The group arrived at Shawn Young's home, an old two-story house. Upstairs were two small bedrooms for Shawn and his sister Sherry, while downstairs at the far end was a room for his parents, Sam Young and Linda Young. The modest living room was crowded with a human-powered tricycle used for transporting fruit, stacks of fruit packing boxes, woven bamboo baskets, and naturally, plenty of boxes of fruit. The simply painted walls were peeling and damp, giving the place a gloomy feel. In the center stood a very old television, opposite a wooden sofa, and next to it a warped, upright refrigerator. The whole house looked not only old but also quite cramped.
After helping Sam Young into his room to rest, everyone else stepped out. Linda Young sat quietly on the wooden sofa, silently shedding tears, while Sherry stood by her side, eyes brimming with sadness, accompanying her in silence.
Rainie Cheng and Joanna Gong followed closely beside Shawn, tightly gripping his hand to show their support. Shawn softly told them, "Stay with my mom for a bit. I'm heading upstairs for a moment."
"Oh! Okay—" The two girls didn’t ask why Shawn was going upstairs, trusting he would find a way to save his father. Obediently, they walked over to Linda Young, sat by her side, and comforted her in gentle whispers.
Shawn went up to his own room on the second floor—a small space he'd lived in since childhood. Though he only stayed there during holidays after starting university, his mother always kept it clean and tidy.
As soon as Shawn entered his room, he took out his phone and checked the time, then sat on the bed, closed his eyes, and focused his mind. His consciousness quickly spun and entered the Heavenly Sanctuary. But as soon as he arrived, he was surprised to find that the Dragonsoul Herb was now much more lush, and the once small Heavenly Sanctuary had expanded significantly.
Shawn's consciousness swept through the newly expanded areas of the Heavenly Sanctuary, discovering that many Dragonsoul Herbs were now growing there. Most of the area was still empty, with no buildings or items—just swirling currents of spiritual energy flowing across the ground.
From a distance, Shawn saw the Red Dragon sprawled lazily atop the massive alchemy cauldron, half-opening its round eyes. With a thought, Shawn appeared before the dragon. The Red Dragon, upon seeing him, widened its eyes and said excitedly, "Master, you're here! Look, the Heavenly Sanctuary has expanded so much—it's all because your cultivation has improved!"
"Oh, so that's why!" Shawn recalled that he'd just absorbed Joanna Gong's vital yin energy, greatly boosting his power. No wonder the Heavenly Sanctuary had grown. The benefits of increased cultivation were obvious.
"Red Dragon, I came here today because I have something urgent to ask you," Shawn said, getting straight to the point.
"Oh! Master, just let me know what you need," the Red Dragon perked up. "I've been lounging here in the Heavenly Sanctuary atop the Heavenly Cauldron, but without any pills to refine, it's been pretty dull."
"That's good. This time, I need your advice on curing a deadly illness!" Shawn said.
'Oh! Master, don't worry. Any pill refined in the Heavenly Cauldron can heal even the gods, let alone mortals. As long as you find the right ingredients and combine them with Dragonsoul Herb, any disease can be cured!" the Red Dragon replied.
"Great! My father has late-stage stomach cancer, and as his son, it's my duty to save him. What ingredients do I need to cure it? Tell me, and I'll find them for you to refine right away!" Shawn said, overjoyed.
"The stomach is one of the body's vital organs. Stomach cancer happens when foul energy invades for years, causing decay. Ordinary medicine can't cure it, so regular ingredients won't work. You must find a Thousand-Year Earth Dragon from Dragontooth Ridge as the main ingredient, and refine it with Dragonsoul Herb into the Earth Dragon Elixir. Only then can stomach cancer be completely cured!"
"Dragontooth Ridge? Is that a feng shui site? How do I find such a place?" Shawn was stunned, not sure where to start.
"Dragontooth Ridge is a special feng shui site—rolling hills with upright stone pillars, like swords thrust into the ground. The dragon's head looks like a sleeping dragon, also called Sleeping Dragon Valley!" the Red Dragon explained.
"Uh—so Sleeping Dragon Valley isn't easy to find? How do I locate it? What are its features?" Shawn asked urgently.
"These Sleeping Dragon Valleys are usually in the hot southern regions. Just head south—when you get close, I'll sense it and alert you. The area will be surrounded by dense, humid, tropical forest, but within a two-mile radius of the valley itself, not a single blade of grass grows, and strange rocks jut from the ground. Once there, prepare the necessary items and you can lure out the Thousand-Year Earth Dragon. Just catch it, bring it into the Heavenly Sanctuary, and I'll refine the Earth Dragon Elixir!" the Red Dragon continued.
"So, what exactly is the Thousand-Year Earth Dragon?" Shawn asked quickly.
"The Earth Dragon is what people call an earthworm. Earthworms live in rich, moist soil, absorbing earth energy. Only those that grow long enough are called Earth Dragons. The ones in Sleeping Dragon Valley are different—they absorb both earth and sun-moon essence, cultivating for a thousand years. They're perfect for restoring vital organs. The Thousand-Year Earth Dragon can even regenerate from being cut, so it's ideal for breeding in the Heavenly Sanctuary. Not only will Dragonsoul Herb grow faster, but other medicinal plants will also thrive!" the Red Dragon explained.
"So, the Thousand-Year Earth Dragon is just an earthworm that's cultivated for a thousand years! What do I need to catch one?" Shawn asked.
"Take a live chicken, open it up without letting it bleed, and put it in a box made of material outside the Five Elements. Drill a two-inch hole in the top, place the chicken inside, and bury it at the dragon's head in Sleeping Dragon Valley at dusk. Dig it up at dawn, and you'll catch a Thousand-Year Earth Dragon!" the Red Dragon said.