How Could You Get Strong Without Doping?

"I know a thing or two. As they say, medicine and poison are never far apart."

Yu Cheng answered casually.

By then, he had finished collecting the venom and taken several herbs from his Soul Tool, including a freshly picked Seven Leaf Purple Orchid.

"You're planning to make medicine?"

Dugu Yan frowned.

Alchemy was a delicate task. Brewing medicine in the Soul Beast Forest was practically asking for trouble.

Yu Cheng shook the snake venom in his hand. "White Phosphorus Snake venom is a very precious medicinal ingredient. I couldn't resist getting my hands on it."

Seeing Dugu Yan's concerns, he added, "Don't worry, Captain. I'll be quick."

As he spoke, he set up a Pill Furnace and silently recited in his heart:

Heaven Tier Battle Skill, Ghost Possession!

"This body really is frail!"

Youth Yu Cheng floated out of the Ash Box.

The next moment, he used Soul Power to wrap the Seven Leaf Purple Orchid and plucked off its leaves one by one.

At the same time, he poured the White Phosphorus Snake venom into the Pill Furnace, and a fierce flame ignited beneath it.

"Yu Cheng, you've got some skills!"

Osler leaned over to inspect the Pill Furnace. There was clearly no firewood, so how had it caught fire?

Smack.

Dugu Yan slapped the back of his head.

"Don't touch it, Yu Cheng. This Pill Furnace is a Soul Tool. It runs on Soul Power."

As she watched Yu Cheng process the herbs, a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes.

She knew how to make medicine too, especially poisons.

But when she processed herbs, she could only handle them one at a time, and sometimes she had to prepare them beforehand.

Yet Yu Cheng could process two or three ingredients at once.

His movements were concise, without a single unnecessary step.

"Could it be that, aside from being skilled in theoretical research, he's also a master alchemist?"

Dugu Yan wondered inwardly.

Before long, a faint wisp of green smoke drifted out of the Pill Furnace.

Yu Cheng reacted swiftly. He quickly took out a transparent glass cup and poured the liquid from the furnace into it.

In an instant, a rich medicinal fragrance spread through the air.

The moment everyone smelled it, they felt refreshed and invigorated, becoming extraordinarily excited.

With the medicine complete, Youth Yu Cheng logged off.

"What is that?"

Osler's eyes widened as he asked curiously.

Yu Cheng cleared his throat and said mysteriously, "This is called the White Snake Pill. No, it can only be considered White Snake Liquid. It's a poison, but it's also a tonic."

"I've been researching ways to become stronger quickly. Recently, I had an insight and finally found a crooked path... ah, no, a painless way to improve one's strength."

"That is, doping!"

Youth Yu Cheng was an elder of the Tang Sect Medicine Hall and exceptionally skilled in medicine making.

How could you get strong without doping?

"Isn't this a forbidden drug? Forbidden drugs are extremely harmful!"

Yu Tianheng said.

Born into one of the Upper Three Sects, Yu Tianheng was knowledgeable and naturally knew the reputation of forbidden drugs.

Some Soul Masters took forbidden drugs to rapidly increase their strength, burning away their potential until their heads became pointy.

The Breaking Clan were experts in this field.

Of course, they didn't call them forbidden drugs, but legally produced secret medicines.

"Talking only about toxicity without discussing dosage is just nonsense."

Yu Cheng said.

"Strictly speaking, all secret medicines are harmful. The difference is whether the harm is temporary or permanent, and whether it can be reversed."

"My poison—cough, secret medicine—can stimulate Soul Power growth. Your head will feel slightly foggy for three days, but it won't affect daily life."

Osler suddenly understood. "So the side effects disappear after three days?"

"No."

Yu Cheng shook his head. "After three days, you get used to it."

"..."

The Imperial Dou Team fell silent.

That was far too terrifying. A tiny cup of medicinal liquid had side effects that lasted so long.

It was practically more terrifying than Yu Cheng's First Soul Skill.

Yu Cheng raised the cup and waved it in front of Osler's eyes.

"Want a sip?"

Osler shook his head like a rattle drum. "Master Yu Cheng, please spare me."

The others immediately took two steps back, afraid Yu Cheng would harm them too.

"Tch."

Yu Cheng raised the cup, tipped back his head, and drained it in one gulp before sitting cross-legged to meditate.

Inside the Ash Box.

Seeing Yu Cheng's actions, Youth Yu Cheng could not help sighing. "As expected of my past self. You have no qualms about using such methods."

Orthodox Soul Masters mostly relied on hard training to improve their Soul Power.

Trying to take shortcuts by consuming forbidden drugs did not align with the mainstream values of Soul Masters.

Some extreme cultivation methods, such as devouring blood or devouring souls, were not accepted by the world. Soul Masters who used such methods were called Fallen Ones.

And Yu Cheng...

He had done both!

More than ten minutes passed.

"Phew~"

Yu Cheng slowly opened his eyes and let out a breath of turbid air.

The members of the Imperial Dou Team had surrounded him.

Ye Lingling had also finished absorbing her Soul Ring and was looking at him curiously.

"Yu Cheng, how do you feel?"

Dugu Yan asked with concern.

She was the captain. If Yu Cheng accidentally poisoned himself into collapse, she would not know what to do.

"I feel great right now!"

As he spoke, Yu Cheng stretched his body to his heart's content.

He felt power coursing through his entire body, accompanied by an indescribable sense of comfort, as though every pore were breathing freely.

Just over ten minutes of cultivation had equaled three days of hard training.

His head just felt a little itchy.

"As long as you're fine."

Dugu Yan patted her chest and returned to her usual calm expression.

"Yu Cheng, next we should help you hunt a Soul Beast. What Soul Beast are you planning to hunt for your Second Soul Ring?"

Dugu Yan unfolded a map marked with the locations of several valuable plant-type Soul Beasts in the area.

"I plan to hunt Spike Thorn, preferably one over a thousand years old."

Yu Cheng pointed at a red circle on the map.

"A thousand years! Are you sure?"

Dugu Yan asked solemnly.

Spike Thorn was a Soul Beast skilled in defense. Its spikes carried a certain toxicity, while its roots possessed powerful devouring abilities. It was a relatively well-rounded Soul Beast.

If Blue Silver Grass absorbed such a Soul Ring, the Soul Skill it gained should not be bad.

According to Yu Cheng's Theory, after absorbing ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber, there was indeed a chance for the Second Soul Ring to surpass a thousand years.

However, Dugu Yan had never heard of anyone accomplishing such a thing.

"Yu Cheng, isn't a thousand years too risky?"

Yu Tianheng spoke up.

It was not that he cared about Yu Cheng. He simply did not want Yu Cheng to successfully absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

When Yu Tianheng broke through to Soul Elder, Yu Cheng had yet to publish his theory, and his Third Soul Ring had been thirteen hundred years old.

Originally, he had been very satisfied with his Third Soul Skill.

But after Yu Cheng published his theory, everything changed.

Among the entire Imperial Dou Team, everyone except him had a Third Soul Ring older than two thousand years!

The difference in Soul Ring age had, to a certain extent, compensated for the gap between Martial Souls.

Now, even to defeat Osler, he had to use eighty percent of his strength.

"Thanks for your concern."

Yu Cheng patted Yu Tianheng on the shoulder.

"A mere Thousand-Year Second Soul Ring won't be a problem."

"Besides, I still have plenty of secret medicine theories that I haven't revealed. Brother Tianheng, would you like to give one a try?"