Chapter 193: Lacking
"This is an unexpected windfall."
Lin Feng looked at the pill in his hand with a satisfied smile.
Although this stuff used to be like candy to him, he was in the Mortal Realm now. With most of the necessary ingredients missing, refining such a pill was quite difficult.
'Although this is useless to me, I can give it to Xue'er. She's the one who needs it,' he mused.
Even though Su Yanxue wasn't a Martial Artist, the Body Tempering Pill would still have a significant effect on an ordinary person.
After packing everything away, Lin Feng looked up at the lone fruit on the Red Flame Tree, which was dozens of meters tall.
The Red Flame Fruit!
He licked his lips.
The Red Flame Fruit was a Spiritual Medicine that could only be cultivated in the medicinal fields of hidden sects. A wild one like this was incredibly alluring to him in his current state.
Lin Feng took a deep breath and leaped, landing at the base of the Red Flame Tree.
He bent his knees, gathering power, and then shot upwards!
A height of dozens of meters, an extremely difficult feat for an ordinary person, was nothing more than the blink of an eye for Lin Feng.
His hands shot out like claws, reaching for the Red Flame Fruit.
It felt warm and smooth in his grasp. A thrill of joy went through Lin Feng; it had been a long time since he'd touched such a Spirit Fruit.
'With this, once I get back and find some aged herbs, I can refine some pills that will be extremely useful to me right now.'
He reached out and plucked the Red Flame Fruit.
But just as he was about to leave, a peculiar fragrance wafted to his nose.
He frowned slightly. 'This scent…'
'What is that?'
Lin Feng looked around in confusion when he suddenly noticed a distant slope.
Lin Feng hurried over.
On the slope was a dense field of flowers, and in the middle of it, a unique plant was in full bloom.
The plant was lush with branches and leaves, standing several meters tall. At its peak were two vibrant green shoots, so lush they looked ready to drip, exuding a faint, clear fragrance.
'Is that Qingming Grass?'
Joy flashed across his face as Lin Feng immediately crouched down and picked the Qingming Grass.
He carefully put the Qingming Grass away. Although it wasn't as precious as the Red Flame Fruit, it was still an invaluable find for Lin Feng.
Lin Feng stood up, and after confirming there was no danger nearby and completely erasing his tracks, he quietly left this place of potential trouble.
'After all, I've been gone long enough. Someone in Xijing City must have noticed my absence. It's possible they'll take this opportunity to move against Su Yanxue and the others.'
Lin Feng had a meticulous mind and considered every possibility.
On his way out, he also conveniently picked some rare herbs like reishi, Polygonum multiflorum, and Siberian Solomon's Seal, preparing to use them for Alchemy when he returned.
If used properly, these items could speed up his recovery.
Compared to the numerous dangers he faced on his way in, Lin Feng didn't encounter any beasts or Ancient Martial Artists on his way out.
However, he didn't let his guard down. Instead of rushing forward, he used the terrain to conceal his figure, moving slowly and stealthily.
Finally, before night fell completely, he found a sheltered place to rest in Wo Hu Mountain.
He started a bonfire and ate some wild fruits and dried rations before leaning against the rock wall to rest and recover his strength.
Although he had traveled for a full day, thanks to his deliberate control, his physical condition was already nearing its peak again.
After all, his strength at the Mid Stage of Innate was no joke.
Lin Feng closed his eyes and regulated his breathing. He mobilized his Inner Strength, circulating it through his meridians to nourish his body and muscles, while also helping to restore his depleted True Essence and spiritual energy.
Time passed, bit by bit.
The moon slowly climbed up from the horizon, and the night deepened.
The silence of the deep mountains was occasionally broken by the roars of wild beasts.
Lin Feng opened his eyes, feeling the abundant True Essence and spiritual energy within him. A faint smile touched his lips; he could feel his strength had recovered even more.
"I wonder how Xue'er is doing now," Lin Feng muttered to himself.
He stood up and stretched his limbs, and a series of CRACKLES and POPS echoed out.
"At my current speed, I should be able to leave the mountain by tomorrow afternoon and be back by evening," Lin Feng muttered.
He wasn't too far from the valley now.
Just then, Lin Feng suddenly heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he instantly looked in the direction of the sound.
"Who's there?" he called out sharply, his gaze fixed warily on the darkness.
A blurry figure slowly emerged from the darkness, as if appearing out of thin air.
A chill flickered in Lin Feng's eyes.
'This person means trouble. Anyone appearing in these deep mountains now must have come prepared.'
"Who might you be, Sir? Why not show yourself and have a word?" Lin Feng asked coolly.
"Heh heh."
A hoarse voice drifted out: "You are quite vigilant, young friend. The night is cold, and this old man is too old to bear the night wind. I wonder if you could do me the convenience of letting this old man rest here for the night."
Following the voice, a thin, frail old man appeared in Lin Feng's line of sight. His cheeks were sunken, and he had a sickly appearance.
"Who are you?"
Lin Feng narrowed his eyes. He could sense that this old man's cultivation was not low; he was at least at the Peak of Mid-Stage Innate.
'A Martial Artist of such strength claims he's too old to bear the wind? Does he really take me for some greenhorn out on his first adventure?'
"Heh heh."
The old man shook his head and sighed.
"Who I am is not important. Since you are suspicious, young friend, this old man won't bother you any further."
With that, the old man turned and started to walk away.
But after just a few steps, he suddenly stopped. His back was hunched and his whole body trembled as if he were in immense pain.
"COUGH, COUGH."
He began to cough violently, looking just like an ordinary old man.
Lin Feng watched the old man's back with a deep frown. He felt that something was off, but he couldn't put his finger on what it was.
This old man gave him a strange, unsettling feeling, but he couldn't pinpoint the source of that strangeness.
So, even though the old man didn't seem dangerous, Lin Feng did not lower his guard.
'The hidden sects are full of powerful individuals. This old man might just be one of their experts.'
Lin Feng watched the old man warily, guarding against a sudden attack.
After a moment, the old man stopped coughing. He slowly turned around, raised his head to look at Lin Feng, and a kindly smile appeared on his face.
But his smile looked so pale and weak that it sent a chill down Lin Feng's spine.
Because the old man was now walking towards him, one step at a time.
With every step he took, the aura he exuded surged, until finally, the pressure became so immense that Lin Feng found it hard to breathe.