Immortality and Cultivation: I can extract entries from all things.

After obtaining the [Gathering Elixir Technique], Fang He's alchemy skills improved by leaps and bounds.

Two months later, the success rate of Peiyuan Pills stabilized at over 80%, with all pills being of superior quality.

He could produce Qi-restoring pills with ease, and even Master Wu nodded in approval.

However, the bottleneck of the fifth level of Qi Refining always stands in the way.

Master Wu Dan once mentioned that to break through to the fifth level of Qi Refining, Peiyuan Pill alone is not enough; a rare medicinal herb is also needed: Sea Soul Grass.

Sea Soul Grass only grows in the intertidal zone of the outer islands and reefs, where sea beasts roam and dangers abound, and ordinary rogue cultivators dare not venture there.

After careful consideration, Fang He decided to form a team and go.

In a teahouse where independent cultivators gathered in the market, Fang He inquired about the Sea Soul Grass.

A burly man struck up a conversation: "Brother, are you here for the seaweed too?"

Sun Dazhuang, a sixth-level Qi Refining Body Cultivator.

He has thick arms, dark skin, and speaks with a strong voice.

He patted Fang He on the shoulder, quite forcefully: "I found two people, but I'm still missing one. You've come at the perfect time."

A lean young man next to him nodded in greeting.

Li Qing, at the fifth level of Qi Refining, is skilled in reconnaissance, has sharp eyes, and is a man of few words.

In the corner, a middle-aged man with a weathered face was drinking cheap spiritual tea.

Chen Laosan, at the fourth level of Qi Refining, has shrewd eyes and is clearly a seasoned veteran.

Chen Laosan sized up Fang He: "Fourth level of Qi Refining? A bit too inexperienced."

Sun Dazhuang said, "Don't underestimate them just because their cultivation level is low; they each have their own skills. Brother, what's your special talent?"

Fang He thought for a moment and then didn't hide anything: "I can sense the location of spirit herbs, and I also have some combat skills."

Chen Laosan scoffed, "Sensing spirit herbs? Those won't be of much help on the island."

Fang He didn't take it to heart.

The four quickly discussed and divided the tasks. Sun Dazhuang led the team, responsible for the main battle.

Li Qing scouted and explored the area.

Chen Laosan was in charge of logistics and emergency response.

Fang He was in charge of locating the spiritual herbs.

"It's agreed that the harvest will be distributed according to contribution."

Sun Dazhuang made the decision: "We'll set off early tomorrow morning and meet at the beach."

Fang He nodded, a mixture of anticipation and nervousness rising in her heart.

This was his first time temporarily teaming up with independent cultivators, and also his first time venturing deep into the outer islands and reefs.

The next morning, the four of them met at the beach.

Chen Laosan hired a small boat. The boat owner was a taciturn old fisherman who only took him to the vicinity of the island and refused to get too close.

"Anywhere further in is the territory of sea monsters, and I, an old man, still have my life to live." The boat owner stopped the boat a mile away.

The four jumped off the boat and set off towards their target island by stepping on the rocks.

Li Qing led the way, occasionally turning back to gesture that it was safe. Sun Dazhuang was in the middle, Chen Laosan brought up the rear, and Fang He followed the group.

Upon reaching the island, one is greeted by jagged rocks and scattered seaweed.

Li Qing whispered, "There are no obvious animal dens on the island, but be careful of the intertidal zone, where sea monsters may be lurking."

Sun Dazhuang nodded, signaling everyone to follow closely.

Fang Heyun scanned the entire island and reef.

Amidst the salty smell of the sea breeze, he vaguely detected a faint scent of medicinal herbs in the intertidal zone on the eastern side of the island.

"The east side," Fang He said in a low voice.

Chen Laosan glanced at him, said nothing, and clearly quickened his pace.

The four of them headed east.

When they were still dozens of feet away from the intertidal zone, Fang He suddenly issued a warning!

"Be careful!"

Before the words were even finished, a dark shadow burst forth from the tide!

A first-tier sea beast, resembling a giant python, covered in shiny black scales, opened its mouth and lunged at Li Qing, who was at the front!

Li Qing reacted extremely quickly, dodging to the side, but the sea monster's tail swept across and struck him heavily!

Li Qing groaned as he was sent flying, crashing into a rock, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Li Qing!"

Sun Dazhuang roared and charged towards the sea monster.

His hands glowed with an earthy yellow light, forcefully blocking the sea monster's bites.

The physical strength of a body cultivator was on full display at this moment.

Chen Laosan produced a talisman, which exploded with spiritual light, leaving wounds on the sea beast.

Fang He calmly observed the battle situation and clearly perceived the movement trajectory of the sea monster.

"Brother Sun, suppress it!"

Fang He shouted.

Sun Dazhuang understood, and with a burst of strength, he gripped the sea monster's head tightly.

Fang He formed a hand seal, and spiritual energy surged forth.

Vine Technique!

Several vines burst forth from the ground, wrapping around the sea monster's body! The sea monster struggled frantically, the vines stretched taut, on the verge of snapping.

But that momentary delay was enough.

Fang He raised his right hand, and a ball of blazing fire condensed in his palm.

With the added bonus of the "Fire Affinity" attribute, the power of the Fireball spell is 20% stronger than that of an ordinary cultivator!

"go!"

The fireball roared out and struck the sea monster squarely on the head!

boom!

Flames exploded, and the sea monster let out a mournful roar, its head charred black.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Sun Dazhuang punched the sea monster in the belly, knocking the enormous creature to the ground. The sea monster twitched a few times and then stopped moving.

The battle is over.

Fang He was slightly out of breath.

This was the first time he had used the combination of Vine Spell and Fireball Spell in actual combat, and the effect was better than expected.

"Li Qing, how's it going?"

Sun Dazhuang helped his injured teammate up.

Li Qing was pale and clutched his chest: "I broke two ribs and suffered internal injuries... I can walk, but my fighting ability has been greatly reduced."

Chen Laosan frowned: "This is troublesome. We don't know if we'll encounter other sea monsters on the return trip."

Fang He took out a bottle of healing pills from his bosom; they were Qi-restoring pills and mid-grade healing pills that he had refined.

"Take this first; it will stabilize your injuries."

Li Qing took the pill, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes, and swallowed it.

Thank you.

Fanghe turned to the east side of the intertidal zone.

He walked along the rocks toward the edge of the tide and found a seaweed with a faint blue glow in an inconspicuous crevice.

Seaweed!

The blades of grass are as slender as hair, swaying with the tide and emitting a faint, ethereal aura.

Fang He carefully crouched down and used a special jade box to collect it completely.

This is his goal for this trip, and also the key medicinal material for breaking through to the fifth level of Qi Refining.

"Found it?" Sun Dazhuang asked from a short distance away.

Fang He nodded and put the jade box into his pocket: "Found it, we can leave now."

The four began to evacuate.

Li Qing was seriously injured, and Sun Dazhuang and Chen Laosan supported him on either side.

Fang He was stationed at the rear, remaining on high alert at all times.

Fortunately, they did not encounter any more sea monster attacks on the return trip.

Back on the ship, the captain looked somewhat surprised to see the four of them return safely.

"Good luck."

Sun Dazhuang grinned and handed the boat owner a spirit stone.

The sea monster's carcass was divided up by the group, and Fang He received a portion of the materials.

Sea monster scales, tendons, and that fist-sized demon core.

Back at his residence, Fang He processed the marine mammal materials.

The panel appeared when his hand touched the sea monster's tendons.

[Retrievable historical traces detected]

[Item: Tier 1 Sea Beast Tendon]

[Historical Imprint: Proficient in swimming (gray), moving more freely in the water]

【Whether to extract? 】

Fang He confirmed the extraction.

Extraction successful

[Acquired entry: Skilled in Water (Gray)]

【Water Proficiency (Gray x2): Increases water activity by 15%, and slightly increases agility when stacked】

Fang He sensed the subtle changes brought about by the accumulation of words.

This is the second time he has received a similar entry; the benefits are decreasing, but it's better than nothing.

More importantly, it was the insights he gained from this operation.

High risk can lead to high reward, but it also requires skill and luck.