After a brief rest, Margaret exhaled softly and turned to the few who had stayed behind.
A-Long’s eyes were firm; the two remaining guards, though pale, gripped their weapons tightly. Old Zhang, his arm severed, sat leaning against the cave wall — his eyes hollow yet calm, as though resigned to fate. Qingzhu, meanwhile, watched Margaret with deep worry.
Finally, her gaze fell upon Dustin. He still sat cross-legged, eyes closed in meditation, utterly untouched by the turmoil around him. That profound serenity, somehow, soothed her restless heart.
“Let’s go,” Margaret said.
Her voice had regained its usual cool composure, but now carried a tone of unwavering resolve — the sound of someone who had already burned all bridges behind her.
Dustin opened his eyes at that moment, gave a small nod, and without another word, strode toward the other end of the cavern — down the narrow passage leading into the unknown.
The passage was damp and dark, barely wide enough for one person to pass while crouching.
The air was thick with the smell of ancient, decayed earth — utterly different from the faint sandalwood freshness of the earlier cavern.
They advanced one after another, cautious of every step, afraid to trigger any hidden traps or seals.
After walking for roughly the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, a faint glow appeared ahead — along with a strange fragrance that blended the scent of soil, sweetness, and herbal medicine.
When they pushed through the hanging vines that covered the passage exit, everyone froze, breath catching in their throats.
They had stepped into what felt like a forgotten corner of time.
Before them stretched a vast cavern — half natural, half carved by human hands. Countless cracks in the ceiling let fragmented rays of daylight fall in, illuminating what lay below.
It was an enormous, ancient herbal garden — long abandoned, yet still teeming with stubborn life.
The garden’s terraces were faintly visible, built from some smooth, jade-like white stone, though most had already collapsed or cracked.
Weeds and vines ran wild, choking the once-orderly paths.
And yet, amidst the ruin, many strange plants still thrived — each glowing faintly with spiritual light and radiating waves of medicinal fragrance.
Some were deep crimson, their leaves flickering like flames, exuding warmth.
Some were icy blue, frosted over, chilling the surrounding air.
Some bore wide blossoms of seven colors, swaying gracefully without wind.
Others even bore fruits the size of a baby’s fist — translucent and luminous, with starlight seemingly flowing inside.
“Heavens… these are…” Qingzhu’s eyes widened in shock.
She didn’t recognize these plants, but the dense vitality and spiritual aura emanating from them were unmistakable.
Even the battle-hardened Captain A-Long stood stunned. He had never, in his life, seen so many legendary herbs that had only ever appeared in ancient tales.
Margaret quickly approached one plant about half a person tall — its entire body emerald green and crystalline, crowned with a golden fruit the size of a dragon’s eye. Her voice trembled with excitement.
“This… could it be Jade Essence Ganoderma? And over there — the one with seven silver leaves in a star pattern — that’s Stargrass! These are all spirit herbs that vanished ages ago!”
As she looked around, her astonishment only deepened.
“Blazing Flame Fruit… Frost Crystal Lotus… Illusion Heart Orchid… This place — it’s practically a treasury of ancient spirit herbs!”
Even as a princess, well-versed in the royal collections of rare treasures, Margaret was awed by the sheer richness of this garden.
If these herbs could be taken back, their value would be beyond estimation.
But Dustin’s gaze did not linger on the precious plants.
He walked slowly among the ruined terraces, eyes sharp as blades, studying the edges of the garden and the most heavily damaged areas.
His spiritual sense extended outward, examining every inch of soil and every single plant.
“These herbs are real,” he said quietly, “but something about this place… isn’t right.”
He suddenly stopped, crouched down, and pinched a small handful of soil between his fingers.
The earth was not the usual brown or black, but a dull, dark red — as though soaked long ago in dried blood. It was faintly warm to the touch.
Lifting his gaze, Dustin looked toward the depths of the garden, where several broken stone tablets stood.
The tablets were covered in moss, but the faint traces of ancient cloud-like script could still be seen.
Margaret noticed them too. Containing her excitement, she stepped beside Dustin to study the inscriptions.
Most of the carvings were damaged — they listed names of spirit herbs, their properties, and methods of harvesting.
But one large fragment of a shattered stele bore a line of text that made both Margaret and Dustin’s faces grow solemn.
“By the Emperor’s wrath, the Sinful Dragon was struck down at Penglai.
Its blood tainted the earth; all living things withered.
Yet those that drew strength from its blood’s malice gained power —
and mutation followed.
The waters of the Jade Pool may cleanse corruption,
but the ‘Dragon-Blood Bodhi’ born beside it
embodies the essence of that tainted dragon’s blood.
Though it appears like a divine elixir,
it is in truth a most wicked thing.
To consume it is to lose both body and soul —
or become a dragon puppet.
Beware! Beware!”
“Dragon’s blood… Dragon-Blood Bodhi…”
Margaret whispered the words under her breath, her slender form trembling as a chill crept up from the depths of her heart.
She recalled the mural they had seen earlier — the sealed “Sinful Dragon,”
and the terrifying beast that refused to die, endlessly reborn from its own blood.
Could it be… that the strange phenomena on Penglai Island, and the so-called “divine elixir,” were all connected to that sealed Sinful Dragon? - Marinien
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it's been wonderful, thanks to you and all Admins for the updates, Gracias 🙏