[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-with-the-wasteland-sacred-body":3,"chapter-starting-with-the-wasteland-sacred-body-starting-with-the-wasteland-sacred-body-chapter-12":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Starting with the Wasteland Sacred Body",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2340819,4576,"Chapter 12: The Ancient Kingdom","starting-with-the-wasteland-sacred-body-chapter-12",12,"\u003Cp>Huozhou is one of the three thousand Dao States in the Huangtian Immortal Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its territory is far smaller than Huangzhou, where Mount Junjia resides, even merely one percent of Huangzhou’s size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet even at one percent of Huangzhou’s size, Huozhou remains a vast Dao State.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are no numerous factions standing tall across Huozhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire Huozhou is ruled by the Zhuque Ancient Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhuque Ancient Kingdom is an ancient force with deep heritage; though inferior to the Huanggu Clan, it possesses profound foundations and a formidable reputation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides Zhuque, there are also Qinglong Ancient Kingdom, Baihu Ancient Kingdom, and Xuanwu Ancient Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These four ancient kingdoms are collectively known as the Four Symbols Ancient Kingdoms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, within the imperial palace of the Zhuque Ancient Kingdom, in a gilded and splendid hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged man clad in a crimson-gold Zhuque robe lay upon a bed, his forehead darkened, his entire aura weak, as if stricken by grave illness, his life flickering like a dying flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was none other than the sovereign of the Zhuque Ancient Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside the bed stood a beautiful woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore a red feathered robe, her figure slender and graceful, her legs long, her skin as white as snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her long red hair shimmered like dancing flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her beautiful eyes glowed with a crimson crystal hue, her nose high and refined, her lips vivid, her teeth gleaming like pearls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the cinnabar dot on her brow, complementing her jade-like face, rendered her stunningly beautiful and exquisitely alluring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This woman was none other than the Zhuque Ancient Kingdom’s imperial princess, Bai Yuer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, I will surely find the Immortal Herb to save you,” Bai Yuer bit her lips tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yuer, you’ve suffered enough… the Immortal Herb cannot be forced…” The Zhuque Sovereign shook his head weakly, his voice barely a whisper, filled with despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Immortal Herb was an object of unimaginable rarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the supreme Dao lineages and immortal factions could not possess many stocks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They certainly would not kindly give one to the Zhuque Ancient Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the Zhuque Ancient Kingdom was powerful and possessed many top-tier Sacred Herbs, it had not a single Immortal Herb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, anywhere in the outside world, the emergence of one Immortal Herb would ignite bloody chaos—everyone scrambled to seize it; who would dare sell it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, rest assured—I will obtain the Immortal Herb with my own abilities!” Bai Yuer’s eyes hardened, transforming grief into resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who was she?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhuque Ancient Kingdom’s imperial princess, her brow imbued with Zhuque Divine Flame, an extraordinary talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention her beauty, which ranked among the finest in the Huangtian Immortal Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many young prodigies from various factions were her devoted admirers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Bai Yuer had developed a haughty and aloof disposition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She believed she possessed the strength to save her father and the entire Zhuque Ancient Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those young prodigies from other factions? All useless—when needed, not one could produce an Immortal Herb.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even my betrothed, Xiao Chen, as the eldest prince of the Qinglong Ancient Kingdom, couldn’t even produce a single Immortal Herb.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Yuer stepped out of the palace, her jade face grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After her father’s illness, the Zhuque Ancient Kingdom’s strength had steadily declined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, the Qinglong Ancient Kingdom came to propose a marriage alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, Qinglong had promised to give Zhuque one Immortal Herb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Yuer and Qinglong’s eldest prince, Xiao Chen, had known each other since childhood; though they kept distance, they were childhood companions with decent relations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After careful consideration, Bai Yuer had agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after so much time had passed, the betrothal was long settled, but the Immortal Herb remained nowhere to be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, with Zhuque’s strength weakened, it had no power to demand it from Qinglong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Bai Yuer could only rely on herself to find the Immortal Herb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What should I do… Father cannot fall…” Bai Yuer’s heart grew anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait—I nearly forgot my best friend, Jun Linglong?” Bai Yuer suddenly remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had once encountered Jun Linglong in a secret realm, and their interactions had been pleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they hadn’t kept in close contact since, given Jun Linglong’s nature, she surely wouldn’t ignore her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the Jun family undoubtedly possessed Immortal Herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Bai Yuer’s breath quickened; she swiftly pulled out a jade slip and sent a message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, in the side hall of Jun Family’s Tian Di Palace, Jun Linglong received the message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Zhuque Sovereign is gravely ill and requires an Immortal Herb for healing?” Jun Linglong frowned slightly upon hearing the news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, if not for Bai Yuer’s message, she’d nearly forgotten this “best friend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Bai Yuer was an ancient kingdom’s imperial princess, noble in status,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Linglong was even more of a heavenly daughter of the Huanggu Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she now served as Jun Xiaoyao’s maid, outside the family, she remained a Jun family noblewoman pursued by all quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She asks for an Immortal Herb outright—what a hefty appetite. Still, we’ve known each other for some time.” Jun Linglong frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem was, she had no Immortal Herb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a spiritual voice whispered into Jun Linglong’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Linglong, brew tea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Linglong rose immediately—it was Jun Xiaoyao calling her to brew tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a steaming, ethereal pool, Jun Xiaoyao sat bare-chested, his body sculpted like divine jade, shimmering with radiant light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At eight years old, Jun Xiaoyao’s frame was tall and elegant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Linglong entered, presenting a cup of Wu Dao tea to Jun Xiaoyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Jun Xiaoyao grow increasingly refined and majestic, Jun Linglong felt the strange illusion of nurturing a young boy into a divine youth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong? You have something to say?” Jun Xiaoyao sipped the tea, his tone indifferent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing,” Jun Linglong’s eyelashes trembled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak. Do you think you can hide it from me?” Jun Xiaoyao shook his head with a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Linglong bit her lip, then finally revealed Bai Yuer’s matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s it—an Immortal Herb? I’m not short of them.” Jun Xiaoyao shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he was at Taiyue Ancient Stele, he obtained three Immortal Herbs; later, the Eighteen Ancestors gradually gave him five more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the years, Jun Xiaoyao had only assimilated three—he still had five left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since she’s your best friend, giving her one won’t hurt. Have her come.” Jun Xiaoyao waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re just giving it to her?” Jun Linglong was momentarily stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world of the ultra-rich—she truly didn’t understand!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Jun Linglong nodded slightly and replied to Bai Yuer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Xiaoyao’s lips curled into a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t trying to be a good Samaritan—he had his own thoughts and plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let those pillars of righteousness carry the light of virtue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A saintly persona didn’t suit him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, though he didn’t value the Immortal Herb, he wasn’t so generous as to give one away casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those Jun Family sequencers each have support from their respective bloodlines—and even vassal Dao lineages.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Jun Zhangjian has vassal factions like the Ancient Sword Sect behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These vassal factions don’t submit to the Jun family—they submit to individuals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though the Zhuque Ancient Kingdom has weakened in recent years, a dying camel is still bigger than a horse—it could be brought under our wing. Perhaps I can even bring the other three ancient kingdoms under vassalage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Xiaoyao plotted in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he was the Zero Sequence—if he had no vassal factions behind him, it would be embarrassing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed the proper stature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Bai Yuer, did she think she could get an Immortal Herb for free?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Xiaoyao wasn’t running a charity—he never did anything without benefit to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon receiving Jun Linglong’s reply, Bai Yuer was overjoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like a long drought finally receiving rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the message Jun Linglong sent left Bai Yuer deep in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the one who would give her the Immortal Herb was not Jun Linglong herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A heavenly prodigy of the Jun family has agreed to give me an Immortal Herb… Could he be interested in me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Yuer couldn’t help but think.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was confident in her beauty—she was the number one beauty of the Zhuque Ancient Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the entire Huangtian Immortal Realm, her name carried renown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her mind, anyone willing to give her an Immortal Herb must desire her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course—even a Jun family prodigy can’t escape such base desires.” Bai Yuer felt a strange sense of disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Jun family prodigies didn’t seem as transcendent as she’d imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, first I must obtain the Immortal Herb to save Father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bai Yuer shook her head and set off for Huangzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>",1451,"2026-06-20T23:29:44.332Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","19e7dfb4ddf711ce6a4da7a36696062a82a5a4de7bde7681d0384f2707a0a20c","starting-with-the-wasteland-sacred-body-chapter-13","starting-with-the-wasteland-sacred-body-chapter-11",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-with-the-wasteland-sacred-body-cover.jpg"]