Chapter 123: This Territory Belongs to Me

He plunged back into the jungle, the demon king once again in his element. Before long, he tracked down a squad of five. Without waiting for them to speak, he launched an assault, crushing them with effortless ease. Within moments, all five lay on the ground, unable to move.

"Boss, don't kill me! I'll tell you anything you want to know!"

Before Chu Han could even utter a word, the man began to tremble and plead, saving him the trouble of interrogation.

Chu Han offered a faint smile. He hadn't even opened his mouth yet, but the others, fearing he might show them no mercy, scrambled to empty their pockets, dumping all their belongings onto the ground before begging for their lives.

Watching them, Chu Han found it rather amusing. It was almost comical how much people would do just to survive. Since they had already gone to such lengths, he didn't stand on ceremony; he quickly gathered everything on the ground and said, "Fine. Tell me what you know about this trial."

"Yes, big brother! This trial requires us to collect three types of medicinal herbs: the centennial tuckahoe, blood ganoderma, and jade-pei fruit."

The man nodded frantically, spilling everything he knew. Chu Han gave a silent nod of approval and, choosing not to make things difficult for them, set off to find the herbs.

These three herbs were not particularly rare, but they were notoriously difficult to locate. The centennial tuckahoe was a specimen that had grown for over a hundred years; while tuckahoe itself was common, its age was hard to distinguish, as the plant’s appearance changed little over time.

The blood ganoderma was easily confused with many other herbs, making it nearly impossible for anyone but an expert to identify. As for the jade-pei fruit, it required a specific harvesting method; otherwise, it would lose all its medicinal properties the moment it was plucked.

Though these herbs weren't legendary, they were perfectly suited for a trial. To Chu Han, it felt as if the test had been tailor-made for him. He recalled the three years he had spent studying alchemy, during which he had learned to identify herbs and master their properties; he could distinguish them by scent alone.

Within ten minutes, he found the centennial tuckahoe—a specimen over three hundred years old. While it couldn't bring the dead back to life, it was a superb healing agent. Finding the blood ganoderma took a bit longer, nearly half an hour, as its scent was subtle and elusive.

However, the final herb, the jade-pei fruit, remained elusive. He couldn't figure out where it grew. Knowing it preferred shade over sunlight, he scoured the damp, shadowed areas of the forest.

Soon, he spotted a figure climbing a large tree, with two others cheering from below. Hanging from the branch above was the crimson jade-pei fruit.

As the climber reached out, his hand inches from the fruit, a bolt of lightning streaked from a hidden vantage point, striking his hand. He let out a shriek and tumbled from the tree.

Chu Han felt a twinge of regret. His goal was the fruit, but the man’s method was wrong; touching it with bare hands would render it useless. He had been forced to intervene.

"Damn it! Who’s there? Show yourself! You dare attack your grandfather? I’ll teach you a lesson you won't soon forget!"

The man stood up, howling in rage. The other two, sensing danger, drew their weapons.

Chu Han sighed, stepped out from the shadows, and said, "It was me. Your method is wrong; you cannot harvest the jade-pei fruit that way."

"Bullshit! Who cares about the method? I found it! What business is it of yours? Get him! Kill him!"

The man cursed, pointing at Chu Han. The two subordinates charged.

Chu Han dodged their attacks with ease, then struck out with both fists, slamming them into the men’s faces. He only used fifty percent of his strength, but it was more than they could handle. Their nasal bones shattered instantly, and they collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

The man who had been cursing was stunned into silence. He sat hard on the ground, nearly wetting himself in terror, staring at Chu Han in fear that he might be next.

"Enough. I won't hurt you. Hand over anything valuable, and then get lost," Chu Han said impatiently. He saw the man for what he was—a spoiled rich brat, the type he detested most. Yet, at this moment, he was quite pleased to have run into one.

As a pampered heir, he was bound to have valuables. Sure enough, the man produced a stash of gold coins, precious pills, and even two pieces of lightning-struck wood. Chu Han was delighted and quickly tucked the spoils into his ring.

Seeing Chu Han busy with the loot, the man scrambled away, not even glancing back at his fallen companions. Chu Han climbed the tree, sat on a branch, and took a small jade box from his ring, holding it beneath the jade-pei fruit.

He used a burst of internal energy to vibrate the branch, causing the fruit to drop perfectly into the box. This was the only way to harvest it properly.

With the task complete, Chu Han breathed a sigh of relief, stowed his gear, and headed toward the exit. Upon arriving, he found no one else there; it seemed most were still struggling with their tasks.

Chu Han’s eyes glinted. Instead of leaving, he stood by the entrance, adopting a refined, ethereal posture, looking for all the world like a profound master.

An hour later, three people appeared, clutching their haul and looking to exit. Chu Han blocked their path.

"You’ve finished the task? Let me see."

Chu Han spoke softly, his voice altered to sound like a sage, leaving no room for suspicion.

The trio looked at him with half-doubts. They hadn't heard of any examiner from the Taiyi Sect waiting here, but they figured it was better to be safe than sorry, so they handed over their items.

Chu Han feigned a careful inspection, nodded, and said, "Very well, you have completed the task. However, you cannot pass just yet. You must show some sincerity."

He rubbed his fingers together in a suggestive gesture. It was a simple scheme: since there were no real examiners here, he might as well make a profit. After all, no one knew who he was.

The men were taken aback. "Elder, what do you mean?"

Chu Han’s demeanor and tone were so ancient that they mistook him for a Taiyi Sect elder. Chu Han replied, "Are you fools? I own this path. If you want to pass, don't you need to pay a toll?"

Realizing his intent, they didn't object; in their world, such things were commonplace. One of them pulled out a small jade bottle. "Elder, this is a high-grade recovery pill. It’s not much, but please accept it as a token of our respect. We hope you don't find it lacking."