https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-95-Ingesting-Dipulse-Spiritual-Fluid-Potential-Skyrockets-Return-Home/13688249/
Chapter 96: Giving the Master a Little Shock
"Brother! You're back!"
As Lu Qing stepped into the Half Mountain Small Courtyard, a small figure darted out from inside and dashed straight into his arms.
He gently caught the little one, lifting her up, and breathed a quiet sigh of relief at the joyful expression on Xiao Yan’s face.
Good. The little one hadn’t cried.
"Yeah, I’m back. Was Xiao Yan good while I was gone?" Lu Qing asked, cradling his sister with affection.
"Of course I was good! This time, you didn’t come back at night, but I didn’t cry at all!" Xiao Yan boasted proudly.
"Xiao Yan’s a real big girl!" Lu Qing praised without hesitation.
He hadn’t expected her to stay calm—she’d actually been remarkably composed.
"Because Chen Ye Ye said you’re really strong now, and you’ll be fine. I knew you’d come back, so I didn’t cry," she said seriously.
"Yep, your big brother is pretty strong now," Lu Qing ruffled her hair affectionately.
"Back so late—what happened this time?" Chen Laodaifu emerged from the courtyard, hands behind his back.
"Master," Lu Qing set Xiao Yan down, his expression turning solemn. "There was an unexpected situation. I’m sorry I worried you."
"Worried? Not really. Going into the mountains to gather herbs is never easy—being late happens all the time," Old Doctor waved it off.
He knew the mountain well. Sometimes, the world outside was sunny and bright, but just a few steps into the forest, a sudden storm would roll in without warning. And then there were the thick, creeping mists that could appear without a sound, trapping travelers for days.
Had it not been for Lu Qing’s Qi Xue Jing Xia Cheng cultivation and Xiao Li’s unusual spiritual beast abilities, Old Doctor wouldn’t have allowed him to go alone.
"By the way," Old Doctor frowned, "where’s that little black beast of yours? I haven’t seen it return."
He’d grown quite fond of Xiao Li during their recent encounters—perhaps because the little creature seemed to sense the gentle aura emanating from the old doctor.
"Ah, Brother! Where’s Xiao Li? Did it go home?" Xiao Yan asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Awooo～"
Before Lu Qing could answer, a sudden call echoed through the courtyard, instantly catching Xiao Yan’s attention.
"It’s Xiao Li!"
She’d spent nearly every waking moment with the little beast—sleeping side by side, playing together. She knew its voice like her own heartbeat.
She spun around, scanning the area frantically. "Xiao Li! Where are you?"
But no matter how hard she looked, she couldn’t spot it. Her tiny brow furrowed in confusion.
She definitely heard it right here—so why couldn’t she see it? Where had Xiao Li hidden?
Old Doctor, however, was staring at Lu Qing with growing astonishment.
He’d heard the voice clearly—coming from right beside Lu Qing.
Yet he saw nothing. No shadow, no movement. And Lu Qing didn’t look like he was concealing anything—certainly not a creature the size of Xiao Li.
Could it be inside the Herb Basket?
Old Doctor’s gaze flicked toward the woven basket slung across Lu Qing’s back.
"Xiao Li, stop fooling around. Come out."
Seeing that both his master and Xiao Yan were utterly baffled, Lu Qing smirked and gave his shoulder a light tap.
Then, under the watchful eyes of Old Doctor and Xiao Yan, Xiao Li dispelled its invisibility.
The little black beast suddenly appeared, perched proudly on Lu Qing’s shoulder, tail high and ears perked, looking utterly smug.
Old Doctor and Xiao Yan both gasped.
Xiao Yan’s mouth dropped open, her eyes widening to saucers—she was utterly stunned.
Xiao Li, thrilled by the reaction, puffed out its chest even more, its tail swaying proudly.
"A Qing… what is this?" Old Doctor stammered, genuinely shocked. He was certain—he hadn’t sensed a thing. Xiao Li had been sitting right there on Lu Qing’s shoulder, inches from his face, and he hadn’t sensed a trace of it.
How could a creature so close—so present—remain undetectable to a Nei Fu Jing master like him?
"Little one had a little adventure in the mountains," Lu Qing chuckled. "It discovered a rare gift. It’s showing off, that’s all."
With a flick, Xiao Li leapt down and landed in front of Xiao Yan, puffing out its chest like a proud little warrior, clearly waiting for praise.
Xiao Yan didn’t disappoint. She scooped the creature up in both arms, her voice trembling with wonder.
"Xiao Li… you’re amazing! How did you do that?"
"Awooo!" Xiao Li chirped happily, delighted by the praise.
It sprang from her arms and began darting around her in quick, playful circles—now appearing, now vanishing, weaving in and out of the air as if slipping through invisible layers of space. Xiao Yan shrieked with delight with every sudden reappearance.
Old Doctor watched, his heart pounding.
Even without a warrior’s instinct, he could sense the sheer danger of such ability.
To vanish like that—seamlessly, silently—wasn’t just skill. It was something far beyond ordinary.
"A Qing… what happened in the mountains? How did Xiao Li get so powerful?"
"We’ll talk inside, Master," Lu Qing said, tightening his grip on the Herb Basket.
Outside, Xiao Li and Xiao Yan were already deep in a game of hide-and-seek.
Meanwhile, Lu Qing stepped into the house with his master.
"Master, this time, my journey brought back something truly remarkable. First—these herbs."
Lu Qing set the Herb Basket down and began pulling out the medicinal plants one by one.
"Heavenly Star Grass. Dang Gui. Tian Qi. Ginseng…"
Old Doctor’s eyes widened.
"Wait—Ginseng?!"
Every single herb was astonishing—perfect in quality, fresh, and radiant.
But it was the Tian Qi that truly stunned him.
Tian Qi?
This region—Jiu Li Village’s mountain range—had never been known for producing Tian Qi before.
And then came the Ginseng.
Old Doctor nearly leapt off the ground.
There, lying on the floor, was a Ginseng root—fully formed, with every root and tendril intact, so lifelike it looked almost human.
According to his years of experience, such a Ginseng had to be at least four or five hundred years old—true Treasure Ginseng, a rarity so rare it was said to be worth more than gold.
And that wasn’t the end.
As Lu Qing continued pulling out more herbs, each one was another Ginseng—dozens of them, all over a century old. Two or three even surpassed that.
"Master," Lu Qing said, placing the final Ginseng beside the others. "That’s everything I gathered."
"…Just these?" Old Doctor stared at the row of ancient Ginsengs, utterly speechless.
"Even after a lifetime of gathering herbs, I’ve never seen so many. You went into the mountains once—and came back with a nest of Ginseng?"
"Close enough," Lu Qing grinned. "Xiao Li led me to a spot where they grow in abundance. I only took the ones with enough age."
"An actual Ginseng nest?!" Old Doctor gasped. "Xiao Li really is something special—finding a place like that?"
Now he finally understood why Lu Qing had stayed so long in the mountains.
With so many priceless herbs, even he would’ve hesitated to leave.
A healer’s heart couldn’t resist such treasures—especially when they were this rare.
"Master," Lu Qing said, "I’d like you to help me refine these Ginsengs into Blood Nourishing and Qi Invigorating Pills."
"Wait—all of them? Into pills?" Old Doctor blinked. "You’ve already achieved Qi Xue Jing Xia Cheng. Just a few more Century-Old Ginsengs would be enough to reach Qi Xue Jing’s peak. Why make so many pills?"
"This," Lu Qing said, pulling a small jade bottle from his sleeve, "is the other surprise from this journey."
"Master, during our time in the mountains, I discovered a mysterious spiritual elixir in a hidden cave."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
