Chapter 216: Immortal Medicine and a Poison Pill (1/2)

“You recognize all of them? And you can name them all?”

Shock rippled through the crowd. The thousand and eighty immortal herbs had gone extinct in the world of immortals long ago. In fact, the herbs on display had been dead for tens of thousands of years, their medicinal effects only preserved through special methods.

“Impossible!” blurted Master Gu Zun. “Quit lying, young man. Don’t destroy your future for a mere treasure!”

Lu Yun didn’t even spare him a glance, his eyes remaining fixed on Qing Xun.

“Well...” The pavilion’s representative hesitated as she looked at the jade slip Lu Yun handed her. It was too far-fetched that he’d be able to recognize all thousand and eighty herbs and name them—not even their top pill master could do that! She didn’t lack for worldly experience, but the appropriate next step in this situation was slow in coming to her.

“Stop this nonsense at once, Lu Yun,” reprimanded Gu Zun, adopting a patronizing tone like he was lecturing a junior. “These herbs are premium ingredients from the ancient times. Even immortals from that era might not recognize them all. The environs of the present world can’t even sustain their growth, so it’s impossible for you to recognize all of them.”

Lu Yun half-rolled his eyes after all the highfalutin’. “Ignorance isn’t a crime, but mistaking it for superiority is.”

“How dare you?!” Expression dark, Gu Zun unleashed his power as a golden immortal and swooped down on Lu Yun. As a pill master who could refine supreme grade pills, even dao immortals would treat him with respect. How dare a little junior run his mouth and talk back!

“This is the Panorama Pavilion, Master Gu Zun.” Face clouded, Qing Xun stepped between Lu Yun and Gu Zun, countering the pill master’s attack. She wasn’t afraid that Gu Zun would hurt Lu Yun, but was worried that the Dusk governor would go berserk and deploy the Great Formation of Heavenly Fiends. Then the auction would become a hellscape of violence and bloodshed.

“I will let this go for Miss Qing Xun’s sake.” Scowling, Gu Zun sniffed disdainfully, recalling how volatile Lu Yun was. Even without the Great Formation of Heavenly Fiends, the governor’s zombies alone were something he couldn’t deal with.

“It doesn’t matter who you’re doing what for, you can’t mask your ignorance.” Lu Yun shook his head and ignored Gu Zun’s furious expression. “These herbs are impossible to grow now because the immortal dao has been severed.”

“Oh?” His words drew everyone’s attention.

“What do you mean?” Yue Longsha’s eyes lit up, a certain hypothesis seemingly within touching distance.

“Unlike other natural materials and treasures, immortal herbs contain not only the qi of the land, but also the heavenly dao. These herbs were born of the ancient times, and nursed by the ancient immortal dao,” Lu Yun explained in a faint tone. “With the immortal dao now severed, no more of these herbs can be grown.”

“No wonder the ancient tombs house many materials and treasures, as well as connate grade spirit roots, but never any living herbs.”

This explained what everyone was wondering about.

“What does any of this have to do with you recognizing the herbs?” Wayfarer frowned.