I Became the Alchemy Master by Picking Up Trash-Chapter 316: Extra Story (1)

A clearing deep within Datang Forest.

Li Nianshen clung to his father’s leg, making a last-ditch plea.

"Dad—! I promise I won’t fight with my classmates again, just spare me this once!"

Li Yi mercilessly pulled his leg out from his son’s embrace and said indifferently, "It’s work time now, call me Principal Li."

"...Principal Li, I admit it was wrong of me to fight, but Wang Miao was the one who started it, Fanzi and I were acting in self-defense. Even if you have to punish us, you shouldn’t be too harsh! The Snake-tailed Tiger Beasts are rare, how can we find one within twenty-four hours?"

Li Yi nodded, "You make a valid point. Then I’ll give you more time. Is three days enough? If not, we can extend it."

"No, no, Principal Li, that’s not what I meant!" Li Nianshen was distressed; this was the deep forest, full of dangers, and they were just two basic academy rookies. The less time they spent here, the better.

"If that’s not what you meant, then make the most of your time."

Li Yi’s unexpected move left Li Nianshen with no choice but to pin his hopes on his buddy, secretly winking at him. Yang Qianfan got the hint, and after a brief pause, his purple peach blossom eyes were brimming with tears.

Yang Qianfan knew that whenever he got into trouble, as long as he showed that teary look, even Chu Ying would lose her temper. Unfortunately, he forgot that the person here today was Yang Zhou, who was the most annoyed by this trick.

As soon as Yang Qianfan looked up, he met his father’s fierce gaze, and a wave of fear ran up his spine, causing his tears to reverse back into his tear ducts.

Yang Zhou, with a stern face, pointed into the forest and said tersely, "Get in there."

"Alright, Dad."

Once the two boys’ figures disappeared into the greenery, Yang Zhou let out an exasperated sigh, "How did a tough guy like me end up with such a crybaby for a son?"

Yang Zhou suspected that the heavens must have misheard his wish for a "delicate daughter" and gave him a "sissy son" instead.

Li Yi patted his shoulder, comforting him, "When Qianfan fights, he’s not a sissy at all. Don’t be too hard on him, senior."

"Hard on him? Compared to Li Xing, I’m practically indulging the kid!"

"Yeah, Xiao Xing was hunting in the deep forest at six years old. Look at these two, already grown, and still so timid. There are few in this world who can match her in both talent and dedication."

Mentioning Li Xing cast a shadow over both Li Yi and Yang Zhou’s expressions.

Li Yi: "Any news from the Heaven-Reaching Tower?"

Yang Zhou: "No. But I saw Yun Yi a few days ago; he’s doing well, so I assume Li Xing is safe too."

Li Yi smiled with relief, "That’s good to know." No matter where Li Xing was now, as long as she was alive and well, it was a blessing.

——————

Li Xing walked leisurely through the forest, her expression relaxed, as if she were in her own backyard.

Wang Yao’s voice came unexpectedly, "Girl, you’ve finally come out. Aren’t you going to see your little beloved first instead of wandering around here?"

"No rush, this is Datang Forest. I haven’t been here for a long time and kind of miss it, so I’m taking a stroll first."

"Hmph, it’s just a wild forest, what’s so interesting..."

Wang Yao the Immortal Monarch’s soul had been brought out of the Inverted Realm by Li Xing in the remnants of Moon Cherry Treasure. However, he wasn’t in high spirits. If he weren’t compelled by Lord Li’s wishes, he would’ve stayed in the Inverted Realm until his own end.

"Immortal Venerable, are you planning to just fade away into nothingness, waiting for your soul to disperse?"

"Otherwise?" Wang Yao’s voice was filled with endless melancholy, "Even an ant clings to life. I’ve painstakingly ascended to the Jade Immortal Realm, just a step away from becoming a Daluo Golden Immortal. Who wants to die? But without a physical body for nourishment, this wisp of my soul will disappear sooner or later."

"What if there were a body?"

Wang Yao laughed, "Do you think getting a body is that easy? Assembling some lotus roots won’t work. That’s just myth-making. Unless you find Meat Ginseng, nothing can serve as an immortal’s body."

Meat Ginseng was concentrated in another lost Qianyuan Fragment, and Wang Yao had no hope that there would be any left on Qianyuan Continent. Having searched several times without success, he had given up on the idea.

Li Xing curled the corners of her mouth, saying lightly, "If I remember correctly, there should be a Meat Ginseng nearby."

"What—?" The next instant, Wang Yao the Immortal Monarch emerged from the Moon Sakura Branch, his faint ghostly form hovering like mist before Li Xing, nearly touching her face.

"Are you serious?"

"I wouldn’t joke with the Immortal Venerable. I’ve been familiar with this forest since I was young. I’m well aware of where the precious Spirit Grass grows and where the rare Star Beasts are. When I discovered that Meat Ginseng, it was barely the size of a fingernail. Hardly enough for medicine, so I set a Spirit Gathering Array to mature it. After all these years, it should be much larger. Though it can’t compare to a thousand-year Meat Ginseng, it’s more than enough to serve as a temporary body for you. Once I find the other two Qianyuan Fragments, I’ll see about getting you something better."

Wang Yao was overjoyed after hearing this, having been resigned to his demise, but now seeing a glimmer of hope, his once-numb heart came back to life.

"Haha, marvelous! Master Li, when shall we go fetch that Meat Ginseng?"

Li Xing’s eyes sparkled, and with a vibrant smile, she asked, "Does the Immortal Venerable no longer mind me wandering aimlessly?"

Wang Yao chuckled twice, "The Master isn’t aimlessly wandering but inspecting! Having such a fine master in the Qianyuan Realm must truly be a blessing from the gods! As long as I, Wang Yao, remain in the Qianyuan Realm, I will follow Master Li without any other thoughts!"

Li Xing’s gaze shifted from Wang Yao to the forest ahead, her eyes smiling, "Someone’s coming. Immortal Venerable, you should rest back in the Nourishing God Wood."

"Sure, but don’t forget to gather the Meat Ginseng for me!"

"No worries."

Wang Yao turned into a wisp of blue smoke and disappeared into the branch in Li Xing’s hair. Li Xing then headed toward the sensed presence.

——————

Li Nianshen wiped the Star Beast blood off his knife, trying to extend his spiritual power into the dense forest. A few minutes later, he sighed deeply, "There’s nothing here."

Yang Qianfan also opened his eyes, shrugging at him, "I didn’t find anything either, what do we do? Should we keep going forward?" The forest ahead grew ever darker and more sinister, and one could only imagine how savage the Star Beasts within were. Although the two had often snuck into the woods to hunt Star Beasts for pocket money, going this deep was a first for them.

"No choice, if we don’t catch a Snake-tailed Tiger Beast, our dads definitely won’t let us back into the city."

Yang Qianfan tightened his wrist guard, a defiant look on his face, "Let’s go! If Sister Xing can catch a Snake-tailed Tiger Beast, so can we!"

"That’s right!"

The two boys gradually made their way into the deeper parts of the forest, unaware that they had left the area inhabited by the Snake-tailed Tiger Beasts and entered the territory of a group of high-level giant Xishu.

Sensing the presence of fresh meat, the Xishu group began moving toward Li Nianshen and Yang Qianfan, attacking them.

Both Li Nianshen and Yang Qianfan were quite talented, having been deeply educated by Li Yi and Yang Zhou, and they were diligent in their training, so they didn’t flinch facing high-level Star Beasts.

Their teamwork was seamless; not only could the giant Xishu not get close to them, but they managed to kill over a dozen.

However, they underestimated the number and endurance of the Xishu. Not just for them as basic academy rookies, even top reserve students would have had a hard time escaping a swarm of giant Xishu.

Soon, Li Nianshen and Yang Qianfan’s Primordial Spirits were exhausted, and the giant Xishu encircled them, growling fiercely, closing in step by step.

Li Nianshen took out the last two Red Medicines, stuffing one into Yang Qianfan’s mouth, saying quietly, "Fanzi, we can’t hold on. Let’s use the light brain to call for help!"

Yang Qianfan chuckled bitterly, "Do you think I don’t want to? There’s no signal!"

Li Nianshen looked down, seeing his own light brain was offline as well, his heart sank in realization.

"Damn it! I haven’t needed to use the SOS button in eight lifetimes, and just when I want to use it, heaven refuses me the chance?"