This Poison Was Truly Poisonous!

"It actually had some effect..."

Zhu Yu had never taken pills before, but he had read the Records of the Heavenly Dao Sect. Simply smelling the medicinal fragrance made one feel invigorated. Whatever else could be said, the medicine's effects were certainly potent.

"It's just the side effects of this 'Meditation Fluid'..."

Remembering Liang Kuan's claim that it was even more effective than the Soul Dispersing Pill, Zhu Yu could not help feeling tempted. Yet mindful of its potential hidden dangers, he cautiously poured a drop of emerald-green liquid into his palm. Feeling its faintly cool touch, he silently recited:

"Build a model and analyze the effects of consuming 'Meditation Fluid'..."

Rather than attempting to analyze the spiritual liquid's composition, he merely had the True Sight Eye analyze its specific effects on the body.

["Meditation Fluid" consumption effects, analysis progress: "1%", estimated analysis time: one quarter-hour.]

"One quarter-hour."

Zhu Yu nodded in satisfaction. As he watched the spiritual liquid evaporate, a faint, secluded fragrance gradually filled the room. Yet for some reason, he covered his stomach with one hand, his face faintly flushing red.

At the same time.

Several streets away, inside a stone house.

Liang Kuan was excitedly saying something to a young man whose face was deathly pale and bloodless, with dark circles beneath his eyes and the appearance of someone drained by excessive indulgence. Spittle flew everywhere.

The young man glanced at him speechlessly, covered his mouth as he coughed, and shifted back. Seeing Liang Kuan still chattering away, he raised a hand to interrupt him.

"You're saying that young man has cultivated the Basic Visualization Method to minor mastery, and that his explanations are simple and easy to understand. You want me to find some senior and junior brothers who need it and send them to attend his lessons?"

Liang Kuan reluctantly stopped speaking and nodded firmly.

Xiang Sui frowned. If he had not previously cheated this junior brother in front of him while selling Meditation Fluid, he would have thrown him out long ago.

A youngster with the Basic Visualization Method at minor mastery—those two things simply did not belong together in the residential district for newly admitted disciples. No matter how he listened, it sounded like this kid was trying to scam people for a batch of Spirit Stones.

"Even his lies are this fake. This junior brother truly is... sigh..."

Xiang Sui shook his head inwardly. Just as he was about to refuse tactfully, the honest-looking junior brother before him solemnly raised his thick palm. "Senior Brother can take the larger share of the lesson Spirit Stones!"

"Hm?"

At the mention of Spirit Stones, Xiang Sui immediately perked up. He carefully examined Liang Kuan and saw that his expression did not seem false. After thinking it over, with the mentality of swinging a pole whether there were dates on the tree or not—and since it would not take much time anyway—he nodded.

"Then... you'll bring me to meet this talented junior brother tomorrow?"

Liang Kuan did not hesitate and nodded crisply. "All right." After a pause, he glanced at the glass vat in the corner, filled with emerald-green liquid, and asked expectantly, "Senior Brother Xiang, does your Meditation Fluid have an improved version? Um... one with fewer side effects?"

"Junior Brother, you have become attached to appearances." Xiang Sui's expression turned solemn. "What side effects could Meditation Fluid possibly have? It clearly comes with the added benefit of tempering one's Dao Heart!"

"It's not that Senior Brother wants to nag, but a physique like yours is most suited to taking Meditation Fluid. As long as you tie yourself up with ropes before taking it, endure it for a while, and it'll pass..."

"Just look at Senior Brother here..."

Seeing Xiang Sui pat his chest vigorously while forcibly suppressing the cough that had reddened his face, Liang Kuan could not help recalling how suave and elegant Senior Brother had been several months ago. Then he looked at the gaunt, somewhat wretched young man before him, as well as the strange smell lingering at his nose, and immediately shuddered.

"Senior Brother, carry on with your work. I'll be going back..."

"Sigh... With such a mortal mindset, when will Junior Brother ever enter the Dao?"

Watching Liang Kuan flee as though for his life, Xiang Sui let out a faint sigh. He walked to the glass vat, poured himself half a cup of emerald-green liquid, and threw it back in one gulp. Within a few breaths, a flush surged onto his face. Feeling the surging, billowing sensation rising in his body, he sighed wistfully.

"Another great battle of steadfast Dao Heart awaits..."

Pfft... slap... oh... hiss...

Even though the stone house had good soundproofing, sounds still drifted out from within, growing increasingly shrill. Before long, wisps of foul stench also wafted out.

Creak...

The doors of the neighboring stone houses opened. One black-robed figure after another looked toward the stone house producing those sounds, covering their mouths as they cursed nonstop. Some even threw stones at the doorframe.

"Fuck, that dog bastard who plays with shit is at it again!"

"Your mother's servant girl, just you wait! Sooner or later, I'll chop you to death—blegh..."

"This filthy place can't be stayed in anymore. It's soaked through with the stench."

"..."

Elsewhere.

["Meditation Fluid" contains a large quantity of unknown energy. Consumption is estimated to trigger the dissipation of Soul Power from the soul. Side effects: contains a large quantity of hallucinogenic, aphrodisiac, diarrhea-inducing, and vomiting toxins. Excessive consumption will cause permanent mental aberration and permanent physical weakening...]

After dispersing the secluded fragrance in the room and understanding the information, Zhu Yu looked at the jade bottle on the table, his face darkening somewhat. He had carelessly inhaled too much just now and had nearly made a fool of himself.

He knew he could not trust spiritual liquid that had not been recorded in Treasures of the World.

The possibility of suffering social death after drinking it was secondary. The crucial issue was the permanent mental aberration and permanent physical weakening. Physical weakness could be remedied after advancing to Qi Refining, but permanent mental aberration was rather eerie.

Mental illness? Split personality? Or something else?

Whatever it was, Zhu Yu had no desire to try it.

[Remove "Meditation Fluid" side effects, analysis progress: "∞"]

[Remove "Meditation Fluid" side effect—permanent mental aberration, analysis progress: "∞"]

"There's too little information. I'll strive to reel in a customer tomorrow!..."

Seeing that the analysis results were nowhere in sight, Zhu Yu inwardly grumbled about the Heavenly Dao Sect, which demanded Spirit Stones for absolutely everything. After giving himself a little pep talk, he immediately built a model for advancing the Basic Visualization Method from minor mastery to major mastery.

Seeing that the deduction time was as high as one year, he shook his head slightly, sat cross-legged on the bed, and used meditation in place of sleep.

The next day.

"Hoo..."

Zhu Yu let out a soft breath and opened his eyes. With a thought, he summoned his status panel.

[Zhu Yu]

[Age: 16/91]

[Spirit Root: Wood Earth "Third Grade"]

[Attributes: Physique 0.9, Soul 3.9]

[Technique: "Basic Visualization Diagram" Minor Mastery "2/1000"]

[Life-Bound: Underworld Yin-Nurturing Locust Tree]

Several days had passed.

At this point, eleven Soul Particles had already formed in his Divine Sea, and their effects were gradually becoming apparent. Not only had his physique drawn close to that of an ordinary person by one point and his lifespan increased by more than ten years, but most importantly, his soul had increased by 1.1.

One Soul Particle increased the soul by 0.1.

According to the Basic Visualization Method's records, once one's soul had been nurtured to 9.9, Divine Sense—the ability to observe one's own body inwardly and sense Heaven and Earth outwardly, possessed only by Qi Refining cultivators—would naturally be born.

That was also Zhu Yu's goal.

After stretching his stiff body and having a simple breakfast, Zhu Yu donned a black robe that concealed his aura, pushed open his door, and walked outside.

Five full moons hung in the heavens, while another full moon was just beginning to emerge.

The grass and trees along the mottled path gave off a soft phosphorescent glow.

A beetle crawled out of the earth and lapped at the morning dew. Just then, a blade of grass suddenly stirred. A fierce gust swept past, and a dark-yellow lizard appeared with the beetle in its mouth. Hearing heavy footsteps, it rustled into the dense grass.

Looking at the deserted path, Zhu Yu smiled. Waking up early had not been in vain. He then brushed at dust that did not exist on his clothes and leisurely headed toward the stone tower.

Along the way, he encountered only a scattered few people.

Half an hour later.

Zhu Yu once more entered within a hundred meters of the Sutra Lecture Hall. Before he could check today's lesson information, however, a delighted voice suddenly sounded from beside him.

"Junior Brother Zhu came quite early..."