Cloud Larvae Heart Stabilising Pill

One hundred thousand spirit stones was an astronomical amount of wealth, even for the elders of the Five Elements Valley.

Since they lacked the means to fork out the money, Elder Gui Heng could only try to seek the valley head's approval regarding the sale of the flexible armour.

While Elder Gui Heng left the house to do so, Protector Jun Mo finally managed to complete his own transaction, trading the Violet Earth Incense for Wu Meng's Yin Heart Stone.

"Young Sir, if you are willing to enlighten me on how I should use this Yin Heart Stone to recover from my current condition, I will be infinitely grateful!" Protector Jun Mo exclaimed.

Initially, Protector Jun Mo had only been interested in Wu Meng's Yin Heart Stone. But now, his impression of the latter had become that of an expert physician, and he dared not take Wu Meng's words lightly.

Since Wu Meng had already said that the Yin Heart Stone alone was not enough, Protector Jun Mo would rather choose to believe his words.

"That's not a problem," Wu Meng readily agreed. "That's the least that I should do, lest you come to the wrong conclusion that my Yin Heart Stone is the problem when you eventually fail to recover."

Wu Meng quickly wrote down the treatment method on a piece of paper and passed it over to Protector Jun Mo.

After taking a look at the treatment method, Protector Jun Mo heaved a sigh of relief. There were no other precious materials required, so he could start gathering the items required the moment he returned.

"Thank you, Young Sir," Protector Jun Mo bowed in gratitude.

Wu Meng's tone might not be pleasing to the ears, but he was at least honourable as a merchant. Their original transaction included only the Yin Heart Stone, so he could have easily asked for something else in exchange for the treatment method.

Instead of that, Wu Meng had not only raised the matter of the treatment method himself, but even provided it for free.

This made Protector Jun Mo's impression of him improve by leaps and bounds.

"That's good, that's good..." Elder Kang Xian patted Protector Jun Mo on the shoulder. "With this, perhaps you really can finally put this matter behind you."

"Yes, Elder Kang Xian," Protector Jun Mo replied, his heart welling up with emotions.

This physical trauma had troubled him for far too long. If this treatment method provided by Wu Meng was effective, then he would finally be able to free himself from its shackles!

Zhang Wanqing looked at the emotional Protector Jun Mo, and could not help but let out a faint smile.

Since she was Wu Meng's disciple, it naturally made her feel proud to witness her master helping someone resolve their troubles.

"Enough chattering. When is your master coming back?" Wu Meng tapped on the table impatiently. "I don't have all day."

Zhang Wanqing: "..."

Can't you just keep still and wait, so that the other party can remain thankful towards you for more than half a minute?

"Please bear with us for a while longer," Protector Jun Mo said in embarrassment. "The valley head is not easy to meet, not even for my master. On top of that, he still needs to convince the valley head, so it would probably take some time."

"What a bore," Wu Meng leaned back into his seat, then turned to look at Elder Kang Xian. "Since we have some time on hand, let's address your problem, then."

"My problem?" Elder Kang Xian raised an eyebrow. "What problem do I have?"

"Don't say that. Surely you have something troubling you. Maybe an old injury, insomnia, or perhaps low virility?" Wu Meng asked casually. "Just let me know, and I might be able to help you out."

Elder Kang Xian gritted his teeth in anger. "I can't be healthier!"

"Really? What a pity," Wu Meng rubbed his chin. "Then... are you having any trouble refining pills? If so, I can help with that too."

"Wait, are you an apothecary as well?" Protector Jun Mo interjected excitedly. "What a coincidence! Elder Kang Xian happened to be troubled by something related to this!"

Earlier when he returned to fetch the Violet Earth Incense, Elder Kang Xian had just been in the midst of a heated discussion about pill refinement with Elder Gui Heng. They ended up stopping their discussion halfway to come along and take a look at the Yin Heart Stone, so they had yet to come up with a workable solution.

Zhang Wanqing: "..."

Why do I feel like I have been hearing the word 'coincidence' a lot recently?

As opposed to the excited Protector Jun Mo, Elder Kang Xian remained calm.

"Young Sir does seem to be an excellent physician, but pill refinement is not that simple," Elder Kang Xian shook his head. "A good apothecary doesn't require just knowledge. More important than that is control over the pill cauldron – something that can only be learnt after accruing years upon years of experience. Without such experience under your belt, there is little that you can do to help."

"Why don't Elder Kang Xian just give it a shot?" Protector Jun Mo urged. "If Young Sir's pill refinement skills are even half as profound as his medical skills, then he might just be able to provide some valuable insight, or perhaps a clue to success."

Zhang Wanqing nodded in anticipation.

If Wu Meng could help out Elder Kang Xian as well, then the Five Elements Valley's impression of him would probably improve, right?

If that happened, the Five Elements Valley might even allow them to go take a look within the depths of the valley.

It was already this beautiful where they were, so just how magnificent would the view be in the inner region, where only members of the faction were allowed?

Zhang Wanqing could not help but feel a sense of great anticipation as she thought about that.

But before the mighty cultivators, she dared not speak freely about her thoughts.

"Fine, I guess we do have some time on hand, so we might as well," Elder Kang Xian said in a patronising manner. "Have you heard of the Cloud Larvae Heart Stabilising Pill?"

"I do know a thing or two about it," Wu Meng nodded.

"Well then, the problem is this," Elder Kang Xian continued. "I have been trying to refine the Cloud Larvae Heart Stabilising Pill recently. But whenever I reach the final step of joining the inner and outer layers of the pill, the two layers will always repel each other, resulting in a failed concoction. I have tried to adjust th-"

"Show me your pill cauldron," Wu Meng cut him off.

Elder Kang Xian felt the corner of his lips twitch. "I am not done explaining the situation, so why don't you finish listening to me first?"

"There's no need to listen to the rest," Wu Meng insisted. "Just show me your pill cauldron."

You little brat...

Elder Kang Xian cursed in his heart.

"Elder Kang Xian, why don't you just bring out your pill cauldron? Perhaps Young Sir already has an idea of what the problem is," Protector Jun Mo tried to mediate from the side.

"Fine," Elder Kang Xian said.

With a wave of his hand, a huge bronze cauldron appeared before him and landed on the floor with a resounding thud.

Zhang Wanqing widened her eyes in awe.

She could keep watching magic like this all day long and never get tired of it!

"Here it is, what about it?" Elder Kang Xian said rather unhappily.

"Let's see," Wu Meng stood up and started circling the bronze cauldron, examining it while lightly knocking on its surface a couple times. "This is not a bad cauldron."

"But of course!" Elder Kang Xian answered proudly. "It is not only made with top tier materials, but I have also personally refined it countless times over the years. It can definitely compare to many of the best pill cauldrons out there!"

"Yet this cauldron that you are so proud of is also the reason why you failed to refine the Cloud Larvae Heart Stabilising Pill," Wu Meng said.

"What do you mean?" Elder Kang Xian frowned.

"I can elaborate further, but don't forget that I am a merchant," Wu Meng answered with a smile. "What can you offer in exchange for the information that you need?"

"What a joke!" Elder Kang Xian raised his voice without realising it. "You spout nonsense about my pill cauldron, and I still have to pay you for it?"

"A chilling wind entering the pill, rapidly bringing down the temperature and forcing the inner and outer portions apart," Wu Meng replied calmly. "Is that what happens?"

Elder Kang Xian's anger immediately subsided upon hearing that.

He had not mentioned the chilling wind that formed within the pill cauldron, so how did Wu Meng know?

Could it be that Wu Meng was right, and there really was a problem with his pill cauldron?

"How about it? Still not interested in buying the information?" Wu Meng asked. "If that's the case, I will not force you, either. After all, this is not what I am here for."

"What do you want in exchange?" Elder Kang Xian asked.

"A hundred spirit stones," Wu Meng answered.

"Deal!" Elder Kang Xian replied instantly. "But if I ever find out that you are just speaking nonsense..."

"Don't worry, that will never happen," Wu Meng waved him off. "If you find that my method does not work, there can only be one reason – that you did not follow my instructions properly."

"What big talk!" Elder Kang Xian scoffed while handing a small pouch over. "Here's one hundred spirit stones. Let's see just what miraculous idea you have in mind!"

Wu Meng tossed the pouch into his wooden chest without even checking the contents, then started writing down the instructions on a piece of paper.

"Here," Wu Meng only wrote a single line before passing the paper to Elder Kang Xian.

"Add in a handful of Firegrass before starting the pill refinement process...?" Elder Kang Xian read the contents out loud. "Just like that?"

"Just like that," Wu Meng nodded. "If you are not convinced, why don't you try it out now? I believe you should have some Firegrass with you?"

"Try it out now?" Elder Kang Xian hesitated for a moment.

Firegrass was a relatively cheap material commonly used in pill refinement processes, so most apothecaries would always have a bit of it in store. Elder Kang Xian was no exception, and had no trouble coming up with a bunch of them.

However, the rest of the materials needed to refine the Cloud Larvae Heart Stabilising Pill were not nearly as cheap!

If he just went ahead with the pill refinement process and ended up failing again, the used materials would be rendered to ashes. That was akin to tossing money into the sea!

"Well, it's up to you," Wu Meng shrugged. "After all, I have already received the payment."

"Fine, I will do it outside then!" Elder Kang Xian said.

Despite his reservations, he had no choice but to give it a try.

Otherwise, how could he determine if the solution provided by Wu Meng was correct?

If he only realised that it was wrong after Wu Meng had already left, then it would be a lot more difficult to get back his spirit stones.

With a tap of his hand, the huge bronze cauldron vanished from the room. Elder Kang Xian then walked out, and with a wave of his hand, the same cauldron reappeared on the ground.

Protector Jun Mo hurried out to watch while Zhang Wanqing turned to look at Wu Meng, who had remained in his seat. "Are you not going to take a look as well?"

"What's there to see? Isn't it just a simple pill refinement? I would rather enjoy my tea in the comfort of the house," Wu Meng shook his head.

"Then, can I go watch?" Zhang Wanqing asked.

She had never seen a pill refinement process before. Being curious by nature, she could not help but want to go take a look.

"Go if you want to, but don't get too near. The direct heat from a pill refinement of this level is not something that a mortal can bear," Wu Meng cautioned. "Even if you manage to withstand the heat without dying, your clothes might just get burnt off since you have no means of protecting yourself."

Zhang Wanqing: "..."

All of a sudden, staying in the house sounds like a much better idea!

Outside the house, Elder Kang Xian had already begun his pill refinement process. As instructed by Wu Meng, he tossed in a handful of Firegrass before anything else.

With a forceful shout, blazing flames appeared below the cauldron. With that, the surrounding temperature shot up in an instant.

Undeterred by the heat, Elder Kang Xian added the necessary materials one by one, proceeding with the rest of the refinement process with great finesse.

He had already done this countless times in the past, so he could not be more familiar with the process. Every step was performed with impeccable precision.

Even so, pill refinement was not something that could be completed within a short amount of time.

While he was still in the midst of refining the Cloud Larvae Heart Stabilising Pill, Elder Gui Heng returned, this time with yet another person in tow.

In the distance before they arrived, Elder Gui Heng could already see Elder Kang Xian and Protector Jun Mo alone outside the house.

"What are they doing?" Elder Gui Heng raised an eyebrow in confusion.

Weren't they supposed to be accompanying the young merchant? How did they end up refining pills outside the house?

Even if he was taking a bit too long and Elder Kang Xian wanted to do something to pass the time, pill refinement was not something that should be done on a whim.

If they were showing off to the guests, then Elder Gui Heng could still understand. But from the looks of it, the guests were not even there to look!

Leaving their guests to refine pills all of a sudden... just what could be going through Elder Kang Xian's head?