The Spiritual Herb Garden stretched endlessly, a place where every breath carried the fragrance of ancient medicines. The very ground glowed faintly with threads of green light, as though each blade of grass was infused with spiritual essence. Flowers the size of lanterns bloomed in clusters, shedding soft glimmers that drifted through the air like falling starlight. Some herbs pulsed faintly as though alive, their roots shifting beneath the soil, whispering the secrets of cultivation to anyone who dared to listen.

The disciples of the Sanatan Flame Sect walked in awe, their gazes darting from one treasure to another. Many had seen medicinal herbs before, but never in such abundance. Each stem here was worth more than gold, some even more precious than spirit stones themselves. Several disciples whispered to each other in disbelief, while others trembled with excitement at the fortune before their eyes.

Elder Wan, like a child unleashed into a toy store, darted from one glowing shrub to another. His hands twitched with the urge to pluck everything in sight, but he restrained himself, for he knew the garden itself was alive—and just as dangerous as it was beautiful. His eyes shone with unrestrained greed, though his steps remained cautious.

Shaurya walked at the front, hands tucked casually into his pockets. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as his gaze swept across the glowing herbs, though his heart remained calm. For him, these treasures were not the herbs. His treasures were his disciples, his sect, and the strength they would forge together in places such as this.

Lin Shu walked beside him, her eyes gleaming as she admired the vibrant surroundings. She leaned closer and whispered softly, "This garden is full of rare herbs, Shaurya. We should take as much as we can."

Shaurya smirked, stretching his neck slightly. "You are right. These herbs are full of spiritual energy. We can't leave a single one behind."

He raised his hand, and five storage rings appeared in his palm. With a flick, he tossed them toward Elder Wan.

"Elder Wan, take these and collect all herbs."

Elder Wan caught them, a wide smile spreading across his face. He bowed deeply before immediately setting to work, storing herbs into the rings with the gleeful expression of a man gathering priceless jewels.

Elder Liya stepped forward, arms crossed, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. She tilted her head slightly, her voice thoughtful. "It's strange. A place like this doesn't exist without its own will. But… it's too quiet."

Her words made several disciples shiver. They instinctively tightened their grips on their weapons, their footsteps unconsciously slowing.

Shaurya stretched his neck lazily and said, "Here they come."

The moment he spoke, a strange sound rippled through the garden—like the low growl of a beast mixed with the rustling of countless leaves. Vines hanging from towering spiritual trees began to sway unnaturally, twisting as though caught in an invisible storm. From the bushes ahead, several luminous creatures leapt into the open.

Their bodies resembled tigers, but their skin shimmered with jade-green fur, and curved horns of crystal jutted from their foreheads, glowing faintly in the garden's light.

"Spirit Horn Tigers!" Elder Feng Yu's eyes narrowed. His right hand rested calmly on the hilt of his sword, though he made no move to draw it. Instead, his voice cut sharply through the rising tension. "This is your battle. Show your worth."

The disciples shouted in unison, their auras bursting outward like ignited flames. Wang Tian cracked his knuckles with a devilish grin, stepping forward as the leader of his group. "Good. I was starting to get bored."

Luo Chen rolled his shoulders, excitement sparking in his eyes. "Finally, some toys to play with."

The beasts charged, claws glowing with threads of spiritual light. The disciples countered with blazing techniques, filling the clearing with light, sound, and fury. Energy clashed against energy, and the garden echoed with the roars of beasts and the cries of young cultivators testing their blades.

Muo Qian, her eyes lit with determination, swung her sword down in a precise arc. The blade pierced cleanly through a Spirit Horn Tiger's throat, its body dissolving into shards of light that faded into the air. "Wang Tian, amazing or not, don't get ahead of yourself. We can fight too!" she shouted.

"Ha!" Wang Tian laughed, his fist crashing forward to shatter another beast into fragments of spiritual mist. "Then keep up!"

Shaurya stood calmly with his hands in his pockets, his sharp eyes studying every disciple—their movements, strengths, flaws, and fears. He didn't intervene, but when one disciple faltered, nearly overwhelmed by five beasts at once, his gaze flickered. Before the beast could land a fatal strike, a flash of pink aura sliced through the air—Elder Liya's attack, precise and graceful. Her blade severed the beast effortlessly before she stepped back, leaving the disciple shaken, embarrassed, but alive.

Shaurya chuckled softly under his breath. "Good… You all are doing great. Focus on your weaknesses and improve them."

His gaze drifted toward Wang Tian and Luo Chen, who were surrounded by cheering disciples, standing proudly like kings among their peers. Behind them, Sheng Lu and Lu Fang exchanged subtle smiles, acknowledging the power dynamic forming within the sect.

Shaurya's lips curved faintly. Then his calm voice rang out, carrying authority laced with humor. "Don't flatter them too much. They'll really think they are kings."

Laughter erupted among the disciples, breaking the tension like a wave of relief.

Xiao Rui clasped his hands behind his back, grinning widely. "They are just a little strong. What's so great about that?"

Wang Tian and Luo Chen both snapped their gazes toward him, their faces twisting with irritation.

Wang Tian clenched his fist, veins bulging in his temple. "I swear this idiot is going to get beaten up by me someday."

Lee Bie's smile turned awkward, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. He whispered urgently into Xiao Rui's ear. "Ah… I-I guess we should run from here…"

Xiao Rui cleared his throat dramatically, puffing out his chest. "Stop guessing and run already…"

Cheng Fang and Zong Bu immediately stepped aside, unwilling to get caught in the storm about to erupt.

Shaurya laughed softly, his calm voice cutting through the chaos. "Okay… okay. You all did great. Killing almost five hundred beasts in such a short period is impressive. Let's continue exploring."

"YES, MASTER!" the disciples roared in unison, their voices shaking the very air.

The Sanatan Flame Sect pressed onward, deeper into the herb garden. The glow of rare flowers lit their path as Elder Wan scurried about, collecting every herb he could reach, laughing like a madman drunk on treasure.

Yet, far in the distance, beneath the shade of an ancient tree, something stirred. A cocoon, emerald-green and faintly pulsating, hung from the roots like a jewel suspended in time. Within its translucent surface, the faint outline of a girl could be seen—her long hair flowing like silk, her delicate figure curled in a serene slumber. For the briefest of moments, her eyelids fluttered. Sapphire light glimmered faintly from within, then vanished into silence.

The sect had not yet noticed her. But fate was already moving.

They pushed deeper, Shaurya halting suddenly. His eyes sharpened as he sensed something powerful. "A spiritual energy…" he murmured.

They followed its trail until, in a secluded grove, a single lotus bloomed. It glowed with radiant purple, lightning sparks dancing and cracking around its petals. Smaller herbs surrounded it like worshippers encircling a king.

Elder Wan's eyes widened in shock. "This… this is the Purple Thunder Lotus! A treasure! More valuable than everything we've collected so far!"

Shaurya raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly. "Then what are you waiting for? Go and take it."

Elder Wan nodded quickly and stepped forward, but before he could reach it, the ground quaked. The earth split open with a deafening crack, and a massive yellow earthworm surged from below, its body fifteen feet long, its eyes glowing with murderous hunger.

Elder Wan stumbled back. The disciples immediately took formation, weapons drawn, their faces tense.

Lin Shu's eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on her sword. "It's bad. This beast… it's Golden Vein Stage, Level Twelve."

The beast shrieked, releasing its aura in a crushing wave. The disciples staggered, beads of sweat forming under the pressure.

Shaurya sighed and stepped forward calmly. He slid his right hand to the hilt of his sword, his left leg sliding back into stance. His calm voice broke the tension. "Today is your bad luck."

The earthworm gathered yellow spiritual energy in its maw and unleashed a massive beam of destructive light.

Shaurya didn't flinch. A smile curved his lips as his blade left its sheath, glowing with golden spiritual energy. His voice rang like thunder.

"Ultimate Sword Strike!"

A golden slash tore forth, colliding with the beast's beam. Shockwaves ripped outward, shaking the ground and shattering the surrounding herbs. For a moment, the two forces struggled—but then Shaurya's strike devoured the beast's attack, cleaving through it and splitting the massive creature cleanly in two.

Its body fell with a thunderous crash, blood soaking into the glowing earth.

The disciples stared in stunned silence, awe written across their faces. Even the elders were left speechless.

Shaurya sheathed his sword with a smile. "What are you waiting for? Go take the Purple Thunder Lotus."

Elder Wan blinked rapidly before rushing forward, carefully storing the lotus into his ring with trembling hands. His grin stretched so wide it looked painful.

The sect pressed onward, pushing deeper into the heart of the garden.

After some time, they reached a clearing where the grass glowed with pale silver, reflecting like moonlight upon still waters. Towering above was an ancient tree whose roots twisted like massive serpents across the ground. Its trunk was wide enough to house an entire pavilion, its bark veined with luminous patterns that pulsed slowly, like the heartbeat of something alive.

And then they noticed it.

From one of the colossal roots hung a cocoon—emerald, translucent, glowing faintly like a suspended jewel. Threads of spiritual energy flowed in and out of it, as if the garden itself nurtured the life sealed within. Through the shifting glow, the outline of a young girl was faintly visible. Her hair, long and flowing, drifted weightlessly inside the cocoon, her body curled in serene slumber.

The sect members froze, their breaths caught in their throats.

Lin Shu's eyes widened, her voice hushed. "A living being… inside a cocoon?"

Elder Wan, for once speechless, muttered, "This… this isn't a simple spirit beast or plant. This is a seal. Something ancient. Someone has been sleeping—or sealed—here for who knows how long."

The Herb Garden whispered with unseen winds. The silver grass shimmered as if bowing to the cocoon. The air grew heavier, pressing against their chests, as though the world itself held its breath for what was about to come.

To Be Continued…

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