The Immortal Clan begins with deductive intelligence.

The continuous spring rain shrouded Cangwu Island in dampness.

Clumps of tender green moss silently spread out from the cracks in the bluestone slabs.

Ten days have passed since Li Shan paid his visit.

Inside the study, the charcoal fire in the bronze incense burner had been removed and replaced with a stick of invigorating camphor incense, its wisps of smoke rising straight up to the roof beams.

Xu Changqing sat cross-legged on the futon, his eyes slightly closed, his breathing long and even, and his aura contained.

These ten days passed extremely quickly.

Since the day he decided to improve his strength before the mobilization order was issued, he hadn't stayed on the island peacefully for long.

The peach tree, as tall as a person, had lush branches and leaves. After being watered with several jars of demonic beast blood, the originally delicate flower buds had withered, and a small, green fruit, no bigger than a thumb, was hanging on the branch.

Although it was only one, it consumed most of the essence and blood he had obtained from hunting over the past ten days.

If it were a family with a weaker foundation, they would probably be drained dry.

Fortunately, the "Thunder Pool" refined from that piece of second-tier lightning-struck agarwood was indeed domineering. A mid-grade first-tier water demon of comparable level, unless it was an extremely thick-skinned alien species, would be either killed or crippled by a single palm strike of lightning.

However, while this lightning magic is powerful, its backlash is also severe.

Xu Changqing slowly opened his eyes and looked down at his right palm.

The skin and flesh around the Laogong acupoint showed an unnatural stiffness, and there was a faint pain in the meridians, which was the burn left by the passing lightning force.

He thought to himself that if he couldn't solve the problem of the toughness of his meridians, this palm lightning could only be used as a trump card for a one-hit kill, and could not be used for a prolonged battle.

But judging by the time, the "method for strengthening the body and resilient meridians" that I inquired about with Tongtianjian that day should have a result by today.

He held his breath and focused his mind once again into his sea of ​​consciousness.

[The simulation is complete]

Xu Changqing's spirits lifted, and he focused his gaze.

[Deduction Item: Supplementary Training in Body Tempering Technique within Thunder Magic]

[Dharma Name: Five Viscera Forging Essence Soup]

Main materials: Ironwood core, Crimson Fire Scorpion tail, Cold Pool Water, Red Copper Sand...

[Additional ingredients: Blood-activating herb, Meridian-clearing vine, Tiger bone glue...]

[Refining Method: Simmer the main ingredients over a low flame for three days and three nights until the broth turns a purplish-gold color. While still hot, apply the broth to the entire body, and then circulate it using the "Eternal Spring Exercise" to guide the medicinal power into the five internal organs, strengthen the skin and muscles, and fortify the meridians.]

Xu Changqing frowned as he looked at the materials.

"Ironwood core, red copper sand..."

Common body-strengthening formulas mainly use the essence and blood of demonic beasts or bone-strengthening herbs, following the path of nourishing qi and blood.

The method provided by this Heavenly Mirror is unconventional; it actually intends to use this flesh and blood body as the embryo for forging a magical artifact.

Xu Changqing pulled out a blank sheet of yellow paper and copied down the whole series of strange and unusual materials.

"Uncle Dayou".

He called out towards the outside of the courtyard.

Before long, Xu Dayou rushed over. Seeing Xu Changqing's calm expression, he couldn't help but ask, "Clan leader, are you going out again?"

Xu Dayou tentatively asked, "These past two days, Xu Changqing has been working tirelessly from dawn till dusk to gather essence blood for that peach tree, which has been causing this old man great anxiety."

"Stay home."

Xu Changqing handed over the still-wet ink sheet.

"Go to the market and, following this recipe, gather four portions."

Xu Dayou took the order, squinted his old eyes and leaned closer to examine it. After reading only two lines, his face scrunched up, and the corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

"Ten pounds of ironwood core? Five pounds of red copper sand? And this... a Crimson Fire Scorpion tail?"

The old man raised his head, looked at Xu Changqing with a strange expression, and couldn't help but swallow.

"Chieftain, are we going to open a blacksmith shop or concoct poisons?"

"These red copper sand and ironwood cores are the main materials for refining low-level magic shields. And this scorpion tail is a highly poisonous substance that no one usually touches."

Xu Changqing did not explain the reason behind this.

"For practicing martial arts."

Xu Dayou swallowed back the question that was on the tip of his tongue.

But looking at the bill again, the old man still felt a pang of regret.

"Chieftain, I'm not trying to be nosy, but under normal circumstances, this scrap metal wouldn't be worth much."

Xu Dayou sighed, carefully folded the form, and tucked it into his pocket.

"But the fighting at the Demon-Slaying Dike is fierce right now, and I heard that the magical artifacts are being damaged to a great extent. The price of this red copper sand has quadrupled. This trip will probably cost another one or two hundred spirit stones."

When it comes to money, Xu Dayou looks miserable, wishing he could split a spirit stone in half to spend.

Although there is still some money left in the warehouse, at this rate of spending, even mountains of gold and silver will be empty.

Xu Changqing turned around and walked to the bookshelf, took out a heavy wooden box, and casually tossed it to Xu Dayou.

"There are some miscellaneous demon cores here that I don't need either. Take them and get rid of them, and exchange them for spirit stones."

"Money can be earned back, but if you lose your life, leaving behind a warehouse full of spirit stones is just a waste of someone else's time."

Xu Dayou hurriedly caught the wooden box, feeling a sudden weight in his hands, but also feeling much more at ease.

"Alright, with the clan leader's words, I feel more at ease."

The old man, carrying the wooden box, said no more and turned to leave. After taking two steps, he stopped and turned back, saying:

"By the way, clan leader, someone from the Li family came again this morning to ask if you are interested in partnering with us to stockpile another batch of raw materials for 'Hemostatic Powder'."

Xu Changqing didn't even lift his eyelids when he heard this.

"Rejected it. Tell Li Shan to honestly farm his land and stop thinking about making a fortune all the time."

Xu Dayou responded and hurried away.

The courtyard was quiet again.

Xu Changqing did not return to the house, but instead strolled to the purple-veined golden peach tree.

"Ten more days..."

Xu Changqing gently stroked the tree trunk with his fingers.

"In ten days, the fruit will be ripe. At that time, with the help of the innate purple energy within the fruit, I should be able to reach the threshold of the sixth level of Qi Refining."

Once you reach the sixth level of Qi Refining, and with the Palm Thunder which can be used multiple times after Body Refinement, even if you are conscripted to the front line, as long as you don't encounter Foundation Establishment stage demonic beasts, surviving shouldn't be a big problem.

In this chaotic world, survival is the greatest opportunity.

Just as he was pondering this, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

"Chief! Something terrible has happened!"

Xu Changqing frowned slightly and turned to look.

Xu Ermazi, who was in charge of patrolling outside the island, stumbled in, his clothes still covered in mud and water, and his face was deathly pale.

"What's the matter?"

Xu Changqing asked in a deep voice, and an invisible pressure spread out, which calmed Xu Ermazi down a little.

"Water...there's something in the water!"

Xu Ermazi was panting heavily, his eyes filled with terror.

"We were on patrol just now and we saw several dead bodies floating in the reeds over there!"

Xu Changqing's heart skipped a beat. With a few leaps, he jumped over the courtyard wall and headed straight for the ferry crossing to the west.

Xu Ermazi chased after him, panting heavily, but his heart was still pounding. He never wanted to see that scene again in his life.

When Xu Changqing arrived at the ferry, several bold clansmen had already gathered there.

Xu Changqing pushed through the crowd and stood at the very front of the pier.

A strong, pungent smell of blood mixed with the stench of decay wafted in from the damp, cold river wind, hitting me right in the head.

The murky river surface had somehow been stained a dark red.

Among the drifting duckweed and withered reeds, forty or fifty corpses floated densely!

They are all headless!