The amount of Scorching Sun Poison Dragon Saliva continued to diminish as the area covered by Li Changshou’s tracks expanded.

The search of locations recorded in ancient texts yielded nothing, as did the exploration around the Chaotic Miasma Treasure Forest.

Three days after saving You Qin Xuanya, Li Changshou still hadn’t found the Immortal-Solving Grass. Instead, venturing deeper into the North Uttara Continent, he had gathered many useful poisonous herbs.

He’d even captured two precious “Corpse-Burning Insects,” which could be refined into Corpse-Tempering Powder, increasing his methods of corpse disposal to twelve.

Though slightly frustrated inside, he never forgot he was in the dangerous territory of North Uttara Continent, maintaining constant vigilance.

Logically, while Immortal-Solving Grass was precious, it was quite an unusual poisonous herb that few people sought;

All the areas he’d searched matched the growing conditions Immortal-Solving Grass required, yet not even a single seedling could be found…

It was truly bizarre.

Had he spent decades squeezing time between cultivation to read countless poison and medicine classics all for nothing?

‘Indeed, it must be Master’s poor fortune.’

Li Changshou could only console himself thus, driving away his unwillingness as he contemplated when to return.

Two hundred more Li westward!

If he couldn’t find it then, he’d have to give up and check if that town had any Immortal-Solving Grass for sale… though the hope was even more remote.

Moving swiftly, Li Changshou’s feet left after hours as he set out to complete this final quest.

Searching fifty Li yielded nothing;

Searching hundred Li, he circled all possible growing areas but found no trace of Immortal-Solving Grass, though he unexpectedly gathered several precious herbs for concocting Soft Immortal Powder…

See, the poisonous herbs he used were queueing up to enter his storage artifact, while the poisonous herb his Master needed couldn’t be found at all.

This must be the difference in character and temperament.

Without Immortal-Solving Grass, he couldn’t refine “Immortal-Fusion Pills,” making this path unviable.

Fortunately, he had already prepared backup plans two and three. Though not as reliable as the Immortal-Fusion Pills, they could still help Master somewhat.

Whoosh—

The world’s spiritual energy fluctuated; someone was fighting.

Li Changshou’s spiritual awareness immediately probed toward the source, but the thick miasma and unstable poison gas ahead limited his effective detection range to just over twenty Li.

The battle was happening thirty Li away, his spiritual awareness catching several figures darting about…

Moving forward, had he reached the area where those “rogue cultivators” operated?

Many cultivators were active along North Uttara Continent’s borders, typically venturing thousands of Li deep to find precious exotic flowers and fruits, trading these for cultivation resources.

Like “Thorn Pigeon” who was killed earlier—he had reached the Returning Path realm and, when not doing dirty work, earned cultivation resources through such labor.

Li Changshou immediately felt the urge to retreat.

Stopping behind a rock, he carefully considered.

The areas recorded in ancient texts had been fully explored, and cultivators were fighting in the direction he planned to go—if not now, when should he retreat?

As they say, “A gentleman doesn’t stand beneath a dangerous wall.” This North Uttara Continent journey could only end in regret…

Li Changshou suddenly jolted alert!

His extended spiritual awareness had accidentally detected three unremarkable emerald grasses swaying gently atop a cliff twenty-three Li northwest!

They resembled orchid grass but were much shorter, with mysterious patterns on their leaves, each wrapped in a faint glow.

Immortal-Solving Grass!

The Immortal-Solving Grass that could kill Element Immortals and severely wound True Immortals’ primordial spirits!

Moreover, judging by the number of demon patterns, the central plant was at least three thousand years old, while the companion plants flanking it had passed a thousand years!

Li Changshou almost jumped out from behind the rock.

But he immediately recited the Heart-Clearing Incantation, quickly calming himself—the herb wasn’t in hand yet, too early to celebrate.

Stay calm, only celebrate a little after securing the herb and safely leaving North Uttara Continent…

No, even that’s wrong—refining pills was also very troublesome. At least wait until returning to the mountain and successfully refining the Immortal-Fusion Pills before rejoicing.

Let’s do this!

Using Earth Movement, Li Changshou tunneled directly toward the Immortal-Solving Grass, his spiritual awareness spreading through the ground to analyze the surrounding environment.

A bare old cypress tree stood beside the Immortal-Solving Grass… hmm, he could switch from Earth Movement to Wood Movement to approach.

But for poisonous herbs thousands of years old, they would be supreme treasures to poisonous beasts—impossible for there not to be guardians nearby.

Sure enough, Li Changshou quickly discovered a Three-Eyed Azure Wave Snake.

The snake was cunningly hidden beneath the cliff, knowing how to conceal its presence. Its three-Zhang-long body merged with the rocks, its jade-green scales emanating an unusual glow.

If not for Li Changshou’s inch-by-inch inspection, he wouldn’t have found this poisonous creature blending with its environment.

A flesh bump had grown in the center of the Three-Eyed Azure Wave Snake’s head, looking somewhat unsightly and easily prompting some bold thoughts;

Its triangular head had begun elongating, and its body was thicker than an ordinary snakes.

—Clearly on the verge of transforming into a dragon and achieving immortality.

That oldest Immortal-Solving Grass must be key to its dragon transformation, though its poison potency wasn’t enough yet.

‘Not easy to deal with.’

Li Changshou also noticed many bones beneath the cliff, including numerous human skeletons…

Couldn’t fight head-on, must use strategy.

Such nearly immortal poisonous creatures were formidable, naturally extremely toxic. Though he carried nine different poisons that could threaten ordinary Element Immortals, they would be useless against it.

With his mastered techniques, though he might not lose in direct combat, the surrounding environment was too treacherous, full of unstable factors…

How to outmaneuver it?

Use Wood Movement to get close, grab the grass, and run.

Serpent beasts were mostly very agile—this plan obviously wouldn’t work.

Rapidly moving through the earth, Li Changshou fell into contemplation, quickly developing over ten plans.

Getting closer to the coveted Immortal-Solving Grass, Li Changshou’s spiritual awareness also detected the distant battle situation. Looking carefully, he nearly choked, coughing several times underground, almost turning to leave immediately.

How did he encounter her again…

Was this You Qin Xuanya poisonous or something? Might as well rename her Poisonous Xuanya…

He’d drawn her a map to go southwest, how did she end up here?

Two thousand Li off from the expected position!

Li Changshou’s mouth twitched several times, feeling he’d inadvertently encountered some blind spot in his knowledge…

“Hmm? There’s immortal pressure among those pursuing her?”

A flash of inspiration struck Li Changshou as his spiritual awareness captured the chase and battle scene, suddenly devising a strategy to obtain the Immortal-Solving Grass.

Thinking carefully, if not for the battle disturbance in this direction, he wouldn’t have discovered these three Immortal-Solving Grass plants;

And according to his previous route planning, this location would likely have gone unsearched.

From this perspective, he should thank “Poisonous Xuanya” this time.

“I saved you last time, using you a bit this time makes us even.”

Li Changshou muttered, pausing briefly underground before using Earth Movement again;

Fully extending his power while suppressing his energy fluctuations, he swiftly and silently approached the cliff, observing You Qin Xuanya’s pursuers.

Currently, You Qin Xuanya was surrounded by flame-wreathed flying swords, floating midair while moving toward the cliff.

Her surrounding swords spun rapidly, forming an impenetrable defense.

But Li Changshou saw at a glance that You Qin Xuanya was only putting up a strong front—this sword control technique wasn’t fully mastered, she only knew fixed moves, couldn’t adapt on the spot, and couldn’t effectively counterattack while defending…

Her pursuers were six black-clothed figures, two at the Returning Path realm and four at the Returning Void realm. Though attacking full force, they deliberately avoided targeting You Qin Xuanya’s vital points, clearly wanting to capture her alive.

—Li Changshou’s luck was good; this group had two more Element Immortals currently maintaining the Dragon-Binding Formation, where a certain True Immortal was causing havoc, occupying both Element Immortals’ attention.

‘Just these few probably aren’t enough to fill that Three-Eyed Azure Wave Snake’s teeth.’

Fortunately, two more auras remained airborne without engaging, both familiar to Li Changshou—

That kingdom’s Imperial Guard General Yu Wen Ling;

Fellow Disciple Yuan Qing from Breaking Heaven Peak.

Within thirty Li, only Yu Wen Ling’s immortal pressure was detected, the source of the earlier sensed immortal might.

Li Changshou’s thoughts immediately became active.

But speaking of which…

Why wasn’t Yuan Qing, that great nice guy, striking harder? Just dragging things out—did he think their Crossing Immortal Gate had no powerful figures?

Though Crossing Immortal Gate was only considered a mid-tier cultivation sect, it was still widely recognized among the Three Schools’ Immortal Sects. Even if secular royal powers had several immortals, they wouldn’t be regarded highly by Crossing Immortal Gate.

If Senior Aunt Jiu Wu and the other five didn’t return to the sect at the appointed time, immortals would come north searching. Yuan Qing’s group dawdling like this was simply seeking death.

No matter what was said, wasn’t this fake nice guy just lusting after this fake ice queen’s body?

Tch, despicable!

Now in Li Changshou’s eyes, from the immortal Yu Wen Ling in the clouds to those pursuing You Qin Xuanya below, all had been numbered as tools one, two, three, four…

Spiritual awareness locked onto You Qin Xuanya as Li Changshou activated an incantation, using ‘Wind Speech’ to transmit directly to her ears.

“With your current facing as the Qian position, retreat to Zhen position, eight Chi distance.”

You Qin Xuanya, currently using her swords to resist incoming magical treasure attacks, immediately perked up.

Senior Brother Changshou!

How was he here?

Though puzzled, You Qin Xuanya instinctively followed the guidance, riding her flying sword close to the ground as she withdrew. Two streaks of light just grazed past her sword formation!

They were a short blade and a long spike, attacking swiftly but completely missing!

“Retreat further, Li position six Chi.”

Li Changshou’s transmitted voice grew somewhat urgent. You Qin Xuanya complied and dodged again as two more light streaks slid past her other side.

Then, Li Changshou’s voice continued entering her ears:

“Don’t freeze up, counterattack if you have strength to spare, watch your expression, don’t let them grow suspicious.

A powerful poisonous creature hides beneath the cliff, lures them over, and uses it to defeat enemies.

Li position three Chi, turn to Zhen position five Chi.”

You Qin Xuanya’s previously dim eyes quickly regained their brightness;

She kept her lips tightly closed, mentally responding with an “mm.”

Soon, dodging left and right, she gradually became more composed and graceful. In the eyes of the six pursuers and two above, You Qin Xuanya suddenly became more agile.

A battlefield breakthrough?

As her dodges continuously evaded most of their attacks, her previously defensive flying swords immediately found openings to counterattack;

This shift from defense to offense suddenly reduced You Qin Xuanya’s pressure significantly as she methodically retreated toward the cliff hiding the Three-Eyed Azure Wave Snake.

Meanwhile, Li Changshou had appeared in the rock layer above the cliff, just over a hundred Zhang from the Immortal-Solving Grass.

That Three-Eyed Azure Wave Snake seemed to have sensed something, poking its head out from under the cliff, alertly observing all directions.

Before the Immortal-Solving Grass was a grassland, with that sturdy black-barked cypress standing sixteen Zhang from the cliff edge, its shade covering the Immortal-Solving Grass.

Li Changshou located the cypress’s main root, canceled Earth Movement within the rock layer, enduring the huge pressure closing in from all sides as he gritted his teeth and used Wood Movement, entering the cypress’s main root, concealing his aura and decisively rushing upward.

The old cypress: …

Hmm?

Hmm…