Chapter 25: Brewing Spiritual Elixirs

Before Old Man Mo's return, Han Li deemed it safe to use the vial within Divine Hands Valley. The secluded valley housed no outsiders, minimizing the risk of exposure. He estimated Mo's journey would take nearly a year, given the time needed to scour remote wilderness for rare herbs. With six to seven months remaining, Han Li focused on systematically cultivating herbs for potent elixirs.

These elixirs—ones even Old Man Mo had never brewed due to lack of ingredients—could break cultivation bottlenecks and amplify power. Each recipe demanded herbs of precise ages, now achievable through the vial's green liquid.

Han Li meticulously followed the formulas he'd memorized during his medical studies. Mo had freely shared these "unattainable" recipes, dismissing them as impractical curiosities. Now, they became Han Li's lifeline. He worked tirelessly, racing against time to stockpile elixirs before Mo's return. Once finished, he vowed to lock the vial away—its secret too perilous to risk under Mo's watchful eye.

The relationship between master and disciple simmered with unspoken tension. Mo's occasional cryptic glances and relentless focus on Han Li's口诀 progress bred unease. Though Mo provided ideal cultivation conditions, a barrier lingered. Han Li's instincts warned of hidden motives beneath Mo's veneer of indifference.

*"Harm no one, but trust no one."* This adage guided Han Li. Whether Mo harbored ill intent or not, vigilance was prudent. He resolved to maintain appearances as a dutiful disciple while safeguarding the vial.

Months passed. Han Li harvested vial-enhanced herbs, crafting elixirs like **Yellow Dragon Pills**, **Clear Spirit Powder**, **Golden Marrow Pills**, and **Essence-Nourishing Pills**. Failures stung—each wasted herb represented lost silver—but success eventually crowned his efforts.

- **Yellow Dragon Pills** and **Golden Marrow Pills** accelerated cultivation, reforging the body.

- **Clear Spirit Powder** neutralized hundreds of poisons.

- **Essence-Nourishing Pills** healed grievous wounds, snatching lives from death's brink.

With these treasures, Han Li foresaw effortless leaps to the口诀's sixth layer. Yet as he admired the rows of jade vials, a shadow lingered—the vial's secret, and the master who must never discover it.