Zhi Xuan let out a soft sigh; he knew he stood no chance against the Jade Snake. Being on par with a First Ember cultivator, they would suffer injuries that could truly be avoided. He carried no weapon, and his physical strength, though superior, had not reached the First Ember point that allowed for a direct confrontation.

  He turned back toward the cave entrance, his mind racing. They had to get the leaf, but a fight would drain He Xin and Shi Zi's newly stabilized essence, and that was an unnecessary risk. Zhi Xuan immediately pulled He Xin and Shi Zi's shoulders, drawing them back closer to the jade veins on the floor.

  "We are not going to fight," Zhi Xuan whispered, his voice now back to the cold pragmatism he usually displayed when dealing with greedy merchants. "Jade Snakes are creatures dominated by territorial instincts, but they also have a weakness."

  He Xin and Shi Zi stared at him, their faces full of hope and anticipation. They knew Zhi Xuan was about to pull a trick.

  "Jade Snakes highly value purity," Zhi Xuan explained, his gaze sweeping over the jade veins. "They sleep near herbal leaves not only to guard them but because the essence emitted by the herb—and these jade veins—aids in their extremely slow cultivation."

  "So... how do we distract it?" Shi Zi asked, his voice barely a whisper. "We don't have a treasure, and we didn't bring meat!"

  Zhi Xuan smiled thinly, a smile that didn't reach his eyes but was full of hidden cunning.

  "We have something far better than meat," Zhi Xuan whispered. He pointed to the small Pure Forest Ginseng in Shi Zi's hand. "That Mortal Ginseng is worthless to us or Grandpa Wu's goat, but the pure essence it emits, though weak, is highly enticing."

  Shi Zi frowned. "But it's too small, Zhi Xuan. The snake isn't stupid."

  Zhi Xuan touched his chin, his eyes scanning the jade stones on the floor. He pondered for a moment. If the Mortal Ginseng wasn't enticing enough, what if he created the illusion of a bigger Ginseng? However, he lacked illusion techniques; the Gold Foundation only had a primitive Divine Wheel.

  Suddenly, Zhi Xuan’s sapphire-blue eyes flashed, like a merchant who had just found a huge loophole in the selling price.

  "We can't make it bigger, but we can make it more numerous," Zhi Xuan whispered, his voice filled with a mischievous plan. He pulled He Xin and Shi Zi closer, their heads nearly touching under the dim cave light.

  "Listen. I will use this small Ginseng. I can't throw it past the snake, that's too risky. We will execute the 'Broken Duck' method we usually use at the Exchange Market to fool buyers."

  He Xin and Shi Zi exchanged glances, confused. The Broken Duck method? That was just their secret code for distracting sellers so they could steal one or two apples.

  "I will break this Ginseng into several small pieces," Zhi Xuan continued. He took a small knife from his robe, the knife he used to cut herbs. "Shi Zi, you have two jobs. First, you must find the dullest limestone rock in this cave, the one with the least essence. Second, and most importantly, you must throw five small pieces of Ginseng, one by one, to five different locations behind the snake. Make the sound as subtle as possible, like a tiny pebble dropping."

  Shi Zi wrinkled his nose. "Throw five pieces? To five locations? Won't that wake it up and make it angry?"

  "Precisely," Zhi Xuan smiled faintly. "Jade Snakes value serenity and purity. When it hears five sources of pure essence appear sequentially behind it, its instinct will be confused. It will think a cluster of Ginseng suddenly grew behind it. That is unguarded treasure! It will be greedy."

  Zhi Xuan turned to He Xin. "He Xin, you have a critical task. As soon as Shi Zi throws the fifth piece, the Jade Snake will begin to move. At that moment, its essence of attention is split. You must move exactly behind me and climb the fissure as fast as you can. Grab the Nine Dew Leaf, but never touch the Jade Snake."

  He Xin, the methodical Gold Foundation cultivator, nodded seriously. "I understand. I will be your shadow, Zhi Xuan. I will only move when it is distracted."

  "And me?" Shi Zi asked, his face now showing mischievous enthusiasm.

  "You?" Zhi Xuan looked at Shi Zi, then smiled wider. "After you throw the fifth piece, you are our bait. You must pretend to fall and scream as loudly as you can. This will provide enough auditory and attention distraction for He Xin to ascend. And you must move as fast as you can to the cave entrance to escape."

  Shi Zi's face instantly went from enthusiasm to horrified paleness. "B-becoming bait? Screaming? That Jade Snake will immediately lunge at me, Zhi Xuan!"

  "Of course," Zhi Xuan replied cheerily. "But you are the fastest Gold Foundation among us, aren't you? That's why you must practice your already refined speed. If you don't want to become a snake-stung hero, then use your legs."

  Shi Zi pouted, but his gaze on the tiny Pure Forest Ginseng became more intense. He knew Zhi Xuan was testing him.

  "Alright!" Shi Zi said, gritting his teeth. "I will be the bait! But if I succeed, I'm asking for the largest Steel-Tusk Wild Boar thigh at the feast!"

  "A Gold Foundation deal!" Zhi Xuan replied, without hesitation.

  The plan was immediately put into action. Shi Zi moved to find a dull limestone rock. Meanwhile, Zhi Xuan, with his small knife, carefully divided the Pure Forest Ginseng into five small, barely visible pieces, ensuring each piece carried a trace of pure essence.

  He Xin, the calm Gold Foundation cultivator, stood behind Zhi Xuan, his Divine Wheel essence spinning in standby mode, ready to surge at any moment.

  Shi Zi signaled 'ready' with a small wave of his hand. He then threw the first piece with his index finger.

  Scratch! The sound of a pebble dropping behind the rock fissure.

  The coiled Jade Snake around the leaf did not move. Only a subtle vibration was felt in the air, as if it had just awakened from a deep slumber.

  The second piece followed, dropping about ten steps from the first. Scratch! The vibration in the air was clearer this time.

  The third piece. Scratch! The Jade Snake's head lifted slightly. Its two small golden eyes, usually closed in sleep, were now open, looking toward its rear. Instinctive confusion appeared in its eyes. Why was Ginseng growing there?

  The fourth piece. Scratch! The Jade Snake became restless. It released its coil from the Nine Dew Leaf. It shifted, its focus completely diverted to the back.

  The fifth piece. Scratch! This was the moment.

  The Jade Snake could not contain its greed anymore. Five sources of pure essence suddenly appeared outside its watch! That was a treasure too good to miss. It launched from the fissure at lightning speed, its glistening body darting to the back.

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  "NOW, HE XIN!" Zhi Xuan commanded.

  He Xin launched. His Divine Wheel essence was released quickly, but with full control. He leaped onto the wall, his feet gripping the crack as if he were a spider. In two breaths, he reached the fissure.

  At the same time, Shi Zi opened his lungs and screamed with all his might.

  "AHHH! GIANT SNAKE! HELP!!!"

  Shi Zi's panicked scream echoed in the narrow cave, striking the already distracted Jade Snake's ears.

  The Jade Snake flinched. One new source of pure essence had appeared at the cave entrance, accompanied by an unpleasant, shrill sound. However, the five serene pure Ginseng sources behind it were far more enticing. Its territorial instinct told it to attack the noisy one, but its cultivation instinct commanded it to secure the quiet treasure.

  The confusion was enough.

  He Xin reached the fissure. His hand snatched the Nine Dew Leaf, with a clean and swift movement, severing the stem from the rock. The leaf felt cold and soft, emitting an intoxicating medicinal aroma.

  "GOT IT!" He Xin exclaimed in a muffled voice.

  At the same moment, the Jade Snake finally made a decision, choosing to ignore the newly grown Mortal Ginseng and turned back toward the disturbing source of the sound.

  "RUNNNNN!" shouted Zhi Xuan, and he released his Heavenly Samsara Wheel.

  Thrum!

  Not an explosion, but a calm, cold shockwave swept the cave. The wave hit the Jade Snake, not harming it, but giving it a brief spiritual jolt enough to halt it momentarily.

  Shi Zi, already at the cave entrance, did not wait any longer. He ran as fast as he could, his feet kicking small stones, darting outside.

  Zhi Xuan followed. He didn't run as fast as Shi Zi; he glided. The Jade Snake, having recovered from the spiritual shock, darted toward the cave entrance with incredible speed. However, it only found empty air.

  Zhi Xuan and Shi Zi were already out of the cave, back on the steep slope. "Climb up!" Zhi Xuan commanded, and he immediately climbed back to the small niche where they had rested earlier.

  Shi Zi ran, his heart pounding, but he didn't panic. He channeled essence to his feet and climbed the niche with remarkable speed and control, forgetting his tension from the first ascent.

  He Xin, already holding the clump of the Nine Dew Leaf stem, slid down the fissure carefully and quickly, then went straight to the cliff edge. The three of them stood in the small niche, breathless, but safe. Below, from the fissure, the sharp whistling sound of the angry Jade Snake could be heard.

  "That Jade Snake... won't chase us in open terrain," Zhi Xuan whispered, holding his breath, his sapphire-blue eyes staring coldly at the fissure. "They dislike the heat of the sun and cannot move efficiently on steep terrain."

  Shi Zi burst into laughter, a laugh full of adrenaline and euphoria. He leaned his back against the rock and looked at Zhi Xuan.

  "You! You are the cruelest Gold Foundation cultivator I have ever met, Zhi Xuan!" Shi Zi exclaimed, his voice filled with a strange respect. "But it worked! I escaped a First Ember-level Jade Snake!"

  He Xin stepped forward, his face calm, and he handed the herbal leaf to Zhi Xuan. The Nine Dew Leaf emitted a soft aura of pure essence. Zhi Xuan took the leaf, a genuine smile spreading across his face for the first time since they left Star Village.

  "Mission accomplished," He Xin said. "And our essence control passed a true field test."

  The Nine Dew Leaf felt cold and soft in Zhi Xuan's hand, emitting an aura of pure essence so strong it felt calming to their minds. This precious spiritual plant was worth at least thousands of silver coins, or the equivalent of three hundred-year-old Pure Forest Ginsengs.

  Zhi Xuan took something from his belt. It was a small, dark gray leather pouch that looked ordinary. The pouch was a gift from Grandpa Wu, an heirloom given only to Blood Transformation hunters and above to store valuable spoils.

  Zhi Xuan tapped the pouch with his fingertip. The pouch didn't open; instead, a small spiritual ripple appeared on its surface. The Nine Dew Leaf in Zhi Xuan's hand was immediately pulled, sliding from his grasp, and was sucked into the pouch as if the pouch were a small black hole.

  He Xin and Shi Zi stared wide-eyed.

  "Heavens! What kind of pouch is that?" Shi Zi exclaimed, shocked. "The leaf just disappeared! You... you are a Gold Foundation cultivator full of secrets, Zhi Xuan!"

  He Xin, the calmer one, approached. "A storage pouch? My father once told me about such heirlooms. But only Elders possess them!"

  Zhi Xuan reattached the pouch to his belt. He smiled, a smile that carried a hint of authority and pride.

  "This is a Spiritual Pouch," Zhi Xuan explained. "Grandpa Wu gave it to me before we left. He knew we would retrieve something very valuable. This pouch not only stores items but can also mask and conceal the aura of any herb or spoil we acquire. So, at least we won't get robbed on the way back."

  "An aura-concealing pouch?" Shi Zi whispered, his eyes filled with longing. "Incredible! We don't need to carry heavy backpacks anymore! If I had that, I could steal all the apples in the market without getting caught!"

  He Xin shook his head at Shi Zi's greed. He then looked at Zhi Xuan seriously. "But, how can a Gold Foundation cultivator like us use this spiritual heirloom? Doesn't it require high-level essence control?"

  "Precisely," Zhi Xuan replied, pointing to the pouch. "This pouch can absorb spoils because it has a Space Formation carved into its surface. To activate that Formation, a cultivator must project spiritual essence."

  Zhi Xuan then turned to them, his tone turning into a harsh instructor's. "You are currently Gold Foundation cultivators. You can only cultivate essence within you, around the Divine Wheel, and radiate it to strengthen the body. You do not yet have the ability to project spiritual essence as a projectile or use it for complex things like activating a Space Formation."

  "Only a cultivator who reaches the First Ember realm can condense the Divine Wheel and ignite... Hmm..." Zhi Xuan frowned as he tried to recall what the requirement for First Ember cultivation was that he had heard from the hunters. "Perhaps a soul flame? That's why only our veteran hunters, like Uncle Chen and Grandpa Wu, possess these valuable heirlooms."

  Shi Zi let out a long sigh, his face showing deep disappointment. "Damn! So we have to wait until First Ember to get a Spiritual Pouch?"

  "Or," Zhi Xuan smiled meaningfully. "You have to become smarter and more cunning than me in tricking a First Ember-level Jade Snake. That is why I didn't use power, but used my brain."

  Zhi Xuan stepped forward, returning to the steep path. He patted He Xin and Shi Zi's shoulders.

  "But you have proven something today," Zhi Xuan said. "The two of you, Gold Foundation cultivators who are only a few months old, managed to survive the Shadow Cliff, outwit the Jade Snake's instinct, and escape from it. You only need time and practice."

  "Now," Zhi Xuan continued, his voice returning to that of a cold commander. "We must quickly descend and return to the Broken Bamboo Gate. We don't want the greedy guards below to catch a whiff of this Nine Dew Leaf's aroma."

  The three of them began to move down. Shi Zi, now with a new excitement and recognition of his Divine Wheel's speed, slid down with much more agile movements, almost without slipping. He Xin, the methodical one, descended with efficient carefulness, conserving every drop of essence.

  When they arrived where their horses were tied at the Broken Bamboo Gate, the sun was high. The large guard, who had previously mocked them, was sitting and fiddling with the silver coins Zhi Xuan had given him.

  "Hey, Gold Foundation!" the guard called out, his gaze sweeping over them with cynicism.

  "You returned quickly. Given up already?"

  Shi Zi opened his mouth, ready to proudly reply that they had secured the Nine Dew Leaf.

  However, Zhi Xuan was faster. He merely nodded, without emotion.

  "The Shadow Cliff was too cold today," Zhi Xuan said, his voice flat. "We only picked some worthless small Pure Forest Ginsengs. We're heading back. Goodbye."

  Zhi Xuan bowed slightly, pulled Uncle Xu's horse, and immediately led his group to leave the Gate.

  The guard only sneered, returning to counting his coins, satisfied that the small Gold Foundation cultivators had failed. They did not realize that hidden in Zhi Xuan's gray leather pouch was a treasure that could save a mortal youth's life.

  They rode fast, moving away from the Shadow Cliff which was now covered by an increasingly dense cold mist. Zhi Xuan led the way. Midway, Shi Zi, unable to contain his excitement any longer, turned to Zhi Xuan.

  "How did you come up with that 'Broken Duck' trick, Zhi Xuan?" he asked with genuine admiration. "That was the most cunning plan I've ever seen!"

  Zhi Xuan smiled thinly, looking toward Star Village which was now starting to appear in the distance.

  "It wasn't me who thought of it, Shi Zi," Zhi Xuan replied, his voice calm. "It was the demon's voice that told me."

  Shi Zi and He Xin flinched, their eyes widening in surprise. A demon's voice? Zhi Xuan must be rambling from the excitement of getting the Nine Dew Leaf.

  "A demon's voice? If that demon is real, then she's very fragile for using the broken duck method!" He Xin said, his voice filled with subtle laughter and delight.

  Zhi Xuan chuckled softly. The laughter contained a hint of ancient exhaustion and irony.

  "Ah, forget it," Zhi Xuan said, waving his hand. "I was just joking, He Xin. It was just a trick I learned from a cunning merchant at the Exchange Market."

  However, deep within his calm and dark Sea of Consciousness, Ruo Xianxue, sleeping inside the Ancient Devil Monument, smiled coldly.

  "A cunning little boy," Ruo Xianxue whispered, her voice sounding like the wind in an abyss. "You stole my idea, and now you hide me. But it matters not. You obtained the Nine Dew Leaf. At least, you know how to thank your Jiejie."

  Zhi Xuan ignored the cold whisper, focusing his mind on one goal: Star Village. He now possessed the Nine Dew Leaf, the cure for Deng and other youths, tangible proof that his intelligence, supported by the Heavenly Samsara Wheel foundation, could overcome the limitations of mortal cultivation.