Xuanwu War Sovereign

Qin Feng’s face turned livid.

The Spirit Garden had seven Spirit Medicines. Losing even one would land him in huge trouble.

Not only would Points be deducted, but more importantly, he would lose Merit Points.

Qin Feng currently had zero Merit Points. If any were deducted, he wouldn’t be able to keep his status as a Fifth-level Inner Sect Disciple of the Medicine King Hall. He would be directly demoted to a Fourth-level Outer Sect Disciple.

"Where did Zhao Yuan go? What is he doing?" Qin Feng’s expression was grim as he stared at Luan Xiaochuan.

Luan Xiaochuan gave a bitter smile. "Junior Brother Zhao is waiting outside!"

Qin Feng roared, "Have him come in!"

Having just successfully cultivated the Little Cloud Rain Technique, Qin Feng had been in an excellent mood. But now, a nameless fire of rage was burning in his heart.

Hurrying into the Cave Mansion, Zhao Yuan saw the black-robed Cave Master with his sharp, piercing gaze. His face went pale with fright, and he dropped to his knees. "Cave Master, your subordinate has been derelict in his duty! Please, punish me!"

Resisting the urge to send Zhao Yuan flying with a kick, Qin Feng took a deep breath, trying to calm his irritation.

"What exactly happened? Which Spirit Medicine was lost?"

"It was the five-hundred-year-old Red Dragon Yellow Ginseng!" Terror filled Zhao Yuan’s face. With the sudden disappearance of this Spirit Medicine, he bore the greatest responsibility.

"Red Dragon Yellow Ginseng!"

A five-hundred-year-old Red Dragon Yellow Ginseng was a precious Spirit Medicine that replenished Qi, nourished Yin, and was used for Strengthening the Foundation and Nourishing the Essence.

If a Martial Artist consumed too much Essence Blood, just a small slice could fully replenish it.

His face grim, Qin Feng strode out of the Bishui Cave and arrived at the edge of the Spirit Garden. Now, only six Spirit Medicines remained inside.

The one with black leaves that could move freely in the soil like an old man was the thousand-year-old Profound Yin Ginseng.

The one with a rhizome like a Bai Yu flying dragon, blooming with pale yellow pistils and emitting a strong, fiery Yang Qi, was the Jade Dragon Primordial Yang Flower.

On a tree stump not far away grew a single Cloud Patterned Forest Love Grass.

Under another rock grew the Yin-Yang Lotus. The one that seemed to breathe like a gallbladder was the Gentiana, and there was also the Double-headed Polygonum multiflorum.

Only the Red Dragon Yellow Ginseng, which he remembered having lush, tender, and vibrant green leaves, had vanished without a trace.

Qin Feng glared at Zhao Yuan. "What exactly happened!"

"Your subordinate doesn’t know either. The Medicine Boy in charge of guarding the Spirit Garden said he only saw a flash of a small, white shadow, and then the Red Dragon Yellow Ginseng was inexplicably gone!"

"’A small, white shadow?’" Qin Feng’s face was dark, a cold light glinting in his eyes.

’Could a Spirit Beast from Heavenly Red Peak have stolen and eaten the Red Dragon Yellow Ginseng?’

So-called Spirit Beasts: those that were domesticated were called Spirit Beasts, while those in the wild were Fierce Beasts.

Docile and tamable creatures were Spirit Beasts. Those that were disobedient, ferocious, and cruel were Fierce Beasts.

There were numerous Spirit Beasts on Heavenly Red Peak. Because of their docile nature, they were allowed to live and cultivate on the peak.

Zhao Yuan lowered his head and said in a small voice, "I don’t think so. There are no Spirit Beasts on our Heavenly Red Peak with white fur or feathers, except for one—the White-feathered Crane!"

"After the Spirit Medicine was lost, your subordinate found a trace of blood near the Spirit Garden. It seems to be from an unfamiliar Spirit Beast!"

"’Blood?’" Qin Feng’s gaze shifted, his anger pausing for a moment as he pondered. ’Could it be that the Spirit Beast was injured, so it ran into my Spirit Garden and stole the Red Dragon Yellow Ginseng to eat?’

Qin Feng knew that Red Dragon Yellow Ginseng was a potent medicine for replenishing Essence Blood.

Moreover, this particular one was five hundred years old.

"Where is the bloodstain? Take me to see it!"

"Cave Master, please follow your subordinate!" Knowing he was in deep trouble, Zhao Yuan was eager to prove his worth.

A few dozen paces later, Qin Feng arrived at a dense patch of medicinal herbs on the shore of Celestial Pool Lake. These were thick clusters of herbs with verdant, lotus-like leaves and purple stems. Their medicinal aroma was rich, and their dense foliage formed clumps large enough for a small Spirit Beast to hide within.

This was a type of herb called Purple Peony. When it bloomed, its flowers looked like purple leaves and gave off a unique medicinal fragrance.

On one Purple Peony plant, Qin Feng found a drop of crimson blood. There were other scattered bloodstains on the leaves of nearby Purple Peonies as well.

An image appeared in Qin Feng’s mind: a small, wounded beast, dragging an injured leg, whimpering as it carried the Red Dragon Yellow Ginseng away.

Qin Feng extended a hand, lightly touched the bloodstain, and brought his finger to his nose to take a faint sniff.

A faint, ethereal fragrance wafted to him. As he smelled it, Qin Feng felt as if he could see a peerless woman in white gracefully approaching.

He saw her, her hair piled like dark clouds, her face a perfect oval with cheeks like peach blossoms. Her brows were faint like distant spring mountains, her waist as supple as a willow. She was like a crabapple blossom basking in the sun, her alluring phoenix eyes conveying a myriad of charms with every glance.

Truly like a Goddess of the Nine Heavens descending to the Jasper Pool.

Qin Feng shook his head, and the bewitching vision in his mind dispersed.

Qin Feng was all too familiar with this scent.

He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’So it’s that kind of Spirit Beast. No wonder. Only a creature like that, or a scoundrel like Qian Kai, could ignore the Prohibitions of the various peaks and caves and brazenly steal Spirit Medicine!’

He mused, ’After all, that kind of being is hailed as a divine species that truly seizes the Creation of heaven and earth!’

’The bloodline in this bloodstain is pure. It’s clearly a pure-blooded one!’

Qin Feng chuckled to himself. ’But from the looks of it, this one is probably still a juvenile. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been injured by someone and run to my Spirit Garden to steal Spirit Medicine!’

Now that he knew what had stolen the Spirit Medicine, Qin Feng’s expression calmed. He waved his hand, no longer blaming Zhao Yuan.

Zhao Yuan looked as if he had received a grand pardon.

Qin Feng’s gaze shifted as he pondered how to lure out and capture the medicine thief. But he quickly shook his head. The most important thing right now was how to make up for the loss of the Spirit Medicine. Otherwise, not only would he lose his status as a Fifth-level Inner Sect Disciple, but this Bishui Cave Mansion would likely change hands.

Just then, Xu Jie hurried over.

"Cave Master, the Inspector from the Medicine King Hall has arrived!"

"A Medicine King Hall Inspector? Why are they here now?" A cold glint appeared in Qin Feng’s eyes. ’Who leaked the news?’

The Medicine King Hall Inspectors were part of a body dedicated to inspecting the various mountains and caves, primarily responsible for monitoring the growth of Spirit Medicines.

A Spirit Medicine had just been lost on Heavenly Red Peak, and the Inspector from the Medicine King Hall had already received the news. It was obvious that there were spies from other factions on the peak.

Qin Feng gave a cold smile. Several hundred paces later, he saw the Inspector.

It was a young man in golden robes, exuding an air of nobility. His gaze was icy, and he was flanked by two patrol guards with indifferent expressions.

He turned and saw Qin Feng approach, a hint of a sneer in his eyes.

’This one doesn’t come with good intentions,’ Qin Feng thought to himself, but he put a smile on his face and walked toward the golden-robed youth.

Beside him, Xu Jie’s face was plastered with a smile as he said to Qin Feng, "Cave Master, this is Lord Wei Qinghuang, a Fifth-level Patrol Envoy from the Medicine King Hall. Lord Wei is a favorite of Elder Su Mu, one of our Medicine King Hall’s Four Great Elders!"

"Lord Wei, this is our Bishui Cave’s Cave Master, Elder Qin Feng!"

Qin Feng nodded, a smile on his face. "So it’s the esteemed Inspector from the main hall. Please, come inside, my lord!"

Wei Qinghuang looked Qin Feng up and down, then suddenly sneered. "Alright, Master Qin, cut the pleasantries. Your Heavenly Red Peak’s Spirit Garden has lost a Spirit Medicine. This is a grave offense. You’d best come with us to the Medicine King Hall!"

Wei Qinghuang stared coldly at the black-robed youth. He thought to himself, ’So this is the Elder from the Cyan Dragon Academy who injured Senior Brother Ao’s younger brother. He’s as young and arrogant as they say!’

’But now that you’re a disciple of the Medicine King Hall, you’ve entered my territory. And in my territory, if you’re a dragon, you’d better coil up. If you’re a tiger, you’d better lie down!’

A flash of nameless anger instantly ignited in Qin Feng’s eyes.

’Pleasantries? This Wei fellow is far too arrogant.’

The smile vanished from his face in an instant. Qin Feng’s gaze, sharp as a sword, fell upon Wei Qinghuang. He said stiffly, "Wei. As far as I know, Inspectors only have the authority to investigate, not to arrest disciples of the Medicine King Hall, correct?"