Enemies Cross Paths

When I get the chance, I'll ask Evan Xiao about it. He might actually give me a straight answer.

Oh, and Chloe Zhu could totally use this opportunity to swing by Eastwood Forest.

Her cultivation had already reached the peak of Third-rank Spirit Practitioner.

But to break through to the fourth rank, she needed help from an Ironbone Pill.

Chloe Zhu was looking for a rare herb called Ironbone Grass—the key ingredient for making Ironbone Pills.

That’s why Spiritual Alchemists are so highly valued on the continent—makes perfect sense, really.

But Ironbone Pills were way too basic; Chloe Zhu didn’t have any in her Sanctum, so she’d have to go out and gather ingredients to make them herself.

Chloe Zhu smiled and greeted them, “What a coincidence! Even this far from Danyang City, I run into familiar faces.”

After packing up, Chloe Zhu took Pan’er and Xi’er and headed straight for the ancestral shrine.

At the shrine, Chloe Zhu told Pan’er and Xi’er where she was going and asked them to cover for her, then hopped on a fast horse and dashed off toward Eastwood Forest.

With a fast horse and a good whip, you could be back in two or three days.

They say over seventy percent of this continent is covered in forests.

Cities and villages where people live are just a tiny part of it.

In the endless woods, all sorts of spirit beasts roam, and all kinds of magical herbs grow wild.

Chloe Zhu was looking for a rare herb called 'Ironbone Grass'—the key ingredient for making Ironbone Pills.

The name 'Ironbone Pill' comes straight from its main ingredient, Ironbone Grass.

It only grows in high mountain crevices, braving wild winds without falling over. That's why it's called 'Ironbone Grass'—tough as iron, stubborn as a mule.

Since you can only use its fresh juice for medicine, and it can't be dried and sold in spirit pharmacies, Spiritual Alchemists usually have to venture out to Eastwood Forest and pick it themselves.

Chloe Zhu rode her horse wildly for most of the day and was starting to feel a bit tired.

But there was nothing around—no villages ahead, no inns behind. Just trees as far as the eye could see.

Chloe Zhu had a grudge against the Liu Family.

Serena Liu's sister, Fiona Liu, fell to her death after a quarrel with Chloe Zhu.

They always claimed that Fiona Liu was pushed off the tower by Chloe Zhu, and the scandal nearly cost Chloe Zhu's father his official hat.

"Chloe Zhu?" Serena Liu was surprised to see her, and looked around—there was no one else.

Meanwhile, Chloe Zhu was observing them.

Serena Liu, Second-rank Spirit Practitioner.

Jason Liu, Fourth-rank Spirit Practitioner.

Chloe Zhu smiled and greeted them, “What a coincidence! Even this far from Danyang City, I run into familiar faces.”

Looking around, they saw that Chloe Zhu was alone with her horse—she hadn’t brought a single guard!

Chloe Zhu replied, “I’ve always been brave.”