A bowl of medicinal soup went down.

Even though he was quite familiar with its medicinal power, when it burst forth in his body, a surging, tide-like sensation washed over him. Chu Mu couldn’t help but feel a thrill.

’This is my achievement!’

’In this world, what could possibly bring a greater sense of accomplishment than this!’

In both his past life and this one, this was the first thing he had ever done that gave him such a profound sense of accomplishment.

His heart pounded with excitement, and in turn, the Qi and Blood throughout his body seemed to surge a little more intensely.

The potent medicinal power erupted within him. His Qi and Blood greedily devoured and refined it. Finally, as his Qi and Blood circulated, the power flowed back to nourish his internal organs, revitalizing his bodily functions.

His Qi and Blood Cultivation sessions, which used to last a few minutes at most, this time continued for a full twenty-two and a half minutes.

When the medicinal power was completely refined, Chu Mu slowly opened his eyes. He exhaled a turbid breath, and his gaze was brighter than ever before.

[Name: Chu Mu.]

[Skill: Basic Blade Technique (Entering the Hall and the Room) 98/2000]

[Body Refining Technique (56/1000)]

[Alchemy: Dragon and Snake Soup: Entering the Hall and the Room (358/1000)]

[Spiritual Radiance Value: 92.3%]

The Light Curtain Panel appeared again. As he gazed at the Skill Level for his Body Refining Technique, the light in Chu Mu’s eyes became dazzling.

’Twenty-two and a half minutes of Qi and Blood Cultivation actually yielded a full four points of Skill Level progress!’

’How long have I been practicing the Body Refining Technique?’

If he remembered correctly, two or three months of Qi and Blood Cultivation had only resulted in a total of fifty points of Skill Level progress.

Aside from the first one or two Cultivation sessions, he often had to go through days of arduous practice without seeing even a single point of growth!

Even when using the original Essence Qi Powder recipe, he would often only see about one point of growth at most.

Seeing this level of progress, Chu Mu felt his eyes begin to well up with tears.

’It wasn’t easy!’

’It really wasn’t easy!’

Months of hard work had finally paid off.

This achievement was one he could be proud of!

After a long moment of reflection, Chu Mu went into his bedroom. He carefully folded the recipe on his desk, tucked it inside his robes, and headed straight out to the street.

Eventually, the recipe found its way into the hands of Elder Li at Mingxin Hall.

Elder Li gave it a cursory glance, but his indifferent posture immediately vanished. He studied it seriously for a good while before folding the recipe.

Elder Li seemed to be both commenting and muttering to himself, "Using the poison of the dragon-snake venom grass is a risky, unorthodox approach. Then, using the earth rhino to support the yin and sublimate the toxin... extremes beget their opposite..."

"Good. Very good!"

After a moment, Elder Li looked at Chu Mu. "This recipe... Brother Mu, where did you get it?"

"I developed it myself by improving the Essence Qi Powder recipe. It took half a month of research and experimentation."

"Hmm..."

Elder Li nodded slightly, but then his head snapped up as if he’d just processed the words. For once, his voice lacked its usual placid tone. "What did you say?"

"You improved this recipe yourself?"

Neither servile nor overbearing, Chu Mu repeated his claim.

Elder Li looked incredulous. He unfolded the recipe again, glanced at it, then looked back at Chu Mu. As his disbelief faded, it was replaced by profound surprise and a hint of gratification.

"To be able to move beyond the old texts, to innovate and develop such a recipe..."

"Excellent. Truly excellent!"

Elder Li was unstinting in his praise. Then, he rose to his feet and pondered for a moment. As if having made a decision, he took a Jade Slab from within his robes.

"In the secular arts of understanding people and medicine, Brother Mu, you can already be said to have achieved the level of ’Entering the Hall and the Room’. From here, as long as you maintain a heart that seeks the truth, your progress in worldly medicine will be steady."

"But you must remember, Brother Mu, that worldly knowledge of man and medicine is, in the end, just that—worldly. Above the mortal world lies the vast, boundless Cultivation Immortal Realm."

"Of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation Immortal, any single one is profound enough that a Cultivator could spend their entire life exploring it and never glimpse its end."

"Brother Mu, your Spirit Root Talent may not be good, but your comprehension is extraordinary and your natural aptitude is brilliant. When you embark on the Immortal Path one day, you will surely be able to make something of yourself. You won’t end up like an old man like me, stuck in the mortal world, wasting away my years!"

"This Jade Scroll contains the insights I’ve gathered on the path of Alchemy over a lifetime of stagnation."

"When your Divine Appearance manifests one day, you will be able to view its contents."

After speaking, Elder Li waved his hand. The Jade Slab shot out, and Chu Mu subconsciously raised his own hand to catch it. It landed in his palm with perfect precision.

"That’s all. You may go."

Elder Li waved a dismissive hand and turned to sit back down.

Chu Mu froze for a moment. He looked down at the Jade Slab and subconsciously tightened his grip. Just as he was about to take his leave, Elder Li’s voice sounded again.

"The position of Inspector is fraught with worldly troubles. If your heart is set on the Immortal Path, Brother Mu, you should make other plans sooner rather than later."

"Also, unless it’s urgent, don’t come looking for me for a while, Brother Mu."

Chu Mu’s head snapped up, but Elder Li had already picked up a book, its pages obscuring his face and expression.

Chu Mu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, the words wouldn’t come.

After bowing silently to Elder Li, Chu Mu slowly turned and walked out of Mingxin Hall.

He stopped outside the entrance and looked back at the sign hanging from the eaves, then at Elder Li, who appeared as leisurely as ever.

His gaze shifted, and a worried frown creased his brow.

’What Elder Li said... it seems to be a premonition of some kind...’

’Or perhaps, it confirmed my suspicions?’

Chu Mu pursed his lips and looked down at the Jade Slab in his hand.

’A Jade Scroll... viewable upon achieving Divine Appearance?’

’In other words, this small Jade Slab is an information storage device, similar to a worldly book.’

Chu Mu touched his chest. The hard object tucked there was unmistakable.

’I have another one of these Jade Slabs.’

’I’ve always kept it close to my body.’

’This means the Jade Slab I got from that boy by chance must also contain some kind of information from the Cultivation Immortal Realm.’

Subconsciously, Chu Mu thought of the old man from Qili Village whose body had not decomposed after death.

’This Jade Slab... could it be the Cultivation Immortal inheritance that the old man from Qili Village left for that boy?’

Chu Mu silently speculated.

Logically, after receiving a Cultivation Immortal inheritance, learning the purpose of the Jade Slabs, and realizing that his other Jade Slab was very likely another such inheritance...

...he should have been thrilled. Ecstatic, even.

But now, after Elder Li’s words, the gloom that shrouded his heart and mind had only grown thicker.

’Time... is running out.’

Chu Mu glanced up at the sky. The gloom that had hung there over half a month ago had completely dissipated.

After more than half a month, Nanshan Town seemed to have healed its scars and returned to its former tranquility.

If nothing unexpected happened, after a few years of peace at most, Nanshan Town would surely return to its former hustle and bustle.

But...

’If you already know what’s coming, can you still call it an accident?’

Chu Mu glanced toward the mines. They were still devouring lives, endlessly.

The Inspectors of Qinghe County, under Li Jinghong’s orders, were still conscripting Forced Labor from all over the county.

’How many people could there be in Qinghe County?’

’The geographical records stated it quite clearly.’

’Qinghe County had over thirty-six thousand households.’

’Even with an average of six or seven people per household, the total population was less than two hundred thousand. From what he could see, Inspectors, public officials, and other wealthy or connected individuals probably accounted for tens of thousands of those.’

’That left just over a hundred thousand common folk.’

’How many of them were able-bodied men?’

’How many had been conscripted for Forced Labor at the mines? How many had already died? How many more would die?’

The will of one man meant a cataclysm for the entirety of Qinghe County and its hundreds of thousands of people!

This world was just that unreasonable.

’Perhaps... I really should start considering my options...’

...