Reborn as a Cube Man in the Late Ming Dynasty

In Chengcheng, in a side courtyard behind the City God Temple.

The room in Yan Chengren's house was filled with the scent of sandalwood.

He first washed his hands in the copper basin, smoothed out his sleeves, took out three incense sticks from the wooden box, bowed three times to the incense burner, and then inserted the incense sticks into the ashes.

Yan Chengren walked to the brewing platform in the center of the room, picked up a round stone and put it in.

The brewing station remained completely still.

He waited seven or eight breaths before taking out the round stone, muttering, "This material won't do."

He then picked up a pen, crossed out a line on the paper, opened the box and took out another piece of material. Just as he was about to put it inside, there was a knock on the door.

"Master! A Taoist priest named Feng Yuanzhen has come from outside. He says he is an old friend of yours and asked me to pass on a message to you." Bi Zhengcheng's voice came from behind the door.

Yan Chengren said softly, "Oh, you've finally arrived."

"Bring him in!"

The main hall of the City God Temple was bustling with people, and the incense was so strong that it stung the eyes.

Feng Yuanzhen followed Bi Zhengcheng through the crowd and into the inner courtyard. He snorted and exclaimed, "The smell of incense is so strong, it's almost suffocating!"

Yan Chengren greeted him with a smile, making a hand seal: "Senior brother, I thought you would be able to leave the mountain sooner, but I didn't expect it to be delayed for so long."

Feng Yuanzhen returned the greeting and laughed, "Don't mention it. I refined a batch of pills, and it took me two whole months. I squatted in front of the furnace every day, watching the fire, and I didn't dare to blink for long. I didn't expect that something would still go wrong. But thinking about it now, it might not be a bad thing that it exploded."

He said earnestly, "If that furnace of pills hadn't been destroyed, I really wouldn't have known that the world outside had changed so much."

Yan Chengren's eyes flickered: "Senior brother, you've heard about it all the way here?"

"I know a little bit," Feng Yuanzhen said. "As we went, we asked around. Just by looking, we could see that there were many new shops on Chengcheng Street. And that Young Master Bai, people talked about him everywhere they went, and his name was mentioned in every other sentence."

He changed the subject: "But what I'm most curious about is you."

Yan Chengren smiled but remained silent.

Feng Yuanzhen stroked his beard and took half a step forward: "I heard that you can now refine elixirs of immortality?"

"I've been practicing external alchemy for so many years, and this is exactly what I've been striving for. Junior brother, could you demonstrate it for me?"

Yan Chengren nodded slowly and stepped aside to make way for the doorway: "Since you're here, senior brother, come in and have a look."

Feng Yuanzhen said, "Then I will trouble you, Junior Brother."

The two entered the house one after the other.

Upon seeing the brewing platform in the center of the room, Feng Yuanzhen stopped in his tracks: "What is this?"

"A magical artifact for crafting elixirs!"

"A celestial artifact?"

Feng Yuanzhen's pupils contracted slightly.

His previously composed expression instantly turned solemn.

Feng Yuanzhen took a step forward, his gaze fixed on the brewing platform, scrutinizing it carefully, afraid of missing even the slightest detail.

He looked down at his hands, his expression somewhat unnatural: "How could I treat such a divine artifact with such filthy hands?"

Feng Yuanzhen turned his head and asked, "Junior brother, do you have any water without roots here?"

Yan Chengren was taken aback: "Yes."

"Please take me to get some."

Yan Chengren led him to the corner of the courtyard.

Feng Yuanzhen took the water ladle, first poured water to rinse his hands, then scooped up another ladle, rubbed between his fingers and scratched his palms, even wiping his fingernails.

"Back when I was refining elixirs in the mountains, finding clean water was no easy feat; I'd have to walk two miles to get some. Every drop counted. I never imagined that even the city would have water from sources that don't need roots!"

After he finished washing, he poured all the water from the dirty gourd onto the roots of the plant.

Yan Chengren laughed and said, "Senior brother, you're still the same as ever."

Feng Yuanzhen dusted off the hem of his Daoist robe: "When refining pills, your hands must be clean, otherwise the furnace might explode. Quick, show your senior brother how to refine medicine!"

Yan Chengren took out candy from the box.

Feng Yuanzhen raised an eyebrow.

Although sugar is precious, it is still a mortal thing. He originally thought that the elixir would require at least lingzhi and cinnabar, but he did not expect that this would be used as an ingredient.

Yan Chengren put the sugar into the brewing station.

He quickly took out a bottle of blue potion and handed it to Feng Yuanzhen: "Senior brother, try drinking this."

Feng Yuanzhen took the bottle, held it up to his eyes, and examined it several times: "This is the elixir of immortality?"

"That's right."

Feng Yuanzhen tilted his head back and drank it down.

"Senior brother, take a few steps."

"Want to take a few steps?"

Feng Yuanzhen lifted his foot and took a step, puzzled.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, his expression changed drastically. He took a second step, and as if propelled by the wind, he darted forward several feet, almost crashing into the cabinet opposite him.

He abruptly stopped, staring down at his legs: "Such speed! This drug can actually make one light-footed and swift-moving?"

Feng Yuanzhen was extremely excited.

He devoted his life to external alchemy, spending thousands of days and nights squatting in front of the furnace, discerning the properties of medicines until his tongue was numb and he could no longer taste saltiness or blandness, and the furnace filled the room with black smoke when metals and stones were put into it.

Once, the furnace lid flew off and sliced ​​off his right little finger, all for a truly transformative elixir.

Now, the thing he's been chasing his whole life is right in front of him.

His breathing suddenly became heavy, and he asked in a deep voice, "Junior brother, can I learn this?"

Feng Yuanzhen's chest heaved violently: "I've spent my whole life refining pills. The real thing is right in front of me. If I just take a look and leave, I won't be able to sleep soundly for the rest of my life."

Yan Chengren said, "Without a celestial position, one cannot touch this celestial artifact, but if it were you, senior brother, you might be able to succeed."

"Senior brother's timing is perfect. The next opportunity to obtain a celestial position will be within this month."

"Luckily, my batch of pills exploded. It really is fate!" Feng Yuanzhen washed his hands with a gourd, forced himself to calm down, and went back to his room.

Yan Chengren had already laid an old felt mat under the window: It's been three years since we last met, so we brothers should have a good chat. I'll also tell you about the changes in Chengcheng over the years.

……

In a valley near Jizhou.

So, after you killed that group of Jurchens, Wu Zimian really added you to the roster. Now you've taken the charade for real and become members of the Yansui Army.

Bai Li chuckled and said, "This man is really bold. No wonder he dared to sell military horses. It seems you'll have to stay outside for quite some time."

Liu Er nodded: "We can't go back anytime soon."

Bai Li crossed his arms and leaned against a crooked tree, saying in a mock-up, "That's perfect. Don't the Jurchens have a lot of good horses? Since we're going to take action against them, let's bring those horses back as well."

"Brother, we can get the horses, but we only have a few men. Leading too many at once will attract too much attention. If we run into scouts on the road, we'll definitely be exposed," Liu Er replied.

Bai Li said: Who told you to lead it all the way back? Is there any secluded place nearby where we can hide things?

Liu Er frowned and thought for a while: Yes! There is a ravine at the very bottom of the valley. I saw it when we were chasing the Jurchens. It was completely covered by vines and no outsiders could see it at all.

"Then let's go."

Liu Er led the two men, their feet crunching on the dry branches, making a crackling sound as they went, and after turning two corners, they arrived at their destination.

Dense wild vines hung down from the top of the cliff, obscuring the cave entrance.

Liu Er reached out and tore apart a few thick vines, revealing a dark hole.

Bai Li floated over and poked her head into the hole, scanning the area.

It wasn't very big inside, with a low ceiling and the ground covered with dry moss and pebbles, but it was indeed well hidden. Once the entrance was covered, even ninety-nine people passing by wouldn't be able to spot it.

The space is alright, but it's a bit cramped. Liu Er, expand it a bit.

Without saying a word, Liu Er conjured an iron pickaxe and began digging, extending the cave to a depth of about two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters). He also flattened the jagged rock edges at the entrance.

Then they took out round stones and stacked them on both sides of the cave entrance, narrowing the opening to allow only one person to pass through. From the outside, it looked like a pile of naturally collapsed earth and rocks.

Finally, a teleportation device was made, and a wooden door was used to separate it.

Bai Li flew around the newly expanded cave once: Okay, from now on, when you get horses, come here and store them. Once you have a dozen or so, find someone to take them back.

A horse weighs several hundred pounds, and there's no protection outside the boundary; how could a living person possibly carry it?

But Liu Er didn't ask and readily nodded: Okay! It's just horses, the Jurchens have them all over the mountains, bring all their horses back!

Bai Li knew exactly what was going on.

Previously, Liu Ping had carried Song Yingxing's elderly mother, Wei, from outside the boundary back inside. As long as you can carry her, you can be teleported.

As for how to make someone suddenly gain extra strength, he has plenty of methods.

Bai Li opened the quick access bar, found Yan Chengren's name, and sent it over.