Discussing Pills and the Dao on Five Trees Mountain

Some people have weak Yang spirits and choose to escape at night.

The Yang Po (a vital energy source) thrives only at night, acting like a small, radiant sun. The harmony of Yin and Yang, aided by the power of the Taiyin (a yin energy source) from the moonlight, further nourishes the Yang Po.

During the day, yang energy is dominant and yin energy is weak. When the sun shines brightly overhead, it impacts the yang energy, increasing the difficulty of casting spells and controlling it.

Even cultivators at the Sovereign Sole Self Realm rarely use their Yang Soul to patrol and inspect the area during the day.

Zhang Xuezhou's Yang Soul wasn't particularly impressive to begin with; in reality, he himself served as a reference point, and after escaping, he could only probe a distance of three or four hundred meters.

But the Yang Soul Transformation Technique changed everything.

At night, he can travel a maximum distance of about 120 miles, and during the day, he can escape his Yang Soul and travel at least 100 miles.

For Beishan, which is only a hundred miles in circumference, Zhang Xuezhou's patrol range could cover almost all the mountains in Beishan.

His spirit drifted and lingered, constantly moving towards the Five Trees Mountain that Zhang Cigong was pointing to.

The mist swirled around Wuzhu Mountain, drifting ever closer. Zhang Xuezhou saw many Alchemist who had come to join the King of Huainan's Household coming and going, some explaining the art of Alchemist, others debating it.

Thinking back to when he mentioned that his specialty was refining Grain Avoidance pills, no one took him seriously at all, Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but sigh at his limited abilities back then.

There are over a hundred Alchemist outside who have sought refuge with the Prince of King of Huainan's Household, so they certainly don't need another Alchemist who can refine the Grain Avoidance Powder.

Zhang Xuezhou floated in the air and listened to the eavesdropping for a while, judging that these people's level of alchemy was probably at a beginner level, and their theoretical knowledge mostly came from memorization.

These people have limited knowledge and would never use 'race' to make medicine; they are even highly likely to be unaware of 'race'.

He drifted away, passing through the swaying woods. Zhang Xuezhou saw that there were patches of medicinal herbs on the five mountains, and many herb slaves lived in the mountains to take care of them. Some Alchemist came to check on the growth of the herbs themselves.

Some of these herbs are grown on their own, but most are cultivated through transplantation.

For example, the most common and precious medicinal herb, ginseng, is almost planted in large patches in the soil. The roots and stems of various herbs are so long that entire tracts of soil and rocks used for root support have to be transported here, resulting in these medicinal gardens being piled up in all sorts of strange shapes, unlike the flat land that normal people cultivate.

Zhang Xuezhou's Yang Soul swept across the faces, and he couldn't help but frown, feeling that there wasn't a single familiar face among the many Alchemist and medicine slaves.

"Li Shang greets fellow Daoist. I do not yet know from whom you have traveled here. If you do not mind the desolation of this place, please come down for a chat!"

When Zhang Xuezhou drifted halfway up the mountain, he saw a cultivator refining pills under a pine tree looking at him and extending an invitation.

This made his Yang Soul feel slightly cold.

Just like the Grand Historian Sima Tan, this Alchemist named Li Shang had obviously discovered his whereabouts.

Under normal circumstances, the first reaction to being discovered is to run away.

Zhang Xuezhou had the same thought, after all, his favorite thing to do was to run away, but then Zhang Xuezhou thought that he probably wouldn't encounter a second Daoist Ran Deng.

Moreover, this cultivator named Li Shang didn't seem to have much malice.

"I have long admired Fellow Daoist Li Shang's exceptional alchemy skills, and have been searching for him in this mountain for a long time without success. I never expected that he would be right here in the dimly lit place!"

Zhang Xuezhou switched to a female voice and then floated down.

"So you're a female cultivator," Li Shangxi said with surprise. "I rarely see female cultivators, and I didn't know where you were from."

"I have long lived in Mount Li, and people call me Wudang!"

Zhang Xuezhou casually replied with the name of the Holy Mother of Wudang, after all, he didn't know many female cultivators. The most powerful female cultivators were either the Empress Dowager or the Holy Mother of Wudang, the lord of Sacred Land.

Making up a random story would be easy to expose, so using someone with a name and surname to impersonate someone else is more appropriate.

He impersonated the Holy Mother of Wudang and stood not far from Li Shang.

"Lishan Wudang, what a fine name!" Li Shang praised with a smile.

He had clearly never heard of Lishan Wudang, and could only stroke his beard and smile in admiration.

This was no different from Zhang Xuezhou supporting Li Shang; if Li Shang hadn't introduced himself, he wouldn't have recognized him at all.

"Wu Dang has been refining elixirs in the mountains for a long time, but has yet to achieve success," Zhang Xuezhou said. "Therefore, I came down the mountain to visit fellow practitioners. I have long admired the reputation of alchemy in Huainan and have also heard of your name, fellow Daoist. However, this place of alchemy is not easy to enter, so I can only enter here by seeking the Yang Soul!"

"Fellow Daoist Wudang, your Yang Soul is unafraid of the scorching sun and can even travel to the Five Trees Mountain. Your cultivation is truly enviable," Li Shang said. "We Yang Soul cultivators wouldn't dare to travel such a distance!"

"I came here at night hoping to find some peace and quiet, but how could I possibly encounter fellow Daoists at night?" Zhang Xuezhou said. "Besides, patrolling and investigating at night is the act of petty thieves, and Wudang wouldn't stoop to such a thing!"

"Fellow Daoist Wudang is truly an honest person!"

Li Shang nodded repeatedly.

He felt that Zhang Xuezhou made sense. If it were a villain coming to spy on the situation, they should have chosen to come at night instead of wandering around in broad daylight and being detected by him.

Li Shang was responsible for the safety of Wuzhu Mountain and was also the highest-ranking official in charge of all the Alchemist on Wuzhu Mountain.

He was somewhat pleased that fellow Daoists from other regions had come to explore this place. Once he ruled out the possibility that the other party was causing trouble, Li Shang's vigilance had been greatly reduced.

"Fellow Daoist Wudang has come from afar seeking the way of alchemy, and Li Shang will naturally share everything with you. Please, fellow Daoist, sit down and discuss alchemy!"

Whether they are genuinely discussing alchemy or engaging in other activities, it will become clear once they exchange ideas and engage in friendly competition.

Li Shang reached out to invite Zhang Xuezhou, and also completed the final screening procedure.

"I am a cultivator from the Medicine King Sect. I have some experience in alchemy and am skilled in pills that cultivate Qi and Blood and Law Power. I can also refine poison pills such as those that bewitch the soul, poison the five poisons, break the cultivation, and devour the soul. I wonder what kind of alchemy you are good at?" Li Shang asked.

"I am skilled in refining pills that enhance Law Power, including those for cultivating essence, tempering spirit, and creating life, as well as some Grain Avoidance Pill grains," Zhang Xuezhou said. "Poison pills Non-Self forte; I came here to learn from you about alchemy and cultivation!"

"It seems Fellow Daoist Wudang cultivates Technique Method; no wonder his cultivation is so profound," Li Shang exclaimed. "Fellow Daoist, please ask. I have long hoped that we could discuss the Dao of Elixir, whether it be elixirs for cultivation or poisonous pills!"

"I'd like to ask about a powerful medicine called the Life-Creating Elixir," Zhang Xuezhou began. "I wonder if you've ever heard of this medicine?"

"The Life-Creating Pill should be a variant of the Creation Pill," Li Shang replied. "Since it has the word 'life-creating' added, it must mean that its medicinal effects are like a gentle stream, constantly flowing and replenishing. This kind of medicine should no longer be something for breaking through realms, but is very likely a powerful medicine for healing injuries and curing diseases!"

"Fellow Daoist, you have remarkable insight! To guess so much solely from the name of this elixir," Zhang Xuezhou exclaimed. "Your guess is entirely correct. This elixir can bring the dead back to life and heal even White Bone; it is truly a sacred medicine for healing!"

"It seems Fellow Daoist Wudang is ill!"

"That's exactly right!"

"It just so happens that I possess some minor skill in healing medicine. I will carefully discuss whatever you suggest, fellow Daoist, and see how best to refine this elixir!"

The topics Zhang Xuezhou discussed made Li Shang lower his guard again and again.

The elixir that Zhang Xuezhou mentioned also piqued his interest.

No Alchemist desires nothing more than to refine the most powerful elixir, whether for cultivation, harming others, or saving lives.

Li Shang sensed that the Daoist Wudang before him, who had come to inquire about such a powerful elixir as the Life-Creating Pill, must have something missing.

While it may be difficult for an individual to discover alchemy techniques, the King of Huainan's Household not only has a group of Alchemist with whom they can discuss these techniques, but also possesses vast alchemy resources.

While others are crippled by a single failure, they simply smile after ten failures.

If he could obtain the recipe for a powerful healing elixir from this, Li Shang felt it was entirely worthwhile.

Zhang Xuezhou briefly mentioned the Life-Creating Pill before falling silent, and Li Shang didn't seem to mind. He then mentioned his most outstanding healing pill – the Holy Blood Pill.

This kind of elixir is incomprehensible to laymen, and even experts would find it difficult to replicate. It requires such a large number of medicinal herbs, yet Li Shang explained it without any hesitation.

"Fellow Daoist Wudang, do you find my words acceptable?" Li Shang invited, "I'm just offering a humble suggestion to elicit your opinion; I hope you'll discuss this Life-Creating Pill!"

"As Fellow Daoist Li Shang said, the Holy Blood Pill requires a combination of forty-nine herbs, while my Life-Creating Pill only requires ten herbs, which include Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Angelica sinensis, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Paeonia lactiflora, Rehmannia glutinosa, and Astragalus membranaceus," Zhang Xuezhou said.

He was quite direct, using the name of the Holy Mother of Wudang, and taking the Ten-Complete Tonic Pill from a physician to make up the numbers for the elixir, while deliberately omitting one ingredient.

"Ten flavors?" Li Shang asked doubtfully, "But you only mentioned nine flavors!"

"There's one more ingredient that's extremely difficult to find," Zhang Xuezhou said. "The last ingredient in the Pill Formula I obtained is called 'human medicine.' I've been refining pills for decades, and I've never even heard of this human medicine. That's why I've been refining pills for so long without success!"

"Human medicine..."