With that wisp of fragrance as a guide, Gu Han and the others kept searching. Along the way, they saw quite a few several-zhang patches that weren't covered by greenstone, but by dust and yellow sand.

They guessed these patches used to be medicinal herb gardens. Still, after countless years, the spirit nature in the soil had long since vanished. The spirit herbs that could have once grown there were even less likely to be seen.

Murong Yan was regretful. “What a pity. So many medicine gardens... There must have been plenty of good stuff inside.”

Gu Han’s eyes gleamed. “I think the source of this fragrance is the real good stuff!”

Just looking at those pills made it clear. Who knew how many years of changes the Profound Pill Pavilion had endured? Any slightly mediocre spirit herb would have turned to dust long ago. For something to have survived until now, and even maintained such strong medicinal efficacy, it had to be the best of the best!

Thinking this, he sped up again. “Hurry! If someone else finds it first—huh?”

Suddenly, he couldn’t help but shiver again.

The three stared at him strangely. “What’s wrong?”

Gu Han’s expression turned a bit off. “I think I’m a little cold...”

They paused in shock as a chill crept up from their hearts. There it was again, this was the third time. This feeling definitely wouldn’t appear without reason. Last time could be written off as an accident, but this time...

A flash of inspiration struck Murong Yan. “Brother Gu, could something have latched onto you?”

She shouldn’t have said anything. Gu Han suddenly felt two eerie eyes staring right at him from somewhere. He spun around sharply and glanced around, but there was nothing. However, that feeling of being watched intensified.

His face paled a little. “Don’t joke like that!”

He felt that Murong Yan was a bit of a jinx like Mei Yun.

Sweat beaded on Shen Xuan’s forehead. “Junior Sister, don’t talk too much!”

Yang Ying simply shot her a glare. “Jinx!”

Murong Yan scratched her head sheepishly. “Well... I just felt like those ghostly shadows we saw earlier were a bit off...”

The more she talked, the more Gu Han’s scalp tingled. His speed suddenly multiplied several times over. “Sister Murong, stop talking! Quick, let’s go find that spirit herb first!”

A moment later, they reached the depths of that herb garden. A small pond, about a zhang wide and two chi long, appeared.

Upon arriving, that strange fragrance became almost too rich to disperse. A single whiff caused Gu Han’s tightly suppressed cultivation to break through to the seventh stage of the Divine Connection realm. It startled him so much that his heart leaped, and he quickly suppressed it again. The other three also showed looks of intoxication, clearly gaining considerable benefit.

For some reason, as the fragrance washed over him, the feeling of being watched weakened significantly. Suppressing his unease, Gu Han stared at the small pond. He didn’t know what it was made of, but it was grayish-brown, full of cracks and gaps. The bottom was dry, likewise covered in dust and yellow sand.

Inside lay a dried-up rhizome with nine segments, resembling a lotus root. At its end grew a lotus seed pod about a chi long, roughly the size of a fist. Like the rhizome, it was withered and drooped weakly, devoid of any signs of life. However, one of its nine orifices retained a trace of green. The fragrance had come from there. More precisely, from that lotus seed inside.

Yang Ying also realized something. “Just one seed has such miraculous effects. If this spirit herb were intact when...”

At the very least, it started as a half-saint herb, or maybe even a saint herb. Perhaps, only an unimaginable treasure could maintain a wisp of life in such a harsh environment.

Shen Xian felt somewhat fortunate. “Good thing we discovered such a precious thing first. If others had come in too...”

Yang Ying shook his head. “No, they probably already have. The temptation is too great for anyone to resist.”

Just then, Gu Han shot a glance into the distance. “In fact, they’re already here!”

Their hearts jumped, and they instinctively looked over. A few seconds later, dozens of figures rapidly approached from afar, led by Chu Kuang, Wu Han, and Qi Jun.

Murong Yan cursed angrily, “Those bastards! Are they dogs or what? How are their noses so sharp!”

Yang Ying sighed. “They probably couldn’t help it. This strange fragrance is too obvious and impossible to conceal. It’s hard to avoid them finding it.”

Shen Xuan glanced at Gu Han. “What now?”

Facing so many Soaring realm experts, there was no other path but to fight head-on.

Murong Yan swung her hammer. “Brother Gu, we can’t let such a treasure fall into those bastards’ hands!”

With a blank look on his face, Gu Han tightened his grip on his sword. “If they want it, let’s see how many lives they’re willing to trade!”

They were surrounded in no time. Greed blossomed on everyone’s faces, roused by the strange fragrance.

Chu Kuang stared at Gu Han, “I never expected you’d be the first to arrive.”

Gu Han replied impassively, “I never expected you to deliver your life to me either.”

Wu Han and Qi Jun’s faces instantly darkened.

“Arrogant!”

“Asking for death!”

Seemingly confident of victory, Chu Kuang glanced at the small pond, a strange gleam in his eyes. “I never expected to find something like this here! It seems the opportunities in this pavilion far exceed my imagination.”

Wu Han stared at the seed pod greedily. “What? You recognize this thing?”

Chu Kuang didn’t hide it from him. “It’s the Soul-Nourishing Lotus, a saint herb that appeared in ancient times. Besides containing gentle medicinal properties, it also contains a hint of Great Dao’s law.

“It’s an unmatched choice for Saint realm cultivators tempering their souls. In fact, even among many saint herbs, it ranks among the top. Even if only one seed remains, it still counts as a half-saint herb. By consuming one, you can completely remove soul impurities. Passing through the nine stages of Earthly Tribulation in a single day would then be well within reach!”

He purposefully left one thing out: cultivating the seed using special methods would allow them to grow another Soul-Nourishing Lotus. Regardless, his earlier explanation was enough to make Wu Han and Qi Jun drool.

The soul was inherently much more fragile than the body. Moreover, the danger of the Earthly Tribulation far exceeded that of the Heavenly Tribulation. Even though they didn’t lack external medicines, fully overcoming it would still take several years of hard work and polishing. Naturally, the prospect of crossing all nine stages was a huge temptation.

Wu Han took a deep breath. “We should get our hands on it first. Let’s discuss the exact split after we get out.”

Qi Jun was in high spirits. “Right! How could we miss out on such a great herb?”

“You want it? Did you ask me yet? Or rather...” Gu Han frowned slightly, slowly raising his sword. “Asked my sword yet?”

Chu Kuang was calm. “Gu Han, do you think you still have a chance?”

Gu Han thought for a moment, somewhat puzzled. “This, coming from someone who constantly embarrasses themselves? Really, how do you still have the face to ask that?”

Murong Yan was full of contempt. “Thick-skinned, that’s how! He’s an old piece of shit who’s lived thousands of years! Let’s not talk about his cultivation level, but this face of his? I’ve never seen one this thick!”

Gu Han suddenly understood. “Is that so? I guess the older they get, the more shameless they are.”

Wu Han and Qi Jun were startled, looking at Chu Kuang.

“What?!”

“You actually...”

Only now did they learn Chu Kuang’s secret, and also understand why he knew far more than they did. He turned out to be a saint’s reincarnation!

Chu Kuang said expressionlessly, “Both of you, now is not the time to discuss me. Our main priority is to take the seed and kill this man to prevent future trouble!”

The two exchanged glances, understanding the urgency of the matter. “Fine! Then let’s do business first!”

Counting their respective followers, Chu Kuang had nine, Wu Han had seven, and Qi Jun had eight. In an instant, the auras of twenty-four people interlinked. An incomparably heavy pressure descended, pressing down on Gu Han’s group.

Apart from Yuan Gang, the rest were all Soaring Realm prodigies, each with at least three or four rings of the Dao Bell. Their momentum greatly overwhelmed Murong Yan and the others, slowing their movements and making it almost impossible to breathe.

Chu Kuang’s aura gradually rose. “Both of you, make sure to kill him today, no matter the cost!”

Wu Han laughed coldly. “Rest assured! With so many of us, he can’t escape even if he grows wings!”

Qi Jun laughed with satisfaction at Gu Han. “Right! Back outside, didn’t you tell us all to come at once? Now, you’ve got your wish! It’d be embarrassing if so many of us couldn’t handle you!”

One was the Holy Son of the Myriad Transformations Holy Land, whereas the other was a disciple of the reclusive great Wu family from the Central Continent. Since they were still somewhat mindful of their reputation outside, they wouldn’t gang up unless absolutely necessary. Here, it was a completely different story.

Gu Han ignored them completely, turning to Yang Ying. “Can you hold on for half an hour?”

Yang Ying’s gaze dimmed a little. “No problem.”

Before, he could still fight side by side with Gu Han, helping him deal with the Yang and Meng family. Just over a month later, he’d become a total deadweight.

Murong Yan brandished her hammer. “Brother Gu, whatever you want to do, go ahead and do it. Don’t worry about us!”

Gu Han’s aura gradually rose. “Good. You have to hold on for half an hour.”

As his voice fell, his aura completely exploded. An incomparably powerful spirit pressure spread out, easing some of the pressure on his team.

Chu Kuang stared intently at him. “I always thought that you were lying that day. Your spirit pool definitely isn’t just eighty zhang.”

Wu Han gave a cold laugh. “So what if it’s a hundred-zhang spirit pool? Not even your Dual Supreme Stage can help you now!”

“Is that so?”

Dust flew, and yellow sand rose everywhere, almost obscuring Gu Han.

Only his voice, full of bloodlust, rang clearly. “Then why not test it for yourself!”

The moment the words landed, an unparalleled sword light blazed within the yellow sand, overflowing with killing intent. The strike, several zhang long, came down on Wu Han.