Chapter Fifteen: The Function of the Fragmented Map

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After giving it a brief examination, Chen Xiao nodded in satisfaction.

The Wild Lion’s Roar was exactly as its name suggested. It condensed the battle qi within the body into the illusory image of a wild lion, which then launched a fierce assault upon the enemy.

Judging from its description alone, this was a very standard high-grade Mystic-tier battle skill. Though it lacked distinctive features, it was unquestionably above average.

“I’ll take it with me for now and practice it when I have the time.”

Moving the stone box aside, Chen Xiao placed the scroll into his pack.

To save space, there was no need to bring back the heavy, useless box that served no purpose except taking up room.

His gaze shifted to the second stone box. Before long, its contents were revealed—a black scroll.

“The Wings of the Eagle?”

He had already formed a guess before even picking it up.

Of the three stone boxes in this cavern, two had fallen into the hands of the Little Fairy Doctor and Xiao Yan in the original course of events. Both had played a role of considerable importance during the early stages, making their presence impossible to overlook.

Only the Wild Lion’s Roar had been taken by the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, leaving it without much renown.

Chen Xiao reached out and removed the black scroll from the box. After examining it carefully, his gaze finally settled on the small characters written along the side.

“High-grade Mystic-tier flying battle skill: Wings of the Eagle!”

Just as expected!

A smile spread across Chen Xiao’s face. Suppressing the urge to open it and begin practicing immediately, he tucked it close to his body.

Although both were high-grade Mystic-tier battle skills, the value of the Wings of the Eagle far exceeded that of the Wild Lion’s Roar.

That was because a flying battle skill was, at its core, an exceedingly strange secret technique. This technique could extend two tiny subsidiary meridians from the network of meridians behind the practitioner’s back. Once those two meridians had formed, even someone who had not reached the Dou King level could condense a pair of wings and fly through the air!

That alone was enough to move every practitioner below the Dou King level.

In the original course of events, Xiao Yan had often been mistaken for a Dou King expert whenever he appeared in public because of these wings, allowing him to put on a convincing act several times.

“With the Swallow Return Strike, I can overcome the strong while being weak. With the Wild Lion’s Roar, I can bully the weak with overwhelming strength. And if I still can’t win, I can use the Wings of the Eagle to escape!”

Imagining the scene in his mind, Chen Xiao’s mood immediately brightened further.

With today’s harvest, he could finally arm himself in a fairly comprehensive manner. His methods would no longer be so limited, which represented a tremendous improvement.

“Now for the last stone box.”

He opened it decisively. Lying quietly within was an ancient, multicolored scroll.

The Seven-Colored Poison Scripture!

Chen Xiao gave it a brief read. It recorded the methods for preparing numerous poisons, along with various related anecdotes.

For example, the final volume described in detail the terrifying constitution known as the Calamity Poison Body.

The Calamity Poison Body was a strange poisonous constitution that allowed its possessor to rapidly increase their strength by devouring poison.

Its distinguishing feature was a thin, hidden seven-colored line beneath the lower abdomen. This line would grow in accordance with the concentration of poison within the body. When the seven-colored line extended to the heart, the possessor of the Calamity Poison Body would reach the peak of their strength. At the same time, they would suffer the agony of countless poisons devouring their flesh from within.

Born through calamity, and doomed to die through calamity.

This was the fate that bound every possessor of the Calamity Poison Body!

Beyond these explanations, the Poison Scripture also listed in great detail the kinds of destruction that the Calamity Poison Body could cause.

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In short:

All reason would be lost. Humans and beasts would no longer be distinguished, and the possessor would become nothing more than a killing machine.

Looking at this description, Chen Xiao naturally thought of the white-clad girl from the Ten Thousand Medicine Hall—the one who liked to stand atop a wooden crate while treating patients.

Who could have imagined that such a gentle and kind girl would one day become the infamous Heavenly Poison Woman?

“My strength is still meager, but I firmly believe that fate is not unchangeable. If you can break free from destiny, then I, with my greater advantages, should be able to do the same!”

Thinking of that girl’s future, Chen Xiao felt deeply encouraged, and the determination in his heart burned even more fiercely.

He did not continue reading the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture. Coming back to himself, he put it into his pack.

Alchemy masters might look down on something like this, but Chen Xiao, who possessed no aptitude for alchemy, was highly interested in it.

Many of the poisons described within could be prepared and used for self-defense. That in itself was a worthwhile means.

After collecting everything from the three stone boxes, Chen Xiao turned toward the withered skeleton.

He crouched down and examined it carefully. Before long, he spotted a tiny scroll wedged between the gaps in its bony arm.

“Forgive me.”

After offering a brief apology, Chen Xiao carefully dismantled the skeleton’s arm and removed the ancient scroll. He then placed the arm back exactly where it had been.

Studying the palm-sized fragment of a map, Chen Xiao knew that without having read the original story, no one would have been able to determine what the strange markings on it represented.

“The Pure Lotus Demon Flame. What an enticing treasure. Unfortunately, it’s useless to me… Hmm, though I could use it to… fish!”

As he toyed with the map fragment, the outline of a slightly sinister plan sprang into Chen Xiao’s mind.

According to common sense, if Xiao Yan and his teacher obtained a fragment of the map in the future, they would certainly be able to identify its connection to the Pure Lotus Demon Flame, the third-ranked Heavenly Flame.

Naturally, they would then attach great importance to it and develop an intense desire to obtain it.

If so, wouldn’t taking possession of the map fragment in advance allow him to hold the emperor hostage and command the feudal lords?

Whenever he encountered a matter that was inconvenient for him to handle personally, or whenever he needed some particular medicinal pill, all he would have to do was produce a map fragment. That pair of master and disciple would certainly be more enthusiastic than anyone else!

As for the number of map fragments…

Ordinary methods could not divide them, but the refreshing Heavenly Lord in the desert possessed the ability to do so.

Do not ask how he managed it. All that mattered was knowing that he truly could.

If one fragment could be divided into two, then two could be divided into four, and four into eight…

He would only need one final fragment to complete the collection.

It really would be the final fragment.

Imagining Xiao Yan working desperately to collect the fragments in a bargain-hunting, group-buying fashion, Chen Xiao could not help revealing the sort of smile only a capitalist could possess.

“When I obtain the next fragment, I’ll find an opportunity to give you one.”

With a teasing smile, Chen Xiao tucked the map fragment close to his body.

As long as it was used properly, the value of this fragment would be immeasurable!

Having already acquired the most precious treasures, Chen Xiao shifted his gaze back to the small flower bed.

He then took several lightweight wooden boxes and a small shovel from his pack and began digging up the medicinal plants together with their soil and roots.

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Because the wooden boxes were limited, Chen Xiao could only selectively dig up some of the medicinal plants that appeared extraordinary at a glance.

The Ice Spirit Flame Grass was one such example.

Its leaves were divided into white and red. The white stems were covered in specks resembling ice crystals, while atop the fiery-red crown, a flame seemed to be blazing and rising. Two colors and attributes that were diametrically opposed had grown together on a single plant, making it extraordinarily wondrous.

A faint mist lingered around it, giving it the appearance of floating amid clouds and rainbow hues. It was obviously no ordinary herb.

Another example was a plant whose branches bore several pure-white fruits, making one swallow involuntarily at the sight of them.

After filling several wooden boxes, roughly one-third of the medicinal herbs in the small flower bed had been removed.

“Wait for me. Next time, I’ll definitely bring all of you home.”

After stuffing the wooden boxes into his pack, Chen Xiao went to a mound of gold coins and took as many as he could carry. He continued until the pack was bulging, only stopping when there was truly no room left.

With the enormous pack on his back, he left the stone chamber. Chen Cang tried out the mechanism.

With a thunderous rumble, the stone door fell shut.

After reaching the outer platform, Chen Xiao carefully inspected the rope fixed beside it. Only after confirming that there were no problems did he pull himself upward.

“Although this place is secluded and almost no one comes here, I should still conceal it a little.”

Once he reached the cliff, Chen Xiao thought for a moment, then set down his pack. He spent another quarter of an hour gathering branches and broken stones, roughly restoring the area around the cave to its original appearance.

After inspecting his work with satisfaction, Chen Xiao did not linger. He hoisted the pack onto his back and retraced his route.

Along the way, he encountered several reckless magical beasts. Though none posed any danger to him, they greatly delayed his return to Qingshan Town.

By the time he entered the town, night had completely fallen, and the sky was scattered with stars.

Taking an empty side street, Chen Xiao returned to the inn and hid his pack. Immediately afterward, he entered the Ten Thousand Medicine Hall for the third time.

The girl, who had been preparing to tidy up and end the day’s consultations, saw the familiar figure walk in. A trace of helplessness passed across her lovely face.

“Where are you hurt this time?”

“I’m not injured. I came today because I want to buy a set of tools for handling medicinal herbs,” Chen Xiao replied, shaking his head.

The Wild Lion’s Roar and the Wings of the Eagle needed to be put to good use, and the same applied to the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture.

As the saying went, to do good work, one must first sharpen one’s tools.

If he wanted to learn how to prepare poisons, a proper set of tools was indispensable.

Fortunately, the Ten Thousand Medicine Hall happened to provide exactly that sort of service.

“Then I’ll have to go upstairs and get a set. If you don’t mind, you can take this one.”

“These will do. There’s no need to trouble yourself.”

“All right. Same as usual—two gold coins. Thank you for your patronage.”

“Let’s use a different method of payment today. I suddenly remembered the formulas for preparing several medicines. You should be interested in them.”

Chen Xiao smiled and picked up the paper and pen on the table.

He still had a use for the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, and it would not be appropriate for the Little Fairy Doctor to learn about her Calamity Poison Body so early.