Chapter Seventy-Seven: Arrival! The Kingdom of Sand and Gravel

Doctor Lao pulled Lu Zhe swiftly onto the house mounted atop the flying beast’s back. The house was not large, but it had two stories. Crafted from the sturdiest fir wood, it was likely designed to withstand the wind pressure from high-speed flight. The exterior of the house was clad in iron sheets, leaving only a single door and a few windows.

Stepping inside, Lu Zhe surveyed its structure. Indeed, it was two stories: the ground floor appeared to be a sort of sitting room, furnished with a table and several chairs. A narrow staircase led up to the second floor, where he found two beds—clearly a place for rest.

Suddenly, Lu Zhe heard voices downstairs and hurried back down. A young woman was speaking with Doctor Lao. She said, "I am your attendant for this journey. If either of you needs anything, please let me know."

Doctor Lao nodded and asked, "How long until we reach the Kingdom of Sand and Gravel?"

The woman thought for a moment. "It should take about three days," she replied.

Doctor Lao nodded again. "You may go."

She offered a slight bow and walked toward the front of the house, which seemed to have another area—probably a cockpit of sorts.

Soon after, the flying beast let out a piercing howl toward the sky, and Lu Zhe felt the house tremble violently. After a moment, the shaking ceased. Looking outside, he saw that the long-distance flying beast had soared into the blue sky, speeding southward.

Doctor Lao sat in a chair and beckoned Lu Zhe over. Lu Zhe walked over casually, sat opposite him, and asked, "What is it, Master?"

Doctor Lao coughed a few times. "Do you know where we're headed this time?"

Lu Zhe nodded. "Yes. To the Kingdom of Sand and Gravel, at the edge of the Boundless Desert."

"That's right," Doctor Lao confirmed. After a pause, he continued, "Do you know why we're going?"

Lu Zhe shook his head, then seemed to recall something and whispered uncertainly, "Don't tell me we're searching for the Twenty-Four Miraculous Herbs?"

Doctor Lao smiled, eyes twinkling. "Yes."

Lu Zhe sighed softly, clearly expecting this.

Doctor Lao regarded him for a moment, then mused, "Do you remember the herbs I asked you to find at the Alchemist Guild a few days ago?"

---

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhe looked up at Doctor Lao. "I remember, but I searched for ages and couldn't find them. Besides, those two herbs are among the Five Pinnacle Herbs—how could they be so easily found?" He furrowed his brows, puzzled. "Why did you want me to find those two herbs?"

Doctor Lao clasped his hands under his chin in thought. After a moment, he said, "Those are the essential ingredients for acquiring the Twenty-Four Miraculous Herbs. You know, the Miraculous Herbs are famed for their potent and overwhelming medicinal power. If you were to recklessly consume one with your current abilities—it would be suicide. So I decided to use some herbs to help neutralize the effects and reduce your chances of dying. Do you understand?"

Lu Zhe pondered. "How much can it reduce?"

Doctor Lao looked at him, then held up three fingers. "Thirty percent."

"Only thirty percent?" Lu Zhe glanced at Doctor Lao's fingers, clearly dissatisfied.

"It's not a reduction by thirty percent. Rather, you have only a thirty percent chance of success," Doctor Lao replied calmly.

"What!!" Lu Zhe cried out.

"Did you burn yourself with boiling water?" Doctor Lao asked, exasperated.

"No," Lu Zhe quickly lowered his voice, leaned in close, and gestured with three fingers. "Thirty percent—you want me to risk my life?"

"It's not certain death. What are you so afraid of?" Doctor Lao said lightly.

"Why don't you try eating it?" Lu Zhe retorted.

"I already have," Doctor Lao replied, utterly unconcerned.

"You... you’ve eaten one?" Lu Zhe was stunned, unable to comprehend.

"Remember what I told you? I once consumed a herb called 'Threefold Green Spirit Flower.' It ranks twelfth among the Miraculous Herbs," Doctor Lao explained.

Lu Zhe stared at him in amazement, then eagerly leaned over the table, peppering him with questions. "How did you get it? What happened after you ate it? How do you feel now?"

Doctor Lao smiled. "I found it by accident in the Vast Forest to the east during my travels. I didn’t recognize it at the time, so I swallowed it whole. It nearly killed me. If I hadn't been skilled, I would have died. But after I refined its power, it gave me unprecedented improvements in my body. I suppose disaster and fortune truly go hand in hand."

---

Lu Zhe listened and drew a sharp breath, steadying his nerves before asking, "So what about the Miraculous Herb appearing in the Boundless Desert this time?"

Doctor Lao thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Old Ye didn’t tell me exactly. He said it’s a fire attribute Miraculous Herb and asked me to prepare a Neutralizing Pill to help you refine it."

"Master, how did he get such information? Rare treasures like these should be highly sought after. How did he learn of it?" Lu Zhe tilted his head, puzzled.

Doctor Lao poured himself a glass of water and looked at him. "Your master has traveled all over the continent and knows many people. Though these things are rare, they’re not unheard of." Suddenly, Doctor Lao lowered his voice and leaned in close to Lu Zhe’s ear. "If it were only your master’s word, I wouldn’t go myself. But there’s a mysterious resonance between Miraculous Herbs. The one inside me seems to sense another to the south. So this time, we’re mainly going to investigate. If we’re lucky, we might obtain the herb."

Lu Zhe’s pupils widened with each word. When Doctor Lao finished, Lu Zhe stared at him in disbelief. Doctor Lao nodded, winked, and sipped his tea.

Lu Zhe sat in silence.

The flying beast continued its swift journey through the sky. Inside the house on its back, two men sat quietly.

---

The flying beast’s speed was truly impressive. Three days after departing from the Empire of Oga, Lu Zhe could vaguely see the outline of a city ahead. The air temperature rose sharply, a wave of heat swept over them, leaving him parched and uncomfortable.

Doctor Lao descended from the second floor and gazed out the window. "We’re almost there—the Kingdom of Sand and Gravel," he said quietly.

At these words, Lu Zhe stared intently at their destination, his hands unconsciously clenching until his knuckles cracked.

He drew a deep, hot breath and murmured, "Miraculous Herb, here I come."