My ancestors were spiritual plant growers, so it's not surprising that I hunt demons every day,

"Aunt, you may not know this, but Sister Ying is also a first-grade high-level spirit plant master."

Gu Shiyin, who was standing next to him, smiled and explained it this way.

"I see, but these two purple salvia miltiorrhiza plants are still too precious, Auntie can't accept them."

Aunt Liu looked at the two purple ginseng plants, which were at least fifty years old and could directly increase one's cultivation level. Although she was tempted, she still firmly shook her head and refused.

"Aunt, please accept this. Shi Yin doesn't have many elders, so please consider this a token of our respect to you."

Cui Ying also tried to persuade her from the side.

In the end, Aunt Liu accepted the two purple ginseng plants.

The journey back wasn't as smooth as the way there, but for Cui Ying, it was still a close call. Finally, after several days, Cui Ying and Gu Shiyin safely returned to Shuangling Village.

When they arrived at the Gu family home, Gu Qinghong and Madam Liu had been waiting for a long time, looking anxious.

"Greetings, Uncle Gu and Aunt Gu."

Cui Ying and Gu Shiyin entered the Gu family home. They first stepped forward, bowed slightly to greet them, and then returned the spiritual fruits they had picked and the Crimson Flame Tube to Liu Shi and Gu Qinghong.

"No need to be polite."

Upon seeing Cui Ying, Gu Qinghong and Liu Shi both smiled and waved for her to get up quickly: "We were able to get so many Zhu Yan Fruits this time thanks to you. You've really helped us a lot."

"Hehe, these are things I should do."

Cui Ying smiled slightly, naturally remaining humble.

“You don’t need to say such things. My aunt was very rude in the past, but now we are family, so I will not show favoritism. Besides, if it weren’t for you, we might not have gotten these Vermilion Flame Fruits.”

After smiling slightly, Madam Liu first took out a bulging cloth bag from the storage bag at her waist, then grabbed half of the Vermilion Flame Fruit from the basket with one hand and placed them all on the table next to her.

"Here are twenty Crimson Flame Fruits, worth exactly half of this harvest. Also, these five hundred spirit stones are the reward your Uncle Gu and I prepared for you after discussing it. They are yours now. However, before that, your aunt has two suggestions for you, you can listen to them."

Liu said slowly.

"Please enlighten me, Auntie."

Cui Ying's mind stirred slightly, and she spoke respectfully.

“One suggestion is that you can sell these twenty Vermilion Flame Fruits directly to the Xuan Tian Sect. According to the information your eldest sister sent back, it can be exchanged for about 20,000 spirit stones. With such a large sum of spirit stones, it is enough for all your expenses in the village for more than ten years. Therefore, you can concentrate on cultivation from now on and no longer have to worry about spirit stones.”

"My second suggestion is that your eldest sister can help you send these twenty Vermilion Flame Fruits to the best alchemist in the Xuan Tian Sect, and with the help of other rare materials, refine them into three bottles of spiritual liquid with marrow cleansing effects. However, because the most important spiritual flower for refining the marrow cleansing liquid is missing, other spiritual plants can only be used as a substitute. In return, the alchemist will not only charge five spiritual fruits and a thousand spirit stones as payment, but the efficacy of the refined spiritual liquid will also be greatly reduced."

"The spiritual flower that Aunt Gu mentioned is missing, is it the Marrow Cleansing Flower, which has the effect of cleansing the marrow and rejuvenating the essence?!"

Cui Ying did not rush to make a decision, but instead asked this question with a flash of insight.

"That's right, the main ingredient for refining the Marrow Cleansing Elixir is a spiritual herb called the Marrow Cleansing Flower. It's a pity that your eldest sister couldn't find any information about such a spiritual item despite her inquiries. Otherwise, our Shi Yin could have... Sigh, there's no point in saying more. It's your fault for being so talkative, always bringing up the most sensitive topics."

Madam Liu glanced at Gu Shiyin sitting below her, her eyes filled with pity.

"Uncle Gu and Aunt Gu, please dismiss everyone else. I have something I'd like to discuss with you privately."

Upon seeing this, Cui Ying remained silent for a moment, then whispered to Gu Shiyin beside her.

"Yes, the slaves retire."

Upon receiving a glance from Madam Liu, the two servants who were standing quietly to her side quickly agreed, bowed, and left through the door.

"Sister Ying, can't even I stay?"

Gu Shiyin was slightly taken aback, but asked a question with some doubt.

"What Uncle Gu and the others are about to say might not be all good news for you, Brother Shi Yin. It's better if you don't listen."

After hesitating for a moment, Cui Ying still said it this way.

Although Gu Shiyin found it a bit strange, he could only agree and leave.

Once all the doors to the hall were closed, only Cui Ying and Gu Qinghong remained inside.

“Niece Cui Ying, you can say what you have to say now.”

Gu Qinghong stared at Cui Ying, as if he had noticed something, and slowly said.

"Uncle Gu, please don't be in a hurry. I have some things here. Please take a look first."

Cui Ying straightened her expression, then took out a leather scroll from her storage bag and handed it to Gu Qinghong and his wife.

Gu Qinghong couldn't help but exchange a glance with Liu Shi, then took the animal hide scroll, opened it, and glanced at it. Both their expressions changed drastically, and after a long pause, they cautiously asked:

"Is this the legendary Hengduan Mountains? The areas marked on this map are all extremely dangerous places!"

"Hehe, Uncle Gu is indeed very knowledgeable."

Cui Ying said with a somewhat solemn expression.

"Although this place is very dangerous, it is still tens of thousands of miles away from our Thundercloud City. Moreover, the marked areas show signs of activity by Foundation Establishment level demons. This scroll must have cost you a lot of spirit stones."

Liu examined the scroll in her hand, first frowning and saying a few words, then suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and she exclaimed with a mixture of doubt and disbelief:

"Could it be that there's news of the Marrow Cleansing Flower here!?"

“Aunt Gu guessed correctly. This animal skin scroll depicts the Hengduan Mountains, and the marked areas are places where the Marrow Cleansing Flower may grow.”

Cui Ying nodded slightly, her eyes flashing as she spoke.

"Niece Cui Ying, how certain are you about this information?!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Qinghong was overjoyed, but upon looking at the areas marked with red dots in his hand, he sighed and said:

"Although we also want Shi Yin to be able to cultivate, this place is far too dangerous. Even Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot guarantee a safe return."

"Your aunt and I are very grateful for your niece Cui Ying's care for Shi Yin. But I think we should put this matter aside for now. We shouldn't risk your life for Shi Yin's future."