110: Professional drug test subject! Why does this pill taste a little sweet?

Medicine God Valley, Danxia Peak.

This was the private domain of Elder Gu Mu. Usually, few people visited besides his several Personal Disciples.

But today, inside a luxurious Immortal Cave named 'Health Maintenance Pavilion' on the back mountain of Danxia Peak, it was exceptionally lively.

"Little Friend Gu, this is the 'Great Strength Vajra Pill (Improved Third Generation)' that this old man just took out of the furnace this morning."

Elder Gu Mu held a jade tray like he was presenting a treasure, upon which lay three fist-sized, dark-gold Medicinal Pills.

The surfaces of these pills were pitted and uneven, emitting a strong metallic fishy odor, and occasionally a few small arcs of electricity would flicker out.

If an ordinary Cultivator saw this, they would definitely keep their distance. This wasn't a pill; it was clearly a thunder-fire bomb!

But Gu Yang was half-reclining on a large, soft couch made of Spirit Beast skin, while Er Gou lay at his feet gnawing on a piece of spiritual Ore.

Gu Yang glanced at the pill and twitched his nose.

"Hmm, it smells a bit burnt. The heat must have been a bit higher than last time."

He casually grabbed one and took a large bite, 'Crunch', as if eating an apple.

"Zzzzzt—"

The pill entered his mouth and instantly transformed into a violent surge of Geng-Gold Qi and lightning power, rampaging through his oral cavity.

Gu Yang's cheeks puffed out and his brow furrowed slightly, as if he were savoring the taste.

Elder Gu Mu stood by nervously wringing his hands, holding a Jade Slip and a pen, ready to record at any moment.

"How is it? How's the mouthfeel? Does the medicinal power evaporate quickly?"

"Gulp."

Gu Yang swallowed it and let out an electrified burp.

"How should I put this..."

He smacked his lips and said with a serious face:

"The texture this time is crispier than last time, a bit like over-fried scorched rice."

"However..."

Gu Yang pointed to the remaining half of the pill.

"The lightning spiritual energy inside is a bit too aggressive, and the metal-attribute residue didn't dissolve completely. It's a bit prickly on the tongue."

"I suggest that next time you refine it, add some 'Honey' or 'Nectar Grass' to neutralize it and soothe the throat."

"Also, that final burst of fire before taking it out of the furnace was too fierce; pull back a little."

Elder Gu Mu listened as if entranced, his pen flying across the record:

"Add Nectar Grass to neutralize the lightning force... pull back the fire at the end... Brilliant! Brilliant!"

"So the previous furnace explosions were because the lightning and fire weren't harmonized! This old man understands now!"

His beard trembled with excitement as he turned and ran toward the Pill Refining Room.

"Little friend, you rest first! This old man is going to modify the formula right now! I'll give you an extra meal tonight!"

Watching the Elder's frantic departure, Gu Yang shook his head and stuffed the remaining two pills into his mouth.

[Devoured Third-Grade Defective Pill (Gold-Lightning Attribute)!]

[Five Elements Great Millstone operating...]

[Energy +1500!]

[Physical Body strength slightly increased! Lightning attribute resistance +1!]

"Comfortable."

Gu Yang stretched, his entire skeleton emitting a series of crisp, popping sounds like beans bursting.

Since becoming this 'Pill Testing Boy', his life had been incredibly comfortable.

No need to fight, no need to mine; every day he just lay there and food was delivered to his door.

And although these were defective pills, the Materials used were all genuine high-level Spiritual Plants with extremely high energy density.

Under this half-month of 'force-feeding', the dried-up Five Elements Origin within his body had already recovered by more than half.

His originally somewhat shriveled muscles had become full again, and a layer of warm, jade-colored luster faintly flowed beneath his skin.

The Realm of the God-Demon Golden Body First Transformation (Early Soul Transformation Stage) had been completely stabilized and was even slowly progressing.

Even when he walked on the road, a faint, pleasant medicinal fragrance would emanate from his body.

That was a sign of medicinal power overflowing and the Physical Body being nourished to the extreme.

"This Medicine God Valley is truly a good place."

Gu Yang lamented with emotion.

"It's just that the tastes of these pills are all sorts of strange. Yesterday's 'Hundred Transformations Divine Motion Pill' actually tasted like stinky tofu; it nearly did me in."

...Half a month later.

Medicine God Valley's annual 'Alchemy Grand Competition' was held grandly in the main peak's plaza.

This was a major event for Medicine God Valley, not only to test the Disciples' Alchemy levels but also a crucial moment for the Elders of each peak to show off their results and compete for resources.

On the plaza, hundreds of Pill Furnaces were lined up in order, earth-fire rising and medicinal fragrance filling the air.

Elder Gu Mu led Gu Yang and swaggered into the competition grounds.

The boys following other Elders were all carrying Pill Furnaces and medicinal Materials with serious expressions.

Only Elder Gu Mu was followed by a 'tough guy' who was two meters tall, sturdy as an ox, and dangling half a spiritual ginseng from his mouth.

This strange combination instantly attracted the gaze of the entire field.

"Isn't that Elder Gu Mu? Who is that person behind him?"

"Shh! I heard that's a 'Medicinal Corpse' he picked up from the Abandoned Pill Valley! Specifically used for testing pills!"

"A Medicinal Corpse? Growing that sturdy? And it eats ginseng?"

The crowd discussed animatedly.

The competition reached its final stage—'Pill Identification'.

This not only tested an Alchemist's eyesight but also their understanding of pharmacology.

The Sect Master brought out ten nameless pills with their auras sealed, asking the various Elders and Disciples to identify their ingredients, effects, and grades.

"This first one..."

A white-haired Elder stepped forward, using his Divine Sense to carefully probe it and his nose to smell it for a long time before saying hesitantly:

"Dark red color, pungent smell; it should be a Third-Grade High Grade 'Blazing Sun Pill', right?"

"Wrong!"

The Sect Master shook his head. "This is a Fourth-Grade Low Grade 'Crimson Blood Pill'. It's just that the refining technique was special, concealing the blood Qi."

The crowd was in an uproar; this difficulty was too high.

When it was Elder Gu Mu's turn, he didn't step forward but instead gave Gu Yang a nudge with a smile.

"Go, show them what you've got."

Gu Yang curled his lip helplessly.

"We had a deal; after identifying it, the pill belongs to me."

"It's yours, it's yours!"

Gu Yang walked to the front of the stage and looked at the black, unremarkable pill on the tray.

He didn't use Divine Sense, nor did he smell it.

Instead, he directly reached out two fingers, pinched the pill, and tossed it into his mouth.

"Crunch!"

The entire field fell silent.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

What kind of Pill Identification is this? This is a taste test, isn't it?!

What if it's poisonous?

Gu Yang chewed twice, his brow furrowing then smoothing out.

"Pui!"

He spat out a mouthful of medicinal residue.

"This thing... the mouthfeel is a bit like a damp biscuit that's been left out too long."

"The main ingredient is three-hundred-year-old 'Withered Wood Vine', with a bit of 'Snake Saliva Grass' added for flavor, but the heat was too low, failing to refine away the snake venom completely."

"This should be... a Third-Grade Medium Grade 'Withered Wood Spring Pill', right? But it's a defective product. Although eating it can heal wounds, it will cause diarrhea."

Silence.

A deathly silence.

Even the Sect Master sitting on the high platform was stunned.

He took the Pill Formula and looked; sure enough!

The ingredients, the heat, even the evaluation of 'defective product' were all spot on!

"How... how did he taste that?!"

"Is he using his stomach to refine pills?!"

The whole field was shocked.

Elder Gu Mu stroked his beard and laughed triumphantly:

"Hahaha! See that? This is the peerless Genius I discovered!"

"His tongue is the most precise ruler!"

Under everyone's gaze, Gu Yang nonchalantly swept the remaining nine pills into his own pocket.

"This strawberry-flavored one isn't bad."

"This one is a bit bitter, don't want it."

"This one... hmm? Why does it smell like foot odor? Who refined this? Step forward, I promise I won't beat you to death!"

Just as Gu Yang was stealing the spotlight.

In a dark corner of the crowd.

A pair of sinister, greedy old eyes stared fixedly at Gu Yang's jade-lustrous skin.

That was the Peak Master of 'Poison King Peak'—Poison Granny (Mid-stage Spirit Transformation).

"Immune to ten thousand poisons... a seedling for physical sanctification..."

"If I can capture him and refine him into my 'Ten Thousand Poison Corpse Puppet'..."

"Then my poison arts will surely reach Major Achievement!"

Poison Granny licked her purple-black lips, and from between her fingers, a colorless and odorless tiny Gu insect flew out silently.