「Yanxiao Mountain.」

This was the most important Medicinal Garden in the Qi Family’s territory, spanning hundreds of hectares.

Thousands of varieties of rare Medicinal Herbs grew within the garden, the oldest of which had been growing for over a thousand years.

As certain extremely delicate Medicinal Herbs could only survive when nourished by a Grade Three High-grade Spirit Vein, the Medicinal Garden was situated within the coverage of the island’s large Third Grade Spirit Vein.

The Qi Family’s leadership naturally placed immense importance on such a crucial location. Not only had they set up a Third Grade Array, but two True Pill Elders and seven Pseudo Core Cultivators were also stationed here year-round.

Under normal circumstances, the Medicinal Garden’s defenses were extremely tight. Even family disciples who needed to enter for official business had to carry a special token issued by the higher-ups. Any who dared to trespass would be killed on sight.

In the event of a direct assault from the outside, with the Array fully activated, it would be impossible for even several Golden Core Masters working together to breach it in a short amount of time. The Qi Family’s leadership would have more than enough time to send reinforcements.

However, with the Era Star Palace at his disposal, Ling Changqing easily slipped past the family guards at the entrance and snuck deep into the Medicinal Garden, completely undetected.

As for Ling Qiyue and Luo Qingxuan, they were currently hidden within the Era Star Palace’s Grotto Heaven Blessed Land.

It didn’t take much effort for Ling Changqing to find where the two True Pill Elders were in Cultivation in Seclusion.

Then, he and Ling Qiyue joined forces, launched a sudden surprise attack, and killed them in one fell swoop. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The rest was much simpler. The two of them easily killed the remaining Pseudo Core and Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and then began to plunder everything in sight.

Every single Medicinal Herb that had grown for a century or more was swept up by Ling Changqing and placed into his Storage Pouch.

Once these resources were brought back to the Changqing Continent, some could be planted in their family’s Medicinal Garden, while the rest could be used for Alchemy to create pills.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the Qi Family disciples in the outer areas scattered in all directions, fleeing back to the family headquarters to report the news.

"...Once the Qi Family gets the news and rushes over with reinforcements, do you think we can set up another ambush?"

Ling Changqing asked. ’Maybe the trick from last time will work again.’

Ling Qiyue shook her head. "I’m afraid that’s not feasible. The terrain here isn’t complex. If they dispatch multiple Golden Core Masters, we won’t be able to stay hidden."

Ling Changqing said, "Then should we finish looting this place and leave? We can go hit other locations."

"Yes, that will work perfectly."

Ling Qiyue agreed. Because of Ling Changqing’s unique abilities, it was impossible for the Qi Family to track his movements.

’So, she and Ling Changqing could engage in mobile warfare, devastating all the important areas in the Qi Family’s territory and killing as many of their people as possible along the way.’

The two continued their looting. As vast quantities of Medicinal Herbs were uprooted, all their large-capacity Storage Magical Artifacts were nearly filled.

Ling Changqing then stored the remaining Medicinal Herbs in the Era Star Palace’s Grotto Heaven Blessed Land. Its vast space, five li in radius, easily accommodated the rest of their haul.

A little over four hours later, Ling Changqing silently divined the Celestial Secrets. Estimating that the Qi Family’s reinforcements were about to arrive, he and Ling Qiyue withdrew, vanishing from the Medicinal Garden without a trace.

Sure enough, less than an hour later, a dark purple high-speed Flying Ship appeared on the horizon, barreling toward the Medicinal Garden in a great hurry.

As it drew near, Qi Songshou and a group of family Elders disembarked from the Flying Ship. A large contingent of family disciples followed, all on high alert as they began to scan the surroundings.

"...Those damned bastards! I’ll tear them to shreds!"

Seeing the Medicinal Garden ravaged beyond recognition, with countless precious Spirit Medicines and Spiritual Herbs having vanished into thin air, Qi Songshou began fuming with rage, cursing uncontrollably.

The other family Elders’ expressions were just as grim. The family leadership had poured their heart and soul into this important Medicinal Garden. Thanks to its existence, the family had a steady annual supply of raw Medicinal Herbs for Alchemy, which allowed them to cultivate their disciples more effectively and quickly.

Now that the place had been destroyed, it would take at least eighty to a hundred years to restore it to its former state.

The loss was simply staggering—even more heartbreaking than the deaths of the two True Pill Elders.

The Spirit Medicines and Spiritual Herbs that had been growing for over a thousand years were especially painful to lose. They were the family’s most important strategic assets, and now an outside enemy had wiped them all out in one fell swoop. The loss was so agonizing it felt like their hearts were bleeding.

"Patriarch, the attackers... they’ve already fled!"

After a long moment, a Steward finally worked up the courage to report, trembling as he approached.

"Fled? Where did they go?"

Qi Songshou demanded, his expression grim.

The Steward shook his head helplessly. ’How could I possibly know?’

"Patriarch, should we send men to pursue them?"

Core Elder Qi Songyun came over to ask. He was Qi Songshou’s brother and had an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivation.

"Of course we’ll give chase! Also, notify all family disciples to tighten security in every important area. We can’t give the enemy another opening!"

Qi Songshou said, his tone dark. ’These measures are essential, but it’s hard to say how effective they’ll be.’

’As things stand now, tracking down the attackers to intercept and kill them would be incredibly difficult. The Qi Family has no master skilled in the Path of Celestial Secret Art and Divination.’

’Perhaps they could ask another power to perform a divination later, but the price would surely be steep, and it wouldn’t solve the immediate crisis.’

Meanwhile, Ling Changqing had already fled a thousand li away. He found a secluded mountain cave to rest and recover for a moment, then took out a Jade Scroll Map and began to examine it.