Chapter 010: True Dragon's Blood

Brother Fang, I would like to inquire about something. Which shop in Yunjing City sells the Returning Yuan Pill?

"True Dragon's Essence Blood." The little turtle said solemnly: "The True Dragon is an ancient and mysterious species that has been extinct since the Middle Ages. The so-called dragons today are merely species that share some bloodline with the ancient True Dragons. The last True Dragon to appear in ancient times left behind three drops of essence blood, and here is one of those drops."

By the time they arrived at the Zhuangyuan Building, only a few scattered guests were still dining. Fang Yan thought to himself that it was bad; the young noble must have grown impatient and left first.

I was born of my mother; the human body is nurtured by the essence and blood of the parents. At the time of conception, it originally possesses innate energy, but after being born from the mother, the innate condition present at conception gradually diminishes. Warriors toil in their later stages of cultivation, striving to restore the innate body of the fetal period. The innate body has abundant vitality and pure constitution, with bones like white jade and flesh like cinnabar. Although the essence of the true dragon cannot elevate you directly to the innate realm, it has the effect of nourishing the flesh and blood, helping to eliminate impurities within your body and aiding in cultivation.

"Brother," Fang Yan said softly, "Although the Recovery Pill can quickly replenish one's original energy, it contains a trace of sinister energy. Taking one or two is not a problem, but if taken in excess, the sinister energy will accumulate within the body, which would be detrimental. As martial artists, we cannot refine our bodies using the earth fire..."

Really? Xiao Yue's eyes lit up as he tossed down a small ingot of silver to settle the bill, eagerly taking Fang Yan to purchase medicinal herbs

This is a crystal piece measuring approximately three inches in both length and width, with a pure texture that is nearly transparent. Embedded within the crystal is a blood-red orb the size of a soybean, through which one can still sense the energy fluctuations despite the sealed crystal.

In the postnatal stage, a martial artist's cultivation of their original essence causes their aura to grow increasingly powerful with the deepening of their practice. Unless one carries a Concealment Pill or wears certain precious garments, it is nearly impossible to hide this aura. Fang Yan, possessing a postnatal cultivation level of five, already exudes a very noticeable aura. Even though a small cauldron covers most of it, this noble young master was still able to discern it at a glance

Having completed the purchases, it was already noon when Fang Yan arrived at the Hero Building. He bought some medicinal materials for alchemy and then went to the consignment shop to retrieve the silver notes obtained from the sale of the elixirs.

Is this really the dragon essence? Should I just swallow it?" Fang Yan picked up the crystal shard and made a gesture as if to put it in his mouth

The items listed by the little turtle were peculiar and strange, and Fang Yan had hardly heard of them. He could only inquire one by one in the numerous related shops in Yun Jing City. Fortunately, Yun Jing was the capital of Han Wei Kingdom and also the largest commercial hub in the entire Dong Ping Continent. Eventually, he managed to procure all the items on the list, spending over 6,000 taels of silver, which left Fang Yan feeling dizzy.

If this ... ... fellow wants to retrieve the Yuan Dan, I will try to think of a way to have someone refine a batch for you

Although this young gentleman's demeanor cannot be described as refined, his smile is amiable, and he is quick with witty remarks. Coupled with the fact that the two are of similar age, their conversation over drinks becomes increasingly congenial.

Fang Yan slid down the smooth well wall into the well, and the divine cauldron in the sea of qi immediately reacted, emitting a faint glow that formed a protective layer around Fang Yan, isolating him from the water.

Ah! The young nobleman is quite embarrassed, with two patches of red appearing on his fair face. Fang Yan took the elixir, returned to the counter, and handed the young nobleman's banknote back to him.

A trivial matter, I hope it does not cause you to laugh at me

The little turtle had only briefly mentioned this Returning Yuan Pill to Fang Yan, but did not impart the formula to him. After pondering for a moment, Fang Yan said: "The Hero Building is the most comprehensive store in the entire Yun Jing City; if it is not available there, it is likely that other places will not have it either"

The ancient well in the backyard is profoundly deep, with the stone cave on the well wall situated about twenty zhang above the ground. However, a martial artist at the fifth level of the post-heaven stage, with a long breath, can still manage to dive down to the stone cave in this tranquil water.

Just as I was lost in thought, a figure flashed at the stairway entrance on the second floor. The young gentleman from yesterday revealed a smiling face: "My friend, you are quite late."

Brother, if you do not favor yellow and white items, these spiritual elixirs are merely a small token of my goodwill. Please do not decline, accept them, accept them...

Hehe, Brother Fang, you are overthinking it. I am not returning to obtain the Yuan Dan for consumption; however, having around twenty or thirty would be sufficient

So it is Brother Fang. I have just arrived in the capital from another region and plan to stay for a few months. However, being unfamiliar with the place, it is truly fortunate to have made the acquaintance of Brother Fang. Let us drink, drink, and enjoy literature.

"Brother, wait a moment." The young gentleman's lips curled into a smile, revealing two rows of pristine white teeth. He turned and ran to the elixir counter behind him, without a word, and bought all ten of the Bi Yu Huang Ling Dan and nine of the Jiu Cao Dan that Fang Yan had just entrusted for consignment.

With the small ding protecting his body, Fang Yan felt even more at ease as he plunged headfirst into the icy depths of the well, where a series of bubbles rose to the surface of the calm water

Gudu gu.

In the Nine Talismans Spiritual Energy Field, the dense spiritual energy no longer inflicted the explosive pain on Fang Yan as it once did; the time he needed to absorb and transform the spiritual energy has also decreased. However, with the improvement of his cultivation level, the difficulty of his practice has become increasingly apparent. After entering the fifth level, although Fang Yan persists in his energy cultivation every day, the results have been minimal.

Old Ghost, you must not blame yourself at all; I do not hold you responsible, not even a little...

What is this? Fang Yan asked

Upon seeing his money pouch recovered, the young gentleman was instantly overjoyed. He tucked the fan he was holding behind his neck and took out several small denomination silver notes from the pouch, amounting to over 10,000 taels, insisting on offering them as a reward to Fang Yan

Subsequently, the little turtle compiled a list, requesting Fang Yan to procure all the items on the list in Yun Jing City tomorrow

The Recovery Pill is a particularly special type of elixir, primarily used to rapidly replenish the original energy consumed by martial artists. Carrying a few Recovery Pills during long journeys or battles proves to be especially effective

The young gentleman immediately understood Fang Yan's meaning and said, "My money pouch is a purple brocade bag, containing only a little over ten silver notes. There is one note for 100,000 taels, one for 50,000 taels, one for 2,000 taels, one for 1,000 taels, and also..." The young gentleman lightly tapped his forehead with the folding fan in his hand, deep in thought: "It seems there is also a note for 500 taels, but the rest, I truly cannot recall..."

Fang Yan retrieved his belongings from the cabinet and waved goodbye to Xiao Yue at the entrance of the Hero Building. Although they had only just met yesterday, they had quickly developed a rapport. With a hint of reluctance, Xiao Yue said, "I have no friends in the capital and no one to keep me company. It’s not easy to have met you, and now you have to attend to your business. I am temporarily staying in the third residence on the right side of Lion Alley. If you have some free time, don’t forget to come find me, Brother Fang"

Ah. The young nobleman took a sip from his cup, waved his hand and said: "Since we feel like old friends upon our first meeting, there is no need for formalities between us. My surname is Xiao, and my given name is Yue. May I ask for your esteemed name?"

Although Fang Yan possesses a tenacious character, he also faintly senses a hint of crisis. The consequences of the divine cauldron's backlash are extremely terrifying and cannot be prevented by human effort. For any martial artist, losing all of one's original essence is almost more unbearable than death.

The reason this elixir is considered special is not due to its high value; on the contrary, the cost of the few medicinal materials used to refine the Returning Essence Pill is even lower than that of the three materials used for the Jade Yellow Spirit Pill. Strictly speaking, it can only be classified as a low-tier elixir. However, the failure rate during the refining process of the Returning Essence Pill is significantly higher than that of mid-tier or even high-tier elixirs. Even if one procures a mountain of medicinal materials, it is still uncertain whether a single batch can be successfully refined. Therefore, the cost of this low-tier elixir is indeed comparable to that of certain high-tier elixirs.

Alas! I am unable to repay your kindness, my dear brother. How about this?" The young gentleman clapped his folding fan and said, "Tomorrow at noon, I will host a modest gathering at Zhuangyuan Tower, and I sincerely hope you will honor me with your presence.

Fang Yan was immediately at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and the attendant behind the counter also found it amusing, saying with a smile: "This elixir was consigned for sale by that little hero. Young master, you have bought it again to take back..."

However, advancing from the sixth level to the seventh level requires exponentially more time, potentially several times more.

Surname: Fang, Given Name: Yan

I really can't stand you! What bad luck for me! The little turtle, finally provoked beyond endurance, resolutely said: "You sneak into the ancient well in the backyard and retrieve something from the stone cave."

Fang Yan became increasingly curious about the origins of the little turtle, but due to a prior agreement, he felt it was inappropriate to ask directly

Fang Yan stored a pile of miscellaneous items in the cabinet and then rushed out towards Zhuangyuan Tower.

No more! Little Turtle growled softly: "I was previously squeezed by you and fell for your trick! Even so, I will not go back on my word. With your current cultivation, using the blood of a true dragon is truly a waste of a precious resource. This time, I have really taken out all my original capital."

Fang Yan noticed that this young nobleman did not possess the arrogant and extravagant demeanor typical of other distinguished youths in Yun Jing City. He felt a great fondness for him, smiled and shook his head, saying: "My friend, if I were greedy for silver, I would not have returned this purse to you."

"If you are not afraid of being overwhelmed, then just eat it," said the little turtle, gradually calming down. "A true dragon condenses three drops of essence blood. Not to mention you, even a master at the ninth level of martial arts cannot transform it. The Great Cloud Bright Sect of the Western Desert once transmitted a secret method of refining blood to the Eastern Peace Continent. Over a thousand years have passed, and the world has changed; throughout the entire Eastern Peace Continent, aside from me, there is probably no one else who knows this secret method. I originally planned to use the secret method to refine your blood when you advanced to the eighth level, to facilitate your breakthrough to the ninth level, but time seems to be a bit pressing, so I can only do it in advance."

For many consecutive days, Fang Yan relentlessly teased the little turtle. With such a temperament, the little turtle could endure it once or twice, but over time, it became increasingly difficult to maintain its composure.

Brother, I was so engrossed in what I was watching just now that I didn't even notice I lost my money pouch, how embarrassing... The young gentleman patted his completely empty pockets, and the look of embarrassment on his face did not diminish in the slightest

Fang Yan looked up and saw that the young nobleman had changed into a moon-white brocade long shirt today, standing with his hands behind his back, smiling gently, exuding an indescribable elegance and nonchalance

Fang Yanxin knew that the little turtle had finally been forced to come up with a solution. Instantly, a smile of triumph appeared on his face. Without saying a word, he quickly headed towards the backyard.

Indeed, indeed, my esteemed brother, your noble character is truly admirable. The young master took out a folding fan and gently tapped it against his forehead, chuckling as he said: "You are also a practitioner of martial arts, are you not?"

You are too kind, my friend, let us drink together

"My brother is really impatient," Fang Yan said with a smile, and Xiao Yue also smiled faintly.

Fang Yan returned to the surface from the stone cave after sealing the true dragon's essence blood in the crystal shard. The little turtle silently lowered its body, revealing a hint of fatigue, and thought to itself: "Kid, having used this drop of true dragon's essence blood for you, I will never have the chance for a flesh-and-blood rebirth. I hope you won't let me down."

... ...

Early the next morning, Fang Yan requested a day off from Steward Xu. In the Hou residence, every servant, big or small, is entitled to one day off each month. Fang Yan, being solitary and lonely, had very few chores to attend to, so he had accumulated these days off. Upon calculation, he still had at least ten days left, but he could not take leave too frequently.

Soon, Fang Yan submerged to a depth of about 20 zhang underwater. The stone cave held unknown mysteries; although the entrance was located on the well wall surrounded by water, the entire cave was dry and clean, with not a single drop of water seeping in from the outside. Guided by the little turtle, Fang Yan activated the mechanism of the white marble platform within the cave and obtained the item it had mentioned.

Fang Yan had a favorable impression of this young nobleman. After pondering for a moment, she thought that since she was going to the Hero Building to exchange the silver notes tomorrow at noon, it would not be inappropriate to have a meal together as well. Thus, she immediately nodded in agreement

Brother, what does your money bag look like

Oh. Xiao Yue nodded, revealing a hint of regret

That is good

This wealthy young master casually carries over a hundred thousand taels of silver on him, so it is understandable that he cannot keep track of the smaller amounts of one or two hundred taels. Therefore, Fang Yan had no doubts, took out the silk pouch and handed it over, chuckling as he said: "Brother, you truly are generous, carrying so much money with you; it is still better to be cautious."

From ancient times to the medieval period, the entire continent underwent a bloody era characterized by the dominance of numerous powerful clans. The various peak existences among the strong gradually became extinct amidst continuous battles and conflicts, with the true dragon being one of the extinct species. As for the blood of the true dragon, it has now become a treasure that is almost legendary.

Old Ghost, why didn't you bring out such a good thing earlier? Are there any other treasures? Let's take them out together

"Alright," Fang Yan nodded in agreement. "I've been out frequently these days, and if it continues, it might not be good. I have saved up some silver, and after I finish the purchases tomorrow, I will buy some medicinal herbs and then stay at home for a while."

At this rate, even if everything goes smoothly, it will take at least four to five months to break through from the fifth level to the sixth level

... ...

Xiao Yue's ambition was immense, intending to seize all the medicinal materials for refining the Yuan Dan from the entire Hero's Tower. Little Turtle whispered a few words in secret, startling Fang Yan, who hurriedly intervened and only requested a quantity sufficient for twenty pills.

The two men walked side by side into a quiet suite on the second floor, where exquisite food and drinks were already neatly arranged. The young gentleman casually set down his folding fan, picked up a glass of wine, and said: "Brother, your gentlemanly disposition is admirable. It is a great fortune for me to make your acquaintance. Come, let us drink this cup to the fullest"

After finishing a myriad of tasks, Fang Yan always felt a sense of unease in his heart. Upon careful reflection, he suddenly slapped his forehead: "I was so preoccupied with shopping that I forgot about the agreement with that gentleman from yesterday."