Chapter 100: The Art of Pill Concoction, Ever-Changing and Unbound

Chapter 100: The Art of Pill Concoction, Ever-Changing and Unbound

After Li Xuan finished explaining the basic pill concoction theories that he had fabricated, he turned to Su Lingxiu and asked, "Do you remember all that?"

If she couldn't remember, then this girl's talent would be a bit lacking.

Both Xu Yan and Meng Chong had memorized it after hearing it just once.

"Master, I remember it all, and I even thought of a pill formula. What do you think?" Su Lingxiu asked excitedly.

Li Xuan was slightly taken aback. Had she come up with a pill formula so quickly?

She did have talent! He hadn't misjudged her, nor had he taken on a disciple in vain.

Maintaining a calm expression, he nodded and said, "Oh? What kind of pill is it?"

"Master, you said that cultivation starts with sensing qi and blood, refining the skin, refining the bones, and refining the organs. So, I thought of using ginseng, nine-leaf yuan zhi, tiger blood... and combining them to create a pill that will surely be highly nourishing and can be quickly digested for cultivation purposes," Su Lingxiu explained her idea.

"The fact that you can come up with a pill formula like this shows that you have a deep understanding of various medicinal ingredients..." Li Xuan said calmly.

Su Lingxiu's heart leaped with joy. Did her master just acknowledge her pill formula?

But Li Xuan continued, "You do have talent, or else I wouldn't have taken you as my disciple. However, how did you come up with this formula? Do you know the principle of 'emperor, minister, assistant, and messenger' in pill concoction?"

Holding onto her dress corner, Su Lingxiu replied, "No, I don't. Please enlighten me, Master."

"The main ingredient that targets the ailment is the emperor. The ingredient that assists the emperor is the minister. The ingredient that harmonizes with the minister is the assistant. The emperor is one, the minister is two, and the assistant is three. This is the small triad. The emperor is two, the minister is three, and there are five assistants. This is the medium triad..." Li Xuan explained the principle of emperor, minister, assistant, and messenger, and then said, "You need to meditate on this and understand which ingredients should be the emperor, minister, assistant, and messenger. The art of pill concoction is ever-changing and unbound."

"Always remember, ailments have no fixed form, treatments have no fixed formula, and medicines have no fixed type. Advancing and retreating, success and failure lie in timing. Divine craftsmanship lies in the person, and the principle of emperor, minister, assistant, and messenger lies in their usage..." Su Lingxiu was deeply shocked by Li Xuan's words. In this moment, it was as if a window had been opened, revealing a whole new world to her.

She felt as though she had gained some enlightenment.

Various precious and spiritual medicines flashed through her mind, along with their unique properties and strengths... They all appeared one by one in her thoughts.

"Emperor, minister, assistant, and messenger? The art of pill concoction is ever-changing and unbound..." Su Lingxiu vaguely felt that she had understood something. If she took the time to organize her thoughts, she would surely be able to come up with a qualified pill formula.

Li Xuan looked at her and saw that this girl had a good understanding. This theory of pill concoction and the principle of emperor, minister, assistant, and messenger seemed to have given her great inspiration.

Perhaps she had gained some enlightenment.

Thus, he stopped explaining and gave Su Lingxiu time to digest what she had learned.

"Master, I think I understand a little. I will meditate on it seriously," Su Lingxiu said respectfully.

"Good. Next, I will teach you how to refine pills," Li Xuan nodded and continued, "In pill concoction, your qi and blood serve as the crucible, your qi and blood as the pill fire, and your mind as the sensor to understand the changes in the pill and predict its success or failure... Using your true qi as the pill fire, refine and remove the impurities, extracting the essence..."

How does one refine pills?

Li Xuan directly fabricated the methods of using qi and blood for pill concoction and using true qi for pill refinement. In the Qi and Blood Realm, one would use their qi and blood as the pill fire to refine pills, and in the Innate Realm, they would use their true qi... and so on.

As for a pill furnace, Li Xuan wasn't sure if one could be crafted, so he didn't emphasize it.

"Since you haven't entered the Qi and Blood Realm yet, you naturally can't use your qi and blood as the pill fire to refine pills. You can try using a pill furnace, of course. If you have a good pill furnace to assist you, refining pills will surely be easier," Li Xuan said. "It's up to you to figure out how to sense and understand the way of pill concoction. If you want to use a pill furnace to assist in pill refinement, you'll need to find a way to make one yourself. There are specific requirements for pill furnaces; a regular iron furnace is not suitable for pill concoction."

Li Xuan reminded Su Lingxiu that aside from refining pills with her hands, she could also use a pill furnace for assistance.

As for how she would obtain a pill furnace, that would depend entirely on Su Lingxiu's own abilities.

After all, he didn't have a pill furnace himself, nor did he know how to refine pills.

It was all made up.

"Yes, Master!" Su Lingxiu nodded, indicating that she understood.

Next was the core of the Dan Medicinal Martial Art—how to cultivate it.

"In the cultivation of the Dan Medicinal Martial Art, although we also refine the skin, bones, and organs, the practice is to draw close to the vitality of all things, to nurture oneself with the spiritual qi of all things, and to stimulate the qi and blood.

"The qi and blood of a Dan Medicinal Martial Artist is filled with vibrant vitality. This is the way of a physician—to heal and save people. However, it can also be as fierce as fire. This is the way of a pill concoctor—to extract the essence and refine pills.

"The physician is wood, the pill concoctor is fire. Wood can give birth to fire, fire can refine metal, metal can give birth to water, and water can give birth to wood..."

Li Xuan then imparted the cultivation method of a Dan Medicinal Martial Artist to Su Lingxiu, along with the concepts of yin and yang, the five elements, the odd meridians and the eight vessels, and the body's orifices and acupoints.

The qi and blood, as well as the true qi, cultivated by a Dan Medicinal Martial Artist naturally had their unique characteristics.

He had fabricated this entire Dan Medicinal Martial Art, and now he had imparted it all to Su Lingxiu. Whether she could comprehend anything from this vast, complex, and somewhat inconsistent theory depended entirely on her own talent.

Li Xuan couldn't guarantee her success, but he remained hopeful. If she succeeded, he would have established another martial arts system and gained a precious disciple.

This little girl was not only beautiful and lively but also kind-hearted and fond of burying evildoers. If she could successfully comprehend this art, Li Xuan believed that her troubles would be nothing but a small matter.

However, if she failed to comprehend it...

Then it would mean that master and disciple were not fated to be.

"Remember, I am imparting a Dao, not an ordinary technique. A Dao needs to be comprehended and its true meaning understood..." Li Xuan emphasized once again that he was teaching her a Dao, something that needed to be comprehended, not just blindly practiced. Without enlightenment and improvement, it would be impossible to cultivate.

"Master, I understand!" Su Lingxiu nodded her little head.

She was deeply shaken. She had never imagined that there could be such a profound and mysterious martial art in the world.

If she could comprehend it, how powerful would she become?

The wonders of pills were extraordinary. If she could refine them, would she still need to worry about slow cultivation?

A single pill could save her ten days or even a month or a year of bitter cultivation.

"I need to figure out the pill formula first!" Su Lingxiu thought excitedly.

"Mhm." Li Xuan nodded. He believed in Su Lingxiu's talent, and he was confident that with the theories he had taught her, she would be able to come up with pill formulas and medicines.

However, Dan Medicinal Martial Art was not just about formulas, herbs, and medical techniques; it was also about cultivating a unique martial arts path.

For Su Lingxiu, the most challenging part would be to comprehend the cultivation method of Dan Medicinal Martial Art and how to cultivate the exclusive Qi and blood of a Dan Medicinal Martial Artist.

And the most difficult part was yet to come: entering this new realm.

Once she successfully entered and comprehended the cultivation method, the subsequent stages, such as the Innate Realm and higher realms, would be relatively easier because she would have laid the foundation and understood the theoretical basis.

Li Xuan thought of his precious senior disciple, Xu Yan. He cultivated orthodox martial arts, pure and unadulterated. Because of the purity of his art, his understanding and comprehension of martial arts were extremely profound.

Moreover, Xu Yan was a pioneer of martial arts. The foundation and basis of this grand endeavor rested on his shoulders.

"The cultivation method of Dan Medicinal Martial Art is somewhat different from orthodox martial arts, but it is still relatively close. Should I ask Xu Yan to assist Su Lingxiu in comprehending this technique?" Li Xuan wondered.

When it came to enlightenment and imaginative abilities, no one could surpass Xu Yan.

With this thought, Li Xuan said, "As for how to refine the skin, bones, and organs, and how to cultivate the Qi and blood unique to Dan Medicinal Martial Artists, you can ask your senior martial brother when he returns."

Su Lingxiu's eyes lit up. "What's my senior martial brother's cultivation level?"

Li Xuan replied calmly, "Innate Realm. He can easily kill any ordinary inner sect master."

Su Lingxiu's heart raced with excitement. Her master was mysterious and powerful, and so was her senior martial brother. With such formidable backers, she felt that she need not fear anyone.

"When will my senior martial brother be back, Master?" Su Lingxiu asked eagerly.

She couldn't wait to comprehend the technique and begin her cultivation. She found the art her master had passed down to be too profound, and she couldn't figure out where to start.

As for pills, she already had some insights.

All she needed to do was organize her thoughts, and she would be able to come up with some pill formulas.

Then, she just needed to find a pill furnace and figure out how to refine pills. However, true pill refining required entering the martial arts realm and cultivating her Qi and blood.

Therefore, if she couldn't comprehend the martial arts cultivation method, even if she understood pills and formulated recipes, she would only be an ordinary pill-making girl.

She couldn't be considered a Dan Medicinal Martial Artist!

"Your senior martial brother will be back in a few days. You should take this time to ponder over what I've taught you," Li Xuan said as he took his leave.

Su Lingxiu followed excitedly, carrying her shovel. "Master, I already have a rough idea of some pill formulas. Once I organize my thoughts, I should be able to come up with a few. But I don't have a pill furnace. How am I supposed to refine pills?"

With his hands behind his back and a leisurely gait, Li Xuan said, "A teacher can only guide you to the door; the rest is up to the individual."

"Alright, I'll figure something out," Su Lingxiu replied.

"Cultivating, nurturing his sword, and comprehending his martial arts," Li Xuan replied nonchalantly.

"Nurturing his sword?" Su Lingxiu blinked.

"Nurturing the sword with your mind and intent... It's not your forte, so you wouldn't understand." Li Xuan glanced at the young girl.

His gaze fell on the shovel in her hand. Why was this young lady so fond of playing with a shovel?

"What are you doing with that shovel?" he asked.

"Burying people!" Su Lingxiu replied.

"How many people have you buried?" Li Xuan asked, intrigued.

"Not a hundred, but definitely several dozen," she answered after a moment's thought.

"Master, I also have a small herb spade for digging medicinal ingredients, but I lost it, so now I only have this shovel left," Su Lingxiu added.

Back in the small courtyard, Li Xuan sat down on a chair while Su Lingxiu retreated into her room.

"Aunt Zhou, go and buy me some paper and brushes, lots of them!" Su Lingxiu called out.

"Yes, Miss," Aunt Zhou replied, nodding. She left Su Lingxiu's room and found Shi Er, asking him to purchase the requested items.

Shi Er was reluctant to agree, as he considered himself a servant of the young master, not her. However, the fact that Su Lingxiu was now the young master's disciple and that she needed the paper and brushes for her studies convinced him to assent.

"Miss, what is it?" Aunt Zhou asked anxiously as she returned to her room.

"Aunt Zhou, Master is too amazing! Dan Medicinal Martial Art is so powerful and mystical. I want to refine pills!" Su Lingxiu exclaimed excitedly.

Aunt Zhou looked bewildered. "Refine pills? What's that?"

"Aunt Zhou, go and find me a pill furnace. Let me think... what should a pill furnace look like..." Su Lingxiu mused.

"Master said that a pill furnace can't be made of ordinary steel or iron. It has to be crafted from treasure refining materials..." she continued.

In the Inner Domain, only those at the Zongshi level could truly utilize treasures.

Even among First Rank warriors, not many possessed treasures.

"But where can we find treasure refining materials in the borderlands?" Su Lingxiu frowned, feeling troubled.

"Miss, what is this pill furnace? Should I look for one in the royal palaces of Wu or Qi?" Aunt Zhou asked, deep in thought.

Shi Er returned with the paper and brushes, handed them over to Aunt Zhou, and then retreated to ponder how to break through his bottleneck and enter the Qi and Blood Realm.

Su Lingxiu picked up a brush and began to sketch on the paper, drawing the vague outlines of a pill furnace that had flashed in her mind.

The pill furnace was not too large and had vents for expelling impurities, as well as a closable lid...

"Aunt Zhou, the pill furnace should look something like this, but it needs to be made from treasure refining materials..." Su Lingxiu handed the pill furnace sketch to Aunt Zhou, still looking worried.

Aunt Zhou took the sketch, not understanding what a pill furnace was, but knowing that it was important to her young mistress. "Miss, don't worry. Although we can't cultivate in the borderlands, we should be able to find some suitable materials. I'm sure we can get our hands on something."

"I hope so," Su Lingxiu nodded. "Aunt Zhou, please try your best to find the materials. Ask the Heavenly Mother Church and tell Kou Ruozhi to help me look for them."

"I understand, Miss. But what if I have to leave..." Aunt Zhou hesitated.

"Aunt Zhou, don't worry. Master is so powerful, and I have Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother too..." Su Lingxiu reassured her.

"Then I shall go now."

"Okay!" Su Lingxiu nodded.

After Aunt Zhou left, Su Lingxiu immersed herself in writing down her insights about dan medicines. She also listed various precious and spiritual medicines, noting their unique properties and effects.

Half a day passed as she organized her thoughts and made notes. Usually, Aunt Zhou would take care of her meals, reminding her to eat on time. But with Aunt Zhou gone, Su Lingxiu was so engrossed in her task that she only snapped out of her trance when her stomach started rumbling.

Looking up at the window, she realized it was already evening.

Stepping out of her room, she saw her master sitting in a chair, perusing an ancient tome. He looked serene and otherworldly, like a reclusive master.

"Master, I'm hungry!" Su Lingxiu exclaimed, tugging at Li Xuan's arm and blinking her eyes.

Li Xuan closed the ancient book and said, "Shi Er, from today onwards, you are in charge of Lingxiu's meals."

"Yes, Young Master!" Shi Er replied respectfully.

"Thank you, Master!" Su Lingxiu beamed.

After dinner, Su Lingxiu returned to her room and continued organizing her notes on the various precious medicines, laying the groundwork for creating her own dan formulas.

Li Xuan quietly appeared outside the window, observing her with a nod of approval. Su Lingxiu's talent for dan medicines was indeed extraordinary.

She had already gained some insights and was now organizing her thoughts. He believed that she would come up with dan formulas soon.

"I hope she can smoothly comprehend the cultivation method," Li Xuan thought to himself.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end