C10 It Seemed That I Was Going to Die Here Today

Su Ping'an's hand now held a gleaming golden tome, the "Alchemy of the Ancient Medicine King," with bold letters on the massive cover proclaiming its ability to refine all the pills in existence.

He initially thought that was all there was to it. Sure, it was somewhat beneficial, but it lacked any tangible impact.

This left Su Ping'an feeling unenthused, yet as he turned the next page, he was taken aback by an unexpected revelation.

The fusion with the "Alchemy of the Ancient Medicine King" granted him the ability to peer through any natural treasure on Earth, identifying the perfect ingredients for his alchemical pursuits.

He hadn't anticipated the system being so formidable. The original tome was merely a means to inherit the Medicine King's knowledge and methods for healing and saving lives.

But this fusion wasn't a simple matter of doubling the effect; it was like multiplying it by a hundred.

If the Medicine King himself were still around, he would surely find great solace in this.

Engrossed, Su Ping'an began to read voraciously, losing himself in the pages, and before he knew it, a week had slipped by.

After stretching languidly, he was reminded by the grumbling of his stomach that he had neglected food and sleep for seven days, though he was far from transcending the need for sustenance.

His search in the desolate area yielded nothing—not a shadow, much less something to eat.

Then, a snippet from the alchemy text surfaced in his mind—wasn't there a pill mentioned that could stave off hunger?

And it didn't require any rare ingredients, just the simplest withered vine grass, which was abundant here. It was exactly what he needed.

Grabbing a handful of grass, Su Ping'an set to work. With a commanding shout of "Fire!" flames burst from his hand, a startling green blaze.

Any alchemist witnessing this would surely exclaim over the "Ghost Fire," a flame only those capable of crafting purple-grade pills could conjure.

Such a sight underscored the staggering level of Su Ping'an's abilities, almost defying belief. After all, he was only twenty years old.

Alchemists capable of producing purple-grade pills were renowned veterans in the martial world, each a master in their own right.

As the flames continued to burn, the rich aroma filled the cave within two minutes, stirring Su Ping'an's appetite irresistibly.

He eyed the green Fasting Aid Pill before him and shook his head, dissatisfied. He was so close to elevating it to the next level.

Just when Su Ping'an had staved off his hunger with another pill, the cave in the back mountain began to tremble unexpectedly. It was akin to an earthquake, sending Su Ping'an into a panic. Despite being a considerable expert by now, he knew that in the face of nature's fury, even the most powerful would seem insignificant.

Without a moment's hesitation, Su Ping'an dashed to the cave's entrance, intent on escape. But his path was blocked by a snow-white leopard. The sight of the massive beast, filling the cave's mouth, left Su Ping'an heartbroken with despair.

He thought ruefully, had he known, he would have fled this doomed sect sooner. Without the system, he would have at least spared his life.

The leopard caught sight of him and let out a thunderous howl. "Awoo!"

Su Ping'an looked at the leopard's enormous white fangs with a mix of awe and contempt. This creature must have also crossed over from another world, its teeth gleaming as if it brushed daily.

But there was no time for such thoughts. He needed to flee, uncertain of how formidable this beast might be.

He activated his movement technique, aiming to dart under the leopard's belly, but Su Ping'an had underestimated the situation. No one could outrun a leopard—a timeless truth.

He had barely taken two steps when the snow-white leopard casually stepped in front of him, as if out for a stroll.

Then, to Su Ping'an's astonishment, the leopard grinned at him. Wait, grinning?

Indeed, the leopard seemed to be currying favor with him. Su Ping'an's anxiety eased slightly; it appeared to harbor no ill will.

Tentatively, he approached the leopard, which responded by lolling its tongue out like an eager puppy, leaving Su Ping'an utterly amazed.

Tentatively reaching out to the leopard that resembled a dog, he discovered it had no intention of attacking him, which allowed him to relax completely.

Before long, the man and leopard were frolicking like family. Su Ping'an couldn't help but wonder why the leopard had sought him out. Could it have been captivated by his charm?

Having just consumed a fasting pill, he still felt a pang of hunger, so he took out another. The sight of it made the snow leopard's eyes sparkle with interest.

That's when it clicked for Su Ping'an—the leopard had likely been drawn by the scent of his alchemy.

With plenty of fasting pills to spare, he tossed one to the leopard without a second thought. The animal leapt and gulped it down eagerly.

Su Ping'an was now convinced the leopard must have been a dog in a past life; there was no other way to explain it.

After devouring the pill, the leopard affectionately licked Su Ping'an's arm, gently tugged at his sleeve with its teeth, and then climbed down.

In that moment, Su Ping'an realized what the creature wanted: a ride on its back. With his fear gone, he naturally obliged.

The leopard took off running wildly, coming to a halt in under a minute. Considering they'd covered nearly a kilometer, the leopard's speed was astonishing.

Surveying the overgrown wild grass and withered plants, Su Ping'an was puzzled about why he'd been brought here.

But things escalated quickly. A ferocious giantopithecus charged at the snow leopard, which narrowly avoided the assault and then turned to Su Ping'an with a pleading look.

Su Ping'an now understood—the leopard was seeking his help to take on the giant ape, a creature of equal might. Clearly, the snow leopard was quite the intelligent beast.

Confronted with the towering giant ape, standing about five meters tall, Su Ping'an's nerves were on edge, uncertain of his next move.

In the midst of his indecision, the giant ape switched targets, bounding rapidly towards him.