Chapter Sixty-Four: Frolicking on the Path of Poison
Chapter Sixty-Four: Frolicking on the Path of Poison
When it came to Dan Ding Peak, what intrigued Li Changshou the most was, first, the new Dan furnace that was about to be obtained, and second, one of the poison refining masters there, Wan Linjun.
Most of Li Changshou's knowledge of poison refining theories and nearly half of his poison recipes came from Wan Linjun's several poison scriptures.
Wan Linjun was an elder of the sect, a celestial being on Dan Ding Peak, and also a celestial being who enjoyed refining poison. His strength couldn't be judged by cultivation or magic items.
During the incident when Li Changshou's junior sister went to the Eastern Sea to kill the shrimp demon, Li Changshou had a consideration. He wanted to attract the attention of this expert through the poison powder she spread.
Although the elder took away the poison powder Li Changshou refined, there was no further action afterward...
Li Changshou didn't dare to be too proactive.
If an inner disciple actively sought guidance from the most skilled elder in poison refining within the sect, it would obviously raise suspicions that this disciple might have a cold and vengeful nature, intending to poison someone.
But if it were the other way around, and an elder who enjoyed poison refining insisted on teaching an inner disciple poison refining techniques, Li Changshou's impression would be "softened" considerably...
The slight difference between being proactive and passive was clear.
While riding clouds with Jiuwu towards Dan Ding Peak, Li Changshou was pondering whether, during this rare opportunity to visit Dan Ding Peak, he should arrange for an "encounter" with this poison refining expert...
It couldn't be too deliberate, nor could it be left entirely to fate.
If he could obtain some poison pills and poison scriptures from Elder Wanlin, it would be excellent, even if it meant attracting some attention.
The clouds rolled over two mountain peaks, and Jiuwu chuckled with his hands behind his back, saying, "Look, that's Dan Ding Peak."
Li Changshou nodded with a smile, looking ahead at the teapot-shaped mountain peak with some anticipation.
'Let's see if I can meet Elder Wan Linjun this time. It's not beautiful to force it.'
On Dan Ding Peak, there were two peaks, each for alchemy and casting respectively.
The number of gas-refining practitioners on this peak was not too many, only a hundred or so; including three celestial elders, more than thirty true immortals and elemental immortals, and more than a dozen disciples, the rest were all miscellaneous disciples.
As soon as Li Changshou and Jiuwu landed in a small courtyard halfway up Dan Ding Peak, a miscellaneous disciple led the way and offered tea.
Soon, a true immortal man in a blue robe with an eight-trigram Daoist crown came to greet them. This man was slightly chubby, with a rich appearance, resembling...
Someone who had consumed too many elixirs.
"Jiuwu Junior Brother, why have you been here less often these past few years?"
Jiuwu sighed, "Ah, always being sent out here and there, never a moment of peace."
"Isn't it because Junior Brother has gained the trust of the sect?"
The round-faced immortal said with a smile and gestured, "The Bai Fan Hall has issued an order, and there happen to be a few spare Dan furnaces. I'll take you to choose."
Li Changshou stood behind Jiuwu. Although he was much taller than Jiuwu, he seemed like an invisible person.
Jiuwu also introduced Li Changshou, and this round-faced immortal was named Liu Feixian, also a steward within the sect, responsible for handling the miscellaneous affairs of Dan Ding Peak.
Li Changshou saluted and addressed him as Senior Uncle, and Liu Feixian encouraged him with a few words before ceasing any further conversation with him.
The three of them left the small courtyard and floated leisurely towards a secluded valley.
Liu Feixian and Jiuwu chatted along the way, while Li Changshou observed in silence, taking in the surroundings.
There was a large array surrounding the outer periphery of the secluded valley, blocking external spiritual awareness probes and providing a certain degree of protection.
Inside the array, the fragrance of flowers and the chirping of birds filled the air, with fairy lights shimmering everywhere.
A sparse forest was dotted with dozens of small buildings. At this time, most of them had opened the formations outside, and the immortals and disciples inside should all be practicing.
Following the winding path through the woods, laughter could be heard.
Compared to his own Little Qiong Peak, this place indeed seemed... a bit richer.
Following the two true immortals, they found a large house hidden by formations.
Liu Feixian quickly opened the door, revealing that the interior was covered with dust. Several giant Dan furnaces were placed in the corners, and there were various cushions and miscellaneous items scattered around.
Li Changshou immediately chose one of the Dan furnaces. Although this Dan furnace was not as good as the purple-gold furnace he had repaired, it was a new treasure with all the necessary restrictions intact, and its overall power was slightly higher than the one that had exploded.
This was quite good. After all, as a visible disciple of the Returning Void Realm, he didn't need too good of a Dan furnace...
Beside him, Jiuwu showed a wry smile and teasingly scolded, "Senior Brother Liu, these Dan furnaces you've given are too stingy! Changshou Junior Nephew has made a considerable contribution this time. The sect's reward allows him to choose a furnace by himself when coming to Dan Ding Peak. On the way here, I've put my reputation on the line. Don't think you can easily dismiss him!"
Liu Feixian's face looked somewhat embarrassed as he hastily said, "Junior Brother, why didn't you say so earlier? Come, let's go to another place."
Li Changshou thanked Jiuwu inwardly and was about to say that the furnaces here were already enough when a surprised voice came from outside the door.
"Changshou? Are you, the disciple from Little Qiong Peak, Changshou?"
Jiuwu was stunned, Liu Feixian was stunned, but Li Changshou felt delighted.
A breeze blew by, and outside the door stood a thin old man leaning on a crutch.
The crutch was wrapped in a layer of copper skin, and the old man's wrinkled face looked somewhat stern, but his eyes were sharp, and his long gray-white hair fluttered without wind. There was a faint pungent smell emanating from his Daoist robe...
Elder Wan Linjun!
Jiuwu and Liu Feixian quickly bowed.
Jiuwu hurriedly transmitted to Li Changshou, "This is Elder Wan Linjun! Just call him Elder Uncle."
"Li Changshou, disciple of Little Qiong Peak, pays respects to Elder Uncle."
The old man nodded in response, his mouth twitching, and a somewhat... chilling smile emerged.
While Jiuwu and Liu Feixian shivered, they subconsciously took two steps back.
How had they managed to offend this expert in poison refining, who rarely left his residence?
But Wan Linjun did not engage in any pleasantries. He pointed directly at Li Changshou and asked, "How is the Fox Heart Pill refined?"
Finally, the seeds he had planted years ago had borne fruit!
Li Changshou pondered for a moment, bowed his head in a respectful posture, and with clear but slightly nervous speech, he answered, "According to the proportions of each medicine, take three parts of the blood from the tip of the fox's heart, one part of the clouded eye grass, two parts of the honeyed black soul grass, one part of the Hongyu grass, supplemented with a little bit of water from the Fei Zhu, and a little bit of pure white powder...
By refining with cold fire for six hours, you can obtain the Fox Heart Pill."
Elder Wan Linjun nodded slowly, and the smile at the corner of his mouth became even more... terrifying!
"If you add two parts of Corpse Orchid Powder, and refine with hidden fire for twelve hours, what do you get?"
Li Changshou answered, "The Dark Fox Dispersal Pill."
"If you remove the honeyed black soul grass, add three parts of Danyang Lotus Powder and two parts of Floating Frost Sand, and refine with white bright fire for twenty-four hours, what do you get?"
Li Changshou pondered for a moment, this time his contemplation lasted a little longer.
Jiuwu on the side became somewhat anxious, repeatedly signaling to Liu Feixian not to speak...
This elder could turn them both into poisoned immortals with just a flick of his nostril!
Outside the door, Elder Wan Linjun's smile grew colder, his eyes slightly narrowed, flashing with a glint of light.
Jiuwu carefully weighed his words. He really wasn't familiar with this elder, but judging from the elder's expression at this moment...
It looked like he wanted to dissolve Li Changshou!
Yet, Li Changshou replied at this moment:
"A useless pill."
The corner of Jiuwu's mouth twitched, and he was about to step forward to plead for him.
However, Elder Wan Linjun's smile disappeared at this moment, his face serious as he asked, "Why is it useless?"
"The medicinal properties are neutralized," Li Changshou frowned, "The White Bright Fire itself is gentle and belongs to neutral fire. At this point in the recipe, the hot and cold properties are neutralized, and the medicinal properties of each herb counteract each other..."
"Though it can be made into a pill, it's still a useless pill."
"Oh?" Elder Wanlin took a half step forward, leaning on his cane.
Jiuwu hurried forward, bowing respectfully. "Elder, this young fellow is highly regarded by the disciple's master. If he's offended you in any way, please, out of respect for the disciple's master, be lenient."
Elder Wanlin glanced at the short Taoist, saying nothing, and continued to focus on Li Changshou. "You mentioned 'property of the medicine,' but these are clearly poisons."
Li Changshou showed a hint of nervousness, but bowed and said the sentence he had been waiting decades for, based on the elder's usual deeds and what was most likely to touch the elder's heart: "Poisons are a branch of medicine; just like cooking dishes has sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy flavors, medicine is the same."
The room fell silent. Lian Feixian turned to glare at Li Changshou, her eyes showing signs of urgency.
What kind of nonsense was he spouting? How could poisons and medicine be equated?
Jiuwu felt a pair of eyes on him, and when he looked up, he saw Elder Wanlin's narrow eyes and the stiff, cold smile on his lips.
The elder said, "I'll borrow him for a few days, is that alright?"
"Of course, please."
"Hmm," Elder Wanlin nodded and said to Li Changshou, "You, follow me."
Li Changshou bowed, bid farewell to Jiuwu and Lian Feixian, and followed the elder.
Not long after they walked a few steps, Elder Wanlin turned and asked, "How do you refine the Jade Ming Pill?"
"The disciple only knows the incomplete formula. The main ingredients are three parts Underworld Lethe Water, and two blooms of Eagle Sorrows Flowers aged between one thousand to three thousand years..."
"Why must the Eagle Sorrows Flowers be aged between one thousand to three thousand years?"
"Even if the properties of the medicines do not conflict, they will inevitably influence each other. If the flowers are too old and the properties too strong, it's easy to disrupt the balance of the pill. The scriptures mention that higher age doesn't necessarily mean better quality. Suitability is most important."
"Where did you read these scriptures?"
"Outside the Daozang Hall, there are several bookshelves with many scriptures on alchemy. The disciple has read and pondered many of them... Could it be that some of those poison scriptures were authored by you, Elder?"
"Heh heh, well done."
In the whispers carried by the breeze, the figures of the old and the young disappeared onto a secluded path.
Jiuwu let out a long sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
Although the heavenly Elder Wanlin hadn't displayed any heavenly authority, the phrase "poison kills even immortals" truly sent shivers down one's spine...
The slightly plump celestial approached and asked in a low voice, "Who is this young fellow? I've never seen a senior brother so genial!"
"You call that genial?" Jiuwu glared at Lian Feixian. Just as he was about to reply, he remembered something and shook his head. "Don't ask me, I can't say anything."
Lian Feixian furrowed her brows, her expression tense.
...
Half a month later, at dusk.
Li Changshou rode a white cloud, leaving Danfeng Peak calmly and heading towards his own Little Qiong Peak.
The journey was uneventful. When he returned to Little Qiong Peak, Qin Xuanya was already gone.
Back in his alchemy room, when he escaped from a two-zhang-tall pitch-black pill furnace in his storage magic item, there was no change in his expression.
After setting up various formations around and switching places through a trick, he sat down behind his desk with a solemn face.
His left hand brushed across the table, jade plaques and bottles filled the table...
Li Changshou smiled faintly, feeling a thousand emotions in his heart.
Finally, he had extracted all the poison-related scriptures from this elder...
And he also obtained a large batch of poison pills and spirit pills from the elder!
But because of this, he owed a big favor and would have to find an opportunity to repay it in the future to settle this cause and effect.
These poison-related scriptures were very important to Li Changshou, and the poison pills provided by Elder Wanlin as "samples and references" were even more important!
Because this could solve a big problem for Li Changshou—how to explain to the sect in the future where those poison pills that could kill immortals came from!
Just say they were bestowed by Elder Wanlin.
In this world, where was there any chance picked up for nothing? It was nothing but years and decades of planning.
This poison immortal elder...
The image of the elder's signature stiff cold smile emerged in Li Changshou's mind, making his smile even more profound.
Actually, his personality was quite adorable, obsessed with pills and the path of poison, without too many scheming thoughts.
Suddenly, Li Changshou felt a little... itchy between his two sides.
Similar to the itching he had been feeling in his nostril recently.
What the heck?
Li Changshou tilted his head, quickly dispelling the image of the elder from his mind, and carefully felt his state. The "itch" quickly disappeared.
He was startled, thinking it might be due to reading "One Hundred Beauties Entering Old Age," developing some inexplicable quirks.
Following that, Li Changshou frowned.
What was wrong with him? Lately, there had been inexplicable fluctuations in his body?
He really needed to consolidate his foundation as an immortal after becoming one.
...
A moment ago...
The Heavenly Court, the Moon Matchmaker Hall.