The four individuals, likely intimidated by the numbers and discipline of the Shadow Scaled Guards, obediently explained their situation.
The group consisted of three men and one woman from three different minor families, all with cultivation levels around the Yuan Bright Realm. They recounted how they had stumbled upon a valley filled with Moon Bee Flowers, drawn by the rare sight. Unaware of the danger, they had picked a few flowers, which triggered an aggressive attack by the valley’s guardian Moon Bees, forcing them to flee.
Upon hearing about the Moon Bee Flowers, Wen Qiao immediately understood why the bees had been so hostile. Moon Bee Flowers were symbiotic spiritual plants, fiercely protected by Moon Bees, who treated them as more valuable than their own lives. Any intruder daring to touch the flowers would face relentless pursuit.
It wasn’t uncommon for small families, often lacking sufficient knowledge and resources, to make such fatal mistakes. Wen Qiao felt no surprise at their predicament.
Qian Shou asked, “Where is the valley with the Moon Bee Flowers?”
The group promptly provided the location without hesitation, fearing any retribution from Ning Yuzhou or his guards. Though the Seventh Prince might seem harmless, offending the powerful Ning family behind him—or the fifty elite Shadow Scaled Guards—could bring disaster to their families.
Fortunately, once the Shadow Scaled Guards had the information, they escorted Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao away without further issue.
Relieved, the group finally relaxed, the tension draining from their bodies. They had shared the location of the Moon Bee Flowers as a form of penance, hoping Ning Yuzhou would accept their gesture and refrain from seeking revenge. Judging by his departure, it seemed to have worked.
—
After traveling for several hours, Ning Yuzhou’s party reached the valley of Moon Bee Flowers.
The valley was a breath-taking sight, blanketed in clusters of pale yellow flowers that swayed gently in the wind, releasing a sweet and intoxicating fragrance. Among the blossoms, Moon Bees busily flitted about, gathering nectar.
Given the earlier intrusion, the bee population seemed reduced. However, the remaining Moon Bees still posed a considerable challenge, especially for anyone attempting to harvest the precious Moon Bee Honey stored in a massive hive hanging from a cliff wall.
The honey of Moon Bees was renowned not only for its unparalleled sweetness but also for its remarkable benefits. It could beautify and prolong life, detoxify the body, and even enhance cultivation during critical breakthroughs.
This, naturally, was their goal.
Ning Yuzhou assessed the valley and gave Qian Shou a few instructions. The Shadow Scaled Guards quickly set to work.
Positioned at the mouth of the valley, several guards discreetly released a fine powdered substance from jade bottles. A wind element cultivator among them created a breeze, carrying the powder deep into the valley.
Soon, a sweet, slightly cloying aroma spread throughout the area.
Moments later, the Moon Bees began to falter mid-flight, their movements erratic as if they were intoxicated. One by one, they fell to the ground, incapacitated.
With the bees neutralized, the Shadow Scaled Guards moved swiftly to harvest honey from the hive, while Ning Yuzhou led Wen Qiao into the valley to collect Moon Bee Flowers.
By now, he fully understood his wife’s deep affection for spiritual plants. Whether high-grade or low-grade, she cherished them all equally and loved to bring them back to cultivate.
Wen Qiao was pleasantly surprised at how effortlessly they had handled the situation. Compared to the earlier group’s chaotic retreat, this approach seemed almost too easy. She couldn’t help but ask, “What was in the powder?”
“A specialized spiritual drug for insect-type beasts,” Ning Yuzhou explained with a smile. “Once inhaled, it works like alcohol intoxication for humans. They’ll recover in about half an hour. Of course, it only works on lower-level insect beasts. Against higher levels, its efficacy diminishes.”
“Oh,” Wen Qiao replied, marvelling at the preparedness of the Shadow Scaled Guards. This tool was incredibly handy.
She enthusiastically began digging up Moon Bee Flowers, carefully preserving their roots to replant later. Though only a second-tier spiritual plant, Moon Bee Flowers grew quickly, looked beautiful, and produced honey. She couldn’t resist taking a few back.
The Shadow Scaled Guards were highly efficient. In less than fifteen minutes, they had extracted several dozen jars of Moon Bee Honey from the hive. To their delight, they also discovered a shallow layer of Royal Jelly, a rarer and more potent variant of the honey. They carefully collected it into a single jar and presented it to Ning Yuzhou.
The Royal Jelly’s thick, golden liquid shimmered like molten glass beads. It was a highly sought-after delicacy and a powerful detoxifying agent.
Ning Yuzhou handed the jar to Wen Qiao.
“For me?” she asked, stunned.
He nodded. “This Royal Jelly is of excellent quality. Drinking it regularly will help suppress the effects of your fire poison.”
Wen Qiao accepted it without hesitation, her expression calm despite the immense value of the gift. By now, she had grown accustomed to her husband constantly giving her precious items. If it were anyone else, they would probably accept such treasures with trembling hands, overwhelmed by their significance.
She tucked the jar into her storage ring, only to hear a loud shout from the valley entrance: “Who dares to ambush us?”
The sharp clash of metal filled the air as the Shadow Scaled Guards at the entrance formed a defensive formation, intercepting a barrage of concealed weapons. The attackers, seeing their ambush foiled, emerged from the shadows.
Three male cultivators stepped into view.
Qian Shou immediately moved to shield Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao, his expression grave.
The Shadow Scaled Guards regrouped, forming a barrier between the intruders and their charges.
The leader of the trio, a pale and slender man with delicate features, spoke in a soft, sinister voice, “The Black Lizard smelled the Royal Jelly. It’s its favorite. Hand it over, or we’ll feed you to it.”
His cold, black eyes gleamed with malice, resembling a venomous snake ready to strike.
His companions—a burly man wielding a giant axe and a middle-aged man dressed like a scholar—stood behind him, their indifferent gazes betraying no urgency.
The guards remained silent, awaiting Ning Yuzhou’s orders.
The slender man, Xu Jiuxiu, smirked at their defiance. “You people from Dongling sure are stubborn. No wonder you’re so quick to get yourselves killed.”
Both Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao instantly recognized that these individuals were not from Dongling. Their bold attempt to seize the Royal Jelly, combined with their disdainful attitude, clearly marked them as outsiders.
Before anyone could act, Xu Jiuxiu released a massive Black Dragon Lizard from his beast pouch. The seventh-tier creature, though still a juvenile, charged at the guards with terrifying ferocity.
The Shadow Scaled Guards held their ground, employing a complex formation to withstand the lizard’s assault.
Even Xu Jiuxiu’s companions couldn’t help but admire the intricate coordination of the guards’ human battle array. However, when the lizard’s attacks grew more frenzied under the influence of Xu Jiuxiu’s bone flute, Ning Yuzhou calmly issued an order: “Subdue it. Don’t kill it.”
Qian Shou vanished, blending seamlessly into the environment with a masterful concealment technique. Moments later, a blinding slash of sword light struck the lizard, leaving it wounded and howling in pain. As the lizard staggered, Xu Jiuxiu roared in fury, summoning twin swords to retaliate. However, just as he launched his attack, a blinding light burst from the distant horizon, drawing everyone’s attention.
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