The bamboo shadows in Green Bamboo Courtyard sifted the moonlight into mottled flecks of gold. Han Li sat cross-legged beside the courtyard's stone table, holding a freshly refined Qi-Gathering Pill between his fingertips. The pill bore four markings, and its medicinal potency was purer than that of the one he had made last month. This was the result of controlling the fire through the spiritual power circulation method of the Five Elements Rotation Formation and finely processing the supplementary ingredients with Pattern Observation and Qi Discernment.
"Formations and pills share the same source. It really is true." Han Li put the pill into a jade bottle, his gaze sweeping over the Rare Medicinal Ingredients Record of the Pill Pavilion spread open on the table. The book described several spirit plants that grew only in the depths of the Chaotic Star Sea. One of them, star-tear grass, required a special harvesting method, or all its spiritual power would be lost. He thought of Zi Ling-the woman came from the Chaotic Star Sea and might know something about the herb's origins.
As he pondered this, a soft knock came from the bamboo gate outside the courtyard.
Han Li stirred his spiritual sense slightly and saw a figure in a pale purple dress standing outside the gate, the purple jade pendant at her waist glowing softly in the moonlight.
"Fairy Zi Ling?" Han Li rose to open the gate, a hint of surprise in his otherwise even tone. More than a month had passed since they parted in Heavenly Wave City, yet she had actually found her way to Hundred Herb Island.
Zi Ling covered her lips with a soft laugh, carrying a celadon food box in one hand. "Fellow Daoist Li, have you been well? I happened to be passing through Hundred