Chapter 3578 — North Island Market
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
At the sight of Wei Zhao, Senior Kufi could not help saying in surprise, "Junior Brother Lin, why have you come again? Is there something else?"
Wei Zhao nodded and asked, "It's like this, Senior Ku—there's one more thing I'd like to ask you about. Do you know where I might find Devour-Heart Linglong Grass?"
"Devour-Heart Linglong Grass?" Senior Kufi frowned and thought it over, then said, none too certain, "I have heard it mentioned before. They say this herb is exceedingly rare—nowhere else around here has it, only one place."
"What place?" Wei Zhao asked. The heart he had kept hanging finally settled. So long as the herb existed, the matter could be managed.
"The back mountain! But that is a forbidden ground of the sect. Ordinarily no one may enter; only on the twenty-fifth of each month are Welcome Pavilion disciples allowed in for trials—the aim being to sharpen your practical combat skills and thereby seek a chance at a breakthrough." Senior Kufi explained it all, then asked, somewhat puzzled, "But come to think of it, Devour-Heart Linglong Grass is supposed to be a highly toxic herb. What does Junior Brother Lin want with it?"
"To be frank with you, Senior Ku, I intend to refine a few pills for myself to aid my cultivation." Wei Zhao gave that answer, but said nothing of the Heavenly Dao Golden Core. For one thing, though he and Senior Kufi were of the same camp, they were not yet close enough for that; for another, even if he told him, it would be of no use—Senior Kufi could not help with it. And if word leaked out and reached the wrong ears, it might well bring unforeseen trouble.
As for his identity as an alchemist, even if Wei Zhao said nothing, Kang Jingming would spread it soon enough—so there was no need to hide it.
"So Junior Brother Lin, you're an alchemist!" Senior Kufi exclaimed, startled out of his usual manner—and all the more astonished at heart. After all, an alchemist, honored as he might be, was in truth far weaker in strength than other experts of his level. Yet Wei Zhao had plainly defeated Meng Zhou, a Heaven Rank Great Perfection expert, in a single move. This Junior Brother Lin truly kept his depths hidden, springing one surprise after another!
Wei Zhao answered only with a faint smile and said no more.
"Still, that's just as well. Since you can refine pills yourself, even if they're not the finest, they'll make up somewhat for the lack of cultivation resources." Senior Kufi was genuinely glad for Wei Zhao's sake. "But I must remind you of one thing, Junior Brother Lin: those pills of the mortal cultivation world have very limited effect on us. So you'd best put your mind to cultivation; alchemy won't be of much help."
He felt some guilt over Meng Jueming's withholding of resources from Wei Zhao and his two companions, and over his own powerlessness to stop it. Now that he knew Wei Zhao meant to refine pills himself, he volunteered, "Whatever materials you need for alchemy, just say the word. I may not be able to help you much, but I have after all been on Cloudstep Island a long while—even if I don't have the materials at hand, I can at least give you some counsel."