Chapter 40: Burning Body Pain
Su Yan followed Xu Zhongdao into the Alchemy Room, and upon entering, he immediately saw a pitch-black Pill Cauldron.
“You first sort the medicinal herbs by category and lay them out. Watch how I handle them in a bit.”
Xu Zhongdao said this while changing out of his clothes, fully tying up his hair.
“When I refine Muscle Strengthening and Meridian Connecting Pills, I need to focus on controlling the Alchemy Furnace, so I need someone to assist. I could have gotten help from Hundred Herbs Hall or called Old Song, but I’m worried someone might sabotage it, and also worried that old fellow would get too excited.”
Teaching Su Yan some skills was entrusted by Song Qi, but the key point among them was also to refine this Muscle Strengthening and Meridian Connecting Pill.
Su Yan arranged all the medicinal herbs according to Xu Zhongdao’s instructions.
“Old Xu, the medicinal herbs are sorted.”
He turned around and immediately revealed a surprised expression.
Xu Zhongdao was actually crouched there lighting the fire, with charcoal spreading out under the Alchemy Furnace, flint sparking firelight to ignite the charcoal fire.
Seeing his expression, Xu Zhongdao chuckled, “What’s wrong? You think medicine refining is some profound mystery?”
Su Yan didn’t know how to respond for a moment and said, “I thought it might be a bit more magical. I really didn’t expect it to be like this.”
“That’s for high-order pills.”
Xu Zhongdao tossed the flint aside and fanned the charcoal fire to make the flames burn more vigorously.
“High-order pills aren’t just refined with True Essence; they also incorporate Beast Spirit True Intent, combined with heaven and earth Vital Energy, achieving Creation Merit. But those are among the high experts of upper sects like Beast King Sect and Dan Xuan Sect, mostly Third-order and above pills.”
‘So that’s how it is? But that makes sense. The first three realms of Body Tempering Realm can’t even nurture True Essence, so naturally it can’t be as imagined.’
“Old Xu, are Third-order and above all like that? What about First and Second-order?”
“Look, isn’t a First-order one right here?”
“Using mundane fire for pill refining—what’s called pill refining is more accurately called medicine refining.”
Xu Zhongdao tossed the Yin Red Root into the Alchemy Furnace, then adjusted the furnace fire’s intensity.
“So-called First-order pills use the medicinal properties of various medicinal herbs matched together, through boiling, baking, grinding, and proportioning into medicine, bringing out medicinal properties surpassing the herbs themselves.”
Xu Zhongdao was already very familiar with medicine refining. While instructing Su Yan, he had already dried the Yin Red Root somewhat.
“Watch closely.”
He then tossed some more medicinal herbs in, forcing out their juices to fuse with the Yin Red Root.
“Matching medicinal properties, neutralizing toxicity, stimulating medicinal potency—that’s the foundation of medicine refining. For First-order Precious Medicines, without using True Essence to guide in the cauldron, it’s especially so.”
“What about Second-order?”
“Spirit Nurturing Realm can nurture True Essence. True Essence separated from the body can enter the cauldron to harmonize the pill’s medicinal properties and guide the furnace fire, greatly enhancing the medicinal effect, thus qualifying as Second-order Pills. If at True Intent Realm, incorporating Beast Spirit True Intent makes the pill’s effect even stronger, truly counting as Second-order Pills.”
Xu Zhongdao added a few more kinds of medicinal herbs and said, “Muscle Strengthening and Meridian Connecting Pills barely qualify as Second-order pills, but they’re the weakest grade.”
Su Yan listened with excitement, thinking to himself: ‘If Yin Water Centipede and Velvet Fire Scorpion Insect swallow pills, they should progress even faster.’
Xu Zhongdao stopped talking. As more medicine was added, the furnace fire gradually died out. He took out the dry medicine residue, put it into a grinding vessel, and began grinding.
After about half an hour, he finally ground out two bottles of dark red powder.
“Take it and try. I’ll see your tolerance limit to make adjustments.”
Su Yan received the specially made Red Skin Powder. Though the amount was less, the price of these two bottles was double that of the Red Skin Powder sold at Hundred Herbs Hall.
Su Yan thanked Xu Zhongdao again. The two left the Alchemy Room without resting and headed straight to the back courtyard to test the Red Skin Powder’s effect.
When they arrived in the courtyard, Song Qi was practicing stance training there.
He had taken off his upper green robe, revealing a sturdy body full of knife scars. Though aged, his body had some wrinkles.
But these sharply defined muscles, surging Qi and Blood roaring like thunder, were as majestic as Green Sheep Mountain Splitting.
‘Great Accomplishment stance method. Is this the Qi and Blood of Blood Moving Realm? Like a long river.’
Su Yan’s peripheral vision noticed two large wooden tubs here, one showing signs of use.
Medicinal dregs were scattered, emitting a very faint medicinal fragrance.
Xu Zhongdao was preparing for Song Qi’s injuries, while Song Qi himself was continuously activating his body meridians, constantly preparing.
Song Qi noticed the two enter and then stopped his cultivation.
“Kid, that tub over there is yours. The servant will heat water for you.”
Su Yan nodded and strode over. The servant had already added several buckets of hot water into it.
The specially made Red Skin Powder was added in, instantly turning the entire large wooden tub bright red, almost bubbling over.
Before Su Yan even entered, he felt a fishy-sweet spicy wind accompanied by heat assaulting him.
‘This stimulation is probably several times stronger than the previous Red Skin Powder.’
“Kid, what are you waiting for? The inner sect exam for Golden Ape Martial Arts School isn’t far off.”
Xu Zhongdao didn’t know if he wanted to watch the excitement or see Su Yan’s talent.
Su Yan didn’t hesitate, stripping down to just shorts, revealing sharply defined muscles—muscle and bone, skin membrane, muscles like a perfect model.
He entered the wooden tub, quickly submerging his entire body.
In just an instant, it was like flames scorching his skin. Even with Skin Refining Great Accomplishment, he felt intense pain all over.
‘So painful. Even Body Refining Realm Great Accomplishment can’t withstand it.’
Su Yan’s face changed as massive pain swept over his skin, making his expression extremely ugly.
Veins bulged, and his body began showing damage from the medicinal liquid’s corrosion.
‘Golden Ape Stance Training!’
The intense pain was like endless waves continuously assaulting every inch of his skin.
Medicinal potency mixed with toxicity continuously corroded his skin membrane, turning his body bright red with visible damage.
Su Yan endured the intense pain, operating Golden Ape Stance Training in the tub—one side intense pain, the other heart calm as still water, like ice and fire extremes.
‘This kid is really tough.’
Seeing Su Yan like this, Xu Zhongdao was also startled.
The skin corrosion was already faintly seeping blood. This toxicity on an ordinary person would have peeled them like a shrimp, probably unable to survive.
Even with Skin Refining Great Accomplishment, such torment was hard to endure.
“Kid, mobilize Qi and Blood, absorb the medicinal potency, repair your skin membrane anew. Medicinal potency, skin membrane, Qi and Blood as one, forming a cycle—it’ll elevate your refined skin membrane further, coordinating with Golden Ape Jade Body Skill.”
‘Golden Ape Jade Body Skill?’
Su Yan heard Xu Zhongdao’s words, but he had no time to think more, instead continuously refining new skin membrane as instructed.
This Poison Skin Powder contained herbs for growing muscle and flesh, now releasing their effects under joint action.
Su Yan’s skin membrane was destroying on one side and rapidly repairing on the other.
Beneath the original flame-like corrosion burning pain, there was now an added strange sensation like ants crawling and gnawing.
For a moment, even Su Yan was tormented with unbearable pain and itch, veins bulging.
After such repeated torment for a full two hours, all the medicinal potency was finally fully absorbed.
Su Yan jumped out. At this time, his skin membrane and muscles were bright red. His Qi and Blood surged as he stood a complete Golden Ape Stance.
Muscles moved in unison, breath mist swirling, white mist rising around his body—unclear if from hot water vapor or Qi and Blood surging.
After a long time, Su Yan stopped, his eyes sharp as blades.
【Body Tempering Realm: Skin Refining 37/400（Great Accomplishment）】
【Golden Ape Stance Training: 24/400（Great Accomplishment）】
