Chapter 56: Spirit Stone Purification Successful!
Chu Xingchen's words immediately made Ah Nian doubt her own earlier diagnosis.
It was hard to imagine that a man on the verge of death—barely clinging to a single breath—could react so violently to swallowing one pill.
It was as if taking that pill was worse than dying itself.
Zhao Wanqing reacted quickly, rushing forward to press down her brother's only functioning left hand.
This pill was their final hope. Even if he had to die today, he'd die with the medicine in his stomach!
Li Yingling sighed softly as she watched the scene.
Her master's alchemy skills seemed to have reached a new level again.
Not in terms of effectiveness—but in how horribly unpleasant the medicine was. The man on the bed might only have to suffer through this once, but as for her…
From now on, she decided, every time her master refined pills, her junior brother would taste them first.
Since Zhao Zhengyang's left hand was pinned down, all he could do was tremble violently, his face twisting in pain.
Ah Nian quickly stepped forward and extended her senses to examine his internal condition.
After a brief check, she exhaled in relief. The medicine was working. She could clearly sense the internal injuries gradually stabilizing. At this rate, it wouldn't take long before he reached a condition she could treat normally.
"Hold him down—he's getting better," Ah Nian called out.
Chu Xingchen raised his hand lazily and released a wisp of spiritual force, instantly immobilizing Zhao Zhengyang.
"Thank you, Senior," Zhao Wanqing said, releasing her hold, gratitude filling her eyes.
Chu Xingchen showed no sign of joy, merely giving a cold nod. "It's fine."
Zhao Wanqing tried to comfort him. "Please don't take it to heart, Senior… after all, good medicine is bitter."
Chu Xingchen waved dismissively. "No matter… since he's fine, I'll take my leave."
Tiring. This kid's reaction had been so over-the-top it made him lose face.
And to make matters worse, his own disciple had seen it all. No doubt that little troublemaker would start calling him something ridiculous—like "the Doomsday Alchemist."
"Thank you, Senior. The spirit stones will be sent to your residence shortly," Zhao Wanqing said quickly, escorting him and Li Yingling out of the Demon Suppression Bureau.
Ah Nian watched them leave, then toddled over to the clay pot Chu Xingchen had used for alchemy.
Her curious eyes studied the remnants of herbs inside, carefully identifying each one.
She recognized all of them—none were rare or precious. But how could such ordinary ingredients, when refined in this way, produce such strong medicinal effects?
This new method might be worth trying herself.
Unlike Zhao Wanqing, who had actually seen someone taste the result, Ah Nian assumed Zhao Zhengyang's extreme reaction came from the medicine's potent effect, not its taste.
She extended her small hand toward the pot, intending to try a bit of the leftover residue and analyze its properties.
Just as she dipped her finger into the pot, Zhao Wanqing—having just returned from seeing Chu Xingchen off—walked through the infirmary doors and froze.
"Stop!" she shouted.
Ah Nian blinked, puzzled, but her finger was already in the pot.
Zhao Wanqing strode forward, expression stern. "Don't you dare taste that!"
"Why not?" Ah Nian asked, confused. "I've never seen this kind of alchemy before. The effect is amazing!"
Zhao Wanqing hesitated for a moment, recalling that overwhelming, stomach-churning sensation—not pain, not bitterness, but a violent, instinctive rejection.
She chose her words carefully. "Because that medicine is… strange. Unnatural."
"Unnatural?"
Ah Nian had never believed in superstitions. Hearing that only made her more defiant. Without hesitation, she popped her finger into her mouth.
She recognized every single herb in that pot—none were poisonous. How bad could it be? It's not like it could kill her.
Moments later, Ah Nian learned exactly what "unnatural" meant.
From inside the Demon Suppression Bureau infirmary came a piercing scream:
"Mother! Help! I'm dying!!!"
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On the way back, Chu Xingchen still had no idea that his latest attempt at pill refining had driven two people to the brink of collapse.
Right now, he was brooding, trying to figure out how to improve the taste.
Li Yingling, walking beside him, gazed at her master with a gentle, sympathetic expression.
"What are you looking at me like that for?" Chu Xingchen asked irritably.
"I'm encouraging you, Master," Li Yingling said seriously, nodding in approval.
"Encouraging me? What for? Did I not cure the patient?"
"Of course you did! You're amazing, Master!"
Wait—that tone. It was exactly the same sarcastic tone he used whenever he teased her.
Chu Xingchen's eyes narrowed. "You ungrateful disciple! Are you mocking your master now?!"
Li Yingling immediately straightened, feigning sincerity. "Even if you're my master, you can't just accuse me without proof. I would never dare to mock you."
Chu Xingchen seized the chance to turn it around. "Since you trust me so deeply, that's wonderful. Congratulations, Li Yingling, my dear first disciple—henceforth, every new pill I refine will be tested by you first."
Li Yingling froze. Her expression crumbled instantly. That was a death sentence.
"Master! I was wrong! I take it back!" she pleaded desperately.
But Chu Xingchen ignored her, his mood clearly lifted.
Smiles, after all, were contagious—and this time, the smile that had vanished from Li Yingling's face bloomed brightly on his own.
Happiness, too, was contagious.
While Li Yingling kept whining for mercy, Chu Xingchen walked cheerfully all the way back toward their courtyard.
"The world's best master surely forgives his disciple's careless words, right?"
At the courtyard gate, Li Yingling still clung to her last thread of hope. This was no joking matter—if her master took it seriously, her future looked pitch-black.
His medicine… was something only those who'd tasted it could truly understand.
Chu Xingchen pushed open the door and said casually, "Guess."
"Guess what?" came a voice—not from Li Yingling, but from within the courtyard.
Chu Xingchen turned around to see Yaoqin sitting calmly on a stone chair.
"You?" he asked, surprised. "What brings you here?"
"Am I not welcome?" Yaoqin said with a teasing smile, tossing a gleaming spirit stone in her hand.
Chu Xingchen's eyes lit up instantly. Could it be she was here to pay off her spirit stone debt?
"Of course you're welcome! I was just afraid I hadn't prepared a proper welcome."
He quickly took a seat across from her. "So, you're here to settle the spirit stone balance?"
Yaoqin shook her head. "The ones I owe you will still take a bit of time."
Chu Xingchen glanced at the spirit stone in her hand, his brow twitching. "…Then why are you waving one in my face? Just to mess with me?"
Yaoqin rolled her eyes. "This is the blood-tainted spirit stone you gave me to purify."
At that, Chu Xingchen's gaze sharpened. The stones she owed him were valuable—but if she had actually managed to purify this one, that was a far bigger deal.
"You succeeded?" he asked, leaning forward.
Yaoqin nodded proudly. "Mhm. Yesterday's events at Chanlin Temple gave me some inspiration. I went back and tried again—and it actually worked."
She lifted her chin slightly, waiting for praise.
Inspiration from Chanlin Temple?
Chu Xingchen's heart sank with a sudden, unpleasant premonition.
"You didn't…" he said slowly, "use faith power to do it, did you?"
Yaoqin nodded without hesitation. "Exactly. Faith power worked wonders against the blood energy."
Chu Xingchen instantly fell silent.
That was hardly a solution! If purifying one blood-tainted spirit stone required faith power, where was he supposed to get that much?
Suppressing his frustration, he asked again, "To purify one spirit stone's blood energy… how much faith power does it consume?"
"Roughly half and half," Yaoqin replied thoughtfully. "Though the faith power consumption is slightly less."
Chu Xingchen's expression darkened even further. Half and half? That was nowhere near practical.
At this rate, he might as well burn spirit stones and pray to Buddha directly.
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