The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the thin mist and illuminated the ancient mountains, the three of them were already fully prepared. Shouldering their packs and gripping their weapons, they set off on their journey deep into the Yanshan Mountains.
The mountain trails were rugged and choked with thorns, but relying on their firm conviction and unyielding will, they pressed forward step by step.
Along the way, they encountered vegetation of all shapes and sizes. Some emitted a faint medicinal fragrance, while others concealed unknown dangers.
Haofeng and his companions threaded through the area with utmost caution, daring neither to touch things carelessly nor to miss any potential opportunity. They knew that in the Yanshan Mountains, every inch of land might harbor miracles.
As they went deeper, the aura among the mountain forests grew increasingly dense, as if even the air was filled with the power of life.
They encountered quite a few small animals. Some looked curiously at these three uninvited guests, while others hurried away, afraid of stirring up trouble. Amidst this vibrant world, Haofeng and the others also felt the surging of power within their own bodies, as if they were generating some wondrous resonance with this earth.
"Look, there's a waterfall over there!" Wang Yan suddenly pointed ahead and shouted. A waterfall, like a strand of silver, poured down from a high place, sending water splashing everywhere with a sound like thunder.
Beneath the waterfall pooled a clear pond, its water transparent to the bottom, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and surrounding mountain scenery.
"Truly an exceptional place for cultivation!" Limo exclaimed in admiration. They decided to rest here for a while and try to use the power of the waterfall to elevate their own cultivation levels.
Haofeng closed his eyes and collected his thoughts, guiding the impact of the waterfall to wash over his body and mind, feeling that majestic power originating from nature. In his perception, every single drop of water from the waterfall seemed to contain the spiritual energy and laws of heaven and earth, constantly cleansing his physical body and soul, granting him an unprecedented transformation and sublimation.
Amidst the endless, babbling sound of the spiritual spring waterfall, Haofeng and his partners bathed in the grace of nature, feeling the spiritual energy within their bodies surge like a galloping river, brimming with unprecedented vitality. Below the spiritual spring, the spiritual herbs gently caressed by the clear spring looked like precious treasures carefully nurtured by Mother Earth, emitting a faint translucent glow; each one contained the purest power of heaven and earth.
The system's mechanical yet gentle voice sounded softly beside Haofeng's ear, like the recitation of an ancient text, slowly recounting the name, attributes, and efficacy of each spiritual herb. There was the "Qingxin Yulu Grass", whose leaves resembled jade and juice like nectar; consuming it could clear the heart and brighten the eyes while purifying impurities within the body, making it an exceptional item for solidifying the foundation during the Qi Condensation Early Stage. There was also the "Purple Cloud Spirit Ginseng", whose roots intertwined, its entire body casting a faint purple radiance and containing a majestic life force, playing a role not to be underestimated in increasing the speed of cultivation. And even more remarkable was the "Dragon Saliva Spirit Fruit", round and plump with its skin covered in delicate scale-like patterns, said to be formed from the leftover saliva of ancient dragon beasts; consuming it could stimulate potential within the body, allowing the cultivator to achieve a qualitative leap in a short period of time.
Haofeng gazed at these spiritual herbs, an indescribable surge of excitement and gratitude welling up in his heart.
He knew deeply that this fortunate encounter was not only a tremendous aid to his personal cultivation, but also a leap forward in the overall strength of the team. Thus, under the guidance of the system, they carefully harvested these precious spiritual herbs, afraid of disturbing this natural tranquility.
Having finished the gathering, the group sat around in a circle, exchanging glances with one another. No words were needed; that tacit understanding and trust were deeply engraved in everyone's heart.
Haofeng parted his lips slightly, his voice gentle yet firm: "Although we have obtained the assistance of these spiritual herbs, the path of cultivation ultimately requires us to keep our feet on the ground and remain diligent without slackening. Today's breakthrough is merely a small step in our long journey, and there are many more challenges awaiting us in the future."
With that said, everyone nodded successively, their gazes flashing with longing and determination for the future. Following the system's suggestions, they distributed the spiritual herbs reasonably, each finding a tranquil spot to begin a new round of cultivation.
Haofeng chose a rock near the edge of the waterfall, where water vapor swirled and spiritual energy was densest. He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes to collect his thoughts, gently placed a "Purple Cloud Spirit Ginseng" in his palm, and circulated his internal cultivation technique.
Guided by the spiritual energy, the Purple Cloud Spirit Ginseng gradually transformed into a streak of purple light, flowing along his meridians. Wherever it passed, a warm current seemed to surge, and every single cell in his body cheered and leaped with joy, absorbing this gift from nature.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment, with only the roar of the waterfall and the surging of spiritual energy intertwining into a melodious movement.
Haofeng felt his spiritual awareness continuously expanding, his perception of the surrounding environment growing increasingly clear, to the point where he could even faintly sense the flow trajectory of the spiritual energy between heaven and earth. He knew this was a sign of increased cultivation, as well as a solid step forward toward a higher realm.
Several days later, when Haofeng opened his eyes once more, his gaze was utterly clear, and his entire body radiated a faint purple light—the best proof of his elevated cultivation.
He stood up and looked toward his partners in the distance, seeing some with eyes closed in deep concentration, others swinging swords through training forms. Every person radiated different lights, which were the fruits belonging to their respective cultivations.
Haofeng smiled faintly, his heart filled with gratification and pride. He knew the hardships and efforts of this journey had not been in vain; they were stepping closer and closer to the goal in their hearts. And all of this was inseparable from that fortunate encounter beneath the spiritual spring waterfall, as well as the steadfast friendship and belief among them.
With the elevation of their cultivation, Haofeng and his companions also began to come into contact with more secrets concerning this world. They discovered that across this continent, countless ancient ruins and secret realms lay hidden, each containing astonishing treasures and unknown dangers.
After resting for a few days, they continued their march toward the Yanshan Mountains.