Chapter 556 - 552: Improving the Root Bone Again
Chapter 556: Chapter 552: Improving the Root Bone Again
Han Qing took the Token, retrieved an ancient-looking Inheritance Jade Inkstone from his sleeve, and placed it on the desk beside him.
He placed the Token into the groove in the center of the Jade Inkstone. A faint light glowed at his fingertips as he quickly tapped several specific runes on the Jade Inkstone’s surface.
The Jade Inkstone emitted a nearly imperceptible hum, and a stream of light flashed across its surface before vanishing.
"Three Grand Merits have been deducted."
Han Qing handed the Token back, his voice as impassive as ever.
Fang Han took the Token, tucked it into his robes, and his gaze fell upon the three Jade Bottles.
He uncorked the first Jade Bottle.
A familiar, elegant, and profound fragrance wafted out from the bottle.
The aroma wasn’t rich or overpowering. Instead, it was fresh like a mountain forest after the rain, or like mystical herbs and strange flowers bathed in spiritual energy at the crack of dawn. It entered his nostrils, seeming to pierce straight through to his very soul.
Inside the Jade Bottle was a large, viscous drop of liquid with a gentle, milky-white luster.
When slightly shaken, it didn’t ripple like water but had a gelatinous, sluggish quality, almost like jelly, and it gave off a soft, precious glow.
Fang Han took a deep breath. The fragrance rushed into his lungs, and it felt as if the fatigue accumulated from days of Cultivation was partially washed away.
He felt refreshed and invigorated, his mind exceptionally clear, as if he had taken some stimulating mint.
He corked the bottle, then uncorked the second and the third.
The same fragrance, the same elegance.
Three drops of Earth Core Stone Milk. No mistake.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Han Qing, but the matter was too important. It involved three Grand Merits, so he couldn’t afford not to be cautious.
He tucked the three Jade Bottles into his robes and spoke to Han Qing.
"Elder Han, this disciple would also like to exchange for some Rare Elixirs."
Han Qing glanced at Fang Han, then turned and walked out of the stone chamber.
Fang Han followed him through the cavern to the door of another stone chamber.
On the Jade Token by the stone chamber’s door, the words "Elixir Room" were carved in large, ancient seal script.
Han Qing took out a key, unlocked the stone door, and pushed it open to enter.
Inside the stone chamber, several rows of purple sandalwood shelves were neatly arranged against the walls. The shelves were filled with Jade Bottles and Porcelain Bottles of all sizes.
Each bottle had a label detailing the name, quantity, and effects of the Elixir it contained.
A rich medicinal aroma filled the air, mixed with the unique, refreshing scent of certain herbs, invigorating the spirit.
Han Qing turned, his gaze landing on Fang Han’s face.
"What Elixir does True Inheritor Fang wish to exchange for?"
Having already decided before coming to the treasury, Fang Han replied,
"This disciple wishes to exchange for fifteen bottles of Earth Spirit Pills."
For him, now a Second Grade Martial Artist, the effects of the True Spirit Pill were no longer sufficient. Only an Elixir of the Earth Spirit Pill’s Level could effectively aid his Cultivation.
As the first-ranked on the sect’s general leaderboard, he received a reward of five bottles of special resources each month, but these rewards weren’t fixed. It wasn’t guaranteed that he would receive Earth Spirit Pills every month.
To have a stable supply, he had to spend contribution points to exchange for them.
Han Qing nodded slightly, walked over to a row of wooden shelves, and took down fifteen Jade Bottles, placing them in a cloth bag.
He handed the bag to Fang Han, his voice still flat.
"Fifteen bottles of Earth Spirit Pills. One Grand Merit in total."
Fang Han took the bag and once again took out his Identity Token, handing it over.
Han Qing took the Token, brought out the Inheritance Jade Inkstone again, and operated it for a moment.
The Jade Inkstone flashed with a faint light.
"One Grand Merit, deducted."
Han Qing handed the Token back.
Fang Han took the Token, his eyes lingering on it for a moment.
Six Grand Merits, minus three for the Earth Core Stone Milk, minus another one for the Earth Spirit Pills, leaving only two.
He still had plenty of Vajra Pills left, so he didn’t need to exchange for more at the moment.
He put away the Token, held the bag containing the fifteen bottles of Earth Spirit Pills, and cupped his hands in a salute to Han Qing.
"Thank you, Elder Han. This disciple has no other needs for now."
Han Qing nodded slightly, said nothing more, and turned to walk out of the chamber.
Fang Han followed behind him, passing through the cavern and along the deep, dark corridor toward the treasury’s exit.
Reaching the treasury entrance, he glanced back one last time.
The treasures within the cavern, collected over hundreds of years, were displayed silently under the cold glow of Luminous Pearls, waiting for the next fated person to arrive.
’If I could loot this entire treasury, it would definitely be enough to unlock the Ninth Level Amplification on my panel, maybe even the Tenth Level Amplification.’
’Unfortunately, that’s just a thought. If I actually did it, even with my status, I would be cutting myself off from the Qingxuan Sect for good.’
’However, if I get the chance in the future, I wouldn’t mind looting the Netherworld Pavilion, which has a bad relationship with the Qingxuan Sect.’
RUMBLE—
The heavy stone door slowly closed, sealing the treasury off from the outside world.
Fang Han narrowed his eyes slightly, adjusting to the change in light.
Han Qing stood on the stone steps with his hands behind his back. His long, grayish-white hair fluttered slightly in the wind, his stiff face betraying no emotion.
"Take care, True Inheritor Fang."
His voice was still hoarse and flat.
"There is no need to see me out, Elder Han."
Fang Han cupped his hands in a salute, then turned and walked down the mountain along the green stone path.
His cyan robe fluttered slightly in the autumn wind, the Cloud Splitting Sword at his waist swaying gently with his steps.
Carrying the three precious drops of Earth Core Stone Milk, he moved with extreme speed and soon returned to Courtyard 35.
Qiu Lan heard the door and looked up, hurrying forward to greet him.
"Senior Brother."
Fang Han nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the courtyard as he gave an order.
"I am entering seclusion for Cultivation. No one is to disturb me."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
Qiu Lan bowed and replied.
Fang Han crossed the courtyard, entered the Quiet Chamber, and bolted the door shut behind him.
Blue smoke curled up from the Sandalwood Incense Burner, a faint fragrance permeating the air.
He walked to the meditation cushion, sat down cross-legged, and took the three Jade Bottles containing the Earth Core Stone Milk from his robes, lining them up beside him.
He reached for the leftmost Jade Bottle, pinched the stopper with his fingertips, and applied a little force.
POP—
With an extremely faint, crisp sound, the stopper was opened.
That familiar, elegant, and profound fragrance instantly filled the room.
Fang Han took a deep breath and, without hesitation, tilted his head back, brought the bottle to his lips, and poured the incomparably precious drop of Earth Core Stone Milk down his throat.
As the Stone Milk entered his mouth, it didn’t feel viscous. Instead, as if it had a life of its own, it slid automatically down his throat.
The taste wasn’t complex, only an ultimate purity and sweet crispness.
The next moment, an incredibly comfortable, icy breath suddenly erupted from the depths of his Dantian and Qi Sea.
The iciness wasn’t the bone-chilling cold of deep winter, but rather the soul-deep coolness of drinking from a sweet spring in the height of summer, or of soaking in a ten-thousand-year-old cold pond.
This coolness spread rapidly like an invisible tide, instantly surging to his limbs and his entire skeleton, every meridian, every inch of bone, and even every single, minute cell.
Fang Han’s eyes were closed, his body leaning back slightly of its own accord.
The sensation was too wonderful, as if his entire body was enveloped in an indescribable comfort.
The cool energy washed over and cleansed his body. Wherever it passed, his body began to transform.
It was a leap in the level of his very life, a metamorphosis that was like being reborn.
In that moment, time lost all meaning.
Fang Han was completely immersed in this wondrous process of transformation, forgetting the outside world, forgetting himself.
A sticky, grayish-black sweat with a slightly rank odor began to seep from the surface of his body.
This was the cellular debris produced by regeneration, the impurities being expelled from his body.
Before he knew it, an hour had quietly passed.
Only when the vast, icy energy in his abdomen had completely integrated into his body, the transformation complete and slowly subsiding, did Fang Han awaken from that state of selfless oblivion.
He opened his eyes and glanced down at the thin layer of grayish-black grime on his arm, his brow furrowing slightly.
He didn’t stop.
He reached for the second Jade Bottle, uncorked it, and poured the second drop of Earth Core Stone Milk down his throat.
The familiar icy energy once again erupted from the depths of his Dantian and Qi Sea.
The cool energy once again spread to his limbs and bones, once again washing over and cleansing his body.
The transformation happened again.
Another hour later, the second transformation ended.
Fang Han opened his eyes and, without pausing, reached for the third Jade Bottle.
He uncorked it and poured the last drop of Earth Core Stone Milk down his throat.
The icy energy erupted for a third time, spread for a third time, and washed over and cleansed his body for a third time.
The transformation happened a third time.
Another hour later.
When the last trace of icy energy had finally merged completely with his body, Fang Han slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint of light flashing through them before disappearing.
He looked down at his own hands.
His skin was covered in a thin layer of grayish-black grime—the impurities expelled after three consecutive transformations.
But beneath this layer of grime, his skin faintly revealed an unprecedented, lustrous sheen.
He could feel that his body had become more translucent and much lighter than before.
It was an indescribable feeling, as if some invisible shackles had been unlocked, or as if something dormant had been awakened.
He was just about to circulate the Cyan Profound Technique to carefully experience the changes to his Root Bone when an unbearable, sour stench assaulted his nostrils.
It was the smell coming from the layer of grayish-black grime on his body.
Fang Han’s brow furrowed. He stood up and pushed open the door to the Quiet Chamber.
In the courtyard, Qiu Lan was waiting under the corridor with two maids. Hearing the door, she looked up.
"Prepare hot water. I need to bathe."
Fang Han ordered.
"Yes, Senior Brother."
Qiu Lan bowed in acknowledgment and turned to leave quickly.
Before long, the hot water was ready.
Fang Han stepped into the tub. The warm water submerged his body, washing away the layer of grayish-black grime from his skin bit by bit.
He scrubbed himself vigorously until his skin was clean, then stepped out of the tub and changed into a fresh cyan robe.
He felt much more refreshed.
He returned to the Quiet Chamber, sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion again, and bolted the door shut.
He took a Jade Bottle from his Storage Ring, poured out an Earth Spirit Pill, and put it in his mouth.
The Elixir dissolved the moment it entered his mouth, and a warm, vast Medicinal Power spread through his abdomen, surging toward his limbs and bones.
’I wonder how much of an improvement there will be?’
Fang Han closed his eyes, and the Cyan Profound Technique began to circulate slowly.
Cyan-gold Inner Qi coursed through his meridians, absorbing and refining the Medicinal Power of the Earth Spirit Pill.
It transformed into strands of pure Inner Qi, which flowed into his Qi Sea and then poured into the Tinggong Acupoint.
One Circulation.
Two Circulations.
Three Circulations.
Fang Han focused his mind inward, carefully sensing the growth rate of his Inner Qi and comparing it to his state before he had taken the three drops of Earth Core Stone Milk.