C10 Jade Lingloong

Jiang Fann sneered, "Relying on them? Even if you sought out Myriad Herbs Valley, it would be futile. In all the world, only one person can craft the Meridian Severing Pill. Don't believe me? Go ahead, take your time and see for yourself."

He tossed a vial of pills to Housekeeper Liu and added, "Here are ten more Meridian Severing Pills. I'll be departing for Leehuo Academy soon, so you'll need to act quickly and come find me. I require your assistance with just three tasks, and in exchange, I'll neutralize the pill's poison for you."

Housekeeper Liu sized up Jiang Fann.

"Your ability to reach the Innate Stage at such a young age certainly makes you a candidate for Leehuo Academy. But to think you can coerce me with the Meridian Severing Pill? Aren't you underestimating me a bit?"

"Rest assured, working with me comes with its perks."

"Perks? What could you, an Innate Stage cultivator from Purple Sun Town, possibly offer me? Maybe in a few decades, I might have something to look forward to." Clearly, Housekeeper Liu was skeptical about any benefits Jiang Fann could provide.

Jiang Fann pulled several pills from his Hundred Treasures Bag, allowing Housekeeper Liu a brief glimpse before pocketing them again.

He spoke with an even tone, "Just over a month ago, I hadn't yet harnessed my aura. I was left for dead at the bottom of a cliff. But within a month, I've advanced to the Innate Stage. You should grasp the significance of such a transformation."

At these words, Housekeeper Liu's pupils narrowed, realizing that a formidable alchemist must be supporting Jiang Fann – one of exceptional rank, for it's rare to see such a rapid ascent in cultivation within a month.

With his piece said, Jiang Fann chuckled, turned on his heel, and strode away.

Housekeeper Liu pondered the situation, watching Jiang Fann's retreating figure. He sensed that the Jiang Family might soon be graced by a remarkable individual, whose future was shrouded in mystery.

With that thought, he picked up the young prince and departed.

Later that afternoon, Housekeeper Liu made his way to the Jiang Family's parlor to offer his apologies to Jiang Tianhai.

He had hoped to meet with Jiang Fann, but was informed that Jiang had already departed and wouldn't return for another month. With no other option, he left to escort the young prince home.

Jiang Fann had indeed hastily exited the Jiang Family estate. With Housekeeper Liu's life in his grasp, he had no intention of causing trouble for his family.

There was a multitude of tasks demanding his attention, and he couldn't personally attend to each one. His next destination was the Loongze Lake Secret Realm, a venture that could keep him occupied for several months. With Qiao Sanyang lurking with predatory intent, it was crucial to have someone watch over matters covertly—Housekeeper Liu was the perfect candidate for the job.

Jiang Fann hadn't anticipated such a rushed departure. Merely an hour earlier, a fragment of a scroll in his possession had quivered, indicating the presence of an immortal root within its search radius. The root seemed to detect the scroll's probing and swiftly fled, its speed astonishing.

The revelation left Jiang Fann reeling. In his past life, revered as the Medicine King, he had managed to capture only a single immortal root despite a lifetime of searching.

Naturally occurring and incredibly elusive, the immortal root was an innate spirit with keen instincts. Without the proper knowledge to capture it, even the most powerful would find themselves at a loss.

To any alchemist, the immortal root was the ultimate prize. Its mere proximity could enhance the quality of ordinary and spiritual herbs alike, and the same held true for the caliber of elixirs produced.

In essence, the immortal root was far from ordinary and held a profound allure for Jiang Fann.

Yet, he never imagined encountering the immortal root in such a place. Upon its discovery, it had immediately taken flight. After a brief word with his father, Jiang Tianhai, Jiang Fann set off in pursuit.

The immortal root had materialized near the Myriad Treasures Tavern before darting off to the east.

Jiang Fann gave chase with relentless determination, knowing full well that without his recent advancement in realm, he would stand no chance of keeping up with its escape velocity.

Utilizing the scroll fragment, he attempted to track the immortal root's scent, but the signal was sporadic. All he could ascertain was that the immortal root must have recently emerged, its essence still faint.

Two hours later, the spiritual root vanished into the mountains in the distance.

Those were the Nine Peaks Mountain, where, from afar, nine towering peaks rose majestically amidst the rolling hills.

The mountains were home to demonic beasts, making them perilously dangerous. Cultivators often teamed up to venture inside, hunting these creatures and gathering herbs, yet many met their end there each year.

Jiang Fann, however, was undeterred and made his way into the mountain.

Currently, his Universe Creation Art could only detect within a hundred-meter radius. If he lost track now, who knew when he'd get another chance?

He pressed on, delving deeper into the mountain range for the whole day.

The immortal root made a beeline for the nine peaks without a moment's pause.

And still, Jiang Fann hadn't caught a glimpse of what it actually was.

Filled with anticipation, he continued until late into the night when he sensed the presence of demonic beasts nearby.

He had to suppress his own aura, yet he couldn't afford to slow down.

The moon shone brightly overhead.

The tallest of the nine peaks loomed before him when Jiang Fann came to an abrupt halt—the aura of the immortal root had vanished without a trace.

He quickened his pace towards the peak, but the root remained elusive.

"Gone?"

Jiang Fann probed carefully but to no avail.

Opening his eyes, he fixed his gaze on the towering peak before him.

Soaring into the clouds, it stood nearly vertical. Jiang Fann was certain that this was where the immortal root had disappeared.

After some thought, an idea struck him.

"A secret realm? There must be one here too. The immortal root is likely concealed within it."

That seemed to be the most plausible explanation.

Such scenarios were not uncommon; the immortal root might have been left by some eminent figure, with the secret realm serving as its sanctuary. Perhaps it even originated from within this very realm.

If that were the case, things could get complicated. Some secret realms were difficult to access without being opened, and at Jiang Fann's current level, he was powerless to enter.

But Jiang Fann was resolute, not one to be easily disheartened by such challenges.

His lips curled into a smile as he gazed at the mountain peak. "Looks like we've got a playful one here. I'll keep watch for a few days and see if you decide to show yourself."

Jiang Fann settled into a cross-legged position beneath a tree, cultivating and attuning himself to the subtle shifts around him.

Since his breakthrough, he hadn't taken a moment to rest. Having been on the move all day, fatigue was starting to set in.

Roughly two hours passed when the presence of an immortal root suddenly made itself known.

His eyes snapped open, and he looked up at the mountain peak to catch a glimpse of a small horse, jade-like and palm-sized, that flashed before vanishing from sight.

Jiang Fann, well-versed in the Creation Spell of Heaven and Earth's Chapter of Pill Dao, recognized the type of immortal root immediately.

"Jade Lingloong!" he exclaimed, a rush of elation flooding through him.

Jade Lingloong, a treasure as precious as jade itself, was born identical to the gemstone. Upon acquiring Spiritual Sense, it transformed into an immortal root.

This tiny jade-green horse was a manifestation of Jade Lingloong, and judging by its appearance, it had just recently come into being, just as he had anticipated.

An immortal root, if left undisturbed, could live as long as the cosmos itself. Some that had existed for eons were even more intelligent than humans. But this Jade Lingloong before him seemed to operate purely on instinct.

Sensing Jiang Fann's gaze, it vanished once again into the secret realm.

"To think it's Jade Lingloong. Catching it is beyond my current capabilities, especially without the crucial Purple Flame Immortal Gold. Without it, capturing its true form is impossible."

Jiang Fann withdrew discreetly, committing the location to memory. He was resolute in his quest to acquire this immortal root, an invaluable asset for any alchemist.

Besides, the allure of the treasures hidden here was undeniable. Could a place that birthed an immortal root be anything but extraordinary?

"I'll need to gather some information to uncover the legends behind Nine Peaks Mountain," he mused.

Careful not to further disturb the immortal root, Jiang Fann knew his knowledge on the subject was unparalleled. With the Creation Spell of Heaven and Earth and the Chapter of Pill Dao in his possession, he held secrets that had long since faded into obscurity.

Having arrived at Nine Peaks Mountain, Jiang Fann couldn't possibly leave without achieving something. His first task was to find a secluded spot to cultivate. Now that he had reached the Innate Stage, he was ready to delve into the Chapter of Pill Dao.

In his past life, he had access to the True Heaven-Defying Technique, but his high cultivation level meant he missed the chance to practice it. The foundational chapter required cultivation at the Innate Stage, and with numerous enemies at his heels, he couldn't risk regressing his cultivation level just to practice the Pill Dao. His only option was to harness the chapter's innate power to seek out rare natural treasures.

Jiang Fann was well aware that the full potential of his cultivation technique and the Chapter of Pill Dao could only be realized when used together. His heart swelled with anticipation; not being able to cultivate the chapter was one of his biggest regrets before his rebirth. Now presented with the opportunity, he was determined not to let it slip by.

He had pored over the Chapter of Pill Dao thousands of times, so he unfurled the tattered scroll for another read. This time, he engaged his Spiritual Sense, and words began to materialize in his mind, swiftly transforming into potent Spiritual Strength that infused his entire being.

"The universe is crafted through the Dao of the pill, with countless medicinal herbs, spiritual medicines, earthly treasures, and heavenly materials..."

Jiang Fann could feel each word etching itself into his flesh, as if carving into his very bones. To his delight, the Chapter of Pill Dao not only preserved his combat prowess but also visibly enhanced his physical strength as it became part of him. His expertise as an alchemist gave him an edge in understanding the profound changes to his body.

Once the foundational chapter was fully integrated into his being, he had completed the initial phase of cultivation. It seemed his deep insight into the Pill Dao had made the process smoother than anticipated.

Jiang Fann's lips curled into a satisfied smile as he assessed his newfound strength. "Comparable to the Later Period of the Innate Stage, and I haven't even started on a defensive technique! This is just the beginning. The more I cultivate, the more formidable I'll become. The Universe Creation Art truly lives up to its name. This is merely a supplementary chapter of the Pill Dao, and its effects are already so profound. If I manage to gather all the chapters, just how fearsome will I become?"

Jiang Fann made a silent vow that should the opportunity arise, he would seize the entire Creation Spell of Heaven and Earth without fail.

By harnessing the Chapter of Pill Dao to manipulate the fragment, his detection range, which initially spanned 100 meters, had expanded to approximately 150 meters. This significant leap was undoubtedly excellent news for Jiang Fann.

Nine Peaks Mountain was a veritable treasure trove, and he had now reached its Center Domain, a place sparsely populated by humans but frequented by demonic beasts.

The area was rich with rare herbs, and with a bit of luck, he might even stumble upon a spiritual herb. Jiang Fann surveyed the herbs nearby, sensing their distinct auras. He carefully selected those he needed and gathered them.

He made his way back towards Loongze County.

...

Elsewhere, the young prince and his entourage were on their return journey.

Housekeeper Liu dreaded the effects of the Meridian Severing Pill and was eager to locate Jiang Fann to broker a deal and neutralize the pill's poison at the earliest opportunity.

The young prince had been treated for his injuries, yet he remained in a comatose state.

The three cultivators at the Innate Stage wore expressions of worry.

One of them spoke up, "Housekeeper Liu, how will we explain this to the young prince once he awakens? Given his temperament, you might be spared, but we three are sure to face his wrath. Just who is this Jiang Fann, and why is he so difficult to handle?"

Housekeeper Liu replied, "It's your own fault for underestimating him and falling for his ploys. Besides, the intelligence we received earlier claimed he had merely cultivated form qi. Who would have thought he'd be at the Innate Stage?"