Chapter 4083 — Now We're Rich
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
Wei Zhao looked at her deeply, and said with meaning, "Captain Xiaotao, unless this knot in your heart is untied, even if you become a wandering cultivator, you will never truly be free and at ease."
"Maybe. But other than that, what else can I do?" Huang Xiaotao shook her head helplessly, then changed the subject, forcibly rousing her spirits as she addressed the group, "All right, enough idle talk. Let's get back to business. From past experience, barring the unexpected, it will take us three days of flight to reach the Hucai Tianwu Mountain region. So everyone, rest and build up your strength. I will handle steering the spirit bird, and if we run into danger, I'll notify you."
Chen Muzhuang and Cong Zhima were long accustomed to this. They exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and one after another sat down in meditation.
"Fine, then we'll be counting on you, Captain Xiaotao." Wei Zhao nodded and did not press further about her grudge against that Su Zhaohe. He too sat down to cultivate. He had only just broken through to the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage, and these three days would be just right for consolidating his realm.
The journey was smooth and calm throughout. Three days later, the four of them entered the territory of Hucai Tianwu Mountain without incident.
As far as the eye could see, lush and verdant growth resembled a primeval forest, and the mountain ranges soared into the clouds, stretching unbroken into the distance. Even compared with the back mountain of the Sandie Pavilion, this place was at least as vast, if not more so. The faint but unmistakable aura of mystery and power that seeped from within was enough to inspire dread.
Huang Xiaotao steered the spirit bird down to an open patch at the edge. After directing the bird to take to the skies again and stand by, she turned and warned Wei Zhao and the other two, "Everyone, stay alert and careful. Although we are only on the outskirts here, we cannot rule out encountering powerful spirit beasts. A single careless moment could cost you your life. Understand?"
"Understood!" Wei Zhao and the other two answered in unison.
"Good. Then I'll assign tasks now. Junior Brother Chen Muzhuang, you will be in charge of vigilance and lookout. I will be responsible for holding off the nearby spirit beasts. As for you, Brother Ling Yi, for now you'll go with Junior Brother Cong Zhima to gather spirit herbs," Huang Xiaotao instructed.
Division of labor and cooperation, that was the essence of a trial team. The more abundant the spirit herbs, the more spirit beasts there generally were. Without someone specifically assigned to keep watch and hold the beasts off, recklessly going to gather herbs in a place this dangerous was simply courting death. Only through sincere cooperation among the few of them could they gather the herbs and withdraw safely.
As captain, Huang Xiaotao's word was law, and none of the three objected. They immediately set about their respective tasks. To avoid arousing suspicion, Wei Zhao did not leave at once either, but followed them and earnestly went about the mission.
Hucai Tianwu Mountain, with its unique setting of sea on two sides and mountains on the other two, together with its rarity of human presence, had given rise to extraordinarily rich spirit herb resources. Wealth is sought in peril, and that was precisely why, knowing full well how dangerous it was, so many trial participants were still willing to come here and take the risk.
Working together, they avoided the dangerous areas where spirit beasts gathered early on. The four of them passed their first day without wind or peril, and the role Wei Zhao played in it all was that of a laborer responsible for carrying and digging up spirit herbs, with no technical skill required whatsoever.