bookbashuk Chapter 75 Alone
Chapter 75 Alone
After several rounds of recycling and refining, the cauldron now contains about two hundred drops of primordial essence. Although it is not a great amount, it is enough for him to activate the power of "creation" several times at critical moments.
After doing all this, he withdrew from his sea of consciousness and reopened his eyes.
The night breeze brushed my face, carrying the faint roars of beasts from afar, which echoed through the valley, stretching out like some kind of lament.
Chen Bai stood up, stretched his stiff limbs, and returned to the meeting point he had agreed upon with Duan Heisi and Miao Wuniang. He sat down cross-legged under an old pine tree.
The moonlight is still bright tonight, and the chirping of insects in the mountains is scattered.
Occasionally, one or two long-eared night bats would fly over his head, the rustling sound of their wings brushing against the leaves fleeting.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a series of hurried footsteps came from the southeast.
Chen Bai opened his eyes and saw Duan Heisi emerging from the shadows of the trees, staggering.
His face was covered with seven or eight large lumps, and the skin around his eyes was bulging so high that his once large eyes were squeezed into just two slits.
Dozens of bright red bee stingers were stuck in his shoulder, gleaming faintly in the moonlight.
"Brother Chen! We've got the stuff!"
Duan Heisi covered his face, grimacing, and pulled out a small pottery jar the size of a palm from his pocket, handing it to Chen Bai.
Chen Bai took the earthenware jar, opened the lid, and took a look.
The jar was filled with more than half a jar of spirit honey, which was amber in color, thick and creamy, and had a faint reddish-gold luster on the surface.
A sweet and rich fragrance immediately wafts over, and just one whiff is enough to invigorate the spirit.
Although it is only the most basic first-grade low-quality spirit honey, its quality is not bad. It is brewed by the Crimson Rock Spirit Bees through hard work collecting spirit flowers that grow in the crevices of rocks.
"Brother Duan, you've worked hard." Chen Bai nodded in praise.
He then took out a pre-prepared herbal packet from his pouch and handed it to Duan Heisi.
"Hurry up and wipe it off."
Duan Heisi took the medicine packet, opened the leaf, and a cool herbal scent immediately filled his nostrils.
He scooped up a clump of medicinal paste with his finger and, with some skepticism, smeared it on the largest, most swollen lump on his face.
The moment the medicinal mud touched his skin, Duan Heisi shuddered.
He then let out a long sigh of relief, his expression changing from a grimace to one of unbelievable comfort: "This...this medicinal mud is amazing!"
The area where I was stung felt burning hot, like it had been branded with a hot iron, but it cooled down immediately after I applied this medicinal paste.
"Ouch, that feels so good, so good..."
As he spoke, he scooped up a few more clumps of medicinal mud and smeared it on his face.
Soon, his dark face turned into patches of green, looking quite comical, but the swelling on his face did indeed subside considerably.
Chen Bai ignored his mutterings and instead discreetly concealed the jar of spirit honey in his sleeve.
Immediately, he secretly activated the small cauldron.
The first profound principle: "Returning to the Origin".
The cauldron trembled slightly, and a very subtle suction force passed through the palm into the pottery jar.
With just a few drops of primordial essence consumed, the jar of spiritual honey was instantly upgraded to a higher level.
The honey, which was originally amber in color, became even more translucent.
The pale golden luster on the surface became even more intense, and the fragrance it emitted was purer than before, with an added touch of refreshing spiritual charm.
The whole process took only a breath or two.
From the outside, Chen Bai appeared to have merely examined the jar for a moment, showing no sign of anything amiss. He resealed the spirit honey and put it into his storage bag.
Not long after, a slender figure silently emerged from the woods to the north.
Miao Wu Niang walked briskly, and although she was covered in dust from her journey, her face showed no signs of fatigue. Only a few fine beads of sweat clung to her forehead, and her breathing was slightly rapid, indicating that she had rushed back at full speed.
"We've figured it out."
She squatted down in front of the two of them, and without saying a word, she drew a simple topographical map on the ground.
"The nest of that fiery rhinoceros is in the deepest part of that valley, in a natural stone cave."
I reached the outer perimeter, not daring to get too close, but I took a peek from afar—
Within dozens of feet around the cave, not a blade of grass grew, and there were obvious burn marks on the ground, which should be the marks left by that beast burning its territory with demonic flames every day.
There were many broken bones piled up at the entrance of the stone cave, which was similar to the habits of the iron-backed bear.
Confirmed to be still in the nest, snoring could be heard coming from the entrance; judging by the noise, it was quite large.
She tapped her fingertip heavily on the stone surface: "The most amazing thing is that there is only one exit in that valley."
The stone walls on both sides of the exit were steep and sheer; although not very high, ordinary demonic beasts with the ability to breathe deeply would definitely not be able to climb them.
A glint flashed in Chen Bai's eyes.
There's only one exit...
This terrain is extremely advantageous to him.
He was originally less than 70% confident about this risky plan, but now, with this advantageous location, his confidence has increased to at least 80%.
That's enough.
He stood up, rolled up the map and put it in his pocket, and said, "Fifth Sister, you've worked hard. Take a rest first."
Miao Wuniang, however, persisted, asking, "What exactly is your plan?"
Duan Heisi also raised his head, his two small eyes peeking out from under the greenish medicinal mud on his face, filled with the same questions.
Chen Bai glanced at the two of them, but didn't say anything. He simply bent down and slowly drew a line on the topographical map drawn by Miao Wu Niang.
From the Ironback Bear's cave, follow the rugged ridge northward, bypassing several cliffs and streams, finally leading to the Dead Valley with only one exit.
"Your mission is to go back and report."
His voice was calm and resolute. "From here, head north, go around that dense forest, and then follow the path we came from back. It will take about half an hour to get back to the camp."
Xue Zhen only asked that the iron-backed bear be lured away for at least the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, so that the main force could safely pass through the valley.
I will make sure it is lured away for at least as long as possible.
"When you get back, just tell Xue Zhen that the mission is complete, and don't say anything else."
Duan Heisi suddenly stood up: "Brother Chen, are you going alone?"
"Brother Duan."
Chen Bai raised his hand to stop him, his gaze now carrying an uncompromising edge. "As I said before, since I dared to take on this mission, I naturally have my reasons. Your staying would only distract me. The same goes for Fifth Sister."
Duan Heisi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but Miao Wuniang grabbed his arm.
"Old Duan," Miao Wuniang's voice was soft, but her tone was unusually calm, "If he says it can be done, then it can be done."
Duan Heisi turned to look at Miao Wuniang, only to see her looking at Chen Bai calmly, as if the woman who had been full of complaints had never existed.
He moved his lips a few times, but in the end he just sighed heavily and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Chen Bai.
"Brother, I've lived for over thirty years and I've never owed anyone such a huge favor."
I won't ask what method you used. I'll only ask you one question: where will we find you in half an hour?
"You don't need to look for me."
Chen Bai said, "In half an hour, whatever the outcome, you will go and rejoin the main force. I will catch up."
Chen Bai nodded to them, then turned and walked up the hillside.
The two stood there, watching Chen Bai's figure gradually disappear into the shadows of the dense forest under the moonlight.