Chapter 255 The Discovery of the Wind Chime Orchid
After the Herbal Elixir was produced, it was unclear whether it was an accident or not, but when Zhong Cai was refining this kind of elixir, his level was already similar to that of the Soul Fusion Elixir. The Soul Fusion Elixir made a breakthrough, and this Herbal Elixir actually made one too!
The final pills produced were four top-grade and two high-grade pills, exactly the same as the Soul Fusion Pill.
Then, one after another...
All of the more than twenty kinds of pills that Zhong Cai had learned and produced top-quality ones, without exception, were successfully made into finished products!
Every time it was a success, and every time the quality of the pills was the same.
·
When Zhong Cai began refining elixirs, he was completely focused.
In order to at least get a ranking in the next ranking, Zhong Cai wasted no time.
Cultivators who have reached this level don't really need to sleep. It's just that Zhong Cai used to like to rest with her husband in her arms, so she brought over the habit from her previous life and only lay in bed for a few hours every day. But even before, when she was cultivating to a critical point, didn't she not sleep?
This time, Zhong Cai also worked day and night.
Because of his highly skilled technique, he could produce two to three batches of pills in twelve hours each day—after all, the fastest he could produce pills was only four hours, and there was still some preparation work to be done.
Even so, eight days later, Zhong Cai had already finished refining all the level-five pills!
Zhong Cai refined the last type of pill—the Rejuvenation Pill, which had not been auctioned at the Pill King's Gathering but whose pill-refining skills had improved.
He carefully put all the pills away.
Then, Zhong Cai exhaled, leaned back gently, and nestled directly into her husband Lao Wu's arms.
Wu Shao tightened his arms and gently massaged his wife, A Cai.
He said softly, "Ah Cai, you've worked hard."
Zhong Cai lay there lazily, her mind definitely a little foggy.
It's because I didn't stop at all except to replenish my Xuan energy, so of course I felt a bit uncomfortable.
It's really comfortable to enjoy the care of my husband now.
Wu Shaogan felt a pang of sympathy looking at A Cai like this.
However, this is how alchemists hone their skills; there are no shortcuts... Fortunately, A-Cai does indeed enjoy studying alchemy.
Moreover, the Sky Ranking does offer some benefits, and he naturally didn't want A-Cai to miss out.
·
During the time that Zhong Cai was diligently refining elixirs, Wu Shaogan did not cultivate.
He was responsible for guarding it—it wasn't that he couldn't release the puppet, but Wu Shaogan felt more at ease doing it himself.
Zhong Cai must not be disturbed while refining elixirs.
Meanwhile, Wu Shaogan was also watching over Qingyu and Qinghui, who were in the process of evolving.
The two rare beasts entered the ancient city when Zhong Cai began refining the first batch of pills, and were given a room specially assigned to them, filled with the resources needed to evolve their bloodlines, and they devoted themselves to seclusion.
Although Qingyu and Qinghui have not yet developed true intelligence, they are already quite intelligent and know very well that their two masters will break through faster in the top continent than in the lower realm. Therefore, they instinctively understand that they must not let their bloodline hold them back!
Otherwise, they might not be able to keep up with their masters in the future, and they might not even have the chance to be their masters' mounts! When their masters are cultivating, they will not be able to accompany them... They were raised by their two masters since they were young, and their feelings for them are extremely deep. No matter how hard it is, they would never want to be separated from them for a long time.
Now, both Qingyu and Qinghui have fallen into a deep sleep.
Countless resources turned into wisps of smoke, which continuously entered their bodies with their breath, gradually tempering their bloodline.
·
Wu Shaogan observed it several times.
Each time, it was observed that the evolution of the two rare beasts proceeded smoothly and in the right direction.
Wu Shaogan was naturally at ease.
So Wu Shaogan sat behind Zhong Cai, put his arm around his waist, and slowly pondered some secret techniques, thinking about how to improve them.
This was almost never the case before.
The two used to be inseparable, and they felt at ease as long as they could see each other nearby.
But things are different now. They were separated for a period of time, and the longing they felt during that time seemed to ease and dissipate after they met again. But in reality, they both had some psychological trauma.
I guess it's separation anxiety.
When things can stick together, stick them together as much as possible.
Therefore, when Zhong Cai was immersed in alchemy, she could sense the strength of Wu Shaogan's arm, and Wu Shaogan could also envelop Zhong Cai in his aura... Since both of them could sense each other at all times, they naturally did not experience any anxiety.
·
Zhong Cai leaned against it and yawned.
"Old Wu, how much time has passed?"
Wu Shaogan knew what he was asking, so he smiled and replied, "From the time A Cai started refining pills until now, it has been a total of eight days and seven hours."
Zhong Cai counted on her fingers and said, "None of my twenty-three kinds of pills are bad."
Wu Shaogan smiled slightly: "A Cai was originally the most skilled alchemist."
Zhong Cai was bursting with confidence and said without any modesty, "I will definitely be even better in the future!"
Wu Shaogan smiled and agreed.
Zhong Cai thought about the pills she had refined and said, "Oh right, I also have some ideas that have come to me and yielded results. I'll try to make those too. The criteria for judging alchemists aren't just about alchemy skills; there are other things as well. Anyway, it's not like I can't do them all, so I'll include them all!"
Wu Shaogan agreed.
Alchemists are technical practitioners, which is very different from martial arts practitioners. In addition to alchemy skills themselves, the accumulation of knowledge by alchemists is also very important. In many cases, the quality of a single type of pill is not as good as the breadth of alchemical knowledge that an alchemist possesses.
Zhong Cai closed his eyes and slept for more than two hours, his head resting on his husband's chest.
Then he looked radiant.
Zhong Cai's eyes shone brightly, and she said confidently, "I'll continue!"
Wu Shaogan encouraged him: "A-Cai is the best!"
Zhong Cai turned her head and met Wu Shaogan's gaze.
The two remained in that position.
Wu Shaogan loosely embraced Zhong Cai, while Zhong Cai enthusiastically pulled out even more medicinal herbs of various kinds.
Zhong Cai murmured, "I remember I once made a medicinal soup that could refine the body. It was very painful, but the effect was 20% stronger than body-refining pills... This thing should be good. The pain doesn't matter. The important thing is that it's effective..."
As she spoke, Zhong Cai's fingers moved with incredible smoothness, taking out several medicinal herbs and processing them one by one.
Zhong Cai also had some interest in the study of medicinal decoctions.
Moreover, it was also because of that life-extending medicinal soup... He actually learned quite a few rudimentary techniques from that thing.
·
Several more days passed, and Zhong Cai gradually reviewed all the existing results. Without exception, the quality and methods were all better than when he was on the Flying Star Continent.
Zhong Cai's comprehension and skills have indeed improved once again without her realizing it.
Moreover, as he prepared certain medicinal soups and other prescriptions, Zhong Cai was surprised to find that some ideas that had flashed through his mind but he couldn't quite figure out, which prevented him from getting results early, were actually understood by him at certain times!
Once he figured it out, Zhong Cai naturally put it into practice.
There were failures along the way, but Zhong Cai found that the failures happened very quickly, and once they were noticed, they could be corrected immediately, and a more perfect solution could be found.
Wu Shaogan, who was watching over Zhong Cai, also noticed that Zhong Cai's mind was incredibly active and her techniques were more skillful than before.
This was certainly not a sudden change—it was the foundation that Zhong Cai had accumulated long ago on the Flying Star Continent after so many alchemical trials and various opportunities. However, after arriving on the top continent and experiencing some events and emotional changes, Zhong Cai's mentality also changed to some extent. He suddenly became enlightened, his inspiration burst forth, and he instantly integrated many of his previously vague insights, making his thinking clearer.
All of it was transformed into Zhong Cai's enhanced alchemy skills.
Wu Shaogan was very happy for his Ah Cai.
He believed that with this improvement, A Cai's ranking on the Sky Ranking was also gradually rising.
Although A-Cai is very young... she will definitely climb up the list at a very fast speed, just like she did on the Dan Ranking Stele in Canglong Academy before, and she will definitely be able to reach the top position!
Wu Shaogan himself would definitely knock the two above down!
He tilted his head slightly, looking at his Ah Cai's serious profile.
Wu Shaogan thought of the Sky Ranking that had been released.
Cultivators at every level see the same Sky Ranking, but the content displayed on the Sky Ranking belongs to their respective level.
The five-tiered ranking list that Wu Shaogan saw consisted of five lists displayed side by side.
The first thing you see is the martial arts rankings, and as the cultivator's gaze shifts, those rankings unfold accordingly.
Next to the Martial Arts Ranking is the Alchemist Ranking.
The top spots on these two lists are right next to each other.
Wu Shaogan thought that one day, his name and A Cai's name would stand side by side at the top.
At that time, A-Cai will definitely be happy... He will be very happy too.
·
On this day, Zhong Cai was processing several medicinal herbs.
In front of him was a rather strangely shaped alchemy furnace—more suitable for brewing medicinal soups.
The lid of the alchemy furnace was open.
If you're refining elixirs, the furnace lid must be closed when you're close to finishing the elixir or during the long reaction process of certain medicinal materials.
But medicinal soup is different; it must release some of its medicinal properties, so it must be kept open from beginning to end.
At this moment, a pool of dark liquid had appeared inside the furnace.
It was emitting a pungent stench.
...It looks like it's carrying a deadly poison.
Such a potent poison would surely send a normal cultivator running away at the sight of it; it wouldn't deceive them at all.
Zhong Cai frowned, but her fingers never stopped moving as she quickly threw in several kinds of medicinal herbs.
As these medicinal herbs were mixed into the liquid, the stench dissipated somewhat.
Zhong Cai held her breath and said dryly, "Maybe you should stay away from me, Lao Wu, this stuff stinks."
Wu Shaogan couldn't help but laugh out loud, but to him, this smell was nothing at all—
Now he cooperated and said, "It really does smell bad, but I can tolerate it. We'll share the burden."
Zhong Cai feigned emotion and said, "Then let's stink together."
Wu Shaogan's smile deepened.
As Zhong Cai spoke, her hands never stopped moving, and she continued to throw in the medicinal herbs.
The stench did indeed gradually fade, and instead began to have a slightly sweet smell...
Zhong Cai chuckled and said, "The more I refine it, the more fitting it seems. I'm simply a genius at naming things! When refining this Love Poison, it's just like falling in love—one moment it smells bad, the next it smells good."
Wu Shaogan chimed in, "Ah Cai is a genius!"
Zhong Cai was smug... and threw in the medicinal herbs again.
·
In the process of turning the idea into reality, Zhong Cai saw some medicinal herbs placed together and remembered the "lovesickness poison".
So, they simply made another batch.
He fed all the ones he had refined in the past to those who bullied Lao Wu.
Now it's time to prepare another one... or a few more.
·
Before they knew it, most of the medicinal herbs had already been sent into the alchemy furnace.
Zhong Cai then carefully picked three unusual medicinal herbs from the ancient city.
Its shape resembles an orchid, but the swaying buds look like a string of bells, which is very beautiful.
·
This is Wind Chime Orchid, a very rare level-five precious medicine, one of the five essential ingredients for "Lovesickness Poison", and the last one to be added among the eighty-one medicinal materials.
Despite the fact that this poison requires many toxic medicinal herbs, the Bellflower is not poisonous.
However, the Wind Chime Orchid is the hardest to find, and it has to be processed before each use.
First, the flowers must be freshly collected and no more than an hour removed from the soil. Then, they need to be watered with some poisonous substances to make the buds bloom. Next, because the medicinal content of each bud is different, it is impossible to accurately judge before they bloom. Therefore, when using them to make medicine, you need to prepare several plants in advance and adjust the number of buds as you use them.
It's very complicated.
However, after Zhong Cai obtained this precious herb, he planted it in the ancient city's herb garden and specially prepared a small plot of land for planting it. He has now accumulated several dozen plants.
Because the medicinal herb garden can be managed over time, it can continue to be planted whenever needed...
·
Just like now, Zhong Cai picked the fruit directly from the garden and is preparing to water it.
He first picked up a Cymbidium goeringii plant, took out a gourd from the side, and poured the water onto its drooping roots to irrigate it.
The roots instantly absorbed all the poisonous water poured out of the gourd!
Some of the toxic liquid even falls naturally, and the roots will suddenly grow longer and shorter, wandering around to absorb it, without wasting a single drop!
With this intake, the flower buds above the leaves slowly bloom.
A pleasant, subtle fragrance filled the air...
Zhong Cai picked the flower buds without hesitation and threw them into the alchemy furnace one by one.
And these flower buds look as if they've been professionally "bleached".
The unfinished acacia poison was originally pitch black, but after the flower bud was added, it gradually turned white... and it was a slightly transparent white, and it should gradually turn transparent as well.
Zhong Cai was very satisfied.
It seems we'll succeed on the first try this time.
While the flower buds were reacting, Zhong Cai watered the second Bellflower and continued to harvest and release the flower buds.
The medicinal effects of the bellflowers obtained this time were very good, so only about twenty flower buds were used – almost two bellflowers – and the reaction of the medicinal soup was already very good!
Zhong Cai looked at the "love poison" that had turned transparent with satisfaction, and was in a very good mood.
Excellent quality.
His skills are indeed superb!
This laid a good foundation for him, and when he reaches level eight, he will definitely be able to refine life-extending medicine more smoothly.
When Wu Shaogan saw this, he was naturally happy for Zhong Cai as well.
Just then, the gentle sound of wind chimes rang out.
Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan, both with keen senses, heard it at the same time and looked at the last bellflower orchid.
It had been resting quietly in the medicine basket, but now it suddenly seemed to be lifted up by some invisible force and stood upright.
The dozen or so flower buds scattered among the orchids swayed gently like real wind chimes.
The sound of the wind chimes came from there.
Under the watchful eyes of Zhong Cai and Wu Shaogan, the sound of the wind chimes grew louder, more urgent, and brighter!
Zhong Cai's expression suddenly changed.
Wu Shaogan had some knowledge of the Wind Chime Orchid and immediately said, "Is there a highly poisonous plant nearby?"
Zhong Cai nodded, and seeing the wind chime orchid seemingly trying to shake off all its grass leaves, she suddenly felt a chill.
Something's not right.
The Wind Chime Orchid has an inextricable connection with poisonous creatures. One reason it is so precious is that it can detect nearby deadly toxins.
Yes, it's highly poisonous.
Ordinary, easily dealt with poisons are ones that Windbell Orchid doesn't bother to detect.
However, once the toxicity reaches a certain level, the flower buds of the Bellflower will emit a bell-like sound.
The closer to the location of the poison, the more urgent the bell rings; the stronger the toxicity, the clearer the bell rings; the more complex the toxicity, the lighter the bell rings; the greater the amplitude of the flower bud's swaying, the wider the area where the poison has spread.
However, depending on the age of the Wind Chime Orchid, the level of poison that can be detected also varies—a thousand-year-old Wind Chime Orchid is a level five rare medicine, and can be detected as a level five deadly poison.
Furthermore, due to the inherent characteristics of the bellflower, if the toxicity exceeds the tolerance range, it will immediately rot.
So, the current situation of this Cymbidium goeringii is...
Zhong Cai murmured, "We're getting closer and closer to some kind of deadly poison. It's a level 5, extremely complex poison with a wide range of applications."
Wu Shaogan nodded: "That's about it."
Zhong Cai took a deep breath.
Such a potent poison... he was somewhat interested.
He just didn't understand why there was such a wide-ranging, highly toxic area ahead... What was going on?
·
Zhong Cai was very curious and was pondering something.
Wu Shaogan suggested from the side, "Why don't we go take a look ahead?"
Zhong Cai was a very decisive person. Since she was curious and had already tried all the knowledge and ideas she had learned about Daoist alchemy, she decided to go and take a look.
The two exchanged a glance.
Wu Shaogan chuckled and said, "Take good care of yourself."
Zhong Cai nodded earnestly.
·
Both of them had many defensive items, including those that could defend against poison.
They quickly put an antidote stone on their bodies, which could repel any poison that tried to approach them—at the very least, it could generate heat to warn them and provide protection for a few breaths, allowing them to escape as quickly as possible.
Of course, these antidote stones also come in different grades.
Both of them were carrying level six poison, and since the poison ahead was level five, it couldn't cause them any serious consequences.
Wu Shaogan carried Zhong Cai on his back.
Zhong Caishou launched the flying boat.
Wu Shaogan remained in that position and suddenly fell.
·
The two were on a fairly wide mountain path.
A strange fragrance permeated the surroundings. It wasn't very strong, but it felt terrible. This was because the antidote stones on their bodies were working, so they could only smell the scent without experiencing any other discomfort.
Zhong Cai looked around.
The mountain path should have been surrounded by countless plants, but now large swaths of them have withered.
In many places, the ground was completely bare, with only black marks and pits, clearly due to a strange interaction between the medicinal herbs that resulted in a bizarre corrosive effect.
It must have been caused by the spread of that highly toxic substance.
A few plants were still barely intact, but upon closer inspection, one would find that the leaves, trunks, and stems of those plants had scattered black marks—or other strange colors.
This undoubtedly proves that they were also poisoned!
It's only because they must have strong resistance that they weren't poisoned too badly.
Several large holes appeared on the mountain path, filled with black liquid. The smell emanating from them was no longer fragrant, but rather very strange—clearly, it was formed by the interaction of a potent poison with other substances.
Moreover, it is obvious that this black liquid is highly toxic.
·
Zhong Cai slowly exhaled and continued to sense.
Everything around was shrouded in some kind of poison, and the air was filled with a lot of poisonous fog... but the fog was not very strong, and it was probably the toxicity emitted by some kind of potent poison.
This alone has already turned the surrounding environment into a complete mess.
What would it look like if it were closer to the source of the poison?
Zhong Cai patted Wu Shaogan's shoulder and said in a low voice, "Let's go take another look ahead."
Wu Shaogan had no objection and moved with extreme speed, rushing forward.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Wu Shaogan had actually traveled quite a distance at his pace.
The surroundings remained the same, and the further we went, the stranger the environment became, clearly due to the increasingly severe effects of the poison.
Gradually, Zhong Cai saw the shadows of many buildings.
His pupils suddenly contracted.
The way those buildings clustered together—that was clearly a place inhabited by humans!
In other words, judging from its general size, it should be a...
Is it a town?
The mountain paths and vegetation outside the town were ravaged by the poison, and the town itself stood in the direction of the source of the poison...
·
At this moment, Zhong Cai's expression turned serious.
Wu Shaogan also stopped in his tracks.
A suspicion even arose in both of their minds at the same time—
The source of the poison is known to be ahead.
So, could the source of the poison... just happen to be in that town?
But what if it really is in...the town?
Where are the people in the town?
Could they have already moved away, or...?
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