Chapter 24: Startling Soul Stabilization

Watching the rabbits continue to swell and expand, Han Li sensed something was wrong. A sudden realization hit him, and he flung the porcelain bowl, now as fearsome as a venomous creature, into the nearby herb field. He then turned and sprinted away, only stopping when he was dozens of feet from the rabbits.

As he turned to look back, two nearly simultaneous explosions rang out. Han Li shuddered and glanced over. As expected, the rabbits’ bodies had burst, torn into several pieces, with blood and flesh scattered across the ground. Two pits had formed where the rabbits were tied, surrounded by their mangled remains, blood, and chunks of flesh—an utterly gruesome sight.

Han Li let out a long breath and collapsed onto the ground. If he hadn’t reacted quickly, he might have been caught in the rabbits’ explosion. While it might not have seriously injured him, being drenched in rabbit blood and gore would have been far from pleasant.

Once his heart calmed, Han Li stood up and approached the pits.

He looked at the bloody, mangled scene, then at the shattered porcelain bowl in the herb field, and fell silent.

He had hoped to discover some miraculous elixir in the green liquid, but instead, it turned out to be something terrifying. If it was poison, so be it—but to cause such a horrific death for the rabbits! Han Li resolved never to touch it again. It was too frightening! Despite his years under Doctor Mo’s tutelage, where he had encountered many deadly poisons that could kill instantly, none had caused such a terrifying demise.

Fortunately, Han Li’s mental resilience was strong. He lingered at the scene for a while longer before deciding to leave.

With noon approaching, he needed to deliver the prepared secret medicine to Senior Brother Li. He would deal with the aftermath here after delivering the medicine.

With this in mind, Han Li didn’t spare the explosion site another glance, leaving all the trouble for later. He returned to his residence, rested briefly, and then took the medicine to the entrance of the God Hand Valley.

Han Li was punctual, arriving at the valley entrance exactly at noon. Senior Brother Li, or Li Feiyu, was already there, looking anxious.

He stood alone at the valley’s exit, now dressed in a white brocade robe, though still carrying the long saber that had left a deep impression on Han Li. When Han Li arrived, Li was gazing toward the valley with a trace of urgency.

Seeing Han Li approach, he relaxed, the anxiety fading as a slight smile curved his lips.

“Junior Brother Han, you’re right on time! You said noon, and you arrived exactly at noon. I’ve been waiting for nearly half an hour,” Li Feiyu said, half-joking, half-complaining.

“Sorry, I spent too much time preparing the medicine last night and slept late. By the time I finished my tasks this morning, it was exactly noon,” Han Li replied, half-truthfully.

“Junior Brother Han, the medicine… is it ready?” Li Feiyu, in his urgency, stammered slightly.

Han Li didn’t answer directly. Instead, he smiled calmly, slowly pulled a palm-sized medicine packet from his robe, and tossed it to Li Feiyu.

“Before taking the Marrow Extraction Pill, dissolve a spoonful of this powder in cool boiled water and drink it. It will reduce your pain.”

“Thank you, Junior Brother Han! Thank you!” Li Feiyu was overjoyed. Even a slight reduction in the excruciating pain of the Marrow Extraction Pill was a godsend. Other pain-relieving medicines he’d tried were ineffective, but since Junior Brother Han knew the pill’s characteristics and had taken it himself, this medicine might actually work.

“Don’t thank me yet—wait until it proves effective. This is only a year’s supply. I’ve used up all the herbs I had. Once I gather more, I’ll make additional batches for you,” Han Li said bluntly.

“No problem. A year’s worth is enough for now. Whether it works or not, I, Li Feiyu, deeply appreciate your kindness,” Li Feiyu said, regaining his composure. Holding the medicine he’d sought, he dropped his pretense and sincerely acknowledged owing Han Li a great favor.

Han Li smiled faintly, said no more, and bid farewell to Li Feiyu.

Eager to test the medicine’s effects, Li Feiyu didn’t try to keep him. They parted ways after a brief farewell.

Back in the valley, Han Li first cleaned up the herb garden. He swept the rabbits’ remains, blood-stained soil, and broken bowl shards into the pits, then leveled the two craters with dirt. The area now looked no different from before the experiment.

Satisfied, Han Li brushed the dust off his hands and surveyed the area to ensure he hadn’t missed anything.

When his gaze fell on the spot where the porcelain bowl had shattered, he paused.

He clearly remembered that when he threw the bowl, the diluted water had spilled onto a small patch of the herb garden, soaking a few herbs. He hesitated, wondering if those herbs, having absorbed the liquid, had become toxic. Would consuming them lead to the same fate as the rabbits? Should he uproot them now? These questions surged into his mind.

After much deliberation, Han Li decided to wait and observe the herbs for a few days, treating it as another small experiment. If they showed signs of toxicity, he could remove them later.

With his decision made, and having nothing else to do, he went to the stone chamber to train, hoping to make a breakthrough beyond his current progress.

Han Li no longer cared about the technique’s specific purpose. Practicing it had become instinctive. If he didn’t train, he wouldn’t know what to do on the mountain. Advancing to the next layer had become his sole goal.

After an afternoon of focused training, Han Li was disheartened to find no progress. He felt he was just a fingertip away from breaking through to the fourth layer, yet he remained stuck, his efforts wasted.

It was clear that without the aid of medicines, he would likely remain at the third layer forever, unable to advance.

Han Li began to hope that Doctor Mo would return soon, bringing enough herbs to help him overcome his current bottleneck.