CHAPTER 141: CHAPTER 114: TEN IMAGES_2

"This is the benefit of the synthesis achieved through refining shape!"

And this was just the most fundamental benefit: an increase in Root Bone Strength, stemming from the new transformation.

Beyond that, Chen Ku carefully assessed the new abilities that came with the transformation. Apart from excellent abilities like flight and enhanced vision from the White Jade Eagle, it seemed that the bloodline abilities of the Spirit Ape and the Skinny Dog had fused and transformed into a new ability.

[Moon-Eating Submission]

What kind of ability was this?

Chen Ku looked out the window. It was daytime, and there was no moon, so this ability couldn’t be tested just yet.

But no matter what, any ability that remained after refining shape was a good one.

At that moment, Chen Ku looked at the new transformation.

After growing wings on its ribcage, it’s now completely a Flower Fox Mink, no doubt about it.

He looked over the ’new Flower Fox Mink’ and its myriad abilities. Some abilities it possessed might not even be found in a real Flower Fox Mink.

One day, when this transformation becomes a Great Demon of the Fourteen Realms, if it can still maintain the appearance of a Flower Fox Mink, who knows how many more abilities will emerge?

Chen Ku once again gave the new transformation the fitting name of [Flower Fox Mink Transformation].

He then turned his attention to the second and third empty slots, hanging up the Zhao Chuanzu Transformation and the Ling Transformation.

After that, he sat cross-legged on the bed and began to cultivate his Inner Qi.

After one cycle of circulation, he noted, One Superior Root Bone plus one above-average Root Bone... This makes the speed of Qi circulation in my human form three times faster than when I cultivate normally!

If I had three Superior Root Bone Transformations active, one day of my Qi circulation speed would be equivalent to three days of cultivation for others!

Without hesitation, Chen Ku swallowed a Qi Boosting Pill he had found at Zhao Chuanzu’s home.

It took only half a day for him to completely digest it, converting it into Qi Power within his body.

With this Qi circulation speed alone, I estimate I could reach Great Perfection in Inner Qi within half a year. If I take pills every day, the speed could be ten times faster...

Chen Ku mumbled to himself, I reckon that in a little over half a month, by the New Year, I’ll have reached Great Perfection.

After getting up, he released the Flower Fox Mink, sending it to Yuan Country’s Fire Beak Mountain to continue accumulating Evil Qi. He himself headed to Medicine King Hall, having changed into the Fire Beak Pot Transformation.

On the way, he saw that the light snow from last night had already melted. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

The snowfall this year is ridiculously light. The harvest from those dozens of acres in my village is going to suffer.

Although I no longer care about those fields, my elderly mother would surely be heartbroken.

This year might be a disaster, Chen Ku thought, shaking his head internally.

Upon arriving at the hall, he was now a Disciple, and no one questioned his absence from half a day’s work. It wasn’t a big deal. Entering the main hall, he headed straight for the Butcher Court. As it happens, there isn’t much to do today, so I might as well try... With the Fire Beak Pot Transformation, how much progress can I make in Alchemy?

To his surprise, as soon as he arrived at the Butcher Court, he saw that everyone there was incredibly busy. Normally, even the workers who usually sifted and ground medicinal materials were half-assigned to the workshop to help.

Eh? Are there so many wild beasts and Demons needing Butchery today?

Chen Ku went to Workshop No. 3 and saw Qin Sheng bustling about.

Qin Sheng was so busy he was drenched in sweat. Upon seeing Chen Ku, he did not put down his butchery knife. Instead, he continued his work while replying, "Junior Brother Chen, you just arrived this year, so you don’t know. It’s like this every year. When winter comes, it becomes bitterly cold in the north of Yuan Country. Animals and Demons all migrate towards the warmer south, to Ji Country and even further south, then migrate back in summer. This year, Ji Country didn’t get much snow, and it’s colder than usual, so the migration is a month or two late. They just arrived this month. This phenomenon is also called the ’beast tide’ or ’demon tide.’ It’s a good opportunity for Hunter’s Forest and the Fish and Dragon Association to have a bountiful year. Our Medicine King Hall’s Butcher Court is also the busiest at this time, more than any other time of the year. But the beast medicine we receive is also of higher quality than at any other time of the year."

Having said this, after slaughtering a First Realm Demon, a Black-Mane Tiger, and taking a slight breath, he said to Chen Ku, "Especially on New Year’s Eve, a type of Demon called the ’Year Beast’ emerges from the rivers and seas specifically to eat humans. It has a lone horn on its head, which is a very precious material. It’s said that this horn can be used to make ’Water Avoidance Pills,’ allowing one to stay underwater for a whole day and night without needing to breathe."

"Year?" Chen Ku was surprised.

So, this world actually has ’Year Beasts’.

Come to think of it, this world even has prehistoric creatures from my original world, as well as Demons. The existence of Year Beasts isn’t so strange after all.

What made Chen Ku curious was... Year Beasts, born in the depths of rivers and seas... a solitary horn that grants water avoidance? It sounds like the Bull Demon King’s mount, the Water-Avoiding Beast.

"Senior Brother Qin, you’ve worked hard. Let me go find Master Ke first. I’ll come to assist you with the Demon Butchery after I finish the Alchemy trials in these two days," Chen Ku said.

Listening to Chen Ku’s words, Qin Sheng was flattered and quickly said, "No, no, no, you’re now our Young Master of the Institute! How can you still do such tasks?"

"Don’t be formal with me, Senior Brother Qin. What Young Master of the Institute? There’s no such title. I am just a Disciple; we are all students studying at Medicine King Hall," Chen Ku said politely.

It’s been a long time since I’ve obtained high-quality Evil Qi from the Butcher Court. Now that the year-end Demon migration is coming, even if it isn’t the New Year festival itself, I need to harvest a good amount of this Evil Qi.

"Well, well... okay then," Qin Sheng said.

Watching Chen Ku leave, Qin Sheng exclaimed, "Junior Brother Chen is really a good person; he doesn’t put on airs at all."

The fellow Disciples nearby also heard the conversation between Chen Ku and Qin Sheng, and they echoed in agreement.

"That’s true."

"I think Junior Brother Chen should be the one to become Shopkeeper!"

"Yes, if I had to choose among the few Masters and the Disciples of the Shopkeeper, I would definitely pick Junior Brother Chen."

Leaving aside the Apprentices’ fondness for Chen Ku, he had already arrived at the back courtyard of the Butcher Court, in Shang Yunfang’s small courtyard.

"Master, I would like to try Alchemy again today," Chen Ku said, bowing towards the inside of the house.

Shang Yunfang came out and said, "Coincidentally, there are a few people starting refining sessions in the Pill-Refining Room today. I’ll ask them to come over and observe later, see if they can give you some pointers."

Chen Ku was astonished, "Isn’t the identity of an Alchemist supposed to be a secret? You’re allowing me to meet them?"

Shang Yunfang said, "Are you silly? You can’t see them, but they can watch you from outside the window, see what’s wrong during your Alchemy process, then convey it to me, and I’ll guide you. It’s the same thing."

"Oh, so it can be done that way." Chen Ku nodded and said, "Alright, then I’ll give it another try."

With that, the two made their way to the Pill-Refining Room.

Upon entering the Pill Room, skipping the medicine preparation process from last time, Shang Yunfang directly requested ten portions of the ideal formula for Seven-Blood Pills.

Meanwhile, in the other Pill Rooms, the Alchemists also heard the sound of fires being stoked in a Pill Furnace.

"It must be that Junior Brother Chen Ku," one said.

In one of the Pill Rooms, Huo Xiaoxia was sitting in front of her Pill Furnace, fanning herself and glancing over. "I heard that in his last Alchemy trial, out of ten portions of materials, he only yielded one pill..."

Beside her sat an old Alchemist with gray hair and a youthful face, who indifferently added, "Yes, it’s him. Elder Shang asked us to help observe today. What’s there to see? In the art of Alchemy, experience means little; only Talent matters. If the first attempt isn’t successful, subsequent attempts won’t be either."

Huo Xiaoxia’s gaze was still directed outside. After all, this Junior Brother’s Root Bone is said to be the best in the entire Medicine King Hall. Although I haven’t met him, I can’t help but feel curious and admiring.

"Focus on refining your pill! Be careful with the heat!"