Chapter 38: The Art of Alchemy

"I can teach you." Jun Han's gaze was burning, making Ning Xi feel somewhat unnatural.

"Ah? This... teach me?? Is this something I am capable of learning?" Ning Xi could not help widening her eyes, her surprise and joy completely unmasked.

Jun Han smiled slightly, "Of course you can. If you want to learn, I will teach you."

As he spoke, he produced numerous materials along with what looked like an extraordinary alchemy furnace.

Ever since awakening his martial soul, Jun Han had possessed a portable spatial dimension within his body, which stored all sorts of fantastical items.

After a period of exploration, he had already figured out how to use these objects.

A wave of deep shock struck Ning Xi's heart once again. What kind of high-level items were these? She had never seen anything like them before!

So, had she just stumbled upon a supreme expert?

Following that, Jun Han began his alchemy lesson...

Ning Xi had previously thought she had casually saved an ordinary child, but now it seemed things were not quite right.

Even so, she began to study with rapt attention...

Right at that moment, outside the herb garden, a powerful wave of soul power was fluctuating, clearly indicating that someone was fighting.

A shock ran through Ning Xi's heart, and she hurriedly pulled Jun Han outside.

Hearing the commotion, Ning Xi and Jun Han rushed over. When Ning Xi saw the Sword Douluo and Dugu Bo locked in a fierce battle, she was greatly alarmed.

"Stop! Master, Senior Dugu, please don't fight!" Ning Xi shouted at the top of her lungs, her voice filled with urgency.

She had no idea how these two had ended up fighting each other!

Could it be that her master thought she had been killed by Dugu Bo, which was why he was acting like this?

Hearing Ning Xi's voice, the Sword Douluo and Dugu Bo temporarily ceased their fight and looked over at her.

"Ah, little monster, you've finally come out, or else I would have been done for today!" Upon seeing Ning Xi, Dugu Bo was overjoyed and immediately complained at the top of his lungs.

"Little disciple, are you alright?" the Sword Douluo asked with concern, looking at Ning Xi and Jun Han.

"I'm fine, Master. Senior Dugu brought us here to detoxify Sister Dugu Yan, not to harm us," Ning Xi explained, her speech quickening.

Upon hearing Ning Xi's explanation, the Sword Douluo finally understood the truth of the matter. He put away his Seven-Kill Sword, a trace of awkwardness appearing on his face.

"Dugu Bo, I apologize. It was this old man who misunderstood you," the Sword Douluo said apologetically.

Dugu Bo let out a cold snort, but still replied, "Never mind. You were only concerned about Ning Xi and Jun Han, so this old man won't hold it against you."

Of course, he would never admit that it was because he was afraid of getting beaten up again.

"Ahem, since that's the case, let's hear the full story from beginning to end," the Sword Douluo said, coughing dryly and speaking in a calm tone.

Ning Xi smiled helplessly. After first stepping forward to pacify the two of them, she recounted the events one by one to the Sword Douluo.

Dugu Bo felt somewhat displeased in his heart, but he could only swallow his frustration.

Once the Sword Douluo understood everything, he gave a few words of instruction, finally set his mind at ease, and left the Sunset Forest.

"Hmph, you two little brats, causing this old man to take a beating for nothing," Dugu Bo complained hurriedly after the Sword Douluo had departed.

"Senior Dugu, I am truly sorry. However, the antidote promised to you has already been successfully brewed, but Jun Han and I wish to stay here for a while. Would that be alright?" Ning Xi asked, displaying a hint of apology.

She still wanted to stay here to study alchemy. After all, with so many medicinal herbs and the abundant spiritual energy of heaven and earth, she could not bear to leave immediately.

Dugu Bo was pleasantly surprised. "You've finished making it already?"

Ning Xi nodded. "Yes, these two vials of potion are for you—one is yours, and the other is for Sister Yanyan."

As she spoke, she retrieved two newly brewed vials of antidote from her soul tool and handed them to Dugu Bo.

She continued, "However, these two vials alone are still not enough to completely resolve the problem of the poison flare-ups. I will deliver a fresh batch to you every day from now on."

With trembling hands, Dugu Bo took the vials of potion, a look of joy on his face. After all, he had researched his own poison for a very long time, and he was willing to take a gamble.

"Alright, no problem."

"Thank you, Grandpa Dugu."

Hearing them change their forms of address, a subtle sense of warmth and gratification rose in Dugu Bo's heart; it actually felt quite nice.

"Oh? Why has something extra appeared on your forehead? It actually looks rather pretty, come to think of it," Dugu Bo pointed at the mark on Ning Xi's forehead and asked in confusion.

"It's probably because I consumed the celestial herb," Ning Xi could only reply helplessly. Not knowing the real reason, she had to casually throw out an excuse.

Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan nodded believingly.

"Very well, then the rest is up to you two."

"It's nothing, we mostly have Senior Dugu's herbs to thank. We'll go back to work now."

Ning Xi and Jun Han exchanged a smile, expressed their thanks, and returned to their original spot.

Dugu Bo nodded, gazing at their retreating figures with a touch of emotion.

...

Cultivating, practicing medicine, refining pills, mastering sword techniques... and researching all sorts of diverse things.

Alchemy itself was divided into grades, and these pills were far more effective than things like the Mysterious Water Pills of ten thousand years later.

In short, not a single moment of their time was wasted.

Time flew by, and half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Jun Han pulled Ning Xi up, led her away from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and arrived once again at the entrance of a stone cave.

Ning Xi looked at their intertwined hands, a strange feeling welling up in her heart.

In her past life, she had never been so intimate with any man, but now, it actually felt quite nice...

Both Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan had already consumed the potions, and the toxins in their bodies had significantly decreased, a fact that had kept Dugu Bo happy for a long time.

"Little Xi'er, Little Jun Han, what kind of incredible treasures did you two acquire? In just half a year, the changes in both of you are simply immense," Dugu Yan rubbed her eyes, utterly incredulous at the transformation in the two youngsters.

Ning Xi placed the refined pills into Dugu Bo's hands and said, "Senior Dugu, thank you for bringing us here, which allowed us to undergo such a transformation. This is the detoxifying pill I have refined."

"This detoxifying pill can purge half of the poison without harming your cultivation base. Take one pill every month for half a year. The toxins will be completely eradicated, and it will even help accelerate your cultivation speed."

Ning Xi explained them one by one. This was the fruit of her studying under Jun Han for the past half year; her alchemy skills were no longer inferior to Jun Han's.

The pills she refined not only preserved the therapeutic properties of the herbs but actually elevated their effects to a whole new level.

"To think such a miraculous item exists! This old man will give it a try right now!"

It was a small white porcelain flask. Dugu Bo examined it closely before eagerly swallowing the pill.

The pill melted instantly upon touching his tongue, and a clear, warm energy seemed to sweep through his body. Dugu Bo immediately sat cross-legged in meditation.

When the medicinal effects had completely worn off, Dugu Bo's expression changed drastically, and he bolted off like lightning in another direction.

Shortly after—

"Pfft—!"

"Pfft—!"

A series of terribly familiar sounds rang out, and Dugu Yan immediately reacted, instantly realizing what was happening.

Fortunately, there were no outsiders around, and only the three of them were at the cave entrance.

Dugu Yan wanted to laugh, yet she also wanted to cry, because she was going to have to take them too!!!!

This was just too damn embarrassing!!!

"Um, Xi'er, isn't there a better antidote?" Dugu Yan asked weakly. She was a fragrant, beautiful maiden—she didn't want to go through something like this!

Suppressing her laughter, Ning Xi gave a light cough. "Ahem, rest assured, this bottle is yours. Yours won't do that—though, it's best to take it while you're taking a bath."

Because this particular detoxifying pill was meant to cleanse the marrow and clear the meridians, it naturally expelled impurities from the body.

And those impurities tended to be extremely dirty and smelly...

She just hoped Dugu Yan would be able to endure it when the time came, haha.

Upon hearing this, Dugu Yan immediately set her mind at ease. That was a relief, that was a relief.