Chapter 370: Jiang Feng Numbed

Great Green Mountain Peak, inside a hidden cultivation Secret Room.

Zuo Liangchen's eyes were blood‑red, and he hysterically smashed the items inside the Secret Room into splinters.

His chest rose and fell violently as he gulped breath after breath, his face contorted with ferocity.

"Jiang Feng! It's you again!"

Zuo Liangchen roared, a fist slammed the nearby stone wall, and after the dull thud a deep fist imprint remained on the stone wall.

"Why! You outsider wild kid, why can you earn Yao Lao's favor!"

As he raved, the Secret Room's stone door was pushed open, and the Village Chief's stooped figure leisurely walked in.

His face showed little expression, his eyes cloudy yet exuding an unfathomable authority.

Seeing his grandfather appear, Zuo Liangchen seemed to find a vent, instantly curbing some of his madness.

He hurried forward to the Village Chief.

"Grandfather, where exactly am I inferior to that Jiang Feng?"

"But why? Why did even Yao Lao finally choose that guy!"

Zuo Liangchen grew more excited as he spoke, his voice rising considerably.

"Yao Lu matters greatly; inside it hides countless Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures and Yao Lao's lifelong learning. Could we really stand by as Yao Lu falls into an outsider's hands? This would be a huge loss for our Zuo Family and for all of Taoyuan Village!"

The Village Chief, after listening, slowly lifted his head, his gaze coldly sweeping Zuo Liangchen.

"Look at yourself now—like a shrew, smashing and throwing things. If this spreads, others will think all Zuo Family Disciples are such unsavory characters!"

"He's just a mere Yao Lu apprentice. Yao Lao only took him as an apprentice; does that mean he'll become Yao Lu's heir?"

"All these years of cultivation, have they all gone down your gut like a dog? You still can't even fix this impatient temperament; no wonder Yao Lao looks down on you!"

Zuo Liangchen, rebuked by his grandfather, flushed red, his lips moved, yet he still stubbornly said.

"But Grandfather, Yao Lao for many years never chose anyone as an apprentice; countless village youths begged him for years, and he always refused. Now he directly chose Jiang Feng, an outsider—doesn't that explain the issue?"

"And also Xi Er!"

When Zuo Liangchen mentioned Xi Er, his emotions grew even more intense.

"My marriage to Xi Er was a done deal, but Jiang Feng's appearance changed everything!"

Just as Zuo Liangchen was about to continue, the Village Chief suddenly cut him off, his tone turning somewhat angry.

"Enough! I know these matters far better than you! And precisely because of them, this is why Yao Lao didn't choose you!"

The Village Chief inhaled deeply, then spoke slowly.

"Our Zuo Family has been established in Taoyuan Village for a thousand years; even the village's fortune is tightly linked to our Zuo Family. If you were to control Yao Lu and obtain Yao Lao's transmission, our Zuo Family's power would reach its peak, and then who in Taoyuan Village could balance us?"

"You think Yao Lao truly is an aloof good old man who doesn't meddle in worldly affairs?"

The Village Chief's gaze deepened.

"These years, I've long sensed that this old fellow, though seeming to live in seclusion at Yao Lu and ignore village matters, has actually been covertly trying to weaken our Zuo Family's strength. Even regarding your marriage to Xi Er, his attitude has been lukewarm; otherwise, would you think Jiang Feng could conveniently appear now, win Xi Er's favor, and be chosen by Yao Lao?"

When these words were spoken, Zuo Liangchen's complexion changed instantly, his pupils snapped shut, his face full of disbelief.

"Grandfather, you mean all this was deliberately orchestrated by Yao Lao? He purposely let Jiang Feng appear to sabotage my marriage to Xi Er and block my acquisition of Yao Lu's transmission?"

The Village Chief slowly nodded.

"This old thing has lived for an unknown number of years, his mind is profoundly deep; how could he not see through our Zuo Family's scheming? Xi Er's status is special, Yao Lu's transmission is of utmost importance; these two are merely bait he offers, the purpose being to balance village forces so our Zuo Family doesn't dominate alone."

Zuo Liangchen was struck as if by lightning, staggered back several steps, collapsed onto the ground, his gaze vacant.

"So that's how it is… I can't believe Yao Lao has been playing me like a monkey…"

His inner anger was instantly replaced by overwhelming loss, as if all his strength had been drained.

After a while, Zuo Liangchen finally lifted his head, his eyes bearing a hint of despair.

"Then what do we do now? Should we just watch Jiang Feng snatch away everything that rightfully belongs to me, while watching Yao Lao gradually weaken our Zuo Family's power?"

The Village Chief, seeing his demeanor, glared at him angrily again.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Things aren't beyond repair yet. Have you forgotten that in Taoyuan Village, obtaining Yao Lu's transmission isn't exclusive to our Zuo Family alone."

"There are several other families in the village as well."

"You really think that Jiang Feng, a rootless outsider, could safely obtain the position of Yao Lu apprentice and even eventually inherit Yao Lu?"

When these words were spoken, Zuo Liangchen instantly understood his grandfather's meaning, his eyes lit up sharply, and he hurriedly got up from the ground.

"Grandfather, you mean… let the other families deal with Jiang Feng?"

The Village Chief nodded approvingly.

"Exactly. Jiang Feng, an outsider, has earned Yao Lao's favor and become a Yao Lu apprentice; this itself infringes on the interests of the other village families. They will never tolerate an outsider snatching a chance that should belong to them."

"You now go do one thing…"

The Village Chief said in a solemn tone.

"Spread the word, tell all families that Yao Lao has already chosen the outsider Jiang Feng as Yao Lu apprentice; I think they will be more eager to deal with Jiang Feng."

"Then, without our Zuo Family needing to act, someone will naturally eliminate Jiang Feng, this trouble, for us."

A flash of sinister malice crossed the Village Chief's eyes.

Zuo Liangchen, after listening, finally broke into an excited smile.

"Grandfather, wise one! I'll go do it right now, make sure the news spreads throughout Taoyuan Village, so every family knows Jiang Feng's existence and they can deal with Jiang Feng!"

Having said that, Zuo Liangchen could no longer contain his excitement, turned and sprinted toward Outside the Secret Room.

The Village Chief watched his grandson's departing silhouette, his gaze turning complex, and he let out a soft sigh.

"Liangchen, I hope this time you can claim some honor and not disappoint me again."

Meanwhile, within Yao Lu's Secret Realm.

Jiang Feng didn't know how many years he had spent here, only that day after day, year after year, each day repeated the same routine.

Tasting various herbs.

At first, he could still clearly recall the time, knowing that he had already been Here for a month, two months, half a year…

But as time passed, he Gradually lost his Concept of time.

Each day's life was reduced to tasting Herbs and recording their medicinal properties, and Throughout he began to become numb.

Jiang Feng, from initial curiosity to later numbness, each time he picked up an Herb, placed it in his Mouth to chew, feeling the Herb's flavor, its medicinal nature and Medicine Power, then silently noted it in his mind, and reached for the next one.

His movements became increasingly proficient, increasingly mechanical.

Over the years, he has tasted countless Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

Kun Long also Rarely speaks now, spending most of the time sleeping within Jiang Feng's Sea of Consciousness, seemingly undergoing some kind of metamorphosis.

On this day, Jiang Feng, as usual, walked numbly to an Herb.

It is a Golden Spirit Herb, entirely golden, its leaves shimmering with a faint Golden Light, emitting Pure metallic Spiritual Energy, a very rare auxiliary cultivation spirit herb.

Jiang Feng bent down, plucked the Golden Spirit Herb, without any hesitation, placed it directly into his Mouth, and chewed mechanically.

"Golden Spirit Herb, nature warm, taste sweet, contains Pure metallic Spiritual Energy, can strengthen true Qi…"

Jiang Feng said it with a blank expression, his voice flat, a wholly subconscious reaction.

Just as he finished the sentence, an aged figure Suddenly appeared without any warning before him, none other than the long‑disappeared Yao Lao.

Yao Lao still bore that same appearance, now quietly watching Jiang Feng.

"In three years, you have tasted every Herb in this realm, remembering each Herb's characteristics… more resilient than I imagined, and more gifted as well."