Chapter 48: Changing Tendons And Continuing Meridians
Su Yan’s expression shifted slightly: “Old Song, are you prepared?”
“Seventy to eighty percent, but it’s enough.”
Song Qi had already asked for leave from the Head Shopkeeper; originally, he should have prepared eighty to ninety percent before making a move.
But now the situation was somewhat different.
“Is it because of the medicinal herbs being robbed?”
Song Qi showed a surprised expression, not expecting Su Yan to know as well, and nodded: “Pang Tianfeng robbed a batch of medicinal herbs. The shopkeepers are preparing to send people to hunt him down; I’m afraid there will be changes.”
“Old Song, what exactly is Pang Tianfeng’s cultivation level? Why such a big commotion?”
Su Yan was puzzled in his heart. No matter how powerful Pang Tianfeng was, how could he cause such a stir?
“Pang Tianfeng was originally a discarded disciple of Nine Peaks Sect. He doesn’t know what opportunity he found and defected. He fled all the way from Lingnan Prefecture to our southernmost Bailu County.”
Song Qi explained in detail: “It is said that at first he was only at Blood Moving Realm. After several escapes, this move confirmed Spirit Nurturing Realm. Such rapid improvement must mean he has something on him.”
Su Yan’s eyes flickered: “An innocent man with a treasure invites trouble.”
“Your words are concise.”
Song Qi’s deep eyes lit up: “As long as there are rumors, someone will be tempted. Moreover, Pang Tianfeng’s poison techniques have some skill. There will likely be deaths in the woods.”
The Desolate Mountains were already extremely dangerous. The various families fought openly and secretly for resources, using all sorts of means, which was chaotic enough.
With the hunt about to begin, this chaos would only intensify, and with Pang Tianfeng stirring things up, it would be chaos upon chaos.
Chaos is a ladder upward; there will always be ambitious people who like chaos emerging at such times.
Song Qi wanting to recover his injuries before the chaos was a wise decision.
Moreover, who could guarantee that Song Qi had no ideas of his own?
Leaving aside Pang Tianfeng’s matter for now, although signs had appeared, it wouldn’t immediately affect the three of them.
The urgent task at hand was to refine the Muscle Strengthening and Meridian Connecting Pill.
Early the next morning, Xu Zhongdao directly ordered the household servants to tightly close the courtyard gate, with Song Qi guarding the Inner Courtyard.
He then brought Su Yan into the Alchemy Room, where all sorts of neatly categorized and packaged medicinal herbs met the eye.
Su Yan showed a surprised expression. There were no fewer than thirty or forty kinds of medicinal herbs in this Alchemy Room, from Feral Beast Bones to Blood Tendon Flowers, most of which had already been processed, each in different ways.
‘I’m afraid these days, Old Xu has been processing these things.’
The Muscle Strengthening and Meridian Connecting Pill was a Second-order Low-grade pill, mainly using Second-order materials, extremely precious, and it included many difficult-to-process materials.
Now that they were so neatly categorized, it was clear how much effort Xu Zhongdao had put in. He and Song Qi must have a friendship closer than life and death.
“Kid, if your skills aren’t enough, forcibly refining a Second-order Low-grade pill, once the furnace is opened—especially this Muscle Strengthening and Meridian Connecting Pill that you haven’t refined before—it will inevitably be unstoppable.”
Xu Zhongdao’s expression was serious as he sat in front of the large medicine furnace.
“Whatever medicinal herb I call for later, you must give exactly that one, precise to the milligram. Some medicinal herbs need on-the-spot processing; when I tell you to process them, make sure to finish on time. Any mistake will cause a world of difference in medicinal effect. Our medicinal herbs can’t support many attempts.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Su Yan’s expression was serious, and Xu Zhongdao’s tone softened slightly: “You don’t need to be too nervous. These past few days, I’ve tested your Herbology level somewhat. Your understanding and handling of medicines are better than Hundred Herbs Hall apprentices, enough to handle this task. As for alchemy, how well you learn is up to your ability.”
Alchemy was already Hundred Herbs Hall’s skill. At least Xu Zhongdao’s skills came from Hundred Herbs Hall; he couldn’t directly teach Su Yan alchemy—that was the rules.
However, through the past few days of interaction, the occasional questions, and observing Su Yan’s boiling, use, etc., of Poison Skin Powder and Three Yuan Soup in various aspects, he had gauged Su Yan’s foundation.
This kid was very strange. He was a genius in Martial Arts progress and could draw inferences from Herb Identification and Herbology knowledge, progressing extremely quickly.
“Light the fire!”
As the furnace fire started, the medicine furnace began to heat up. Xu Zhongdao focused fully and began adding the main ingredients, Feral Beast Bone and Blood Tendon Flower, one after another.
His body aura surged, with faint wisps of white mist like incense smoke continuously merging into the medicine furnace.
‘This is the True Essence nurtured in Spirit Nurturing Realm.’
Using True Essence for refining medicine, combined with furnace fire to adjust medicinal properties—this refining method was absolutely impossible without sufficient cultivation.
“Tendon Growing Grass, two taels.”
As soon as Xu Zhongdao spoke, Su Yan moved immediately, quickly fetching the prepared medicinal herb and throwing it into the furnace fire.
“Blood Ginseng, one tael; Black Tiger Root, three qian of juice.”
Xu Zhongdao continuously directed Su Yan to fetch medicinal herbs and add them to the furnace. Sweat the size of beans gradually appeared on his wrinkled face.
The furnace fire was not only scorching hot, but using True Essence for alchemy consumed a great deal.
‘Stimulate the medicinal properties, but must constantly maintain balance, thereby continuously stacking and retaining the medicinal properties into the pill, so that when taken, it all converts into energy.’
While assisting in refining medicine, Su Yan observed Xu Zhongdao’s refining techniques, concepts, and skills.
Xu Zhongdao had intended to teach him from the start, so now some techniques were shown without any reservation.
Time gradually passed, and the dozens of kinds of medicinal herbs in front of Su Yan were now almost all used up, nearly every one having been used once.
Xu Zhongdao’s face was pale, his True Essence consumption enormous. If not for preparing some Essence-nurturing pills to convert into his own True Essence, he would have collapsed by now.
“Add all the Blood Tendon Flower and Feral Beast Bone, quick!”
Xu Zhongdao shouted loudly, and Su Yan immediately added the prepared main materials into the furnace for the second time.
The furnace fire gradually extinguished, and the medicine furnace rumbled as it was moved aside.
The residual heat continued to roast the pills inside, but Xu Zhongdao no longer paid much attention, merely continuously using Skillful Strength to vibrate the medicine furnace.
After about seventeen or eighteen minutes like this, the medicine furnace’s temperature dropped.
Xu Zhongdao lifted the lid, and a burst of medicinal fragrance immediately wafted out.
He immediately showed wild joy on his face, abruptly standing up to look into the medicine furnace, where three dark red pills lay, emanating medicinal fragrance.
“Success, hahahahaha!”
Xu Zhongdao let out a long breath: “Kid, quickly go call Old Song in. His chance has come; don’t stand there stunned.”
He saw Su Yan still unmoving but didn’t notice the surprise in Su Yan’s eyes.
【Herbology 19/400（Great Accomplishment）】
【Basic Alchemy 1/100（Beginner】
After observing for so long, with Xu Zhongdao hinting beside him, under subtle influence, at the moment of Core Formation, it completed Metamorphosis.
Su Yan strode out the door and immediately saw Song Qi anxiously pacing in the courtyard.
“Old man, the Muscle Strengthening and Meridian Connecting Pill is done.”
Su Yan had only said half his words when he saw a figure flash past him like the wind.
‘Such fast speed.’
His pupils contracted. Before he could see clearly, Song Qi was already in the Alchemy Room.
‘With the Muscle Strengthening and Meridian Connecting Pill complete, once Old Song recovers, he will be my most reliable backer. Little Mountain Association poses a threat, but no need to worry about unprovoked attacks.’
He strode out of the courtyard, looked at the moonlight, and smiled: ‘Alchemy Skill achieved; next up is Insect Tamer breakthrough. Outer Mountain and Inner Mountain have the most poisonous creatures, perfect for the Poison Pills I’ve refined.’
As Su Yan was about to leave, he was suddenly called by Song Qi.
A dark red item was tossed in front of Su Yan.
Su Yan instinctively caught it, then looked down closely and discovered it was one of the Muscle Strengthening and Meridian Connecting Pills.
“This is your share.”
