One day later.
Medicinal fragrance engulfed one of the hilltops in Mount Zoroku, creating a strange phenomenon in the sky. Fortunately, this was happening in a secluded and deserted area or this might have caused a huge commotion.
Besides Xiao Huo and the little fox cubs who were playing outside the cave, the entire mountain’s wild beasts also witnessed this miraculous scene.
Inside the cave, Shang’er remained by Lin Jin’s side as he practiced pelletization. She had remained there throughout the entire process.
“Master Lin, it’s been a day and a night. Would you like to get some rest first?” Shang’er asked.
Lin Jin shook his head.
There were already five spheres inside the furnace.
Although there had been some troubles and risks during the process, he managed to overcome all of them.
Even Lin Jin hadn’t expected this. Looks like he could save the second batch of materials after all.
However, the final step to complete the five elemental fire pill wasn’t done yet.
Five pill energy spheres had been formed and what was left was to solidify them into pills simultaneously.
This was the crucial step to completion. Just like climbing up a hundred steps, ninety-nine steps have been overcome and there was only one step left. Unsurprisingly, this was the most important one of all the steps.
If he were to fail at this juncture, his previous efforts would have been for naught.
Lin Jin stayed calm and closed his eyes. He read through the pill’s instructions and details inside the museum one more time to ensure he didn’t miss anything out.
“Shang’er, this next step is important. Go and stand guard outside the cave and make sure no one disturbs me,” Lin Jin instructed.
Realizing the importance of this situation, Shang’er immediately obeyed and stood guard at the entrance.
Lin Jin began consolidating the pills.
Casting a spell, the five spherical energies in the furnace began to gradually solidify.
The five elements were spinning in circles inside the furnace like a tiny tornado.
Meanwhile, the Boyi’s soul inside the beast skull furnace remained hidden due to Lin Jin’s deterrence ability. Not only did it refrain from causing trouble, but it even had to help protect the furnace from breaking due to the strong forces surging within.
In other words, this Boyi’s soul had now become Lin Jin’s assistant.
As the pressure within the furnace was too much, the furnace gave way and let out a cracking noise. A tiny slit opened up on its body.
If so much as a drop of furnace fire fell out, the stone beside him would be melted into a liquid rock. That was how high a furnace fire’s heat was.
Lin Jin was shocked. If the furnace exploded now, forget the pelletization failing, he himself might be in grave danger. In the past, many alchemists have died as a result of exploding furnaces. The blast would be so powerful that there would usually be no remains to be collected.
At that instant, the Boyi’s shadow appeared above the furnace. This chamber was its home so if the furnace was destroyed, the Boyi’s soul would cease to exist as well.
Hence, it tried its best to protect the furnace.
Lin Jin knew this was a rare opportunity so he sped up the solidification process. The faster the speed, the more rampant those five spherical energies became as if trying to escape the destiny of being compressed into pills.
Lin Jin took a deep breath and abruptly invoked five pill-solidifying spells, exhausting all his spirit energy in one go. Immediately after he did that, he felt his vision blur for a moment.
Thankfully, the five spherical energies in the beast skull furnace began solidifying one after another.
The storm inside the furnace ceased and the violent aura dissipated without a trace, leaving only the five elemental fire pills, floating within.
Earth fire pill, firelight pill, water fire pill, wood fire pill, gold fire pill.
The colors were different, the sizes were different, even the forms were different. A heavy earth fire pill. A scorching firelight pill. Where water and fire were intermingled together, the water fire pill. The wood fire pill, in which there seemed to be lush greenery growing. And finally, the incredibly hard gold fire pill.
The five elemental fire pills each contain five different elements, but all of them had the base attribute of fire. It was an important item for Xiao Huo’s perfect evolution.
Finally, Lin Jin managed to get his hands on these pills.
It was indeed an exhausting journey.
He found it difficult to stand up straight, which prompted Shang’er to rush over and support him.
“I’m fine!” Lin Jin reassured her.
He was, in fact, alright. Not only that, but he even gained quite a few benefits from practicing pelletization for so long.
The biggest advantage by far was gaining at least five stones’ worth of spiritual power.
With a greater spirit energy volume, the number of spells he could cast increased. And this, in turn, increased his chances of winning the upcoming tournament as well.
After some rest, Lin Jin felt better. He called Xiao Huo over and used the pulse-seeking technique to expand the little guy’s spirit veins before feeding him the five elemental fire pills.
Lin Jin knew what happened next would be crucial. Whether or not Xiao Huo could achieve perfect evolution would depend on whether he could absorb the pills’ medicinal effects and convert them into his own.
After swallowing the pills, Xiao Huo licked his lips before running around in circles. Then, he simply curled up on the floor and fell asleep.
Lin Jin didn’t disturb him.
Sleeping right after consuming the five elemental fire pill was obviously an effect caused by the medicine. The museum clearly mentioned this within its instructions as well.
This slumber might take two or three days as the pills’ effects were incredibly powerful and required time to digest.
Lin Jin could use these few days to relax.
Once outside the cave, Lin Jin loosened up his stiff muscles. The fox cubs were jumping about, having the time of their lives. Shang’er picked some berries from the forest and washed them in the river before handing them to Lin Jin.
Lin Jin didn’t hold back. He bit into them and juice splattered everywhere. The berries were delicious.
“Hasn’t Little Five returned?”Lin Jin asked when he didn’t see her around.
Shang’er shook her head. “No. She’s gone for longer than usual this time. I hope nothing bad happens.”
Shang’er was obviously still worried about Little Five.
However, it was hard to control such situations. Lin Jin had a fair understanding of Little Five’s personality. Besides being crazy in love with the scholar, Little Five was rational in most other aspects.
But there was one thing that piqued Lin Jin’s curiosity.
Shang’er picked up Transfiguration at a much earlier stage. In the past decade, she had constantly slipped into human society to study and learn their culture. Had she never discovered affection for another like Little Five had?
Although he was curious, Lin Jin didn’t ask about it as she might be too embarrassed to answer him.
The scenery at Mount Zoroku was, in fact, gorgeous. Emerald hilltops scattered everywhere and the deep valleys were peacefully quiet. When walking through the mountains, one could see the raging river below, strong and beautiful. If they descended to the valley, one could stroll among the greenery and cross the stone bridges. These so-called stone bridges were in fact just rocks formations carved by the force of nature. Schools of fishes could sometimes be found in streams. Any random view could serve as inspiration for a sketch. A painter could paint here all day.
The calming forest was completely different from a bustling city. Here, Lin Jin could feel completely at ease. He would check up on Xiao Huo from time to time and then chat with Shang’er. Just like that, the day passed.
However, Little Five had yet to return even by nightfall.
And now, even Lin Jin found it strange.
He glanced at Shang’er to see that she was unable to mask her worry any longer. No doubt, Little Five had never been gone for such a long time other than the time when she got hurt while rescuing the scholar.
Lin Jin was much more optimistic. He knew Little Five’s capabilities well. Even if she came across Rank 3 beasts, Little Five could defeat them easily. But if they were to restrain her, a Rank 4 beast would be required.
But how many Rank 4 pet beasts did the Jade Dragon Kingdom actually have?
Still, it worried them that she hadn’t returned for so long.
“Do you know where this scholar lives?” Lin Jin asked Shang’er. The latter nodded. She had obviously tailed Little Five before.
“I think it’s best you go and check up on her!” Lin Jin could see how unsettled Shang’er was. Since that was the case, why not let her scout the situation?
As a reliable individual, Shang’er was capable of taking care of any situation so Lin Jin wasn’t worried.
However, what he didn’t know was that he would soon regret leaving the task to Shang’er.
Shang’er left by nightfall. This time, she left feeling assured because Lin Jin was there to look after the other foxes.
Lin Jin had the shadow wolf guard the cave’s entrance while he led the fox cubs back inside.
Xiao Huo was still sleeping.
However, everyone could sense the aura on his body changing.
First, it was his size. Xiao Huo had grown a size larger during his slumber. His fur had also grown thicker. Lin Jin sat down, wanting to cultivate, but the little foxes were too excited that Lin Jin had to give them a lecture on cultivation.
After more than an hour-long lecture, the little foxes were tired. Lin Jin tried recalling some stories from the world he used to live in and told them to the fox cubs.
The little foxes leaned against Lin Jin as they listened attentively to the tales.
Lin Jin told them a couple of stories. Even after the little foxes fell asleep, Shang’er and Little Five had yet to return.
However, it was to be expected. Mount Zoroku was very secluded and Lin Jin recalled that the scholar didn’t live in Maple City. Instead, he belonged to a nearby village so traveling to and fro would take time.
He would wait.
Late after midnight, when Lin Jin felt increasingly impatient, a commotion could be heard outside the cave.
The shadow wolf let out a cry.
It was a sharp cry, signifying something had gone wrong.
Lin Jin rushed out of the cave at once to see Shang’er and Little Five.
Shang’er was carrying Little Five who had now reverted into her beast form and was covered in blood.
This shocked Lin Jin. His hands were practically trembling as he hurried over.
Something terrible had happened.
Lin Jin was terrified at the sight of the blood-covered Shang’er. But after getting closer, he realized she was unharmed. The blood didn’t belong to her.
Little Five was gravely injured.
Even without careful inspection, one could find many wounds deep enough to reveal bones within.
At the sight of Lin Jin, Shang’er immediately fell to her knees. “Master Lin, Shang’er has caused you trouble.”
Lin Jin stopped her from saying more. Their first priority now was to save Little Five.
Come to think of it, this was the second time Lin Jin was treating Little Five. He reached out at once to touch Little Five’s head and the museum immediately presented a corresponding treatment method.