Once untied, Lin Zhen completely ignored the despondent Wang Luchuan and Liu Yingying standing nearby. He walked straight up to Qi Yuan, his eyes brimming with tears of gratitude.

“Brother Qi, this is the third time you’ve saved me. I can never repay such great kindness!”

Qi Yuan waved a hand dismissively, his expression gentle. “We are brothers. There is no need for thanks.”

Lin Zhen nodded heavily. Then, seemingly recalling something, he hesitated. Finally, making up his mind, he spoke with a solemn expression:

“Brother Qi, your kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain. There is something I must tell you.”

“Oh?”

Seeing this, Qi Yuan’s expression turned serious. He lowered his voice. “There are too many eyes and ears here. Let’s go back to my place.”

If it were anyone else, Qi Yuan wouldn’t have believed they had information worthy of the Holy Scion of the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary’s attention. But Lin Zhen was different. Who knew what heaven-defying discovery this Child of Destiny had stumbled upon this time?

Even if Lin Zhen claimed he was going to ascend to immortality in a couple of days, Qi Yuan would probably believe him.

Before long, the two arrived at Qi Yuan’s residence.

Once inside the wooden hut, they took their seats. Qi Yuan leaned forward, adopting an attentive posture.

“Brother Lin, feel free to speak.”

Lin Zhen nodded, having steeled his resolve. He glanced warily at the door to confirm no one was eavesdropping before speaking in a hushed tone.

“Brother Qi, that spirit field you manage… the one planted with Green Leaf Grass… there is a problem!”

“What sort of problem?”

Qi Yuan was startled. He had been there for five or six days and hadn’t noticed anything unusual.

If there really was an issue with the spirit field that he had failed to detect… it implied something of an extremely high level.

Lin Zhen took a deep breath and continued.

“I once read in an ancient text that wherever wood spirits appear, innate Yi Wood Qi is sure to follow. Today, I detected a faint trace of Yi Wood Qi on those dozen stalks of Green Leaf Grass—a trace incredibly difficult to perceive.”

“This means a fully formed wood spirit is likely hiding within that spirit field. It is at least seven or eight thousand years old… maybe even ten thousand years old!”

After saying this, Lin Zhen stared intently at Qi Yuan, observing his reaction.

A ten-thousand-year-old wood spirit?

Qi Yuan’s expression shifted slightly; he couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath.

He never expected such a divine object to be hidden in an ordinary-looking spirit field within Falling Cloud Valley!

If this were true, even Great Ascension cultivators might cast aside their dignity to snatch it.

Ten thousand years… Even if it were just a ten-thousand-year-old blade of Green Leaf Grass, consuming it would cleanse one’s spiritual physique and drastically advance one’s cultivation.

Thinking of this, the look in Qi Yuan’s eyes as he regarded Lin Zhen changed instantly.

Truly worthy of being a Child of Destiny. He had only helped the kid a few times, and he was already reaping such massive returns.

Of course, Qi Yuan didn’t believe a word of Lin Zhen’s fabricated explanation.

Lin Zhen came from the mortal world and had only just managed to draw Qi into his body. How could he possibly be sensitive to innate Yi Wood Qi? How could he deduce so much from a mere handful of Green Leaf Grass?

Most likely, this Child of Destiny had awakened some special ability but couldn’t explain it openly, so he made up an excuse.

Qi Yuan understood this perfectly and certainly wasn’t foolish enough to expose him.

It had to be said—the fact that this guy was willing to risk exposing his abilities to share this news proved his loyalty. At least he wasn’t an ungrateful wretch who couldn’t be won over.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Qi Yuan chuckled and patted Lin Zhen’s shoulder warmly.

“Thank you for the warning, Brother Lin. I’ll find a way to investigate this matter. If there really is a ten-thousand-year spirit herb in that field, you’ll definitely get your share of the benefits.”

“Brother Qi, you misunderstand,” Lin Zhen said earnestly, his expression changing. “If this turns out to be true, you absolutely must not offend that senior.”

“Although wood spirits are often timid by nature and rarely take human lives on their own initiative, they are still existences we mere Qi Refining cultivators cannot afford to provoke.”

“When you are in the herb garden, you must be extremely cautious. Do not act rashly!”

Hearing Lin Zhen’s heartfelt concern, Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly before chuckling softly.

“Mhm. I will be careful.”

After seeing Lin Zhen off, Qi Yuan sat back down in his chair and sank into thought.

Perhaps he really should place some Recording Talismans around the spirit field…

But before that, he needed to finish that damned task.

Just thinking about the task made Qi Yuan’s anger flare up again.

Wasn’t this supposed to get more normal? Why was it getting weirder?

That night.

Wearing a look of sheer exasperation, Qi Yuan donned a set of night clothes. He wrapped his face tightly in black cloth and vanished into the darkness like a shadow…