Chapter 17 Alchemy 2 You'd better stay away from Shen Du
The scorching flames rushed towards her, and Xu Xing tightly closed her eyes. However, Wen Yao, who was behind her, suddenly found strength and rolled over to hug her, shielding her with her body.
"smell……"
Xu Xing was startled, but the azure flames were blocked by an invisible barrier behind Wen Yao. The flames exploded, but she and Wen Yao were unharmed.
"Senior Brother Chen Du!"
"Senior Brother Shen is here!"
"There's hope!"
The injured disciples of Tian Shu Academy were overjoyed.
The next moment, Xu Xing saw that familiar black longsword flash past him, repelling the Azure Flame Beast.
Seeing the Azure Flame Beast being repeatedly defeated by the sword lights, the disciples of the Beast Taming Arena hurriedly shouted, "Senior Brother Chen, show mercy! Please spare its life!"
Because of its flames, the Azure Flame Beast is highly sought after by alchemists and commands a high price. If it were to perish during transport, he would have no way to explain it to the manager.
Shen Du only wanted to subdue the Azure Flame Beast, but the Azure Flame Beast was clearly no match for him yet refused to back down. It still roared and tried to get past Shen Du to attack the people behind him, with azure flames exploding around it.
Seeing the disciples scatter in panic, Chen Du frowned slightly, his sword energy crisscrossing as he cut down Qing Yan one by one.
If this Azure Flame Beast stubbornly resists and still attempts to harm people, then there is only one option left...
"Qing! Don't move!"
"..."
A hint of doubt resurfaced in the Azure Flame Beast's eyes. It heard a strange sound again, which was constantly soothing it and gradually allowing it to ignore the unpleasant smell.
The clouded pupils regained some clarity, and the Azure Flame Beast withdrew its gaze, looking at the sword-wielding man in front of it. It slowly took a few steps back, lay down on the ground, and let out a low whimper. The scattered azure flames gradually died down.
Seeing that the Azure Flame Beast had finally calmed down, Chen Du decided not to harm it. He unleashed a sword light, forming a simple sword array that trapped the Azure Flame Beast within. The rest would naturally be handled by the people from the Beast Taming Arena.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Shen."
The disciples of the Beast Taming Field and several disciples of the Heavenly Pivot Academy politely expressed their gratitude.
Shen Du nodded slightly and looked at Xu Xing. Just now, before he drew his sword, he seemed to have seen the Azure Flame Beast pause for a moment? If it weren't for that brief pause, he probably wouldn't have been able to save them in time.
Still shaken, Xu Xing patted Wen Yao, who was trembling. Her gaze shifted, and she noticed that the disciples' attitude towards Shen Du was somewhat unnatural. Their eyes held both admiration and a hint of evasion.
As Shen Du walked toward her, Xu Xing noticed out of the corner of her eye that several Tian Shu Academy disciples who were close to her had very distant expressions and even took a few steps back to avoid her.
Just as she was wondering what was going on, she heard Shen Du ask softly, "Are you injured?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Xing shook his head, "We're fine, and we should thank our senior brother for saving our lives."
"Why has Senior Brother Shen come to the Immortal Dao Academy today?"
Shen Du glanced at the disciples of the Beast Taming Arena who were calming down the Azure Flame Beast. "I'm currently on duty at the Beast Taming Arena. I just arrived here after receiving the message that the Azure Flame Beast had rioted."
"So Senior Brother Shen is from the Beast Taming Arena..."
Upon hearing this, Shen Du knew that Xu Xing had misunderstood. After a pause, he explained, "No, it's just that I receive payment for handling emergencies for them."
"Junior Sister Xu, you don't know this, but the Beast Taming Arena pays quite well. I heard it's a whopping five hundred low-grade spirit stones a month!"
After the Azure Flame Beast was dealt with, several instructors and cultivators from the Immortal Dao Academy rushed over, and many disciples also ran out to watch the excitement, including Li Yuan from the Yao Guang Academy.
Hearing the conversation between Shen Du and Xu Xing, Li Yuan laughed sarcastically. So what if he's a single-spirit-root genius from Tian Shu Academy? If he's unlucky, he can only run around for a few spirit stones.
Xu Xing knew that many places in the Jade Cloud Sect recruited disciples to work, and that many disciples in the Immortal Dao Academy worked in places like the Spirit Plant Garden in exchange for spirit stones. Xu Xing himself was also considering going to the Spirit Plant Garden to take a look after his Qi Refining Level 1 cultivation stabilized, but he hadn't found the time yet.
But why would Shen Du, a promising Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator, have to work at the Beast Taming Arena to earn spirit stones?
Xu Xing gained a new understanding of the extent of poverty in Shendu.
Upon hearing Li Yuan's words, Shen Du remained calm, unconcerned by the sarcasm in his tone, and simply corrected him, "It's three hundred and fifty yuan."
"..."
Seeing the person's reaction, Li Yuan rolled his eyes. Who asked him how many spirit stones he had? This guy couldn't understand a word, no wonder. He turned around and left with his group of underlings.
"Ahem, Senior Brother Shen..."
It took the disciples of the Beast Taming Arena quite a while to successfully subdue the Azure Flame Beast. Just as they were about to ask Shen Du to withdraw the sword formation, they heard Shen Du's words and thought that Shen Du might be complaining about the lack of spirit stones. So they immediately smiled and said, "This time, thanks to Senior Brother Shen, we were able to stop the Azure Flame Beast from rioting. I will definitely report this to the manager when I get back, and I'm sure the manager will show some appreciation."
Shen Du shook his head. "No need. This is what the cultivators on duty should do."
He raised his right hand slightly, and several sword lights rose into the air before he retracted them into his sleeve.
Xu Xing stared at his sleeve with curiosity. What kind of move was that?
"Xu Xing, Wen Yao, are you alright?"
The instructors who had just arrived were all surrounding the disciples of Tian Shu Academy, except for Jia Xinhong, who came over to inquire about Xu Xing and his companion.
Having received the reply and seeing that Wen Yao did not seem to be in any danger, he breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, she was alright, otherwise Wen Lu would have torn down Yao Guang Courtyard when she returned.
"I'm leaving now."
Shen Du said something to Xu Xing and then prepared to leave.
As he was about to leave, Xu Xing noticed that the disciples in Shen Du's direction had all moved aside, as if Shen Du were some kind of ferocious beast.
She slowly frowned.
"Do you know Shen Du?" Jia Xinhong asked.
Xu Xing nodded and asked the question that had been bothering him, "What happened to Senior Brother Chen Du? Why are they..."
"Sigh!" Jia Xinhong sighed, "You'd better stay away from him!"
The Tian Shu Academy disciple standing nearby looked at Xu Xing and asked, "Is this junior sister new here?"
"Senior Brother Chen Du is very capable. He also came from our Tian Shu Academy back then, but his fate was unlucky, which is a real pity."
"I heard that the two senior brothers from Qingling Peak have been ordered into seclusion by Master Feng because they secretly went down the mountain with Senior Brother Shen."
"Yes, those who have interacted with Senior Brother Shen are not just unlucky..."
"After all, that incident caused such a huge uproar back then that no one dares to take him as a disciple now."
"Alright!" Jia Xinhong's expression was also not very good. "Now that everything is settled, everyone can disperse and go back to your own courtyards!"
An ominous sign? Bad luck? Is it because of this?
Shen Du saved them just now, but now they have to endure these criticisms?
This is absurd.
Xu Xing watched Shen Du's lonely figure walk away. They were all cultivators, so he must have been able to hear what they were saying at this distance, right? But even though they knew Shen Du could hear them, they still didn't hide it at all, which showed that these people were already used to it and had said it countless times in their daily lives.
Thinking of the barrier of Huiling Mountain and the sword that fell from the sky, Xu Xing suddenly felt a surge of resentment. She took a step forward and chased after him, calling out, "Senior Brother Shen! Wait!"
Chen Du paused, but did not turn around. With a calm mind, she thought, "Is she here to distance herself from me too?"
"Since I met my senior, everything that has happened to me has been lucky!"
Upon hearing the clear, melodious girl's voice, Chen Du was slightly taken aback. He looked down and gazed into a pair of smiling golden eyes.
Xu Xing genuinely felt that way. Not only had she saved her life, but she had also been able to enter the sect to cultivate. Weren't all of these good things?
She stuffed two bottles of pills into Shen Du's hands. "Senior Brother Shen has saved me time and time again. I have no way to repay you. These are Spirit Gathering Pills issued by the academy. My cultivation is too low to use them for the time being. Please accept them, Senior Brother."
The medicine bottle seemed to still retain the warmth of the girl's hand. Chen Du remained silent for a moment, then whispered, "The Qi Refining stage is precisely when one needs Spirit Gathering Pills to consolidate their cultivation. I don't..."
"Senior brother!"
Xu Xing quickly interrupted him, looking at Chen Du with his big eyes, and said in a pitiful tone, "If Senior Brother doesn't accept it, I won't be able to eat..."
Shen Du chuckled for a moment. He remembered that this junior sister had a very good appetite. On the way to the Jade Cloud Sect, everyone else was uneasy, but she was the one who ate the most heartily.
The fact that she said she couldn't eat shows that she really wanted him to accept the two bottles of pills, but no matter how embarrassed Chen Du was, he had no reason to accept anything from his newly initiated junior sister.
He half-squatted down, placed the medicine bottle back in Xu Xing's hand, and said gently, "Thank you for your kindness, but I really can't accept it."
Xu Xing suddenly withdrew his hand, and seeing the medicine bottle about to fall to the ground, Shen Du had no choice but to reach out and catch it.
Seizing the opportunity, Xu Xing took off running, not forgetting to say, "Goodbye, senior brother! I'll come visit you sometime!"
"..."
Shen Du slowly clenched the medicine bottle, watching Xu Xing run away, and couldn't help but smile faintly. Oh well, I'll return it to her next time we meet.
After running quite a distance, Xu Xing turned around and saw that Chen Du had left. Only then did he slow down and walk towards Wen Yao, who was waiting obediently for him.
Just then, a woman flew overhead on a sword, calling out, "A-Yao! Are you alright!"
Wen Lu jumped off his sword with a look of anxiety on his face. He didn't even bother to put the sword away. He flew over and hugged Wen Yao with both hands. After checking her carefully, he found that she was unharmed. Only then did his heart slowly return to his stomach.
This Instructor Wen was always very aloof during class, cold to everyone, even a second-generation immortal like Li Yuan couldn't get any advantage from her. This was the first time Xu Xing had seen her so out of sorts. Looking at the woman who was holding Wen Yao tightly in her arms, her eyes full of concern, Xu Xing was momentarily lost in thought, his expression slightly wistful.
Wen Yao had recovered from her fear. She took Xu Xing's hand and shook it, happily introducing her friend to her mother, "Xu Xu... protect me."
Wen Lu glanced at Xu Xing, her expression softening somewhat.
Thinking back to the critical moment when the Azure Flame Beast attacked, Wen Yao actually stood in front of him to block the attack, Xu Xing's heart softened, and he quickly explained, "I didn't do anything, it was Senior Brother Chen Du who saved us."
Mentioning Shen Du, Wen Lu's expression became slightly unnatural. Just as she was about to speak, Jia Xinhong, who hadn't left yet, said with a wry smile, "Ancestor, why did you just fly on your sword? If those people from the Punishment Hall see this, they'll start arguing again."
Wen Lu reverted to her usual cold demeanor. "What? My daughter was almost injured by that beast, and I can't even fly on a sword? If the Punishment Hall wants to punish me, they should first ask how the Beast Taming Arena is doing their job. They can't even control a beast!"
Knowing that Wen Lu was angry and had a stubborn temper, Jia Xinhong didn't dare to say anything and could only complain in his heart.
When facing Wen Yao, Wen Lu softened her voice, "Was A Yao frightened? Come home with your mother, I brought your favorite sweet cakes."
She looked at Xu Xing and said, "You should come too. A Yao has mentioned you to me a few times. Thank you for taking care of her today."
Xu Xing hesitated for a moment, but then, thinking of the poison on Wen Yao's body and the black fragrance, she nodded in agreement.
On the way to Wen Lu's cave, Xu Xing pondered how to explain Wen Yao's unusual condition to Wen Lu without revealing herself. But seeing Wen Lu's meticulous care for Wen Yao, she sighed softly. What could such a mother, who loved her daughter so dearly, be worried about?
During his month-long stay at Yaoguang Academy, Xu Xing got to know many disciples and naturally heard some rumors about Wen Lu and her daughter.
Wen Lu was a cultivator on the fourth floor of the Scripture Pavilion with a bright future and a harmonious Daoist partner. However, five years ago, his daughter Wen Yao was inexplicably poisoned, which not only made her dull and stupid but also prevented her from cultivating.
Wen Lu spent all her family fortune to treat her daughter's illness, and her Daoist partner also broke off their contract with her. However, Wen Lu never gave up. In order to earn spirit stones to buy medicine for her daughter, Wen Lu left the Scripture Pavilion and took on missions everywhere. In the end, she came to work at the Immortal Dao Academy.
For cultivators, cultivation and worldly affairs are contradictory. The path to immortality is arduous, so one must naturally devote oneself to cultivation. Spending energy on various trivial matters will inevitably delay the progress of cultivation. Although the instructors of the Immortal Academy seem to have the title of mentors to new disciples, in reality, it is a laborious and demanding job with little reward, so many cultivators who are focused on cultivation are unwilling to take on this role.
Wen Lu disregarded all of this for her daughter's sake. At first, she thought Wen Yao had contracted some strange disease. A year ago, she unexpectedly learned from a senior that it was not a disease, but a strange poison, and that she only had a little over a year left before she died from the poison.
Therefore, while searching for an antidote, Wen Lu took a position at the Immortal Dao Academy and brought her daughter to the Yao Guang Academy. She hoped that Wen Yao could draw qi into her body and, if she could cultivate on her own, extend her lifespan. Given enough time, she would always find a way.
Unfortunately, more than half a year has passed, and Wen Yao is still unable to guide Qi into her body. What will she do when the year is up...?
Watching Wen Yao obediently eating her sweet cake and sharing half with her best friend, Wen Lu blinked away her tears and murmured, "A Yao, Mother will definitely get you the Seven-Leaf Ganoderma..."
Ganoderma lucidum with seven leaves?
Xu Xing's ears twitched slightly. Was it the one she knew?
"Senior Wen, are you saying that the seven-leaf Ganoderma lucidum can cure Ayao?"
Wen Lu, who had been working on this matter for days, had no intention of hiding anything. She nodded and said, "The Seven-Leaf Lingzhi can cure all poisons, but low-level Seven-Leaf Lingzhi cannot cure A Yao's poison. Only a seventh-level one can completely eradicate it."
Wen Lu was about to despair when a fellow Daoist brought back a seven-leaf Ganoderma lucidum of exceptional quality a month ago! Unfortunately, her savings over the years had been exhausted, but she was willing to pay any price, even if it cost her her life, to obtain this only hope for Wen Yao!
Upon hearing this, Xu Xing finished the sweet cake in a few bites and tentatively asked, "I wonder if the leaves of the seven-leaf Ganoderma lucidum have any effect on A Yao's illness?"
"Leaves?" Wen Lu was taken aback, wondering why Xu Xing asked such a question, but still replied, "Although the medicinal properties of the seventh-grade seven-leaf Ganoderma are extremely strong, one leaf is not enough; at least three leaves are needed..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Xing wiped his hands, then rummaged in his sleeve for a while and took out four leaves that emitted a faint glow.
"Seven-leaf Ganoderma?!"
Wen Lu's eyes widened suddenly, her breathing quickened, and she could hardly believe what she was seeing. Her hands trembled violently. "It really is a seventh-tier seven-leaf Ganoderma?! How could you have it?!"
Xu Xing touched his hair that was hanging over his shoulders, looking a little embarrassed, his eyes wandering.
Well, when you're collecting herbs, it's perfectly normal for a few leaves to fall off by accident, right?
A note from the author:
----------------------
Xu Xu (eyes shift): Things that have been in my backpack must leave something behind, right?
[The Seven-Leaf Lingzhi, despite its name, has leaves, layered upon layered, with seven leaves per layer, and seven layers in total for the seventh tier. When I was designing it, I actually referenced the Seven-Leaf-One-Flower; it's a cultivation world, so I just changed the name.]
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