Liaozhai: Immortality Begins with Becoming Yan Chixia's Apprentice

Chapter 120 Dragon Saliva Snake Island

After obtaining the Earth Spirit Milk, Zhou Ning did not stay in the North for long.

He bid farewell to Han Wei and Xuan Zhenzi and returned to Lanruo Temple alone.

Along the way, he carefully put the jade bottle in his bag and sealed it with a talisman, fearing that it might be lost in any way.

Earth Spirit Milk is one of the three main ingredients of the Infant Condensation Pill, and it is hard to come by, so he dares not be careless.

It was three days later when they returned to Lanruo Temple.

Yan Chixia was practicing her sword on the back mountain. When she saw him return, she sheathed her sword and looked at him with a questioning gaze.

"Found it?" Yan Chixia asked.

Zhou Ning nodded, took out a jade bottle from his bag, and handed it to his master.

"This disciple found the Earth Spirit Milk in Black Wind Mountain in the North. The guardian beast was a black-scaled lizard, which this disciple has already slain."

Yan Chixia took the jade bottle, opened the cap, smelled it, and nodded slightly.

"The quality is excellent, enough to refine the Nascent Soul Pill. You've already obtained one of the three main ingredients: Earth Spirit Milk, Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Lingzhi, and Dragon Saliva Fruit. How do you plan to find the remaining two?"

Zhou Ning said, "This disciple plans to first go to Yunmeng Marsh to find the Dragon Saliva Fruit. According to the Local Landscape Records, the Dragon Saliva Fruit is the fruit of the Dragon Saliva Grass, which grows on a secluded island deep in Yunmeng Marsh."

"When I went to Yunmeng Marsh before, I only found the Dragon Saliva Grass, but no fruit. Perhaps I will be able to find something this time."

Yan Chixia returned the jade bottle to him and said calmly, "Dragon's Saliva Fruit is even rarer than Dragon's Saliva Grass. It only bears fruit once every hundred years, and it only ripens at a specific time. You'd better find out before you go, so you don't make a wasted trip."

Zhou Ning nodded: "Disciple understands. Master, how much do you know about Yunmeng Marsh?"

Yan Chixia said, "Yunmeng Marsh is an ancient marshland, spanning a thousand miles, with a dense network of waterways and swamps everywhere. Its depths are a paradise for demonic beasts and a treasure trove of rare and precious materials. But the dangers there are no less than those in Black Mountain. Be careful if you go alone."

He took out a jade talisman from his sleeve and handed it to Zhou Ning.

"This is a map of Yunmeng Marsh that I drew many years ago, marking some dangerous areas and places where spiritual herbs are produced. You can take it for reference."

Zhou Ning took the jade talisman and probed it with his divine sense. A detailed map unfolded in his mind.

Mountains, rivers, swamps, lakes, monster lairs, and the distribution of spiritual herbs are all clearly visible.

He was overjoyed and quickly thanked them.

"Thank you, Master."

Yan Chixia waved his hand.

"Go ahead. Come back soon."

Zhou Ning returned to his residence and packed his bags.

He brought along the Qingfeng Sword, the Bixie Sword, and the Hanshuang Sword, as well as a bag full of talismans and several pills to restore his true essence.

With everything prepared, he left Lanruo Temple and headed south towards Yunmengze.

Yunmeng Marsh is a thousand miles away from Qingyun Mountain. Zhou Ning traveled day and night, and it took him three days to reach the edge of the marsh.

Unlike the last time I visited, the water level of Yunmengze seemed to have dropped, and large areas of dry riverbed were exposed along the lake.

The reeds are still lush, but some areas have turned yellow and withered, clearly affected by the drought.

A faint fishy smell filled the air, quite different from the fresh scent of the last time.

Zhou Ning stood by the marsh, unfolded the map given to him by Yan Chixia, and studied it carefully.

The map indicates that ambergris fruit grows on a solitary island called "Ambergris Island" in the middle of the marsh.

The island was shrouded in thick fog, never seeing the sun. It was inhabited by venomous snakes and ferocious beasts, and guarded by a giant python.

"This is it."

Zhou Ning put away the map and walked along the lake, looking for a fishing boat that could ferry him across.

After walking for about half an hour, he arrived at a water fortress.

The water village was built on a shallow beach by the lake. It was constructed of wood and bamboo and was not large in scale, but it was quite exquisite.

Several small boats were moored at the entrance of the village, and a few shirtless men were busy on the boats.

As Zhou Ning approached, a burly, dark-skinned middle-aged man came to greet him.

The man was none other than Boss Zhao, who had taken him to Snake Island last time.

"Brother Zhao, do you still remember me?" Zhou Ning cupped his hands in greeting.

Zhao Laoda looked him up and down, his eyes lighting up.

"You are...Young Master Zhou? The one who came to collect ambergris last time?"

Zhou Ning nodded: "That's right. Brother Zhao, I'm troubling you again."

Old Zhao laughed and said, "Young Master Zhou, you're too kind. What are you looking for in Ze this time?"

Zhou Ning said, "Ambergris fruit. The fruit of the ambergris plant."

Boss Zhao's expression changed slightly.

"Dragon's Saliva Fruit? That stuff is hard to find. I heard there's a giant python guarding Dragon's Saliva Snake Island in the middle of the swamp; whoever goes there dies. Young Master Zhou, are you sure you want to go?"

Zhou Ning nodded: "Okay. Brother Zhao, you just need to take me to the vicinity of the island. I'll handle getting onto the island myself."

Boss Zhao hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay. However, the fare for the boat this time will be doubled. That giant python is too ferocious; I have to take the risk."

Zhou Ning took out one hundred taels of silver from his pocket and handed it to Zhao Laoda.

"This is the deposit. You'll pay another one hundred taels when you return."

Zhao Laoda took the silver, his eyes lit up, and his attitude immediately became much more enthusiastic.

He turned to prepare the boat, and soon came out carrying a small boat.

"Young Master Zhou, board the boat."

Zhou Ning jumped onto the boat and sat down at the bow.

Old Zhao pushed off with a bamboo pole, and the small boat slowly sailed away from the shore, heading towards the center of the lake.

The surface of Yunmengze is more complex than it appears from the outside.

Everywhere you look there are reeds, and the waterways are narrow and winding; if you're not familiar with the area, it's easy to get lost.

As Zhao Laoda rowed the boat, he explained the situation in the swamp to Zhou Ning.

"Young Master Zhou, since you left last time, a lot of trouble has happened in Zeli. I heard that a group of river bandits came from the north, specializing in robbing passing ships."

"A few days ago, a large crocodile jumped out of the water and ate several people," Zhao Laoda shook his head and sighed.

"Life is tough these days."

Zhou Ning said, "Brother Zhao, don't worry, I will protect your safety."

Old Zhao smiled but didn't say anything.

The small boat traveled through the reeds for about two hours before a small island appeared ahead.

The island is small, only a few dozen acres, and is covered with dense trees and shrubs.

The island was shrouded in fog, making it difficult to see clearly.

Several black birds circled in the sky above the island, emitting sharp cries.

"This is it."

Zhao Laoda moored the boat on a shallow beach not far from the island.

"Young Master Zhou, I'll be waiting for you here. Be careful going up. If you encounter any danger, shout loudly and I'll come to get you."

Zhou Ning nodded, jumped off the boat, and walked toward the island.

There were indeed many snakes on the island.

Large and small, colorful, they coiled on branches, rocks, and grass, flicking their tongues and hissing.

Zhou Ning circulated his true essence throughout his body, forming a layer of golden protective qi.

The snakes sensed his presence and all avoided him, not daring to approach.

He walked along a path toward the center of the island.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, an open space appeared ahead.

In the open space, there grew a peculiar plant.

The grass was about half a person's height, with long, narrow leaves and wavy edges; it was indeed ambergris.

But unlike the one I saw last time, this ambergris plant has a fist-sized fruit at its top.

The fruit is golden yellow, with a layer of fine fuzz on the surface, and emits a faint fragrance.

Ambergris fruit!

Zhou Ning was overjoyed and quickly walked over.