Chapter 079: Plundering the Spiritual Herbs

  A grand hall of stars stretched before them, its ceiling adorned with a dazzling array of twinkling lights. If not for the surrounding architecture, one might truly believe they were standing amidst the Milky Way, a dreamlike and surreal experience.

  Two figures suddenly appeared in the hall, which had stood in silence for countless years. The once-lonely atmosphere now carried a faint trace of vitality, though a pervasive sense of sorrow lingered.

  Yang Tian's gaze wandered over the shimmering stars around him, his resolve to become a powerhouse growing stronger. Only the strong could stand among the stars, plucking them from the sky and gazing down upon the heavens.

  "Even a branch of the sect is this magnificent," Yang Tian murmured, unable to help but sigh. To refine stars into treasures and manifest a starry hall—this was the work of a supreme powerhouse.

  "Even though it's just a branch, it far surpasses any super sect of today," Meng Hao nodded, his eyes scanning the hall with a hint of fervor.

  This starry hall was a treasure in itself. The Meng family had tried many times to access its core, but no one had succeeded in claiming it.

  The two exchanged few words as they moved forward. Meng Hao seemed familiar with the place, leading the way with confidence. After half an hour, they arrived at a medicinal garden.

  "This is the Starry Sky Sect's herb garden. It now belongs to our family," Meng Hao said, slowing his pace as they entered the garden.

  The garden spanned a thousand acres, though it paled in comparison to the Array Sect's. However, the Starry Sky Sect specialized in stellar energy, and most spiritual herbs were of little use to them.

  "Why are most of these just sprouts?" Yang Tian muttered, his eyes scanning the garden. High-grade herbs were rare, and it was unlikely Meng Hao would share them with him.

  "These herbs can only grow in environments rich in ancient qi. They can't survive in the outside world, so our family has cultivated some here," Meng Hao explained, smiling as he turned to Yang Tian. "I can give you a few of these herbs if you'd like."

  "Oh? Thank you!" Yang Tian grinned, scratching his head. As Meng Hao turned away, Yang Tian tentatively asked, "Could I also take some of the sprouts? I'd like to try cultivating them to see if they'll grow."

  "Sprouts?" Meng Hao paused, giving Yang Tian a strange look. However, not wanting to create tension, he smiled and said, "Sure, but only one of each kind."

  "Thank you, Brother Meng!" Yang Tian quickly expressed his gratitude and began gathering the sprouts. He had the Ancestral Dragon Ring, and though he wasn't sure if the herbs would survive outside, it was worth a try. These herbs were incredibly rare, and even if they were young, cultivating them could yield immense wealth.

  "You'll regret it when they all die," Meng Hao thought to himself, watching Yang Tian with a smirk.

  After about two hours, Yang Tian had collected nearly a thousand different types of herbs, all rare and valuable. He stored them in the Ancestral Dragon Ring, hopeful that they would thrive.

  As they continued through the Starry Sky Sect, they encountered no dangers, which only deepened Yang Tian's confusion about the purpose of this trip. If there were no threats, why was he here? A sense of caution began to grow within him.

  After half a day of travel, Yang Tian and Meng Hao arrived at the foot of a massive mountain. A stone tablet stood nearby, inscribed with the words "Forbidden Zone." The mountain exuded an oppressive atmosphere.

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  "Yang Tian, our destination is up there," Meng Hao said, gazing at the mountain peak. He exhaled deeply, a hint of sorrow flashing in his eyes. Without another word, the two began their ascent.

  The mountain was shrouded in an eerie aura, and the ground was marked with strange patterns. Just glancing at them made Yang Tian feel dizzy.

  "These patterns must have been left by a powerful expert," Yang Tian thought, his eyes scanning the stone walls. The carvings seemed to depict profound martial insights, but Yang Tian's cultivation level was too low to comprehend them.

  A thousand-zhang-wide plaza came into view, paved with an unknown type of jade. An invisible pressure weighed down on them, and the plaza was filled with stone tablets, each bearing a name. This was a burial ground.

  "Is this the resting place of the Starry Sky Sect's past experts?" Yang Tian murmured, feeling the oppressive and mournful aura. His breathing grew labored as he noticed that many of the graves had been disturbed.

  "How ruthless... Even the graves have been desecrated," Yang Tian clicked his tongue. Powerful experts were often buried with treasures, and it seemed even in death, their possessions were coveted.

  At the front of the burial ground was a stone-brick underground chamber, its entrance carved with the words "Treasure Vault."

  Meng Hao's eyes filled with grief and hatred as he stared at the chamber. Yang Tian didn't ask any questions, and the two stepped inside.

  *Crackle... Crackle...* As they entered, flames ignited on either side, the scent of animal oil filling the air. The chamber was permeated with an unsettling energy.

  *Crack!* Yang Tian had only taken a few steps when his eyes fell on the skeletal remains scattered across the floor. Many had already turned to dust, and it was clear they didn't belong to the Starry Sky Sect's experts. Jade-like bones had been taken, leaving behind only fragments.

  A chilling sensation crept over Yang Tian as he took in the countless bones piled densely across the ground. The sight was enough to make anyone's scalp tingle.

  After nearly three hours, they reached the end of the chamber. A massive silver light barrier came into view, exuding an ancient and heavy aura. Within it, Yang Tian could faintly sense an overwhelming power.

  "This is a barrier, meant to protect what's inside," Meng Hao explained, his expression complex.

  "A barrier..." Yang Tian's eyes widened. Creating a barrier required mastery over spatial energy, a feat only achievable by experts at the War Emperor level or higher. Judging by this barrier, the creator's strength might have been even greater.

  Meng Hao pulled out a silver talisman, its energy resonating with the light barrier. Clearly, this was the key to opening it.

  "This talisman took our family thirty years to create. It can only transport two people at a time," Meng Hao said, his tone meaningful.

  "Thirty years..." Yang Tian was stunned. Thirty years was almost an entire generation. Whatever lay beyond this barrier must be of immense importance to the Meng family.

  Meng Hao slapped the talisman onto his body, and a silver glow enveloped him. Yang Tian moved closer, and the two were soon encased in the light.

  "Let's go." Meng Hao grabbed Yang Tian's arm, and the two charged toward the barrier. As they made contact, a brilliant silver light engulfed them, and an irresistible force took hold.

  *Crack!* The silver barrier around them twisted for a moment before stabilizing. The next instant, they were inside.

  A wave of scorching heat hit them immediately. The chamber was bathed in a fiery red glow, the surrounding space distorting under the intense heat. It was even more oppressive than the heat on the Array Sect's celestial staircase.

  "What kind of beast is that?" Yang Tian's eyes darted forward, landing on a massive creature sound asleep. His eyes widened in shock.

  The beast stood ten zhang tall, its body covered in fiery red scales. Two crossed horns adorned its head, and its tail resembled that of a dragon. Golden flames flickered above its brows, and several zhang-long whiskers swayed beneath its chin.

  "Father..." Just as Yang Tian was reeling from the sight, a trembling voice broke the silence. Yang Tian turned to see Meng Hao collapsed on the ground.

  Before him lay a pile of bones, with a few scraps of clothing still clinging to them.

  "Father failed... Is it up to me now?" Yang Tian sighed softly as he saw the pain in Meng Hao's eyes. If he had to guess, Meng Hao's goal was likely the spatial realm within the beast.

  Meng Hao sat on the ground for a long time before finally collecting his father's remains. The grief in his eyes was replaced by a cold, resolute hatred as he glared at the slumbering beast.

  "This is a Firehorn Beast. I don't know how strong it was in its prime, but here on Martial Mountain, its cultivation has been suppressed to the peak of the first rank," Meng Hao explained, taking a deep breath as he approached Yang Tian.

  "Brother Meng Hao, killing it won't be easy," Yang Tian said, his expression grave. Even though its cultivation was suppressed, the beast's aura was overwhelming, sending a chill down his spine.