Novel Full Chapter 70 - 69: New Evil Pill
Chapter 70: Chapter 69: New Evil Pill
Li Yuan finished his cultivation and slowly opened his eyes. It was time for his shift to end.
Guard duty was relatively easy. With most of the teams out, there was no danger nearby. Under these circumstances, using guard duty to slack off and cultivate had become standard practice.
As he was preparing to return to his residence, he ran into He Shou, who was just arriving.
"There’s no need to stand guard at the outpost for now."
He Shou slapped the record book onto the table and said casually.
"The higher-ups told us to head back to the market city and rest for a few days. We’ll come back when they give us new orders."
This was normal for the guards. After all, they couldn’t stand being out in the field every single day, but the duration of the break was uncertain.
Li Yuan nodded.
"What about that Tier One Top Grade Split-horned Lizard?"
"Hasn’t been sold yet." He Shou’s lips twitched. "Materials like that are expensive. Not just anyone can afford it. We’ll have to wait for the Spirit Stones."
This was about what Li Yuan had expected.
Tier One Middle-Lower Grade Demon Beasts sold easily, but Tier One Top Grade ones weren’t so quick. This was especially true for a Split-horned Lizard, whose hide, bones, and sinews were all valuable, which ironically meant fewer buyers.
"Alright, I’m heading back first."
He Shou grunted in acknowledgment and waved his hand dismissively.
"Rest up for the next couple of days if you can. There’ll probably be more work later."
Li Yuan said no more and turned to leave the guard outpost.
He entered the market city. The streets were still bustling, but Li Yuan was in no mood to wander around and went straight back to his residence.
Once the door was shut, the room fell silent.
The Spirit Stones he had on hand were enough for now, but he was far from well-off. If he wanted to buy two more decent Fire Element Magic techniques, he would still have to be frugal.
Of the two conditions for Flame Marrow Body Tempering, he had already fulfilled the Demon Beast Flesh requirement, but he was still short two Fire Element Magic techniques.
Right now, Li Yuan had the Fireball Technique, Fire Arrow Skill, and Fire Escape Skill—exactly three techniques.
He still needed two more.
However, it didn’t specify the grade of the Fire Element Magic, so as long as there were no special entries, he just needed to buy the cheapest ones he could find.
Li Yuan didn’t rush out to buy them. Instead, he sat down by his bed and began to circulate the Nourishing Essence Skill.
He just needed one last activation for Spinal Cord Vitality.
His Qi Blood circulated, following the pathways of the Nourishing Essence Skill, cycle after cycle.
At first, it was just a gentle heat.
After the third cycle, the warmth on his back was noticeably drained away, and the feeling in his chest and abdomen lightened.
But it wasn’t enough.
’My Qi Blood is too vigorous.’
His Qi Refining Fifth Level cultivation, supported by two mortal-level Cultivation Techniques, and stacked with traits like Five Grains Qi Nourishing and Spinal Cord Vitality, made his recovery rate absurdly fast.
Li Yuan didn’t stop, continuing cycle after cycle.
The room was silent, save for the sound of his increasingly heavy breathing.
By evening, sweat had beaded on Li Yuan’s forehead. His shoulders and back gradually felt empty, and his limbs grew heavy.
’This time, it’s finally enough.’
As his Qi Blood slowly recovered, Li Yuan didn’t just wait idly. He circulated his Cultivation Technique and began to cultivate.
Some time later, Li Yuan opened his eyes, and the panel appeared.
[Spinal Cord Vitality (White) Permanence Conditions Met]
[Make Permanent?]
Li Yuan confirmed it without hesitation.
[Permanence Successful]
[Spinal Cord Vitality (White) has become a permanent trait.]
[Equipped Item Consumed]
’Success.’
Li Yuan let out a slow breath and pressed a hand to his back.
The warmth that radiated from his spine hadn’t faded. In fact, it felt even more natural than before, as if it had truly become a part of his body.
The proficiency of his Nourishing Essence Skill on the panel had also jumped up.
Li Yuan glanced down at his system panel. His gaze paused on "Spinal Cord Vitality" for a moment before he looked away.
’Those four Spirit Stones were well spent.’
As the night deepened, Li Yuan sat cross-legged, equipped the Hundred Veins Returning to Origin Skill in the newly freed slot, and resumed his cultivation.
His internal Spiritual Power grew steadily, his cultivation progressing smoothly without being hindered by any minor bottlenecks.
「The next morning.」
Li Yuan took the few herbs he had saved up and headed to North Alley.
Old Sun’s stall was in the same old spot.
A cloth was spread out, displaying a few porcelain vials and a pile of recently sorted herbs. Old Sun was squatting behind it, using a small shovel to stir the dregs in a pill furnace.
Seeing Li Yuan approach, Old Sun glanced up.
Li Yuan placed the herbs on the stall.
Old Sun glanced at them, pushed the herbs aside, and then clicked his tongue.
"You’ll have to wait for the Evil Essence Pill. I haven’t made any recently."
Li Yuan glanced at him.
"You haven’t made any?"
"I’ve succeeded." A hint of pride showed in Old Sun’s eyes as he patted the rim of his pill furnace. "I’ve refined the old Evil Essence Pill about as much as I can. There’s no point in tweaking it further. I’ve been trying something new these past few days."
Li Yuan asked, following his lead.
"What new thing?"
"That realm-breaking Evil Pill I was thinking of making before."
Old Sun lowered his voice.
"It’s more potent than the Evil Essence Pill and can help with breaking through realms. Going from the Qi Refining Third Level to the fourth should be no problem. It’s more useful than a Realm-Breaking Pill for that, but breaking from the sixth to the seventh level will probably be difficult."
At this, Old Sun added another sentence.
"But the Evil Qi is stronger."
"Stronger than the Evil Essence Pill?"
"Much stronger." Old Sun nodded. "It’s easy to get injured taking it. For those who can’t withstand it, the Evil Qi will wreck their bodies before the pill even pushes them to the next realm."
Li Yuan remained silent.
’It can help you break through, but the side effects are just as potent.’
"Do you have any other pills that can increase cultivation?" Li Yuan asked.
"Sure do."
Old Sun answered briskly.
"But they’re normal pills, not ones I made myself. The price is definitely higher, not cheap like the Evil Essence Pill."
Li Yuan nodded.
It was no surprise that normal pills were expensive.
Li Yuan steered the conversation back to the matter at hand.
"Do you have any Fire Element Magic?"
Old Sun looked up at him and smiled.
"What, decided to switch to fire magic?"
"I have a use for it."
Old Sun didn’t press for a reason, simply pointing toward East Street.
"Talisman Master Lu has some."
"He doesn’t just have talismans; he has Magic techniques too. If you want some, go find him. He only accepts Spirit Stones for teaching Magic, and he’ll take anyone who can pay."
Li Yuan’s finger tapped lightly on the edge of the stall.
"You don’t have any here?" Li Yuan asked again.
He recalled that Pill Refiners usually knew a Fire Element Magic technique or two.
Old Sun waved his hand dismissively.
"I cultivate a Wood Element Cultivation Technique. I don’t have any proper Fire Element Magic."
Speaking of which, Old Sun seemed to remember something and added another sentence.
"But I do know basic Fire Element Magic like the Fire Control Skill."
"I use it for Alchemy. I can copy it down for you, no problem."
Li Yuan’s gaze sharpened.
’The Fire Control Skill is only a basic technique, but as long as it counts as Fire Element Magic, it’s good enough.’
"How much?"
Old Sun glanced at the herbs on his stall and said casually.
"Consider it part of the payment for the herbs."
"These herbs of yours are just enough to cover it. I’ll write you a copy later. And I’ll throw in an Evil Essence Pill."
Li Yuan nodded.
"Alright."
Old Sun put the lid back on his pill furnace and smiled.
"Then it’s settled. Come get it tomorrow."
Li Yuan agreed and turned to leave the stall.
People bustled to and fro in North Alley, the air filled with a mixture of vendors’ cries and the sound of haggling.
Li Yuan walked back down the alley, lightly rubbing the fabric of his sleeve between his fingers.
’The Fire Control Skill counts as one.’
’If I get one more from Talisman Master Lu, I should have enough to fulfill the Fire Element Magic requirement for Flame Marrow Body Tempering.’