C4 Early Period of Qi Condensation Stage

Lee Mo was unconcerned about a handful of supreme grade pills; his real need was for an uninterrupted supply of medicinal herbs. Casually, he suggested, "Then I'll give you four supreme grade Origin Returning Pills each month, how does that sound?"

Lee Bo's spirits soared at the offer, his hands quivering with excitement. Even one supreme grade pill was a rare treasure for him, and he had never imagined that Lee Mo would provide him with four each month.

The significance of four supreme grade Origin Returning Pills was not just in their exorbitant cost; they could also help his family nurture more outstanding members, thus improving their status within the collateral branch.

The Alchemists looked at each other in astonishment. Crafting even a single supreme grade pill was beyond their wildest dreams. Lee Mo's skill was truly formidable.

Lee Mo then reminded Lee Bo to keep his pill-making skills confidential, and Lee Bo agreed without hesitation.

Afterward, Lee Mo chose a whole carriage full of medicinal herbs and arranged for the shop assistant to deliver them to his home. Lee Bo bid them farewell with a beaming smile, not regretting the expense of the herbs in the slightest. He was proud to praise his son for making such an influential friend.

Lee Gaoyuan was baffled to discover that his friend had become a third grade Yellow Level Alchemist. He didn't ponder it too much, though, recognizing it as nothing but good fortune.

Upon the carriage's arrival, Lee Mo's parents were surprised to see their son return. They walked into the yard to find the assistant actively unloading crates of herbs.

"Mo, what's going on here?" asked Lee Wending, his expression marked by concern. He looked to be a straightforward man in his forties.

"Where did you get all these medicinal herbs? Surely you didn't steal them?" Lee Mo's mother questioned, her voice laced with worry.

With a reassuring smile, Lee Mo replied, "I got them from Second Uncle."

"All this from your uncle? Why would he give you so much without asking for anything in return?" Lee Wending was even more confused.

After the assistants had finished moving the herbs and departed, Lee Mo revealed the deal he had made with Lee Bo and his status as a third grade Yellow Level Alchemist.

They were utterly astonished by what they heard. Then, with a mix of surprise and delight, Lee Mo's mother asked, "Mo, are you truly a third-grade Yellow Level Alchemist?"

Lee Mo nodded and said with a smile, "Every day when I leave the house, I'm actually off to diligently practice alchemy, hoping to one day bring honor to our family."

Though the couple were not his biological parents, they had always shown him great kindness. Therefore, ensuring they could live a comfortable life was his way of expressing gratitude.

"That's absolutely fantastic," Lee Wending said, unable to contain his excitement.

Lee Wending had initially held modest hopes for his son, wishing nothing more than a safe and peaceful life for him. However, he was taken aback by his son's unwavering dedication, which had led to him becoming a third-grade Yellow Level Alchemist.

Even his usually stingy Second Uncle had been willing to supply medicinal herbs to his son, confirming that his son had been truthful with them.

Half a month later, the serene morning air of the small courtyard was punctuated by the dull thuds of wooden stakes being shattered under Lee Mo's sword.

Lee Mo darted nimbly between the sturdy wooden stakes.

Each time his sword fell, a stake was shattered to pieces.

In Lee Mo's hands, the simple Spirit Snake Sword became a force to be reckoned with, its movements as unpredictable and deadly as a spirit python hunting its prey. Its power was on par with, if not greater than, advanced swordmanship techniques.

Strengthened by the Origin Returning Pill and the Abyss Pill, his body had become much more robust, and his eyes sparkled with a sharp brilliance.

When Lee Mo finally sheathed his sword, the ground was strewn with splintered wood, yet he appeared neither flushed nor out of breath.

He nodded slightly and calmly stated, "I've finally entered the early period of the Qi Condensation Stage. Now, I can become a Meridian Refining warrior."

The martial path is divided into nine realms: Qi Condensation, Monolith, Iron Bone, Steel Soul, Golden Body, Profound Essence, Heavenly Dome, Spirit Aperture, and Thaumaturgy. Each realm is a significant step up from the last and is further divided into Early, Middle, and Late Periods.

Warriors who reach the ninth realm, the Thaumaturgy Stage, are rumored to have the ability to glimpse the secrets of the heavens and step into the realm of true cultivation.

Before entering the early period of the Qi Condensation Stage, Lee Mo had laid some foundational work in the Celestial Flame Embodiment Spell. At this point, he was able to cultivate the first layer of the spell, known as Meridian Refining.

One year, a poor young man, whose father was gravely ill, came to Lee Mo's residence seeking medicine. Despite having no money, he insisted that his ancestor had been an Alchemist. The Celestial Flame Embodiment Spell, a book his family had acquired through a fortunate twist of fate, was revered by his ancestors as a remarkable tome of alchemy. Although suitable successors to practice from the book had been lacking in his family, they still treasured it as a family heirloom, passing it down through generations.

Now that his family's former glory had waned, he was prepared to exchange this precious book for the medicine to save his father. At the time, Lee Mo, touched by the young man's filial piety, simply concocted a batch of pills for him. It was only a year later, when Lee Mo casually flipped through the so-called alchemy book, that he was taken aback by its true value.

Most alchemy techniques were purely about Pyrokinesis, used solely for pill making. However, the Celestial Flame Embodiment Spell could be practiced as an independent cultivation method, with nine profound levels. Each level represented a significant leap in ability. Practitioners could eventually forge the Celestial Flame Embodiment and reach the Peak of martial arts.

After unexpectedly acquiring the book, Lee Mo treated it as a Supreme Treasure and extensively studied methods to cultivate the first layer. He decided to refine the Tri-Arcane Fire Pill to assist his cultivation, aiming for the most effective outcome.

To create the Tri-Arcane Fire Pill, he needed a rare ingredient known as the Ember Stone. Resolute, Lee Mo immediately headed to Lee's Drugstore.

There, Lee Songchi greeted him with the utmost respect, careful not to show any neglect. However, when Lee Songchi heard that Lee Mo was seeking the Ember Stone, he shook his head and said, "We don't have that in our inventory. It might be available in the county, but with the recent heavy rains, it could take over ten days to get it here."

"I can't wait that long," Lee Mo said, unable to tolerate even a day's delay. "Do you know where I can find the Ember Stone now?"

Lee Songchi hesitated before replying, "Peace Pharmacy might have it, but it's owned by the Zhang family, who have always been at odds with our Lee family. Even if they have the Ember Stone, they might not be willing to sell it to us." With this information, Lee Mo turned and headed straight for East Street.

Upon arriving at Peace Pharmacy, he observed that it was just as large and bustling as Lee's Drugstore. Several physicians were occupied with examining patients and making diagnoses. To one side, an elderly man who seemed to be the shopkeeper was engaged in conversation with a young man dressed in white.

Lee Mo had barely stepped inside when a young man's voice rang out, "Isn't that the useless young master of the Lee family? Quite the surprise to see you out so early in the morning."

The comment sparked whispers and snickers among the physicians and patients in the shop.

Scandalous stories tend to spread wide and fast. The Lee family, with its prominent members in Castlebury and a younger generation skilled in martial arts and swordsmanship, was well-known. Lee Mo, however, with his notably weak constitution, was often the butt of jokes.

Unperturbed by the mockery, Lee Mo glanced at the speaker, a boy of about thirteen or fourteen. The boy was tall and sturdy, but with a flat nose, narrow eyes, and thin lips that suggested a lack of good fortune.

Lee Mo recognized him as Zhang Shijiu, the junior manager of Peace Pharmacy, who had bullied him in their younger years, even once injuring him with a thrown brick.

Brushing aside these memories, Lee Mo asked evenly, "Ah, Young Master Zhang, do you have any Ember Stones in stock?"

Zhang Shijiu let out a sneer, realizing Lee Mo was there to buy herbs, and whispered to the elderly shopkeeper.

Shortly, an assistant emerged with a stone the size of a fist, full of honeycomb-like holes and blood-red veins – an Ember Stone.

Pleased that it met his requirements, Lee Mo smiled and asked, "How much for this Ember Stone?"

Zhang Shijiu laughed mockingly, "The Ember Stone is a potent tonic, typically used by the seriously ill. They say Lee Mo is weak, but I didn't realize it was to the extent of a grave illness. Everyone should steer clear of Lee Mo, or you might end up responsible for him if he collapses and dies right here on the street."

The ridicule from Zhang Shijiu and the ensuing laughter from the clerks did little to shake Lee Mo.

He remained composed and simply said, "Please, just name your price. If it's too expensive, I'll leave without it."

Zhang Shijiu, reveling in the chance to further ridicule Lee Mo, burst into hearty laughter. "The Zhang and Lee families have a profound connection. I don't need your money. But I'm concerned that you might not withstand the Ember Stone's effects and could easily meet your end. If that happens, would your parents not demand compensation from my shop, making us responsible for your premature death?"

The laughter of the bystanders grew louder as more people gathered around.

Lee Mo, however, remained calm and measured in his response, "I appreciate your concern. Then, what's your condition for selling me the Ember Stone?"

Zhang Shijiu smirked malevolently and said, "If you can stand up after I punch you, it'll show you're healthy enough. Then, I'll give you the Ember Stone for free."

"You're going to punch me?" Lee Mo laughed, his attractive features suddenly lit with an icy glint, as a daunting presence radiated from his eyes.

Zhang Shijiu, taken aback by the intensity in Lee Mo's eyes, shuddered involuntarily, a chill rushing from his feet to his head.

Despite this, he refused to believe that the Lee family's alleged weakling could be a match for him, and Lee Mo's defiant stare only enraged him further.

Pointing at Lee Mo's nose, he shouted defiantly, "Do you dare or not?"

"Bring it on," Lee Mo answered, his voice exuding tranquil assurance.

Lee Mo was surprised by Zhang Shijiu's audacity in challenging him.

But he, Lee Mo, was certainly not about to be frightened by a mere late-stage Qi Condensation youngster.

Following Lee Mo's calm reply, the surrounding crowd was momentarily surprised, then continued to mock him.

"Lee Mo is way out of his depth. He's no fighter. If Young Master Zhang puts some muscle into his punch, Lee Mo won't be able to recover for days, maybe even weeks."

"Young Master Zhang is obviously bullying him, and Lee Mo just willingly accepts the challenge. He really isn't the brightest."

The onlookers buzzed with disbelief, their faces etched with skepticism; none thought Lee Mo could possibly stand a chance against Zhang Shijiu.

Seeing Lee Mo accept the challenge, Zhang Shijiu flexed his hands with a threatening smile. "It's been years since we last met, and you've become more audacious," he taunted. "Well then, brace yourself for the formidable power of the Zhang family's martial prowess."

An Ember Stone could easily cost over a dozen silver taels; how could one come by it for free? The onlookers buzzed with skepticism, none believing that Lee Mo could be a match for Zhang Shijiu.

Zhang Shijiu, seeing Lee Mo daring to accept the challenge, cracked his knuckles with a menacing sound while boasting proudly, "It's been several years since I last saw you, and I never imagined you'd become even braver than before. Very well, let me give you a taste of the might of the Zhang family's martial arts."

He strode confidently towards Lee Mo and unleashed a powerful punch. "Fall down!" he bellowed. As his fist connected solidly with Lee Mo's chest, the spectators braced for the expected outcome, envisioning Lee Mo being knocked to the ground, pleading for mercy amidst his cries.