Lots of Medicine! . . .
After a prolonged, passionate interlude, the fevered fervor abated. Cha Eun Xiao embraced Bing-Er's form, soft and delicate as a newborn lamb, his chest heaving with satisfaction. A contented smile danced on his lips as he blissfully remarked, "I never expected that having a wife could be so incredibly satisfying."
Deep within his heart, he harbored a lament. He ruminated on the years of his previous life, reflecting on what might have been. "If only I hadn't dedicated myself to that cursed Pure Yang Martial Art," he mused with half-closed eyes. He sighed and continued, "I feel like I squandered my existence, like a destitute dog. I never experienced such profound pleasure until now, wasting so many divine gifts bestowed upon me by the heavens."
Bing-Er, her face flush and breathing ragged, lay serenely in his arms, her body too enfeebled to move. Cha Eun Xiao had proven himself remarkably robust in such matters.
However, amid her post-pleasure tranquility, a chilling, unfamiliar sensation gripped Bing-Er once again. Her voice quivered as she whispered almost inaudibly, "Why does it feel so strange? It's been occurring more frequently lately. I don't understand..."
Cha Eun Xiao, equally breathless and restless, couldn't make out her words clearly. He inquired, "What's troubling you?"
But Bing-Er had already drifted into a peaceful slumber, nestled against his chest, her query unanswered.
Cha Eun Xiao, too, soon succumbed to exhaustion and joined her in rest.
Seven days later, when Xiu-Er visited Cha Eun Xiao, she arrived bearing a treasure trove. The special metals collected by the Chaotic Storms House were taken, accompanied by a plethora of other treasures and an astonishing fifteen hundred portions of materials required to craft the Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan.
Cha Eun Xiao was taken aback by the sheer volume and variety of materials presented to him on this occasion. What made it all the more fascinating was the manner in which Xiu-Er presented the items.
She began by providing him with Snow Lotus, a crucial ingredient for crafting the Agerasia Dan. Astonishingly, these included twenty-five thousand-year-old Snow Lotus plants, alongside a multitude of Snow Lotus of varying ages, such as ten thousand years old, thousands of years old, one thousand years old, and even hundreds of years old. The quantity was overwhelming, totaling over ten thousand of these precious blossoms.
Cha Eun Xiao couldn't hide his astonishment. He exclaimed, "My heavens! Is it even possible? Did you turn the entire world upside down?"
With a hint of disdain in her tone, Xiu-Er responded, "Humph!"
"But... This is an astronomical number!" Cha Eun Xiao stared at the Snow Lotus in disbelief, his excitement palpable. "Ten thousand-year-old Snow Lotus. The world may never see their like again for thousands of years."
Xiu-Er's response was both disdainful and arrogant. "Humph. Not thousands of years. At least ten thousand years. There will never be Snow Lotus in this world again."
This declaration left Cha Eun Xiao profoundly shocked. He couldn't believe the audacity of the assertion.
"Isn't that an exaggeration? Are you so certain that no Snow Lotus will ever be found in the entire Land of Han-Yang?" he asked incredulously.
With another disdainful humph, Xiu-Er offered no further explanation.
Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but wonder if they had truly explored every corner of the world in their quest for these elusive lotuses.
Xiu of the Heavens had not exaggerated in the slightest. It was a truth immutable and unassailable: for the next ten thousand years, the Land of Han-Yang would remain bereft of Snow Lotus.
To comprehend what the two remarkable women, Xiu-Er and Wan-Er, had accomplished in a mere few days would baffle anyone. They had ventured to the extremes, embarking on a relentless quest to acquire those elusive ten-thousand-year-old Snow Lotus.
Utilizing one Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan bead each, gifts from Cha Eun Xiao, they had liberated a third of their suppressed cultivation potential, transcending the limitations of both the Land of Han-Yang and the Qing-Yun Realm. With this newfound power, they had manipulated the elements with ease, literally carving paths through mountains.
The north and south regions of the world trembled as these unstoppable forces journeyed. Their mission was simple: to scour the frozen wastelands of the extreme north and south, exploring every nook and cranny of the snow-capped mountains.
This relentless search for the Snow Lotus and other herbs caused seismic disturbances, shaking the very foundations of those desolate lands. Fortunately, these regions were uninhabited; otherwise, they would have surely sowed chaos and devastation.
Unabated, they cleared the snow off the mountains in pursuit of their treasure. Every Snow Lotus that had aged beyond five hundred years was seized without exception.
Their plunder extended beyond Snow Lotus; Snow Ginseng, Blood Ginseng, Knotweed Root, and other plants that had flourished for ten thousand years were also claimed as spoils.
Thus, they acquired an astonishingly vast array of resources, spanning different varieties and ages. While the Snow Lotus was reserved for Cha Eun Xiao, the rest were deposited within a single ring, which Xiu-Er proceeded to unlock, revealing an impressive collection.
"Twenty-five ten-thousand-year-old Blood Lotus."
"Nine-thousand-year-old Blood Lotus."
"Between eight thousand and nine thousand years old..."
"These are seven thousand years old..."
"And these range from five hundred to two thousand years old..."
"These are Blood Lotus, grouped together in a separate section to avoid any interaction with other materials. Snow Lotus and Blood Lotus are entirely distinct in terms of attributes. One is associated with ice, the other with fire. I'm unsure if they will be of use in creating the Agerasia Dan, but I'll leave that decision to you. You are the master alchemist. Examine them at your leisure."
"These rings contain Snow Ginseng. We haven't sorted them by age. You may wish to do so yourself. I doubt you'll need them for producing the Agerasia Dan..."
Evidently, their primary focus was the materials that held potential for crafting the Agerasia Dan. However, any items they suspected might prove beneficial received their utmost attention. Snow Lotus and Blood Lotus, as two distinct varieties of lotus, were held in the highest regard, while Snow Ginseng garnered less interest.
When Cha Eun Xiao inspected the contents of the rings, he found them brimming with an astonishing variety of materials, a collection of staggering proportions. It was a sight that could be described as nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Each ring offered its own treasure trove, and Xiu-Er's satisfaction was palpable as she showcased their incredible achievements.
"This ring..."
"And this ring..."
Xiu-Er's sense of pride was unmistakable.