Chapter 108 - 107: Fushou Wants to Kill
Looking at the Elixirs before him, a smile appeared on Xia Wuyang’s face. He inspected them carefully and soon nodded in satisfaction.
All the elixirs were a success, reaching at least a passing grade. Some were so potent they would score around an eighty, and his Pill Formation Success Rate was a perfect one hundred percent.
This was his first time Refining Low Level Mortal Pills, and he had been prepared to fail a few times. He hadn’t expected that, with the help of his incredibly strong Spiritual Power and his Companion Talent, Mental Force Field, it would be so easy to succeed.
As long as one could refine a single Low Level Mortal Pill, it meant an Alchemist could advance to become a Low Level Mortal Alchemist, qualifying them to be a cut above the rest.
In the future, if he were to leave White Jade City, Xia Wuyang could live a good life on the strength of this Alchemy skill alone.
To verify the Elixir’s effects, Xia Wuyang took out a Blood Replenishing Pill and consumed it. The Elixir dissolved the moment it entered his mouth, transforming into a warm stream of energy that surged through his limbs and body.
Under his Spiritual Perception, the medicinal effect precisely targeted the circulation of his Qi Blood. The results were quite good.
’The medicinal properties are gentle, suitable for a Lower Third Grade Martial Artist. While a Middle Three Grades Martial Artist could also take it, the effects would be much, much weaker.’
Xia Wuyang nodded, thinking, ’If the user has an unusual constitution, I can make slight adjustments.’
Even if he couldn’t adjust the Pill Formula, he could have the person take other medicinal herbs to balance the Blood Replenishing Pill’s effects.
This was the advantage of an orthodox Alchemist; not only could they perform Alchemy, but they could also make improvements to better suit the user.
During the Refining process, Xia Wuyang gained a deeper and broader understanding of the Herbal Tomb. The Alchemy Dao and the Medical Dao were indeed complementary. His proficiency in the Medical Dao allowed him to better grasp the changes in medicinal properties.
No wonder so many people said medicine and pharmacology were two sides of the same coin. Those physicians and Alchemists who only walked one path were undoubtedly flawed.
Furthermore, during the process of Alchemy and pill creation, Xia Wuyang discovered that his application of Spiritual Power and his mastery of Cultivation and Combat Techniques like the Enchanting Heart Technique and the Enchanting Heart Needle had also become more refined.
Refining pills required simultaneous control over multiple factors like heat, medicinal properties, and timing, which provided a considerable amount of training for his Spiritual Power.
"Alchemy itself is a form of cultivation," Xia Wuyang mused.
Putting away the Alchemy Furnace, Xia Wuyang looked outside. Although he had successfully refined a Low Level Mortal Pill, he knew this was just the beginning.
To save Pan Mo, or for his Alchemy to be truly effective, he needed to reach the level of a Low Level Spirit Pill Master at the very least. Between his current level and that goal were Intermediate Mortal Alchemist, High Level Mortal Alchemist, and Top Level Mortal Alchemist... With so many tiers, it was clear he had a long and arduous journey ahead.
’But to have reached this stage in just a few short days, I can already see a glimmer of hope.’
Xia Wuyang rubbed the Jade Bottle in his hand, feeling quite satisfied with his current rate of progress.
’Then I’ll just keep going. There’s still plenty of time, enough for me to advance to a Low Level Spirit Pill Master, and perhaps even higher.’
Having made his decision, Xia Wuyang once again busied himself. Cultivation Technique, Combat Techniques, Secret Technique, Alchemy... he couldn’t neglect any of them. Of course, his main focus was still on his Cultivation and strength, as that was the key to everything.
If he couldn’t become an Extraordinary True Monarch, he wouldn’t even be able to cross the threshold to become a Low Level Spirit Pill Master.
As Xia Wuyang refined his first Entry Level Elixir, not far from him in Fushou Hall, the Eighth Princess, Princess Fushou, who had been in seclusion for some time, slowly opened her eyes.
After this period of arduous training, she had finally broken through to the Upper Three Grades. Her Qi Blood surged around her, but it couldn’t conceal the sinister aura between her brows.
’Decades of effort, and I’ve finally stepped into the Upper Three Grades. From now on, I’ll finally have a place for myself in this Palace.’
’If fate is on my side, perhaps I even have a chance at the Crown Prince’s throne. Looking at the surrounding kingdoms, it’s not as if there has never been a female Emperor.’
’Now that I’ve finally advanced to the Upper Three Grades, shouldn’t I kill a few people to celebrate? Killing ordinary Palace Attendants is no fun. I wonder if that old good-for-nothing is dead yet?’
...
Thinking this, Princess Fushou walked out of the Practice Room. "Someone!"
"Congratulations on coming out of seclusion, Your Highness, and for your successful breakthrough to the Upper Three Grades!" an old eunuch said, leading a group of Palace Attendants as they quickly bowed to Princess Fushou.
Princess Fushou waved her hand dismissively and asked directly, "That old good-for-nothing in the Eastern Palace, is he dead yet?"
"Replying to Your Highness, the Crown Prince is still alive," the old eunuch answered cautiously, his body trembling.
"He’s not dead yet?" A vicious look flashed across Princess Fushou’s face. She casually killed a nearby Palace Attendant, scaring the others so much they trembled, kneeling on the ground, afraid to move. "He really is hard to kill. I’ve been in seclusion for so long, and he’s still not dead."
As she spoke, she paced to the window. The moonlight shone on her grim face, outlining a menacing expression.
’It’s fine that he’s not dead. Only by watching that old good-for-nothing die with my own eyes can I quell the hatred in my heart. Unfortunately, killing him now would cause too much trouble. I’ll let him have a few more months.’
Princess Fushou said hatefully, "And what about that bitch, Yan Jiuge? Hasn’t she left that old good-for-nothing yet?"
"Consort Yan is... is quite protective of the Crown Prince. A while ago, she even killed someone for his sake..." The old eunuch was drenched in a cold sweat as he recounted the recent events to Princess Fushou.
Princess Fushou’s expression grew even uglier. She smashed a nearby vase with a slap and gestured for the Palace Attendants to scram. "How lovey-dovey. That old good-for-nothing nearly destroyed the Fire Spirit Race, yet that bitch Yan Jiuge can still stand it. She still hasn’t tried to kill him. What a traitor, siding with an enemy."
Shattered porcelain fragments flew everywhere, scaring the old eunuch so much that he prostrated himself on the floor, unable to rise.
Princess Fushou’s chest heaved violently as memories flooded her mind like a surging tide.
Decades ago, she had been an arrogant and spoiled Princess. Doted on by her father, the Emperor, and her mother, the consort, she had acted rather wantonly, though the worst she did was kill a few Palace Attendants.
’I am the great Princess Fushou. Surely I’m allowed to kill a few lowly commoners?’
But one time, she was seen by Xia Wuyang, who was still the Crown Prince back then. At that time, Xia Wuyang’s power was at its zenith, his position unshakeable. None of the other Princes or Princesses in the palace dared to provoke him in the slightest.
Even she had to be meek and obedient around him. When he saw that she had killed several Palace Attendants over a matter of serving tea, he flew into a rage. He gave her a harsh lesson, punished her with a year of confinement, and even her father the Emperor reprimanded her over the incident, becoming much colder toward her ever since.
She had only killed a few incompetent Palace Attendants. For that old good-for-nothing Xia Wuyang to punish her so severely over such a trivial matter, and even tattle to her father the Emperor—it was simply outrageous.
From then on, she hated Xia Wuyang to the bone. Not long after, she saw a Palace Maid by Yan Jiuge’s side who bore a slight resemblance to her, which displeased her greatly.
But considering the girl was from the Eastern Palace, she only intended to disfigure her, not kill her. Unexpectedly, the Palace Maid refused, forcing her to kill the girl.
As a result, she was taught another harsh lesson by Yan Jiuge. These two humiliations became a permanent thorn in her heart.