Outside the village lay a vast medicinal garden. Within it grew spirit herbs the Apothecary had gathered over many years from the Great Ruins. The villagers had long coveted them, yet none dared steal a single stalk—for the Apothecary kept countless dangerous insects in the garden, making intrusion a deadly gamble.
The Great Ruins were largely untraveled, rich in spirit herbs and rarities alike. Over the years, the Apothecary had collected innumerable precious plants and transplanted them here. He rarely made use of these treasures. Yet now, he had finally decided to expend them—on Qin Mu.
One had to know: his standards were exceedingly high. Every herb he gathered was a rare specimen. Any single plant taken outside would cause a tremendous stir. This time, the Apotheary had truly spared no expense.
As the bonfire gradually died out, the villagers returned to their homes to rest. Qin Mu also went back to his room and slept in the outer chamber. Before long, he fell into a deep sleep. Granny Si tucked the quilt around him, gazing at the sleeping boy's face with a tender smile.
"My Mu'er… Whether or not you are the Overlord Body, you are the child I raised. I will not allow anyone, or anything, to harm you."
She was perceptive. From the expressions of the Village Chief and the Apothecary during the celebration, she had sensed much—though she said nothing of it.
Tiptoeing softly, she returned to the inner room to sleep.
The next morning, the Blind Man burst into the house with his bamboo staff, shouting excitedly,"Mu'er! Get up quickly—it's already dawn! The Apothecary—"
"I haven't gotten out of bed yet! Blind man, how dare you peek!"
With a thunderous boom, Qin Mu opened his sleepy eyes just in time to see the Blind Man flying out of Granny Si's room, tracing an arc through the air before disappearing beyond the village, landing who knew where.
"Amazing, Grandpa Blind!" Qin Mu exclaimed in awe.
Even while airborne, the Blind Man clutched his bamboo staff, sat cross-legged midair, and wore an utterly innocent expression as he was kicked away.
Qin Mu got up, dressed, washed, prepared breakfast, and ate with Granny Si. After cleaning the pots and bowls, he saw the Blind Man come running back from outside the village, shouting excitedly,"You vicious old hag! That kick was brutal—I almost couldn't find my way back! Mu'er, hurry up! The Apothecary's prepared a potion just for you!"
Granny Si's expression darkened. She shot the Blind Man a fierce glare, then rose and hobbled out, saying,"I'm going to Dragon-Embellished City to trade. Blind man, Mu'er is in your care these few days. If even a single hair is missing when I return, I'll hold you accountable! Old Ma! Is the ox cart ready? Cripple, is the raft finished?"
Qin Mu quickly followed the Blind Man to the Apothecary's shop. Before even stepping inside, a powerful medicinal fragrance hit his nose. He then saw a massive vat suspended in midair, surrounded by several vermilion birds in flight. Flames blazed between their feathers, roasting the vat until it glowed red-hot, while gurgling sounds echoed from within.
"Mu'er, this is your medicine," said the Apothecary.
Upon Qin Mu's arrival, the Apothecary took out the final ingredient—a single green leaf—and tossed it into the vat. The instant it touched the boiling liquid, the potion thickened dramatically.
With a casual flick of his hand, the vat began spinning rapidly. Clanking sounds rang out as the contents transformed—an entire vat of liquid condensed into half a vat of white pills, rolling and colliding with metallic chimes.
The Apothecary waved his hand. The vermilion birds flew out through the window lattice and vanished.
The vat landed on the ground.
Qin Mu stared in astonishment. "Grandpa Apothecary… I have to eat this many pills today?"
"If you ate all of them, you'd be dead," the Apothecary replied calmly."This batch was refined using only the finest spirit herbs. Though it is the lowest-grade Solid Origin Pill, a single pellet surpasses a hundred of ordinary ones. You may take only one or two at a time—no more."
Qin Mu was skeptical. In the past, the Apothecary had always given him strange concoctions by the bowlful. Could one pill really be so potent?
The Blind Man was unconvinced as well. "Those wandering quacks always claim one pill equals a hundred. Is yours really that strong? Though it does smell nice."
The Apothecary grinned darkly. "Why don't you eat the whole vat and find out?"
"Mu'er, grab a handful and try it!" the Blind Man tempted.
Qin Mu ignored him and pinched a single pill, swallowing it.
The moment it entered his stomach, something felt terribly wrong.
It was as though hundreds—no, thousands—of fire dragons, water dragons, metal dragons, and wood dragons were rampaging inside him. His body grew tall, then short; bloated, then thin. Frost formed on his skin one moment, while the next his clothes smoked with heat. Vines sprouted from his garments, fur on his beast-hide clothes grew wildly, then everything took on a metallic sheen—his skin hardening as if cast from iron!
Worse still, multiple symptoms erupted simultaneously, tormenting him beyond measure.
He let out a muffled groan and immediately circulated the Overlord Body Three Pellet Art, using his vital energy to neutralize the medicinal force.
The Blind Man's face changed drastically. "Apothecary—this Solid Origin Pill doesn't seem ordinary at all!"
"Correct. Ordinary Solid Origin Pills come in four types: Fire, Water, Metal, and Wood."
The Apothecary's smile turned sinister."They nourish the corresponding elemental spirit bodies. But Mu'er's Overlord Body vitality has no attribute. So I took a compromise—refining four elemental spirit herbs into a single pill, containing all four attributes. Perhaps it can awaken the true might of the Overlord Body. Only his vitality can absorb and resolve it. If you had eaten this entire vat—heh…"
The Blind Man shuddered. Four elemental energies clashing together—if he had eaten them all, his cultivation would likely have been reduced by several levels.
"Are you refining medicine… or poison?" the Blind Man muttered.
Suddenly, Qin Mu let out a roar and bolted away, vanishing in an instant.
"Will he be alright?" the Blind Man asked anxiously.
"He's digesting the medicine. No need to worry," the Apothecary said—though unease flickered in his heart. This was his first attempt at modifying the Solid Origin Pill, his first time refining it, and his first time administering it. As for its true potency or side effects… even he wasn't entirely sure.
Naturally, he dared not say this aloud—otherwise Granny Si would have come after him with her life.
From the distant forest came Qin Mu's roars, followed by the thunderous collapse of trees.
The Apothecary's eyelid twitched. "He'll be fine. Listen—he's full of vigor."
The Blind Man sighed. "Youth truly has boundless energy."
In the forest, Qin Mu raced through the trees, fists and legs flashing like lightning. He struck and kicked wildly, shattering massive trees with just a few blows.
It hurt.Too much.
The medicinal force was overwhelming. Even while circulating the Overlord Body Three Pellet Art, he felt as though his body might explode. He could only vent the excess power by unleashing every martial technique taught by Cripple and Old Ma.
Within his spirit embryo divine repository, the tiny humanoid spirit embryo also breathed frantically, absorbing and refining the surging vitality—so exhausted it could barely catch its breath.
"Die, you little thing!"
The forest shook. A berserk demonic ape rose from the woods, roaring in fury. A mountain-sized fist smashed toward Qin Mu.
Driven mad by the medicine, Qin Mu had unknowingly entered the ape's territory once again. Seeing the same tiny intruder from before, the ape flew into a rage and attacked without hesitation.
Qin Mu's eyes burned red. Vital energy exploded within him. He leapt upward and punched straight at the ape's fist!
Boom!
A heavy crash rang out. Qin Mu was sent flying, smashing through several trees. The ape leapt after him, swinging a massive leg like a black pillar crushing down.
Qin Mu roared and unleashed countless kicks in an instant, striking the ape's muscles and tendons. Its leg went numb, and it retaliated with a crushing downward punch.
Qin Mu blocked and staggered back.
The ape pressed close, fists and legs tearing through the air, generating violent winds. Qin Mu met it head-on, fearless even as he fell into disadvantage.
Man and beast—one small, one colossal—laid waste to the forest, stones exploding around them.
Suddenly, Qin Mu sprang upward, sprinted along the ape's arm, and landed before its face.
Thousand-Handed Buddha!
His arms split into countless afterimages—hundreds of punches smashing into the ape's soft nose.
The ape howled in agony, tears streaming as it collapsed backward. A massive palm swung out, slapping Qin Mu and embedding him in the cliff wall like a human-shaped imprint.
The ape rose, blood pouring from its nose. Seeing Qin Mu stuck in the cliff, it growled in satisfaction,"Die, little thing."
The embedded figure twitched.
Then, with a violent push, Qin Mu tore himself free and charged forward like a madman.
The ape recoiled in shock, pounding its chest and leaping forward, roaring,"Little thing—die!"