Chapter Fourteen: Golden Refinement Amidst Azure Waters

In the ensuing days, Jiang Yu visited several more herbal shops, only to find the same outcome as before—those specific herbs had all been purchased at a high price by a certain woman. The shopkeepers remembered her well: she drove a wine-red Bentley, dressed fashionably, stood about one meter seventy tall, and possessed striking beauty.

“These herbs, taken individually, are nothing remarkable, and their effects are negligible. Only a master of ancient alchemy could truly refine them into a potent medicine, extracting their greatest potential.” Jiang Yu smiled and shook his head at this thought.

Dynasties change; time flows on. The ancient alchemists vanished with the dwindling spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Even those who claim proficiency today only possess a fragment of their legacy, handed down through history. From what Jiang Yu knew, the last alchemist on this planet was the Lord of the Clouds in the Qin dynasty—where the title “Lord” signified divinity.

No one knew the origin of his teachings, but he had once used the blood of five thousand boys and girls as a catalyst to forge a Ninefold Golden Pill. In Jiang Yu’s eyes, this was truly a worthy elixir. Yet, the era of the Lord of the Clouds was more than two thousand years ago.

The true ancient alchemists took the heavens as their cauldron and the earth as their furnace, claiming nothing could not be refined, no pill unconquered. The Lord of the Clouds mastered some essence of their art, but to Jiang Yu, even his skills were little more than child’s play. Beneath the Golden Pill, all else is mere clay.

“With my current abilities, as long as I have sufficient herbs, I can refine a powerful medicine.” Jiang Yu felt troubled; there was a million in his account, yet it did nothing to aid his cultivation.

Dissatisfied, he decided to try a few more shops. Altogether, there were dozens of herbal stores in Cloud City. These herbs were the main ingredients for small spiritual pills—pills not rich in spiritual energy, but used to invigorate the blood and strengthen the body. Though not miraculous elixirs, they surpassed any health supplement in the world.

Spiritual energy is the origin of all things. When it becomes dense enough, any creature could live for centuries. This is why remote mountain regions often produce centenarians; those places, untouched by mankind and unpolluted, still retain traces of spiritual energy.

What piqued Jiang Yu’s curiosity was this: if these herbs were used to refine small spiritual pills, only a few sets would be needed. There was no reason to sweep every herb from all of Cloud City—unless they weren’t for alchemy, but rather for making some crude medicinal solution for soaking the body.

Having reached this conclusion, Jiang Yu felt at ease. The woman must have an expert versed in alchemy at her side, someone who knows how to combine the herbs for their effects. Yet that person didn’t truly understand the art of alchemy, so relied on sheer quantity. This was why the modern inheritors of the alchemist’s craft possess only its superficial aspects—knowledge of effects without mastery of usage, mere dabblers.

With contemporary skills, the most they could concoct were things like “Cattle Gall Detox Pills” or “Stomach Strengthening Tablets.” With these thoughts, Jiang Yu entered another shop and asked about those same herbs.

To his surprise, the shopkeeper nodded. “We do have those herbs, but…”

Jiang Yu frowned, “But what?”

The shopkeeper hesitated. “But all those herbs have already been ordered by a woman. She’ll be here soon to collect them.”

Jiang Yu took a deep breath. It seemed he would have to wait until the woman realized the herbs were ineffective before he could purchase them. He was about to leave when he saw a luxury Bentley pull up outside.

From the rear seat stepped a refined, handsome young man, dressed casually and waving a paper fan. A shapely leg followed—a fair, rounded calf, alluring and sensual. Soon, a beautiful young woman emerged from the back, her hair in waves, features exquisitely delicate, dressed in high-fashion Korean style.

“Hmm?” Jiang Yu observed them with curiosity.

Seeing the woman, he immediately understood why she had bought up all those specific herbs in Cloud City.

“Miss Xia Ning, slow down,” the young man cautioned kindly.

Xia Ning’s brows knitted, her clear, beautiful eyes filled with urgency. Her father’s condition had worsened dramatically; last month he was still able to move freely, now he relied on a wheelchair. How could she not be anxious?

The Xia family had sought out renowned doctors across China, even visited advanced hospitals abroad, spending astronomical sums, but the root of the illness remained elusive. A healthy man, suddenly struck down. This became Xia Ning’s deepest worry.

“Mr. Shen, are you sure these herbs will help my father’s illness?” Xia Ning asked, her voice heavy with concern.

The young man took a deep breath. “Not much. They can only delay the deterioration a bit, but enough to hold out until my master emerges.”

Overhearing their conversation, Jiang Yu smiled and stepped forward, intending to negotiate with the woman for a portion of the herbs.

“Hello, are you the lady who bought out all the herbs in Cloud City?” Jiang Yu asked.

Xia Ning looked up at him. “I am. Is there something you need?”

Jiang Yu smiled. “I’d like to discuss whether you could spare some herbs for me.”

Xia Ning was stunned. Her father consumed tens of thousands worth of precious herbs daily; even after buying up all those in Cloud City, it was barely enough. Normally, she would have agreed—what if someone else had urgent need? But this time, her father’s safety was at stake. She shook her head immediately. “I’m sorry, I need these herbs urgently.”

Mr. Shen was even less polite, pushing Jiang Yu aside. “Move, don’t block the way.”

Jiang Yu watched Xia Ning’s retreating figure, his smile fading. “These herbs are only a temporary fix. Even if you buy out the national stock, they’ll do little good.”

Xia Ning stopped abruptly.

She turned, surprised. “Oh? You know what I need these herbs for?”

Jiang Yu replied calmly, “These herbs, when ground and made into a medicinal solution, can relieve pain and expel toxins. But if used as a hodgepodge, over time they become harmful, and the person soaking in them will suffer.”

Xia Ning’s heart raced, her voice urgent. “Sir, do you practice medicine?”

Jiang Yu shook his head. “No, I haven’t studied medicine. I just happen to know about these matters.”

The moment Jiang Yu saw Xia Ning, he sensed a familiar aura emanating from her—Azure Water Gold Essence. An exceedingly rare treasure of heaven and earth, even in ancient times. It grows alongside Cold Pool Coral, giving off a unique fragrance, which is poisonous to ordinary people.

This often led to mishaps; folk who stumbled upon Azure Water Gold Essence, drawn by its scent, would use it as an aromatic, only to be poisoned—the ultimate death sentence, curable only by ancient cultivators.

This beautiful, alluring woman before him had already been infected by its poison, and for some time. She hadn’t come into direct contact, but was infected indirectly. Within a month, Xia Ning would begin to show symptoms and eventually perish in agony.

This was why Jiang Yu uttered that soft “hmm” upon seeing her.

“Azure Water Gold Essence?” Jiang Yu’s breathing grew heavy.

For this heavenly treasure, he would do whatever it took—even turn the world upside down to seize it. Those herbs were nothing; but the Gold Essence was essential for awakening the Divine Reflection ability. Previously, Jiang Yu had settled for a mid-tier ability, the Southern Golden Eye, for lack of the right treasure. But with Azure Water Gold Essence, he could awaken a supreme ability—Reflection of the Heavens.

“Miss Xia Ning, don’t listen to his nonsense. He’s barely eighteen or nineteen, what could he possibly know?” Mr. Shen warned, displeased.

Jiang Yu ignored him and looked at Xia Ning, who hesitated, “Is the patient at home suffering from yellowing skin, frequent vomiting, weakness in the limbs? In severe cases, do the bones and flesh feel like ants crawling, with agonized wailing through the night?”

“And lately, has the skin started to crack, the blood turned golden yellow, giving off an intense fragrance?”

Xia Ning’s body trembled, tears welling in her eyes as she stared at Jiang Yu in disbelief.

These past nights, she had heard her father’s anguished cries—once a strong, iron-willed man, now reduced to a shadow of himself.

“Sir, I beg you, save my father—anything you want, I’ll give it to you,” Xia Ning pleaded, her voice choked with emotion, stepping before Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu smiled playfully. “Even if it means offering yourself?”