Chapter Seventeen: A New Elixir

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With Chen Shuijun gone, there was no longer a need to carry her on his back while cultivating or simmering medicinal decoctions. Yet, for Chen Zhian, it still felt somewhat unfamiliar at first. Take today, for example: when Chen Zhian went out to buy groceries and purchased two fish from the Clear Water River, he realized that the ingredients Chen Shuijun usually used were quite extraordinary, seemingly not sourced from the ordinary market.

“This carp’s flesh is clearly inferior to what Father used to bring,” he muttered, shaking his head. He had begun to harbor some suspicions about Chen Shuijun’s background, although Chumu Ye had said that after Chen Shuijun suffered a misfortune, she abandoned swordsmanship, fell into despair, and even hid away in Sunan Prefecture, far from Xuantian Capital.

“It seems my father’s cultivation hasn’t been in vain if he can daily procure such precious ingredients. He must have some skill,” Chen Zhian thought.

After finishing the carp, he followed his routine: cultivating with the Tiger Fist posture, then taking two doses of medicinal soup before returning to his room to circulate his energy. The Snow Mountain Ginseng Qi Manual was already etched deeply into his memory.

At a mere thought, the energy circulation method recorded in the manual allowed him to manipulate the blood energy throughout his body, cleansing his internal organs and tempering his bones, muscles, and skin.

After practicing for seven or eight consecutive days, Chen Zhian felt his aura growing ever more sustained, and his physical strength reached levels he had never dared to imagine before.

However, he also noticed that his complexion had grown paler.

He had originally assumed that a martial artist’s appearance would become more rugged, yet though he had grown taller and his physique stronger, his skin had become increasingly delicate and tender, resembling that of a scholar who had never faced the hardships of wind and rain.

“This won’t do,” Chen Zhian thought to himself. “Such a fragile appearance is unsuitable. A cultivator should have eyes like copper bells, fierce and imposing—just one glare should be enough to intimidate others.”

Determined, he resolved to spend more time in the sun to bronze his complexion.

So today, rather than returning to his room, he moved Chen Shuijun’s recliner outside and let the spring sun bathe him.

With eyes closed, a celestial map of Jade Capital slowly unfolded in his mind.

The southern flow of the Eastern City shone brightly under the sky, with the Kaiyang Gate towering magnificently in the southern flow, its grandeur undeniable.

Light from the southern flow cascaded down into Kunlun Marsh, transforming into a human-shaped form that carried Chen Zhian’s consciousness.

He gazed at the rising spiritual energy that steamed endlessly across Kunlun Marsh and noticed that the marsh’s spiritual energy no longer glowed with the former crimson hue but now bore a richer vermilion-orange color.

Looking downward, he saw that beneath the misty spiritual energy of Kunlun Marsh, ten slices of Red Ginger had been planted.

A smile crept onto his lips...

Those ten slices of Red Ginger had, through the vermilion-orange spiritual energy of Kunlun, intertwined their roots and stems, connecting to one another. The force breaking through the spiritual energy of Kunlun Marsh was no longer ordinary Red Ginger.

“Ten slices of Red Ginger connected, growing into a new... spiritual herb?” Chen Zhian watched the newly sprouted seedlings with anticipation, noting the tender green leaves already emerging.

“In a few more days, it should fully sprout.”

Red Ginger was already incredibly precious and potent. Every day Chen Zhian consumed it, he distinctly felt his blood energy becoming richer and his circulation smoother.

“Cleansing the bones and purifying the blood vessels—quite an extraordinary effect. I wonder how effective this new spiritual herb will be.”

A smile lingered on Chen Zhian’s lips as his gaze shifted to another spot within Kunlun Marsh.

There, numerous medicinal herbs and common vegetables were planted.

Corydalis, turmeric, safflower, angelica, and Arisaema consanguineum... these herbs were exactly what the Huangzhong Qi-Dispersing Pill required.

The vegetables were everyday items like scallions, ginger, garlic, green vegetables, and Chinese cabbage.

“Kunlun Marsh is truly miraculous. As long as there are seeds, anything can be planted. Once the vermilion-orange spiritual energy rises, even ordinary herbs can be grown within Kunlun Marsh.”

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“It's a pity... I can’t plant too many at once, or my consciousness might not be able to withstand it.”

“However, once these herbs mature, I can brew the Huangzhong Qi-Dispersing Pill sufficient for three to four days’ dosage. Then I’ll plant again. If there’s surplus, I can sell it; otherwise, it’s enough for my own consumption.”

“Moreover, herbs grown in Kunlun Marsh, bathed and nurtured by spiritual energy, must be far more potent.”

With these thoughts, Chen Zhian’s gaze returned to the Kaiyang Gate in the southern flow of Eastern City.

His gaze seemed like beams of light, reaching many miles through the dazzling brilliance and settling there.

Today was the day Tuoba Dao entered Kaiyang Gate to cultivate.

Though Tuoba Dao appeared old, his eyes were resolute and his posture straight as a lion, aged yet unyielding.

He sat cross-legged within Kaiyang Gate, eyes closed in meditation.

Purple energy coalesced around him in Kaiyang Gate.

“Yet I do not know the origin of this elder named Tuoba Dao. His presence is truly formidable,” Chen Zhian thought.

He ceased watching Tuoba Dao and instead fixed his gaze on a white jade stele standing within Kaiyang Gate.

Etched upon it were a cultivation method and a sword technique.

“After days of practice, I’m drawing ever closer to the True Essence Threshold. Perhaps in a few days, I can attempt to break through, transforming my blood energy into True Essence...”

“The White Jade Cicada Shedding Manual records a breakthrough method far more obscure than the one in the Snow Mountain Ginseng Qi Manual, but its effects are much stronger.

A decisive breakthrough allows one’s blood energy to convert into True Essence more swiftly and abundantly, without daily hardship.

Once True Essence grows into a tree, exceptional fruits become easier to bear.”

Chen Zhian studied the White Jade Cicada Shedding Manual thoughtfully.

“However, the pill required for this breakthrough method—the Cicada Shedding Pill—is far too precious...”

During these past few days of leisure, he had already visited many pharmacies along Qihuang Street.

The pill’s formula required sixty-seven medicinal ingredients, of which nineteen were so rare that not a single pharmacy on Qihuang Street stocked them.

“No wonder the White Jade Cicada Shedding Manual states that capturing a jade cicada is necessary for enlightenment, and that one must seek the elixir of longevity for cultivation.

The inscriptions on the Tiger Cub Stele among the Nine Celestial Steles also depend on one’s background and family.

How could ordinary folk, wanting to practice martial arts, ever capture a jade cicada or obtain the elixir of longevity?”

With a sigh, Chen Zhian’s celestial map of Jade Capital slowly folded away in his mind.

The weather was growing warmer; spring lingered, and the flowers and trees flourished.

Chen Zhian basked in the sun for a while, not forgetting to tend to the pear blossoms in his courtyard.

“Perhaps in this Sunan Prefecture, aside from me, what my cheap father cares for most are these pear trees.”

He carefully weeded, watered, and pruned the pear trees.

After half an hour’s work, someone knocked on the door.

Chen Zhian needed no second thought to know it was Shen Haohai.

Ever since Shen Haohai had eaten that meal of dumplings, she often came to Chen Zhian’s place to share meals.

Especially now that Chen Zhian had infused Kunlun Marsh with vermilion-orange spiritual energy and planted scallions, ginger, garlic, and common vegetables there, Shen Haohai’s visits had become even more frequent.

This young lady from the General’s Mansion seemed entirely indifferent to the gossip circulating around the streets.

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She came three meals a day, sometimes even two meals at Chen Zhian’s courtyard.

Chen Zhian, ever grateful, naturally never grew weary of Shen Haohai’s presence over just two meals.

After all, he needed to eat, and one more pair of chopsticks was no trouble.

Besides, Shen Haohai never came empty-handed; she always brought many ingredients. For example, last night, she brought several kinds of spices.

Since the Northern Li Kingdom had grown stronger, it had become increasingly difficult for merchants from Dayu to traverse the ancient Sanwei Mountain Path and trade spices in the Western Regions.

Spices had become incredibly valuable over the years, and even ordinary landlords could no longer afford them.

Having been accustomed in his past life to rich, oily, and salty food, Chen Zhian missed the various spices used in cooking more than anything. Though not the healthiest, eating such bland food every day was truly unbearable.

Thus, in a way, Chen Zhian quite welcomed Shen Haohai’s visits—a mutually beneficial arrangement.

However... something seemed amiss today.

When Chen Zhian opened the door, he saw Shen Haohai standing there, accompanied by two women—a mistress and her servant—approaching from a short distance away.

The two women halted upon seeing the young man open the door and stood still.

Shen Haohai smiled at Chen Zhian. “I’ve brought two guests with me; I hope you don’t mind?”

Chen Zhian had yet to reply.

“Haohai,” the woman in white leading the two sighed helplessly and asked, “Is the wonderful dish you mentioned really made by your neighbor here?”

— For Xu Xiyue, her interaction with this young man from the alley should have ended that night, when Chen Zhian had blushed and said, “Why do you still force people to marry?”

But the world is full of strange wonders.

Take today, for instance: the usually gluttonous Shen Haohai mysteriously told her she would take her to a good place for dinner.

“Do you remember the vegetarian meal made by the Great Daoist on Qixia Mountain? This one’s even better.”

Before Xu Xiyue could respond, Shen Haohai darted ahead, leading the way.

Xu Xiyue thought they might take a sedan chair, but instead, Shen Haohai quickly ran across the alley and knocked on a door.

Then came that greedy young man who opened the door.

“Eh?” Shen Haohai recalled mentioning Chen Zhian to Xu Xiyue before. “Did you forget you’ve met?”

Chen Zhian smiled. “I used to be a junior worker at the Huangmen Painting Academy. When I delivered paintings to the government office, I did indeed meet Miss Xu.

One evening, when it was late, Miss Xu was kind and walked part of the way with me.”

Shen Haohai’s eyes brightened. “What a coincidence! Since that’s the case, I’m bringing her here to share a meal. You don’t mind, right?”

Chen Zhian suddenly remembered Xu Xiyue’s background.

“The Xu family runs a modest herbal medicine business, supplying many shops across several provinces and even providing herbs to the military. But I wonder if Miss Xu can find the herbs needed for the Cicada Shedding Pill?”

With that thought, a smile appeared on his face. “Of course, I don’t mind.”