C6 Slimming Pill

"Deacon Gongsun Zhuo, I have a few spiritual herbs left. I'll turn them over to the sect as my contribution for the mission."

"Do you really have spiritual herbs now, Xiaofan?" Gongsun Zhuo asked in disbelief.

With a flicker of light in his hand, Ning Xiaofan placed five Spirit Herbs on the table. "Yes, these should be equivalent to the Purple Spirit Grass. Let's consider this my mission quota for the next six months."

"Great, does that mean I can leave the valley now?"

"Not yet. You have to wait more than ten days before you can leave. Why not search for herbs in the deeper parts of the valley in the meantime?"

Search for herbs? No thanks. The valley wasn't dangerous, but it was overcrowded. It was like a net sweeping through every year, with people picking herbs. Even if there were Spirit Herbs, finding them would be a stroke of luck.

Currently, my focus is on cultivation and growing Spirit Herbs, especially since I possess the Seven-color Spirit Soil. I haven't extracted it yet and am unsure which Spirit Herbs it can nurture.

"Mr. Gongsun, could I purchase some seeds? I'd like to plant a few spiritual flowers where I'm staying."

"There's no need to purchase anything. Tell me what seeds you need, and I'll provide them."

"I'm looking for seeds with abundant spiritual energy, preferably green ones."

Gongsun Zhuo chuckled. "Most of the spiritual herbs here are red, and green ones are rare. The only green I have is the thousand-year bamboo. Its leaves can be used in medicine, and if the bamboo reaches a thousand years, it can be used in weapon refinement. At that age, it becomes extremely valuable."

Ning Xiaofan nodded. "Some seeds will do."

He noticed several bamboo segments laid out before him. "I only have these bamboo roots, no seeds."

Thousand-year bamboo doesn't produce seeds; it grows new shoots from its roots.

"Thank you, Mr. Gongsun."

"Go on, Xiaofan. Stay within the valley unless necessary."

Ning Xiaofan made his way back to his living quarters. He and Fanh Yichen lived in opposite rooms within the same courtyard, sharing the small space.

Planting some greenery could add a touch of comfort to the view. I had a few Spirit Seeds on hand, though most weren't green. On the Rosefinch Continent, the predominant hue of Spirit Herbs was red, making green plants a rarity, especially those with spiritual properties.

I, Ning Xiaofan, strolled into my backyard, a space that Fanh Yichen and I, both Worker Disciples, each possessed for our personal use. It was essentially our own vegetable patch.

The garden had long been neglected, a common sight among the Outer Sect disciples. Few bothered with gardening when there was a communal kitchen to provide for us.

Armed with tools and aided by my spiritual energy, the work of tidying up the backyard was significantly lighter. There were two plots of land to manage. One would become a medicinal field where I'd sow all my remaining seeds, hopeful for a yield of Spirit Herbs.

The other plot was designated for spiritual cultivation, where I intended to plant Spirit Rice and thousand-year bamboo. Tucked away beside the back mountain, surrounded by ancient woods, this little yard went unnoticed.

Its seclusion meant only the two of us "rejects" resided here.

Once the land was cleared, I brought out a massive heap of Seven-color Spirit Soil, spreading it across the entire backyard. The thousand-year bamboo took root behind the house, with Spirit Rice close by, and the Spirit Herb seeds were sown further away. Whether they would sprout into Spirit Herbs remained to be seen.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master! Your Spirit Herb cultivation skills have improved, and your skill points have increased."

It was always satisfying to see those skill points climb. A few more, and I could exchange them for precious Cultivation Points. With only a meager 2 points left, every single one was vital.

"System, how many skill points do I have?"

"Master, you have 9 skill points."

"And the other points?"

"You have 5 Merit Points, 1 Charm Point, 6 Cultivation Points, and 0 Reputation Points."

How to boost my Reputation Points was still a mystery.

Having planted the backyard, I earned 2 more skill points. I needed to exchange them for Cultivation Points quickly—mine were nearly depleted, and time was of the essence.

What if he transformed the entire Sky Burning Valley into a field of medicinal herbs? A daring thought took root in his mind.

After sowing the seeds, he made his way back to the house and exhaled deeply. It had been a hectic day, and a sense of fear lingered. How had they found out about him?

Could it be the Soul Tablets?

Inner Sect disciples would infuse a wisp of their soul into these tablets. Any death or severed life force would cause a change in the tablet, signaling their demise with a fall.

When two Soul Tablets dropped simultaneously, it set off alarm bells for the disciples on watch. They promptly informed the Sect Master, triggering an immediate search throughout the sect.

The investigation revealed a grim tally: two Inner Sect Disciples, five Outer Sect Disciples, and several Worker Disciples had perished. The leadership of Sky Burning Valley was on edge, vowing to pursue the perpetrator relentlessly.

"Xiaofan, are you taking a break? I was hoping you'd join me for a trip to the sect's marketplace. Are you free?" Fanh Yichen called out as he approached the house.

"I was planning to head to the market myself. What time are we thinking?"

"Let's aim for tomorrow morning. It'll be too late if we delay; the place empties out."

"Thanks, Xiaofan."

He had discovered two items beneath his pillow: a pair of Energy Refining Pills and two Spirit Stones. He was certain that only Ning Xiaofan could have placed them there—no one else in this world would, and certainly not under his pillow, a place only Ning Xiaofan could access.

"What's gotten into you today, acting all formal? Off with you," he teased, a smile playing at the edge of his lips as he watched Fanh Yichen's retreating figure.

Ning Xiaofan focused, channeling Spiritual Energy as he began his cultivation practice.

The Energy Refining Divine Technique, in essence, was the Five Elements Qi Refining Technique, allowing for the cultivation of five types of Spiritual Energies within the body. Ning Xiaofan was attuned to Fire Spiritual Energy, which resonated with him comfortably. Soon, he completed a full circulation cycle, feeling the cyclone within him grow incrementally stronger.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master, your cultivation session has increased your Cultivation Points."

After a complete cycle, he retrieved a medicine pill and popped it into his mouth. His supply was dwindling. Securing a Pill Recipe would be ideal; learning to refine his own pills was the logical next step.

"Ding! Congratulations, Master. Your cultivation points are doubling as you practice."

He had spent most of the night in cultivation, completing seven grand cycles. Afterwards, he stealthily returned to retrieve several storage spaces from their hiding place. Finding a secluded spot, he emptied their contents and combined them before finally settling down to sleep.

His current level of cultivation was too low; sleep was a necessity. Once he reached the Foundation Stage, he could go several days and nights without rest, brimming with energy.

Before sunrise, Ning Xiaofan awoke to a swath of green filling his vision.

The greenery outside the window puzzled him; Sky Burning Valley was typically warm due to the fire vein beneath, with autumn hues of yellow or perhaps red. Where had this green come from?

Looking out the window, Ning Xiaofan was astounded.

It wasn't just the row of ancient bamboo in front of the house that had changed; the distant Spirit Field was also a sea of green.

He was struck dumb.

The entire backyard was a burst of spring and summer, a vibrant life that couldn't be contained.

Was this the work of the Rainbow Soil?

The small courtyard had a basic array that could only block some spiritual energy fluctuations. Gazing at the herb garden, Ning Xiaofan felt a surge of urgency. It would be wise to set up a more robust formation, lest word of these treasures spread and disturb his peace.

Without bothering with the door, Ning Xiaofan leapt straight from the window. The millennia-old bamboo appeared at least ten years old, its hue a lush green.

The Spirit Wheat in the fields was already ripe. How quickly it had grown!

A wave of elation washed over Ning Xiaofan. With such a bountiful Spirit Field, he had no fears about lacking cultivation resources. The effects of the Rainbow Soil were truly remarkable. How fortunate to have such a system!

"Master, do you need something?"

It's nothing.

Ning Xiaofan's Flying Sword flickered in his hand. He pondered whether the Heart Questioning Sword could assist him in harvesting the Spirit Wheat.

With a flash of the sword, the wheat field spanning over ten square meters was swiftly reaped. Observing the spiritual energy pulsating from the Spirit Rice, it was clear that it was at least Rank 2.

A Rank 1 Spirit Rice seed yielding Rank 2 Spirit Rice? Wow, that's like striking gold!

He grabbed his tools once more and turned over the ten square meters of soil, then planted some spiritual seeds. Whether there'd be a harvest tomorrow was anyone's guess.

This harvest brought in around 90 kilograms of Spirit Rice, and not just any kind—Rank 2. In Sky Burning Valley, aside from a few esteemed elders of the Inner Sect, the chance for others to taste this was slim to none.

While tending to the Spirit Rice, Ning Xiaofan couldn't help but notice the nearby medicinal field where the Spirit Herbs had flourished. Precious as they were, each one was robust and healthy.

Now that he had a knack for identifying Spirit Herbs, Ning Xiaofan could list off those in the field: Hundred Fragrance Grass, Fate Seeking Flower, Qianji Leaf, Dragonbone Herb, Sun Shadow Orchid, Snow Drop Flower, Mountain Peach Grass, and Throat Healing Grass. All prime ingredients for pill-making, not to mention a few common herbs sprinkled in.

These herbs seemed to have years of growth on them, yet it had only been one night—a few years' growth in mere hours, thanks to this incredible land. Or more accurately, thanks to the miraculous Seven-color Spirit Soil.

Material for concocting pills was no longer a concern; with seeds in hand, he'd have fresh herbs by the next day. The only issue was the limited space.

Big Fatty Fanh Yichen was all set and had been waiting since the crack of dawn, unaware of Xiaofan's activities.

"Xiaofan, come on! If we're late, there'll be nothing left."

"Just a second, I'm almost done!"

Ning Xiaofan swiftly gathered a few medicinal herbs, thinning out the dense planting.

The herbs he'd picked might fetch a nice price. They could certainly come in handy as Spirit Stones when it was time to shop.

"I'm here!" With a hop, Ning Xiaofan leaped back through the window into his room. After a quick wash, he stepped out the door to find Fanh Yichen fully dressed and ready, waiting for him.

"What are you off to buy?"

Fanh Yichen gave a secretive smile, clearly not intending to share his plans with Ning Xiaofan.

"Are you going to spill the beans or what, Big Fatty?"

Ning Xiaofan promptly leaped onto Fanh Yichen's back.

"Alright, alright, I'll tell you. I'm off to buy Slimming Pills. They're rumored to work wonders."

"Slimming Pills? You sure they're not just laxatives?"

Ning Xiaofan recalled his aunt's terrible experience in his past life; she was duped by Slimming Pills. She lost weight but couldn't conceive. The doctor blamed it on the wrong diet pills. So, the mention of Slimming Pills immediately set off alarms in Ning Xiaofan's head.

"Cut it out with the bad luck talk. They come highly recommended. Disciples from Spiritual Pill Peak claim two people dropped from 250 to 120 kilograms."

That rang a bell for Ning Xiaofan. Wasn't that an ad from his previous life? He was sure Big Fatty was about to be duped.

"Yichen, how many Spirit Stones for one Slimming Pill?"

"How much? I heard they go for ten Spirit Stones each."

"That pricey?"

"Indeed. Without the two Spirit Stones you gave me, I'd be half a year away from affording one."

"Hold on, Big Fatty, who told you about these Slimming Pills?"

"The two senior brothers from Spiritual Pill Peak. They mentioned Senior Brother Wang Chan has them in stock, often peddling them at the market."

"Oh, is it okay if we check it out before buying?"

Fanh Yichen looked utterly lost, having not caught a word Xiaofan said.

Fanh Yichen had been yearning to slim down for years, with no success. Now, he was pinning his hopes on these pills.

Together, they made their way toward the valley.

The valley was vast, spanning hundreds of thousands of square meters. Known as Sky Burning Valley, it resembled a massive plain encircled by mountains, akin to a canyon.

"Xiaofan, I thought we were headed to the market? This route seems a bit out of the way."

"Don't worry, we'll swing by Spiritual Pill Peak on our way and gather some intel as we go."

Fanh Yichen couldn't help but admire Ning Xiaofan deeply. Why hadn't it occurred to him to gather some intel at Spiritual Pill Peak?

"Hello, Senior Brother. I'm looking for Senior Brother Wang Chan. Is he around?"

At the base of Spiritual Pill Peak, Ning Xiaofan and Fanh Yichen approached an Outer Sect disciple, who, like them, was tasked with menial work on the peak.

"No, he's not here right now. Do you need something?"

Ning Xiaofan replied with a smile, "We've come to deliver some medicinal pills to him. If he's not here, no worries."

"Haha, are you guys delivering Slimming Pills by any chance?"