Chapter 35: The Profound Heaven Sect Takes First Place

Feng Xi hesitated for a moment before selecting a spirit plant that resembled a carrot. She took a bite, and finding no ill effects, began crunching away at it.

Jun Wen, catching sight of this, let out a howl and snatched the half-eaten plant from her hands.

"Junior Sister, have you lost your mind? This is a White Radiance Yellow Kudzu! It’s lethal if ingested! Quickly, spit it out!"

As he spoke, he reached out to try and force her to gag it up. He couldn't afford to be careful anymore.

Feng Xi hopped aside. "Fifth Senior Brother, calm down. I’m fine, I’m really fine! Look, I’m perfectly healthy! Besides, even if I were poisoned, I have the little black ball here; it would surely have a way to save me."

Feng Xi was no fool; she certainly wouldn't gamble with her own life. If this White Radiance Yellow Kudzu could truly take her life, the little black ball would have stopped her long ago.

Jun Wen was left momentarily bewildered. The White Radiance Yellow Kudzu was highly toxic; a single bite was enough to kill a person. Yet, his Junior Sister seemed completely unaffected? Could he have misidentified it? Was it not a White Radiance Yellow Kudzu? But it clearly was!

While he was dazed, Feng Xi took the half-eaten plant back from his hand and went right back to crunching away. Once she finished it, she selected another spirit plant with bright red leaves and stuffed a handful into her mouth.

Jun Wen was horrified. "Junior Sister, that one is also highly toxic, you can't eat—"

Feng Xi gave him a reassuring look and continued eating regardless. Once that one was finished, she picked up another that looked like foxtail grass and began to munch on it.

Jun Wen had been terrified at first, but eventually, he grew numb to it. Because Feng Xi remained completely fine—her cheeks even gained a bit of color, looking healthier than ever. He also noticed something: the spirit plants Feng Xi consumed were all of the Water, Wood, or Fire varieties; she hadn't touched a single Gold or Earth one.

What was going on?

Feng Xi had already realized the reason. The three spirit roots in her dantian were currently extending beyond it, greedily absorbing the corresponding elements from the spirit plants. They were also absorbing some black elements, which Feng Xi guessed were the toxins. Although her three spirit roots were bizarre, they at least offered one advantage: she would likely be immune to all poisons in the future.

The little black ball, having formed a pact with Feng Xi, naturally witnessed this scene. It was stunned. What was happening here? Had these spirit roots become sentient?!

Feng Xi ate several dozen high-grade spirit plants before she finally stopped. Burping, she said to Jun Wen, "Fifth Senior Brother, the spirit plants you harvest will be recorded on the Image Projection Stone outside, so just gather enough to secure first place. I’ll keep the rest, and when we sell them for money later, we’ll split it equally."

Jun Wen quickly replied, "Junior Sister, you should keep them; there's no need to give me any." Finding these spirit plants was entirely due to her efforts, so he had no face to demand an equal split.

Feng Xi was very satisfied. He wasn't greedy and knew his boundaries. Only by acting this way could their cooperation last. Of course, she was always generous to her own people; she naturally wouldn't leave Jun Wen without his share.

While they were happily harvesting, things were blowing up outside! On the Image Projection Stone, Jun Wen’s results were skyrocketing! They were all high-grade spirit plants, and the quantity was staggering! How did he do it? Did he raid the nest of all high-grade spirit plants?!

Xiao Baidao tried his best to maintain his composure, but the corners of his mouth curled up uncontrollably. They were rich! They were going to be filthy rich! And they were taking first place! Hahaha! He, Xiao Baidao, was truly the most outstanding sect leader the Xuan Tian Sect had ever had, save for the founder himself. Under his leadership, the sect would surely flourish and reach its peak!

The other peak masters of the Xuan Tian Sect were also beaming with joy. The best result in previous years had only been third place; to actually take first now was truly worth celebrating! When one thought about it, ever since Feng Xi joined, one good thing after another had happened to the Xuan Tian Sect. She was a lucky charm!

Others were miserable. Baili Muchen was so angry he pulled out several strands of his beard! Especially when he thought about the penalty for last place—having to surrender one-third of his spoils—he felt like dying! The leaders of the other two sects were also sour, making a few biting remarks. Xiao Baidao simply took their words as praise and beamed brilliantly! Oh, he was in such a good mood that even insults sounded pleasant!

When the time came for the Heavenly Trace Secret Realm to close, the four sect leaders opened the exit. Most people had already crushed their jade tokens to leave to save time; only those near the exit chose to walk out. Naturally, Feng Xi had no choice but to walk, and Jun Wen accompanied her.

The moment they stepped out, Feng Xi waved to the crowd and ran over to Xiao Baidao. "Master, I have not let you down. I’ve brought back first place for you!"

Hearing this, Xiao Baidao felt a lump in his throat, and tears nearly fell. He felt that ever since he took in this little disciple, he had become increasingly sentimental. "Good disciple! As long as you’ve returned safely, Master is already thankful to the heavens!"

Seeing Jun Wen behind her, clearly eager for praise, he coughed. "Xiao Wu, you performed well this time, too. You are worthy of being my disciple!"

Jun Wen’s handsome features blossomed like a flower! His master rarely praised him. Because of his flighty nature, he was considered a sword genius, but his cultivation level wasn't top-tier, so his master was usually very strict with him.

Just then, Baili Muchen and the other two sect leaders walked over. Liu Shaobai and the others, driven by curiosity, envy, and hatred, also crowded around. "Feng Xi, Jun Wen, three bolts of tribulation lightning descended earlier. Did you encounter some great fortune inside the secret realm?"

Feng Xi and Jun Wen had already prepared their story. Feng Xi immediately replied, "There was a breach in the Mirage Garden, and Fifth Senior Brother and I climbed in. It was full of high-grade herbs. Unfortunately, we could only enter the outer perimeter; there was another barrier inside. Hehe, but we still managed to get a huge bargain—we cleared out all the spirit plants on the outer edge! Not a single one left!"

The implication was: don't bother looking, we’ve taken everything!

Baili Muchen and the others didn't doubt her. They all believed that the Mirage Garden was filled with high-grade spirit plants and that it was natural for it to have inner and outer layers. Moreover, a breach in the garden attracting heavenly lightning made sense. They could only lament that Feng Xi and Jun Wen were lucky—they had just stumbled upon a stroke of blind luck.

After sighing, Baili Muchen said with a gloomy face, "Feng Xi, you and Jun Wen ganged up on my disciple, Lu Xiuhan. Is this true?"

Feng Xi nodded. "That is true. He isn't dead, is he? As long as he isn't dead, it shouldn't violate the trial rules, right?"

Baili Muchen’s face turned livid. "But you shouldn't have looted his belongings! Hand them over immediately!"

Feng Xi blinked. "Looted? How can you say that? Lu Xiuhan gave them to us voluntarily!"

Liu Shaobai and the others nodded in succession. "Yes, he gave them away voluntarily. We can all testify."

Feng Xi then pulled out the deed of gift that Lu Xiuhan had thumb-printed. "Look, he was afraid you would misunderstand, so he even provided us with written proof!"