The growing conditions for Ah Wei were said to be extremely stringent.

First, the deceased had to be a maiden. Only a virgin’s body could preserve that wisp of pure Innate True Qi.

Second, she must have fallen ill and died suddenly.

If she had died from a prolonged illness, her body’s True Qi would have long been depleted by the disease, making it impossible for Ah Wei to grow.

Third, she had to be buried in a treasured land with excellent feng shui, one that could keep the body from decaying for decades.

Finally, and most crucially, when the coffin was opened for excavation, the Ah Wei had to be found inside with the corpse.

All four conditions were indispensable.

Therefore, this kind of Ah Wei was an exceedingly rare, almost legendary miraculous herb.

The second theory was a bit more "down-to-earth."

It claimed that the so-called Ah Wei was actually a special fungus that grew on the bodies of deceased long-term opium addicts. Their internal organs had been steeped in opium fumes for so long that this fungus would sprout after their death.

Fighting fire with fire, this fungus had become a wonder drug for treating various chronic stomach ailments. It was also extremely rare and valuable.

The third theory was even more far-fetched.

It said that Ah Wei was not a physical medicine at all, but merely a legend.

According to this legend, the most prominent characteristic of Ah Wei was that it "dissolved on contact." In other words, it would corrode and melt any object it touched, meaning there was likely no container capable of holding it.

Therefore, if someone gave you a dose of medicine and called it "Ah Wei," it was definitely not the real thing.

Of course, according to modern scientific research and explanations, Ah Wei is indeed a real and unique medicinal fungus.

It was only successfully cultivated artificially in the border regions of the Dragon Country in the 1960s and 70s.

While its effects of aiding digestion, resolving stagnation, invigorating blood, and dispersing stasis were indeed quite good, they were not as outlandish as the legends claimed.

Li Xu’s personal theory was that "Ah Wei" was actually divided into two types: "plant-based Ah Wei" and "animal-based Ah Wei."

The so-called "plant-based Ah Wei" was the medicinal fungus that grew on special rotten wood.

Most of the Ah Wei circulating on the market, as well as the cultivated kind, was of this type.

Although its price was relatively high, it was still within an acceptable range.

The legendary Ah Wei that grew on corpses, however, was likely an extremely rare protein deposit formed from the mutation of proteins and medicinal residues under special environmental conditions.

This "animal-based Ah Wei" was the true, incomparably rare, and priceless treasure.

And that was the origin of all the legends surrounding it.

This Ah Wei he had found here,

was the "plant-based Ah Wei" that grew on rotten wood.

But it had grown for years in symbiosis with Yabulu, a strange substance of Ultimate Yin and evil.

It had also absorbed "nutrients" from the countless surrounding animal carcasses.

Its medicinal properties had likely already undergone a peculiar mutation,

making it far beyond comparison with ordinary Ah Wei.

’With that thought, Li Xu no longer hesitated.’

He dug out the Ah Wei growing on the rotten wood and decaying bones, along with the attached pieces of wood and bone fragments.

A villager handed him a burlap sack.

Li Xu placed them in the sack.

After finishing, he climbed out of the deep pit and directed the others to lift the huge Yabulu out as well.

’This is a bit more troublesome than I expected.’

Both the Yabulu and the Ah Wei had just been unearthed and had a very high moisture content.

They also carried a heavy, earthy, and foul stench, and couldn’t be processed or used immediately.

’I’ll have to stay here for a few more days.’

He called the taxi driver who had brought him here earlier.

He told the driver he wasn’t leaving today and would be heading back in a couple of days, so he didn’t need to come.

Fortunately, the weather here was dry with little rain and plenty of sunshine.

After the Yabulu was carried back to the village, Li Xu had the villagers help place it in Ye Mushen’s courtyard.

Ye Mushen’s courtyard was quite large.

There was enough open space to air-dry it.

As for the equally precious Ah Wei, Li Xu placed it in a cool, ventilated area to air-dry.

He looked at the black fungal mass, feeling a surge of emotion.

Ah Wei was a supreme remedy for aiding digestion, resolving stagnation, invigorating blood, dispersing stasis, and expelling parasites.

If he had had this yesterday when treating Mayila, he wouldn’t have even needed to use acupuncture.

He could have just taken a small piece, ground it into powder, and had her take it; the stubborn roundworms in her body would have been easily and completely expelled.

This trip to Central Asia had been truly fruitful.

Not only had he smoothly obtained his objective, Yabulu,

but he had also unexpectedly harvested Ah Wei.

After getting the Yabulu and Ah Wei settled, Li Xu felt mentally and physically exhausted.

He had been busy since morning, which had drained not only his physical strength but also put him under great mental strain.

After all, Yabulu was poisonous.

A moment of carelessness could have been fatal.

He hadn’t dared to relax all morning.

Now, he could finally get some rest.

Just as Li Xu was about to go inside to get some much-needed sleep, Snar, who had only recently recovered, showed up at his door again. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He first peeked into the main room, and seeing no one there, he turned to Li Xu somewhat sheepishly and said, "Sir..."

"Are you looking for Ye Mushen?"

Li Xu asked with a smile. "He grabbed his medicine basket after he got back and went out to gather herbs."

In truth, Li Xu knew better.

’Ye Mushen hadn’t gone to gather herbs.’

’He was clearly spurred on by recent events, no longer content with a life of gathering common herbs.’

’He wanted to go try his luck by the river, to see if he could find some kind of heavenly and earthly treasure like Yabulu or Ah Wei.’

Unexpectedly, upon hearing that Ye Mushen was indeed not there, Snar breathed a sigh of relief and waved his hands repeatedly. "No, no, sir, I’m not looking for Ye Mushen. I... I came specifically to see you."

"Me?" Li Xu was a little puzzled. "Are you still feeling unwell somewhere?"

"No, no, I’m all better now."

Snar said hurriedly, afraid Li Xu would misunderstand.

Then,

he leaned in close to Li Xu and asked in a hushed voice,

"Um... Divine Physician... I just wanted to ask... do you have any... you know... methods to make a man... stronger?"

As he spoke, he gestured discreetly toward his lower back.

"For virility?"

Li Xu froze for a second, then he understood.

He looked Snar up and down.

Although Snar had a sturdy build, there was an unconcealable trace of fatigue in his eyes. Li Xu then recalled that the man had two voluptuous and charming wives, and everything suddenly clicked into place.

’Snar must be under a lot of pressure at home.’

"Have a seat. Let me take a look at you."

Li Xu gestured for Snar to sit in a chair.