Chapter 51: The Mysterious Medicine Elder - Continuous Medicine Making

Moreover, around the island, deafening roars of beasts were occasionally heard, which were so powerful that just their sound made Chu Xiaotian cough up blood. Facing such beasts, Chu Xiaotian would be instantly killed.

Thus, Chu Xiaotian shamelessly stayed in the wooden hut. Of course, he also continuously inquired about the medicine elder's formula, as completing this system task would yield rich rewards.

"Young man, are you planning to deceive me, an old man, out of my formula by not leaving? Do you think I'm foolish enough to give it to you?" said the mysterious old man, known to Chu Xiaotian as Medicine Elder. Whether it was his real name or a pseudonym, Chu Xiaotian did not know.

Chu Xiaotian knew nothing more about Medicine Elder.

"Medicine Elder, are you looking for a disciple? I can be your disciple," proposed Chu Xiaotian, desperate to obtain the formula. This idea was not his own, and he felt somewhat ashamed for considering such an act.

"I don't like taking disciples, so you can drop that thought. The formula will not be given to you," Medicine Elder said with a smile, unmoved.

Although Medicine Elder did not teach Chu Xiaotian about medicine making or share the formula, he allowed Chu Xiaotian to gather herbs on the island. The island was rich in spiritual herbs, many rare in the Northern Yan Kingdom, and could be easily found here.

Wearing a sachet given by Medicine Elder, Chu Xiaotian found that the beasts did not dare approach him, which he found somewhat unbearable as it seemed like a woman's accessory. But for survival, he endured this slight embarrassment.

Every time Medicine Elder sent Chu Xiaotian to gather herbs, he would pick extra for his own use.

"This is the list of herbs needed for today. Hurry up and bring them as I have visitors today," said Medicine Elder, his expression serious.

Chu Xiaotian nodded and quickly left to gather herbs on the island. During this day's gathering, Chu Xiaotian noticed something unusual – the beasts around the island had disappeared, and even the roaring in the sea had ceased.

"What's happening today?" Chu Xiaotian wondered, confused but not dwelling on it.

Returning to the hut after gathering, he handed the required herbs to Medicine Elder and kept the rest for his own research in his room.

Chu Xiaotian's aim was to develop the formula himself, complete the special task, and earn the special gift pack. However, a month passed without success. Yet, he did not get discouraged and became more determined to unravel the formula and leave the island.

Medicine Elder observed all this silently, continuing his daily routine of making medicine, sunbathing, or drinking a little wine to pass the time. Today, however, he began to prepare his medicine earnestly, as if awaiting someone's arrival or as if a life-and-death battle was imminent.

"Have they arrived?" Medicine Elder suddenly said, looking into the distance while making medicine.

Soon, a toxic fog spread over thousands of feet, enveloping the island and the sea. 

Chu Xiaotian, who was making medicine in his room, immediately felt a suffocating sensation. His breathing became rapid, and his face turned from pale to blue, a clear sign of poisoning. The toxin was in the air, and with every breath, Chu Xiaotian inhaled more of it. The toxin spread quickly throughout his body, causing stiffness and rot.

"Am I poisoned?" Chu Xiaotian wondered in horror, quickly using a detoxifying pill from the system. However, it only suppressed the poison, unable to cure it, leaving him in despair.

"Am I going to die here?" he thought, feeling his consciousness fading and his body rotting.

"System, didn't you say all your products are top-notch? Why can't your pills detoxify this?" Chu Xiaotian cried out in despair.

The system, unusually silent, offered no rebuttal.

"Am I dying?" Chu Xiaotian felt his consciousness dropping and his vision darkening...

"Sigh," Medicine Elder sighed, unaffected by the spreading toxic fog.

"Go," he gestured, and a golden light appeared, resisting the toxic fog. The golden light, like fine rain, penetrated the house, water, and land, continually falling.

"This is?" Chu Xiaotian thought, feeling a strong vitality just as he was about to lose consciousness and die.

The golden light entered his body, suppressing the poison and healing the rot at an astonishing rate. The poison was suppressed, and Chu Xiaotian's recovery sped up. In a moment, he felt as if he had returned from hell to heaven, pulled back from the brink of death.

This experience, like a true brush with life and death, made him fully understand the concept of yin and yang.

The golden light was like yang, and the poison like yin – two energies representing life and death. Chu Xiaotian's understanding of yin and yang increased to 35%.

Although it was only a 5% increase, it was a significant improvement. Having reached a level in the system where each increase required 20,000 points, Chu Xiaotian could no longer afford it, so he had to rely on his own understanding.