Chapter 209: Glowing Mushroom

The old man pointed toward Heifeng Mountain in the distance and said:

"They were all harvested from the mountain."

"Heifeng Mountain? Isn't there Toxic Fog on that mountain? How can you still gather herbs?"

Jiangnan pretended to be puzzled and asked.

The old man gave a mysterious smile, lowered his voice, and said:

"Guest, you may not know that although the Black Fog is poisonous, it also gives rise to a special mushroom."

"That mushroom, called Glowing Mushroom, is not only non‑poisonous but also enhances cultivation. Most crucially, it can ward off the Black Fog's harm!"

"Glowing Mushroom? Enhance cultivation? Ward off Black Fog?"

Jiangnan felt a jolt inside, but his face remained unchanged as he continued to ask:

"Is it really that miraculous?"

"Of course it's true."

The old man said proudly,

"Everyone who comes to our village now does so for the Glowing Mushroom."

"I see now."

Jiangnan suddenly understood and finally grasped the outsiders' purpose.

They had all come for the Glowing Mushroom in Heifeng Mountain.

"Elder, you seem exceptionally skilled; I presume you are a cultivator as well?"

The old man heard this, his complexion shifted slightly, and a hint of wariness flashed in his eyes.

"Guest, why say that? I am merely an ordinary herb farmer, not any sort of cultivator."

Jiangnan smiled and did not pursue the question.

He had already determined that this old man was certainly not ordinary. He harbored true Qi within, faint yet undeniably present.

"Elder, is the Glowing Mushroom easy to gather?"

Jiangnan shifted the topic and continued to ask.

"Not easy, not easy."

The old man shook his head, a bitter smile appearing on his face.

"If the Glowing Mushroom were that easy to gather, those outsiders wouldn't linger in our village for so long."

"Their purpose for staying in the village is the Glowing Mushroom!"

"Then do you have Glowing Mushroom here?"

"I have none here."

The old man shook his head, his eyes clouded, revealing no hint of truth or falsehood.

"However, if you wish, you may go outside the village and look around; perhaps you'll encounter someone who just returned from gathering herbs on the mountain, and they might have some in hand."

Jiangnan stared at the old man's eyes, trying to discern the truth of his words.

The old man's expression was natural, his tone calm, seeming not to lie.

Yet for some reason, Jiangnan always felt something was off.

"Thank you, elder."

Jiangnan said nothing more, rose, and left the herb stall.

He walked along the village's narrow path, his brows slightly furrowed.

Glowing Mushroom—could it truly be that wondrous?

Black Fog Ghost Qi looms ominously, its toxicity severe,

Logically, in such a place,

nothing capable of enhancing cultivation could possibly grow.

Unless…

"Unless the principle of extremes causing reversal applies."

Jiangnan felt a stir in his heart, considering this possibility.

The Extreme Yin Land might indeed give birth to an Extreme Yang Object.

But this is merely speculation, requiring further verification. Moreover, even if Glowing Mushroom exists, would the people of Qijiu Sect truly permit others to lay hands on it?

Jiangnan always felt the matter was not that simple.

He returned to the inn, where Xia Yurou and Feng Ying were already waiting for him downstairs.

"Jiangnan, how's the situation?"

Xia Yurou asked hurriedly.

"I've gathered some information, but it still needs further confirmation."

Jiangnan replied briefly, without telling them about the Glowing Mushroom.

The situation is unclear now; speaking too much could easily cause unnecessary trouble.

The three ate a simple dinner and then each returned to their rooms to rest.

Jiangnan lay on the bed, feeling no sleepiness. He circulated true Qi, silently cultivating.

Late at night, the inn was utterly silent.

Suddenly, a faint murmur came from downstairs.

Jiangnan's ears twitched; he immediately focused his mind and listened carefully.

"... Today on the outskirts of Heifeng Mountain, a patch of Glowing Mushroom was discovered…"

"Really? Was it abundant?"

"Not few—at least dozens, enough for the few of us to share."

"Great! This Glowing Mushroom is a valuable thing; if we can get a few, we might break through our current realm!"

"Yeah, we shouldn't delay; let's go there right now."

"Alright, let's go!"

The few lowered their voices and hurried out of the inn.

Glowing Mushroom!

Jiangnan's gaze hardened, and he sat up from the bed at once.

Sure enough, there's something wrong with this Glowing Mushroom!

He had only been suspicious before, but now it seems this Glowing Mushroom is likely a lure, meant to draw others deeper into Heifeng Mountain.

What on earth are the Qijiu Sect people up to?

Jiangnan got up, dressed, and slipped out of the room.

He went downstairs; the inn's main hall was empty,

Jiangnan walked to the doorway and looked left and right,

and found that the few people who had been speaking earlier had already vanished into the night.

He was about to follow them when, suddenly, a faint footstep sounded behind him.

"Jiangnan, where are you going?"

Xia Yurou's voice rang from behind him.

Jiangnan turned and saw Xia Yurou and Feng Ying standing at the stairwell, looking at him with puzzled expressions.

"Why did you both get up as well?"

Jiangnan frowned and asked.

"We heard some movement downstairs, so we came up to check."

Xia Yurou explained,

"You're heading out this late—did you discover something?"

Jiangnan hesitated briefly, then nodded,

"I just heard someone mention they found Glowing Mushrooms, so I intend to go take a look."

"Glowing Mushroom? The kind that can boost cultivation?"

Xia Yurou asked in surprise.

"Hmm, it could very well be a trap."

Jiangnan said in a low voice.

"A trap?" Xia Yurou's expression changed,

"Then why go? It's too dangerous!"

"Precisely because it's a trap, we need to see for ourselves."

Jiangnan's gaze was resolute,

"I want to find out what the Qijiu Sect is really up to."

"We want to go too!"

Xia Yurou replied immediately,

"I also want to see what they're planning. Moreover, this inn is extremely eerie; the two of us staying here isn't safe either."

Jiangnan looked at them, saw their resolve, and offered no further persuasion.

"Fine, we'll go together, but be careful and follow my commands."

"Alright!"

The two women answered in unison.

The three quietly left the inn,

tracing the direction the earlier group had taken, and pursued them.

Night was deep, and the village lay in total darkness.

Only in the direction of Heifeng Mountain in the distance could a faint thread of Black Fog be seen drifting in the night sky.

Jiangnan and his two companions lightened their steps, advancing cautiously.

They quickly caught up with the few ahead.

Those people seemed unaware of being followed, walking while murmuring softly.

"…Are there really Glowing Mushrooms? I have a feeling this isn't reliable…"

"Don't worry, the info is absolutely reliable; my friend saw it with his own eyes, in a cave on the outskirts of Heifeng Mountain."

"That's good. If we can get a few Glowing Mushrooms this time, we'll strike it rich!"

"Shh…lower your voice, don't let anyone hear us."

They spoke, quickened their pace, and headed toward Heifeng Mountain.

Jiangnan and his two kept a distance far behind, maintaining a steady gap.

The closer they got to Heifeng Mountain, the heavier the cold, ominous aura in the air became.

The surrounding trees grew sparse, replaced by oddly shaped stones and dead trees.

The Black Fog thickened, like ink, enveloping the entire range, making one feel oppressed and suffocated.