chen Guangbo, “The Lantern Grass’s venom still lingers in Huren’s left leg. To save his life, we have no choice but to amputate.”

Chen Guangbo nodded with difficulty, “Cut it off. As long as he lives.”