Chapter 528: Yanzhi Mountain, the Herb Gatherer

Crack!

A steel chisel was firmly wedged into a protruding stone step on the cliff face.

A thin woman, clad in black hemp clothing and tied with a long rope, used the chisel's support to step further down the cliff.

"Sister, be careful!"

At the cliff's edge, a boy of about seven or eight peeked out, his face filled with worry as he watched his sister swaying in the wind, and called out a warning.

"Got it!" Below, the sister didn't look up, only said: "Watch the rope—don't let it snap!"

Crack…

The woman gripped the swaying rope tightly in her right hand, replaced the chisel with another grip on the cliff wall, and lowered herself another body-length.

"Little Mo, be good, watch carefully, don't be afraid!"

"Once I gather this medicinal herb, we'll have a better life from now on!"

The girl, about fifteen or sixteen, was named Li Li Yunyun, a herb gatherer of Yanzhi Mountain.

A few days ago, she had spotted a Purple Ginseng growing in a crevice on the cliff's midsection; based on her many years of gathering experience, she judged its age likely exceeded a hundred years.

A hundred-year Purple Ginseng was already an extremely precious herb.

Not only would it be welcomed at herbal shops, but even immortals who cultivated would highly value it.

Moreover, Li Li Yunyun knew this hundred-year Purple Ginseng was one of the main ingredients for cultivating second-rank elixirs—Foundation Establishment Pills—its value was self-evident.

But the problem was, this medicinal herb grew in a narrow crevice on a ledge halfway up the cliff.

Neither reachable from above nor below, it was impossible to harvest.

After days of deliberation, Li Li Yunyun finally made up her mind: she would risk her life to descend from the mountain's peak and collect this herb.

The descent went smoothly.

Soon, Li Li Yunyun reached the ledge.

"Phew…"

As a mortal, Li Li Yunyun gasped heavily, wiped sweat from her face, and dug up the 【hundred-year Purple Ginseng】.

"Is this really a hundred-year Purple Ginseng?"

"Its age… might even exceed a hundred years!"

A look of joy spread across Li Li Yunyun's face.

Purple Ginseng bore distinct patterns; by counting and observing these patterns, one could easily determine its age.

Li Li Yunyun placed the dug-up ginseng into her basket behind her, rested a moment, and was about to leave—when she suddenly noticed a scrap of clothing protruding from a crack behind the cliff ledge.

"Strange… is there anyone else in this desolate wilderness?"

Curious, Li Li Yunyun crouched low, carefully circled the ledge, and peered through the crack behind the rock face.

Beyond lay a slightly larger ledge, upon which lay a man.

Seeing this, Li Li Yunyun's body trembled in fright.

She didn't know what had happened.

She didn't know if the man was alive or dead!

"Girl… save me…"

The man inside emitted a faint cry for help.

Li Li Yunyun's heart pounded wildly; she didn't know what to do.

Save him—or not?

What if he was a wicked man?

The girl crouched down and peered through the rock crevice.

She saw a man lying on the ground, his clothes torn into tatters, his body broken beyond recognition; he could not move at all—only his mouth and eyelids could stir.

"Are you injured?" Li Li Yunyun asked softly.

"Yes, I'm injured!" The voice inside was faint, almost feeble.

"How did you get hurt?" Li Li Yunyun asked again.

He He Pingsheng, lying on his back, gave a bitter smile: "Uh… I fell."

He had lain here for over a dozen days.

Yes, this man was He He Pingsheng, who had ascended from the cultivation world to the Spirit Realm.

Earlier, he had repaired the ascension pathway between realms, only to be swept up by its power and forcibly transported to the Spirit Realm.

But He He Pingsheng's ascension was not normal.

He had merely been carried here by the pathway's force.

Though he escaped harm from spatial, temporal, or elemental rules, the overwhelming pressure had severely injured him.

Countless bones shattered!

That wasn't the worst.

The critical issue: his Nascent Soul had shattered.

All his spiritual power had leaked out.

His dantian was ripped open by a massive fissure, its spiritual energy returning to heaven and earth—his cultivation base had vanished entirely.

He had become an ordinary mortal.

Of course, not truly ordinary.

After all, he still possessed the thousand-year lifespan of a Nascent Soul cultivator, and immense spiritual sense.

But spiritual sense, without magic power, could not manipulate objects.

He had spiritual sense but no magic power—he could not move even a single item, nor retrieve pills from his storage pouch or ring, even if he could open them.

His bones and muscles were shattered beyond repair; he could not move a single inch.

He could not shift even the tiniest bit.

After ascending, he had landed on this wilderness ledge and lain here for over a dozen days, with no sign of recovery.

Fortunately, he had met a herb-gathering girl.

At this moment, He He Pingsheng placed all his hope in the girl.

"Don't worry—I can't move anything except my mouth. All my bones are broken!"

"Little girl, please, help me out, find a physician to treat me—I'll repay you tenfold!"

"Will you?"

He He Pingsheng hadn't begged so humbly in over a hundred years.

The girl, though a mountain girl, was no fool: "I won't save you… what if you're an ungrateful wretch? What's in it for me?"

"You just lie here then!"

"I'm leaving!"

I've got the hundred-year Purple Ginseng—why do I need your repayment?

After the girl left, He He Pingsheng's lips curled bitterly.

He could only "watch" as she departed.

After about a dozen breaths, the girl returned: "Fine—I'll save you, but you must swear an oath: never harm me in this lifetime!"

"Otherwise, I won't trust you!"

Though Li Li Yunyun had decided not to save him, her kindness couldn't let her abandon him—so she came back.

He He Pingsheng said: "Agreed!"

"I'm He He Pingsheng… and you—what's your name?"

Li Li Yunyun said: "I'm Li Li Yunyun of Yanzhi Mountain!"

"Good!" He He Pingsheng took a deep breath and solemnly swore: "I, He He Pingsheng, if saved today by Miss Li Li Yunyun of Yanzhi Mountain, shall never forget this life-saving grace. I vow never to repay kindness with betrayal—I shall repay my benefactor with great compensation and blessings. If I break this oath, may thunder strike me down!"

"Alright!" Li Li Yunyun said: "Since you look honest enough, I'll save you."