“I think we’ve already reached Wudong Mountain,” Nie Xinghong said, spreading his fan. “The mountain has its opportunities, so we don’t need to continue traveling together. Let’s part ways here.” He was skilled at speaking, and even the arrogant Tan Tianxin had to give him some face. Nie Xinghong led several disciples from Yinfeng Sect deeper into the forest, saying as he went: “I’ll wish everyone success in achieving their desires and having their wishes come true.”

The other cultivators also scattered in various directions. Opportunities were things that sometimes passed by in just a brief moment. And these things were particularly ethereal and elusive—they didn’t show favoritism based on a person’s status, position, or even cultivation level. Sometimes, an unremarkable person, just because of extraordinary luck, would chance upon that one opportunity and ascend to the heavens in a single step.

Seeing the cultivators dispersing, Zanxing and her group also headed deeper into the forest. People from their sect had entered Li’er Kingdom’s Secret Realm before. While it couldn’t be called particularly safe, most wild beasts and demon plants could be handled by the disciples. Zanxing was calculating in her mind to stay away from both Mu Cengxiao and Meng Ying, while also not wanting to get too close to Gu Baiying. Tian Fangfang was focused on digging up valuable spiritual herbs to sell at Huajin Tower for money and had already run ahead. Back and forth, Zanxing could only end up walking beside Mendong.

Mendong asked: “Why do you keep following me?”

“This mountain’s forest is dense. I’m afraid there might be some danger, so I’m following to protect you.”

Mendong looked at her incredulously: “What danger could there be? I don’t need protection.” He rarely showed kindness and reminded Zanxing, “You should walk around more. You might find some opportunity to help with your cultivation.”

Of course, Zanxing definitely wouldn’t listen to this advice. She was afraid that if she wasn’t careful, she might find Mu Cengxiao’s opportunity, and if the original story got furious and created some trouble she couldn’t handle, that would be more loss than gain.

Seeing that Zanxing was still following behind him, Mendong was too lazy to care anymore. He had a natural “Spirit Aperture” and knew which rare flowers and plants on this mountain were suitable for medicine. Shaoyang Zhenren had specifically brought him into the Secret Realm to gather medicinal herbs. Therefore, he summoned his Qiankun Bag and began searching.

This mountain indeed had many flowers blooming.

Beautiful flowers dotted the forest, beside grass clusters, and by streams and lakes. Combined with the steaming mist in the distance, it truly seemed like a fairyland. Not far away, at the mountain cliff edge, a giant tree grew at an angle. The tree’s roots had already fused with the cliff wall, so from a distance, it looked as if the upper half of the mountain was the tree’s crown.

This tree was extremely wide with very dense branches, covered with white fruits. When they got closer, they could see that these fruits were the size of human palms and weren’t round, but had one pointed end like wild beast teeth. At a glance, it was like a tree covered with gleaming white teeth—quite terrifying.

Mendong also saw those fruits.

His face lit up with joy: “Dragon Tooth Fruit, it’s Dragon Tooth Fruit!”

Although Zanxing had read many miscellaneous books in Taiyan Sect’s library pavilion, she had been here too briefly and didn’t have much experience. Upon hearing this, she humbly asked for instruction: “What is Dragon Tooth Fruit?”

“It’s a rare spiritual fruit. People who eat it can heal heart pain, and if you use this fruit to make pills, it’s extremely beneficial for nourishing spiritual meridians.” He seemed very happy: “Dragon Tooth Fruit takes ten years to sprout, ten years to bloom, and ten years to bear fruit. The fruit ripens in just one night, and if not picked, after one night passes, the fruit flesh on the branches immediately withers. Our luck is pretty good—today we happened to catch the Dragon Tooth Fruit bearing fruit. I need to pick more and store them in the ice pot in my Qiankun Bag.”

“Master Uncle…” Mendong was about to ask for help, but when he turned around, he saw that Gu Baiying, Meng Ying, and the others had all gone ahead. He had no choice but to turn his pleading gaze to Zanxing: “Senior Sister Zanxing, please help me pick more. The sun is about to set. When the sun rises tomorrow, all these Dragon Tooth Fruits will turn to flower mud.”

It was rare for Mendong to ask something of her, so Zanxing nodded: “Alright.”

She didn’t plan to look for any opportunities, so accompanying Mendong to pick fruit here should be quite safe. The two carefully climbed up the cliff wall, slowly making their way onto the tree branches. The Dragon Tooth Tree’s branches were very thick, so it was quite safe for people to sit on them. When they got close, they discovered that the fruits were even larger than they appeared. Zanxing reached out and pulled one down. She had originally thought it would have a tooth-like texture, but unexpectedly, the fruit was soft and felt somewhat warm to the touch, like squeezing something alive.

Mimi curiously used her claws to scrape at the Dragon Tooth Fruit. After scraping twice and finding it was safe, she grabbed onto a tree branch and began swinging back and forth.

Mendong was straddling a tree branch, vigorously pulling down a Dragon Tooth Fruit to put in his ice pot. Seeing this, Zanxing asked curiously: “Dongdong, are Dragon Tooth Fruits very precious? You seem to treasure these things very much.”

Mendong wiped the sweat from his forehead: “Of course they’re precious. There aren’t many pill materials that can nourish human bloodlines. We’re just lucky to have happened upon them today. Also, don’t call me Dongdong.”

“But the senior brothers usually seem to prefer pills that can improve cultivation levels,” Zanxing said, puzzled. “Is there someone in our sect whose spiritual meridians are damaged?”

Mendong’s fruit-picking movements paused, and his face reddened as he said: “…Of course not! But it’s better to be prepared for these things—they’ll be useful eventually.”

Zanxing nodded: “Alright.” Such a young child already understood the heart of a physician—how embarrassing for her.

The two continued picking. The Dragon Tooth Fruits on this side were almost all picked, so they climbed toward the cliff wall. Mendong was small and climbed quickly, staying in front with Zanxing behind. As they climbed, Mendong in front suddenly stopped moving. Seeing him like this, Zanxing thought he had encountered some danger. Her heart tightened, and she quickly asked in a low voice: “Junior Brother?”

“Shh!” Mendong turned back and made a silencing gesture toward her, whispering: “Look.”

Zanxing followed his gaze and suddenly saw a brilliant golden light ahead.

This light was too dazzling. Walking in the dark forest and suddenly seeing such intense golden light, Zanxing was nearly blinded. She used the back of her hand to shield herself, and after adapting to the golden light ahead, she looked forward carefully.

This was a golden, enormous flower.

This flower was probably as tall as a person. She couldn’t tell if it was growing from the mountain wall—the dense tree canopy concealed the flower stem, revealing only the glowing blossom. The petals were layered upon layered, magnificent and varied, emitting a faint golden color. A subtle floral fragrance drifted over with the wind, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees.

The Dragon Tooth Fruits were eerily sinister, but this flower was completely different in its gorgeous beauty. Its bright colors were extremely eye-catching at first glance.

Zanxing quietly asked Mendong in front: “Junior Brother, what kind of flower is this?”

Mendong’s small face wrinkled up. After thinking carefully for a while, he shook his head: “I don’t know either.”