C14 Extraction of Poisonous Grass
Jiang Xiaofan returned to the Hand Medical Hall to find everyone still hard at work refining pills.
Ann Yunshan was overseeing the process, and in recent days, the team had shed their usual lackadaisical attitude, now working with vigor. Their newfound energy stemmed from Ann Yunshan's generous reward of 100 copper coins each, equivalent to two to three months' wages for an ordinary person.
Upon Jiang Xiaofan's arrival, Ann Yunshan gestured for attention and announced, "Alright, it's getting late. Time to wrap things up."
Once the final batch of pills was complete, the team mopped their brows. Ann Xiaobai then declared, "Time to wash up and eat!"
Gathering in the kitchen, they took their places around the table. Ann Xiaobai had outdone herself, preparing over ten dishes. As they sat down to eat, she bashfully kept adding servings to Jiang Xiaofan's bowl.
In the midst of the meal, Ann Yunshan had a disciple bring out two jugs of white wine, and the group toasted to camaraderie, fully embracing Jiang Xiaofan as one of their own.
After a couple of drinks, Qin Chuan rose to his feet, wine cup in hand, and addressed Jiang Xiaofan, "I was wrong before and I've wronged you. Please accept my apology today. Can you forgive and forget?"
Jiang Xiaofan stood, clinking his cup with Qin Chuan's, "I never held a grudge. Let's leave it in the past. With this drink, let's become brothers!"
They downed their wine in unison, exchanging smiles, and the mood around the table grew even more convivial. They shared laughs and reminisced about the amusing experiences they'd had since joining the Hand Medical Hall.
The merriment lasted well into the night, but with the next day's work in mind, they eventually called it a night and retired to their rooms. Jiang Xiaofan, however, couldn't bring himself to rest. He headed back down to the cellar, determined to continue crafting pills.
Ann Yunshan had stocked up on hundreds of Blood Spirit Flowers and increased the supply of various spiritual herbs, ensuring that Jiang Xiaofan could work without any concerns.
Jiang Xiaofan settled in beside the Pill Refining Furnace, meticulously crafting 100 Fighting Spirit Pills and 100 Life Return Pills. As a Pharmacist of the Ninth Grade Yellow Level, he could produce a pill in just one to two minutes, wrapping up the entire batch in a mere four hours.
Deep into the night, Jiang Xiaofan's search in the storeroom's dusty corners finally bore fruit: Third Grade Yellow Level White Crow Worm Grass! This rare fungus thrived inside the Poison Arrow Worm, bursting forth from its host in late spring to rapidly grow into the coveted worm grass. Recognized as a spiritual herb three centuries ago, the White Crow Worm Grass, laden with potent toxins from the Poison Arrow Worm, became a key component in crafting poison pills.
Yet, the Medicine King Scripture detailed a Ninth Grade Yellow Level pill known as the Black Mystic Herb Pill. This pill harnessed the spiritual energy within the Poison Arrow Worm to significantly elevate one's Martial Level in a short span. The downside? A period of extreme weakness followed its use, making it a high-stakes, battle-ready concoction.
The Black Mystic Herb Pill, a recipe confined to the annals of the Medicine King Scripture, might have been crafted by ancient hands but had since slipped into obscurity, rendering it a legendary pill unseen by modern eyes.
Jiang Xiaofan's decision to attempt the Black Mystic Herb Pill was twofold: it promised to enhance his proficiency as a Ninth Grade Yellow Level pill, and it demanded only spiritual herbs of the Fifth Grade Yellow Level or lower, ensuring cost-efficiency.
The real challenge in crafting this pill lay in isolating and removing the toxins from the White Crow Worm Grass. Moreover, with his return to Lintian City on the horizon, Jiang Xiaofan needed to arm himself with additional aces up his sleeve, and the Black Mystic Herb Pill was an unparalleled choice.
With his preparations complete, Jiang Xiaofan took up a White Crow Worm Grass and began the delicate task of separating the Poison Arrow Worm's remains from the fungal growth. In less than twenty seconds, he accomplished what seemed a feat, for if he could strip the tough shell of the Iron Stone Herb, the White Crow Worm Grass was no match for his skilled hands.
But the real challenge was just beginning. Jiang Xiaofan set to work on stripping the toxins from the worm grass.
His palms pulsed with waves of energy, continuously refining the medicinal essence of the White Crow Worm Grass. In a short while, the purple toxin transformed into a mist and was gradually extracted from the essence. After several rounds of refinement, he finally obtained the pure medicinal core.
Jiang Xiaofan swiftly placed the spiritual grass into the pill furnace, adding the essence of the White Crow Worm Grass. Soon after, he successfully completed the refinement!
"System Prompt: Pill refinement successful, Pharmacy proficiency increased by +120, Black Mystic Herb Pill x 1 obtained."
...
A pill of the Ninth Yellow Grade had directly boosted his proficiency by 120 points, filling Jiang Xiaofan with immense excitement. He opened the pill furnace to find a purple pill lying quietly inside, wafting a subtle medicinal scent.
With hundreds of White Crow Worm Grass at hand, refining them all would surely advance him to a Tenth Yellow Grade Pharmacist!
Then, he refined the second medicinal core, followed by the third, and then the fourth...
As Jiang Xiaofan reached for the fifth White Crow Worm Grass, his vision suddenly blurred. Focusing, he saw that the blood vessels in his arms had turned purple. A chill spread through his body, and as he tried to stand, he collapsed to the ground.
Jiang Xiaofan's lips were tinged with purple. He hadn't anticipated the toxins from the White Crow Worm Grass mixing with his Martial Qi and entering his body. He was poisoned!
Struggling to his feet, he grabbed several stalks of spiritual grass and threw them into the Pill Refining Furnace. His eyes rolled back as his consciousness wavered, but he managed to refine a white pill of the Eighth Yellow Grade.
This was the highest-grade antidote pill Jiang Xiaofan could currently produce. He took the pill and placed it in his mouth, but his strength failed him, and he slowly collapsed beside the Pill Refining Furnace, falling unconscious.
...
As the sun crept up the sky, Jiang Xiaofan wrinkled his brow and opened his eyes, realizing he was no longer in the cellar but lying on a soft, large bed.
"You're finally awake~" Ann Xiaobai's eyes brimmed with tears. Clutching Jiang Xiaofan's hand tightly, she watched him come to, her tears once again flowing freely.
Ann Yunshan quickly rose to his feet and rushed to Jiang Xiaofan's bedside, his face etched with worry. "Xiaofan, I'm well aware of your exceptional talent in pill refining, but you should never have handled the White Crow Worm Grass—it's far too poisonous. This is on me; I never should have kept those toxic herbs in the cellar."
Jiang Xiaofan managed a weak smile. "Elder Ann, Xiaobai, I'm okay. By the way, what time is it now?"
"We're into the Zi Period; you've been out for a full day and night," Ann Yunshan informed him softly.
"Damn!" Jiang Xiaofan bolted upright, only to clutch his head in agony as a splitting headache assailed him.
Ann Yunshan let out a heavy sigh. "You need to rest. Pill refining is important, but your health is paramount."
"I can't, Elder Ann." Jiang Xiaofan threw off the covers and swung his legs out of bed.
"Xiaofan, you're pushing yourself too hard. Your body can't handle this," Ann Yunshan cautioned once more.
Ann Xiaobai's soft sobs filled the room. She extended her small hand to Jiang Xiaofan, pleading, "Brother Xiaofan, please rest a little longer."
Their concern was palpable, and Jiang Xiaofan reluctantly sat back down, much to their relief.
After a moment of silence, Ann Yunshan spoke up. "Xiaofan, the Pharmacy Conference is in two days. One of our own disciples has offered you their spot to compete. Rest up and gather your strength; aim for a top spot when the time comes."
With no chance of pill refining tonight, Jiang Xiaofan felt a mix of frustration and resignation. He hadn't anticipated the White Crow Worm Grass would backfire on him, but he had at least succeeded in producing four Black Mystic Herb Pills.
Jiang Xiaofan kept two of the finest Black Mystic Herb Pills for himself and handed the Life Return Pill and the Stone Condensing Pill to Ann Yunshan. "Elder Ann, please take these. Among them are two Yellow Rank, Ninth Grade Black Mystic Herb Pills. They can boost a cultivator's realm significantly in a short time, provided they're below the Profound Martial Stage."
"What!?" Ann Yunshan exclaimed, hastily pulling out two purple pills from his medicine bag. "Can this pill truly have such an effect?"
He had lived for decades and encountered hundreds of pills, but only knew of a low-level pill that could enhance one's martial level. The idea of a Yellow Rank pill with such capabilities was unheard of. If Jiang Xiaofan's claims held true, these pills would be invaluable.
Jiang Xiaofan gave a wry smile. "Elder Ann, if you're skeptical, why not try one for yourself?"
Elder Ann returned the smile with a touch of bitterness. How could he bring himself to consume such a rare pill? Though the White Crow Mystic Herb Pill was unfamiliar to him, he trusted Jiang Xiaofan's word implicitly.
The next morning, Jiang Xiaofan rose from his bed, feeling truly rested for the first time in over a fortnight.
With today counted, only six days remained until his deadline, and soon he would have to depart.
As he watched the bustling activity in the courtyard, his heart was heavy with reluctance. Fate, it seemed, delighted in irony – the more one wished to stay, the more one was compelled to go.
The front hall was thriving. Following the sale of the Stone Condensing Pill and the Life Return Pill, Ann Yunshan announced the Black Mystic Herb Pill and scheduled an auction for the afternoon.
The news that a pill could swiftly elevate one's cultivation level was met with skepticism, yet the air was thick with anticipation.
In the courtyard, Jiang Xiaofan instructed apprentices in the art of crafting Hemostatic Pills.
In the midst of demonstrating the refinement process, Jiang Xiaofan sensed an invisible force enveloping the Mighty Hand Medical Hall. It seemed to scan the entire establishment before gradually fading away.
Having completed the Hemostatic Pill, Jiang Xiaofan didn't hesitate. He slipped out the back door of the Mighty Hand Medical Hall and pursued the direction from which the mysterious energy had dissipated.
Though the intentions of this individual were unclear, their strength was undoubtedly at the Profound Martial Stage. They had left a trail, seemingly inviting pursuit.
Elder Ann made his way through the throng, intending to persuade Jiang Xiaofan to remain at the Mighty Hand Medical Hall. But upon reaching the back hall, he discovered that Jiang Xiaofan had already vanished.
After an extended pursuit, they reached a secluded bamboo grove. Jiang Xiaofan ventured deep into the thicket and eventually halted his steps. He called out, "Since you've drawn me to this place, why not reveal yourself?"
