CHAPTER 105: MEDICINE LESSON GONE RIGHT (FOR ONCE)

The sun climbed higher, spilling golden light across the Medicine Hall. Herbs swayed gently in the warm breeze from the open windows, and the faint hum of Qi made the air almost alive. Li Ming stood in the center of the room, staring at the glowing compound he had just perfected.

Bai Guo flapped lazily overhead, feathers ruffling. "Descendant, I admit it... that was impressive. Not disastrous for once."

Li Ming rolled his eyes. "Careful. Compliments from you are usually a trap."

Lan Yue leaned against the counter, arms crossed. "Today, the master said you’re not just refining the compound—you’re going to test it on its own energy absorption properties. Essentially, see if it can store and release Qi in a controlled manner."

Li Ming’s eyes widened. "Test it? On myself?"

"Don’t look so shocked," Lan Yue replied. "Controlled experiments are part of your cultivation. It’s how you understand energy, not just brute force."

Bai Guo flapped in annoyance. "Controlled... she says, while risking your life. Honestly, descendant, you’re the only one who makes medicine feel like a battlefield."

Li Ming sighed. "Fine. Let’s get this over with." He picked up the mortar carefully, feeling the warmth of Qi radiating from the mixture. Concentrating, he extended his own energy outward, gently linking it with the pulse of the medicine.

At first, nothing happened. Then, faint sparks danced between the mixture and his hands. The glowing liquid shimmered, rising in a thin column like a liquid lightning ribbon.

"Good," the medicine master said, stepping closer. His eyes were sharp, studying every micro-motion. "Now maintain the flow. Don’t force it. Let the medicine adapt to your energy, not the other way around."

Li Ming nodded, teeth gritted. Slowly, he rotated the mortar, adjusting the pressure of his Qi. The energy began to synchronize, spiraling smoothly around the mixture. A soft humming filled the hall, a sound that made Bai Guo’s feathers stand on end.

"Descendant..." Bai Guo whispered, "you’re glowing like a thunder tree."

"Not glowing," Li Ming muttered, "just... energized."

The master’s eyes narrowed in satisfaction. "Good. Your focus is solid. Now, increase the output slightly. Push the medicine’s energy to a stable maximum without breaking it."

Li Ming’s heart thudded. One misstep, and the compound could scatter, leaving nothing but smoke. He drew in a deep breath, letting his Qi flow steadily, like a river coiling around the mortar. Sparks of lightning danced gently, intertwining with the glowing essence of the Marsh Python scale.

Bai Guo hovered nervously. "Steady... steady... don’t—oh no. You’re humming louder. That can’t be good."

Li Ming ignored him. He felt the pulse of the medicine sync with his own heartbeat. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the mixture began to lift from the mortar, hovering in a suspended sphere above it.

"Alright," Lan Yue said quietly, "now you’re controlling it. Keep it stable for ten breaths."

Li Ming’s eyes narrowed, focusing. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but he held the Qi steady. Ten breaths felt like an eternity, but the mixture remained intact, swirling like liquid energy in midair.

The master nodded approvingly. "Excellent. That is control few can achieve at your level. You are growing beyond simple combat or refinement."

Bai Guo flapped in excitement. "Beyond simple combat? I knew it! Descendant, you’re officially terrifying now!"

Li Ming groaned. "Stop hyping me up. I still have to master this fully."

Lan Yue tilted her head, studying him. "Medicine is cultivation too. You learned to control your own Qi before you learned to control it in battle. This... is another battlefield. One that doesn’t end in broken trees or exploding rocks."

Li Ming glanced at the floating compound, feeling a strange satisfaction. He could sense its energy like a living thing, responding to his Qi with obedience, yet independent.

"Tomorrow," the master said, "we’ll combine this compound with energy-infused herbs to create a medicinal technique that can boost a cultivator’s power during battle. Your next task will test your precision even further."

Li Ming nodded, a small grin forming. "Battle... in a vial. I can handle that."

Bai Guo flapped his wings dramatically. "Finally! A fight where the trees don’t get squashed. I like this kind of war."

Lan Yue chuckled faintly. "Control and patience, Li Ming. Remember, a single mistake in medicine can hurt more than a dozen monsters. Treat every Qi thread with care."

Li Ming looked at the compound one last time, then carefully placed it in a secure vial. He felt its warmth, its subtle pulse — almost like a heartbeat.

"Ready for the next lesson?" the master asked.

Li Ming squared his shoulders, gripping his sword and the vial. "Always."

Bai Guo flapped, hovering with a small smile. "Descendant, somehow... this isn’t as dangerous as usual. Don’t get used to it."

Li Ming smirked. "I won’t. But I’m starting to like being able to fight... with precision instead of just lightning."

Outside, the sun climbed higher. Birds chirped, wind rustled through the trees, and the faint hum of Qi filled the air. It was quiet — deceptively quiet — but Li Ming knew the next challenge would arrive soon.

---

The air in the Medicine Hall crackled faintly as Li Ming placed the Marsh Python scale atop a bed of freshly powdered Qi herbs. The glow from the scale reflected in his eyes, making him look almost... serious.

Bai Guo hovered above his shoulder, muttering, "Serious? Descendant, you have never looked serious without something about to explode."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Li Ming muttered, rolling his eyes. He closed his eyes, letting his lightning Qi flow outward, threading gently into the herbs. The mortar trembled under the pressure, but he held it steady, each heartbeat a metronome guiding the energy.

Xue Yan stepped forward, her movements light, almost teasing. "You’re being overly cautious. If you just feel the Qi, it will naturally blend." She picked up a small vial of glowing liquid from a shelf, swirling it with a grace that made the air shimmer.

Li Ming raised an eyebrow. "Feel the Qi? I’m trying to control it, not have it tickle me."

Bai Guo muttered under his breath, "Descendant, maybe she means actual tickling, judging by her smile."

Ignoring the banter, Li Ming focused again. Sparks of blue lightning began to spiral around the herbs, weaving themselves delicately into the Marsh Python scale. Slowly, the mixture started levitating, forming a faint, pulsating sphere above the mortar.

The master watched from a short distance, arms crossed. "Good. You’ve reached the point where your control allows the Qi to merge rather than overpower. Now, blend the herbs with the energy imprint of the scale without breaking the structure."

Li Ming gritted his teeth. The mortar felt like it was alive, each particle of herb and shard of scale fighting for balance. He rotated the Qi around the mixture, weaving a delicate pattern that required both precision and instinct.

Xue Yan leaned closer, her eyes bright. "Here, try using a micro-flow. Instead of pushing your energy outward, let it spiral inward, guiding the herbs into the scale’s aura. You’ll notice the difference immediately."

Li Ming nodded, adjusting his stance. He let the lightning Qi form a spiral around the herbs, drawing the energy inward like a gentle storm. The sphere of light above the mortar shimmered, then stabilized, humming in perfect harmony with the rhythm of his heartbeat.

Bai Guo flapped once, impressed. "I take it back — that looked almost... competent."

"Careful," Lan Yue said from the side, "don’t let your attention slip. Even the slightest deviation and the Qi could destabilize."

Li Ming’s focus deepened. Each second stretched as he carefully coaxed the herbs and scale together. Slowly, faint golden filaments of energy rose from the sphere, weaving themselves through the mixture like threads in a tapestry.

"Good..." the master murmured. "You’ve begun to synchronize with the compound, not dominate it. That’s a crucial step."

Li Ming exhaled slowly, sweat on his forehead, hands trembling just enough to remind him that this wasn’t a simple task. But as he watched the mixture stabilize, a satisfied smile crept across his face.

Xue Yan clapped her hands softly. "Well done! Now, for the final step — we need to seal the energy so it can be safely administered. You’ll need to guide your Qi to create a containment imprint without breaking the compound."

Li Ming groaned. "Seal energy... right. Because controlling life energy isn’t enough, now I have to babysit it."

Bai Guo muttered, "Descendant, you’re really starting to enjoy this, admit it."

Li Ming ignored him and focused again. He extended a thread of lightning Qi from his dantian, threading it into the sphere like a delicate needle weaving golden threads through silk. Slowly, the sphere’s pulsing began to slow, and a soft hum replaced the previous chaotic energy.

Lan Yue tilted her head. "Impressive. You’ve stabilized it faster than most disciples at your level."

Li Ming breathed out slowly, brushing sweat from his brow. "Finally... it’s done."

The master stepped closer, inspecting the sphere. "Well done. The compound is stable. Its energy can now be administered safely, yet retain its full potency. This will be a valuable tool for any cultivator, especially one advancing in core formation."

Li Ming picked up the vial, holding it carefully. "So... this is what it feels like to craft medicine properly. Not just a battle of energy, but a test of patience, skill... and precision."

Xue Yan smiled brightly. "Exactly! And now you know why medicine cultivation isn’t just an accessory — it’s another form of combat. You fight with subtlety instead of brute force."

Bai Guo flapped his wings. "Fighting with subtlety... I like the sound of that. Descendant, maybe this is your style: quiet, precise, and terrifying."

Li Ming scowled. "Quiet and precise doesn’t usually come with chaos chickens narrating your life."

Outside the hall, sunlight spilled across the courtyard. Birds chirped. For the first time in days, the world seemed calm — deceptively calm.

The master’s gaze hardened. "Tomorrow, you will test this compound in a controlled battle simulation. Only then will you see its true potential."

Li Ming nodded, tucking the vial safely into his satchel. "I’m ready. Whatever challenge comes next, I’ll be prepared."

Bai Guo flapped once more, a gleam in his eye. "Descendant... this time, if you survive, I might actually be impressed. Slightly."

Li Ming groaned, brushing dust off his robes. "Slightly is better than nothing."

Lan Yue’s voice echoed from the doorway. "Remember, Li Ming, cultivation isn’t just strength. It’s control, patience, and understanding your own energy. Medicine is another battlefield — but one you can master."

Li Ming nodded, eyes flicking to the glowing vial in his hand. He felt ready, not just to fight monsters or rival disciples, but to wield energy with precision.

Because in the world of cultivation, survival wasn’t about luck. It was about skill, focus, and knowing when to strike — or when to heal.

And tomorrow... the real test of his medicinal mastery would begin.

To be continued...