A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Chapter 325 Crisis lurks everywhere
Duan Rong and Yin Cong were walking along the edge of the cliff in the dark. Yin Cong looked back from time to time, as he was afraid that Chen Hu would catch up with them.

Tang Zhu’s death was a huge shock to him.

Before, although Pan Yong and Chen Hu often bullied him over trivial matters, Yin Cong never thought that they would kill him. But now Yin Cong is a little scared.

The two of them quickly reached the entrance of Duan Rong's cave. Just as Duan Rong was about to enter the cave, Yin Cong suddenly took a step forward and blocked Duan Rong.

Yin Cong looked around and confirmed that there was no one around. Suddenly, he looked at Duan Rong at the entrance of the cave and whispered, "Junior Brother Duan Rong, you said that Chen Hu killed Junior Sister Tang. Should we go to the Judgment and Clan Affairs Office and report him quietly?"

Duan Rong frowned suddenly when he heard that. The next moment, Duan Rong's spiritual sense was instantly released, sweeping across the surroundings a hundred steps, and then quickly retracted into his body.

After making sure that there was no one around, Duan Rong sighed softly. In the darkness, he looked at Yin Cong in front of him, feeling speechless.

Yin Cong is a cowardly and ignorant person. If Duan Rong still has a little good impression of him in his heart, it is probably because he is the only normal human being here.

In Duan Rong's eyes, Shang Xiangyu, Pan Yong, and Chen Hu are all monsters.

He could tell from Yin Cong's words that he wanted to leave. In fact, Duan Rong had the same idea in his mind.

He now regrets coming here to be a medicine boy.

Duan Rong looked at Yin Cong and said, "If you still want to live, just shut up. Don't get involved!"

Duan Rong was very upset. What do you mean by "do we want to or not?" It's like I'm in the same group with you?

After Duan Rong finished speaking, he dodged Yin Cong who was blocking his way and walked into the cave.

"But..." Yin Cong stood at the entrance of the cave, still hesitating.

Duan Rong walked slowly into the depths of the cave. He didn't want to pay any attention to Yin Cong at all.

Duan Rong sat on the stone bed. He noticed that Yin Cong was still lingering at the entrance of the cave, so he said in a deep voice: "Brother Yin, I'm tired and want to rest early."

Yin Cong's eyes moved. Duan Rong had already ordered him to leave, so he couldn't stay any longer and had to leave.

After Duan Rong was sure that Yin Cong had left, he sighed, took out a fire starter, and lit the candle on the stone table beside the bed.

During the time that Duan Rong has been here, he has developed the habit of not turning on the lights at night. The darkness gives him a sense of security.

However, tonight, as he sat on the stone bed, he felt that there seemed to be something horrible lurking in the darkness, which suppressed him and made him feel uncomfortable.

Duan Rong looked at the candlelight dancing on the stone table in front of him. He seemed to be able to feel a faint warmth from the candlelight.

In his opinion, Yin Cong's intention to go to the Zongzhengsi to accuse Chen Hu of killing Tang Zhu was an extremely stupid idea.

Chen Hu had only threatened him with one sentence, but he was so frightened that he behaved out of control.

Such a stupid and cowardly guy will only be a burden.

Moreover, he went to accuse Chen Hu, but he actually had no evidence. When the people from the Zongzhengsi came to make the judgment, Chen Hu would definitely deny it.

At that time, the only one who could decide this matter was Shang Xiangyu.

At that time, the person Shang Xiangyu wanted to kill was definitely not Chen Hu, but Yin Cong.

As long as Shang Xiangyu speaks, everyone will point out that it was Yin Cong who killed Tang Zhu, and then they will cry thief and put the blame on others, even he will do so.

Shang Xiangyu said that there are so many secrets here. How could he tolerate someone who casually reported them to be alive?
In order to save his life, Chen Hu killed Tang Zhu. In Shang Xiangyu's opinion, this is not a disadvantage but an advantage, because it is easier to control someone when you have a handle on him.

And Yin Cong's muddled brain would never be able to understand these evil principles.

Duan Rong gave a tired and miserable smile, and thinking of the scene of the furnace exploding in the cave tonight, his eyes suddenly became deep and cold again.

The furnace exploded and only a batch of medicine was wasted, but Shang Xiangyu's reaction was so crazy that he almost killed Pan Yong by accident.

Moreover, what kind of medicine was Shang Xiangyu refining? The moment the furnace exploded, it gushed out such a violent and terrifying aura, which instantly shocked him, disrupting his true energy and completely losing his internal strength.

Moreover, the failure in refining this medicine was obviously a huge blow to Shang Xiangyu.

A thoughtful look flickered in Duan Rong's candlelit eyes.

Duan Rong suddenly thought of one thing, that is, the strange contrast between Shang Xiangyu's old, wrinkled hands, his tight and delicate face, and his snow-white loose hair.

"Shang Xiangyu... must have been ill? Or poisoned? The medicine he refined this time was used to save his life..."

“So, before refining the medicine, he was so patient and personally guided them in processing the herbs…”

"After the refining failed, his reaction was so great...almost insane..."

In the dim cave where candlelight flickered, Duan Rong was able to figure out the outline of the matter just by inference.

Duan Rong thought about it again and again and confirmed his inference.

"So...what will he do next..."

Duan Rong got down from the stone bed and paced back and forth in the dark cave.

"Since he refines the medicine to save his life... then he will definitely refine it again... find out the reason for the explosion, improve the method of refining the medicine, and try again..."

Duan Rong was speculating on his next move from the perspective of Shang Xiangyu.

If Shang Xiangyu makes medicine again, then he and Yin Cong will definitely go to the medicine pavilion to exchange medicine again.

If so, Duan Rong faced a problem.

That is, should he use Shang Xiangyu's star map and take the opportunity to exchange for the "Qingtong", an auxiliary medicine for practicing the fourth level of the Taizang Sutra?

Duan Rong had been there once with Yin Cong last time, so he was very clear about the whole process of exchanging medicines. He was sure that he could exchange Qingtong without any mistakes and Yin Cong would definitely not notice it.

However, there will definitely be traces left in the accounts at the medicine pavilion.

Although according to what he heard from Yin Cong, even if he left a tail, the possibility of being caught was not great, but it was still a worry after all.

Duan Rong suddenly remembered that the middle-aged woman with excellent physical skills in the medicine pavilion asked him to help with the accounting, which would earn two contribution points a day.

During the next period of time, Shang Xiangyu would definitely stay at home and think hard about improving the method of refining medicine. In other words, they would be very idle for a while.

During this period of time, he could just go to the medicine cabinet and learn more about its operating mechanism. Maybe he could exchange for the "Blue Eyes" without leaving any clues?
Even though it was inevitable that there would be some tails left, Duan Rong was still inclined to exchange for "Blue Eyes" first.

This is because, as long as the auxiliary medicines are obtained and the tree spirits are devoured to nourish the practice, the fourth level of the Taizang Sutra can be achieved quickly.

However, in his current situation, he really needs to improve his own strength.

When the fourth level of the Taizokāśyapa is achieved, new spiritual techniques will be available.

The previous spiritual awareness and soul waves were both mysterious and powerful weapons. Duan Rong believed that the new soul technique would not disappoint him.

Duan Rong thought about it and determined the main tasks for the next period of time: explore the way in the medicine pavilion, exchange for Qingtong, and complete the fourth level of Taizang Sutra.

So, he would go to the medicine cabinet early tomorrow morning.

After thinking it over, Duan Rong blew out the candle, sat cross-legged on the stone bed, gathered his energy, and after a few breaths, threw a Zhengyang Pill into his mouth.

Normally, he could refine two Zhengyang Pills in one night. Tonight, time was obviously not enough, and he was actually very tired. However, Duan Rong still decided to refine one Zhengyang Pill first before going to bed.

There are dangers everywhere, you have to work hard!
Shang Xiangyu was in his own dark and cramped stone room.

On the crude table made of bamboo poles, a tiny candle lamp emitted a dim light.

The desk was piled with various open books and bamboo slips. Shang Xiangyu's eyes were bloodshot, and a look of madness and fear flashed across his pale and delicate face from time to time.

Shang Xiangyu looked at a piece of paper covered with densely written small characters in his hand and shook his head in pain.

He deduced it over and over again to confirm that there was nothing wrong with the recipe.

Moreover, during the refining process, the medicinal power of the black blood fruit was indeed squeezed out.

"Why?"

“Why did the furnace explode?”

"What went wrong?"

Shang Xiangyu suddenly raised his head, staring at a certain point in the void, and said to himself, "Since the medicinal power of the black blood fruit has been extracted, the light thread filled the alchemy furnace and it exploded."

"So, in other words, the problem lies in the process of the black blood fruit's medicinal properties being completely extracted and then forming into a pill..."

“Chengdan?! It’s Chengdan!”

Shang Xiangyu seemed to have thought of something. He hurriedly pushed away a few books on the table, picked up a scroll of bamboo slips underneath, and began to read it in the dim candlelight with slightly trembling hands.

Shang Xiangyu finished reading one scroll of bamboo slips and changed for another... After he finished reading the bamboo slips on the table and flipped through a few yellowed books in a panic, Shang Xiangyu suddenly became depressed. He suddenly became crazy, and with a swipe of his hands, he pushed all the bamboo slips and books on the table away with a loud noise.

The candle was pushed over, smashed against the wall, and then fell on the book. With a whoosh, the flame jumped up...

Under the light of the fire, Shang Xiangyu had silver hair and red eyes. He actually laughed like a madman. He opened his clothes and tore the wrinkled and drooping old skin on his abdomen, laughing: "Red skull, white bones and flesh, it's all illusion! I'll tear you to pieces!"

Shang Xiangyu yelled, and with a ripping sound, a piece of old skin on his abdomen was torn off, and blood immediately flowed...

Shang Xiangyu's stomach was covered in blood, but he seemed to feel no pain at all. He was still smiling foolishly. He used the firelight to pull the bloody old skin hard in his hands, muttering, "It looks pretty tight when pulled like this..."

Shang Xiangyu thought about this, and suddenly threw the bloody wrinkled skin in his hand into the fire...

Shang Xiangyu collapsed on the ground, a sinister smile flashing across his lips, his eyes went dark, and he fainted...

After the bamboo slips and books were burned in the fire beside the stone wall, there was nothing else around, so the fire had nowhere to spread and gradually weakened and turned into ashes...

The ashes died out, and the cave became pitch black.

Shang Xiangyu was in the thick darkness, not knowing whether he was dead or alive?
After more than an hour, the sky gradually brightened, and the dim light came in from the side door. Finally, there was a faint light in the dark stone room.

The faint skylight lingered in the dark stone chamber for a long time. Shang Xiangyu suddenly jumped up, as if he had thought of something.

He took a glance at the black ash under the stone wall not far away, then quickly walked to the stone bed and began to search in the pile of bamboo slips at the foot of the stone bed.

The bloodshot in Shang Xiangyu's eyes had faded away at this time, and in the dim light of the sky, his eyes were bright and sharp.

Just over an hour after he fainted, he suddenly thought of a way to solve the dilemma of making the elixir.

After Shang Xiangyu flipped through two or three bamboo slips, he suddenly grabbed one and began to read it carefully. However, after only reading a few lines, his eyes were already as bright as stars.

Shang Xiangyu suddenly saw some blurred words. The light in the stone chamber was dim, making it even more difficult for him to recognize.

Shang Xiangyu took the bamboo slips and walked out of the cave. On the large platform, under the light of the morning sun, he slid the bamboo slips in his hand, making a rattling sound...

Around the time of Chen, it had been a while since daybreak. Pan Yong walked hesitantly along the edge of the cliff and came to the outside of the fence of the large platform.

Pan Yong stood outside the fence and saw a man standing on the large platform facing the rolling white fog in the valley.

The morning breeze from the mountains filled his sleeves, but the man stood still, his back looking desolate.

That is exactly what Shang Xiang said.

A trace of struggle flashed in Pan Yong's eyes, but he still stepped over the stone fence and looked at Shang Xiangyu from a distance.

Shang Xiangyu stood with his hands behind his back, holding a scroll of bamboo slips. He looked at the rolling white mist in the valley, silent.

Pan Yong walked a few steps closer from the side and called out in a low voice, "Master Shang."

Shang Xiangyu tilted his head slightly, glanced at Pan Yong who was standing to the side of him, and asked coldly, "What's the matter?"

The moment Shang Xiangyu turned his head, Pan Yong saw that his eyes were clear, not red as they were last night. He finally let go of his worries and walked forward, saying, "Master Shang, the furnace exploded last night and Junior Sister Tang died. I wonder what we should do?"

Pan Yong had been reluctant to get close, for he was afraid that Shang Xiangyu would go crazy again like he did last night. However, he had to deal with the matter of Tang Zhu's death, and he had to come and ask for instructions.

Shang Xiangyu sighed.

What he hates most is trivial matters.

"Tell Lao Qin in the lower hall that the registered disciples are under his charge. Just say that he was killed in an explosion in the alchemy furnace. You can cooperate with him in whatever he wants to do."

"Yes." Pan Yong clasped his fists and stepped back.

He also thought the same thing, but Shang Xiangyu had to agree to it. He knew that Chen Hu had killed Tang Zhu, but if he really questioned Chen Hu, who knows what he would reveal. It was best to keep things quiet.

Isn't it just a few registered disciples who died? In this sect, every year, a few registered disciples die.

How could there not be a few ghosts who died unjustly in any temple?
After Pan Yong left, Shang Xiangyu stood on the big platform again, looking at the rolling white mist. He didn't move for a long time. He suddenly murmured: "Blood Pill Method?! Shang Xiangyu, do you really want to use it?"

He seemed to be asking himself, but in fact he already had the answer in his heart.

Shang Xiangyu suddenly turned around and walked into the cave. He placed the bamboo slips in his hand on the table. Then he walked out of the cave and walked along the cliff into the dense forest.

Shang Xiangyu walked out of the dense forest and back to the large platform outside the cave. He saw a figure sitting in front of the fence in the corner of the platform, singing randomly.

Shang Xiangyu looked at Shang Xin who had an iron chain tied around his waist, and a complex and unbearable look flashed in his eyes.

He walked over slowly and called softly, "Xin'er!"

Shang Xin turned around immediately after hearing this. When he saw Shang Xiangyu, he smiled foolishly, stretched out his hands, and said incoherently: "Daddy, hug me..."

When Shang Xin was young, Shang Xiangyu hated his younger brother very much. In the whole mansion, only his biological father loved this silly son. He taught him for more than ten years and taught him to say the word "daddy" vaguely.

His father died of illness half a year ago. Before his death, he entrusted his business to him.

Shang Xin is so stupid that Shang Xiangyu doesn't feel comfortable leaving him to anyone, so he can only take him into the mountains.

But Shang Xiangyu had no time to look after him, so he could only tie an iron chain around his waist to prevent him from falling off the cliff.

Shang Xiangyu squatted in front of Shang Xin, wiped the saliva from the corners of his mouth, and said, "Xin'er, I'm your brother, not your father."

A look of doubt flashed across Shang Xin's eyes.

Shang Xiangyu looked at Shang Xin's slow appearance, shook his head slightly, and took out a pheasant that had just been roasted in the dense forest from behind.

Shang Xin's eyes immediately lit up, he grabbed it and laughed.

Shang Xin tore off a chicken leg and handed it to Shang Xiangyu.

Shang Xiangyu was stunned for a moment and said, "Xin'er, brother doesn't want to eat."

But Shang Xin stubbornly handed it to him again.

Shang Xiangyu's eyes suddenly became moist and he took the chicken leg.

Shang Xin saw Shang Xiangyu take the chicken leg, smiled happily, and took a bite of the chicken butt.

Shang Xin chewed it with big mouthfuls, enjoying the sweetness.

Shang Xiangyu looked at the chicken leg in his hand, a tear dripped from the corner of his eye, and he suddenly reached out and took away some broken dead leaves on Shang Xin's head.

Shang Xiangyu looked at Shang Xin and said, "Xin'er, if your brother dies, you won't be able to survive! Do you understand?"

Shang Xin obviously didn't understand what Shang Xiangyu was saying. He just ate the chicken and babbled.

Shang Xiangyu's red eyes flashed with ruthlessness, and he said it again, "Xin'er, even if your brother dies, you won't be able to survive either."

After Shang Xiangyu finished speaking, he stood up and walked into the cave.

The moment he stood up, his heart was as cold as stone.

On the ground where Shang Xiangyu left, there was a lonely chicken leg.

Shang Xin looked at the chicken leg with a puzzled look. He seemed to be wondering where the chicken leg came from?

Shang Xiangyu walked into the cave, pulled open the animal skin in front of the stone window of the side room, and sat down in front of the desk.

At this time, the sky was bright in the side room.

On the unfolded bamboo slips on the table was written: The method of making blood elixir.

Using fresh human blood to assist in refining the blood pill, it can retain more than half of the medicinal power of a normal pill.

After being refined, human blood will merge with the medicinal properties and become indistinguishable from each other.

Only the blood of a close relative can make the pill without affecting the absorption of the medicinal properties.

Otherwise, the blood will not mix and the medicinal properties cannot be absorbed.

"Xin'er, brother can't die yet!" Shang Xiangyu roared inwardly, her voice as shrill as a female ghost.

"Shang Xin, if I die, you won't be able to survive either!"

"You were going to die anyway! You were going to die anyway!"

Shang Xiangyu raised his head again, his eyes were bloodshot and his facial expression was extremely distorted and painful.

He looked like a wild beast tearing and devouring his body...

(End of this chapter)