Chapter Twenty-Five: Miss, Don’t Give Up on Treatment!

“Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully redeeming the Ice-Condensing Rejuvenation Pill recipe.”

“Ah, such melancholy!” Chen Xiang let out a long sigh, looking up at the sky.

He glanced at Li Qiner, who was currently recovering from her injuries. Young lady, I’ve spent a whole five hundred reputation points for your sake!

He then checked the details of the pill recipe.

“Ice-Condensing Rejuvenation Pill: Able to restore skin damage caused by unique fire-attribute substances. Purely natural, with no additives or side effects, it will return your skin to its fair, delicate suppleness.”

Main ingredients: “Ice Crystal Herb, Yuan-Congealing Water, Frost Serpent Fruit, Shaping Grass…”

There were a total of seven ingredients, and the recipe even listed where they could be found.

Chen Xiang asked about them; the system sold them all, but even the cheapest, Snowroot Grass, cost two hundred reputation points! The Ice Crystal Herb was an astonishing fifteen hundred points! All together, the total value exceeded five thousand—Chen Xiang’s confidence took another blow. No wonder a single pill was so expensive!

But that was a matter for later; he could gather them bit by bit.

Li Qiner was finishing up her healing as well. With the pills Chen Xiang had provided, these injuries would heal in no time. Some of the medicine’s power even transformed into spiritual energy within her, loosening the bottleneck at the eighth level of Core Formation.

“Thank you, young master,” Li Qiner said with a graceful salute. Her upbringing truly left nothing to be desired.

Chen Xiang waved his hand generously. “No need to thank me. It’s nothing.”

“Are you from one of the great families, traveling the world?” Li Qiner suddenly asked with a gentle smile.

Chen Xiang looked puzzled. “No, why do you ask?”

Li Qiner stared at him in confusion, sensing no falsehood. Could she have been mistaken?

She shook her head and said, “It’s nothing. Young master, where are we headed now?”

She didn’t press further; after all, it had little to do with her—she was now alone and without support.

Chen Xiang considered for a moment. “Oh, I originally planned to visit the Imperial City, but now I’ve changed my mind. We’re going to the Land of Extreme Cold!”

“The Land of Extreme Cold? For what purpose?” Li Qiner was surprised. There were two such places: the far north and the far south. Both were perpetually snowbound and bitterly cold, and cultivators could hardly endure them. Why would he want to go there?

“To cure you!” Chen Xiang replied.

Li Qiner was perplexed. “Cure me? Of what? I’m not ill.”

Chen Xiang shook his head and stepped forward, gently placing his hand on Li Qiner’s veiled face. “Isn’t your illness right here?” he said softly.

So close, she could feel his masculine presence; Li Qiner flushed. With the veil between them, the gesture became unexpectedly intimate, and Chen Xiang’s heart skipped a beat.

“Young master, do you mean my face?” Li Qiner recovered her composure and sighed faintly.

Chen Xiang nodded. “Exactly. Because your father used the Sunfire Jade recklessly at your birth, your Heavenly Heart Yin Vein was damaged, and your appearance was ruined. But all you need is to restore the Yin Vein and expel the Sunfire energy.”

Hearing this, Li Qiner was first astonished, then her gaze dimmed. “I already know all this, young master. My father searched far and wide for answers about the Heavenly Heart Yin Vein. He blamed himself bitterly for ruining my appearance with the Sunfire Jade. But after all these years, I’ve tried countless methods, all to no avail.”

“My looks are what they are. I’m used to it now. I’ve come to terms with it.”

Chen Xiang shook his head. “No, there’s still hope for you. They just used the wrong methods. For example, I have a way to restore your appearance.”

“Really?” Li Qiner seemed uninterested. Apparently, the young master did care about her looks after all.

Seeing her attitude, Chen Xiang smiled slightly. He hadn’t expected this girl to have such a strong sense of pride.

“I once met another patient like you. He recovered fully. So Qiner, don’t give up on treatment!” Chen Xiang said enticingly.

Sure enough, Li Qiner’s eyes lit up. She looked at Chen Xiang with anticipation. “Young master, is that true?”

Chen Xiang nodded. “Of course. But the things needed for the cure are rather valuable.”

“What are they?” Li Qiner asked nervously. She pretended not to care, but that was a lie—no woman is truly indifferent to her appearance. Those who say otherwise are simply blessed with beauty already. Truly not minding one’s looks is rare indeed.

“To restore your constitution, we’ll need Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Marrow as the primer, the Land of Extreme Cold as the setting, to expel the Sunfire energy and repair your Heavenly Heart Yin Vein. After that, you’ll take the Ice-Condensing Rejuvenation Pill,” Chen Xiang explained, relaying the system’s method.

Li Qiner stared in shock. Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Marrow? The Land of Extreme Cold? The Ice-Condensing Rejuvenation Pill? Every one of these was extraordinarily rare and precious.

The Land of Extreme Cold went without saying. As for Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Marrow, she’d only ever heard of it in legends. The Ice-Condensing Rejuvenation Pill was a genuine high-grade sixth-tier elixir!

Li Qiner’s gaze dimmed again. In her mind, it would be impossible to gather all these things.

Chen Xiang was puzzled to see her lose hope again after learning there was a solution. “Qiner, what’s wrong? You should be happy now that we know what to do. Why look so gloomy?”

Li Qiner shook her head. “Young master, these things are simply too rare. There’s no hope of collecting them. I think it’s best to forget it.”

Forget it? No way! I’ve already spent five hundred reputation points for you. How can we give up halfway?

“Qiner, why is there no hope? I said we’re going to the Land of Extreme Cold precisely to look for the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Marrow. And as for the Ice-Condensing Rejuvenation Pill, I can make it myself as long as we gather the ingredients,” Chen Xiang said.

“You can refine the Ice-Condensing Rejuvenation Pill?” Li Qiner looked at him in surprise. Was this young master a high-grade sixth-tier alchemist? She was filled with disbelief.

“Hey, why are you looking at me like that? Is it so strange that I can make pills?” Chen Xiang said, eyes wide.

“No, I just think… young master, you’re very capable!” Li Qiner didn’t know how to respond. Then she thought, he’s probably only able to make first or second-tier pills. Otherwise, with his age and cultivation, if he could also refine pills, he’d be a prodigy!

“Oh? I’m very capable? That’s true! I really am. Want to see for yourself?” Chen Xiang replied with a sly grin.

His mischievous smile made Li Qiner shiver. He had no intention of making a move on her—his heart was still fragile—but teasing her was quite enjoyable.

“Young master, are we really going to the Land of Extreme Cold? The far south or the far north?” Li Qiner quickly changed the subject, unable to endure his gaze.

“Oh, that’s a good question.” Chen Xiang stroked his chin thoughtfully.

But then, remembering where they were, he smacked his forehead. How foolish! This was the Southern Wing Kingdom, closest to the south. Of course they’d go to the far south! Why would they cross two whole kingdoms to the far north?

Li Qiner realized she’d asked a silly question and blushed.

“Young master, since we’re going to the far south, we should prepare carefully,” Li Qiner said.

“A good idea. Let’s visit the nearest city and make our preparations,” Chen Xiang agreed.

“To be continued…”