Soul-Slaying Maiden: Master Of Ancient Divine Weapons

The room of the Jiang Clan's chieftain was located at the deepest part of the tribe, in the largest house.

When Jiang Huo brought Han Zhen to meet the chieftain, the Jiang Clan chieftain, Jiang Huai, had already been waiting for some time.

"I heard you woke Jiang Yue up?" Jiang Huai cast his gaze on Han Zhen.

Just a simple glance made Han Zhen feel as if he had no secrets, as if his entire being had been seen through. His body instinctively trembled.

'He's stronger than Jiang Huo.' Han Zhen immediately concluded in his mind.

Not daring to be negligent, he quickly cupped his hands humbly and said, "I didn't cure her, just woke her up. It was a minor effort."

"A minor effort? Outsider, do you know what such a 'minor effort' means to the Jiang Clan?" Jiang Huai paused for a moment and said each word deliberately, "Since the death of Shennong the Sage, no one has been proficient in medicine. You, as an outsider, are unique."

The weight of Jiang Huai's words hit like a bomb, leaving Han Zhen stunned.

'Who is Shennong, the Sage?', This didn't quite align with what he knew from legends.

'No, I know who Shennong the Sage is. He's the one who tasted hundreds of herbs—Shennong himself.'

Han Zhen felt he had grasped a key point and instinctively asked, "How did Shennong the Sage die?"

"Of course, it was when he consumed the Broken Intestine Grass while tasting herbs, and he died from being untreatable."

Jiang Huai's reply made Han Zhen even more convinced that Shennong the Sage was indeed the legendary Shennong.

"I heard from Jiang Huo that you wish to inquire about the initial time this strange illness occurred. I'll tell you now as well: the very first instance of this illness was on the day Shennong the Sage consumed the Broken Intestine Grass and died."

"According to our clan's records, after Shennong the Sage died, the entire world became 'ill.' Every human being contracted the strange disease, and all proficient in medicine mysteriously disappeared, as if healers had never existed in this world."

This world had become ill—seriously ill.

But what did this have to do with the emergence of the insect species? What was the direct connection between the two? Han Zhen couldn't figure it out.

Perhaps only by uncovering the secrets of the World of the Sacred Heart of Hundred Herbs could he find the answer.

Seeing Han Zhen's silence, the chieftain, Jiang Huai, pulled out a piece of yellowed paper from his room.

"On this paper is recorded a pill formula left behind by Shennong the Sage. You, as an outsider and the only healer in this world, are the only one to whom this formula can be given."

Reaching out to take the formula, Han Zhen saw its name clearly: Lesser Rejuvenation Pill.

"The herbs listed here are all stored in our clan's warehouse. However, we neither understand the formula nor have the tools to refine pills, so it has been gathering dust here all along."

From the formula itself and the name Lesser Rejuvenation Pill, Han Zhen couldn't deduce its specific purpose.

However, since it was obtained as part of the main storyline from this NPC, Jiang Clan's chieftain, it must be connected to the main plot.

With this in mind, Han Zhen decided to refine the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill first and investigate further afterward.

He immediately said, "I ask the chieftain to prepare these herbs for me. I want to open a furnace to refine the pill."

Jiang Huai and Jiang Huo exchanged a glance, not refusing Han Zhen's request.

"The herbs are stored in the warehouse to the east. Sending people to fetch them will take some time. For now, stay here. Jiang Huo, since this outsider saved your family's life, prepare accommodations for him and explain the rules clearly."

"Yes!" Jiang Huo agreed.

After leaving the chieftain's residence, Jiang Huo led Han Zhen to an empty room. At least, it was far more refined than the rough room he had slept in when he first entered this world.

As Han Zhen marveled inwardly, Jiang Huo sighed.

"Sigh, Brother Han, you shouldn't have taken this matter on. You saved my Jiang Yue's life, but I don't want to repay your kindness with harm."

"What do you mean by that?" Seeing Jiang Huo's genuine expression, Han Zhen was puzzled.

"As far as I know, it's not that this world doesn't have healers. With so many newborns every year, how could there not be one or two with healer talents?"

Indeed, Jiang Huo's words were logical, and this was a small question that had nagged at Han Zhen's mind. However, when facing Jiang Huai earlier, the overwhelming difference in power had made him subconsciously overlook it.

Reminded by Jiang Huo, Han Zhen nodded.

"They all died." Jiang Huo's next words directly exploded in Han Zhen's mind.

'Died? What died? How did they die? Who died?'

Without Han Zhen asking further, Jiang Huo continued:

"Those healers, those with healer talents, they all died."

"The pill formulas left by Shennong the Sage aren't limited to one. Everyone who obtained a formula and tried to study its mysteries eventually met their end. We call these formulas Shennong's curse."

'So Jiang Huai knew about the curse yet still handed the formula to me?'

Jiang Huo, out of kindness, told him the truth.

Without Jiang Huo, Han Zhen might have faced a very different outcome.

It wasn't until this moment that Han Zhen truly realized how much more terrifying this fruit world was than he had imagined.

Only by treading carefully and cautiously could he hope to unravel its ultimate secrets.

"I understand. Thank you for telling me. I'll proceed carefully." Han Zhen did not return the formula to the Jiang Clan, signaling his choice.

Seeing this, Jiang Huo said no more.

Afterward, Jiang Huo explained the precautions, such as locking the door tightly after 6 p.m. and not going out at night, before taking his leave.

Han Zhen closed the door and sat back at the table.

He placed the formula on the table and stared at it in a daze.

All the healers who studied the formulas had died. Was this truly a curse? If it was, how could it be lifted?

These formulas left behind by Shennong must contain some sort of clues.

If he abandoned these clues, how could he uncover the truth?

Han Zhen wrestled with these thoughts, unable to devise a solution.

'No.'

'No, that's not right.'

'All puzzles are meant to be solved by those who come later. If an unsolvable puzzle were left behind, it would be meaningless.'

With this thought, Han Zhen formed an initial hypothesis: 'the curse should be analyzed from two perspectives. First, there might be something wrong with the formulas, causing backlash against those who studied them. Second, the researchers themselves might be unqualified, resulting in backlash.'

As a human, Shennong, who tasted hundreds of herbs to benefit the world, shouldn't have cursed future generations.

If the formulas themselves were the problem, then with his mere fourth-tier strength, he was certainly doomed.

After repeatedly studying the formula and finding no answers, Han Zhen decided to head out and gather information about healers and the formulas.

When he opened the door, Han Zhen keenly sensed prying eyes observing him from all directions before quickly withdrawing.

Noticing the increased number of people loitering at his door, Han Zhen's heart sank.

'Are these people sent by Jiang Huai? What is he worried about? Why is he monitoring me?'

Keeping a calm face, Han Zhen strode quickly into the crowd.

If they come with ill intent, let them come.

He would see what Jiang Huai's true intentions were.

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