Profound Essence Pill

"Zhou Yi, has it been dealt with?" Just as the three approached the entrance of Shrek Academy, a scruffy old man holding a wine gourd in his left hand and a chicken leg in his right suddenly appeared with Dugu Lu.

"Elder Xuan, it's been dealt with." Zhou Yi stopped and replied.

"Mm." Elder Xuan nodded and walked over to Xu Jie and Huo Yuhao. "You two, tell me exactly what happened."

Just as before, Xu Jie and Huo Yuhao took turns recounting what had happened. Although some details differed from their previous account, the overall story remained the same, with no real issues.

"You may head back first." After listening, Elder Xuan frowned slightly, but he did not doubt Xu Jie or Huo Yuhao. He spoke to them and Dugu Lu beside them.

At once, Dugu Lu stepped forward, grabbed Xu Jie and Huo Yuhao, and led them into Shrek Academy toward the dormitories.

"You two really had some nerve. Luckily, Evil Soul Masters near Shrek City won't exceed five rings. You were lucky too—hiding off to the side without being discovered."

Dugu Lu had been worried sick about Xu Jie and Huo Yuhao. Now that he saw they were unharmed, he finally relaxed.

"But even if a fight had broken out, Xu Jie, with your Ultimate Fire, you could have held on until a teacher arrived."

"Lu, what did you mean when you said Evil Soul Masters near Shrek City wouldn't exceed five rings?" Xu Jie immediately caught the key point in Dugu Lu's words.

"You haven't heard?!" Dugu Lu explained. "The Sea God Statue in the academy's Sea God Pavilion can detect the aura of Evil Soul Masters. Its range covers all of Shrek City and a hundred li around it.

"However, the farther one is from Sea God Pavilion, the weaker the effect becomes. If the bloody aura on them isn't too strong, Evil Soul Masters below five rings won't be discovered in a short period of time."

"I see." Xu Jie's doubts immediately cleared up. No wonder that Evil Soul Master had not dared enter Shrek City. No wonder the academy had sent only Zhou Yi. They had roughly known the Evil Soul Master's level.

"Brother Lu, how are that mother and son from earlier?" Huo Yuhao asked.

"They're fine. The little boy your second aunt was holding the whole time is called Qian Ran. I found them work at a merchant association. Supporting themselves definitely won't be a problem."

Dugu Lu looked resentfully at Xu Jie, clearly wanting to see how he would explain this "second aunt" business. The two obviously did not know each other, yet he was calling her his second aunt. Dugu Lu was not an idiot.

"What second aunt?" A puzzled expression appeared on Huo Yuhao's face.

"Yuhao, it was that woman named Qian Qin. The moment I saw her, that whole second-aunt thing was just a joke I made with Lu. Haha." Xu Jie laughed awkwardly and changed the subject, looking at Dugu Lu.

"Which merchant association did you arrange for them? Is it safe? Is it reliable?"

"The Lonely Cloud Merchant Association. My second uncle runs it." Knowing what Xu Jie was like, Dugu Lu did not fuss over it and answered with a touch of smugness.

"Then I'm relieved." Xu Jie nodded, changed direction, and pulled Huo Yuhao and Dugu Lu toward the cafeteria. "Come on, let's go to the cafeteria."

"What are we going to the cafeteria for? It's not mealtime yet." Dugu Lu was confused.

"To find an alchemy furnace," Xu Jie explained.

"Brother Jie, where would the cafeteria get an alchemy furnace?" Huo Yuhao was equally baffled.

"Of course it has one. Come on, quit talking nonsense."

Half an hour later, in Dorm Room 202.

Dugu Lu stared thoughtfully at Xu Jie, who was continuously stirring a pot with a ladle, then roared in despair, "Big brother, you call this alchemy? I can't believe I trusted your nonsense! Give me back my Gold Soul Coins!"

As he spoke, Dugu Lu rushed forward and grabbed Xu Jie by the collar. It looked as if, if Xu Jie did not pay him back the next second, he would perish together with him.

"Damn it, Yuhao, pull him away!" Xu Jie said to Huo Yuhao beside him as he used one hand to control his martial soul and heat the pot while stirring with the other. He looked at Dugu Lu's fierce glare.

Huo Yuhao glanced at Xu Jie, who was still stirring, hesitated briefly, then chose to step forward and pull Dugu Lu away.

"Lu, trust me. Give me two hours. If the pill turns out effective, I'll make you a pot for free. If it fails, I'll pay you back double." Xu Jie explained as his hands continued moving.

"No. Triple." After pondering for a while, the wildly gesturing Dugu Lu said this.

"Fine, no problem. Triple it is." Xu Jie immediately agreed and gestured for the two not to disturb him.

Hearing that, Dugu Lu said nothing more and quietly waited to one side. Huo Yuhao activated Spiritual Detection and observed carefully.

Two hours later, after sitting by the pot the entire time, Xu Jie finally stopped stirring when he caught a faint, distinctive fragrance. "It's done."

Dugu Lu and Huo Yuhao, who had been meditating nearby, immediately got up and looked into the pot before Xu Jie. Inside was a layer of thick, blackish liquid.

"This is supposed to be a pill?!" Dugu Lu looked at Xu Jie as if demanding an explanation.

"Yeah, Brother Jie, this..." Huo Yuhao was also full of confusion as he looked into the pot.

"Of course it is. I just skipped the pill-forming step. It has the same effect when consumed." As he spoke, he dipped a finger into the medicinal liquid and put a little into his mouth.

An intense bitterness spread through his mouth, turning into a warm current that entered his stomach. Once it reached his stomach, the warm current transformed into a thread of pure Soul Power that entered his body and merged into his meridians.

"Mm, that's right. It has the proper effect, and even the taste is just as authentic." Xu Jie nodded in satisfaction and looked at the astonished Dugu Lu beside him.

"Lu, give it a try. It really works. I didn't lie to you."

Dugu Lu looked at Xu Jie, then at the brown medicinal liquid. After thinking it over, he decided to try it after all. Xu Jie had been stirring that pot nonstop for two hours.

He copied Xu Jie, dipped up a little of the medicinal liquid, and put it into his mouth. A powerful bitter flavor immediately spread from the tip of his tongue.

"Blech!" With a retching sound, Dugu Lu dry-heaved where he stood, clearly unable to adapt to the intense bitterness.

"You bastard."

"Don't get angry yet. Feel it—just feel it." Seeing Dugu Lu about to lose his temper, Xu Jie spoke with a sincere expression.

At those words, Dugu Lu calmed down and sensed the changes in his body. If it had no effect, he would definitely make Xu Jie repay him four times the Gold Soul Coins.

"Eh!"

An exclamation of amazement rang out. Once Dugu Lu calmed himself, he sensed a thread of pure Soul Power slowly merging into his own. It actually worked. Xu Jie had been right.

With that thought, Dugu Lu reached into the pot again and dipped out a trace of the medicinal liquid, placing it in his mouth. This time, prepared for it, he did not vomit.

As the medicinal liquid entered his mouth, it transformed into a warm current and flowed into his stomach. Once there, it slowly dispersed through his body.

"Xu Jie, what is this pill called?" Dugu Lu opened his eyes, his gaze burning with eagerness.

"This? It's called the Profound Essence Pill."