Chapter 237: I Want to Refine Pills!

In the deep, secluded passage within the valley, Gong Qing and Xia He were moving forward cautiously. This tunnel was far more complex than they had imagined, and from time to time, they could hear strange sounds coming from the distance, making one's skin crawl.

Turning a corner, they saw Shen Chong leaning against the stone wall, waiting. His expression was slightly weary; clearly, he had encountered quite a few troubles during this time.

"Where is Chai Yan?" Gong Qing looked around, not seeing a trace of a fourth person. A sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

Shen Chong shook his head: "I haven't seen him. I lost contact with him ever since entering the secret passage." His tone carried a hint of worry, "Logically speaking, with his strength, nothing should have gone wrong."

"Don't worry about him," Gong Qing's voice was somewhat cold, but a flash of complexity crossed his eyes, "The top priority now is to find the collection. Since we chose to split up, we must bear the corresponding risks."

The three continued forward and soon arrived before an archaic stone door. This door was pitch black, its surface mottled with patterns, exuding an ancient aura that had weathered the passage of time. The walls surrounding the door were carved with mysterious Runes, flickering in and out of sight in the dim light.

Just as they were preparing to study how to open the stone door, a gust of strong wind suddenly struck from above. Two golden figures descended from the sky like lightning; they were none other than those terrifying Golden Silk Monkeys.

"Careful!" Before Xia He's exclamation had even faded, the Golden Silk Monkeys had already launched a fierce attack. Their movements were shockingly fast, each strike carrying lethal power. The sound of the air being torn apart rang out incessantly, and one could even see ripples forming in the airflow.

The three immediately set up a defensive formation, but soon realized the situation was dire. The strength of these two Golden Silk Monkeys seemed to have increased by a few degrees compared to when they had encountered them before, and they were working together seamlessly, giving them no chance to catch their breath at all.

Shen Chong's situation was the worst; his clothes had already been shredded in several places by sharp claws, and blood seeped out, staining the fabric red. Even with his strength, he could not keep up with the attack rhythm of the Golden Silk Monkeys at all.

"This won't do!" he shouted while dodging, his voice carrying a rare sense of anxiety, "They are even stronger than those little monkeys!"

Gong Qing also realized the urgency of the situation. These two Golden Silk Monkeys not only possessed astonishing strength, but they also seemed able to predict their every move. Most terrifying of all, their attacks contained a special power that could interfere with the circulation of their Qi.

"Retreat!" After narrowly avoiding a vital strike from a sharp claw, Gong Qing made a prompt decision and issued the order to retreat.

The three fought while retreating, eventually withdrawing to the entrance of the secret passage in a disheveled state. Once they confirmed that the two Golden Silk Monkeys were not pursuing them, everyone collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air.

"Damn it!" Gong Qing wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, a flash of frustration in his eyes, "These two beasts are just like they've undergone special training. They not only have astonishing combat power, but they also understand tactical coordination. If even we can't get through, others won't stand a chance."

"Then what do we do now?" Xia He asked while tending to the wound on her arm.

Gong Qing pondered for a moment: "Let's leave here first. Put the matter of the treasure aside for now, and we'll talk once we find a way to break through. Some things cannot be rushed, otherwise, it will only mean throwing our lives away for nothing."

Just at this moment, Gong Qing's phone suddenly rang. It was Jinfeng Popo calling, her tone carrying an unprecedented anxiety: "You must come to the hospital quickly! Xia Liuqing's condition is not good! The toxin has already begun to spread!"

Outside the emergency room of the City Center Hospital, the smell of disinfectant made one's throat itch. Jinfeng Popo was pacing back and forth in the hallway, her usual composure long gone. When the doctor pushed open the door to the emergency room, she immediately rushed up to him.

"The situation is not optimistic," the doctor removed his mask, his expression grave, "We have never seen this kind of toxin before; conventional detoxification methods are completely ineffective. Furthermore, the toxin is spreading rapidly, and if we cannot find a way..." He did not finish, but the meaning was already very clear.

"How could it be like this..." Jinfeng Popo's voice trembled slightly. Having roamed the Outsider world for many years, she was now as helpless as an ordinary old woman.

A few hours later, the three of them—Gong Qing and the others—rushed over. After understanding the situation, Gong Qing and Shen Chong exchanged a look, a flash of determination in their eyes: "Take him to the ice chamber!"

Inside the hospital's Underground Ice Chamber, the temperature was near zero. The cold air rushed toward them, making one shiver involuntarily. Gong Qing and Shen Chong laid Xia Liuqing flat on a specially made bed and began to circulate their Qi.

"This corpse-eating ant toxin fears extreme cold the most," Gong Qing explained while carefully mobilizing his Qi, "We must first use the cold air to congeal the toxin, then use our Qi to force it out of the body. However, this process is extremely painful; one careless mistake could cost the patient his life."

What followed was a heart-stopping treatment. The two took turns, bit by bit driving the toxin out of Xia Liuqing's body. Every bit of toxin forced out consumed a massive amount of Qi. As for Xia Liuqing, he was in unbearable agony, fainting from the pain several times only to be jolted awake by the excruciating sensation.

Finally, after continuing for nearly four hours, the last trace of toxin was cleared. A hint of color finally returned to Xia Liuqing's face, and his breathing gradually stabilized.

"Finally, it's a success," Shen Chong let out a long breath, his entire body leaning against the wall as if drained of all strength. This treatment had almost exhausted all of his Qi.

Jinfeng hurriedly wrapped a prepared blanket around Xia Liuqing: "I will take him home to recuperate. This time, it is truly thanks to you." Tears shimmered in her eyes; they were tears of relief.

The weak Xia Liuqing, however, revealed a faint yet satisfied smile: "Worth it... this injury was well worth it."

"You," Jinfeng Popo said, both annoyed and amused, gently stroking his forehead with a trembling hand, "You're nearly dead and you still say things like that."

Entrance to the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley:

Xiao Qing patted her bulging bag with satisfaction. The harvest from this trip was quite bountiful; even just one of these rare medicinal herbs could cause a massive stir in the outside world.

"Benefactor," she turned to look at Lin Xuan, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, "Where are we going next? How should we handle these treasures?"

Lin Xuan looked at the Cunwudai, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly: "Having collected so many Heaven and Earth Treasures, it is only natural to make the best use of them." His gaze became profound, "It is time to refine some special Pills."

"Refine Pills?" Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai exclaimed in unison, both of their eyes filled with intense curiosity. Ever since following Lin Xuan, they had never seen their benefactor refine Pills. This was a mysterious skill that only legendary Alchemists could master.

"What kind of Pills is Benefactor preparing to refine?" Xiao Bai asked, her voice carrying a hint of anticipation. As a Demon Immortal who had cultivated for many years, she knew all too well the value of certain special Pills.

Lin Xuan looked at her deeply: "You will know when we return." His tone carried a hint of mystery, making the two women even more curious.