Teaching Xiao Yi Xian

After Gu He had done so much for her, Xiao Yi Xian had become quite obedient toward him. Moreover, what Gu He said made sense, so she smiled mischievously. "Got it, Master. I'll go upstairs first. You should rest early too."

Watching the elfin woman run upstairs, Gu He let out a relieved breath. His disciple really was far too charming.

Gu He leaped onto the small hill and focused as he recalled the ingredients for the medicinal paste Xiao Yan had used before becoming a Dou Zhe in the original story. None of his own pill formulas were meant to aid cultivation below the Dou Zhe level. Besides, that formula seemed to have been invented by Yao Lao himself and did not exist anywhere else.

It seemed to require three intact Purple Leaf Orchid Grasses, preferably older ones; two Bone Washing Flowers, with the age being irrelevant; and one First Tier wood-element Magic Core. The resulting medicine was called Nourishing Spirit Liquid.

There were quite a few such ingredients nearby. As for a First Tier wood-element Magic Core, Gu He would have to search through his Ring. After all, during those two months of fighting, he had no idea how many magical beasts he had killed. First Tier Magical Beasts had been casually blasted to death, and he did not know whether he had kept any Magic Cores like this.

After turning his Ring inside out, Gu He found two wood-element Magic Cores.

"Looks like my luck is good. Since I know the composition and basic steps for this spirit liquid, I'll test it tonight and see whether I can refine it directly. It's only at the level of a second-grade pill. I refuse to believe I'll fail twice."

Following his memories, Gu He gathered the Purple Leaf Orchid Grass and Bone Washing Flowers, then returned to the small hill and began refining medicine. During the first attempt, he failed because he could not properly control the temperature of the Magic Core essence and herb essences. However, he managed to deduce a relatively clear range. His second attempt succeeded. Looking at the spirit liquid floating above his palm, Gu He was somewhat dissatisfied. Though he had succeeded, the refinement was imperfect, and it possessed only fifty percent of its optimal medicinal efficacy. Gu He stored the spirit liquid in a jade bottle.

The two attempts had taken nearly an hour. Seeing that the night was still young, Gu He spread his wings and flew toward the Monster Mountain Range, intending to obtain a few First Tier wood-element Magic Cores.

In her room, Xiao Yi Xian tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Seeing firelight outside, she went to the window and discovered that Gu He was refining medicine. She wanted to go down and watch, but she was afraid of disturbing him, so she merely stood by the window and observed.

They said that a person was most attractive when focused, and Xiao Yi Xian felt that this was true. Bathed in the firelight, Gu He's already handsome face gained an unusual charm from his concentration. Thinking of how Gu He had held her several times that day, Xiao Yi Xian's thoughts began to wander. Then the firelight outside suddenly flared brightly before becoming extremely dim and finally going out.

Xiao Yi Xian knew that the medicine refinement had failed and could not help feeling stunned. However, Gu He was currently concentrating on the cause of his failure, so naturally she would not go downstairs now. Soon, she saw Gu He begin refining medicine for a second time. This time, he succeeded quickly. As the spirit liquid in Gu He's palm emitted a faint glow, Xiao Yi Xian felt happier than when she had discovered precious medicinal herbs herself. Yet, with the faint firelight illuminating him, she noticed that Gu He seemed dissatisfied. He casually put the refined spirit liquid into a jade bottle, then flew out of the Small Valley.

Sitting on her bed, Xiao Yi Xian pondered why Gu He was in such a hurry to refine medicine. Could it be that he refined medicine this late every day?

Gu He found several First Tier wood-element magical beasts near the basin, killed them with ease, obtained several Magic Cores, and returned to the Small Valley. He then went to the hill and continued refining medicine.

When Xiao Yi Xian saw firelight outside once more, she quickly leaned against the window and watched Gu He refine medicine.

This time, Gu He's technique was clearly much more practiced. Once a second-grade pill formula was thoroughly mastered by a peak fifth-grade alchemist like Gu He, refining it would pose no difficulty at all.

Very soon, a drop of jade-colored liquid appeared in Gu He's palm. Only then did he nod in satisfaction.

This was a high-quality Nourishing Spirit Liquid. With its help, Xiao Yi Xian would surely reach the ninth stage of Fighting Energy very soon. Then, after taking Qi Gathering Powder, she would become a Dou Zhe within half a year at most.

Seeing Gu He tidy up his things and apparently stop refining medicine, Xiao Yi Xian returned to bed. Though she still had many doubts in her heart, she could ask Gu He tomorrow. Having stayed up so late, she was also very sleepy and soon fell asleep.

Gu He flew directly to the third floor of his residence, sat in meditation, and cultivated through the night. He consolidated his realm and strove to break through to the Dou Emperor stage as soon as possible.

Early the next morning, Xiao Yi Xian came out to find Gu He already refining medicine on the hill. She carefully approached his side and watched the refinement process from close up. Xiao Yi Xian always felt a surge of amazement. Medicine refinement truly could not compare to the medicinal paste she made by burning ingredients with ordinary flames.

Sensing Xiao Yi Xian's arrival, Gu He accelerated his refinement. Before long, he successfully refined a fourth-grade pill.

Looking at Xiao Yi Xian, who sat quietly some distance away, Gu He smiled. "Don't be so reserved. Even if you move around a little more, you won't disturb my medicine refinement."

"Watching medicine being refined makes me unconsciously become solemn. This was my dream since childhood, but I can't become an alchemist." Seeing that Gu He was about to comfort her, Xiao Yi Xian smiled again.

"Still, being able to smell the fragrance of pills every day like this is already something that once existed only in my dreams."

"Isn't it easy if you want to smell pill fragrance every day? From now on, you'll be using pills to cultivate. Just don't use so many that you become someone who throws up the moment they smell pill fragrance!" Seeing that the atmosphere had turned somewhat sad, Gu He joked.

"Can those below the Dou Zhe level also use pills to assist their cultivation?" Xiao Yi Xian asked in confusion.

"As far as I know, they can." As he spoke, he took out the bottle of highest-quality Nourishing Spirit Liquid that he had refined the previous night.

"This is Nourishing Spirit Liquid. It can increase the cultivation speed of Dou Qi, but it is only effective for those below the Dou Zhe level. It happens to be useful for you."

Seeing that the spirit liquid before her was what Gu He had refined for her late last night, Xiao Yi Xian's eyes reddened. "You refined medicine for me last night."

Though it was phrased as a question, her tone was exceedingly certain.

"I saw someone else use it before. Since you happen to be below the Dou Zhe level as well, I spent some time deriving the formula. The energy in the spirit liquid is too immense for you, so it needs to be diluted with water. There's a large tub in your room. Fill it with clean water, then drip the medicine into it. At your seventh stage of Fighting Energy absorption speed, that single drop of spirit liquid can last for a month." Gu He carefully explained how to use the spirit liquid.

"Master, why are you so good to me?" Xiao Yi Xian asked in confusion. This was completely beyond the treatment given to an ordinary disciple. Even an inheriting disciple would receive no more than this.

"Do you remember when I said your constitution was extremely special? Once you reach the Dou Zhe level, I intend to tell you about your constitution." Gu He felt it would be better to reveal Xiao Yi Xian's constitution early. Otherwise, receiving too many favors might instead make Xiao Yi Xian think he had ulterior motives. Thus, he spoke seriously.

"What kind of constitution do I have?" Hearing Gu He say this, Xiao Yi Xian became curious as well. She had never felt that there was anything different about herself.