Watching Han Lang's humorous demeanor, Luo Jiaying couldn't help but burst into laughter. But before she could react further, Han Lang turned and disappeared back inside.
"Wait for me, this time it will definitely work!"
Soon, the clatter of pots and pans echoed from the kitchen again. Han Lang, bent over to adjust the flame of the gas stove, looked like a DJ.
About twenty minutes later, the kitchen finally fell silent.
Han Lang walked out with his hands behind his back, a mysterious smile on his face. Then, he suddenly extended his hand, revealing a small, irregular, grayish-brown object, the size of a fingertip, in a small plastic box in his palm.
"Ta-da! Body Tempering Pill!"
He had expected Luo Jiaying to look at him with admiration and praise the Body Tempering Pill. To his surprise, she showed no excitement at all. Instead, she looked disgusted.
"Ugh, you're so disgusting! After all that effort, you just made this little booger ball?"
"Booger ball?"
Hearing this, Han Lang was immediately indignant.
"What kind of talk is that! Under these adverse conditions, only I could refine such a low-grade Body Tempering Pill. Anyone else would have absolutely no chance!"
Han Lang's words were indeed true.
On Blue Star, without alchemical fire or a cauldron, it was only thanks to the powerful alchemy skills of the otherworld's Medicine Venerable that anyone could refine such a Body Tempering Pill.
But Luo Jiaying didn't care about any of that. In her understanding, alchemy always produced smooth, round, fragrant items, like chocolate beans. How could it be like the thing in Han Lang's hand?
"You're bragging! This pill doesn't even have a medicinal aroma, and its color... ugh, it must be a booger ball!"
Seeing that Luo Jiaying still didn't believe him, Han Lang became a little anxious.
"This pill doesn't have a medicinal aroma, but it tastes very good. Try it if you don't believe me!"
Saying that, he used his fingernail to scrape off two small pieces and offered them to Luo Jiaying.
Luo Jiaying quickly dodged.
"Eat it yourself. I'm not eating something so disgusting!"
Han Lang was completely helpless and said dejectedly.
"Alright! Next time I have a chance, I'll refine a smooth and round one for you to see, and then you'll know I was telling the truth."
Luo Jiaying nodded her head vigorously.
"As long as you don't put that disgusting booger ball in front of me again, you can say whatever you want. And look at you, your face is all black. I think you should go take a bath first!"
Han Lang realized his disheveled state and quickly said.
"Yes, I should definitely take a bath first. But I have to make sure you're settled first!"
"It's okay! I'm familiar with this place. I'll find Aunt Su myself. You go wash up. If you're any later, you might get marinated!"
Hearing this, Han Lang no longer stood on ceremony.
"Okay, I'll go up first! Make yourself at home, don't be shy."
"Don't worry!"
Back in the room.
Han Lang eagerly filled the bathtub with warm water, then tossed the Body Tempering Pill into it, placing the medicine box casually in his pocket.
As the Body Tempering Pill dissolved, the entire tank of clear water immediately turned a deep ink green.
Han Lang didn't hesitate. He hurriedly stripped himself naked and then lay down in the bath with enjoyment.
Closing his eyes, he adjusted his breathing and began to circulate the 'Mortal Cultivation Art' according to the memories of the otherworld's Medicine Venerable!
Instantly, small whirlpools began to appear in various parts of the water tank, originating from Han Lang's skin at the bottom.
At this moment.
Han Lang felt as if every part of his body had learned to breathe, absorbing every trace of green in the bathtub. At the same time, impurities, black and viscous like oil, were slowly expelled from his pores.
What felt even more magical was that as the ink-green medicinal liquid was absorbed, a vortex of spiritual energy gradually formed in his dantian.
It was warm and very comfortable.
It made him look blissful.
"Boom!"
Several hours later, the ink-green medicinal liquid was completely absorbed, and Han Lang finally broke through to the third level of Qi Refining as he wished.
The reason he was so sure was that he had now opened his Sea of Consciousness. Even with his eyes closed, he was aware of every blade of grass and tree within a few meters.
"Is this what cultivation feels like?"
Han Lang was overjoyed and found it hard to believe.
He had never imagined that one day he would embark on the path of cultivation as described in novels.
"Right! The Three-Story Pagoda!"
Amidst his surprise, he thought of the supreme artifact, the 'Three-Story Pagoda'. His future growth would depend on this artifact.
So, he quickly retracted his divine sense and probed his Sea of Consciousness!
Inside his Sea of Consciousness was a vast, white expanse, just like the place where he had defeated the two souls that changed his life.
The difference was that now, a faint golden protective film surrounded him, like an impenetrable wall, safeguarding his Sea of Consciousness.
At the same time, in the center of his Sea of Consciousness, a bronze object shaped like a hamburger, a pagoda, floated quietly.
"Three-Story Pagoda!"
Han Lang exclaimed excitedly.
This was the supreme artifact he had longed for, originally belonging to the otherworld's Medicine Venerable, the Three-Story Pagoda.
"I didn't expect it to actually come back with the Medicine Venerable's rebirth."
After the surprise, he impatiently controlled his divine sense to enter the Three-Story Pagoda.
Looking at the vibrant and flourishing exotic flowers and plants on each floor, Han Lang's excitement grew even more uncontrollable.
"Fortunately, the Medicine Venerable was a diligent farmer, otherwise, there would be nothing here!"
In the memories of the otherworld's Medicine Venerable, after he reached the Tribulation Stage, nearly half of the first floor of the Three-Story Pagoda was used to preserve seeds of various exotic flowers and plants. Moreover, through his years of hard work, most of the varieties of exotic flowers and plants on the Li Chuan Continent were completely preserved here.
The second and third floors were planted with various high-grade spiritual herbs, with the lowest age being five thousand years and the highest at least ten thousand years.
These spiritual herbs were originally kept for refining pills when he transcended tribulation and ascended. However, due to a sudden misfortune, they had fallen into Han Lang's hands for free.
"Heh heh... Since I've received such great kindness from you, if I have the chance, I will definitely help you investigate the cause of your death!"
As one of the seven great Saint Venerables of the Li Chuan Continent, the Saint Hand Medicine Venerable should not have died easily. However, his memories abruptly ended after drinking with the other six Saint Venerables.
Even a fool could guess that there was something wrong with that banquet. Han Lang had accidentally accepted all his inheritance. If he had the opportunity and strength, he wouldn't mind helping the Medicine Venerable find out the truth and bring him justice.
However, those matters were in the distant future. What he needed to focus on now was how his body had been transformed after tempering.
So, he quickly performed an internal scan.
"Alas, this level of Body Tempering Pill is still not enough!"
After careful observation, he discovered that although the low-grade Body Tempering Pill had allowed him to reach the third level of Qi Refining, restored a lot of his vital energy, and made his body stronger, there were still many impurities that had not been expelled.
"The ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herbs on the third floor of the Three-Story Pagoda are not needed for now. I should make some space to plant the medicinal ingredients for the Body Tempering Pill. Then, I'll refine a top-grade Body Tempering Pill to re-temper myself properly. Moreover, subsequent cultivation will require a large number of Spirit Gathering Pills, so I need to arrange the materials first!"
With this thought, he moved his divine sense, collected the ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herbs from the corner of the third floor of the Three-Story Pagoda, piled them aside casually, and then replanted the several spiritual herbs required for the Body Tempering Pill and Spirit Gathering Pill.
This way, in just over half a month, he would be able to undergo a second perfect tempering, and his strength would greatly increase.
After doing all this, Han Lang was in a great mood.
"Heh heh, what nonsense about 'Gou Xing Zhi' and 'Gou Tui Zhi'! It's all crap! With the memories of Shen Nong Tian Yi and the otherworld's Medicine Venerable fused within me, I am now the unprecedented and unparalleled Heavenly Medicine Venerable. In the future, I will make the Gou family repay me a hundredfold!"
Before he could gloat, there was a knock on the door, followed by Luo Jiaying's concerned inquiry.
"Brother Han Lang, are you okay? Why aren't you coming out for dinner?"
"Oh, I'm fine! I overslept."
Han Lang quickly responded loudly, washed up briefly, and changed his clothes before coming out.
"What's wrong, Xiao Ying? Is there something you need me for so late?"
Luo Jiaying seemed a little embarrassed and said shyly.
"Brother Han Kang is too serious. Eating with him is too oppressive, and I didn't eat enough. Besides, haven't you eaten yet? Do you want to go get some late-night snacks together?"
Hearing Luo Jiaying say that, Han Lang suddenly felt a pang of hunger.
"Okay, shall we go for some barbecue?"
"Okay!"
Luo Jiaying agreed with unusual promptness, likely having been craving it for a long time. The two then drove to a nearby barbecue restaurant.
The barbecue restaurant was not large but was exceptionally busy, with people filling both inside and outside.
The two found an outdoor table at random and enjoyed the unique pleasure of the late night, chatting and laughing.
Not far away, a man in a floral shirt, looking slightly tipsy, said to his companions with a wicked grin.
"Hey, look! That girl over there is good. Let's find a place to take care of her!"
His companions followed the direction pointed by the man in the floral shirt and saw Luo Jiaying, who was eating heartily. Their eyes immediately lit up.
"She's indeed good! The usual way?"
The three nodded in tacit understanding.
The man in the floral shirt swaggered directly in front of Luo Jiaying.
"You're quite a beauty. Want to go out and have some fun with your brother?"
As he spoke, he reached out to play with Luo Jiaying's hair, full of provocation.
"What are you doing? Are you crazy!"
Luo Jiaying pushed his hand away and scolded him angrily, her eyebrows furrowed. But for some reason, this action seemed to have touched a nerve with the man in the floral shirt. Before Han Lang could react, he slapped Luo Jiaying on the back of the head!
"Ah!"
Luo Jiaying cried out in pain and covered her head, but the man in the floral shirt acted as if he hadn't seen it and raised his left hand again.
At this point, Han Lang could no longer tolerate it. He immediately stood up and grabbed the man in the floral shirt's hand.
"You can ignore me, but hurting her... I think you're tired of living!"