Zhao Feng asked Xiao Wenbing for medicine, intending to use this method to improve the health of his only grandson.
However, if an ordinary person swallows the Foundation Establishment Pill in one gulp, the most likely outcome is that their meridians will rupture, resulting in death from bloodshed.
If Xiao Wenbing hadn't seized the opportunity in time and quickly diverted the spiritual energy from her body, Zhang Yaqi would have already perished long ago.
"Wenbing, what did you give me?" Zhang Yaqi asked with a wry smile, a faint trace of red still lingering at the corner of her mouth.
Xiao Wenbing looked ashamed and said, "Yaqi, I didn't know this thing was so domineering. I'm sorry."
He spoke these words sincerely. After the ordeal just now, Zhang Yaqi's meridians were damaged and her dantian was on the verge of bursting. She had suffered extremely severe internal injuries.
Volume Three: The Tribulation of the Five Elements, Chapter Sixty-Five: Zhang Daoren
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"It was a losing proposition," was Xiao Wenbing's only assessment of his reckless behavior.
Although Zhang Yaqi's internal strength increased slightly, it was such a small increase, yet it came at such a high price, making it an extremely unprofitable deal.
“Hehe…” Zhang Yaqi suddenly smiled and said, “Why are you so nervous? It’s just a minor injury, it will heal quickly. Besides, I’ve been doing hoeing for more than a year, so now I can legitimately skip a few days of class.”
Xiao Wenbing nodded silently. He knew that these words were just Zhang Yaqi comforting him. Given her personality, she would never skip any classes unless she was forced to.
"Ah, it's so late, I have to go back too. Wenbing, see you next time." Zhang Yaqi looked up at the sky, her expression suddenly changed, she hurriedly greeted Xiao Wenbing, and walked away quickly.
As Xiao Wenbing watched her slender figure disappear into the distance, a mix of emotions welled up within him. He suddenly turned and rushed toward the inner hall of the Heavenly Dao Sect.
Behind him, Zhang Yaqi suddenly stumbled, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Her internal injuries were far more severe than Xiao Wenbing had imagined... far more severe.
However, she never uttered a single groan or complaint throughout the entire process.
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"The medicine...the medicine...where is the medicine?" Xiao Wenbing shouted, holding the jade pendant that represented the honorary elder of the Heavenly Dao Sect in one hand and grabbing the collar of a Golden Core stage guardian disciple in the alchemy room with the other.
The disciple was already at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, several levels higher than Xiao Wenbing in terms of cultivation. However, his eyes were fixed on the crystal-clear jade pendant, and he dared not have the slightest thought or action of resistance.
"Elder, please calm down. This is an alchemy room, not a pill storage room. There are indeed no finished pills inside." He carefully explained with a smile, occasionally glancing at the elder's expression. If the elder wanted to take force, then he would have no choice but to run away.
Although leaving the alchemy room without permission is a grave offense, if it is an elder of the sect who comes here to cause trouble, then it cannot be blamed on me in any way.
"The pill storage room? Isn't that where the pills are stored?" Xiao Wenbing was taken aback. How come this information was different from what he had read in the books? Usually, the books described how hijacking someone's pill refining room would result in making a fortune.
"Ahem... Why is Fellow Daoist Xiao so enraged?" A gentle voice came from behind Xiao Wenbing.
Xiao Wenbing felt a chill run down his spine. He had no idea when this person had arrived.
He glanced back and immediately felt relieved. This person was none other than Zhang Daoren, the first Taoist priest on the platform who had suggested entering the Tianyi Pavilion.
This Zhang Daoren is no ordinary person; even the Sect Master of Tianyi Sect treats him with special regard. According to Chen Shanji, this old man has already reached the Tribulation Transcending stage, making him a top-tier figure in the Earth's cultivation world. Moreover, his most proficient Daoist art is alchemy, so this old man has visited almost every level of the alchemy pavilions in the Tianyi Sect.
"Senior Zhang." Xiao Wenbing was still somewhat self-aware when it came to these experienced Taoist priests with real skills. He bowed respectfully, showing them the utmost respect.
"Oh dear... I dare not accept such a courtesy." Zhang Daoren quickly stepped aside, indicating that he could not accept such a courtesy: "Fellow Daoist Xiao, please do not do such a thing. In our cultivation world, the rule has always been that the strong are respected. Fellow Daoist Xiao, doing this will make this old Daoist lose face."
Xiao Wenbing put the jade pendant back into his Heavenly Void Ring. This was a valuable item, and he absolutely couldn't lose it. It was precisely because of this treasure that he had been able to act arrogantly and domineeringly here for so long.
Upon seeing the jade pendant in his hand, the Golden Core disciples immediately fell silent, answering his questions with utmost respect, even more so than when they were meeting their ancestors.
This incident made Xiao Wenbing realize that power also exists in the cultivation world... This thing, hmm, I'll have to make good use of it in the future.
“Senior Zhang, whether in terms of cultivation or knowledge, Wen Bing is just a junior and cannot be compared with you.”
"Hehe, you're too kind. Fellow Daoist may not be as good as this old Daoist today, but when you ascend to the Immortal Realm in the future, this old Daoist will be far behind."
Xiao Wenbing smiled wryly and said, "You flatter me, sir." He was only at the Core Formation stage at the moment, and if he wanted to ascend to the Immortal Realm, he would have to travel at least 108,000 miles. It was a long way off.
Master Zhang smiled slightly and said, "Fellow Daoist Xiao will know in time, but..." He pointed to the disciples who stood silently and asked, "What is it that Fellow Daoist Xiao is arguing with them about?"
Xiao Wenbing looked extremely disappointed and said, "I heard this is an alchemy room and wanted to ask for a few pills, but I didn't expect them to be so stingy that they didn't even have one."
Zhang Daoren stroked his long beard and smiled, "The Heavenly Dao Sect is the orthodox school of Taoism, so it's only natural that it's divided into smaller parts. I wonder what kind of pills Fellow Daoist Xiao needs? This old Daoist may not be very talented, but I do have some in stock here."
"Is that so?" Xiao Wenbing immediately thought of his identity as a master alchemist and was overjoyed. He said, "Then this junior thanks you very much, sir."
"Haha, no need to be so polite. Fellow Daoist Xiao, please just tell me what kind of pills you need." Zhang Daoren had one hand on his waist. Xiao Wenbing could tell at a glance that he was prepared to take out the pills from his storage belt as soon as he mentioned them.
"This junior desires a pill that can alter the constitution of an ordinary person, ideally one that will allow them to immediately form an inner core after taking it," Xiao Wenbing said hopefully.
"Ah..." Zhang Daoren's mouth involuntarily opened wide to its limit, and he murmured, "This... seems a bit unlikely."
"Then let's take a step back and reach the Core Formation stage after taking it."
A bead of cold sweat trickled down the old Taoist's forehead, who had already reached the Tribulation Transcending stage. He smiled bitterly and said, "This... seems a bit difficult too."
"Isn't that one either?" Xiao Wenbing pondered for a long time before saying, "Then surely there must be one who can directly comprehend the Qi and cultivate spiritual power?"
“This…” Zhang Daoren hesitated for a moment, then said, “I wonder what Fellow Daoist Xiao’s purpose is in seeking this kind of spiritual medicine?”
"It's nothing, just that a friend's constitution isn't quite suited for cultivation, and I'd like to offer my humble assistance. You are a master of alchemy, do you have any ideas?"
Volume Three: The Tribulation of the Five Elements, Chapter Sixty-Six: Human Will Conquer Heaven
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Zhang Daoren asked curiously, "What kind of friend is he?"
Xiao Wenbing blushed, chuckled twice, and said softly, "It's one of my... one of my junior sisters. She has a poor constitution and is still an outer disciple."
Zhang Daoren's expression suddenly changed, and he became dazed.
"Senior...Senior?" Xiao Wenbing called out twice in surprise.
As if waking from a dream, Zhang Daoren exclaimed, "Ah!" and said, "Fellow Daoist Xiao has just entered the world of cultivation, so perhaps he is not yet aware that the Daoist sect does not bestow spiritual medicines upon outer disciples."
Why?
"Alas... rare and precious medicines are hard to come by, and there are far more monks than porridge."
Xiao Wenbing felt slightly disappointed. The old man's meaning was clear: he would never bestow spiritual medicine upon a disciple who had not comprehended spiritual power. So, was Zhang Yaqi completely hopeless?
He rolled his eyes, pretending not to understand the implication, and said, "So there is no such elixir. Alas... I never imagined that someone as knowledgeable as you would know nothing about this. Alas... I never would have guessed."
Zhang Daoren's old face flushed slightly as he said, "According to ancient books, such miraculous medicines do indeed exist."
"Really?" Xiao Wenbing's eyes lit up; he had been waiting for this question for a long time.
“However…” Zhang Daoren swallowed hard and said helplessly, “It has not been seen in our Earth’s cultivation world for thousands of years.”
"No trace of them for thousands of years? Why?"
"To refine this kind of elixir, several kinds of rare and precious materials are needed, but unfortunately..." Zhang Daoren said helplessly, "We no longer have these materials on Earth."
Why is it gone?
Master Zhang gave a wry smile. He was helpless against Xiao Wenbing, who loved to get to the bottom of things. If it were anyone else, he could simply ignore him and walk away. However, this oddball was someone he actually quite wanted to befriend.
“These kinds of rare and precious materials not only grow in places where humans and beasts rarely live, but also have a very long growth cycle, requiring at least several thousand years. As for Earth today…” Zhang Daoren sighed, shook his head, and remained silent.
Xiao Wenbing immediately realized that given the increasingly polluted environment of the Earth, it would be a miracle if such rare and precious materials could grow successfully.
"You said there's no cultivation world on Earth, so there must be cultivation worlds on other planets?" Xiao Wenbing asked, clinging to a sliver of hope.
"Perhaps," Zhang Daoren said uncertainly. However, there was one thing he did not tell Xiao Wenbing: despite being nearly a thousand years old and specializing in alchemy, he had only heard of such spiritual herbs but had never seen them.
Xiao Wenbing put his mind at ease, bowed deeply to him, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, senior."
Master Zhang quickly waved his hand and said, "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be so polite. However, although such spiritual herbs exist, they are extremely rare. Even if others possess them, they would surely treasure them and not flaunt them. Fellow Daoist, it's best not to have too high hopes."
"Yes, junior understands." Xiao Wenbing was not convinced. He was not after someone else's treasure. He could just scan it with his divine sense and create it.
Even if this thing is incredibly valuable, as long as it didn't originate from the Celestial Realm, it should be fine. However, if he knew that even Zhang Daoren himself had never seen such a spiritual herb, he definitely wouldn't be so optimistic.
Zhang Daoren frowned. He could tell that Xiao Wenbing had not given up. He earnestly advised, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, everyone has their own destiny. If you are destined not to be able to cultivate, it is better not to force it."
"Everyone has their own destiny?" Xiao Wenbing smiled disdainfully and said, "Thank you, senior, but I will not give up, because I always believe that man can conquer nature."
Zhang Daoren was taken aback. Even after Xiao Wenbing bid him farewell and left the alchemy room, he was still muttering the phrase "Man can conquer nature."
His old eyes swept across the faces of the many Golden Core disciples of the Heavenly Dao Sect in the room, and he saw that each of them wore a respectful smile.
Zhang Daoren nodded casually to them and strode out, having already forgotten his original purpose for coming to the alchemy room.
Memories that had been sealed away for countless years seemed to be suddenly unlocked, and a bright-eyed, white-toothed girl appeared vividly before his eyes, her eyes filled with despair and sorrow.
"The siblings, though from the same sect, have different talents; one entered the Taoist path, while the other returned to secular life."
After all these years, his mentor's words suddenly echoed in his mind.
If you've already given up, what about him? What about that vibrant young man?
At that moment, Zhang Daoren seemed to see a familiar figure in him.
I've already had one regret, so let's not let it happen again this time.
Zhang Daoren muttered something to himself, but his feet moved uncontrollably toward the direction Xiao Wenbing had left.
After Zhang Daoren had gone far away, a figure of extraordinary bearing appeared behind them.
"I won't give up. Humans can conquer nature, right?" Feng Baiyi murmured softly to herself.
On that stunningly beautiful face, there was a mysterious aura, as if something had touched the deepest chord of her heart.
※※※※
He took two steps at a time and returned to Zhang Yaqi's residence.
This time, however, he learned his lesson and didn't fly over there again. Although Chen Shanji had said he could fly however he wanted, given his current skill level, he really didn't have the nerve to perform a tightrope walk all by himself in the air.