This canyon had been deserted for a long time, and although it was dangerous, it also harbored various rare spirit herbs that were hard to find elsewhere.
Beyond the first-rank varieties, the two soon collected several types of second-rank spirit herbs. If this place could be developed, it would make an excellent herb garden for the clan.
Even if they couldn't exploit it immediately, Wang Hao still had his farm. Simply obtaining the seeds was a major gain. He had gathered every herb needed for the Foundation-Establishing Pill except the crucial Ningyuan Fruit, and he'd also found several of the herbs used in the Qi-Gathering Pill for the early Foundation-Establishing stage.
In addition to herbs, they discovered second-rank spirit trees. Unfortunately, those trees were incredibly tough. Wang Hao's sword could only carve a one-inch nick. Felling a single tree would take at least three days—time they couldn't afford. However, if they couldn't escape, they would have plenty of time to deal with the trees later.
Turning these finds in to the clan could earn them tens of thousands of contribution points—a key factor in securing Foundation-Establishing Pills. So Wang Hao still wanted to bring back the spirit trees, even though he already had the seeds. The more chances to guarantee a pill, the better. If they failed to find the Ningyuan Fruit, the clan would be their last hope.
"Ah, I didn't bring enough jade boxes for herb gathering. I regret not bringing more!" Wang Yanfeng sighed, staring at the vast swath of Bloodlife Grass carpeting the canyon floor. This herb was essential for healing pills and extremely valuable—hundreds of mature plants worth over two thousand spirit stones lay before them.
"Only harvest the mature ones," Wang Hao said. "Even if we brought more boxes, our storage rings couldn't hold everything. In any case, the plants are here. If we ever have the chance again, we can return for more." He had his farm for steady supplies; any surplus was minimal. Besides, if they could haul off every herb and spirit tree from this canyon, they could sell it all and buy a Foundation-Establishing Pill at the next auction—no Ningyuan Fruit needed.
In just one day's walk through the canyon, Wang Hao and Yanfeng filled their storage rings. Whenever they found something rare or valuable, they had to discard lower-value items. Even the Golden-Eyed Duck carried a large bundle on its back.
Wang Hao checked the map. The "relic" marker lay very close. He asked Wang Yanfeng to leave the herbs behind and press on.
The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. When they arrived at a wooden hut, they exchanged glances.
Wang Yanfeng, who had once been mocked by Wang Hao, finally had his chance at revenge. He smiled and asked, "Is this the building you saw?"
"How was I to know it would look like this? At the time I only caught a glimpse from above!" Wang Hao studied the cabin. "Someone must have built it after falling into this canyon, like us."
At this, Wang Yanfeng grew serious. "If so, we may never get out." He pointed at the hut. "They built a house—meaning they lived here a long time."
"Eighth Uncle, don't be so pessimistic," Wang Hao urged. "The house still stands, so there are no high-rank beasts here. That's good news! Besides, the owner might have left. If we search for clues, we'll definitely find a way out."
"Well thought," Wang Yanfeng agreed. He began investigating.
The cabin was small—just two rooms. Soon they found an inscription carved on a black stone beside the bed.
It revealed that the owner was a wandering cultivator named Lan Mu. While on a hunting expedition in the Duan Yuan Mountains, he'd encountered a high-rank second-order beast and been forced to separate from his group. With no other choice, he had jumped into this canyon.
Lan Mu wrote that his spirit beast died saving him, and he lamented the loss.
He went on to describe that the valley was rich in spirit plants and had no high-rank beasts. If one took care around venomous insects, there was no great danger. He'd lived here for ten years and reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement—but never found an exit.
When he'd almost lost hope, he decided to explore the canyon floor and ventured nearly ten thousand li. There he found a lake several li across. In its center stood a small island bearing a Ningyuan Fruit Tree. He'd been overjoyed—eating the raw Ningyuan Fruit was risky but could boost one's Foundation-Establishing success rate by 20%. If he could establish the Foundation, he might fly out of the canyon.
But Lan Mu discovered a mid-rank second-order aquatic monster guarding the tree. Too weak to fight it, he was grievously wounded in two attempts.
Finally, with the fruit nearly ripe, he resolved to risk his life to gather it. If he failed, he would be trapped in the valley forever. So he carved everything onto the stone. If someone succeeded, they were to destroy the inscription. If not, he hoped a future visitor would collect his bones.
"It seems Lan Mu failed!" Wang Hao sighed. The information about the Ningyuan Fruit had thrilled him, but the guardian beast discouraged them.
Wang Yanfeng also felt deflated. After a long pause he said, "Let's explore the place first and try to find an exit. If there isn't one, we can follow Lan Mu's plan: cultivate to the ninth level of Qi Refinement and then try to seize the Ningyuan Fruit together. Maybe we'll succeed?"
Realizing neither of them had exceptional spirit roots, he laughed wryly: "This place is so resource-rich. Maybe the Golden-Eyed Duck will advance to High First-Rank before us and carry us out! Then we can ask our clan's Foundation-Establishing experts to help retrieve the Ningyuan Fruit!"
This was the only plan they had for now.
Fortunately, Wang Hao always carried an alchemy furnace. Both were alchemists, and with so many herbs at the canyon's bottom—and his farm—they wouldn't lack cultivation resources. It would only take a few years to reach the ninth level of Qi Refinement.
Although Lan Mu's old cabin still stood, it was no longer habitable. The two built neighboring wooden shacks and erected a larger shed for supplies. The spot lay beside the stream for drinking water, and the surrounding forest provided wild fruits. If Lan Mu had survived over ten years here, Wang Hao—with his farm—would have no worry.
Thus Wang Hao and Yanfeng settled in, cultivating and practicing spells. When pills ran low, they foraged herbs and refined them. If an ingredient was missing, Wang Hao quietly dipped into his farm's yield.