Chapter 65: Soaked Jujube Formula, Miraculous Tiger Ointment
Fang Shu, just like last time, quickly went around multiple shops and withdrew all the goods from the three black tickets in one go.
Then he neatly processed all these goods, temporarily stored them in a new shop, and exchanged them for a brand-new black ticket.
Although this process was a bit troublesome, it could avoid the possibility of someone tampering with the goods and then tracking him down.
Until the evening of that day, Fang Shu did not find anything unusual at the places where the goods were stored.
Only then did he conceal himself properly and stepped into the shop where the items were deposited.
When he opened the chest in the shop, he paid special attention to the strand of hair he had clipped in the chest, as well as several other small tricks, confirming that no one else had opened this chest besides himself.
Only then did Fang Shu carry his shoulder bag, leave this shop, and switch to another familiar old-established shop, where he rented a quiet room and began sorting the goods.
In the hazy smoke, there was a clinking and jingling sound of talisman money.
Fang Shu judged the goods deposited via the black tickets and found that one of them was indeed Su Qin Gao’s.
This one contained the most talisman money, surprisingly packed full with thirty to forty thousand in talisman money, filling a large chest, which should be the old man’s entire fortune.
It was also fortunate that Fang Shu chose nighttime for both withdrawing and depositing the goods; otherwise, carrying such a large chest back and forth would truly attract attention.
Besides the talisman money, the old man’s fortune included some strange and bizarre, miscellaneous odds and ends; Fang Shu didn’t understand these things and, after identifying that they had no spiritual energy and were not rare materials, simply glanced past them.
Instead, a handwritten book in the chest caught his attention.
After checking that the book had no poison powder, Fang Shu opened it, and his eyebrows immediately raised slightly.
He saw several large characters written on the handwritten book《Luo Clan Date Cultivation Secret Method》.
However, the content in the book was not about planting jujube trees, but rather a recipe for processing jujube fruits, divided into three methods: soaking, stewing, and pickling, all requiring a cauldron as the tool.
The well-processed jujube fruits could nourish yin and supplement yang, strengthen the body and build health, and according to the book, this recipe was passed down from ancient immortals who achieved longevity by eating dates, with remarkable effects.
Taking it daily could turn white hair black, regenerate new teeth, add several years to one’s lifespan, and achieve the goal of prolonging life.
And remarkably, although it was a handwritten copy, it even involved three secret script characters.
From the secret scripts, it could be judged that this was a secret formula rather than a folk remedy, perhaps truly effective.
However, Fang Shu merely silently recorded this secret method into his dao talisman to enrich his magic library for future inspiration, then paid it no further mind.
The reason was none other than that the three cultivation methods in the date cultivation secret method all required astonishing cauldrons, involving men and women, as well as young boys.
For example, the pickling date secret method required urine from a seven-year-old boy and three pounds of white sugar, plus peeling the skin of a donkey root to make donkey-hide gelatin, then mixing and using it.
The honey dates made by pickling with this sugar, drenched with boy urine three times a day, when fully pickled, could regenerate new teeth even for those without teeth upon consumption.
And this processing method was already the most feasible and cleanest among the three date cultivation secret methods.
The other two methods involving men and women were even more unbearable to look at.
After inventorying the old man’s fortune, Fang Shu turned his gaze to the other two portions of goods.
After another inventory, his expression immediately lit up with excitement.
The three black tickets, including the spirit stones, brought him over a hundred thousand in talisman money income in total, a massive windfall that made him rich overnight.
Even though Fang Shu had been prepared in his heart, he still muttered inwardly:
“Over a hundred thousand in money; without eating or drinking, selling blood would take thirty years to save up.”
Killing thieves and seizing their goods was truly an excellent way to get rich!
Fang Shu instantly understood why the wilderness was so dangerous yet people continuously ventured out.
After all, even if no medicinal herbs, treasures, or the like were found in the wilderness, casually killing a few people and returning could still turn one’s life around and escape hardship.
Of course, for most people venturing out, if they were not vigilant, did not form groups, or mutually restrain each other, the outcome was often being eaten rather than “eating others.”
Goods are tempting.
Looking at the pile of goods stacked up before him, Fang Shu pondered repeatedly, his gaze slightly stern, gaining a fundamental understanding of the dangers of the wilderness for the first time.
Fortunately, this time, he was not one of those being eaten.
After silently pondering for a while, Fang Shu’s gaze suddenly sharpened again, landing on another item before him.
Speaking of which, the factor determining whether an immortal cultivator “eats” or “is eaten” is the level of magic power.
It could even be said to be the only factor.
And from the homes of the two Black Tiger Hall disciples, Fang Shu had found a well-sealed ointment, suspected to be a precious medicine that could increase one’s magic power!
This ointment was amber-colored, heavy as gold, with an outer medicine box and inner wax seal; merely opening the outer medicine box released a thick medicinal aroma that hit him in the face, making Fang Shu’s body stir with eagerness, even his bones itching somewhat.
When he first examined this item, he almost thought it was a fiercely toxic poison.
Fortunately, after careful scrutiny, he realized that what he held might be a precious medicine; even if not, it should be a spiritual ointment like the ant spirit paste in the Du Gu Guan.
With anticipation in his heart, Fang Shu burned the useless miscellaneous items completely, securely stored the large amount of talisman money and spirit stones, and alone carried the medicine box as he quietly left the shop.
Before leaving the shop, he carefully applied a clean clothes talisman to his body to avoid the strong smell of the ointment accidentally exposing him.
After going around several pawn shops and medicine shops, spending money to have experts appraise it properly, Fang Shu finally learned what the medicinal herb in the box was.
Its name《Tiger Bone Body Strengthening Paste》.
Although the name of this medicine was common, it was a spiritual ointment made by capturing tiger demons at First Tribulation or above and using leopard fetuses and such as auxiliary materials; it could be used externally or taken internally, invigorating qi and blood, especially strengthening bones.
According to a certain old steward’s hint, this paste was a certain dojo’s exclusive secret medicine, not easily leaked, helping the dojo’s people refine a tiger bone frame, facilitating their cultivation of exclusive immortal merits.
Due to its low yield, only disciples nearing entering the Dao or facing tribulation would receive some as a reward; it was a First Tribulation precious medicine, and the one in Fang Shu’s hand had potent effects, recent vintage, and was still fresh.
As for the dojo mentioned by the old steward, no need to think—it was naturally Black Tiger Hall.
Facing the steward’s almost explicit words, Fang Shu was not panicked at all; instead, he carefully inquired about some preservation and usage methods before calmly leaving.
One must know that Gu Ling Town was so large with so many immortal cultivators; even if this old steward broke the rules and spilled the matter the next moment.
As long as Fang Shu had not exposed his true face, was not followed, and had not revealed anything to anyone who knew him, there would be no issue.
Thus, immediately after leaving the shop, he patted a clean clothes talisman on himself and, in an unmanned area, neatly removed his disguise.
After circling around a few more times, Fang Shu cautiously returned to the Du Gu Guan.
And upon returning to the Du Gu Guan, he took a grain-avoiding pill and hung up a sign for seclusion cultivation outside the door.
A precious medicine like tiger bone body strengthening paste, which only Black Tiger Hall could produce and which nourished bones and assisted First Tribulation refining essence human immortals in cultivation, naturally had to be used up quickly to avoid keeping it on him and inviting trouble.
Moreover, even with confirmation from multiple stewards, before taking the medicine, Fang Shu still inspected the secret medicine with his meager knowledge of pharmacology to ensure it was not poisoned.
However, the biggest reason he could take this medicine with confidence.
Was that he used himself as a test subject, trying a bit of the ointment, and through the dao talisman’s monitoring effect, confirmed that it was beneficial and harmless to his body.
In this way, Fang Shu relied on the newly obtained tiger bone body strengthening paste to seclude himself in the room, arduously refining his own tendons and bones.
After applying this medicine, his skin temporarily took on an amber hue; each time he took it internally, he felt his entire body’s bones itching, as if they were about to molt into new bones.
This itching made Fang Shu want to crash into the wall.
But he endured the itch and pain, instead performing boxing to replace crashing into the wall, channeling all the fiery energy in his body into the boxing technique.
Bang bang bang!
In just a few short days, his cultivation progress improved day by day.
Fang Shu thus immersed himself in cultivation.
Even after finishing the tiger bone paste later, he continued cultivating without slack.
It was not until Li Hou Er came looking for him again that he exited the seclusion state.
And at this moment, a line of text flowed across the dao talisman in his mind:
【Realm: First Tribulation Refining Essence Human Immortal（86%）】
One portion of ointment had propelled Fang Shu’s cultivation progress to surge by more than 40% in just half a month.
This gain was nearly three times more than the breakthrough after he last beat down Xiao Hu!
Fang Shu muttered in his heart: “This is the use of precious medicine; it truly brings joy.”
The tiger bone paste he used was only a First Tribulation precious medicine, not Second Tribulation, let alone Third Tribulation precious medicine.
In an instant, Fang Shu tasted the sweetness of precious medicine, and a thirst arose in his heart.
However, he did not indulge in this emotion for too long; after swallowing, in no time, he composed himself and steadily stepped out the door.
“Let’s go, let’s go! Fang Ge Er, we should go draw lots for land, select merchants to build that big tiled house.”
Seeing Fang Shu come out, Li Hou Er immediately said excitedly: “Your second uncle and my dad have already gone; they’re just waiting for us two.”
Hearing this, Fang Shu suddenly remembered that he still had the miscellaneous matter of buying property.
He did not resist; it was a good chance to relax his spirit after the arduous seclusion cultivation.
Fang Shu readily followed Li Hou Er back to the paper workshop to join the fun.
Upon arriving at the paper workshop and finding Second Uncle Yu Le and Talisman Master Li Yuan, he also spotted the manager Xiao Hu in the crowd.
The Xiao Hu he saw today had a completely different demeanor from his previous spirited and smug arrogance.
The other was hunched over, with a fawning face, full of humility and amiability, clutching a property voucher in hand, hawking in the crowd:
“Top-quality main house property voucher, neighbors are both young dojo prodigies with limitless futures; don’t miss it if you pass by.”
Xiao Hu was actually selling the property voucher he had barely snatched for his daughter, and he even shamelessly used Fang Shu and Li Hou Er as selling points.
Someone came forward to inquire after hearing, and Xiao Hu eagerly haggled the price with them.
Fang Shu walked closer.
He overheard a bit and found that Xiao Hu was now haggling endlessly over a hundred talisman money difference, even arguing until red-faced.
On-site acquaintances saw Xiao Hu’s downfall and immediately tsked:
“Yo! Isn’t this the big manager of Shao Wei Guan—Master Xiao? Why aren’t you building roofs and tiles, instead doing the lowly work of a middleman?”
Hearing this, Xiao Hu’s face flushed red; he wanted to argue but ultimately only muttered powerlessly:
“We’re all immortal cultivators; what middleman…”
Someone jeered: “Oh right, you should call this speculation and resale, pfft!”
Hearing this, Xiao Hu just turned his back to find the next person to discuss price.
Fang Shu stood by watching.
There was a thoughtful look in his eyes; he felt that Xiao Hu’s drastic change must mean something major had happened to him.
