The Invincible Supreme Medical God
Chapter 403 - 277: Time for Reunion_2

Chapter 403: Chapter 277: Time for Reunion_2

Before they split, the flower was already quite large, but now it stood about two meters tall, with vines as thick as arms. On those vines, thorns were as big as wolf teeth and as sharp as blades.

It was clear that Sha Yun hadn’t just idly spent time in the tunnels waiting; instead, she had used it to tend to the flower—feeding it. Allowing it to digest and absorb so many beast cores, it had grown into a plant akin to a Master-level cultivation base.

The flower no longer had any weaknesses, and its intelligence had similarly improved. While it couldn’t speak the human tongue, it could fully comprehend everything said to it, and it displayed a noticeable affection for Wang Julong upon first encounter.

Watching the peculiar flower twist almost excitedly while Wang Julong stroked its petals, Yan Xiaobao chuckled softly, knowing that their journey together would undoubtedly be entertaining.

The Snake Woman, eager to escape the damp tunnels, hastily reunited with Sha Yun and the little flower. Wang Julong and Deng Wu, however, were reluctant to leave—they vividly recalled the days spent waiting for the arrival of the Dragon Army. By now, they were tired of the dark surroundings, the sound of the roaring Demon Beasts, and the stale air they had been breathing.

The tunnels were reminiscent of the labyrinth they first encountered upon entering the underground city; however, unlike the maze, these tunnels were teeming with magical beasts. The further they ventured, the stronger the beasts became. Except for the wolves they encountered on their first day in the tunnels, none of the beasts even offered the slightest resistance.

Sha Yun insisted again on carving her own path through the walls, but Yan Xiaobao stopped her. Fortunately, both Yan Xiaobao and Sha Yun could now leverage their earth affinity to find the most traversed route—the way leading to the next gate.

Throughout their travels, Yan Xiaobao stubbornly hoarded all beast cores, beast blood, bones, and meat. However, days later, even Hui Yue grew weary of the accumulating materials. Reluctantly, he allowed the little flower to devour whatever it desired.

Although the little flower consumed hundreds of magical beasts, these beasts didn’t seem to contribute much to its evolution. Yan Xiaobao concluded that this was the bottleneck of its cultivation.

Though it appeared effortless, cultivating a flower like this was extraordinarily rare, considering that this species was typically weak. Witnessing its growth to this enormity was astonishing. Only through the efforts of cultivators—granting it permission to consume vast numbers of beasts—could it possibly transform into something ferocious.

Growing in the harshest of environments within tunnels, rather than being reared by cultivators in a protected kennel, this flower had reached an unimaginable size. However, neither Yan Xiaobao nor Wang Julong realized it was just an ordinary flower, especially to Yan Xiaobao, who saw it as nothing more than a glutton.

After spending several days in the dark tunnels, the surroundings suddenly changed from their previously coarse appearance.

The texture of the walls resembled those found in dungeons, and the air was stale and damp. There were almost no magical beasts here, only traces of attacks—as if someone had already slain the beasts entering the area.

Noticing evidence of others, Yan Xiaobao didn’t dare take any chances. He retrieved a black cloak, and they all donned them again to conceal their faces and abilities.

As Yan Xiaobao and his group drew closer to the gate, the walls were soon illuminated by faint stones, and the stale air gradually turned fresh.

He had long sensed the passage through his affinity, but the gate wasn’t the only thing he noticed—he also detected the presence of numerous groups of cultivators traversing these tunnels, hunting magical beasts, which explained the absence of beasts here.

Random groups wandered about without paying attention to Yan Xiaobao and his team. He felt relieved as they made their way toward the gate.

Hui Yue approached the gate, noting that guards were stationed there—Master-level guards, no less.

Four guards stood before the gate, while a fifth sat behind a table, a large chest behind them. A sign on the table read: "Entrance Fee."

Seeing this, Yan Xiaobao couldn’t help but wonder whether the same currency was used in this kingdom. However, upon closer inspection, he noticed a small flyer detailing the entry cost—twenty beast cores per person. Beneath it was another form of currency, which Yan Xiaobao had never encountered before.

Walking up to the counter, Hui Yue retrieved eighty beast cores gathered during their travel through the underground city. Despite feeling a pang of regret at losing the precious cores he had cherished, Yan Xiaobao handed them over to the man behind the counter without hesitation.

The man glanced at Yan Xiaobao and his group, pointing at the flower and holding out his hand once more. Yan Xiaobao reluctantly handed over an additional twenty beast cores, irritated that even plants required such a high price to enter the second chamber.

After paying the entrance fee, the four guards moved aside, and the heavy wooden gate slowly opened, allowing the four cultivators and the oversized flower to pass through.

Upon entering the gate, no one knew what lay ahead in the second chamber, but their expectations were grand as the world before them began to unfold.

Unlike Cave’s End, this gate led to a small town, and Hui Yue gasped in amazement as he passed through. He could see how the city sprang from the cave walls and spread outward into the surrounding area, resembling a crescent moon.

This town was far more urbanized than Cave’s End City; it reminded Hui Yue of Riluo City as he watched the masses of townsfolk scurrying about.

Behind them, Yan Xiaobao noted the gate was guarded by over a hundred soldiers. A long line stretched toward the entrance gate, and upon seeing the ticketing table at the gate, he deduced that the cost of entering the tunnels was just as exorbitant as leaving the city.

The town was bustling with life, and although Yan Xiaobao and the others wore cloaks, it seemed no one noticed them.

Surveying the scene, Yan Xiaobao observed that most of the townsfolk appeared rugged—likely mercenaries rather than genuine citizens.

Looking around some more, Yan Xiaobao noticed numerous shops selling plants he had never seen before. Considering he had spent most of his free time in the Royal Art Academy’s library, this discovery surprised him greatly.

Even Wang Julong, who specialized in plants, was at a loss for which herbs to choose.

Relaxing slightly, Yan Xiaobao spotted several inns scattered throughout the area. As they headed toward the nearest inn, Yan Xiaobao sensed mercenaries beginning to take note of the four newcomers and their massive flower.

Hui Yue walked to the inn with the same steady pace, seemingly oblivious. When Yan Xiaobao followed him inside, disappearing into its shadows, everyone quickly turned their attention away.

Inside the inn, the entire first floor had been converted into a bar and restaurant. The room was dimly lit, with weak sunlight filtering through the windows but barely illuminating the space. Shadows filled the bar, and edge seats were occupied by customers.

Ignoring the many stares directed their way, an elderly man with white hair approached the counter, where the bar keeper eyed their group closely.

This chamber was much larger than Cave’s End and clearly contained more than one city. However, all mercenaries belonged to this particular city. Mercenaries traded in currency earned through materials gathered from tunnels, performing dirty tasks, joining armies, or selling information.

Information was something everyone needed, even the mercenaries themselves. However, none of them had ever heard of or seen this group before, which made them all uneasy—especially since they seemed to lack any cultivation base. As Yan Xiaobao reached the counter, even the typically rowdy bartender quieted down.

"Two rooms, each with two beds," Yan Xiaobao said as he reached the counter, unwilling to be dismissed. The bartender quickly nodded. There was no hostility in the voice he heard—just a detached arrogance that belonged to nobility.

"Will the young master be paying with Demon Cores or Demon Coins?" the bartender gently asked. Yan Xiaobao frowned upon hearing the two terms. Though the names differed, he instinctively associated Demon Cores with beast cores. What Demon Coins were remained a mystery to him.

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