Xu Zhongdao saw Su Yan's expression and explained: "Your body is much more efficient at absorption and more tolerant of pain than ordinary Great Accomplishment in Skin Refining practitioners. I will formulate the medicine based on your specific condition and accelerate your progress."
Su Yan's eyes lit up: "Specific problems require specific analysis?"
Xu Zhongdao's eyes brightened: "Excellent! That's exactly it. There are a thousand different bodies for a thousand different people. Even with standardized martial arts, practitioners must adjust to their own bodies to achieve Minor or Great Accomplishment. Medicine is the same. Commercially available elixirs work for most people, but they compromise on some potency. You didn't think apothecaries were just drug-making tools, did you?"
Su Yan immediately shook his head: "Of course not, but I didn't expect this level of customization."
"It's not entirely customizable. Even the wealthy mostly only receive periodic adjustments and use physicians or apothecaries to assist their training. Full, bespoke support is often too expensive." This was easy to understand. Having a master apothecary constantly adjust your training resources based on your physical condition required massive manpower, resources, and, most importantly, complete trust. Who would dare try a formula that started with multiple poisons?
Su Yan, however, was undaunted. He bowed respectfully to Xu Zhongdao: "Thank you, Elder Xu."
At another large compound in Yun Cang Town. Gu Hong stood before an elder, his expression respectful: "Father, we must devise a plan soon, or that old bastard Song Qi will heal his injuries."
"Let him heal." Gu Changfeng wore a black robe with gold cloud patterns and a python-patterned waist belt. He was lean and fierce, like a sturdy wolf. He was practicing a Stance Skill in the courtyard. A wolf-like phantom faintly appeared on his body, and his breathing, as it fluctuated, seemed to draw in primal energy. Though in his fifties or sixties, he looked vibrant with youthful energy.
His eyes were cold: "He wasted so many years. Even if he heals, he will only be at the Vitality Nurturing stage. True Intent is a pipe dream."
"But he..."
"Hong'er, you must prioritize." Gu Changfeng interrupted him: "The Desolate Mountain is opening soon. The Miasma Valley, Ancient Forest Peak, and Nine Turns Summit have been closed for six or seven years. There will be many valuable Desolate Beasts and Treasure Plants. Forget Second-Order Desolate Beasts for now, but Second-Order Treasure Plants and goods are priceless. Every family will be scrambling. We must prepare, or we will suffer losses. The city families, the mountain hermits, and even that troublemaker Pang Tianfeng are difficult to handle. Song Qi is nothing."
Gu Changfeng sneered: "The Chief told me that after this expedition, the Overlord Sect (上宗) will send people to collect the tributes. That's the main goal."
"Father, you mean the Beast King Sect?" Gu Hong's expression shifted with excitement.
The Beast King Sect was supreme in Lingnan Prefecture. Even the Demon Slaying Division stationed there was suppressed by them. Many commanderies and towns, especially the Ten Thousand Ridge Desolate Mountain in Lingnan Prefecture, were completely dominated by the Beast King Sect. The Beast King Sect was the first power, followed by sects like the Nine Peaks Faction, the Blazing Fire Holy Gate, and the Pill Profound Sect, who divided the famous mountains and rivers. The Dali Dynasty controlled the populated cities, while the various sects controlled the sacred mountains and spiritual lands, each having advantages and checks on the other.
However, the Beast King Sect was an exception. The sect was immensely powerful, famous for commanding Desolate Beasts, and its disciples were everywhere. Its influence was so deeply rooted that it dominated the area.
The entire White Egret Prefecture was under the control of the Beast King Sect, and Yun Cang Town was naturally part of that domain. Every family and household had some connection to the Beast King Sect, which primarily involved offering tribute. This included offering treasures and conducting trade, all in exchange for protection and a chance to advance. For Gu Changfeng and his son, Gu Hong, this was a major opportunity.
Gu Changfeng said: "The Chief has gathered some information about the Beast King Sect's disciples. When the sect comes this time, setting aside the usual tribute, every family will fight for a nomination spot to send someone into the sect—that's standard practice, but it's not a major concern for us."
Gu Hong's eyes cooled, but he nodded: "The Overlord Sect's requirements are extremely high. Even the most talented martial artists under the age of twenty-five in Yun Cang Town can barely qualify."
Gu Changfeng's tone became solemn: "Therefore, we must fight for a chance to recommend a Secular Registered Disciple. If we offer enough treasures and achieve merit, we could obtain a Beast King Sect cultivation method—that would be an immense fortune. Even if you don't enter the sect this generation, your descendants will have a chance."
Gu Hong was moved by his father's words. If they succeeded, he would have a chance to break through the Vitality Nurturing stage and even the True Intent stage, becoming a supreme figure.
"Father, we have the Chief, the Second Chief, and master's from other families. With True Intent experts above us, how can this opportunity fall to us?"
"If we earn merit for the Small Mountain Association, the Chief won't play favorites. Moreover, the Beast King Sect practices beast taming and the visualization of True Intent based on the character 'Beast'. If you can find more juvenile beasts when the mountain opens, do you fear we won't succeed?"
The father and son spoke in hushed tones, plotting. Gu Hong's eyes grew brighter as he realized the path forward. At the last moment, Gu Hong was about to rush out to begin his machinations when the old man, Gu Changfeng, stopped him:
"Wait. Song Qi, that old man, has taken an interest in that young man from the poor village?"
Gu Hong paused, recalling Su Yan. Annoyance surged through him, and he sneered: "He's a low-caste youth who works as a mountain-man. He gave the Blood Vein Flower to that old fool."
"He has some nerve." Gu Changfeng's eyes were sinister, his tone indifferent: "The Golden Ape Martial Academy's Inner Door assessment is imminent. It's best not to draw blood. We'll simply punish him lightly and prevent him from entering the Inner Door."
Both father and son were vengeful. Since Su Yan had sided with Song Qi, he was now their target. Gu Hong nodded: "I understand, Father."
Su Yan, following Xu Zhongdao's instructions, sought out the necessary medicinal herbs at the city's apothecaries. The Dark Scarlet Root was difficult to find, but the Hundred Herb Hall had some that had already been pre-processed. Although Treasure Plants were rare, covering hundreds of peaks and thousands of mountain-men, someone would eventually find them.
Su Yan bought all the herbs. He also found a chance to delay his return, pretending to go back to Cloud-Front Village to retrieve the meat of the Bronze Fox Ape and the Wolf King, which he then carried in large bundles to Xu Zhongdao's mansion.
As Xu Zhongdao had said, he was not very practiced at refining the Tendon-Restoring and Meridian-Continuing Pill. According to the elder, this pill was barely a Second-Order Low-Grade elixir, and even he couldn't handle it casually. He needed time to understand its medicinal properties and feel out the process before starting.
"Young man, come with me. Watch how I refine the Red Skin Powder." Su Yan had just handed the materials to Xu Zhongdao when the elder called him over. Su Yan wasn't sure what Song Qi had told Xu Zhongdao, but the Great Manager was clearly very interested in him.
"Elder Xu, the Red Skin Powder is a formula of the Hundred Herb Hall..." Su Yan looked at Xu Zhongdao, who shook his head: "This kind of formula can be compounded by any skilled apothecary; it's not the foundation of the Hundred Herb Hall. Old Song mentioned you also studied herbology and identification. I want to see how much you've learned."
"Then I thank you for the guidance, Elder Xu." Su Yan's eyes flickered. He suddenly thought that he had collected so many poisonous materials and Treasure Plants only to feed them directly to his Contracted Bugs. While effective, it felt wasteful. What would happen if he could refine the poisons into elixirs himself?