Pulse Nurturing Pill (Requesting Follows Monthly Tickets Recommendation Tickets)

"The Pulse Nurturing Pill is a Second-Grade Low-Rank Pill. None are currently sold by any Medicine Hall in West City."

"Generally, you need to hire a second-grade Alchemist to refine one separately, and the price is far from cheap."

"To this old man's knowledge, there currently isn't a second-grade Alchemist anywhere in the West City area."

"Moreover, its main ingredient is the second-grade Core Condensing Grass, which is just as difficult to find!"

Physician Lin set down his teacup and shook his head as he spoke.

At this, Zhou Ling's brow furrowed even tighter. "Physician Lin, is there any other way?"

Physician Lin shook his head. From a somewhat yellowed medicine packet before him, he took out a Pill Bottle and said to Li Ru, "This contains Qi Nourishing Powder, which can nourish the meridians."

"Have him take it once a day, then use spiritual qi to help him refine its medicinal power. Don't let the injuries inside his body worsen."

"Also, find a Pulse Nurturing Pill within a month, as soon as possible!"

"Thank you, Physician Lin!" Li Ru accepted the Pill Bottle, then took out Spirit Stones to pay the consultation fee.

Physician Lin's house-call fee was generally one Broken Spirit, while medicine was charged separately.

This bottle of Qi Nourishing Powder was a First-Grade Low-Rank Pill and cost five Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Afterward, Zhou Ling followed Physician Lin out of the room and asked whether he knew any second-grade Alchemists.

Physician Lin helplessly shook his head. "Lingxia City may be large, but there are no more than five second-grade Alchemists. And their prices are exorbitant, so you should prepare yourself."

"The closest one to us is Alchemist Chu of Hundred Herbs Hall. But his fees aren't low—without several hundred Spirit Stones, he won't lift a hand."

"It would be best if you could buy Core Condensing Grass, then find an Alchemist to refine it. That would save time and reduce the Spirit Stone expense!"

After giving Zhou Ling a few more reminders, Physician Lin took his leave.

"Several hundred Spirit Stones!" Zhou Ling rubbed his forehead, a headache brewing.

One month—where was he supposed to find that many Spirit Stones?

"Brother Ling, these are the spirit herbs we gathered during this trip into the mountains. I also have five Spirit Stones on hand. Take them and use them first; we'll think of something for the rest later."

Chu Xing pointed at the Medicine Basket by the door, then took out a Spirit Stone Pouch and handed it to Zhou Ling, speaking in a deep voice.

"Thank you, Uncle Chu!"

"I'll consider these spirit herbs and Spirit Stones a loan from Uncle Chu. I'll definitely repay you in the future."

Since he urgently needed Spirit Stones, Zhou Ling did not refuse. He accepted the Spirit Stone Pouch as he spoke.

Chu Xing shook his head. "No need to be so polite."

"Also, a couple of months ago, I seem to have heard Scar and the others say that someone found a Core Condensing Grass in Nine Leaf Valley, on the South Side of Black Cloud Mountain."

"Cough, cough! Once my internal injuries recover a little over the next couple of days, I'll go over and take a look!"

Chu Xing coughed twice as he spoke. Clearly, his injuries this time were not light either.

Zhou Ling hurriedly cupped his hands. "I'll have to trouble you, Uncle Chu!"

Chu Xing nodded.

Afterward, the three of them entered the room again to see Zhou Shan before taking their leave.

Zhou Ling saw them out to the door as well.

When he returned, he saw his mother sitting beside the bed, lightly holding his father's hand, her eyes blurred with tears.

His father's breathing had gradually steadied. His body was slightly curled up, his face pale and somewhat haggard.

The Zhou Shan who had always been broad and towering in Zhou Ling's heart seemed, at this moment, to have suddenly aged ten years.

Zhou Ling felt a pang in his heart, and his eyes grew misty as well.

His father was only thirty-six.

For a cultivator, that was not an advanced age at all.

Yet at this moment, his father looked visibly worn. On his forehead, weathered year-round by wind and rain in the mountains, even distinct wrinkles could be seen.

Seeing Zhou Ling come in, Li Ru gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and forced a smile. "It's all right. Your father will get better."

Seeing his mother's reddened eyes, Zhou Ling's heart ached. He nodded and said, "Mother, don't worry either. I'll find a way to deal with the Pulse Nurturing Pill!"

Seeing that her son was still so young yet already so willing to shoulder responsibility, Li Ru felt both sorrowful and comforted.

She stroked Zhou Ling's head and gave a faint sigh. "The Pulse Nurturing Pill is a second-grade pill, and it's extremely expensive. How are you going to solve this?"

Zhou Ling froze for a moment, then thought it over. "Mother, I can borrow some Spirit Stones from Master Lu and Instructor Fang first. With my current Artifact Crafting skills, even if it's several hundred Spirit Stones, I can repay them within a year!"

"Brother Ling, isn't Wang Xin's mother a second-grade Alchemist?"

"We can just ask her to help us!"

At that moment, Yuan Hu poured Li Ru a bowl of tea, brought it over, and spoke up.

Since his father had taken pills refined by Wang Xin's mother last time, he had remembered the matter all along.

"That's right! How did I forget about that!"

Zhou Ling could not help smacking his forehead.

In his haste, his mind had become muddled, and he had actually forgotten about this.

"Mother, I'll go ask Wang Xin first!"

There seemed to be some hope regarding the Pulse Nurturing Pill. Zhou Ling did not dare delay and informed his mother.

Then he hurried back to the Dao Academy.

Before long, he found Wang Xin, told her about his father's injury, and asked her about the Pulse Nurturing Pill.

After all, even though Wang Yu was a second-grade Alchemist, if she did not have the pill formula for the Pulse Nurturing Pill, she certainly would not be able to refine it.

So Zhou Ling still needed to get a clear understanding of the matter.

Wang Xin did not know much about it either, but she comforted Zhou Ling by saying that her mother should be able to refine it.

She told Zhou Ling to return home and wait for her news.

Afterward, Wang Xin also asked the Instructor for leave and departed the Dao Academy early.

At dusk, Wang Xin and her mother, Wang Yu, arrived at Zhou Ling's home.

Wang Yu still wore a pale blue dress, her demeanor dignified and beautiful.

Every time Zhou Ling saw her, he felt that nothing had changed. She was as quiet and composed as ever; the passing years had left no trace upon her lovely face.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Li Ru, Wang Yu began examining Zhou Shan's injuries.

After her diagnosis, the situation was more or less exactly as Physician Lin had described.

"I can try refining the Pulse Nurturing Pill, but finding Core Condensing Grass won't be easy at the moment!"

Having confirmed Zhou Shan's condition, Wang Yu spoke to Li Ru.

"Aunt Wang, I'll think of a way to handle the Core Condensing Grass!"

Zhou Ling spoke up at this point.

After returning home, he had already sent Yuan Hu to ask around at Hundred Herbs Hall, but they had no Core Condensing Grass for sale either.

At noon, Chu Xing had said that someone had found Core Condensing Grass in Nine Leaf Valley.

When they entered the mountains next time, he would go with them.

Now that his [Mountain Searching and Herb Finding] talent had reached Tier 2, he could roughly sense the aura of spiritual herbs within thirty zhang.

That would make searching twice as effective with half the effort.

If the mountains were not so dangerous, he could earn quite a few Spirit Stones with his [Mountain Searching and Herb Finding] talent alone.

Seeing the solemn look on Zhou Ling's face, Wang Yu nodded and said softly, "Brother Ling is so sensible!"

Her tone was full of praise for Zhou Ling. Presumably, once Wang Xin had returned home, she had told her mother about what happened at the Dao Academy.

She then took out two Pill Bottles and handed them to Li Ru, instructing her, "These are Qi Nourishing Pills. Their effects may not compare to the Pulse Nurturing Pill, but they can still nourish the meridians."

Li Ru accepted the Pill Bottles and solemnly thanked her.

After giving a few more instructions, Wang Yu took Wang Xin and bade them farewell.