The Eternal Saint of Alchemy

The next morning, Xiao Fan and Yun Ruoxi met at the city gate.

Today she wore a light purple dress, her hair was styled in a cloud-like bun, and she only had a white jade hairpin in her hair, making her look elegant and refined.

"What brings you here?" Xiao Fan walked over with a smile on his face.

Yun Ruoxi glared at him, "I'll take you, okay?"

"Of course, I'd love to."

As she spoke, Yun Ruoxi took out a sachet embroidered with green bamboo from her bosom and handed it to him: "This is for you."

Xiao Fan took the sachet, held it to his nose and smelled it; a faint medicinal fragrance wafted into his nostrils.

"This is... Tranquilizing Grass, Soul-Gathering Flower, Heart-Cleansing Leaf? You know these things?"

"It was taught to me by my father." Yun Ruoxi turned her head away, pretending to look at the weeping willows by the roadside, and said, "You'll be unfamiliar with the capital, so you definitely won't be able to sleep. This sachet has a calming effect when placed on your pillow."

Xiao Fan felt a warmth in his heart and carefully tied the sachet to his belt.

"Ruoxi".

"Um?"

"Wait for me to come back."

Yun Ruoxi bit her lower lip, her eyes slightly red, but she forced a smile and said, "Then I'll wait for you here."

Xiao Fan, mounted on his horse, gave her a deep look, raised his whip, and rode away.

Yun Ruoxi stood at the city gate, watching his departing figure, tears streaming down her face.

"Xiao Fan, be careful."

It takes about half a month to travel from Donglin City to the capital.

Xiao Fan could have walked faster, but he chose to walk slowly, firstly to collect herbs, and secondly to learn about the customs and habits of this country.

Seven days later, they arrived in Lin'an City.

Lin'an City is the south gate of the capital, and it is three times the size of Donglin City. The city is lined with shops and bustling with people.

Xiao Fan found an inn to stay in and was about to go out for a walk when he found an acquaintance sitting in the inn's lobby.

"Han Fei?"

The man turned around and saw that it was none other than Han Fei.

"Brother Xiao!" Han Fei stood up in surprise. "According to my calculations, you should have arrived the day before yesterday!"

"Gathering herbs on the way took a little longer," Xiao Fan smiled, walked over and sat down. "What brings you here?"

Han Fei sighed and said, "I was afraid you would get lost on your way, so I waited here for three days."

Xiao Fan was slightly moved, but he didn't show it on his face: "Is your Han family better off in the capital than in Lin'an? You came all this way to wait for me, aren't you tired?"

"Where am I tired!" Han Fei beckoned to the waiter, who brought him more wine and food. "Brother Xiao saved my life; what are three days? Come, let's drink until we're completely drunk!"

The two drank and chatted, and Han Fei talked at length about things in the capital.

It turns out that the Han family is considered a first-rate family in the capital. Although it doesn't reach the level of those top families, it is still in the top twenty. Han Fei's father, Han Ziying, is the current head of the family. He has the cultivation level of the eighth rank of Yang Realm and holds a position in the court.

Han Fei said softly, "My father has been suffering from cold poison for over half a year. We've seen many famous doctors, but none of them have been effective. Last time, I went to the Netherworld Mountains to search for the Cold Marrow Fruit."

Xiao Fan raised an eyebrow: "What kind of cold poison is this, that it has such power?"

Han Fei smiled bitterly, "The doctor said it was poisoning, but I don't know exactly who did it. My father's power has been greatly diminished, and his position as head of the family is now in grave danger."

Xiao Fan thought for a moment and then said, "When we get to the capital, I'll go see your father."

"Really?" Han Fei's eyes lit up immediately. "Brother Xiao, you know how to detoxify?"

"You'll know once you try. You know my alchemy skills."

Han Fei was overjoyed and downed three cups in quick succession: "Excellent! If Brother Xiao can cure my father's illness, the Han family will be eternally grateful!"

Xiao Fan waved his hand and said, "Don't get excited. I've never even seen him before, and no one can guarantee anything."

Han Fei was in high spirits and poured Xiao Fan a glass of wine, saying, "By the way, the Pill Tower assessment is in a month. Why don't you stay here for now? I'll have the best courtyard prepared right away!"

Xiao Fan didn't stand on ceremony and downed it in one gulp.

As night deepened, Xiao Fan returned to his guest room, sat cross-legged, and entered his sea of ​​consciousness.

The Qiankun Creation Cauldron floated in the sea of ​​consciousness. The cracks on the cauldron had completely healed, making it even more crystal clear and emitting a faint golden light.

Xiao Fan was slightly taken aback. "Is this an evolution?"

He vaguely felt that something inside the cauldron was awakening after he had consumed the scraps of the Dragon-Phoenix Pill and devoured a large amount of spiritual herbs.

In his previous life, although he had possessed this cauldron for tens of thousands of years, he had never truly understood its power.

Perhaps the mystery will be solved in this lifetime.

He closed his eyes and continued to study the "Dan Jing" (a classic text on alchemy).

Wisps of golden mist surged from the cauldron, flowing slowly along his meridians and nourishing his body.

Although his cultivation level had not broken through, he clearly felt that his foundation was much more solid than before.

"Once we reach the capital, and find a suitable spiritual medicine, we can break through to the Yang Realm in one fell swoop."

Outer disciples of the Pill Tower must at least reach the Yang Realm; those below the Yang Realm are not qualified to participate.

He needs to break through to the Yang Realm before the trial begins.

He has one month left.

Xiao Fan arrived in the capital ten days later.

From afar, the capital's city walls soared into the clouds, reaching heights of tens of feet, constructed entirely of massive, dark blue-green stones, a truly magnificent sight. The city gates were teeming with people, even more bustling than Lin'an itself.

"Brother Xiao, we've arrived in the capital." Han Fei pointed proudly ahead. "Isn't it magnificent?"

Xiao Fan nodded, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

In his past life, he traveled all over the country and saw all kinds of cities. But in this life, reborn as a mortal, he returned to the capital and his state of mind was completely different.

After entering the city, the streets widened, lined with shops on both sides, and teemed with people. Signs advertising all sorts of rare and precious treasures hung along the streets, and cultivators frequently flew by on spirit beasts.

Han Fei led Xiao Fan through several streets and arrived at a large mansion.

A plaque hangs above the vermilion gate, bearing the two large characters "Han Mansion" in vigorous calligraphy, clearly the work of a master calligrapher.

"We've arrived!" Han Fei dismounted and said to the guards at the gate, "Have my friend tidy up the Green Bamboo Courtyard on the west side!"

The guards immediately obeyed and left.

Han Fei led Xiao Fan inside, and along the way, all the servants bowed respectfully. Xiao Fan noticed that the servants' faces were rather grim, and the atmosphere inside the mansion was quite oppressive.

"Your father has been poisoned?"

Han Fei sighed, "Yes! For the past ten days or so, my father has been bedridden."

"lead the way."