Poison Cultivation

Having shaken off Zhang Sheng's entanglement, Chen Luojing headed straight for the Qingxiafang Pharmacy.

The purpose of this trip was twofold: first, to gather the necessary medicinal materials for refining the Blood-Activating and Body-Tempering Pill; and second, to secretly investigate rare and exotic poisons of the first-grade superior level, in order to pave the way for future cultivation in the path of poison.

He glanced at the shop of medicine merchant Sun Xi with a cold eye as he passed by, without stopping for a moment.

Back when his meridians were damaged and his cultivation level had plummeted, Sun Xi, instead of remembering their past relationship, took advantage of his predicament and demanded a hefty price, trying to rip him off.

He never wanted to have anything to do with such a snobbish person again in this life.

Sun Xiyuan was sitting idly by the counter when he saw an acquaintance walking by outside the door. He almost blurted out a polite greeting.

To everyone's surprise, Chen Luo glanced at them indifferently, then walked straight ahead, completely disregarding them.

The words of flattery caught in his throat, choking him and causing his face to darken as he cursed inwardly:

"What an ungrateful brat! He's so arrogant now!"

Still annoyed, he focused his attention and probed again, suddenly realizing that Chen Luo's spiritual pressure was heavy and long, indicating that he had already reached the sixth level of Qi Refining!

Sun Xi stood frozen in place, his eyes wide with astonishment and disbelief, his heart churning with turmoil.

Strange things!

He clearly had damaged meridians back then, and should have lost all his cultivation and been left barely clinging to life.

How come he is now completely unharmed and has made continuous progress, heading straight for the sixth level of Qi Refining?

Could it be...?

His severed meridians have been secretly and completely repaired.

Upon realizing this, Sun Xi could no longer sit still and suddenly leaped out of the door to chase after him.

It should be noted that in Qingxia Workshop, the elixirs that can reshape meridians and repair damage are only available to high-level cultivators.

Once a low-level cultivator's meridians collapse, they are like a broken tree with withered roots, with no hope of further advancement in this life, and can only sigh helplessly.

Since Chen Luo was able to repair the damaged meridians, it was as if he had a secret path to wealth that others could only dream of.

If we could build a relationship with him and work together, how could our little pharmacy not rise to the top and become one of the most prestigious pharmacies in Qingxia Fang?

Sun Xi was burning with excitement, eager to master this method immediately.

However, after taking only two steps, he froze in place, unable to take another step.

But then it suddenly occurred to me:

Just now, Chen Luo coldly swept his gaze over the shop, his indifference as cold as frost, clearly still remembering the old grudge of taking advantage of his misfortune and kicking him when he was down.

If I were to rashly approach him now to discuss forming an alliance, I would only incur his displeasure and be met with cold indifference.

Sun Xi was filled with anxiety and regret, feeling that a great path to wealth had slipped through his fingers.

He couldn't help but grit his teeth and curse inwardly:

"Damn it! Damn it! How can I never shake this habit of judging people by their status and currying favor with the powerful!"

Frustrated, he raised his hand, wanting to slap himself hard to vent his anger, but he was also reluctant to do so because he felt ashamed of his reputation.

Finally, he merely patted his cheeks lightly twice, his heart filled with deep regret.

Chen Luo was unaware of Sun Xi's treacherous schemes, and even if he had, he would have merely glanced at him indifferently, a hint of disdain rising in his heart.

At that moment, he took a step and walked into the pharmacy with the signboard "Shan An Tang" hanging above it.

This magnificent pharmacy, with its three-story buildings arranged in a staggered pattern, is the foundation of the Li family, the founders of Qingxiafang.

The Li family has practiced medicine and alchemy for generations, possessing a deep-rooted foundation and a renowned reputation.

The hall regularly hosts top-tier alchemists who take turns providing consultations. All medicinal herbs are carefully selected and of genuine quality, with no instances of shortchanging or selling inferior goods.

In the past, when Chen Luo's meridians were severely damaged and he was at a loss, he had come here for consultation. The old alchemist in the hall had even recommended the Meridian Unblocking Pill to him.

Upon returning to this familiar place, the old man sitting in the hall recognized him at a glance.

The old man smiled and said, "So it's you, fellow Daoist. Are you here to open your meridians...?"

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly paused, the words stuck in his throat.

He stared intently for a moment, and his heart trembled.

The image of the person before me, whose face was full of sorrow, whose future was bleak due to the collapse of his meridians, and whose constant anxiety was still vivid in my mind.

Now, when we meet again, not only has his cultivation improved, but his spirit and energy have also become more refined and profound, as if he has undergone a complete transformation.

The old man stared in astonishment, and after a long while, he asked in a trembling voice:

"Fellow Daoist... your meridians... could they be... completely healed?"

Chen Luo smiled faintly and nodded in agreement.

The news of his meridians being destroyed had already spread throughout the neighborhood, and now that his injuries have healed and his cultivation has improved, it could no longer be concealed.

It's better to be open and honest than to hide your true intentions.

He smiled gently and said:

"Thank you for your guidance in the past. Later, I went through many troubles and relied on the connections of my ancestors to ask a Foundation Establishment expert for help, which allowed me to reconnect my broken meridians."

Not only has his former cultivation level been completely stabilized, but he has also miraculously made further progress.

The old man was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. He had assumed that the old man had encountered an extraordinary opportunity and changed his fate against all odds through his own luck. He never expected that the old man had actually received help from a Foundation Establishment expert.

He was secretly amazed: This Foundation Establishment senior is indeed extraordinary, and his fortune is truly profound.

"Fellow Daoist, you have survived a great calamity; you are destined for good fortune. Your future is sure to be limitless."

The old man casually offered a few words of congratulations, worldly and tactful, without asking in the slightest who the Foundation Establishment expert who had offered assistance actually was.

It should be noted that in the Sanxia region, there are very few powerful cultivators at the Purple Mansion level, but there are quite a few Foundation Establishment seniors who are hiding in the world and cultivating in seclusion.

In his view, the difficulty of reconnecting severed meridians could only be solved by a Foundation Establishment expert.

Seeing that he was sensible and polite and did not pry into his privacy, Chen Luo secretly praised him. He then explained the purpose of his visit: to purchase medicinal herbs and spiritual materials.

He deliberately mixed and matched the necessary medicinal ingredients, alternating between real and fake, and added ordinary body-tempering and nourishing substances to conceal the hidden clues involved, intending to confuse people.

The old alchemist had practiced medicine and refined elixirs for decades, and his eyesight was incredibly sharp. He could tell at a glance that the man had ulterior motives and that there was something else going on in the prescription.

But he pretended not to know and remained indifferent.

On the path of spiritual cultivation, who doesn't have a few unique secrets?

Chen Luo's ability to persuade a Foundation Establishment expert to heal his injuries is already extraordinary, suggesting a secret opportunity that cannot be shared with others. Why pry and cause trouble?

While the pharmacist was weighing, mixing, and sorting the medicinal herbs, Chen Luo took the opportunity to quietly inquire about the poisons, saying:

"May I ask, senior, I am currently lacking a few poisonous ingredients to assist me in refining my elixir formulas."

"Does your esteemed establishment possess any exceptionally rare and highly poisonous item of the highest grade?"

The old man stroked his beard and smiled upon hearing this, displaying a certain confidence.

"How could there not be? Poison is the most dangerous ingredient in medicine, and also its essence."

"Our Shan'an Hall is the top pharmacy in Qingxia Lane; how could we possibly lack such rare and precious goods?"

He then said seriously:

"If we're talking about the most poisonous and top-grade first-class products, then the Blood Boiling Longan Fruit, which is a secret treasure of my Li family, is the best."

This fruit has a potent medicinal effect; once it enters the body, it can burn the blood and scorch the body.

If a cultivator forcefully uses their true energy to resist, the poison will spread even faster, directly invading the dantian, spiritual meridians, flesh, and bone marrow.

Chen Luo's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes lit up: "Such a rare poison, I wonder if it could be sold for a price?"

The old man shook his head and waved his hand, his tone resolute: "Not for sale."

This is a secret treasure of my Li family, and a crucial auxiliary ingredient for refining the second-tier Profound Spirit Pill. It is the foundation and lifeblood of our family, how could it be easily leaked out?

The Xuanling Pill is a second-tier pill. The Li family, relying on their monopoly on the source of the Blood Boiling Dragon Eye Fruit, firmly holds onto the secret formula.

With just this one business, they can enjoy endless profits.

Seeing that he could not obtain it, Chen Luo was slightly disappointed and then asked about other poisons.

The old man also had a good impression of this cultivator who had survived such a calamity, and patiently introduced him to some details.

However, while those poisons were deadly, most of them were unremarkable and their effects largely overlapped with those of the existing "softening tendon flower" and "bone-corroding poisonous heart grass," so Chen Luo couldn't muster any interest in them.

In the end, they had no choice but to give up.

At this moment, the pharmacist finished arranging all the medicinal herbs and said:

"I have prepared sixteen portions of medicinal herbs, totaling fifty-six low-grade spirit stones."