The Pill That Shocked Qian Renxue

After leaving the Mustard Seed Space, Zhao Ming headed straight for the study at the Crown Prince's Palace.

It was already late at night, yet the study remained brightly lit. Xue Qinghe, disguised by Qian Renxue, was bent over the desk reviewing memorials.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up. When she saw Zhao Ming push open the door and rush in excitedly, unable to hide the delight on his face, she set down her vermilion brush.

"Big Sister Xue'er, my pills are finished!"

Zhao Ming crossed the room in a few quick strides and handed the porcelain bottle in his hand to Qian Renxue, his voice brimming with excitement.

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue removed her disguise, a flicker of surprise passing through her purple eyes.

Although she had helped Zhao Ming obtain the Core Flame, medicinal ingredients, and pill cauldron, she honestly had not believed he could truly refine any sort of pill.

In her eyes, Zhao Ming might have been exceptionally clever, but he was still only eight years old. This so-called "pill refining" was probably nothing more than crushing herbs and rolling them into medicinal pellets, perhaps with effects slightly better than the common pills sold on the market.

Yet Zhao Ming had actually succeeded. And judging from his expression, the results seemed quite good.

Qian Renxue took the porcelain bottle, removed the stopper, and an invigorating medicinal fragrance immediately wafted into her nose.

The scent was elegant and lingering, carrying an indescribable spiritual charm. Just one breath of it made her feel refreshed, even easing some of the fatigue brought on by reviewing memorials.

The shock on her face deepened, and her previously casual posture unconsciously straightened.

She tilted the porcelain bottle slightly and poured an Origin-Recovery Pill into her palm.

The pill was roughly the size of a soybean, perfectly round, its surface covered in a faint azure sheen. Within it, faint wisps of patterns could be seen flowing.

Qian Renxue carefully examined it with her spiritual power and discovered that the tiny pill contained an extraordinarily pure Soul Power fluctuation. The energy was gentle and stable, without the slightest trace of violence. It was clearly safe to consume directly.

Without hesitation, she placed the Origin-Recovery Pill into her mouth.

The pill melted as soon as it entered her mouth, turning into a warm current that slid down her throat and into her abdomen.

Qian Renxue felt the warm current rapidly spread through her body, seeping into her limbs and bones like spring rain nourishing the earth. Wherever it passed, the Soul Power in her meridians seemed infused with fresh vitality, and its circulation suddenly accelerated.

She closed her eyes and carefully sensed the changes within her body, the shock on her face gradually turning into disbelief.

A moment later, Qian Renxue opened her eyes, her gaze filled with amazement. "This pill can restore roughly ten percent of my Soul Power. It also seems to have raised my Soul Power Level a little."

Her current cultivation had already reached the level of a Soul Emperor. The total amount of Soul Power within her was at least ten times that of Zhao Ming.

Yet a single tiny pill could restore ten percent of the Soul Power of a Soul Master at her level. That far exceeded her expectations.

What surprised her even more was that the pill seemed to carry a slight effect that enhanced Soul Power. Though the increase was minuscule, it truly existed.

"Big Sister Xue'er, the effect of raising Soul Power Level only works the first time someone takes it," Zhao Ming quickly explained. "The Origin-Recovery Pill's main effect is restoring Soul Power. That little additional enhancement only works for first-time users. Eating it again afterward won't raise Soul Power anymore.

"As for its Soul Power recovery effect, I'll continue improving it. I'll strive to make it so that even a Title Douluo, or even a Super Douluo, can recover more than thirty percent of their Soul Power from a single pill."

Qian Renxue's eyes suddenly lit up.

Recovering more than thirty percent of one's Soul Power—what did that mean? It meant that if a Title Douluo had exhausted all their Soul Power, they would only need to take three Origin-Recovery Pills to return to nearly peak condition.

In a life-or-death battle, that was practically the same as gaining another life.

If such pills could be mass-produced, they would become an immensely important strategic resource for Spirit Hall as a whole.

Just imagine it: if every Title Douluo of Spirit Hall carried a bottle of Origin-Recovery Pills while carrying out missions, how terrifying would their sustained combat ability become?

Qian Renxue took a deep breath and suppressed the excitement in her heart.

She looked at the expectant boy before her, and her gaze took on a seriousness it had never held before.

In the past, although she had always taken great care of Zhao Ming, she had mostly regarded him as a gifted child worth nurturing, a promising talent who might one day become a pillar of Spirit Hall.

But now, Zhao Ming held an entirely different place in her heart.

"Little Ming, I underestimated you before." Qian Renxue rose to her feet, walked over to Zhao Ming, and gently patted his shoulder. Her voice carried sincere praise and a trace of apology. "What you've accomplished has far exceeded my expectations.

"From now on, refine pills as freely as you wish. Whatever medicinal ingredients you need, I'll find them for you. No matter how precious the herbs are, as long as you ask, I'll find a way to get them."

Zhao Ming smiled at her words. He understood the weight of Qian Renxue's promise. With the influence she wielded as both the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire and the young mistress of Spirit Hall, there were almost no medicinal ingredients on Douluo Continent that she could not obtain if she chose to support him fully.

With this promise, his path of pill refinement would become much smoother.

"Thank you, Big Sister Xue'er." Zhao Ming raised his head, a bright smile appearing on his face.

Qian Renxue smiled as well. She returned to her desk and put away the porcelain bottle. Then, as though she had suddenly remembered something, she said to Zhao Ming, "By the way, don't tell anyone about your pill refining for now.

"Pills have never appeared on Douluo Continent before. If word gets out, it may bring unnecessary trouble. Before you possess sufficient strength to protect yourself, the fewer people who know about this, the better."

Zhao Ming nodded. "Don't worry, Big Sister Xue'er. I understand. Aside from you, I won't tell anyone."

Qian Renxue nodded in satisfaction. After giving him a few more reminders, she sent Zhao Ming back to rest.

After Zhao Ming left the study, Qian Renxue sat alone at the desk, turning the porcelain bottle containing the Origin-Recovery Pills over in her hand for a long time. Thoughtful light flickered in her eyes.

Pills—a completely new field.

If Zhao Ming truly could refine the kind of pill he had described, one capable of restoring thirty percent of a Title Douluo's Soul Power, then Spirit Hall's advantage in high-level combat power would expand even further.

More importantly, Zhao Ming had also mentioned the effect of "raising Soul Power Level." Though it only worked the first time one took it, what if he could refine pills specifically meant to increase Soul Power?

That would completely change the landscape of Soul Master cultivation on Douluo Continent.

The more Qian Renxue thought about it, the more she felt Zhao Ming's value was immeasurable.

She secretly made up her mind that she had to bind Zhao Ming firmly to Spirit Hall's chariot.