Chapter 54: Five Viscera Divine Treasures

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Five Viscera Divine Treasures

After a long moment, Shen Dujiang rubbed his temples wearily and shook his head.

"The one with the water pattern, I don’t recall it. The one with the flame... I’m sure I’ve seen it before, but I can’t remember where right now. I’ll tell you when I remember."

Chen Yue nodded and didn’t press the matter, changing the subject. "Are you still planning to sell the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills?"

Shen Dujiang mulled it over for a moment, then nodded.

"I’ll keep selling them! But since this line of business has been targeted, I can’t be so brazen about it anymore. I’ll find a way to distribute the elixirs sporadically through a few trusted middlemen. I’ll earn less, but it’ll be safer."

"That works," Chen Yue agreed with a nod. "Then what about gathering the medicinal ingredients...?"

"We continue!"

Shen Dujiang said resolutely. "I’ll be careful, go through a few more hands, and procure them from different channels. Even if it’s a bit more expensive, it’s better than having nothing to refine."

"Alright."

Chen Yue agreed, then pointed to the two bags of ingredients he had been carrying on his back.

"The two bags of ingredients I got from that cabin earlier, were those the ones they intercepted from you?"

Shen Dujiang shook his head. "No. Those two bags... they probably tailed me, figured out my usual supply channels and quantities, and put those together themselves to trick you. The ones I gathered are here."

As he spoke, Shen Dujiang went into the back room and brought out three bags of ingredients, handing them to Chen Yue. Chen Yue inspected them; they were the ingredients for the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill, the Antitoxic Pill, and the Bone-Enhancing Pill. Everything was in order.

Chen Yue put away the ingredients, then took the two scrolls from within his robes and spread them on the table.

"There’s also this. I took it off their bodies. The contents are identical. Do you want to keep one to study? You might be able to find some clues."

Curious, Shen Dujiang picked one up and examined the patterns on it carefully under the lamplight.

He studied it for a long while, a look of confusion on his face. Then he shook his head and handed the scroll back to Chen Yue.

"Forget it. This thing looks like a bunch of mystical mumbo-jumbo; I can’t make heads or tails of it. Besides, you’re the one who took care of them. The spoils of war naturally belong to you."

Seeing Shen Dujiang’s firm refusal, Chen Yue didn’t insist and put the two scrolls away.

He thought for a moment, then said, "Then I’ll come here in three days to make the trade. The ingredients will be for the same three elixirs."

Shen Dujiang nodded. "I’ll have them ready. You be careful, too. After this incident, you’ve probably ended up on someone’s list."

"I know."

Chen Yue stood up and glanced at the bloodstain spreading from Shen Dujiang’s shoulder. "Take care of that wound of yours. I hope you’re a bit quicker on your feet next time we meet."

"Don’t worry, it won’t kill me."

Shen Dujiang grinned, which pulled at his wound, causing him to hiss in a sharp breath of pain.

Chen Yue gave a slight smile and said no more. With a flicker of his form, he vanished into the deep darkness outside.

Shen Dujiang sat alone under the dim oil lamp, listening to the faint calls of the Night Watchman in the distance. He glanced at the ghastly wound on his shoulder, and the forced smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by a profound weariness and anxiety.

"The waters of Youlin County are growing murkier and murkier. Flame... water pattern... where have I seen them before?" Shen Dujiang muttered to himself, his brow tightly furrowed. He remained motionless for a long time.

Chen Yue returned to his small courtyard in the Chen Mansion without a sound. After bolting the door and confirming it was safe, he took out the two scrolls under the lamplight.

The paper was ancient and coarse. The patterns drawn on it consisted of twisted, coiling lines that seemed random at first glance, yet held a certain ineffable rhythm and a strange allure.

Staring at them for too long even caused a slight dizziness, as if the lines were slowly squirming.

Chen Yue examined it line by line, section by section, trying to comprehend its meaning.

’I can’t understand it at all.’

A moment later, Chen Yue rubbed the bridge of his nose. There was no discouragement in his eyes, only a flash of anticipation.

’He couldn’t understand it, but what about the panel? The panel could complete the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield, merge Cultivation Techniques, and settle experience for all sorts of skills. Perhaps it could also decipher an item like this, which contained special information?’

Chen Yue meticulously studied the contents of the two scrolls again from beginning to end. Only after doing so did he carefully put them away.

As day turned to night, the familiar ripples appeared, and the panel unfolded.

[Daily Settlement]

[Studied a Secret Manual with concentration. Heart Nourishing Technique experience +1]

[Practiced the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield diligently. Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield experience +66]

...

[Skill: Heart Nourishing Technique, Entry Level (1/1000)]

When Chen Yue’s gaze fell upon the newly appeared line, [Skill: Heart Nourishing Technique, Entry Level (1/1000)], his eyes instantly shone with a brilliant light.

’It worked! The panel really can understand it!’ A wave of immense joy washed over Chen Yue.

’He had originally guessed the scrolls might be a treasure map or a secret message. He never would have imagined they were actually a Cultivation Technique Manual—and a peculiar one at that, focused entirely on cultivating the Heart Spirit.’

However, no Source Points appeared today. ’It seems the Source Points for defeating a stronger opponent can only be obtained once per realm.’

Chen Yue immediately focused his mind and began to absorb the insights and information from the panel’s settlement.

A long time later, Chen Yue opened his eyes.

The Cultivation Technique for this Heart Nourishing Technique was completely different from any Martial Arts Chen Yue had encountered before.

It didn’t cultivate Qi Blood, temper the muscles and bones, or pursue speed and strength. Instead, it focused on guarding the Heart Spirit within and sensing the world without. Through special Visualization, breathing, and Contemplation Techniques, one would gradually strengthen, condense, and control their own Spiritual Power.

This was the so-called Power of Heart and Spirit.

According to the insights from the technique, the Power of Heart and Spirit seemed illusory and intangible, but it was actually of paramount importance.

When facing strange evils, Illusion Techniques, or enchantments, a strong Heart Spirit was an excellent means of defense and resistance.

Furthermore, when a Martial Artist reached a high realm of cultivation and began to access the Five Viscera Divine Treasures and communicate between their inner and outer worlds, the strength of their Power of Heart and Spirit would directly determine their cultivation efficiency and ultimate limit.

Even setting aside future high Cultivation Realms, cultivating one’s Heart Spirit to a certain level in advance could bring numerous benefits in ordinary combat.

’This is a technique for cultivating the Power of Heart and Spirit ahead of time—something only experts at the Refining Organ Realm need to focus on!’ Chen Yue was shaken. His assessment of the mysterious new faction’s background instantly rose by several levels.

’An organization that could dispatch Bone Forging experts who carried such a fundamental, high-level Cultivation Technique Manual must possess a profound foundation, far beyond anything a local Youlin County faction could compare to.’

’Of course, the force that appeared in Youlin County was likely just a small part of this organization.’

The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, Chen Yue first spent a short time refining a batch of Blood Circulation Pills. Then, he began refining the Bone Marrow Cleansing and Antitoxic Pills.

His refinement of Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills had long since reached the Perfection realm. His technique was masterful, and he consistently produced four high-quality pills per batch.

His skill with Antitoxic Pills had also reached Great Success. The refining process was even smoother, and he now stably produced three pills per batch, their quality also much better than before.

The proficiency gained from actual hands-on practice far surpassed what could be achieved by simply simulating the Pill Formula in his mind.

After refining these two types of elixirs, Chen Yue regulated his breathing for a moment before beginning his first official attempt at refining the Bone-Enhancing Pill.

Chen Yue was very curious whether the Bone-Enhancing Pill could truly bring him new strength or even a new Talent.

Chen Yue had already studied the Pill Formula for the Bone-Enhancing Pill to the Minor Success Realm, so he theoretically had the ability to refine it. However, this elixir involved several volatile ingredients, a complex fusion process, and demanding heat control, so Chen Yue didn’t dare to be the slightest bit careless.

He strictly followed the steps in the Pill Formula, cautiously processing the ingredients, controlling the heat, and observing the changes in the medicinal liquid.

More than two hours later, the Pill Furnace was opened. Lying at the bottom were two dark brown elixirs. Their quality was ordinary, even a bit ugly, but they were, without a doubt, Bone-Enhancing Pills.

A smile appeared in Chen Yue’s eyes. He picked one up, inspected it carefully, and only after confirming it was safe to consume did he place it in his mouth.

The elixir dissolved, and a stream of medicinal power that was both scorching and stinging spread through his limbs and torso, faintly drilling toward the depths of his bones.

Chen Yue immediately circulated the Vast Firm Essence Technique to guide and refine it. A moment later, the Medicinal Power was absorbed, and the scorching, stinging sensation slowly subsided.

Chen Yue carefully sensed the changes in his body, especially his bones. It seemed... his bones felt slightly warm, as if they had been soaked in warm water, becoming a little more comfortable.

But that was all.

As for how much his bone strength and density had actually increased, he couldn’t feel any difference at all.