The path outside the city was rugged and choked with dust. Wang Cheng, in the guise of a 50-year-old man, feigned heavy panting and fatigue every now and then, causing Liu Yuexin, who was leading the way, to turn back frequently with concern.
"Uncle... can you make it? Please, let me carry the luggage for you," she offered sincerely.
"It's fine, it's fine. I can still go on," he declined with a kind smile, but in his heart, he was thoroughly enjoying the view before him.
Liu Yuexin's round, firm buttocks swayed rhythmically and seductively with every step she took. He used his [Divine Diagnostic Eye] to secretly "admire" her figure and found that after last night's "treatment," the Qi in her body was circulating perfectly, making her skin appear even more radiant and luscious than before.
'Truly my masterpiece...' he smiled inwardly with pride.
Not long after, the two arrived at the foot of the mountain where the Black Wind Cliff was located.
The scene before them was as formidable as its name suggested. It was a sheer cliff face made of pitch-black stone, eroded by the wind into strange, jagged shapes. The sound of the wind whistling through the crevices sounded like the shrieking of ghosts and demons, making the atmosphere incredibly eerie.
"This is the place," Wang Cheng said, looking up.
"Yes, sir," Liu Yuexin nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "Uncle, please wait here. I will go up and scout ahead."
Without waiting, she gently channeled Qi to the soles of her feet before launching herself up the rocky face, moving as nimbly as a swallow. Amidst the violent gusts of wind, her stability remained unshaken.
Wang Cheng watched her from below with a satisfied smile. 'Having such a capable assistant really makes things comfortable.'
Liu Yuexin climbed halfway up. Just as she was about to leap across to a ledge on the other side—suddenly! A grey shadow shot out from a rocky cavern with lightning speed!
"Watch out!" Wang Cheng shouted a warning.
Liu Yuexin was startled, but her increased power allowed her reflexes to be much sharper than before. She kicked off the wall, retreating to land on a safe footing just in the nick of time.
The thing that attacked her was a "Rock-Scaled Serpent," a low-level spirit beast that inhabited this cliff. It had a body the color of stone and scales as hard as iron armor.
Hiss!
The Rock-Scaled Serpent sprayed a jet of green poison, but she dodged it. The venom landed on the stone floor, instantly hissing into smoke and leaving scorch marks, demonstrating its potency.
Liu Yuexin immediately drew her personal sword, her eyes resolute. "Uncle, stay back! I will handle it!"
She dashed towards the beast, initiating a fierce battle. The sound of her sword clashing against the hard scales rang out clob-clang across the area. Although her power had increased greatly, her experience in fighting such vicious beasts was still lacking, making it difficult for her to find its weakness.
Wang Cheng stood with his arms crossed, watching the fight calmly. He immediately activated his [Divine Diagnostic Eye] on the serpent.
[Rock-Scaled Serpent]
[Power Level: Qi Gathering Stage - Level 7]
[Strengths: Hard scales covering the entire body, Poison attack]
[Weakness: Three scales under the chin... the only soft spot connected to the main nerves.]
All the information appeared clearly in his mind.
"Little girl!" he shouted. "Don't attack its body directly! The scales are too hard!"
Hearing this, Liu Yuexin changed her strategy. She used her superior speed to lure it into missing its attacks.
"Bait it to lift its head!" Wang Cheng yelled. "Wait for the moment it opens its mouth to spray poison!"
She followed his instructions obediently. She feigned an opening, revealing a gap in her defense. The Rock-Scaled Serpent took the bait. It lunged forward, intending to bite and spray poison all at once!
"Now! Stab right under its chin!"
At the very moment it lifted its head and opened its mouth wide, Liu Yuexin channeled all her power into the tip of her sword. She slid under its attack before thrusting upward with all her might!
Shling!
The sword tip pierced through the three soft scales under the chin, sinking in all the way to the hilt!
"Gyyyaaaasss!"
The serpent let out a final howl. Its body thrashed violently before going still.
Liu Yuexin stood panting slightly. She looked at the carcass in disbelief before turning back to look at Wang Cheng with eyes full of supreme worship!
Uncle... was not only a divine doctor but also possessed a profound knowledge of combat and the weaknesses of spirit beasts! This man... was truly unfathomably deep!
"Well done, little girl," Wang Cheng walked over to praise her, patting her shoulder gently. "Don't let the carcass go to waste... In its head, there is a 'Beast Core.' It is an excellent ingredient for alchemy."
After harvesting the Beast Core, the two continued their search for the target herb. Not long after, Wang Cheng's sharp eyes spotted a plant emitting a glowing silver light on the highest and most dangerous ledge.
"Found it! The Silver Moon Grass!"
Liu Yuexin looked up with joy. This time, no obstacles stood in her way. She soared up rapidly and successfully picked the Silver Moon Grass.
"I got it, Uncle!" she shouted down gleefully as she prepared to climb back down.
Suddenly... a deep, cold voice rang out from the mouth of a cave not far from where she stood.
"Heh... How lucky. We waited for so long, only to have someone harvest it for us."
The silhouettes of two young men in black robes embroidered with a Blood Cloud pattern emerged. They looked at the Silver Moon Grass in Liu Yuexin's hand with greedy eyes.
"Little lady... you did a great job!" one of them said with a sneer. "Now... be a good girl and hand over that Silver Moon Grass to us!"