Chapter 908: Qin Muxin Lends a Helping Hand

When Ye Mo arrived at the Herb Valley, a bustling market had already formed. Cultivators crowded the area, stalls lining both sides. Ye Mo lacked sufficient spirit stones; he longed for new armor and high-level paper runes, but his funds fell far short.

He found no sand or discernible entrance to the “Desert Plane Herb Valley,” merely a low mountain range, devoid of towering peaks or dense forests. Confused, but uninclined to inquire, Ye Mo recognized this as a preliminary location. He remained silent about his unexpected teleportation.

His spiritual sense detected neither Mu Yiqing nor Hu Haibing. While many cultivators arrived with their sects, Ye Mo stood alone. However, he did spot Qin Muxin, Guang Wei, and other Immortal Herb Valley members, including Ming Xin and two Nascent Soul cultivators. Ming Xin conversed with the leader of another sect.

Ye Mo felt acutely his disadvantage; major sects enjoyed the protection of Nascent Soul and even Hollow Spirit cultivators, while he was utterly alone. Qin Muxin briefly met his gaze, then quickly averted her eyes, feigning ignorance.

Finding a spot to sit, Ye Mo's boredom was soon interrupted by a man and woman approaching him. Both were False Core cultivators, yet emanated an overwhelming aura of violence, revealing a history steeped in bloodshed.

“Friend, entering the Herb Valley?” the man inquired, his voice alone conveying a palpable killing intent.

Ye Mo rose and nodded, “Yes.”

The man's face lit up. He tossed a pouch of spirit stones at Ye Mo. “Take these, and give me your jade card.”

Ye Mo's eyes hardened. He refused to believe anyone dared seize his hard-earned jade card, the prize of his tournament victory. This man's audacity was appalling.

Before Ye Mo could respond, the False Core cultivator noticed his ring. “Your ring, too,” he demanded, his tone brimming with greedy surprise.

Anger fueled Ye Mo's retort, “Why should I give you what’s mine?”

“I’ve paid,” the man countered, his voice now cold. The Herb Valley's imminent opening found most major sects shielded by their own, leaving Ye Mo vulnerable, a lone cultivator.

“Get lost,” Ye Mo retorted, uncertain of the rules regarding violence within.

“You dare?!” The False Core cultivator snatched back the spirit stones, drawing a dark axe. A crowd gathered to watch.

“Boss He, who offended you?” a foundation establishment cultivator, bald and stout, asked with a mocking tone.

The man announced, “This blind idiot refuses to sell after I offered spirit stones. Does he think I’m a pushover?”

The onlookers remained silent. Unexpectedly, Ye Mo countered, “Can you kill whomever you please?”

The crowd erupted in laughter. Within the valley, killing was permissible, barring interference from major sects.

The bald man chuckled, “Of course! Kill Boss He; nobody will bother you!”

Ye Mo nodded, “Good.” He knew his Foundation Establishment Tertiary stage abilities, coupled with the Illusion Cloud Technique, could swiftly dispatch Boss He.

Boss He, sensing Ye Mo’s resistance, hesitated, then spoke, “I’ll give you a chance. Surrender your magic artifact; otherwise, you’ll have no time to retaliate.”

Ye Mo nodded and produced Zi Xu. The crowd's laughter intensified; Zi Xu, a simple chopping knife, seemed absurdly inadequate.

Guang Wei, aware of Ye Mo's predicament and having observed events unfold, remarked, “Martial Sister Muxin, that man, Boss He, a powerful False Core cultivator with ties to Broken Leaf’s gangs, is harassing the pill concoction hall champion. How dare he reject our Immortal Herb Valley’s good will!”

Qin Muxin, who had been watching, frowned. She swiftly intervened, appearing before Boss He and Ye Mo. Ye Mo, poised to strike, sheathed Zi Xu.

“Get lost,” Qin Muxin threatened icily. “Another appearance, and I will kill you.”

Boss He, initially enraged, fell silent at the sight of Qin Muxin. He bowed hastily, “I’ll leave immediately, Senior.” The bald cultivator followed suit; they were insignificant compared to a five-star sect.

Dumbstruck, Ye Mo observed Qin Muxin’s unexpected ferocity. He hadn’t anticipated this quiet woman’s capacity for intimidation, nor her intervention after his prior rejection. Gratefully, he saluted, “Thank you, Mrs. Qin.”

She regarded him plainly. “Honestly, the Herb Valley is no place for you. Stay home and concoct pills.” With that, she left.

Guang Wei echoed her sentiment, “You're lucky. But I agree with Martial Sister Muxin. You might regret this… though, you may not have the chance.” She departed with Qin Muxin.

Ye Mo shook his head. Had Qin Muxin not intervened, He Chong would be dead. He understood her intervention stemmed not from affection, but from a desire to prevent the senseless murder of a valuable pill master.

Suddenly, a tremendous rumbling sound echoed, drawing Ye Mo's attention.