"Strange bugs?" The old man didn't understand and pressed for details, so Quinn Qing recounted the battle with Evan Yang.
After hearing the story, the old man asked suspiciously, "Could he have Million-Year Venom Toad poison?"
"Million-Year Venom Toad poison? Impossible, there's no way he could have that." Quinn Qing objected, not believing that Evan Yang could have found a Million-Year Venom Toad or its venom so quickly.
"That's the only explanation—otherwise, how did this poison get into those bugs and then spread to you? But what puzzles me most is why those bugs didn't die from the poison." The old man said, still suspicious.
"If that's really the case, then Evan Yang is truly despicable," Quinn Qing said.
"If I get the chance, I'd like to meet such a person," the old man said.
"You will have the chance. We're searching everywhere for him," Quentin Qing added from the side.
"Alright, then I'll start preparing." The old man said, and began gathering various tools and bottles from a corner of the room, finally finding a large wooden tub.
He placed various medicinal ingredients into the tub, then poured in substances from several bottles. He told Quinn Qing, "Soak in this water for thirty days first. Once the poison dissolves again, I'll handle it. After all, you've been poisoned for over six years, and much of it has stuck to your body."
Quinn Qing followed the old man's instructions and entered the tub, finding the water had a strange smell and was very unpleasant. He even felt a faint stinging sensation. "Why does it sting?"
"That's just how it is. Bear with it—the thirty days will pass quickly, and it'll get more painful as you go. Remember that," the old man said.
How painful would it get? Quinn Qing didn't know, but hearing it would get worse made his whole body go numb.
Quentin Qing could only watch from the side, guarding against the old man suddenly leaving. After all, he'd paid a hefty price—once Quinn Qing was cured, he'd deal with the old man.
The old man sat by the bed, watching Quinn Qing and monitoring his condition.
So Quinn Qing soaked in the strange water, while Evan Yang and Hannah Nangong had already left this star system, heading to a populous planet near the Woodstar System that wasn't actually part of it.
"This is the closest inhabited planet to the Woodstar System. We should be able to learn about Woodstar here." Evan Yang looked at the planet—it was huge, and the city before them was bustling. Almost every street stall sold some kind of wood.
Evan Yang led Hannah Nangong inside, and saw many street vendors shouting their wares.
"This is a premium Wood-Heart Core, over a thousand years old—perfect for crafting magical tools. Want one? It's cheap, just a thousand lower-grade Immortal Sources." a vendor called out to Evan Yang and Hannah Nangong.
"No thanks." Evan Yang smiled and continued looking around, noticing many similar street stalls.
"Looks like all these Wood-Heart Cores must come from that star system," Hannah Nangong said.
"Yeah, that's right. And most of this city is devoted to selling wood. The ones at these small stalls are all under ten-thousand years old." Evan Yang said, after checking the prices and descriptions.
"These are perfect for outsiders who don't have Immortal Sources—they buy raw materials and refine them on their own," Hannah Nangong replied.
Evan Yang nodded, seeing the crowds—many were outsiders here to pick materials. After all, most magical tools need wood, and the best source is definitely the Woodstar System. This city is the most comprehensive hub; whatever type or age of wood you want, you can find it here.
People came and went, the place lively. Evan Yang smiled, "Do you think there's any over ten million years old here?"
"I doubt it. Even if there is, it's probably outrageously expensive," Hannah Nangong replied.
"That's true. But we don't have any clues, so we might as well check with some of the big shops and ask the owners if they've heard of such trees," Evan Yang said.
"Alright," Hannah Nangong replied.
So the two of them spread out their spiritual sense, searching for the biggest, busiest shop. Soon, a large storefront caught their eye, and they both chose it without hesitation.
They walked over and saw many people coming and going, all smiling in satisfaction. Someone even said, "This store is the most famous in the city. Last time I bought a Wood-Heart Core here that was tens of thousands of years old and had someone make a high-grade magical tool from it."
Hearing this, Evan Yang knew he'd come to the right place. He led Hannah Nangong inside and saw the shop was huge, with countless wood samples and price tags for customers to browse. Evan scanned them—there were at least tens of thousands of types, and the oldest was several hundred thousand years, but still far from the ten-million-year mark he needed.
Seeing this, Evan Yang went straight to the owner, who was grinning broadly.
"Boss, what's the oldest Wood-Heart Core you have here?" Evan Yang asked.
The owner, still smiling, thought Evan was a customer and said, "If you can name it, we have it!"
"Oh? Really?" Evan Yang hadn't expected the shopkeeper to brag so shamelessly and so confidently.
"Of course! We're the Wood Family, the biggest wood business around the Woodstar System. We've been trading wood for hundreds of thousands of years—what haven't we seen?" the owner boasted.
Hearing this, Evan Yang was pleased—even if they didn't have a ten-million-year core, at least he could learn something. So he asked, "Do you have any over ten million years old?"
The moment he asked, everyone in the shop looked shocked and suspicious. The owner's smile froze. "Kid, are you here to cause trouble?"
"No, boss, you've misunderstood. I'm genuinely looking for a ten-million-year one," Evan Yang said.
"Ten million years? Kid, you're too bold. Here, even the hundred-thousand-year ones cost tens of millions of top-grade Immortal Sources, and million-year cores are already priceless," the owner said.
"That's no problem. If you can provide one, we'll find a way to get the money," Evan Yang replied.
The owner was stumped, but since it was his shop, he didn't want to lose face. He forced a smile. "Enough money? Do you really have it? Kid, stop causing trouble or I'll have you thrown out right now."
The people around exchanged glances and started muttering. Most of them thought Evan Yang was crazy for searching for such a tree here.
Evan Yang really was searching for that kind of tree. He knew everyone misunderstood, so he smiled, "I truly need it."
"Throw him out," the owner snapped.
A few people came forward, ready to use force. Evan Yang sighed, "Let's just leave."
With that, Evan Yang led Hannah Nangong out of the shop, leaving the owner cursing behind them, "Honestly, if you want to cause trouble, pick a better place than my shop!"
"Looks like selling ten-million-year Wood-Heart Cores isn't likely," Evan Yang said with a smile.
"Yeah, everyone thinks you're just causing trouble," Hannah Nangong agreed.
"Looks like we'll have to dig deeper," Evan Yang said after thinking it over.
"Yeah," Hannah Nangong replied.
Hannah Nangong nodded. They'd only taken a few steps when someone hurried after them, stopped Evan Yang and Hannah, and smiled, "Are you really looking for a ten-million-year Wood-Heart Core?"
"Yeah, why?" Evan Yang asked, curious that someone would approach them like this.
"No reason. It's just that my family has one. Want it? I'll sell it to you cheap," the man said, smiling.
"Sell it to us cheap? Is it real?" Evan Yang felt something was off—how could anyone have a ten-million-year Wood-Heart Core and not find buyers?
"It's real. If you're willing, just follow me," the man said, hiding a smile inside when he saw they were serious, but keeping up appearances.
"Let's go," Evan Yang said with a smile after thinking it over.
Hannah Nangong knew Evan Yang was clever; even if there was danger, he'd handle it, so she wasn't worried and agreed to go along.
So Evan Yang and Hannah Nangong followed the man, who secretly thought, "Looks like I've got another deal—and a big one, too."
Just like that, they were led outside the city. Evan Yang asked, "Why are we heading out of town?"
"Oh, my family's in a village outside the city," the man explained.
Evan Yang understood and asked, "Little brother, how did you get a ten-million-year Wood-Heart Core?"
"Oh, that? I heard it was passed down from my ancestors. But I'm afraid those merchants are too shady, so I never dared to sell it. Plus, I need Immortal Sources this time, so seeing how sincere you are, I brought you along," the man said.
Hearing such a convoluted story, Evan Yang didn't know whether to laugh or agree. Hannah Nangong, meanwhile, had already guessed and muttered to herself, "Fraud."
Hannah Nangong, suppressed by Evan Yang, could only curse silently and follow along without showing it.
"I see. Well, we'll definitely have to take a good look," Evan Yang said with a smile.
"You're not from around here, are you?" the man asked.
"Yeah," Evan Yang replied.
"Outsiders need to be careful. There are lots of scammers in the city, especially those targeting newcomers," the man suddenly warned.
Evan Yang didn't quite get what he meant, but still followed him, smiling, "Oh? Is that so?"
"Yeah, but with me, you can relax. Our village folk are all good people—we make a living hunting," the man said, smiling.
Evan Yang wasn't sure what he meant, but soon they arrived at a village with no signs or markings. Their arrival drew the attention of the villagers.
Several people came out, wanting to chat with Evan Yang.
Evan Yang and Hannah Nangong didn't know them, so there wasn't much to say—they were here for business, and let the man take them to his home.
After a while, Evan Yang and Hannah Nangong were led to a wooden house. The man said, "Wait here, I'll go get the Wood-Heart Core. Be right back."
"Alright, go ahead," Evan Yang nodded.