Immortality Begins With Internal Breathing-Chapter 154: Persistence Through Failure (I)

Bafang City was bustling and prosperous. In the central district of the inner city, nearly every street had a pharmacy. Some streets even had two or three pharmacies lined up side by side. Lin Zheyu visited several pharmacies in a row, inquiring about the prices of the herbs needed for the Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction.

Songyi City had suffered greatly from the ongoing wars, causing prices to soar. A single set of herbs for the Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction now cost 22 taels of silver. While resting midway in Wangshan City during his travels earlier, he had purchased the same herbs for about 14 taels of silver. In Bafang City, however, they cost only about 9 taels. It was far cheaper than even prewar prices in Songyi City.

Leaving the pharmacy, Lin Zheyu continued down the street. He crossed the street, turned left, and walked another 200 meters until he reached a large plaza. The plaza was crowded and lively, filled with people coming and going.

Crossing the plaza, Lin Zheyu went straight across and entered a place called Treasure Spring Hall. This pharmacy was the largest in all of Bafang City, known for its complete selection of medicinal ingredients, and many rare herbs could be found here as well.

While purchasing the ingredients for the Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction, Lin Zheyu also hoped to find rare herbs for preparing the poisons and antidotes listed in the Toxicology Codex.

"Honored customer, are you here to buy medicine or to see a physician?" asked the shopkeeper with a friendly smile.

"Shopkeeper, could you tell me how much silver it would take to buy all the herbs listed here?" asked Lin Zheyu, handing over a sheet of paper filled with medicinal names.

The herbs included not only those for the Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction but also several he planned to use in concocting poisons, sleeping powders, and a few common antidote pills.

"Please wait a moment, sir."

The shopkeeper took the list, brought out an abacus, and began to calculate.

Pa, pa, pa.

His hands moved swiftly, the abacus clattering in rapid rhythm, and before long, the shopkeeper lifted his head.

"Sir, the total comes to 18 taels of silver and 385 wen. However, we don't have Locust Dew Grass or Silktree Wood in stock. These two herbs are restricted substances and forbidden for sale," the shopkeeper explained.

That's quite cheap.

Lin Zheyu nodded slightly, surprised. He had expected Treasure Spring Hall's herbs to be pricier than those sold in smaller shops, but they were about the same, and perhaps even cheaper by a tael or two.

As for being unable to buy Locust Dew Grass or Silktree Wood, that didn't surprise him. One was highly poisonous, and the other was the main ingredient for hallucinogens and aphrodisiacs. Selling them openly would cause countless problems. To obtain them, one would have to buy directly from herb gatherers or seek them out on the black market.

After a brief pause, Lin Zheyu asked, "Can I get a discount if I buy in bulk?"

"Sir, you must be buying these for martial training, am I right? This looks like the formula for the Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction. Although you've added a few unrelated herbs, most of them match that recipe," said the shopkeeper.

"Oh?"

Lin Zheyu was slightly astonished that the shopkeeper had recognized it so easily. As if guessing his thoughts, the shopkeeper added, "That formula's quite common. Every major pharmacy in the city knows it."

He smiled and continued, "The price I gave you is already the lowest you'll find. Feel free to check elsewhere; everyone's selling at the same rate."

"What if I buy fifty sets of herbs for the Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction at once?" asked Lin Zheyu.

The shopkeeper looked at him in surprise. Buying so many sets at once was highly unusual. Most customers only bought two or three at a time, ten at most, and would return for more later.

"For fifty sets, I can give you a discount of 300 wen per set. But that discount only applies to the decoction herbs, not the others. Of course, if you plan to buy fifty sets of the other herbs as well, I can give you a small discount on those too," the shopkeeper added.

"No need for the others. I won't be using that much." Lin Zheyu shook his head, thought for a moment, and couldn't help asking, "Do you happen to have any formulas stronger than the Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction?"

Since Treasure Spring Hall knew this formula, it might also carry other restorative prescriptions.

"You've come to the right person. There are many martial training decoctions circulating in Bafang City, but three of them are notably stronger than the Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction. Their potency surpasses that of the Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction, but they also place an immense burden on the body. Even Blood Qi Realm cultivators don't dare use them casually; most only take them when attempting to break through a bottleneck," said the shopkeeper with a cheerful smile.

"Could you explain them in detail?" asked Lin Zheyu curiously.

"Of course. Please, have a seat, sir. Geng Li, serve the tea! Please wait here for a moment. I'll have the three decoctions prepared for you to sample." The shopkeeper led Lin Zheyu to a side hall and asked him to wait there.

Seems there are many martial artists like me. Treasure Spring Hall even keeps samples ready for testing.

After some thought, he understood the reason. Bafang City, being the most prosperous city in the region, sat at a major crossroads, and almost every merchant caravan passed through it. As a result, countless caravans and travelers came through daily. Among them were surely many martial artists from small towns like Lin Zheyu, seeking potent medicinal formulas.

There may be more to gain here than I thought, Lin Zheyu mused inwardly.

Before long, the shopkeeper returned with a tray holding three bowls of richly scented decoctions. Lin Zheyu sniffed lightly, recognizing a few of the herbs by scent. Though not deeply versed in medicine or toxicology, he could identify three ingredients, but the rest eluded him.

The shopkeeper smiled slightly and said, "This one is the Redfire Blood-Nourishing Powder, this is the Yang Gathering Decoction, and this is the Great Blood and Bone-Fortifying Decoction. The Great Blood and Bone-Fortifying Decoction was derived from the Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction. Its potency is much stronger, but even third transformation martial artists cannot use it for long. It's only suitable during breakthrough attempts.

"The Yang Gathering Decoction is an ancient formula. Its medicinal power penetrates the five viscera and bone marrow, accelerating cultivation progress for martial practitioners. However, its side effects are strong as it greatly stimulates Yang energy. After consumption, one must vent the excess for two or three hours to suppress the inner fire. Overuse may lead to accumulated toxins and depleted Yang energy, requiring other formulas for restoration." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The shopkeeper continued with a cheerful smile, "As for the Redfire Blood-Nourishing Powder, it strengthens blood qi just like the Great Blood and Bone-Fortifying Decoction. But compared to the Great Blood and Bone-Fortifying Decoction, its effect is fiercer. After drinking it, one's body burns with heat. That's where it gets the name Redfire."

Listening to the explanation, Lin Zheyu lifted one bowl and fanned it gently. The aroma was rich and invigorating. Just from the scent alone, he could tell the medicinal power far exceeded that of the Blood-Nourishing Bone-Fortifying Decoction.

"Not bad at all. I'll try them."

He picked up the bowl of Yang Gathering Decoction. There wasn't much inside—barely enough to fill two small teacups. As the decoction entered his stomach, a warm current spread through his body. It was impossible to gauge its full potency from such a small amount. Still, martial artists who often handled medicinal brews could at least sense their general nature.