Chapter 2256 - 2253: Solo Challenge?

Chapter 2256: Chapter 2253: Solo Challenge?

Lin Tian stood in front of a cluster of bamboo, the bamboo was thumb-sized, with a verdant green color, but each segment had a circle of golden yellow, intertwined with green and gold, very beautiful.

However, this was by no means ornamental bamboo, but a genuine medicinal herb, and the medicinal part was very particular; it wasn’t the bamboo itself, nor the leaves, but inside the bamboo joints.

This kind of bamboo is called Golden Pattern Bamboo. It matures after five years of growth, at which time a kind of nectar, called Golden Bamboo Dew, will form inside the joints. This nectar is the true medicinal component.

The Golden Bamboo Dew has only one effect: to clear inner heat, which is not the usual kind of heat from inflammation, but the inner heat generated by ancient martial artists when they cultivate their cultivation techniques and circulate true qi.

This inner heat can make practitioners restless, generate heart demons, and even scorch the body and meridians, especially with fire-attribute techniques. If they drink this nectar, they need not worry about the harm of inner heat.

Lin Tian activated his super clairvoyance and looked inside the bamboo joints, finding that some already had nectar, but the amount was very small.

"Lin Tian, do you recognize this kind of bamboo?" a pleasant female voice came. Lin Tian turned his head to see Miss walking over.

"Golden Pattern Bamboo..." Lin Tian explained its characteristics to Miss, and sure enough, her eyes lit up.

"I finally understand why the disciples of the Ancient Hidden Stream are so powerful in their cultivation. Their resources are not something the ancient martial families can compare to," Miss remarked with slight admiration.

Lin Tian nodded in agreement, "Every kind of herb here can be used individually or combined to refine elixirs—this is the true family of pharmacists, whereas I am just in title with no herbs or alchemical furnace."

"Oh, is Miss also interested in herbs?" Lin Tian asked curiously, as it seemed Miss was also heading towards the herbs in the garden.

"You forget, the Xiao Family also has an elixir recipe, with many herbs we’ve never seen or heard of, causing our research to stagnate. Now that there’s a chance, of course, I want to check it out," Miss said openly without concealment.

Lin Tian raised an eyebrow, recalling the Xiao Family’s elixir recipe, and how it once derived a potion like "Blood Angel" from it. One can’t deny the recipe’s magical properties and the magic of the Nuwa Intelligent System.

Combining ancient elixir recipes with advanced artificial intelligence, might it also reveal some secrets of alchemy?

As Lin Tian and Miss were observing the herbs, a young man walked over, bowing to Lin Tian and politely saying, "Excuse me, are you Lin Tian?"

"Yes, is there something you need?" Lin Tian asked rather puzzled, perhaps thinking the young man assumed he was about to steal herbs?

The young man did not mention the herbs, but instead said, "The Great Elder requests your presence; may I trouble you to come with me?"

The Great Elder? Lin Tian furrowed his brows slightly. He didn’t have a good impression of the term "Great Elder," as the one in the Zhang Family hadn’t left a pleasant impression.

However, Lin Tian still nodded and agreed because the young man’s attitude wasn’t bad, and he was even quite courteous.

Exchanging a glance with Miss, Lin Tian followed the young man.

The young man was about twenty years old, dressed simply, with clean short hair, unlike Shen Lin, who kept long hair.

"How may I address you?" Lin Tian asked casually.

"My name is Yan Fang," the young man answered earnestly.

"Brother Yan Fang, I have a question. Are all the people in the Medicine King Mansion pharmacists?" Lin Tian asked with genuine curiosity.

The young man blushed slightly with embarrassment, saying, "Uh, not all, some are. At least I’m not yet; becoming a pharmacist requires talent and perseverance."

This was unexpected to Lin Tian, who thought all disciples in the Medicine King Mansion were pharmacists. Now it seems that even becoming a pharmacist within the Medicine King Mansion isn’t easy.

No wonder pharmacists are so rare in the ancient martial world; even those in the Medicine King Mansion find it hard to become pharmacists, let alone others.

Lin Tian chatted casually on other topics, gaining a preliminary understanding of the Medicine King Mansion. It was a family of pharmacists, possessing many elixir recipes and cultivating numerous herbs.

Young men like Yan Fang were just apprentice pharmacists, and there were quite a few young apprentices. There were also skilled pharmacists, like the Great Elder Yan Fang mentioned.

It was a pity Lin Tian couldn’t find out what this so-called opportunity was; Yan Fang seemed instructed not to reveal too much.

Stopping before a pavilion halfway up the mountain, Yan Fang pointed towards the garden and said, "The Great Elder is inside. I can only take you this far." He then bowed again and left.

This disciple of the Medicine King Mansion was surprisingly polite, unlike Shen Lin’s arrogance, and it seemed everyone from the Medicine King Mansion was quite approachable.

Lin Tian smiled, walking into the garden, which again had flowerbeds with various herbs planted. An old man was busy working among the plants, occasionally bending down to loosen the soil and sometimes straightening up to pluck leaves, his robe stained with soil, but he didn’t mind.

In the middle of the flowerbed, there was a pavilion. Inside sat an old and a young person; Lin Tian recognized the young one as Yan Lingling; the older was an old woman, arranging collected herbs.

Upon Lin Tian’s appearance, all three looked over. Yan Lingling immediately put down the herbs in her hands, running sweetly towards Lin Tian, smiling, "Brother Lin Tian, you’re here."

"Yes, who are they..." Lin Tian had a guess but still asked to confirm.

"They are the Great Grandpa and Great Grandma I mentioned to you. And yes, Great Grandma is the Great Elder," Yan Lingling explained, pulling Lin Tian toward the pavilion, leaving him no choice but to follow.

Inside, Lin Tian was confused; the Great Elder wasn’t the old man but this old woman. He had guessed incorrectly earlier.

At this moment, the old man stopped loosening the soil and walked into the pavilion, with the Female Great Elder, sizing up Lin Tian. As they assessed him, they nodded, seemingly satisfied.

"Indeed a talent, not bad, not bad," the old man said, grinning.

Lin Tian found it odd, as if meeting the parents! However, out of politeness, Lin Tian bowed and said, "Junior Lin Tian, greetings to the Great Elder..."

The Female Great Elder waved her hand, interrupting him with a smile, "Young man, no need to be so formal; you can call us Great Grandpa and Great Grandma, just like Ling’er."

Seeing how old they were, Lin Tian figured there was no loss in respect, so he bowed again, saying, "Greetings to Great Grandpa and Great Grandma."

"Sit down, let’s talk, no need to be so formal," Great Grandpa warmly smiled.

Lin Tian noticed their straightforward and amiable nature; being reserved would seem undue, so he sat down graciously, feeling that the elders of the Medicine King Mansion were completely different from those in the Zhang Family.

Just as he sat down, the Great Elder spoke again, "Xiao Tian, let me test you. What is this herb on the table? What are its effects, and how should it be refined?"