Li Wei wiped the sweat from his brow as he stood on the narrow mountain path. After five days of trekking through rough terrain, he had finally reached the collapsed cave Xu Zhan had mentioned. The monkeys he saw earlier had given him confidence that he was on the right track. He knelt to examine the remnants of the cave, half-buried under dirt and debris. Xu Zhan had said that he had walked in the tunnel for a hour or two with no real sense of direction. So, Li Wei made the caves entrance as reference point and searched the area in spiral fashion.
Li Wei had spent days meticulously scanning the area in a spiral pattern, knowing that some places were harder to find than others. He smirked to himself. In his previous life, satellite images and maps could reveal hidden spots like this. Here, though, it required patience and methodical searching. Sure enough, after days of combing the region, he found the entrance. It wasn't nearly a valley in the traditional sense but more of a vertical hole in the earth. Narrow at the top, it opened into a vast, yawning chamber below, like a funnel leading into the depths of the world.
He stared down into the abyss. The bottom was obscured by shadows, but the sheer scale of it told him that this place had remained untouched for a very long time. No wonder Xu Zhan missed it.
As Li Wei stood at the edge, he recalled the encounter with the sect's disciples a few months ago. They had apologized, thanking him for saving them from their own folly. One of them, a girl whose name escaped him, had given him a sect token—a small piece of jade etched with a symbol. She had explained it was a guest entry pass, but Li Wei had little use for sect politics. He had kept it more out of politeness than any real understanding of its significance. Now, as he began his descent, he absentmindedly touched the token hanging from his belt.
With careful precision, Li Wei prepared to enter the valley. He anchored a sturdy rope around an ancient tree that stood at the edge of the pit. His movements were slow and deliberate. The techniques he had learned back on Earth in rock climbing helped him here. He dug footholds into the rock, making sure his descent would be safe when he had to climb back up. Even though he was now a second-rate martial artist, relying on his strength alone in such a dangerous task would be foolish.
Once at the bottom, he took a deep breath and surveyed his surroundings. The ground was uneven, dotted with jagged rocks and thick patches of vegetation that seemed to thrive in the shadows. There were some animals but they must have found the Xu Zhan used and entered. Other wise there was no way for animals to be here.
For the next several days, Li Wei began his search in earnest, scouring every nook and crevice of the valley. He focused on areas inaccessible to animals, knowing that treasures often grew in places untouched by life. His persistence paid off when he found his first treasure herb. The plant stood out—its twisted roots and shimmering leaves were unmistakable signs of its extraordinary properties. A lesser warrior might have believed in some divine intervention, but Li Wei was too practical for that.
"This place has been hidden for millennia's," he muttered to himself, carefully digging out the herb. "Untouched by beasts or humans. No wonder the treasure herbs thrive here."
He considered the conditions that allowed such rare plants to flourish. It wasn't magic—there had to be a logical explanation. The valley was well-protected, shielded from the outside world by the terrain. Pollens from rare herbs likely drifted into the valley over time, germinating in the undisturbed soil. The potency of the herbs' energy would have been too strong for smaller creatures to consume, while larger beasts, would not be able to reach inaccessible spots in this place.
With the treasure herb secured, Li Wei continued his search. His methodical nature drove him to explore every corner of the valley. Over the next year, he uncovered two more herbs, each one as rare and valuable as the first. His theory held true. This valley was a natural sanctuary for these plants, preserved by time and nature itself.
During his stay, Li Wei consumed one of the herbs and underwent another round of body reforging. The process was intense, but it did not grant him increased strength. Reforging the body was a delicate process, a way to refine his martial foundations. Each reforging strengthened his internal energy, fortifying his spirit and resilience. Two down, two more to go, he thought. The natural breakthrough he sought was still far off, but his progress was steady.
Li Wei stayed in the valley for the full year, determined not to leave until he had exhausted every possibility. Xu Zhan had been a third-rate warrior during his visit, lacking the tools or ability to explore fully. But Li Wei had no such limitations. His equipment, training, and patience gave him an edge that Xu Zhan never had.
After a year of solitude and relentless searching, Li Wei had finally completed his task. He had found three treasure herbs and had reforged his body twice. His journey in this valley had come to an end, but he knew this was just another step on the path to achieving his ultimate goal. The next stage awaited him, and he would be ready.
Due to this windfall breaking through to 1st rate was entirely within scope of responsibility.