NOVPUB
Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Life Gathering Pill (Request for Follow-up Read)
"Junior Brother Li, I really have an important matter and would like to ask for your help."
Pang Bai said, "I plan to concoct a batch of elixir, which requires a type of Spiritual Medicine called the Three-leaf Purple Spirit Ginseng. It just so happens that there is a place that has this Spiritual Medicine, but it’s quite special and difficult for me to obtain alone. Therefore, I would like to hire Junior Brother Li to assist me in this task as a mission."
"Senior Brother Pang, you can concoct elixirs?"
Li Qian responded with surprise.
"Junior Brother Li is joking, how could I possibly concoct elixirs? However, I can spend contribution points to have the Pill Masters from the Dan Hall help concoct it."
Pang Bai stroked his shiny bald head as he spoke.
"Senior Brother Pang, my strength is limited, I’m afraid I can’t help you with this."
Li Qian flatly refused.
With so many Innate experts among the Inner Sect Disciples, why would Pang Bai seek him out?
The two did not have any interactions.
Moreover, Li Qian had once declined an invitation from Pang Bai during a previous mission.
"Junior Brother Li, don’t be so quick to refuse. Besides the contribution points needed for the mission, if we obtain the Three-leaf Purple Spirit Ginseng, once the Life Gathering Pill is concocted, I promise to share half of it with you."
Pang Bai gritted his teeth and hurriedly added, "The Life Gathering Pill is no ordinary elixir. It’s quite extraordinary. For martial artists who have been severely injured and used secret techniques, causing heavy depletion of their Lifebound Essence Qi, this pill can restore a certain amount of it. Senior Brother Li should know that Lifebound Essence Qi is linked to one’s lifespan; excessive depletion of it can greatly reduce one’s lifespan."
He knew that Li Qian’s master had also been severely injured and definitely needed this type of elixir.
Thus, he was confident that Li Qian could not refuse.
"Senior Brother Pang, why are you in such a hurry to concoct this pill?"
Li Qian asked curiously.
If the Life Gathering Pill really had such effects, it would indeed be worth the effort.
He also hoped that his master, Zhou Buping, could live a few more years.
However, he was naturally cautious and with the system in place, did not want to take risks lightly.
So, he definitely needed to ask clearly.
"Junior Brother Li might not know, but my father was also an elder of the Divine Sword Sect. He was severely injured more than a decade ago and retired to recover. Over the recent years, his health has been deteriorating. If we cannot concoct the Life Gathering Pill, he might not last much longer."
Pang Bai sighed as he spoke.
The materials required for the Life Gathering Pill are extremely rare and specialized; over the years, he had used all his connections and efforts to gather the other materials.
Now, only the Three-leaf Purple Spirit Ginseng is left.
"Senior Brother Pang, I still have one question. Why choose me? There are many Inner Sect Disciples stronger than me in the Divine Sword Sect, it surely cannot be just because my master was also severely injured."
After pondering for a moment, Li Qian spoke again.
He didn’t believe Pang Bai was that kind-hearted.
"Junior Brother Li... I sought you out because you possess the Divine Sword."
Pang Bai shrugged as he spoke.
Last time, during the matching to the Divine Swords, a total of five people qualified.
The two True Inheritors would not leave the Divine Sword Sect.
Chang Xiaoyao went to the Royal Divine Martial Academy.
Ji Ming, who also belongs to Martial Peak and is a Core Disciple, happened to be injured and likely won’t recover anytime soon.
As for the other members of the Divine Sword Sect who possess Divine Swords, they are at least at the elder level.
He simply cannot request their help.
Most importantly, he was worried that news of his gathering the Life Gathering Pill materials would leak and attract the covetousness of some power players.
It’s unfortunate that during that expedition to the Sword Tomb, he didn’t match with a Divine Sword, otherwise he wouldn’t have needed to seek out Li Qian.
"Finding the Three-leaf Purple Spirit Ginseng, what does that have to do with the Divine Sword?"
Li Qian was taken aback.
"Junior Brother Li, you might not know, but the Three-leaf Purple Spirit Ginseng is very peculiar. It is said that it requires either True Image Level Martial Intent or a Divine Refinement Weapon to suppress its spirit; otherwise, it will escape by burrowing underground."
Pang Bai sighed as he spoke.
True Image Level Martial Intent is generally known as the standard for Heavenly Persons.
It has absolute dominating power over Virtual Illusions.
The Divine Sword is a Divine Refinement Weapon, even if attacked by True Image Level Martial Intent... holders of the Divine Sword have a certain immunity.
"This Three-leaf Purple Spirit Ginseng can also run away?"
Li Qian was quite surprised. 𝚗ov𝚙𝚞𝚋.c𝚘m
"Junior Brother Li, the Three-leaf Purple Spirit Ginseng only looks like ginseng, but it actually has nothing to do with ginseng; it is a very special plant-insect, which normally grows fixed in one place like Spirit Grass, migrating periodically. Once startled, it will flee..."
Pang Bai explained.
"Senior Brother Pang, I need to think about it a bit more. I’ll give you an answer in three days."
Li Qian said after some thought.
Because he was unsure whether Pang Bai was telling the truth.
He needed to verify it.
"Alright, Senior Brother Li, I will come back in three days."
Pang Bai nodded.
He could wait for three days.
But not too long, because the Three-leaf Purple Spirit Ginseng is migratory.
After Pang Bai left, Li Qian went straight to the vegetable garden behind the mountain.
Master Zhou Buping was busy in the garden.
Looking at his master’s back, Li Qian suddenly noticed that he seemed much thinner, and his hair was almost completely white.
There was a sense of late twilight about him.
If not for the injuries, with his master being a Top Grandmaster in cultivation realm... even though he is nearly a hundred years old, he should still be in his prime.
"Master."
Li Qian walked over.
Zhou Buping stood up straight and turned around to see it was Li Qian, he asked, "What is it?"
"Master, have you heard of the Life Gathering Pill?"
Li Qian asked.
"I have heard of it. The raw materials for this elixir are very hard to gather and it’s not widely used. Our sect has made it before... but it was used up long ago, why do you ask?"
Zhou Buping nodded as he spoke.
For an elder of his Grandmaster level, if the Divine Sword Sect still had any Life Gathering Pills, they would definitely have been used on him.
"I heard it can restore your Lifebound Essence Qi?"
Li Qian said.
"It can, but... gathering the materials for this elixir is too time-consuming and resource-intensive. Even with the power of the sect, it’s hard to gather everything quickly. It’s the thought that counts, my boy."
Zhou Buping waved his hand and smiled.
"Master, was there ever a retired elder with the surname Pang at Martial Peak?"
Li Qian then asked.
"Yes, there was a young elder named Pang Changming at Martial Peak, who had matched with a Divine Sword. Unfortunately, he was severely injured more than a decade ago and retired. It’s a pity... if nothing had happened to him, reaching the Top Grandmaster status would have been no issue."
Zhou Buping recalled for a moment then nodded.
A Divine Sword holder, upon retirement or passing away... the Divine Sword they held would be returned to the Sword Tomb.
"Li Qian, stop thinking about the Life Gathering Pill. Whether your master lives a few more years or not, does not carry much significance. Instead, the real concern should be you... delaying your cultivation is the real issue."
Zhou Buping warned.
He had high hopes for Li Qian.
Even if he cannot become a Martial Saint, he should at least become a Heavenly Person.
To become the second Heavenly Person of the Divine Sword Sect.
"Master, I understand."
Li Qian nodded, then left the vegetable garden.
He decided to accept the hiring task from Pang Bai.
After all, the deadline for his next task was also approaching.
It’s a win-win situation.
Not only could he complete the task but also have a chance to obtain the Life Gathering Pill to restore his master’s Lifebound Essence Qi. Why not?
Back at the Chen Bell Platform, Li Qian saw Liu Ming busy making a nest for a young eagle.
The young eagle, placed beside him, was already lying down asleep.
"What a lucky little fellow."
Li Qian fiddled with the young eagle’s chubby wing with his finger.
The little fellow merely shifted a bit, then continued to sleep.
If Liu Ming had not picked it up and brought it back, it surely would not have survived.
PS: Updated two Chapters together, asking for monthly tickets, asking for recommendations!!!!!!
