The next morning, at the first light of dawn.
Song Xunzhen had slept lightly all night and woke up early.
After preparing everything she needed, she pushed open the door and stepped out.
The morning air was chilly. She tightened the thin disciple robes around her, got her bearings, and then walked briskly toward the side gate that led out of the Sect.
Heifeng Valley was located at the edge of the mountain range surrounding the Tianxuan Sect, very close to the Misty Forest. It was shrouded in mist year-round and was known for producing several types of low-level Spirit Grass and spirit beasts, making it a training ground for the Outer Sect Disciples and some Inner Sect Disciples of the Tianxuan Sect.
Due to her low cultivation level, the original owner of her body had never been to such a distant place. Song Xunzhen could only rely on the information she had overheard in the Marketplace yesterday and the simple map provided by the Sect to find her way.
After exiting the Sect’s side gate and stepping onto the winding mountain path, the surrounding scenery gradually became more primitive and remote.
Towering ancient trees blotted out the sky, and a faint mist permeated the forest. From the distance, the indistinct roars of beasts and cries of birds could be heard from time to time, exuding a wild aura far from human civilization.
Song Xunzhen’s heart couldn’t help but beat a little faster. With her cultivation at the mere Qi Refining Third Layer, she was like an ant in a place like this. The slightest danger could lead to her utter doom.
She silently gave herself a pep talk while focusing her mind, keeping her eyes and ears wide open.
According to the map and the information she had gathered, Heifeng Valley was to the southwest of the Sect.
Along the way, she did her best to avoid any paths that looked potentially dangerous, choosing to stick to the main road.
She encountered a few groups of disciples who were also out on missions. They all cast surprised glances at the lone Song Xunzhen, but no one approached to talk.
Song Xunzhen was happy with this arrangement and walked past them without a second glance.
The deeper she went, the fewer people she saw.
The mountain path became rugged and difficult to traverse, and the surrounding woods grew denser and more somber.
After walking for about four hours, the sun rose higher, and the mist in the forest gradually dissipated.
Based on the map and the silhouette of two horn-like peaks in the distance, Song Xunzhen judged that she must be approaching the Heifeng Valley area.
She heightened her vigilance and moved more quietly. According to what those disciples had said last night, the Medicine-Seeking Bee nest was near the Moon-Gazing Flower Thicket in the southern part of the valley.
She skirted around the areas marked on the map as possibly inhabited by powerful Demon Beasts and carefully made her way toward the southern part of the valley.
After another fifteen minutes, a faint, peculiar sweet fragrance suddenly drifted over with the wind.
Song Xunzhen’s spirits lifted, and she followed the scent. After passing through a dense thicket of shrubs, the view suddenly opened up.
On a sun-facing gentle slope, vast swathes of pale purple flowers were in full bloom. Their petals were shaped like crescent moons, shimmering faintly in the sunlight. The fragrance was emanating from these flowers.
Moon-gazing Flowers! This is the place!
A wave of excitement washed over Song Xunzhen, but she immediately suppressed it. She crouched down, hiding behind the shrubs, and observed carefully.
Amidst the flowers, she could indeed see some bee-sized insects busily flitting about.
Their bodies were a pale gold, with clear silver stripes on their wings. They produced a soft buzzing sound as they flew, quite different from ordinary bees.
They were Silver-Striped Bees, which meant the Medicine-Seeking Bees must be nearby!
She held her breath, her gaze rapidly scanning the area around the flower thicket.
Soon, on the trunk of a crooked old tree at the edge of the thicket, she discovered a beehive about the size of a bowl.
A few bees, slightly larger and darker than the Silver-Striped Bees, with even brighter and more complex silver patterns on their wings, were flying around the hive, patrolling vigilantly.
Medicine-Seeking Bees!
Song Xunzhen’s heart pounded in her chest.
Found it, I really found it!
But now came the hard part. How was she to obtain the bee pupae without alerting the swarm?
Although these Medicine-Seeking Bees were not strong individually, a swarm attack would be more than she could handle. Moreover, a huge commotion could attract other, more dangerous Demon Beasts.
She carefully observed the hive’s location and the flight paths of the patrolling Medicine-Seeking Bees, her mind racing.
A direct assault was definitely not an option.
Using smoke or fire?
Setting aside the fact that she didn’t know how, doing so would likely destroy the pupae.
The best method was to lure the tiger away from the mountain—take advantage of their distraction, quickly grab the pupae, and then flee immediately.
Time ticked by, and the sun climbed higher in the sky.
Song Xunzhen remained hidden behind the shrubs, not daring to move a muscle, her body growing stiff.
But she didn’t budge an inch, quietly waiting for an opportunity.
After an unknown amount of time, a rustling sound, accompanied by the low grunts of some kind of beast, suddenly came from the woods not far from the other side of the flower thicket.
This sudden development startled both Song Xunzhen and the patrolling Medicine-Seeking Bees.
A Demon Beast covered in sharp quills and built like a wild boar ambled out of the woods. It seemed to have been attracted by the scent of the Moon-gazing Flowers and was heading straight for the thicket.
“A Spine-tusk Boar!” Song Xunzhen recognized this low-level Demon Beast. Her heart tightened, and she instinctively ducked lower.
The patrolling Medicine-Seeking Bees immediately let out a sharp buzzing sound, clearly viewing the Demon Beast that had invaded their territory as a threat.
In an instant, more than a dozen Medicine-Seeking Bees flew out of the hive and swarmed toward the Spine-tusk Boar, launching an attack!
The Spine-tusk Boar had thick skin and tough flesh, but the stingers of the Medicine-Seeking Bees seemed to cause it considerable pain and irritation. It let out an angry roar, swinging its tusks and claws to drive away the swarm. For a moment, the area by the flower thicket descended into chaos.
A perfect opportunity!
Song Xunzhen’s eyes lit up. This was a godsent chance, well worth her long wait!
Without further hesitation, she saw her opening when the patrolling Medicine-Seeking Bees near the hive were all drawn away. She shot out from behind the shrubs and dashed toward the crooked old tree at top speed.
Her heart hammered like a drum, and all the blood in her body seemed to rush to her head.
Reaching the tree in a few strides, she used both her hands and feet to scramble up the slanted trunk, getting close to the hive.
The entrance to the hive was small, and she could even smell the faint scent of honey coming from within.
She hugged the trunk tightly with one arm and took out a hatchet from her Storage Ring with the other, quickly hacking a small hole in the side of the hive.
Through the small opening, she could clearly see several plump, white, wriggling bee pupae lying inside.
Success!
Suppressing her excitement, she dropped the hatchet, raised her hand, and used her Storage Ring to collect the pupae.
Once that was done, she quickly slid down the trunk. Without daring to look at the swarm still entangled with the Spine-tusk Boar, she turned and ran.
She fled back the way she came, running at what was likely the fastest speed of her life.
Behind her, the sharp buzzing of the Medicine-Seeking Bees and the roars of the Spine-tusk Boar seemed to grow distant.
She didn’t dare to look back, focusing only on running for her life. She didn’t even notice the branches scratching her clothes and skin, and her lungs burned as if on fire.
Only after running a very long distance and confirming that nothing was chasing her did she dare to stop, leaning against a large tree. She bent over, gasping for air, her entire body drenched in sweat.
After resting for a good while, her racing heart slowly calmed down.
With trembling hands, she took the bee pupae out of her Storage Ring one by one and placed them in a small wooden box.
One… two… three…
There were ten in total!
Medicine-Seeking Bees did not lay eggs easily; getting ten was an unexpected delight.
Ten plump, white Medicine-Seeking Bee pupae lay safely inside, wriggling slightly.
She had succeeded. She had really done it!
She quickly put the wooden box back into her Storage Ring, her heart soaring. An immense sense of joy and accomplishment instantly washed away all her fatigue and lingering fear.
These ten pupae were her first bucket of real gold on the path to escaping her predicament and becoming a pay-to-win powerhouse