I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Silver Frost Grass

After washing up, Duan Rong had breakfast in the canteen, then left the Yuan Shun Escort Agency and headed to the herbal shop on West Main Street.

Having digested and absorbed the Minor Success Realm of the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber, he needed to seize the time to start cultivating the Third Level of Inner Breath, striving to further enhance his Inner Breath before escorting the shipment!

And cultivating Inner Breath is absolutely unacceptable to him without medicinal supplements!

Duan Rong arrived at the entrance of the herbal shop, just as the door panels were being removed, and several clerks were still yawning!

Duan Rong stepped inside and greeted Ma Chu, who was standing behind the counter looking at account books!

Duan Rong hadn’t visited for a few days, Ma Chu was slightly taken aback, then warmly smiled and said, ”Escort Master Duan, you’re early today!”

”I haven’t been here for a few days to give you business, what’s the matter? Ma brother, did you miss me?” Duan Rong smiled slyly.

Ma Chu, looking a bit embarrassed, hurriedly said, ”You’re an old patron; of course, we think of you!”

”The street has been a bit unsettled lately, so I stayed in the Escort Agency for a while,” Duan Rong said, taking out a prescription written by Xiao Zongting from his inner pocket and placing it on the counter as he looked at Ma Chu, saying, ”Could you please prepare three doses of medicine according to this prescription?”

Ma Chu took the prescription and glanced at it, his heart stirred. Having worked in this shop for twenty years, he could roughly estimate the cost of a prescription at a glance, and this one wasn’t cheap.

”Please wait a moment, Escort Master Duan!” Ma Chu’s attitude grew noticeably more respectful.

”No rush!”

Duan Rong paced around the main hall, observing his surroundings...

Meanwhile, Ma Chu began preparing the medicine for Duan Rong at the counter, following the prescription!

He started by fetching a few common herbs from the drawers behind the counter and placing them on top of the counter!

However, for the remaining herbs in the prescription, which were more valuable, Ma Chu took the prescription and went into the storeroom at the back!

In the back storeroom, the shopkeeper, who loved peace and quiet and was already quite old, rarely came to the front hall anymore, so he usually left the management of these matters to Ma Chu.

After about a quarter of an hour, Ma Chu returned with a troubled expression, stood behind the counter, and said to Duan Rong, ”Escort Master Duan, there isn’t enough Silver Frost Grass in this prescription to make three doses.”

”Not enough for three doses!” Duan Rong was somewhat surprised and asked, ”Then how many doses can it make?”

”It’s enough for two doses!” Ma Chu replied.

”Then prepare two doses first!” Duan Rong said, ”Isn’t Silver Frost Grass a common herb? How can a big shop like yours run out of stock?”

”Silver Frost Grass isn’t an uncommon herb, but it easily gets damp, doesn’t keep well, and is quite expensive! Generally, we don’t store a lot of it,” Ma Chu explained with a smile.

”When will the new stock of Silver Frost Grass arrive?” Duan Rong asked worriedly.

”Escort Master Duan need not worry; even if this shop is out of stock, there are two other herbal shops in this county, both owned by Ximen, which can exchange stock at any time.”

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong felt relieved!

However, Xiangu County really is remote, the flow of information is restricted, and resources are scarce!

He had only reached the Third Level of Inner Breath, yet there was already a temporary supply problem with the herbs!

If he progresses further, the issues will likely increase!

Indeed, Duan Rong was right, Xiangu is after all limited in terms of experts, and experts at the True Qi Realm are naturally few in number!

Even those who have achieved Great Success in the Inner Breath Realm are rare, and these martial artists often need to order in advance, as the medicinal herbs they use are too precious and used in small quantities!

Thinking of this, a trace of worry rose in Duan Rong’s heart!

He was concerned about the herb problem for cultivating the Second Layer of the Fetal Concealment Scripture!

After achieving the First Layer, the cultivation of the Second Layer must be prioritized!

But for now, he is not in a hurry to cultivate the Second Layer!

Because his current primary cultivation goal is to quickly achieve the Third Level of Inner Breath!

Otherwise, having only the Fetal Concealment Scripture, with his spiritual power escalating layer by layer, yet failing to keep up with his inner strength cultivation, would render his techniques nothing but an empty showcase!

Moreover, the cultivation of inner strength requires painstaking effort; even though he has absorbed the Artifact Spirit, his Inner Breath will not increase out of thin air, he must painstakingly practice it himself!

”Even Silver Frost Grass can run out of stock! Trying to get Dragon Flame Fat for the Second Layer of the Fetal Concealment Scripture in this Xiangu County is probably a pipe dream!” Duan Rong thought to himself.

After all, he had encountered the name Silver Frost Grass in miscellaneous books before, but he had never heard of Dragon Flame Fat?

Furthermore, Duan Rong always felt that the medicines for the Fetal Concealment Scripture were not ordinary herbs, at the very least related to spiritual power?

Musing over this, Ximen Kankan’s chubby face flashed through Duan Rong’s mind!

Duan Rong’s eyes narrowed; it seems that to get Dragon Flame Fat, he’ll have to rely on Ximen Kankan!

Trying to obtain it on the market, even if possible, would easily be traced...

After all, it’s a medicine associated with the Fetal Concealment Scripture!

But Ximen Kankan is different; he could order the old Qin in charge of sourcing for the Ximen Family to procure it privately!

This way, they could avoid market tracking!

”The key is whether Ximen Kankan can keep his mouth shut!”

Although after the incident with the Erotic Painting, Ximen Kankan seemed to hold him in high regard, Duan Rong wouldn’t easily disclose this matter unless it could be done safely; after all, safety is paramount!

Cultivation can wait, but a life is just one!

Duan Rong, carrying two doses of medicine, thought as he walked down the street: ”Looks like I have to find a way to further influence that kid!”

Duan Rong returned to the Yuan Shun Escort Agency, first going to the medicine furnace in the central courtyard, where he decocted one dose of the medicine.

Because the medicine for the Third Level of Inner Breath needs to be decocted for two hours to fully extract its properties, Duan Rong did not wait there but returned to his cramped dormitory!

Duan Rong decided to use these two hours to practice the Bone Shrinking Technique!

After all, the escort will depart in ten days!

His key training now consists of two aspects: the Third Level of Inner Breath and the Clavicle Technique!

Duan Rong trained the Bone Shrinking Technique in his cramped dormitory for two hours, and as lunchtime approached, he concluded his practice, his whole body’s joints extending with crackling sounds, gradually reverting to his original form!

Using a towel to wipe his sweat, Duan Rong’s gaze still carried a hint of fierceness, the aftereffect of being submerged in wave-like pain repeatedly...

Though he had finished his practice, his joints and muscles still ached subtly!

Duan Rong gritted his teeth, left the dormitory, and went to the canteen to eat before returning to the medicine furnace room, where he gulped down the decocted medicine!

It was unclear what herbs were added to this prescription; perhaps it was that Silver Frost Grass, for the medicine had a coolness that significantly mitigated the bitterness when consumed.

After drinking the medicine, Duan Rong rinsed his mouth with fresh water, then returned to the Martial Arts Arena, finding a corner to begin practicing the Rounded Silent Posture!

With the help of the Devouring Artifact Spirit’s power, Duan Rong’s cultivation method was extraordinary!

He had only just begun cultivating the Third Level of Inner Breath, but he was already extremely familiar with the operation method of this level of Inner Breath!

This sensation was akin to an experienced driver going to driving school to get a license.

As soon as Duan Rong stood up, the operation method of the Third Level of Inner Breath immediately began to work!

However, the operation method of this Third Level of Inner Breath slightly surprised Duan Rong!

”The operation method of this Third Level involves two circuits intersecting and operating simultaneously!”

”This really tests the ability to use mental focus in multiple directions!”

”With such an operation method, it likely requires powerful spiritual strength and highly concentrated attention to achieve!”

”Had my spiritual power not broken through to level 2, even if I had digested and absorbed the Minor Success Realm of the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber, I probably wouldn’t have been able to handle such an operation method of Inner Breath!”

Thinking thus, Duan Rong gained a deeper understanding of martial arts centered on spiritual power!