Slag Shou Cultivating Manual - Chapter 79

Chapter 79: Misuse of Elixirs

He Lang had collected many elixirs for Jiang Hanzheng. Originally, he had planned to carefully assess their effects, but his young apprentice suddenly grew impatient and consumed all the elixirs in one go. Watching this made He Lang break out in a cold sweat, fearing that the effects might conflict.

Fortunately, after observing him for about an hour without any abnormalities, He Lang felt reassured and let him continue cultivating on his own while he returned to his room to rest.

However, late at night, He Lang, who had yet to fall asleep, keenly detected faint sounds outside his door. Recognizing the footsteps as his young apprentice’s, he remained unconcerned.

Moments later, a slender figure slipped into his bed, pressing tightly against him. He Lang’s back stiffened as he instinctively moved closer to the wall.

Jiang Hanzheng’s body temperature was alarmingly high, clearly abnormal. Pressed against He Lang, he resembled a massive furnace, making the latter feel an intense heat. Moreover, Jiang Hanzheng appeared to be delirious, murmuring fragments of words like “hot” over and over.

He Lang’s expression turned serious as he touched Jiang Hanzheng’s cheek, finding it burning hot. He carefully checked various acupoints and indeed sensed his apprentice’s qi and blood surging uncontrollably. The effects of the elixirs must have just kicked in. He wasn’t sure if Jiang Hanzheng had taken the wrong medicine or if the effects of the elixirs had clashed.

Jiang Hanzheng rolled around on He Lang’s large bed, pulling off his clothes to reveal his fair chest. He rubbed incessantly against the cool bed linen, his actions growing more frantic. He Lang, flustered, could only turn to his books for answers.

The situation continued for a while until Jiang Hanzheng’s demeanor abruptly changed. He curled up, clutching his disheveled clothes tightly. His entire body trembled as he cried out about being cold, even with every blanket piled on top of him. He seemed trapped in an icy wasteland, his lips already bitten to a faint red and his pale face distressing to behold.

Finally, He Lang found a solution in an ancient text. He immediately pulled Jiang Hanzheng into his arms and began channeling spiritual energy into his acupoints to regulate his meridians.

Jiang Hanzheng, apparently frozen to the core, clung to He Lang as soon as he got close, wrapping his arms and legs tightly around him.

He Lang had no choice but to hold him and maintain this posture while treating him.

Initially worried that this mishap might harm his apprentice’s foundation or health, He Lang’s meticulous examination revealed an unexpected result.

Among the elixirs Jiang Hanzheng had consumed, one enhanced circulation, causing heat, while another induced a cooling effect and facilitated meditation. The opposing properties of the two caused the alternating hot and cold sensations. Normally, this would damage the meridians, but luckily, one of the consumed elixirs had a gentle nature that nourished the meridians and spiritual roots, acting as a protective buffer.

Although Jiang Hanzheng appeared pale and tormented, the alternating hot and cold effects actually expanded his meridians, improved qi flow, and heightened his sensitivity to spiritual energy.

Such hardships were worth enduring for the significant progress they promised in future cultivation. After some thought, He Lang decided not to counteract the elixir effects but instead gave him additional herbal medicine to strengthen his body and prevent the violent properties of the elixirs from causing further harm.

Jiang Hanzheng, however, found no relief. The alternating sensations of heat and cold made him feel as though thousands of insects were gnawing at him, draining his blood and tugging at his nerves, subjecting him to excruciating pain.

Yet unlike when he had been alone in his room earlier, he was now enveloped in a cool, comforting embrace. The slightly thin chest against him felt incredibly reliable, offering solace even amidst his agony. Jiang Hanzheng instinctively tightened his hold around He Lang’s waist, seeking refuge in his arms.

Overwhelmed by pain, Jiang Hanzheng could no longer think of propriety or respect. He clung to He Lang like a drowning man grasping at a life raft, trusting him unreservedly. When He Lang coaxed him to open his mouth and drink something, he complied without hesitation.

Thankfully, after taking the medicine, Jiang Hanzheng’s condition gradually improved. The conflicting sensations within him subsided bit by bit, though he still occasionally twitched before finally settling down, breathing heavily.

By then, Jiang Hanzheng was drenched in sweat, his dark hair sticking to his back and face. He looked utterly disheveled, though the flush on his cheeks hinted at improved vitality.

All this time, Jiang Hanzheng had been clutching He Lang in a vice-like grip. His frail arms were surprisingly strong, nearly squeezing the breath out of He Lang. Not daring to use spiritual power to push him away, He Lang worried that Jiang Hanzheng might hurt himself in the process.

Seeing his apprentice suffer, He Lang couldn’t remain indifferent. Jiang Hanzheng, now barely conscious and unable to speak, stirred He Lang’s heartache. Gently brushing aside his sweat-soaked hair, He Lang fanned him, patted his back, added blankets when he shivered, and used his ice-element spiritual energy to cool him when he overheated, doing everything he could to ease his discomfort.

Thus, the night passed. Once the turmoil subsided, Jiang Hanzheng naturally drifted into a deep sleep.

The next morning, when Jiang Hanzheng woke up in his master’s embrace, he was startled. His whole body was sore, yet there was an inexplicable sense of comfort. He wanted to get up and move around, but he found himself reluctant to leave the warmth of the embrace. Carefully, he took in the scent of his master’s chest and stole a glance at the exposed section of his fair neck and the small, rounded Adam’s apple above it.

He Lang, who had stayed up all night worrying about his apprentice’s condition, noticed he was awake and immediately pulled him out of the embrace to check for any lingering issues.

Jiang Hanzheng gave a shy smile, shook his head, and told He Lang he had fully recovered, expressing his gratitude for his master’s help during the night and asking not to be reprimanded for any improprieties.

He Lang naturally dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand, instructing him to take a Qi-absorbing Pill gifted by Wuding Zhenren before beginning meditation.

Jiang Hanzheng obediently complied, took the pill, and sat down with his left leg crossed over his right, assuming the posture for cultivation.

Cultivation required a tranquil mind free of distractions, but having just woken up, his thoughts were in disarray. He couldn’t help but recall fragments of the previous night: how he had clung to his master, rubbing against him like a spoiled child. His ears burned with shame at his behavior, and he wished he could vanish on the spot.

Yet, his master had shown no anger. Instead, He Lang had been deeply concerned for his condition, wiping his cold sweat, gently fanning him, and bringing cooling relief amidst the torment. That gentle expression lingered in Jiang Hanzheng’s memory, replaying itself over and over. His master’s gaze had been solely focused on him, as if Jiang Hanzheng were the most important person in his world.

Even his late parents had never cared for him so tenderly. Thinking of his parents, Jiang Hanzheng felt a pang in his heart, and his eyes grew warm with unshed tears. His previously upright posture softened, and a hazy thought crossed his mind: his master had always treated him with nothing but care and concern, never impatience. He couldn’t help but wonder, just how far would his master’s indulgence go?

Noticing his apprentice’s distracted state, a stark contrast to his usual focus, He Lang tapped him lightly on the forehead and said sternly, “Concentrate.”

Unlike before, Jiang Hanzheng wasn’t fearful. Instead, he mustered a small smile, composed himself, and focused. Taking a deep breath, he closed himself off to external distractions, aligning his mind and body before exhaling deeply.

Even with his eyes closed, he could sense everything around him. Strands of spiritual energy from the heavens and earth gradually entered his body, dissolving all distractions. It was as if he had become a still pond, unaffected by the wind or rain.

He Lang observed him for a while. Seeing that Jiang Hanzheng had settled down, he busied himself by burning calming incense around the room, which aided in focusing the mind and sensing spiritual energy.

Eventually, Jiang Hanzheng began to perceive glimmers of light before him. The spiritual energy around him carried different colors, each representing a distinct attribute. Carefully, he selected and merged strands of energy, drawing them into his body. The sensation was indescribably refreshing.

Unlike his previous attempts at cultivation, which had been obstructed by blockages in his dantian, this time the process was incredibly smooth. It was undoubtedly due to the previous night’s events, which had cleared his chaotic meridians, allowing spiritual energy to flow freely.

He diligently followed the Five Elements cultivation method taught by his master. As his dantian filled with energy, he used his budding spiritual power to perform an internal inspection. He saw a fiery red shadow above his dantian, which he recognized as the inner core of the Crimson-eyed Beast his master had mentioned.

This inner core had been a fortuitous encounter. Without it, he might never have been admitted to the Tian Mountain Sect.

The Crimson-eyed Beast was a high-level spiritual beast at the Awakening stage, and its core carried immense power that far exceeded his ability to control. A slight mishap during spiritual power circulation could agitate the core, sending him into a frenzy. Thus, his master had decided to seal it temporarily until he reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

Though curious, Jiang Hanzheng obeyed his master’s instructions and refrained from touching it. Instead, he seized this optimal state to greedily absorb all the spiritual energy available to him.

For the first time, Jiang Hanzheng experienced the wonder of cultivation. Gradually, he began to grasp the techniques, meditating continuously for three days and nights.

When he finally sensed the thinning of spiritual energy around him and felt physically fatigued, Jiang Hanzheng opened his eyes. To his astonishment, he found himself covered in a layer of foul-smelling black residue. He quickly realized it was the impurities expelled from his body, proof that he was shedding mortal filth and moving toward a pure spiritual physique.

With the elixirs expanding his meridians, the Qi-absorbing Pill, and the aid of the incense, this cultivation session had been immensely fruitful. Jiang Hanzheng’s progress was astonishing, advancing to the mid-stage of the Qi Refinement realm in just a few short days.