Warren Wu led Evan Lin all the way up the mountain. When they reached the summit, there stood a building resembling a Daoist temple.
Even from a distance, Evan could already smell the faint fragrance wafting from inside the building. Just a whiff was enough to make one feel relaxed and refreshed.
“This is the Pill Pavilion. Most of Medicine King Valley’s accumulated spiritual herbs and pills are stored here.”
Warren Wu spoke respectfully. Evan nodded indifferently and pushed open the door to enter.
Inside, rows of wooden shelves towered throughout the pavilion. Each shelf was lined with different pills, but Evan only glanced at them briefly before losing interest.
These pills were either for strengthening the body or assisting cultivation, but their quality was so low that Evan didn’t even consider taking any.
“Looks like Medicine King Valley’s pill-refining methods are nothing special. With Earth’s spiritual energy nearly dried up, their alchemy techniques can’t possibly compare to the real thing.”
Even in his previous life, Evan hadn’t focused on pill-refining, but his alchemy skills were still top-tier.
To Warren Wu, these useless pills were incredibly tempting, but with Evan present, he didn’t dare say a word.
Evan strolled past, barely sparing a glance at the finished pills. Instead, his attention landed on the various spiritual herbs and medicines that hadn’t yet been used for pill-refining.
“Rainbowgrass, only fifty years old. Too young, medicinal power is lacking.”
“Whitewood fruit, a bit over a hundred years old. Not old enough, but still somewhat useful.”
...
Evan scanned each item one by one, but his brows kept furrowing from time to time.
“I thought Medicine King Valley, after dominating Seacrest for so many years, would have a huge stockpile. Turns out, it’s nothing special.”
Evan sighed. Medicine King Valley was honestly much poorer than he’d imagined.
After searching the entire Pill Pavilion, he only managed to find two ninth-grade spiritual herbs in the whole medicinal storage.
And these two ninth-grade herbs were even weaker than the semi-sentient blood ginseng Evan had gotten at auction before.
One was Crimson Blood Astragalus, the other was Azureleaf Violet Lotus.
Looking at the two herbs in his hand, Evan pondered for a moment and muttered to himself, “These two ninth-grade spiritual herbs can at least be used to refine some Nourishing Spirit Pills. They won’t speed up cultivation, but at least they’re good for something.”
Nourishing Spirit Pills are a type of auxiliary cultivation pill. Ordinary people who take them can extend their lifespan and strengthen their bodies; martial artists can use them to temper their physique and boost their power; and cultivators like Evan can slowly refine the pill’s spiritual energy to increase their own cultivation.
Evan was now at the Foundation Establishment stage, but breaking through further would require a sea of spiritual energy. For now, he could only take things one step at a time.
“Go and bring me the Blue-Flame Blood Python’s gallbladder.”
After a moment’s thought, Evan turned to Warren Wu and gave the order.
Warren Wu hurried off down the mountain at Evan’s command.
Evan stowed away the Crimson Blood Astragalus and Azureleaf Violet Lotus, then circled the Pill Pavilion twice. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened as he spotted a stone box tucked away in the corner.
Opening the stone box, he found a fiery red crystal about the size of two fists. Warm waves of energy radiated from its surface.
“As expected. With this Fire Crystal Stone and the Blue-Flame Blood Python’s gallbladder, I can refine a magic artifact.”
Evan studied the fire crystal, his mind already working out the details.
The Blue-Flame Blood Python’s beast-fire, also known as serpent fire, combined with this common-grade Fire Crystal Stone—when the two fires merge, their power will multiply. In the future, this will be useful for refining ordinary pills or even in battle.
Warren Wu went straight down the mountain, grabbed a knife, and—right in front of the remaining Medicine King Valley disciples—cut open the Valley’s guardian beast. He sliced out the Blue-Flame Blood Python’s gallbladder, nearly burning his hand on its scorching heat.
No one dared stop him. Warren Wu also ordered the disciples to release everyone from the pill cauldrons halfway up the mountain.
Some hesitated at first—after all, the Human Pills refined in those cauldrons were incredibly valuable. But when Warren Wu’s face darkened and he said it was Master Lin’s order, they rushed to comply, scrambling up the mountain to set everyone free.
“Master Lin, here’s the Blue-Flame Blood Python’s gallbladder.”
Warren Wu carried the gallbladder in both hands, entering the Pill Pavilion. He looked nervously at Evan, who was sitting cross-legged in front, and respectfully presented the Blue-Flame Blood Python’s gallbladder to him.
Evan glanced down. The gallbladder wasn’t huge—about half the size of a palm. Its entire surface glowed crimson, as if it could burst into flame at any moment.
“Master Lin, what do you need the Blue-Flame Blood Python’s gallbladder for? These gallbladders can’t be eaten directly. The python lived in Medicine King Valley for centuries, eating countless spiritual herbs and fruits—but it’s a beast. Most of the medicinal power went into strengthening its body, but the rest is concentrated in its gallbladder. If you ate it straight, I’m afraid…”
Warren Wu didn’t dare finish the sentence.
The gallbladder was as valuable as a spiritual herb, but its medicinal power was far too intense. Ordinary people couldn’t absorb it at all—if anyone swallowed it whole, the energy inside would probably explode them from within.
“I don’t plan to eat it directly. The reason the Blue-Flame Blood Python can breathe beast-fire is partly due to years of feeding on spiritual herbs, but also because its gallbladder naturally stores fire.”
“Even if I swallowed this gallbladder whole, it would only boost my cultivation a bit. But for refining a magic artifact, it’s absolutely perfect.”
Evan spoke calmly.
Warren Wu was stunned for a moment, then his expression changed. “Refining a magic artifact?”
Magic artifact!
Warren Wu had certainly heard of such things.
Rumor had it that different magic artifacts had all sorts of effects. Some could keep the wearer healthy and free from illness, while others could summon wind and rain—truly mysterious powers.
But in all his years, Warren Wu had only ever heard stories. Once, he’d seen a magic artifact at auction, but it was said to be weak and nothing like the legends.
Now, hearing Evan talk about refining a magic artifact, Warren Wu was shocked. His gaze toward Evan grew even more respectful.