Chapter Sixty-Three: The Twenty-Four Marvelous Elixirs

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“What? What? The Twenty-Four Miraculous Herbs?” Lu Zhe was completely baffled by Elder Ye’s words.

Elder Ye coughed twice, then began his explanation: The Twenty-Four Miraculous Herbs are twenty-four extraordinary medicinal plants formed over countless years from the myriad elements of heaven and earth. Each herb contains immense medicinal power, and they share a unique effect: upon consuming one, a person gains the attribute contained within that herb. This attribute can be integrated into one’s spiritual core, allowing the person to wield an additional type of spiritual power.

Later, Elder Ye gave an example: For instance, if someone possesses fire-attribute spiritual power and consumes a miraculous herb with a wood attribute, they would then possess both fire and wood spiritual powers.

Lu Zhe listened in awe, inhaling sharply—good heavens, to gain a new attribute for free! This was the stuff of dreams for countless people.

There are countless varieties of medicinal herbs, but those that can bestow spiritual attributes are rare. Ordinary herbs may cure diseases, but spiritual attribute herbs allow a person to absorb their power. If the attribute matches one’s own, it enhances the existing power, making the user far stronger than others of the same level. If the attribute differs, it grants an additional power, which is invaluable in battle.

Usually, a person’s spiritual core contains only one attribute. Powerful individuals may forcibly integrate another attribute, but the process requires finding a suitable herb and is dangerous, with the new attribute often serving only as an auxiliary. To be precise, the spiritual core remains eighty percent the original attribute, with only twenty percent from the integrated one. Some rare individuals are born with two attributes, but even then, there is always a primary and a secondary. Those born with three attributes are rarer than saints, and as for four, no one has ever been born with them—they can only be cultivated after birth.

Because most people cannot possess two attributes, alchemists are scarce; to become one, a person must have both fire and wood attributes. This limits even those who possess dual attributes. Still, alchemists are not few; most influential sects send people to gather attribute herbs and use them to nurture alchemists. In the Oga Empire where Lu Zhe lived, there were forty to fifty thousand alchemists, though none of particularly high rank.

Then, Lu Zhe scratched his head and said, “But aren’t there many herbs with spiritual attributes? Why call them the Twenty-Four Miraculous Herbs?”

Elder Ye waved his hand dismissively, “Indeed, there are many herbs that can be integrated into the spiritual core. But these twenty-four are different—they are the kings of all herbs. The power they contain far surpasses ordinary plants.”

He paused, then continued, “Because these miraculous herbs are so rare and potent, many powerful factions covet them. Yet their scarcity means few know their locations. In this vast world, they might be at the edge of a desert, high above the clouds, or deep within magma. Their medicinal power is so immense that even if one encounters them, it’s difficult to harness their strength. Many alchemists and powerhouses have spent their lives searching for these herbs, only to end up empty-handed. The power within them is so overwhelming that to refine them, one must first ingest them. But the human body is fragile, and such an act is tantamount to inviting disaster. Thus, only a handful of fortunate souls have managed to obtain and refine them, relying on their luck. Each of these individuals stands among the continent’s most elite.”

Still bewildered, Lu Zhe scratched his head and pressed on, “And then?”

Elder Ye continued, “The twenty-four supreme herbs have been ranked according to their rarity and potency—the Miraculous Herb Ranking. And also…” Suddenly, Elder Ye fell silent.

“What else?” Lu Zhe asked.

After a few coughs, Elder Ye explained, “Because their power is so immense, ordinary folk can only consume one. Eating two would result in self-destruction due to the overwhelming medicinal force.”

Lu Zhe drew a sharp breath. Self-destruction? Just by eating a herb, one could blow themselves up? It seemed herbs truly shouldn’t be eaten recklessly.

After pondering, Lu Zhe looked up at Elder Ye, uncertainly pointing to himself, “Master, you’re not asking me to search for these twenty-four miraculous herbs, are you?”

Elder Ye smiled and nodded.

Lu Zhe hurriedly waved his hand, “I won’t go.”

“Don’t you want Shangguan Yijing to be utterly convinced by you?” Elder Ye said with a faint smile.

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“Winning her over shouldn’t require risking my life,” Lu Zhe protested miserably.

“The one who endures hardship becomes a superior man,” Elder Ye replied, grinning.

“Why don’t you go?” Lu Zhe shouted.

“I’m not the one who made the wager,” Elder Ye answered calmly.

Lu Zhe gritted his teeth, glaring at Elder Ye.

After a moment, Lu Zhe waved his hand, “Let’s leave that aside. Didn’t you just say these herbs are extremely rare? Do you know where they are?”

Elder Ye shook his head, “No, I don’t.”

Lu Zhe quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

“But I do have information on the place where they’re most likely to appear,” Elder Ye’s next words made Lu Zhe’s heart leap again.

“Where?” Lu Zhe asked.

Elder Ye pointed south, declaring, “South—The Boundless Desert!”

Lu Zhe inhaled sharply. No wonder they were heading south; it had all been planned from the start.

Elder Ye paused, then continued, “Not only do I want you to consume one miraculous herb, I want you to eat all twenty-four.”

Lu Zhe gasped again, “Didn’t you say eating two would lead to self-destruction? Why don’t you do it yourself?”

Elder Ye scratched his head, “That’s right, eating two would indeed cause self-destruction. But I possess a peculiar technique that can ensure you won’t suffer from the overwhelming medicinal power after consuming two. Would you like to learn it?”

Lu Zhe was startled, “Such a strange technique exists? What kind of technique is it?”

Elder Ye touched his storage ring. A burst of green light flashed, and a scroll appeared in his hand.

He tossed the scroll to Lu Zhe and said calmly, “This is it.”

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Lu Zhe caught the scroll thrown by Elder Ye. At first glance, it seemed no different from ordinary scrolls used to record techniques. It was entirely gray-black, with three bold characters carved on it: The Perfect Technique.

“This is it?” Lu Zhe shook the scroll in his hand, puzzled.

Elder Ye nodded.

“Have you cultivated it?” Lu Zhe asked.

“No,” Elder Ye replied flatly.

“You haven’t practiced it, but you want me to?” Lu Zhe remarked sarcastically.

“Because I’m not the one destined to unlock this scroll,” Elder Ye said calmly.

“What? Destined one? What do you mean?” Lu Zhe was confused.

“I obtained this scroll by chance from a master. He told me that if I ever met someone who could unlock it, that person would be its rightful owner. Unfortunately, I am not,” Elder Ye spoke with impassive serenity.

Lu Zhe looked at the gray-black scroll in his hand. For some reason, he felt a strange aura emanating from it.

He swallowed hard and took a deep breath. Then, slowly, he approached the opening and gently—ever so gently—unfurled it.

His action did not surprise Elder Ye, who remained as calm as a still lake, quietly watching Lu Zhe.

Lu Zhe carefully opened the scroll, then swallowed again and read the words written on it:

The Perfect Technique: Those who cultivate this technique can integrate all twenty-four miraculous herbs within themselves, preventing self-destruction caused by conflicting medicinal powers.