57: Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission.

Gu Changsheng opened his eyes and picked up the jade box. He opened the Restriction, and a Spirit Medicine, entirely crimson with branches like coiling Dragons, lay quietly within.

Above the Spirit Medicine, faint flames flickered, and a scorching aura assaulted his senses, carrying an indescribable toxicity.

With just one glance, he confirmed that Wang Hao's words were not false. This dragon blood vine was indeed perilous.

He placed the jade box on the green jade stone platform, then a thought stirred in his mind. "Deduction."

【Please confirm the Deduction target or event, and pay the activation Spirit Stone.】

【Note: The more complex the event to be deduced, the higher the Cultivation of the individuals involved, the more Spirit Stones consumed, and the more vague the result.】

"Deduce: The optimal method for perfectly stripping the fire poison from the dragon blood vine and preserving its medicinal properties to the greatest extent."

This question went straight to the core. It didn't seek safety, only perfection. The two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones in Gu Changsheng's Storage Pouch instantly turned into powder. These were what he had specifically saved for emergencies.

"Confirm Deduction."

Buzz~

The light from the pile of Spirit Stones instantly dimmed, their Spiritual Qi completely drained, turning into a pile of waste rock.

Gu Changsheng's heart tightened. The consumption for this Deduction was always substantial. However, when the light golden text appeared in his mind, all his heartache vanished.

【Deduction: Optimal method for stripping fire poison from dragon blood vine.】

【Step 1: Use wood-attribute magical power as a guide, slowly infiltrate the dragon blood vine branches, and locate its fire poison meridians.】

【Step 2: Activate the vitality of the Withered Wood Meets Spring Scripture, using extremely gentle force to envelop the fire poison, preventing its spread.】

【Step 3: Condense the Sword Qi of the Azure Origin Sword Art into a three-inch azure thread, separating it inch by inch along the fire poison meridians with a precision of mere millimeters.】

【Step 4: During separation, the magical power and Sword Qi must maintain absolute balance. Any slight deviation will result in fire poison backlash and complete loss of medicinal properties.】

【Step 5: The stripped fire poison must be introduced into the Spirit Gathering Array in the stone chamber and refined by the power of the Formation. It must not be allowed to dissipate freely.】

【Risk Assessment: Medium (This method demands extremely high control over magical power and refined Divine Sense, beyond the reach of ordinary Cultivators of the same realm. However, upon success, medicinal properties can be increased by 30%, with no fire poison residue).】

Gu Changsheng repeatedly studied the Deduction result, committing every step to memory.

The risk assessment being "medium" indicated that while this method was difficult, it was not insurmountable for him.

Especially the line "medicinal properties can be increased by 30%" made his heart stir. This was true "talent"!

He took a deep breath, calming his mind. He extended his right hand, and a wisp of green appeared at his fingertip.

That was the wood-attribute magical power of the Withered Wood Meets Spring Scripture.

He controlled this wisp of magical power, carefully touching the branches of the dragon blood vine. The magical power was gentle, like a spring breeze, slowly seeping into it.

He closed his eyes, his Divine Sense submerging with the magical power.

Inside the dragon blood vine, as the Deduction had stated, dense fire poison meridians crisscrossed, like an impenetrable spider web. These fire poisons were extremely active; the slightest disturbance would cause them to erupt violently.

Gu Changsheng focused intensely. He circulated the Withered Wood Meets Spring Scripture, and a vast surge of vitality flowed from his body, transforming into countless tiny green light dots.

He enveloped the fire poison meridians layer by layer, as if dressing them in soft robes. The fire poison was restrained, restless, yet unable to break through the vitality's embrace.

Then, he pointed his fingers like a sword, and a wisp of azure sword-thread, even finer than a strand of hair, silently extended from his fingertip.

This was the ultimate manifestation of the Azure Origin Sword Art's mastery realm, where Sword Qi was sentient and moved as he willed.

He manipulated the sword-thread like the most precise carving knife, separating the fire poison inch by inch along the edges of its meridians.

This process was exceptionally arduous. His Divine Sense and magical power were like two torrents, engaging in a thrilling tug-of-war within the dragon blood vine.

Every inch the azure sword-thread peeled away, the fire poison struggled, and Gu Changsheng had to mobilize more vitality to suppress it.

Sweat trickled down his forehead. His magical power was rapidly depleting, but he maintained absolute calm and focus.

Time, at this moment, seemed to freeze.

Inside the stone chamber, there was only Gu Changsheng's steady breathing, and the almost imperceptible "hissing" sound of the azure sword-thread at his fingertip, working within the dragon blood vine.

Two hours later.

Gu Changsheng abruptly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them. The azure sword-thread at his fingertip trembled fiercely, completely stripping the last trace of fire poison from the dragon blood vine.

The mass of fire poison, enveloped by vitality, was like a pulsating fireball, which he carefully guided towards the Spirit Gathering Array in the corner of the stone chamber. The Spirit Gathering Array was instantly activated, its patterns lighting up, devouring and refining the fire poison, transforming it into the purest fire Spiritual Qi, which then dissipated without a trace. Gu Changsheng let out a long breath of stale air.

He looked at the dragon blood vine in his hand; its previously crimson branches now appeared crystal clear, as if carved from the finest red jade, emitting a faint, pure, and gentle wood-attribute Spiritual Qi.

Its medicinal properties had increased by more than 30%!

It was quite amusing to think about. Wang Hao took Wu Yang's benefits but didn't actually do his job, nor did he investigate the Cultivation Technique I practiced beforehand.

But that's right, generally, besides early-stage Skill Transmission Disciples or direct superiors, it's hard for others to find out, after all, it concerns everyone's Dao path.

He placed the prepared dragon blood vine back into the jade box and sealed it with a Talisman Restriction.

"Gulp."

A faint swallowing sound came from outside the stone chamber. Gu Changsheng's heart tightened. Someone was outside.

He had been too focused just now and hadn't noticed. This meant that the other party's Divine Sense was strong enough to penetrate the stone chamber's Restriction.

He ignored it and sat down cross-legged, beginning to recover his depleted magical power. He knew it wasn't time to go out yet.

Another hour passed, and the secret compartment outside the stone chamber slid open again. A Danyang Peak Disciple stood outside, expressionless.

He saw the dragon blood vine that Gu Changsheng had already prepared, first startled, then a trace of disbelief appeared on his face.

"Senior Brother Gu, you... you finished?"

This Disciple's name was Chen Ming, and he was at the fifth level of Qi Refining.

He naturally knew the danger of the dragon blood vine and that this was originally a "show of force" set up by Wang Hao for Gu Changsheng.

He had even anticipated Gu Changsheng asking for help, failing, and being in a sorry state.

Yet he never expected Gu Changsheng to have completed it, and seemingly with ease.

Gu Changsheng slowly rose, handing over the jade box with a calm expression.

"I did not disappoint."

Chen Ming took the jade box and probed it with his Divine Sense. He carefully examined the dragon blood vine, and the shocked expression on his face grew even more intense.

How was this ordinary preparation? This was simply perfect! The fire poison was completely gone, yet the medicinal properties had been greatly enhanced.

Such methods, even the senior apothecaries of Danyang Peak, might not be able to achieve!

The look in his eyes when he gazed at Gu Changsheng instantly filled with reverence and a trace of imperceptible fear.

He knew that he had underestimated this "connected individual" from Hundred Herbs Peak.

Chen Ming left in a hurry with the jade box. In the vital area of the Pill Room, news spread faster than Gu Changsheng had anticipated.

In just half an hour, the news of Gu Changsheng preparing the dragon blood vine spread throughout the entire Pill Valley.

"What? That kid from Hundred Herbs Peak actually succeeded in preparing the dragon blood vine?"

"Impossible! That's a dragon blood vine! Without an Apothecary at Qi Refining eighth level who is proficient in wood-attribute Cultivation Techniques, it's simply impossible to complete!"

"I saw it with my own eyes! The dragon blood vine that Junior Brother Chen brought back has purer medicinal properties than in previous years! It's said that the medicinal properties have even increased by 30%!"

The Disciples in Pill Valley discussed animatedly, their shock and jealousy intertwined. They had thought Gu Changsheng would become a laughing stock, yet he had completed the task in an almost miraculous way.

Meanwhile, deep within Danyang Peak, in an Immortal Cave shrouded in clouds and mist, a young man wearing a master Apothecary's robe sat cross-legged. Spiritual Qi surged around him, and his aura was profound.

He was Sun Jingxing, a True Disciple of Danyang Peak. He slowly opened his eyes, and a sharp glint flashed within them.

"The dragon blood vine was successfully prepared, and its medicinal properties increased by 30%?"

Sun Jingxing muttered to himself. He naturally knew what task Wang Hao had arranged for Gu Changsheng.

That was an impossible trap, intended to dismiss those who used connections to get in.

"This kid is quite interesting."

【There have been many requests for updates these past two days, so I've decided to start mass updates! I hope everyone can set a free reminder to update, which will give me some motivation. Thank you all!】

【If you feel the plot is watered down or bland, please leave a comment, and I will try to advance the plot as soon as possible.】

【I also hope everyone can leave suggestions. I will incorporate all your suggestions to strive to bring you better works. Thank you for your support!】