The Verdant Garden is not just any valley. In fact, it is a vast space brimming with a vast variety of medicinal herbs, among which, some are quite rare and valuable.

However, the Verdant Garden has its restrictions. It doesn't, for instance, allow just any herbal apprentice to freely pick herbs within. They are only granted permission to harvest some herbs in the outskirts of the garden. Somewhat ironically, some of these herbs even pale in comparison to the ones the apprentices grow themselves.

However, the herbs cultivated by the apprentices belong to the alchemists of their respective mountains, not to the apprentices themselves. Only the herbs picked from the Verdant Garden can be retained by the apprentices. If one were found possessing a hidden herb, it could be considered a serious crime. The punishment could range from being expelled from the sect after deprivation of one's soul energy, all the way to execution on the spot.

Crossing over numerous mountain peaks, a group of people arrived at a massive flatland. On this flatland were several figures.

Inside the Alchemy Sect, the number of members belonging to the alchemist lineage was not very large -- there were only slightly more than a thousand alchemists. Each alchemist, however, had around a hundred apprentices under them. Right now, the gathering of tens of thousands of apprentices was a sight to behold. Nevertheless, when compared to the whole of Alchemy Sect, the number did seem rather small.

Centered in this flatland were several figures in purple robes – nearly a hundred alchemists had arrived.

The party from Mt. Verdant was the last to arrive. Ignoring the apprentices, the alchemists from Mt. Verdant strolled over to their colleagues clad in purple robes, exchanging pleasantries. Only then did a seasoned, gray-haired alchemist slowly speak.

"Now that everyone has arrived, let's open the Verdant Garden. You should all remember that there are rules in the Verdant Garden. You can only venture around its outskirts. If you dare to approach its core, you will be executed by the prohibitive rules."

After saying this, the alchemist and his colleagues took out an old, simple-looking token. As they channeled their energy into the tokens, streams of soul energy flowed out of the tokens, intersecting in mid-air. The tokens started to levitate.

In the midst of a rumbling sound, a huge vortex slowly formed on the flatland. The noise lasted for as long as an incense could burn and a completed vortex finally appeared. From the vortex, a rich scent of various herbs burst out, invigorating the people present.

"All apprentices from Alchemy Sect, enter the Verdant Garden!"

At the shout, one after another, the apprentices entered the vortex, their faces excited. The vortex was large enough to accommodate hundreds of people at the same time. The sheer number of apprentices failed to clog the entrance and in less than the time it took for a cup of tea to steep, all the apprentices had entered the Verdant Garden.

Linxu stepped out of the vortex. He sniffed at the aromatic scent of herbs fill his nostrils and felt his head spin slightly. Although this was not his first visit here, he’d always ended up finding herbs for others, making every visit as frustrating as the first.

Looking at the smirking He Qing in the distance, Linxu gritted his teeth and moved in a different direction. Each visit to the Verdant Garden was for three days, and once the time was up, all disciples had to leave.

In the next two days, Linxu found quite a number of herbs. Some were quite good. Just like He Qing had said: although Linxu was unable to cultivate soul power, he had a knack for identifying and growing herbs.

Lin Xu's recollection of various medicinal herbs was no less proficient than that of a pill master. After all, his grandfather was once a pill master.

Two days later, Lin Xu stared resolutely in a direction within the Pill Garden, then followed that direction. He was unaware that not far behind him, a silhouette was hiding behind a massive tree, eyes cold, his face twisted in a ghastly smile.

Lin Xu didn't stop along the way, not even to pick herbs, and went straight to the depths of the Pill Garden. Until he reached the edge of the Pill Garden, a cliff stood before Lin Xu, and beyond the cliff was another piece of land. In the middle of the cliff was a flickering forbidden light. Lin Xu knelt down, tears streaming down his eyes.

"Grandfather... I've come to see you..."

No one knew that Lin Xu put up with all the mockery and ridicule, the humiliation of his herbs being stolen each time, and still, he persisted in entering the Pill Garden. The reason was because his grandfather had fallen inside the Pill Garden.

However, his grandfather had fallen deep inside the Pill Garden, and he had no ability to venture there.

"Oh... So that's why you, a waste, enter the Pill Garden every time. It's for your dead old man!" A mocking laugh echoed, as He Qing walked out with a face full of scorn, his eyes full of disgust as he looked at Lin Xu.

Lin Xu's face stiffened, he stood up and glared darkly at He Qing. That expression made He Qing's contemptuous face turn slightly uneasy. He glared hatefully at Lin Xu, charged forward, and delivered a soul power infused punch squarely into Lin Xu's face.

"I told you to smile when you see me! Do you still think you're the young master from back then? If it weren't for your dead old man, why would the disciples even bother with you?!" He Qing bellowed in rage, his punch landing on Lin Xu's face, causing him to sway on his feet.

After regaining his footing, Lin Xu glared at He Qing in rage and pounced on him, clenching his fists and swinging at him.

He Qing merely sneered, sidestepped the punch, kneed Lin Xu in his stomach, and sent him flying a few feet.

"You dare to retaliate? Do you know why I despise you? If your dead old man had put all that energy into me, I would have been a real disciple of the Refining Sect by now. But what has been the result? I had to watch as you wasted all those pills and soul attachment, still ending up being a waste. And I even have to look after you, every time I think of it, it disgusts me!"

He Qing's face twisted in rage, veins on his forehead popping, as he looked at Lin Xu who was sent flying, his eyes filled with a cruel murderous intent. He took a step forward and swung his leg fiercely, almost kicking Lin Xu off the cliff.

"Hahaha..."

Battered and bruised, Lin Xu didn't get angry. Instead, he laughed. He knew he was no match for He Qing. He couldn't cultivate soul power, while He Qing had already reached the fourth stage. Killing him would be effortless. But he didn't expect that the reason why He Qing kept targeting him was because of this.

"Hahaha…Servants will always be servants. I treated you well back then, even secretly giving you my grandfather's elixir to consume. You are ungrateful and even harbor resentment. You lowly creatures will never change your lowly hearts. Hahaha…”

These words further distorted He Qing's expression, his breath was rapid, and the murderous intent in his eyes became more intense. He took a step towards Lin Xu, and the smile on his face became more manic.

"Go ahead and shout. I enjoy listening to the cries of a defeated dog. What else can you do besides shouting? You can't do anything. Since you're going to die, I might as well tell you why your damn grandfather died."

Lin Xu's pupils tightened, staring fixedly at He Qing, his expression was fierce, "What did you say?!”

"Hehe, our young master can't forget that the night before your grandfather entered the Dan Qing Garden, you suddenly had a close brush with death. Your damn grandfather paid quite a price to save you. What do you think caused you such a serious injury?” He Qing sneered.

Shock surged through Lin Xu's body as he stared blankly at He Qing. He Qing used to serve him, and only Lin Xu, He Qing, and his grandfather were present in the whole cave.

"It was you…you tampered with my medicine!" Lin Xu roared and mustered the strength within him, he sprung off the ground and stared at He Qing with bloodshot eyes. "I'm going to kill you!"

With a roar, all the strength in his body concentrated into one punch, landing on He Qing’s face, causing him to bleed from his mouth and nose.

He Qing did not expect Lin Xu to have such strength. But seeing the enraged Lin Xu only excited He Qing more.

"Hahaha... Yes, I just love the look on your face, it’s so enjoyable! Hahaha…" He stepped forward, punched down again, and once again slammed Lin Xu onto the ground. With a sadistic sense of satisfaction, he stepped on Lin Xu’s body, breaking both his legs.

"Hahaha, who would've thought, this young master, just a mere medicine boy, could effortlessly play you both to death. What a useless joke of a Dan master, who has fallen in the palm of my hand. Now, out of kindness, I'll let you and your grandfather reunite in this Dan Qing Garden."

"I'll kill you, I'll kill you!" Lin Xu roared crazily. His fractured legs were powerless, but he still had his hands. He repetitively punched He Qing, but it didn't pose any threat to him.

To He Qing, he was a mouse to be played with, and in the cracking sound, Lin Xu’s hands too were broken, shards of bone scattering.

Lin Xu’s eyes were full of resentment, looking at He Qing with refusal to accept his fate, the pain from his body didn't matter. He never expected that he and his grandfather had brought up such an ungrateful person. Back then, he treated He Qing like a playmate and even shared elixir with him, yet this was the result.

The scene before his eyes gradually turned into darkness, and in the midst of his rising grudge, weak words continuously came out from his mouth. His voice slowly weakened until it completely disappeared.

He Qing looked at Lin Xu, whose eyes were ashen and lifeless, his face full of excited satisfaction. He picked up the storage bag from Lin Xu’s waist, looked at the body like a pile of mud, and walked away with a big laugh.