Urban Romantic Divine Doctor

Chapter 786: Chapter 784: Bullying by Flaunting Power

”Greetings, senior. I am the disciple Xu Wendong, sent by my master to gather medicinal herbs!”

In front of the spiritual fields, Xu Wendong bowed to an elder with white hair and beard, presenting the token given by Elder Wuming.

”Oh?” The elder guarding the spiritual fields looked surprised, ”I didn’t expect Elder Wuming to take on another apprentice. Truly delightful news!”

Despite his words, he still pinched the spell with both hands, opening a passage leading to the spiritual fields.

”Much obliged, senior,” Xu Wendong said politely and then stepped into the swirling light barrier, after which the scene before his eyes transformed.

This was a space densely filled with spiritual energy, seemingly endless, with the air heavy with the fragrance of herbs, inhaling which could soothe one’s exhaustion entirely.

Although Xu Wendong had visited the Medicine King Valley Ruins, the herbs there were far less numerous than here, and the herbs here were particularly lush.

This was normal, after all, as the Medicine King Valley was in the secular world, where nature’s spiritual energy was exceedingly sparse. Even herbs of the same age couldn’t compare to those here.

Xu Wendong then weaved through the spiritual fields, searching for the medicinal herbs he needed.

Although he was allowed to pick one hundred herbs each month, upon arriving, he realized that a hundred herbs seemed far too few.

Indeed.

He wished to take all the herbs back with him.

”Senior, besides the fixed monthly quota, is it possible to gather more?” Xu Wendong curiously asked upon seeing the elder weeding in the fields.

The elder replied, ”Of course, but you must exchange merit points for them.”

”To earn merit points, you need to complete tasks assigned by the Elixir Sect. Once you have merit points, you can exchange them for the corresponding herbs.”

Xu Wendong suddenly understood.

It was akin to the difference between a fixed salary and a piecework wage.

Simply put, more work, more gain.

However, he did not dare to leave the Elixir Sect yet.

Because he knew that once he left, the Second Elder would undoubtedly follow him to kill him.

The elder added, ”Your token has a special privilege, which is the ability to advance a year’s worth of herbs. If needed, you can collect up to twelve hundred herbs at once.”

Xu Wendong’s eyes gleamed with surprise. Previously, he thought a hundred herbs were too few, but he hadn’t expected the token to allow advancing a year’s worth.

He restrained his excitement and said eagerly, ”Then I shall advance a year’s worth of herbs!”

”Suit yourself, but do not be wasteful,” the elder advised him.

”Understood,” Xu Wendong replied obediently and then began to collect the herbs. Yet, seeing weeds beside the herbs, he would pull them out as well.

It was just a simple task.

But this small action caught the elder’s curious gaze.

”This young one seems a bit different,” the elder muttered with a smile full of implications.

While Xu Wendong was collecting medicinal herbs, he heard an arrogant voice behind him, ”Hey, are you Elder Wuming’s new apprentice?”

Xu Wendong stood up and turned to look back.

He saw two young men in their twenties standing with arms crossed, looking at him with amused expressions.

Their cultivation levels were also impressive, both reaching the Sixth Level of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Although they appeared to be in their twenties, they were surely older, as entering the Foundation Establishment Stage could slow the aging process.

”What do you want?” Xu Wendong asked, his gaze calm.

Xiang Ping smiled, ”You’re new and don’t know the rules of the Elixir Sect. We feel it’s necessary to enlighten you. As a newcomer, you ought to pay us some respect with medicinal herbs, at least a hundred each, wouldn’t you say?”

The other young man, named Dong Lai, added, ”If you’re not obedient, don’t blame us for using force.”

Xu Wendong frowned, ”The sect rules prohibit harming fellow disciples. Aren’t you afraid of violating the rules by bullying?”

Xiang Ping laughed aloud, ”Xu Wendong, you’re utterly clueless, aren’t you? Don’t you know the Second Elder is the discipline elder of the Elixir Sect?”

Xu Wendong laughed in anger, ”So, the Second Elder sent you to trouble me?”

Xiang Ping’s laughter abruptly stopped, and he said angrily, ”Don’t slander us. When did we ever say such things?”

Dong Lai glared, ”Xu, I’d advise you not to resist stubbornly. Hand over the herbs quietly, or you’ll regret it once you leave the fields.”

The elder also reminded Xu Wendong, ”Young friend, they are right. The spiritual fields don’t fall under the sect rules. If you don’t hand over the herbs, they can act without retribution from the rules.”

Xu Wendong was taken aback.

He hadn’t anticipated this area not being under the sect’s jurisdiction.

Upon further thought, it made sense.

The cultivation realm in essence valued strength above all. If the entire Elixir Sect were bound by rules, many would lose their vitality.

Here, unaffected by the rules, it seemed intended to temper the disciples’ resilience and character.

”No, no, I won’t give them up,” Xu Wendong defiantly declared, disregarding the two and continuing to collect herbs. .com

Seeing this scene, Xiang Ping and Dong Lai exchanged a cold glance. Had Xu Wendong not been within the spiritual fields, they would have already attacked to cripple his cultivation.

Now, they had to wait patiently for Xu Wendong to leave.

However, they did not remain idle, bending down to gather their required herbs.

They had two tasks: one was to give Xu Wendong a hard time—if they could cripple him, all the better; if not, they would at least make him suffer.

The second task was to collect the annual herb quota for the Second Elder Dustless. Twelve hundred herbs weren’t a small amount, but since there were two of them, they did not feel it burdensome.

Nevertheless, they kept a constant watch on Xu Wendong’s every move, fearing he might escape, which was a bit vexing.

Time slowly passed.

Xu Wendong collected the necessary herbs, mainly those for refining Foundation Establishment Pills, along with a few for nourishing the divine soul.

As the sun was setting, Xu Wendong finished gathering twelve hundred herbs. He bowed respectfully to the elder weeding in the fields and made his way out.

By this time, Xiang Ping and Dong Lai had long since left.

However, as soon as Xu Wendong exited the spiritual fields, Xiang Ping and Dong Lai, who had been lying in wait, immediately blocked his path.

They both wore mocking smiles, as if Xu Wendong had become a helpless prey.

Xiang Ping’s lips curled in a sneer as he stared at Xu Wendong, ”Xu, you’re ungrateful, aren’t you? If you had given us a hundred spiritual herbs each, we wouldn’t have pressed the issue.”

”But now, we’ve changed our minds. Either you hand over all the herbs,”

”Or we’ll cripple your cultivation!”

Xu Wendong revealed a sly smile, ”Cripple my cultivation? Do you two have the ability to do that?”