C9 Fighting Spirit Pill

The next morning...

"System Prompt: Pill refinement successful. Pharmacy proficiency increased by +5. Stasis Transforming Pill x1 obtained."

"System Prompt: Congratulations to the player for leveling up. Now a Fifth Grade Yellow Level Pharmacist, Proficiency (0/4096)."

...

After a night of relentless effort, Jiang Xiaofan had crafted countless Hemostatic Pills and Stasis Transforming Pills, elevating his Pharmacy skills to the Fifth Grade of the Yellow Level. However, the low-grade spirit herbs limited his ability to produce higher-tier pills.

Dawn broke, and Ann Xiaobai emerged from her room. She surveyed the table laden with Hemostatic and Stasis Transforming Pills, then glanced at Jiang Xiaofan, noticing the dark circles under his eyes. Approaching him with concern, she asked, "Xiaofan, why push yourself to the limit?"

Jiang Xiaofan flashed a weary smile and replied, "Hehe, I'll be honest with you, I'm aiming to compete in the Pharmacy Conference."

Ann Xiaobai paused, then explained, "Xiaofan, our Mighty Hand Medical Hall has only three spots for the conference. Senior Brother Qin Chuan is an Eighth Grade Yellow Level Pharmacist, and another senior brother and I are both Seventh Grade. So..."

"Don't worry about it. I'll outdo Qin Chuan. Trust me."

Looking into Jiang Xiaofan's earnest eyes, Ann Xiaobai nodded, "Okay, I believe you."

As the rest of the Mighty Hand Medical Hall awoke, Qin Chuan couldn't help but chuckle upon seeing the array of pills, "Did you really produce all this overnight?"

"Is it so difficult to acknowledge someone's talent?" Ann Xiaobai's face flushed with indignation, ready to defend Jiang Xiaofan, but he gently stopped her.

At that moment, Ann Yunshan stepped out from his room. The others quickly scattered to attend to their tasks. He glanced at the pills on the table and suggested, "Xiaofan, you and Bai'er head out to gather spiritual herbs today. I'll rest easier knowing she's with you."

"Alright, Elder Ann."

...

The early morning in Breeze Town was bustling with activity. At the town center's square, numerous herbal farmers set up stalls to sell their wares, with a diverse array of spiritual herbs laid out before them. This was precisely why the local apothecaries made it a point to visit each morning for their supplies.

Many of the rare spiritual herbs were only available here.

Walking shoulder to shoulder, Ann Xiaobai and Jiang Xiaofan browsed the selection. As she examined the herbs, Xiaobai remarked, "Xiaofan, don't be too hard on Senior Brother Qin Chuan. He tends to be quite assertive, but you'll see he's actually quite loyal once you get to know him."

"Understood," Jiang Xiaofan responded, his attention suddenly captured by a particular spiritual herb.

It was a pale green herb with only a faint spiritual energy, resembling the Third Grade Yellow Level Hundred Ling Grass. However, according to the Medicine King Scripture, this plant was the much rarer Second Grade Profound Level Qinglin Herb, nearly extinct and unknown to most.

The herbal farmer likely had no idea of its true value; otherwise, he wouldn't have mixed such a high-grade herb with the common, lower-grade ones.

Approaching the stall, Jiang Xiaofan was greeted by the herbal farmer, a hearty man in his early thirties with a simple smile. "Young Hero, what are you looking to buy?"

Jiang Xiaofan surveyed the herbs, noting their lower grades, and inquired, "Brother, how much for all these spiritual herbs?"

The farmer blinked in surprise, then replied, "There are two hundred and seventy-five herbs in total. One hundred thirty-five are First Grade Yellow Level, one hundred nine are Second Grade, twenty-five are Third Grade, five are Fourth Grade, and there's one Fifth Grade Yellow Level Heart Cleansing Grass. That comes to fifty-four Copper coins, but let's round it down. Just give me fifty Copper coins."

Jiang Xiaofan nodded and reached into his backpack for the coins. Before he could hand them over, Ann Xiaobai interjected, "Xiaofan, have you lost your mind? These are just low-grade spiritual herbs. We have more than ten thousand of them back at the Hand Medical Hall. Why waste the money?"

Seeing the earnest look on Ann Xiaobai's face, Jiang Xiaofan couldn't bring himself to tell the whole truth. After all, only a fool would sell a Qinglin Herb, a Second Grade of the Profound Level spirit herb, for mere copper coins. So, he simply asked, "Xiaobai, do you trust me?"

"Mhm!"

"Then let's keep quiet about this."

The sturdy man bundled up the spirit herbs, and the Qinglin Herb of the Second Grade was safely stowed in his backpack. With that settled, he finally relaxed. Ann Xiaobai went on a shopping spree, acquiring over a dozen high-quality Yellow Rank spirit herbs for Ann Yunshan to use in pill refinement. These top-notch pills could fetch a handsome sum, which was a key source of income for various medical establishments and pharmacies.

Thanks to Jiang Xiaofan's savvy with spirit herbs, their shopping was a breeze, wrapping up in just a couple of hours. Upon returning to the Mighty Hand Medical Hall, Ann Xiaobai got straight to work on pill-making in the backyard, while Jiang Xiaofan was summoned to a room by Ann Yunshan.

"Elder Ann, did you want to see me?" Jiang Xiaofan entered the room to find Elder Ann at a desk, meticulously sorting the morning's haul of spirit herbs.

"Xiaofan, surely you didn't come to Mighty Hand Medical Hall just to study Pharmacy," Ann Yunshan said, cutting to the chase. He was aware that Jiang Xiaofan was no ordinary novice, given his profound knowledge of spirit herbs. Despite a failed first attempt at alchemy, he had managed to produce hundreds of pills overnight, a feat beyond the reach of even the most gifted apprentices.

Caught off guard, Jiang Xiaofan chuckled and replied, "Elder Ann, I'm here at the Mighty Hand Medical Hall to take part in the Pharmacy Conference."

Ann Yunshan stroked his beard thoughtfully and turned to Jiang Xiaofan. "Is that your only reason for being here?"

"Elder Ann, I swear on my honor that I bear no malice towards Mighty Hand Medical Hall. It's simply where destiny has led me. My stay in Breeze Town is purely to compete in—and win—the Pharmacy Conference."

After a brief pause, Jiang Xiaofan added confidently, "Though my current skill in alchemy is admittedly rough around the edges, with seven days left until the conference, I promise you'll witness my progress within five."

"Let it be. Whoever you are, you've saved Bai'er's life. If you truly possess the skills, I'll certainly allow you to join the Pharmacy Conference," Ann Yunshan said with a light sigh. "But becoming a Seventh Grade Yellow Level Pharmacist isn't something that happens overnight."

"Maybe not for others, but I'm different," Jiang Xiaofan thought to himself with a smirk. After their conversation, Ann Yunshan instructed Jiang Xiaofan to go learn from Ann Xiaobai.

As the afternoon waned and evening approached, Jiang Xiaofan set out to begin his grand pill-making endeavor once more!

Earlier that afternoon, Jiang Xiaofan had invested a hefty sum of 200 copper coins to purchase thousands of spiritual herbs from Ann Yunshan. These herbs ranged from Third to Fifth Grade of the Yellow Level, specifically for crafting high-level pills.

With just a handful of copper coins left in his pocket and knowing that the art of Pharmacy consumed vast amounts of spiritual herbs, Jiang Xiaofan understood that he couldn't proceed without funds. Tonight, his pill refining was not just to hone his skills but also to create rare pills that could be traded for more alchemy resources.

The Medicine King Scripture listed over a hundred varieties of pills below the Fifth Grade Yellow Level, among which the Fighting Spirit Pill was the most elusive. This Fifth Grade combat pill could instantly bolster one's Martial Qi, temporarily elevating combat prowess to a new tier.

Despite its modest grade, the recipe for the Fighting Spirit Pill had been lost to time, making the existing pills exceedingly rare and valuable. Given the scarcity and the high price they commanded, it was an ideal choice for Jiang Xiaofan to refine at this time.

He had nearly all the primary ingredients for the Fighting Spirit Pill, including the rare Cold Autumn Grass, a Fifth Grade Yellow Level herb. Each stalk of Cold Autumn Grass had three stems, with each stem bearing over twenty delicate leaves. Crafting a single Fighting Spirit Pill required just one leaf. Jiang Xiaofan had stumbled upon this herb earlier in the day, which sparked his decision to attempt the Fighting Spirit Pill.

The herb had cost him 20 copper coins, a purchase he ruefully acknowledged as quite the expenditure.

With the remaining ingredients being more common spiritual herbs, Jiang Xiaofan stoked the furnace fire. He methodically added each herb in sequence, culminating with the Cold Autumn Grass leaf, and began the delicate process of refining with his Martial Qi.

After a whole night of practice, Jiang Xiaofan had honed his control over Martial Qi to a much finer degree than before. Sweat the size of beans trickled from his forehead. Roughly five to six minutes later, accompanied by a crisp snap in his mind, Jiang Xiaofan's heart leapt with joy—he had succeeded!

"System Prompt: Pill refinement successful. Proficiency increased by +20. Fighting Spirit Pill x1 obtained."

A Fifth Grade Yellow Level pill was truly exceptional, boosting his proficiency by a solid 20 points. Jiang Xiaofan swiftly retrieved the Fighting Spirit Pill from the Pill Refining Furnace. The rich aroma of the pill wafted through the air, compelling him to take several deep breaths, instantly feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Fighting Spirit Pill: Upon consumption, all attributes increase by 10%, and Martial Qi attack power by 20%.

True to its battle-oriented nature, the pill's effects were impressive. Jiang Xiaofan wondered how much more potent it would be if combined with the Battle Martial Body.

With the Fighting Spirit Pill safely stowed in his backpack, his initial success spurred him on to refine more. After all, the proceeds from these pills would fund his materials for tomorrow's refining session.

Inside the wooden house, Ann Yunshan sat at the table, his senses picking up the medicinal scent that had permeated the room. His eyes snapped open, and he turned to gaze toward the backyard.

Half a minute later, he turned back, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "Jiang Xiaofan, just who are you?"