Chapter 92: The Sect's Treasure Vault

Chapter 92: The Sect's Treasure Vault

With the grandfather-grandson recognition settled, the rest became much easier. The Divine Doctor, who had been pretending to leave, carefully examined Xiao Luocheng's meridian condition once more, then said solemnly, "After all this trouble, repairing it will be a bit more troublesome. Go call the people who took the medicine earlier—I need to refine new medicine."

"This junior is the Chief Elder of this Medicine Hall. I am most familiar with all the herbs in the sect. Senior, please just give me your instructions." Xiao Baicao bowed. His intention was obvious—he wanted to act as an "assistant" here, hoping to witness the Divine Doctor's medical skills firsthand and possibly receive some guidance.

"Mm," Yun Che nodded. "Then remember this carefully… forty-year Purple Heart Mist Flower Wood, three liang; thirty-six-year Blood Sunflower Essence, one piece; Red Spirit Jade of over ninety percent purity, one piece; one hundred and eighty-year Ice Cold Snow Ginseng, two stalks; twelve-year Burning Nether Orchid, three stalks…"

Yun Che rattled off sixteen types of medicinal herbs in one breath. With each one he named, Xiao Baicao's expression stiffened. By the time Yun Che finished, he was completely dumbfounded, unsure whether to nod or not. These herbs were all valuable, but with the accumulated stock of their branch sect over the years, they could easily produce them. The problem was that every single herb Yun Che requested had a specific age requirement.

Seeing Xiao Baicao standing there in a daze, Yun Che glanced sideways and said, "What's the matter? These aren't anything rare. For a sect that has existed for over a thousand years, you should be able to come up with them, right?"

"We can, of course we can," Xiao Baicao quickly replied. "It's just… the ages…"

"Oh! I almost forgot to remind you." Yun Che's expression turned serious. "The herbs I just listed—there must be no deviation in their ages. Mm… if you really can't find the exact ones, a deviation of a year or two might barely work, but the effect will be much worse. Herbs of different ages may look the same, but even a difference of a month means a significant change in the heavenly energy they have absorbed. High-level alchemy has extremely strict requirements on herb ages. For those extremely difficult-to-refine miraculous medicines, the requirements are even stricter, down to the month. Go quickly."

Yun Che's nonsense left Xiao Baicao completely stunned. He thought to himself, 'The level of the Evil Heart Saintly Hand is truly something else—such strict requirements for herbs! Compared to him, I'm practically a quack.' He bowed slightly and said with a shamed expression, "Senior's teachings are deeply engraved in my heart. It's just that… although I know a thing or two about herb gathering and alchemy and am familiar with the sect's stored herbs, identifying their ages…"

Even Xiao Tiannan, standing nearby, was stunned. Herbs had to be precise to the year? Who the hell could identify that! A thousand-year, hundred-year, or ten-year-old herb was still somewhat recognizable, but ten-year and twenty-year-old herbs all looked the same! And being exact to the exact year?

Yun Che's eyes widened as he frowned. "Didn't you say you were the Chief Elder of this sect's Medicine Hall? How can you not even know the most basic skill in the medical and alchemical arts?"

Xiao Baicao lowered his head and said with a bitter smile, "Senior, you are a great master of medicine on this continent. I am nowhere near your level. If the time span is large enough, I can barely identify it, but being exact to one year or even a few months—I truly cannot do it."

Yun Che thought for a moment, then stood up. "Ah, forget it. I'll go fetch them myself…" He paused, then waved his hand. "Oh, never mind. A sect's herb storage is bound to be its most important restricted area. Even few within the sect are qualified to enter, let alone an outsider. I understand this rule…"

Originally, the Divine Doctor proposing to personally go to the sect's treasure vault had instinctively made Xiao Tiannan resistant. After all, the sect's treasure vault was one of the sect's greatest secrets, and within the branch sect, only five people had the right to enter. The vault had two keys—one with Xiao Baicao and one with Xiao Tiannan. But hearing Yun Che's words, his resistance vanished instantly. He thought, 'This is the Evil Heart Saintly Hand! What kind of realm is that! The treasures in my vault are probably no different from a pile of trash in his eyes. Besides, he's going to the vault to save Xiao Luocheng… Moreover, truly a master—even toward a small sect like ours, he shows such respect. Truly the bearing of a master, admirable.'

So he quickly said, "No, no! Senior, you are too serious. Although the treasure vault is an important sect location, it only guards against petty people. A master like Senior would never covet the possessions of a small branch sect like ours. Besides, my son Luocheng has just recognized you as his godfather. That makes us family. Since we are family, and it's for my son Luocheng's sake, what harm is there in you entering our treasure vault?"

"Yes, yes!" Xiao Baicao chimed in. "This junior is incompetent. If Senior does not go personally, these herbs might not be gathered even by tomorrow. That would keep Senior waiting and delay the young sect master's treatment."

The treasure vault was such a restricted area that even elders needed Xiao Tiannan's permission and Xiao Baicao's accompaniment to enter. This was the first time both of them were begging an outsider to enter the treasure vault, and yet they felt no awkwardness or impropriety… After all, he was the Evil Heart Saintly Hand. Allowing him into the vault was an honor in itself.

Yun Che pretended to ponder for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. However, although I am somewhat grateful for your trust, there is something you must remember: Never let your guard down! I have only been in your sect for a day, yet you are willing to let me into your treasure vault. Although it is for the sake of my grandson's condition, this is indeed too rash and reckless! Very well, Baicao, you will come with me and watch me take the herbs the entire time… Also, although I have lived for several hundred years, I have not cultivated any profound energy. I am still only at the Xuan Entry Realm, and I am not carrying any Space Ring. The Xiao Sect can easily detect this with their profound sense. I say this to put your minds at ease and to set my own mind at rest."

Xuan Entry Realm, no Space Ring… This implied that even if he wanted to steal something from the vault, it would be impossible. Even if he did take something, his low profound energy would make it impossible to hide, let alone escape. Hearing this, Xiao Tiannan and Xiao Baicao were deeply moved, admiring the Divine Doctor's noble character even more. Xiao Tiannan said emotionally, "Although we have only just met, my admiration and gratitude for Senior surpass that for anyone else in my life. Even if I did not trust myself, I would never distrust Senior…"

"Say no more! Baicao, you must follow me the entire time, and never leave my side within three steps. In my life, though I am often eccentric, I have always been upright and clean. I will not allow even the slightest stain. My grandson's injury cannot be delayed any longer. Let us go now."

"Yes, yes!" Xiao Baicao responded, then led Yun Che straight toward the branch sect's treasure vault.

Once Xiao Baicao and the Divine Doctor had left, Xiao Tiannan sat down by Xiao Luocheng's bed. Looking at his son's miserable state, he no longer felt any worry but instead smiled with satisfaction. "Luocheng! This time, you must 'thank' that Yun Che properly! Do you know who this Divine Doctor is? Even saying it would shock you! He can be called the number one Divine Doctor of the Tian Xuan Continent! Although he belongs to no sect, he has saved countless super-strong experts in his lifetime. Those who owe him favors or want to curry favor with him—their total number is no less than any sect on the Cang Feng Continent! You have recognized him as your godfather, and he will naturally support you in the future. When that time comes, even at the main sect, they will treat you like a treasure! Because building a good relationship with this Evil Heart Saintly Hand means gaining an extra life… no! More than one life!"

Xiao Luocheng's face was also full of extreme excitement, and even the pain in his body felt satisfying. He clenched his right fist and gritted his teeth. "Father, rest assured. Since I look like his grandson, I can definitely keep this Huangfu He firmly in my grasp. As for that Yun Che… Hmph! I will indeed thank him properly! As Father said, I should take revenge myself. When the time comes, I will cripple his limbs, break every bone in his body! Destroy all his meridians and profound veins! Make his life worse than death!"

Xiao Luocheng had grown up being chased and admired by others. He had never suffered such humiliation and pain. Although his current state was entirely his own fault, that did not lessen his bone-deep hatred for Yun Che… This was also one of the reasons Yun Che, after severely injuring him without letting him die, had come specifically to finish him off.

A snake not killed will repay kindness with harm; a tiger let loose will bring disaster to its own home. This was a principle he had engraved deep in his heart after countless life-and-death experiences.

The branch sect's treasure vault was hidden beneath the Medicine Hall. Not only was it concealed, but it had a full seven layers of defense. The entrance to the vault was a stone door over three meters tall. Xiao Baicao pressed a round plate with strange patterns into a hole beside the door and turned it slowly. The stone door rose with a deafening rumble. The sound was loud enough to be clearly heard above ground, alerting anyone nearby that someone had entered the vault.

And there were three such stone doors in total, each nearly a foot thick. The sound of opening grew louder with each door. If an outsider tried to enter, just opening the doors would alert nearly half the sect.

The three doors opened, revealing a wide passage. Xiao Baicao bowed and said, "Senior Huangfu, please."

Yun Che did not stand on ceremony. He strode forward boldly while reminding, "Do not leave my side within three steps. Hmph, I don't want any gossip."

Xiao Baicao responded verbally but sighed inwardly. He thought, 'Who do you think you are? Would someone like you stoop to stealing here? Even if you wanted to, with no profound energy and no Space Ring, you can't take anything away.'

Entering the Xiao Sect's treasure vault, rows of cabinets made of blackwood came into view. Xiao Baicao stepped forward to introduce them. "These blackwood cabinets are used to store various herbs. The herbs Senior requires can all be found here. In addition, over the years, the sect has collected various elixirs, rare treasures, mysterious pills, as well as purple crystals, rare metals, precious jades, weapons, armor, and even sect techniques… In short, the thousand-year accumulation of our sect is all stored here in secret."

As he spoke, a look of deep pride appeared on Xiao Baicao's face.

Yun Che stroked his beard and said casually, "For a sect of your scale, having such an accumulation is indeed quite impressive."

Mm, indeed quite impressive… I, with my heaven-defying alchemy skills and treasures, have been reduced to weeping in despair over the matter of herbs… Tsk tsk, a thousand-year accumulation of a sect—it wasn't for nothing that I came here.