From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 163 Now that the Elixir is Obtained, Where to Go?

The Nine-Turn Golden Lotus Pill is complete, but I dare not relax for a moment.

The faint, elusive presence around me clung to me like maggots clinging to my bones.

who is it?

Who exactly is spying on us from the shadows?

I gripped the jade bottle containing the pills tightly, my palms sweating slightly.

Leaving the secret chamber where I was refining pills, I deliberately slowed my pace and walked out of the Valley of Immortal Medicine as if nothing had happened.

The flowers, grasses, and trees along the way swayed gently in the breeze, making a rustling sound, but to me it sounded like a ferocious beast lurking in the shadows, waiting for its chance to strike.

"Miss Xiao Yao, have you really refined the Nine-Turn Golden Lotus Pill?" A sweet voice rang out behind me.

It's Ling'er, the spirit of Immortal Medicine Valley.

She flew lightly to my side, her big eyes sparkling with curiosity.

I forced a smile. "Just lucky."

"This is truly remarkable!" Ling'er exclaimed. "Even the legendary Pharmacist Mo couldn't refine this pill!"

Ling'er's praise did not make me feel at ease; on the contrary, it made me more vigilant.

My intuition tells me that the surrounding auras haven't disappeared; in fact, they're getting closer.

"Ling'er, do you know what strangers have come to the valley recently?" I asked casually.

Ling'er tilted her head and thought for a moment, "It seems there are a few very powerful cultivators who said they came to find some rare medicinal herbs." She paused and added, "Judging from their tone, they seemed to have ill intentions."

My heart sank. It seemed my premonition was right. Those people were very likely after the Nine-Turn Golden Lotus Pill in my hand.

"Miss Xiao Yao, please be careful." Ling'er seemed to have sensed something as well, her tone tinged with worry. "I feel... someone is following us."

I nodded and quickened my pace without making a sound.

After passing through a dense forest, I saw a path appear ahead.

This path leads to the exit of Immortal Medicine Valley, and it's also the only way for me to leave this place.

However, just as I was about to step onto the path, a gruff voice suddenly rang out: "Halt! Hand over the elixir!"

A burly man with a face full of scars blocked my way.

Behind him followed several powerful cultivators, each with an unfriendly expression.

I recognized the man in the lead; he was Lei Hu, a notorious herb gatherer known for his extortion and plunder.

I took a deep breath, knowing a fierce battle was inevitable. "Lei Hu, what do you want to do?"

"What are we doing? Of course, we're taking back what belongs to me!" Lei Hu sneered, his greedy eyes fixed on the jade bottle in my hand. "The Nine-Turn Golden Lotus Pill isn't something a nobody like you can possess!"

The people behind him also joined in the jeering, their words filled with disdain and mockery.

"Lei Hu, I obtained this elixir through my own abilities, why should I give it to you?" I tried to remain calm, but my heart was in turmoil.

I know that with my current strength, I am no match for Lei Hu and his group.

"By skill? Haha!" Lei Hu laughed loudly, as if he had heard a joke. "In this Immortal Medicine Valley, fists are the greatest skill! Be smart and hand over the pills obediently, or you'll suffer less!"

Ling'er hid behind me, trembling.

Although she was an elf from the Immortal Medicine Valley, she had little offensive power and was powerless to resist these vicious cultivators.

I gritted my teeth, my mind racing as I considered a solution. Escape! I had to escape! I glanced at the woods behind me, and an idea formed in my mind.

"Want the elixir? Then come and chase me!" I said, then turned and ran, plunging into the dense forest.

"Chase her! Don't let her get away!" Lei Hu roared, leading his men in hot pursuit.

Using my familiarity with the terrain of Immortal Medicine Valley, I turned left and right through the woods, constantly changing direction, trying to shake off my pursuers.

As I ran, I came to a cliff face. There was no way forward, and pursuers were behind me. What should I do? Should I jump off, or find a place to hide?

Jumping down would mean certain death; hiding would mean being discovered sooner or later. The longer it drags on, the more dangerous it becomes.

Just as I was hesitating, I saw a hidden cave on the cliff face. Perhaps I could hide inside…

I gritted my teeth, took a leap, and jumped into the cave.

"Damn it! She's hiding!" Lei Hu's voice rang out from outside the cave.

I held my breath and remained motionless deep inside the cave, listening to the sounds outside.

"Search her! Dig three feet into the ground and find her!"

The footsteps grew closer, and I could even hear their heavy breathing.

Suddenly, a cry of surprise came from the cave entrance: "Look! What's that?"

The light at the cave entrance suddenly brightened, and my heart skipped a beat; I knew I had been discovered.

Without a second thought, I yanked the stopper off the jade bottle. The dazzling golden light emitted by the Nine-Turn Golden Lotus Pill instantly illuminated the entire cave and dazzled the eyes of the cultivators who rushed in.

They instinctively raised their hands to shield themselves, and I seized the opportunity to unleash my flying sword, a sharp sword aura aimed directly at the leading cultivator.

"Ah!" With a scream, the cultivator collapsed to the ground.

Seeing this, the others drew their weapons and attacked me.

I dared not linger in the fight, so I dodged and weaved while brandishing my flying sword, forcing them to stay away.

These cultivators clearly didn't expect that a seemingly weak woman like me would have such skills. They were thrown into disarray and their attacks became chaotic.

"Sister Xiao Yao, over here!" Ling'er's clear voice suddenly came from deep within the cave.

I was overjoyed and looked in the direction of the sound. I saw Ling'er standing in front of an inconspicuous crevice in the rock, waving at me.

Without hesitation, I seized an opportunity and leaped towards the crevice in the rock.

Lei Hu roared from behind, "Don't let her get away!" I gritted my teeth, quickened my pace, and slipped into the crevice of the rocks, almost brushing against the pursuers' blades.

The crevice was narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time. As soon as I entered, Ling'er quickly sealed the entrance, and a huge rock fell from above, completely obscuring the crevice.

The cave was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. I groped my way forward, and Ling'er's voice rang in my ears: "Sister Xiao Yao, don't be afraid, follow me."

After walking for an unknown amount of time, a larger cave suddenly appeared before me.

A faint blue light shimmered inside the cave, illuminating the surrounding stone walls.

The stone wall was covered with strange runes, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.

Ling'er said softly, "This is a secret place of the Elven race. It's very safe. They won't be able to find this place."

I breathed a sigh of relief, only then feeling a chill run down my back; it had truly been a close call.

I looked at the runes on the stone wall, and a strange feeling suddenly welled up in my heart.

These runes seem familiar...

"Ling'er," I said softly, pointing to the runes on the stone wall, "what are these?"

Ling'er leaned closer to take a look, her expression changing slightly: "This is... an ancient restriction..."

"An ancient restriction?" A chill ran down my spine, and a sense of unease welled up within me. Could this seemingly safe secret place actually conceal a greater danger?

Ling'er's expression also turned serious: "These restrictions are ancient and powerful. Once triggered, the consequences will be unimaginable." She carefully avoided the runes on the stone wall and led me deeper into the cave.

The cave was deep and winding, with flickering blue light casting shadows on the surrounding stone walls, as if countless unknown dangers were lurking there.

I held the jade bottle tightly in my hand, and the faint golden light emanating from the Nine-Turn Golden Lotus Pill became my only solace.

"Ling'er, do you know the purpose of these restrictions?" I asked in a low voice.

Ling'er shook her head: "The elves only know that there is a restriction here, but we don't know its specific function."

We walked a little further and a larger space appeared before us.

The cave ceiling was very high, inlaid with countless glittering crystals, illuminating the entire space as if it were daytime.

In the center of the space, there is a stone platform with even more complex runes carved on it.

I recognized these runes at a glance; they were extremely similar to the alchemy formations I had seen in ancient books before!

Could it be... that this was once the cave dwelling of an ancient alchemist?

I walked quickly to the stone platform and carefully examined the runes on it.

These runes are ancient and mysterious, radiating a chilling power.

I felt the spiritual energy within my body begin to surge uncontrollably, as if drawn to the runes on the stone platform.

"Sister Xiao Yao, be careful!" Ling'er exclaimed.

I snapped back to my senses and realized that I was already standing in the center of the stone platform.

Just then, the runes on the stone platform suddenly lit up, and a dazzling white light enveloped me...

"Ling'er..."