After the Immortal Disappeared

Chapter 480: Chapter 479: Divine Medicine

”A forced partnership will only lead to discord and betrayal.” Hee Lingchuan smiled. ”Although they have a hundred thousand troops stationed on the west side of the Panlong Plateau, I’d wager that since the Red General has already led the Panlong Army back, this army won’t launch a rash attack.”

”Why?” Sunx Fuling blinked. ”They’ve come all this way. How could they possibly return without accomplishing anything?”

”These two kingdoms have coveted the Panlong Wasteland for years. Do they really want to stop us from returning east? After all, once Lord Zhong takes all the soldiers and civilians away, this place will likely be theirs.” He paused for a moment. ”For the past few decades, they’ve fought tooth and nail for this very land. Now that they have a chance to get it for free, they should be overjoyed.”

”Then why did they not only show up, but also join forces?”

”Under pressure?” Hee Lingchuan had already finished eating a pear. ”They’ve always backed those smaller kingdoms like Xiji. They can’t just wash their hands of them, can they?”

Sunx Fuling laughed. ”What’s so bad about that? They don’t care about those piddling little kingdoms either.”

”Then the pressure must be coming from somewhere else... like Beiga?” Hee Lingchuan stood up to rinse his hands with water. ”Beiga has always wanted us to return home via the Jinxi Corridor. They’re sending troops to suppress the rebellion in the Xiluo Kingdom and also persuading Baling to open the Jinxi Corridor. Why would they be so kind?”

”You think they want to annihilate us along the way?”

”Of course.” Hee Lingchuan sneered. ”At the very least, they want to shatter our forces. But when we refused to take the Jinxi Corridor and tried to find another path, Beiga wouldn’t have it.”

”So my assessment is that the allied army of Baling and Xianyou is just putting on a show. At most, they’ll fight a few small skirmishes before quickly packing up and going home,” he deduced. ”And they’ll have a ready-made excuse for their withdrawal: they successfully stopped the Panlong Army’s eastward advance. That will satisfy all parties.”

Without realizing it, he had begun to analyze the battle situation, and he was doing so with compelling logic.

A flicker in her eyes, Sunx Fuling tilted her head to look at him. ”Let’s hope it’s just as you predict. By the way, you’ve been away for so long. Have you been practicing the flute and the Xun?”

At almost the same time, Hee Lingchuan also began to speak, ”By the way, I have something I need to ask you about.”

The atmosphere between them had softened. Sunx Fuling’s dimples appeared as she smiled. ”Go on, don’t be so formal.”

”Have you ever heard of the ’Fountain of Youth’? It’s also called the ’Longevity Medicine.’”

Sunx Fuling asked in surprise, ”Where did you hear about that?”

Hee Lingchuan scratched his head. ”I came across it once while reading a book for leisure in the Wenxuan Pavilion.”

”Which one?”

”Uh, I don’t remember.” ’It was just an excuse, anyway.’ ”It sounds like you’ve heard of it?”

”That’s a legend from the Beiga Kingdom. Aluo’s master is a Great Pharmacist; he might know more.” Sunx Fuling stood up and went to the side of the fish tank to feed the fish. ”Why don’t you go ask him?”

”Now?” Hee Lingchuan glanced at the sky. ”It’s a bit late.”

”He went to Aluo’s house today. I just ran into him.”

Aluo’s home was close by—after all, they all lived in wooden cabins. Hee Lingchuan immediately stood up.

”Are you coming?”

Sunx Fuling smiled and shook her head. ”I still have to grade homework. People have been on edge for the past half-month, and even the little ones have been slacking on their assignments. I have to crack down on them!”

Hee Lingchuan saw a murderous glint in her smile, couldn’t help but shiver, and quickly made his way out the door.

...

A little over a quarter of an hour later, he knocked on Aluo’s door.

The master and apprentice had just finished their meal. Aluo was washing the dishes, and his hands were dripping wet when he came to open the door.

”What brings you here?”

”I’ve come to ask your master for some guidance.” With that, Hee Lingchuan squeezed inside and bowed to Helian Chen, who was sitting at the table. ”Master Helian, it’s been a while.”

Helian Chen was reading a book through a pair of crystal glasses. He took them off upon hearing the voice. ”Ah, Hee Lingchuan. Long time no see.”

Hee Lingchuan took several formulas from his sleeve and handed them over. ”Last time, you were kind enough to provide me with two formulas for the Emperor’s Liquid, and I benefited greatly. I collected a few formulas and several jars of medicinal wine in Yuheng City as a small token of my thanks.”

He then took several jars of wine out of his Storage Ring, and Aluo stepped forward to take them.

The wine was genuinely from Yuheng City, but the formulas were not.

They came from Zhitian Village in the real world.

As the main herb-producing region of the Chiyan Kingdom, Zhitian Village naturally had many unique pills, and the main formulas weren’t hard to obtain. Of course, each pharmacy would make slight adjustments to the ratios, creating their so-called secret formulas.

The formulas the Great Pharmacist had specifically written for him last time had helped him maximize the benefits from his second dose of Emperor’s Liquid. That was a favor he had to repay.

Helian Chen took the formulas and examined them one by one, soon nodding and saying:

”Not bad, not bad. Hundred Radiance Pill, Shaving Qilin Pill... what interesting names.”

With his level of expertise, he could naturally see their essence at a glance, and his smile grew even warmer. ”This Shaving Qilin Pill seems to be a specialty of Central Beiga. How did you manage to find it in Yuheng City?”

Hee Lingchuan broke into a cold sweat. ’This old master’s knowledge of pharmacology is vast; he’s really not easy to fool.’ He could only say vaguely, ”Perhaps it was passed down from Beiga? Merchants travel far and wide, trading goods back and forth.”

”Hmm, that’s possible!” It was unclear whether Helian Chen had seen through the lie, but he nodded anyway. ”This formula has some discrepancies from the one I know. It’s seen quite a few improvements.”

’This child is quite sincere. Very good, very good. Not as dull as Aluo.’

Hee Lingchuan gave a nervous laugh. ’Of course it’s improved; it’s a formula from over a hundred years in the future.’

Seeing Helian Chen’s smiling face, he decided to strike while the iron was hot.

”By the way, Master, I wanted to ask if you’ve ever heard of the ’Fountain of Youth’?”

Helian Chen’s reaction was the same as Sunx Fuling’s. He asked where Hee Lingchuan had heard of it, and after being brushed off with a vague answer, he stroked his beard and said:

”It’s been a long time since I’ve heard anyone mention that.”

Hee Lingchuan knew he was onto something. ”So you do know about it?”

”Yes, it’s a so-called ’Divine Medicine’ from Beiga legend. It can extend the life of the person who takes it, and if they were originally weak and sickly, it can quickly strengthen their body.” Helian Chen recalled, ”In my youth, I was studying in Beiga and happened to be present when the King of Treasure Tree graciously bestowed a Fountain of Youth pill upon one of his officials, who consumed it on the spot. Yes, this type of medicine must always be taken immediately; you are not allowed to take it with you.”

”How many years can one pill extend your life by?”

”There’s no fixed number. After all, everyone’s constitution is different, and the constitutions of demons and humans are different again.” Helian Chen thought for a moment. ”I’ve heard it’s at least ten years or more. The most might be several decades?”

”They dare call it a Divine Medicine for only ten years?”

”You’re a young man who doesn’t understand the sorrows of old age.” Helian Chen laughed heartily. ”When a person’s life is about to flicker out, forget ten years—they’d trade their entire fortune just to live ten more days! What’s more, this medicine also has the effect of strengthening the body. And if you’re a Cultivator, it can even prevent your Cultivation from regressing.”

Like age and strength, Cultivation will eventually decline.

Hee Lingchuan immediately asked, ”Who makes this medicine?”

”The formula is in the hands of a select few in Lingxu City. Not even the Demon Kings of the various Vassal Kingdoms know it.” Helian Chen shook his head. ”As for who specifically controls it, I don’t know either. I heard the formula was leaked once before, so Beiga has likely tightened its control since then.”

Hee Lingchuan got to the key question: ”Do you know about Pulp Pearls? It’s rumored to be one of the ingredients for refining the Fountain of Youth.”

”I haven’t heard of that.” Helian Chen mused. ”However, a good friend of mine from my youth came from a prominent family in Lingxu City. Once, after a few drinks, he mentioned that his father had taken the Fountain of Youth. He said the most important catalytic ingredient is bestowed by the Deities. Without this catalyst, the Fountain of Youth simply cannot be made. That’s why the Divine Medicine is only produced in Lingxu City, and nowhere else in the world.”

”Only bestowed by the Deities?” The phrase made Hee Lingchuan think of Mr. Mai’s ”Demon-Hunting and Pearl Collection.”

’If what Wan Song said is true, then these Pulp Pearls are eventually mixed into a Pill Furnace to refine the Fountain of Youth. This means that for every Pulp Pearl, a corresponding amount of the catalytic ingredient is needed.’

’Has the Beiga Kingdom been secretly harvesting the lives of its own people to refine this Divine Medicine?’

’That’s a little strange.’

’It’s not that they wouldn’t do it, but... they could have done it openly. They could have just thrown out a few noble-sounding reasons, and there would naturally be people willing to sacrifice their lives. Why do it in secret?’

’Could someone be making the medicine privately?’

’But the catalytic ingredient is bestowed by the Deities. Without it, how the hell could they make anything?’

’This whole thing... neither side of the story makes sense.’

He thought for a moment. ”I can understand humans craving the Fountain of Youth, but demons too?”

”The direct consequence of the decline in Spiritual Qi is the shortening of all living beings’ lifespans. Whether demon or human, no one living in this world can escape this law.” Aluo served some warm water, and Helian Chen took a sip. ”Demons generally live longer than humans, but their lives still have an end.”

Hee Lingchuan’s interest was piqued. ”Is it the same for a Ba? It’s formed from a dead person. Does it also have a lifespan?”

”A Ba?” Helian Chen was somewhat surprised to hear this name. ”Do those things still exist? I heard they hadn’t been seen since the Middle Ages.”

”They do, in Beiga.” ’That’s right, the Chiyan Kingdom hasn’t been founded yet. Fushan Yue’s father is only just beginning to make a name for himself.’

”Given that it’s Beiga, nothing that appears there would be strange.” Helian Chen shook his head. ”Although a Ba is born from murky yin energy, it relies on Yang Qi to survive, just like any other living creature. Otherwise, why would it need to suck Essence Blood? The more time passes and the older the Ba gets, the more the murky energy in its body increases while its life force dwindles. In this, it is no different from a human, except that its lifespan is longer. After three or four hundred years, it returns to dust.”

Hee Lingchuan thought for a moment and asked again, ”Then what about the Great Demon Second Madam Zhu of the Ghost Needle Stone Forest? She’s an Ancient Demon Immortal who has lived since Ancient Times. How did she escape the shackles of life and death?”

”Now that Great Demon is very interesting!” The moment Second Madam Zhu was mentioned, Helian Chen became animated, even tossing his book onto the table. ”Panlong City was its neighbor for so many years, but we never had a chance to understand it. It was only after the great battle at the Ghost Needle Stone Forest that the Red General brought back the tip of a Spider Demon’s claw, giving us a chance to study it properly!”

Seeing the glint in his eyes, Hee Lingchuan subconsciously rubbed the goosebumps rising on his arm. ”Are there any conclusions?”

”No, how could it be that fast? These Ancient Demon Immortals hold far too many secrets! Just figuring out how Demon Power circulates in its body could take many years of research. But—” Helian Chen’s eyebrows practically flew off his face, ”—this Demon Immortal has mastered at least two major skills: one is dormancy, and the other is molting!”