After the Immortal Disappeared

Who would have thought that an invasion and subsequent ”poisoning” by a few foreign Bird Demons could bring disaster to the entire plateau.

”This sort of thing happens all the time.” Aluo shook his head. ”Every year, there’s an endless stream of chaotic emergencies. If they’re not handled well, they turn into major disasters. However, once we understood the characteristics of these pests, the Pill Bureau formulated a potion. Spraying it on the fields during the larval stage effectively kills them. So far, the response from the farming districts has been positive.”

The battle for Panlong City was about more than just straightforward, physical combat.

Just then, Helian Chen finally beckoned to Hee Lingchuan. ”Come on, over here.”

Hee Lingchuan walked over and saw two recipes laid out on the table.

”Are these both for me?”

”Yes, it depends on the amount of Emperor’s Liquid you get,” Helian Chen explained. ”If you collect only a small amount of Emperor’s Liquid next time, use this recipe. It focuses on gentle nourishment. The pill it makes can be taken once every seven days, and each time you cultivate, your gains will be twenty to thirty percent greater.”

Hee Lingchuan was astonished. ”Don’t tell me this is the recipe for the Cyan Jade Ointment Pill?”

Aluo’s eyes went wide. ”In your dreams!”

’The Cyan Jade Paste, which can triple the effects of cultivation, is a strategic resource in Panlong City. It’s ridiculously expensive even when exchanging military merits for it. How could the recipe be given away so easily? Master is kind, but he’s not a fool!’

Helian Chen coughed lightly. ”Who would dare to spread the recipe for the Cyan Jade Paste without Commander Zhong’s approval? The recipe I’m giving you is a variation of the Hundred Virtues Pill, tailored specifically to your constitution. If Aluo were to use it, he might not get the full effect.”

”It’s more than enough, more than enough.” Hee Lingchuan beamed, putting away the Hundred Virtues Pill recipe. He was well aware of the concept of compounding. If his cultivation could be thirty percent more effective each time, even if the pill’s effects only lasted for a few sessions, the final gains would be substantial.

’Hmm? Can I really calculate it like that?’

Helian Chen pointed to the other recipe on the table and said,

”If you get lucky and obtain a large amount of Emperor’s Liquid—and by ’large,’ I mean at least bigger than a pigeon’s egg—then you use this: the God-slaying Pill!”

Helian Chen had been covering the main part of this recipe with his sleeve. Aluo had been sneaking peeks for some time but hadn’t managed to see many of the ingredients. Now, hearing the name ”God-slaying Pill” and seeing the herbs on the recipe, he couldn’t help but cry out, ”Master, why the God-slaying Pill?!”

Just from the name, Hee Lingchuan could tell it was a potent and dangerous medicine. Seeing Aluo’s reaction, his heart began to pound with apprehension.

’What does the old man mean by this?’

Helian Chen snorted. ”And why can’t it be the God-slaying Pill?”

Aluo stammered, ”But...?”

’If he takes this medicine, isn’t his new captain going to be a goner?’

”You’re just not paying attention. Otherwise, how could your Daoist Practice still be so meager!” Helian Chen snapped at him, then turned to Hee Lingchuan. ”Don’t be afraid. While this formula is violently potent, only something like this can match the powerful effects of the Emperor’s Liquid!”

’Potent enough to kill, you mean?’ Hee Lingchuan didn’t dare voice his snarky thought. ”Please, elaborate?”

”You said you’ve only been practicing the Meridian Technique for half a year, but from my brief examination just now, your meridians are relatively clear and your Dantian is already full. That’s some very decent aptitude, and it shows you work hard.” Diligence and hard work were standard practice for Great Wind Soldiers, so Helian Chen wasn’t giving him special praise, just stating a fact. ”As you attempt to open your Extraordinary Meridians, you have two choices for what comes next. The first is to advance to the ’Liquid Transformation’ realm, compressing your True Power into liquid. That way, your Dantian can store even more True Power.”

Hee Lingchuan mentally recited a fun fact. ’Liquids take up less space than gases.’

Helian Chen raised a second finger. ”Or, you have another option: open a second Dantian ahead of schedule!”

While practicing the Meridian Technique, Hee Lingchuan had often attended public lectures at Wenxian Hall. He knew that the technique he was cultivating advocated for opening three major Dantians in the human body: the Upper Dantian at the Forehead Acupoint, the Middle Dantian at the Chest Acupoint, and the Lower Dantian at the Guanyuan Acupoint.

Normally, when people mentioned the ”Dantian,” they were referring to the Lower Dantian. However, the later stages of the Meridian Technique required a Cultivator to open the other two Dantians to accumulate True Essence, gather energy, and focus the spirit.

To put it in the simplest terms, the storage capacity of three reservoirs is greater than just one.

Whether for a Martial Artist or a Mage, the power of their Magic and Divine Techniques—both in terms of explosive force and endurance—is usually directly correlated with the strength of their own True Power. The stronger and more abundant their True Power, the greater their chances of victory.

Therefore, sooner or later, Hee Lingchuan would have to walk both of these paths.

A look of understanding dawned on his face. ”So the God-slaying Pill recipe is for the second option?”

”Precisely.” Helian Chen stroked his beard. ”If you want to achieve ’Liquid Transformation’ first, you don’t need the God-slaying Pill; the Hundred Virtues Pill will suffice. Compressing True Power is a slow grind. It requires long, persistent, and relentless effort.”

”If you want your next step to be opening the second Dantian directly, or if you’re already thinking of opening the third Dantian when the Emperor’s Liquid arrives, then use this potent medicine, the God-slaying Pill!” Helian Chen coughed, and Aluo quickly handed him a cup of warm water. ”Opening the second and third Dantians is no easy task. They are located at two of the most important acupoints in the body, but those places are stubbornly fortified by impure qi, like a state of primal chaos. Before your Eight Extraordinary Meridians are fully formed, trying to break through them in one fell swoop with your current abilities is far from enough. However, the Emperor’s Liquid is a great opportunity. With its surging power, you might just succeed in a single strike!”

”Most other people start by practicing ’Liquid Transformation.’ If you can open a second Dantian, you’ll have an advantage in your cultivation.”

Hee Lingchuan nodded to show he understood. ’If I open a second Dantian, I’ll be able to store double the True Power. Meanwhile, everyone else will still be struggling to painstakingly convert their True Power into liquid, bit by tiny bit. Won’t I be able to completely crush them then?’

”And what if I fail to open this second Dantian?” Considering the worst-case scenario was the mark of a prudent adult.

Helian Chen coughed again. ”If you fail, the turmoil you create in your Chest Acupoint will be worse than an external attack. Your heart and lungs will be damaged, and you’ll be bedridden for several months at least. If you were trying for the Forehead Acupoint, er... you’d end up either insane or an idiot.”

”...” ’High risk for high reward, of course.’ ”So for my second Dantian, the Chest Acupoint is the primary choice?”

”Correct. The difficulty is a little lower that way. As for the Forehead Acupoint—” Helian Chen smiled. ”We can talk about that when the time comes. You’re not there yet.”

He added, ”I’ve given you both recipes. Which one you choose is your own business.”

’As expected of a Great Pharmacist. He delivered that disclaimer so naturally.’

”Thank you, Master!” With the recipes in hand, Hee Lingchuan took his leave. Helian Chen was a very busy man; this bit of time had been specially set aside for him.

Aluo saw the two of them to the entrance of the Pill Bureau before turning back.

Hee Lingchuan and Sunx Fuling walked side-by-side, heading slowly toward the market under the gentle May breeze.

A large patch of evening primroses bloomed by the roadside, their color as beautiful as freshly scrambled eggs.

He asked Sunx Fuling, ”If the next Emperor’s Liquid arrives soon, which recipe do you think I should choose?”

”That depends on whether you want to play it safe or aim for speed,” Sunx Fuling said seriously. ”I recommend the God-slaying Pill.”

”Why?”

”The opportunity to open a second or third Dantian is rare. Without the power of the Emperor’s Liquid, it would take you at least five or six times as long,” Sunx Fuling said softly. ”The most direct way to improve your cultivation is to expand your capacity.”

Hee Lingchuan smiled. ”I knew you’d say that.”

As for the risk, who didn’t know that high returns meant high risk? But for the Great Wind Soldiers living in Panlong City, wasn’t danger an everyday affair?

Besides, he was starting to understand Sunx Fuling a little better now. From how calmly she had placed her bet while he was defending the stage at Meng Shan, Hee Lingchuan could see that she was someone who wasn’t afraid of taking risks or of losing.

’So her choice would naturally be the one that maximized gains in the shortest amount of time.’

As the two passed through the market, Sunx Fuling’s steps slowed.

Hee Lingchuan noticed her gaze was locked on a small stall selling goldfish.

The stall had three or four jars and a few shallow pots, all filled with lively, colorful goldfish swimming about.

Hee Lingchuan turned on his heel, walked over, and asked,

”How do you sell these goldfish?”

”However many you scoop up, you can take with you.” The vendor pointed to a large stack of small nets next to the jar. ”One Copper Plate per net.”

Hee Lingchuan took a look. ”These nets are made of paper.”

’And the net is only seven or eight centimeters in diameter. What a swindler!’

The vendor chuckled. ”They’re all like this throughout the market. I’ve been selling here for seven or eight years, and we always use these nets for scooping goldfish.”

However, his goldfish were prettier than any others, with the most vibrant colors and the liveliest movements.

Hee Lingchuan asked his companion, ”Have you ever played this before?”

”When I was a child, maybe.”

Just then, a young mother walked by with her child. The moment the little kid saw the goldfish, he stopped in his tracks, pointed at the jar, and yelled, ”Fishy!”

The mother had no choice but to take out two Copper Plates.

The child seemed to know the routine. He automatically picked up a net and went for the biggest goldfish.

The moment the net entered the water, the fish felt the disturbance and slipped away with a flick of its tail.

It only looked fat with its plump head; it was actually quite agile.

As soon as the paper net was thrust into the water, it broke without a sound.

It broke. Time for another one.

That one broke too. He grabbed another.

After using up all three, he hadn’t caught a single fish. It was a complete waste of money.

The mother resolutely refused to pay for more, grabbing her child and walking away, ignoring his constant glances back over his shoulder.

Hee Lingchuan took out five Copper Plates, handed them to the vendor in exchange for five paper nets, and shoved them into Sunx Fuling’s hands. ”I want the biggest one!”

Sunx Fuling let out a chuckle. ”Why don’t you do it?”

”The finishing move is always saved for last.”

”Such a waste. You’re just giving him money for free.” Sunx Fuling took the nets and, full of enthusiasm, dipped one into the water.

She aimed for a black-spotted goldfish.

With a flick of her wrist, she almost had it.

The net broke. She took another.

Another miss.

With only two nets left, Sunx Fuling looked at Hee Lingchuan and said, ”Your turn!”

Hee Lingchuan took a net, but instead of going for a fish, he just dipped it into the water.

Well now. He barely moved it after two breaths in the water, and the paper net tore.

’They really put a lot of care into making this paper. So very thin.’

He looked at the vendor, who was grinning from ear to ear, clearly enjoying himself.

Hee Lingchuan asked him, ”So you’re really only letting people scoop them, not selling them outright?”

’He was giving the vendor one last chance.’

But the man was firm. ”Only scooping, no selling.”

”Fine.” Meeting Sunx Fuling’s expectant gaze, Hee Lingchuan rolled up his sleeves and suddenly slapped the side of the jar.