Chapter 6: Taking Mystic Water Pills
Thirsty, Dugu Han drank cold spring water purchased from Dragon City.
Hungry, he had medicinal food that was worth a fortune— always ready at hand.
When physically exhausted, soaking in a medicinal bath for an hour could relieve fatigue and restore swollen, painful meridians caused by continuous soul power operation.
Mental fatigue was eased by a spiritual sea urchin from the Arctic Ice Sea, which could enhance mental clarity and energy, making him instantly more alert.
In this way, Dugu Han practiced continuously for five days without pause.
Until Elder Xue finished absorbing two soul bones and came out of retreat, Dugu Han also stopped his training.
"Young Master!"
Elder Xue emerged from his room, an uncontrollable excitement on his face. He had been stuck at level 87 for over ten years, believing he would never breakthrough in this lifetime!
Unexpectedly, absorbing these two ten-thousand-year soul bones had allowed him to smoothly advance to level 88.
Dugu Han was also very pleased.
Every increase in Elder Xue's strength meant greater safety for this trip.
He naturally hoped that Elder Xue's strength would be as strong as possible.
"Elder Xue, safety should be our top priority on this journey," Dugu Han reminded him before departure.
"Young Master, don't worry!" Elder Xue replied confidently. "Although my Snow Shadow Black Turtle martial soul isn't very combat-oriented, it excels in concealment. As long as I'm willing, no one can find me— unless it's a Super Douluo of the Spiritual System."
His confidence was unwavering.
His Snow Shadow Black Turtle was not particularly powerful in direct combat, but it possessed exceptional concealment abilities, including innate breath-hiding techniques.
Dugu Han was relieved after hearing this.
After sending Elder Xue off, Dugu Han returned to the ice house to continue practicing.
That night, he paused to take a medicinal bath and rest.
He knew that short-term intense training was manageable, but prolonged practice without sleep was harmful at his age.
These principles were recorded in ancient books passed down through the Dugu family for thousands of years.
The next morning, Dugu Han woke refreshed, ate medicinal food, and resumed his training.
"The early bird catches the worm."
With only first-level innate soul power, he couldn't afford to be lazy.
He planned to train intensely for five or six days in a row, then take a night off to relax his mind.
This cycle continued for a whole month.
Until one day, Shrek Academy sent news: they had obtained two Mystic Water Pills and a News of Xuanwu Divine Pill.
"Has it been taken by the successor of the current sect master?" Dugu Han raised his eyebrows. It didn't sound like the usual rejection from the Xuanwu Sect.
He remembered that in the original story, Xu Sanshi had used a Xuanwu Divine Pill to treat Jiang Nannan's mother.
"That's right," the messenger from Shrek confirmed. "The Xuanwu Sect said that the Xuanwu Divine Pill they refined this time has already been taken by their successor of the current sect master."
The messenger handed Dugu Han a medicine bottle containing the two Mystic Water Pills, explaining, "Here are the two pills you requested."
"Thank you." Dugu Han took the bottle, then pondered for a moment before adding, "Please contact the Xuanwu Sect again after you return and tell them I'm willing to increase my offer. I can exchange the three ten-thousand-year soul bones I initially ordered for one ten-thousand-year soul bone plus a forty-thousand-year trunk bone."
The Xuanwu Divine Pill was too important to him.
While Xue Di could help him enter the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well to find the immortal herb, he couldn't guarantee finding Xue Di this year— it might be next year, or even several years later.
And the time in between is the golden period for soul masters to practice.
Dugu Han couldn't accept crawling along that path with only level one innate soul power— or even level three after taking the Mystic Water Pill— at such a critical age for rapid growth.
Hence, exchanging the trunk bone and the soul bone for the Xuanwu Divine Pill was a cost-effective choice.
His father's leftover soul bones included a poison-attribute bone from the Poison Shadow Python, which was incompatible with his ice-attribute martial soul.
Similarly, the 10,000-year-old left arm bone of the Red Flame Explosive Bear was also mismatched.
"Okay," the messenger replied. "I will inform the academy of your request. Whether they contact the Xuanwu Sect depends on their decision."
"Thank you." Dugu Han stood, sending the messenger away.
He believed that the academy would continue to reach out— this was because doing so wouldn't cost them anything, and it would earn them a reputation for caring for the descendants of the first honorary dean.
After the messenger left, Dugu Han retrieved the bottle of Mystic Water Pills and poured out one.
The pill was dark blue, about the size of a cherry, with white textures on its surface. After opening the medicine box, a faint mist quickly filled the space around the pill.
The mist was refreshing, carrying a slightly sweet aroma.
Dugu Han leaned in and smelled it, feeling his soul power become restless.
"This is indeed the Mystic Water Pill that can improve innate level 1 soul power. Just smelling its fragrance makes me so agitated."
He wondered if it could cleanse his marrow and strengthen his bones like Huo Yuhao did after taking it.
In the original story, the Mystic Water Pill not only increased innate soul power but also cleared impurities, expanded meridians, and moisturized the body— leading to faster cultivation and enhanced meridian function.
Huo Yuhao, with innate level 1 soul power, had broken through to the advanced stage of the soul master realm after taking it, thanks to its transformative effects.
Dugu Han decided to try it himself.
He handed the pill to his mouth and swallowed it.
Within fifteen minutes, strong fluctuations of soul power emanated from his body, and a faint blue light flickered around him.
A layer of blue mist, with a fresh aroma, appeared on his surface.
As time passed, the mist darkened gradually, and the fragrance faded.
The smell shifted from fresh to a fishy odor, and the mist's color darkened further.
Meanwhile, the meridian points in his body were nourished by the medicinal effects of the Mystic Water Pill. As his soul power drove the operation of these effects, some previously blocked meridians began to clear.
(End of this chapter)