228: Generous gifts and information from Xiao Huo

Three days passed quietly, amidst the tranquility and a subtle bustle of Medicine King Valley.

Bamboo Rhyme Residence became the most special place in the valley. The most fervent gazes undoubtedly belonged to Li Changqing and Sikong Ye. Since returning from Xuantian Valley, although the ceremony for the "Named Disciples" was set for three days later, the two Valley Masters' "care" had already poured down like scorching lava.

Every day, their trusted Disciples would respectfully deliver various jade boxes, jade bottles, and even objects shimmering with spiritual light sealed within small Restrictions. What they sent were no longer regular supplies, but top-tier precious medicines like "Thousand-Year Vermilion Fruit," "Nine-Leaf Spirit Reishi," and "Dragon Blood Ginseng," which even ordinary Elders would need contribution points to exchange for and were often unavailable despite their price. There were also rare curiosities like "Soul-Condensing Jade" and "Sun-Warming Soul-Nurturing Stone" that nourished the Divine Soul and consolidated the Foundation. Many more medicines and Ores, which Qin Feng couldn't even name but were clearly extraordinary given their pulsing Spiritual Qi, were sent over in bulk, ostensibly to "stabilize the Foundation and broaden the horizons of the Named Disciples."

However, the most eye-catching were four individual medicinal boxes made of cold jade. The moment the lids were opened, a refreshing pill fragrance filled the air; even a single sniff made the True Yuan within one's body leap with joy. Inside each box lay a supreme pole pill, the size of a longan, with a warm luster and pill patterns like swirling clouds! Moreover, each pill had a full pill halo, making them the best of the High Grade!

The supreme pole pill has miraculous effects for Martial King Realm Cultivators to consolidate their Realm and Breakthrough small Bottlenecks. In the outside world, they are often hard to find even for ten thousand gold pieces and are essentially unavailable. Although Medicine King Valley can refine them, the Materials required are precious, the success rate is not high, and the distribution is extremely strict. Now, Li Changqing and Sikong Ye had produced four at once; this level of generosity made even Qin Feng, who was used to "picking up bargains," secretly click his tongue.

After being nurtured by the many rare Spirit Medicines sent over, Chu Tianhe's Bottleneck, which had been stagnant for many years, finally loosened. A powerful Aura rose from his room; although it was quickly suppressed, everyone could feel that his cultivation had reached a higher level, firmly stepping into the Late-stage Grand Martial Master Realm. This man, who had endured many hardships, finally reclaimed some of his former glory with the help of Medicine King Valley's abundant resources after being cleared of his crimes.

On the afternoon of the third day, Bamboo Rhyme Residence welcomed two heavyweight visitors—Ouyang Lie and an old man who looked sixty to seventy percent similar to him but appeared more serene and ancient, with a divine light occasionally flashing in his eyes. He was Ouyang Lie's Senior Brother, the true pillar of Medicine King Valley's Artifact Refining path, Great Master Ouyang Zhi.

"Kid Qin, Little Chun, and you two girls," Ouyang Lie's voice was still loud, but his tone was a bit more solemn than usual. "My Senior Brother has personally come out of seclusion to bring you some things."

Master Ouyang Zhi didn't say much. He just looked at the four of them with a gentle gaze, pausing for a moment on Qin Feng and nodding. With a wave of his sleeve, four bundles of light wrapped in soft Spiritual Qi landed gently on the stone table.

The light faded, revealing four pieces of protective gear.

One was a piece of inner soft armor, thin as a cicada's wing and pale jade-white.

A pair of bracers with smooth lines, looking as if they were condensed from ice crystals and ghostly shadows.

A heavy and steady half-body shoulder armor with natural tortoise shell patterns, though its edges were polished perfectly round.

And an ancient-looking heart-protecting mirror, neither metal nor jade, showing a chaotic mystic yellow color and only the size of a palm.

The first three pieces of protective gear had deep, restrained Auras, but with the eyesight of Qin Feng and the others, they could naturally see that the refining techniques had reached a Transcendent level, perfectly fusing protection, concealment, and comfort. Their quality firmly reached the Peak of Earth Rank superior grade, and they seemed to have room to grow along with their owners. They were clearly the masterpieces of a master's ingenuity, even superior to the weapons Ouyang Lie had reforged before.

As for the last heart-protecting mirror, it lay there quietly without any startling Aura, yet it seemed to form a world of its own, subtly absorbing and settling the surrounding light and perception. Just by looking at it, a sense of mental peace and invulnerability to all evil arose spontaneously. Its material and Concept had already surpassed the Earth Rank category, reaching the level of Low Grade Heaven Rank!

"The soft armor, 'heavenly silkworm jade thread garment,' is for Kid Qin.

The bracers, 'Ice Soul Ghost Shadow Bracers,' are for this assassin girl.

The shoulder armor, 'black tortoise carrying mountain armor,' is for this shield girl."

Master Ouyang Zhi's voice was calm as he spoke slowly. "I've made slight adjustments based on the characteristics of your four Cultivation Techniques, so they should be suitable." Finally, he pointed to the mystic yellow heart-protecting mirror and looked at Xiao Chun, his eyes carrying an indescribable depth and solemnity. "This mirror is named 'Mystic Yellow Mountain-Suppressing.' After binding it with a drop of blood, it can appear or disappear at will. It is not meant for offense, only for the two words 'Suppress' and 'Protect.' It suppresses the mind and evil spirits, and protects the Origin and the soul. Ordinary Martial King power can hardly damage it in the slightest; even against Divine Soul shocks or poisonous curses far exceeding this Realm, it can still provide some resistance. Little girl, remember to wear it close to your body and never let it leave you."

A Low Grade Heaven Rank protective treasure! The weight of this gift could no longer be measured by value. It represented the pinnacle of Medicine King Valley's Artifact Refining skills and was a silent yet firm promise of protection from the two Valley Masters and even the Black Tortoise Saint Venerable behind them.

"This... it's too precious. I can't..." Xiao Chun said nervously.

"This was personally ordered by the Valley Master. If you are to travel in the future, you must bring it," Ouyang Zhi said gently.

Xiao Chun's hands trembled slightly as she took the heart-protecting mirror, which seemed light but felt as heavy as a mountain. Feeling the surging warm current from within that subtly resonated with the northern darkness star essence pearl and her own vitality, her eyes instantly reddened, and she bowed deeply. "Thank you, Master Ouyang! Thank you, two Valley Masters. This Junior... will not fail your trust and will forever remember this kindness."

Qin Feng, Xia Ya, and Ji Ruxue also solemnly put away their own protective gear and thanked them in unison.

Master Ouyang Zhi nodded slightly and said no more, leaving with Ouyang Lie as if he had only completed an ordinary task.

Silence once again enveloped Bamboo Rhyme Residence. The generous gifts and deep affection were like a warm tide, but they also brought a heavy sense of pressure and responsibility.

During these three days, besides dealing with these dizzying gifts, Qin Feng's daily intelligence system also refreshed as scheduled. He didn't focus on daily trifles or resource information but instead paid attention to the specific intelligence regarding the small earthy-red beast, "Little Fire," in Xiao Chun's arms, which had appeared for several consecutive days. The intelligence gradually and clearly revealed its extraordinary Origins:

1. [Yellow Intelligence] This beast is no ordinary mutt. It is an extremely rare mutant descendant of the ancient "Fire Qilin." Due to Innate deficiencies and recessive Bloodlines, it has an ancestral regressive appearance and is currently in an extremely weak "infant stage."

2. [Green Intelligence] A mutant Fire Qilin needs to consume a large amount of pure fire-attribute energy to grow. High-quality fire-attribute spirit fruits, Ores containing Earth Fire essence, and even the inner cores or blood of certain fire-type Yao Beasts can promote its growth and Bloodline awakening.

3. [Green Intelligence] If it can successfully grow to maturity, its Divine Ability and Physical Body strength will be enough to easily suppress human Martial Emperors of the same rank.

"A mutant Fire Qilin... able to rival a Martial Emperor at maturity..." Qin Feng looked at Little Fire, who was still looking earthy and gnawing on half a fire spirit stone at his feet, and felt a surge of emotion. Without realizing it, too many incredible opportunities and secrets had gathered around Xiao Chun. He didn't reveal all the intelligence but simply told Xiao Chun that Little Fire seemed to have a special preference for fire-attribute items and that she might want to pay more attention to collecting some. Xiao Chun already loved the little fellow, so she naturally took it to heart.

The three-day period was almost up, and the ceremony for the Named Disciples would be tomorrow.

As night fell, the lights in Bamboo Rhyme Residence were warm. Everyone had initially familiarized themselves with their new protective gear, and their Auras became increasingly refined. Xiao Chun wore the mystic yellow mountain-suppressing mirror close to her body and changed into ordinary clothes; it left no trace, yet she felt a warm and stable power constantly guarding her heart and Divine Soul. Holding the drowsy Little Fire after it had eaten its fill, she looked out at the quiet night.

Qin Feng sat alone in the Quiet Room, waiting for the zi hour to arrive. After tomorrow would be the trip to the treasury, and then... it would be time to officially bid farewell to Medicine King Valley and embark on the long journey to the Imperial Capital. These three days of generous gifts were a present, a safeguard, and also an invisible farewell.

He slowly regulated his breathing, settling the Black Tortoise scale, the new protective gear, the medicinal power of the supreme pole pill, and all his thoughts about Little Fire and the future into the depths of his heart.

The chapter of Medicine King Valley was about to turn to its final page. A new story was already sounding the bells of its prelude in the distance.