Chapter 6: Rumors Abound
Tang San firmly added a Soul Beast Soul Ring to his plant-type Martial Soul.
Upon seeing Tang San absorb the Soul Ring according to his wishes, Yu Xiaogang looked peaceful. He forcibly endured the toxins acting up in his body and scattered a circle of beast-repellent powder.
His face pale, he collapsed to the ground. While Tang San was focused on absorbing the Soul Ring, Yu Xiaogang lost consciousness.
A black-robed figure stood high atop the treetops, silently watching the two of them.
The absorption of the Soul Ring lasted for an entire night.
The next morning, when Tang San woke up and saw Yu Xiaogang's complexion, which was turning a ghastly blue, he was shocked.
He hurriedly began to detoxify him.
A while later, as the two of them supported each other while walking out of the Spirit Hunting Forest, Tang San subconsciously heard the mercenaries and even the peddlers around them talking to each other.
"Have you heard? The Wolf Head Mercenary Group found a magical herb in the Spirit Hunting Forest. It has purple leaves, and at the tip of the leaf, there is a drop of medicinal liquid that gathers essence. After eating it, it refreshes the mind. The deputy leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group successfully absorbed an 800-year-old Soul Beast. This effect is called... what was the word again?"
"Spiritual Power! You don't even know this, and you have the nerve to come out and show off?" Another seasoned peddler next to the young peddler opened his eyes and glanced at him disdainfully.
Spiritual Power. Hearing these three words, Tang San's ears twitched; he slowed his pace and leaned in to listen.
"You're great, then tell me what this herb is called?" The young peddler was a bit annoyed at being interrupted.
The old peddler gave an indifferent glance. "It wasn't found by me, so how would I have the right to name it? I heard the Wolf Head Mercenary Group took it into the city to sell. A Young Master from a wealthy Family spent 100 gold coins to buy it. If you have the guts, go find him and ask him yourself!"
"100 gold coins?" The young peddler was stunned, his eyes burning with fervor. "Forget it, I can't be bothered to argue with you."
As soon as he finished speaking, the young peddler quickly packed up his stall and headed in the direction of the Spirit Hunting Forest.
His intentions were clear; he wanted to enter the Spirit Hunting Forest to search for this expensive herb.
The old peddler gave another disdainful glance. "Young people are still too young. People went in yesterday; it's too late now. The only known one is in the hands of that Young Master."
After saying this, the old peddler closed his murky eyes, guarded his stall, and puffed on his old pipe intermittently. At his age, entering the Spirit Hunting Forest was no longer realistic.
"Little San, don't just stand there, it's time to go back."
Yu Xiaogang's voice came from not far in front of Tang San.
Tang San stopped eavesdropping and hurried to catch up.
As he walked along this road, it wasn't just the pair of peddlers from before who were discussing it; mercenaries, taverns, and even pedestrians on the road were having similar conversations.
Increasing Spiritual Power—this herb seemed perfectly suited to assist him in Cultivating the Purple Demon Eye. That Young Master...
Mo Bai's figure flashed through Tang San's mind.
This was the wealthiest person he had ever seen; even his teacher was not as wealthy as him.
After Yu Xiaogang and Tang San left the Spirit Hunting Forest area, the old peddler opened his eyes, and the young peddler quietly returned to his original stall.
"I wonder which merchant caravan or Family started pulling strings again," the young peddler sighed.
The old peddler chuckled. "Who cares who is pulling strings? As long as we can make money, it's good. That rumor from back then about boiling Soul Beast bones to increase Innate Soul Power—didn't that earn us a lot? Even now, a single Soul Beast bone can sell for one silver coin."
"That's True, making money is the most important thing."
Tang San returned to Nuoding City. After sending Yu Xiaogang back to his room to rest, he went out alone. Yu Xiaogang had just instructed him to go to the Spirit Hall in the city to register.
He could earn an income of one gold coin per month.
Only one gold coin?
Tang San's mind flashed back to the amount Mo Bai would casually give as a tip, which was at least one gold coin to start with. Thinking about it this way, Mo Bai was truly wealthy.
When he arrived at the Spirit Hall, even the Spirit Hall's announcement board had posted a bounty for the herb the peddlers had been talking about.
Does such an herb really exist?
Tang San walked into the Spirit Hall with questions on his mind.
Not long after, he came out after registering. He politely declined the Spirit Hall's invitation and took the opportunity to ask about the authenticity of the herb at the entrance. As a result, Ma Xiunuo smiled mysteriously and refused to speak of it.
He didn't get any useful information, but since the notice had already been posted, it likely wasn't fake, right?
Not long after Tang San left the Spirit Hall, Ma Xiunuo slowly walked out with his hands behind his back. He glanced at the Spirit Hall's announcement board and muttered a self-reproachful sentence,
"Oh my, who is this again? Posting random things on my Spirit Hall's announcement board!"
Then, Ma Xiunuo chuckled and tore down the notice, shaking the 200 gold coins at his waist. His old face beamed with delight. As long as there were strangers coming, posting a notice beforehand was a very simple matter.
It was Tang San's first time walking on the streets of Nuoding City.
Although it was a small city, it was bustling with people coming and going. However, what caught his attention more was that some large and small pharmacies had the same notice posted at their entrances as the Spirit Hall.
The bounty was as high as 50 to 100 gold coins, attracting a large crowd of onlookers.
"So expensive, and so valuable." Tang San's mind became active. "Should I borrow the token from my teacher again and enter the Spirit Hunting Forest to search for it? I can use a suitable amount for my own Cultivation, and sell the rest."
While thinking this, he saw a bustling blacksmith shop with the clanging sounds of iron being hammered. His eyes lit up, and he stepped inside.
Just as Tang San entered, he heard a conversation coming from inside.
"I heard that the herb found recently can relieve fatigue. I wonder if it's useful for us blacksmiths."
"It probably is, but the problem is it's too expensive. Even if we sold ourselves, we couldn't afford it. And the only one was bought by some Young Master, who knows who."
"You don't know this? Besides Young Master Mo Bai from Nuoding Academy, who else could it be?"
Mo Bai... Hearing this name, Tang San paused. With that kind of financial power, he should have realized sooner that it could only be Mo Bai.
Mo Bai seemed to have told him to go there to hang out. He could take this opportunity to go take a look, just in case it was actually useful for his Cultivation of the Purple Demon Eye.
If that was the case, it would be necessary for him to enter the Spirit Hunting Forest to search for it. Thinking of this, Tang San stopped his steps into the blacksmith shop and turned to head towards Nuoding Academy.
...
Nuoding Academy.
After finishing his morning classes and resting in the afternoon, Mo Bai had just come out of the teaching building when he met Tang San, who was running over quickly and panting slightly. His heart stirred slightly.
"Tang San, you're back. How did the Soul Ring hunting go?" Mo Bai asked with an approachable smile.
However, as Tang San, who had practiced ocular techniques, looked up, he keenly noticed a flash of light in Mo Bai's pupils. It definitely hadn't been there before; it must be a change that had appeared in the last two days.
Based on what he had heard and seen on the road just now, could the rumors about that herb all be True? Did Mo Bai use it too?
"Forget it, this isn't the place to talk. Follow me." Mo Bai looked around at the students and teachers who were gradually slowing their steps or stopping directly to watch the show.
After saying this, he headed towards his dormitory first.
Seeing this, Tang San didn't think too much. His interest and curiosity far outweighed any sense of danger, and he immediately followed.