Liam Ardent stepped forward, his steps steady yet light. The middle-aged man before him, robed in a dark-green physician's garb, froze for a brief moment. His eyes flickered with surprise — Liam's refined and composed bearing was clearly not what he expected from a young stranger.
"What is it you require, elder?" Liam clasped his fists respectfully and bowed slightly.
"I'm going up the mountain to gather herbs. I'll be back in a few days." The man's tone was short and matter-of-fact. He casually pointed to a wooden table beside him, where a stack of papers lay neatly weighed down by a stone. "Those are prescriptions I've written. During my absence, prepare and decoct the medicines exactly as they are written."
After a moment's pause, he continued with an oddly casual tone, "Oh, and my name is Edric Thornwell. If anyone comes looking for me, don't tell them I went herb gathering — tell them I fell off a cliff and died. Until I return, you are the master of this Butterfly Valley."
Liam's brows rose slightly. Tell them he's dead? What sort of trickery was this?
Then a thought struck him. Could it be that Edric Thornwell had already learned that the infamous Golden Flower Matron was on her way? Was this his way of vanishing before trouble arrived?
In the original course of events, The MC should not have yet reached this valley. Liam realized that his own arrival in this world must have scrambled the timeline of the realm!
He already knew that Edric Thornwell had a reputation for "watching people die without helping." The fact that he had even saved him earlier was puzzling. Now it all made sense — he wasn't saving Liam out of kindness. He was simply setting up a scapegoat!
Glancing at the prescriptions on the table, Liam frowned. "Elder, I know nothing about medicinal herbs. I fear I might mistake one herb for another."
Edric Thornwell pulled out a thick, worn tome from within his robe and tossed it toward Liam without much patience. "This is The Ten Thousand Remedies Compendium, written by me. It records the properties of over ten thousand herbs. Follow it exactly and you won't go wrong."
"If you don't understand something, there are more books in the hut behind. Read them yourself. If, by the time I return, you still haven't memorized the key entries in this manual, then leave Butterfly Valley at once."
Liam could feel the man's goodwill plummeting with every word. If Ed didn't need him as bait for the Golden Flower Matron, he would probably have thrown Liam out already.
Without another word, Edric Thornwell strapped on his herb basket and left the valley at a brisk pace.
Liam caught the thick tome. As his fingers brushed against the old, ink-stained cover, the familiar chime of the Infinite Upgrade System rang in his mind.
[Item Acquired]: The Ten Thousand Remedies Compendium — Golden-grade manual authored by Edric Thornwell. Contains detailed information on over ten thousand medicinal herbs. Can be cultivated to mastery.
In this world, manuals and techniques were ranked: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Diamond, King, and Legendary.
Liam's heart leapt. Ed might be an untrustworthy schemer, but he certainly didn't skimp on resources. A Golden-grade manual right off the bat!
[Cultivate this manual?]
"Yes," Liam murmured in his heart.
A pulse of light flashed in his consciousness, and suddenly, knowledge poured into his mind like a flood. Shapes, scents, and textures of herbs; the regions where they grew; their properties — every detail etched into his memory as if he had studied them for years.
[Golden-grade manual "Ten Thousand Remedies Compendium" cultivated successfully. Gained: +1000 EXP, +1000 Internal Energy.]
The chimes didn't stop.
[Level Up] – Root Bone increased. Internal Energy increased.
[Skill Treasury Unlocked] – Reward: Double Training Card x1.
[Achievement System Unlocked] – Achievement: One Craft Well Mastered. Reward: Low-grade EXP Pill x3.
Liam exhaled slowly, the thrill coursing through him. The rewards were generous indeed.
Double Training Card — Doubles the effect of all cultivation for one day.
Low-grade EXP Pill — Instantly grants +100 EXP.
Focusing on the three pills, he willed them to be consumed.
[Low-grade EXP Pill x3 used. +300 EXP.]
His status panel appeared before his eyes:
Name: Liam Ardent
Gender: Male
Age: 15
Level: 2
Root Bone: 31 (Improves comprehension and recovery speed by 3.1x)
Internal Energy: 2100 (Early Second-rate Expert)
EXP: 300 / 2000
Inventory: Starter Gift Pack x1, Double Training Card x1
The level-up had strengthened his body, his internal energy swelling further thanks to the Compendium. He now possessed the force of an early second-rate expert, but frustratingly, he still had no martial techniques to channel that power.
Edric Thornwell's sudden departure could only mean one thing — he had caught wind of the Golden Flower Matron's return.
The Golden Flower Matron was none other than the Purple-robed Dragon king, Isolde Serpentis disguised under another identity — a woman of mixed Han and Persian blood, stunningly beautiful and dangerously alluring.
Liam could not deny he was intrigued by her legendary beauty. But beauty aside, facing her in his current state would be suicide. Her skills were far beyond his.
If she arrived and could not find Edric Thornwell, she would almost certainly vent her wrath on him.
Liam weighed his options. Leaving the valley might be the safest course. But then he recalled Ed's words — that the hut behind contained many books.
If that were true, it could mean a treasure trove of manuals just waiting to be studied. And with his Double Training Card…
His lips curved into a daring grin. Fortune favored the bold.
"Time to gamble," he whispered.
Glossary
Liam Ardent – Protagonist, a modern soul transported into the Celestial Blade Realm. Currently an early second-rate expert with no martial techniques yet.
Edric Thornwell – Renowned physician of Butterfly Valley. Infamous for refusing to treat strangers. Saved Liam for the purpose of using him as a scapegoat for incoming trouble. Author of The Ten Thousand Remedies Compendium.
Butterfly Valley – Remote valley where Edric Thornwell resides, known for its abundance of rare herbs.
Golden Flower Matron / Isolde Serpentis/Grandmother Goldenflower – Disguised identity of the Purple-robed Dragon King. Mixed Han–Persian beauty of great martial prowess. Known for her allure and deadly skill.
She is called the Dragon King because in the Ming Cult, Dragon King is not a literal, gendered title—it is one of the four high-ranking positions known as the Four Great Protector Lords.
The title signifies supreme authority over a division of the cult (often tied to a symbolic beast) and mastery of elite martial arts, regardless of the holder's gender.
Isolde Serpentis earned the rank Purple-Clad Dragon King through her power, influence, and unrivaled skill in both martial arts and poison craft
The Ten Thousand Remedies Compendium – Golden-grade manual containing detailed knowledge of over ten thousand herbs, their locations, and properties. Grants medical expertise and medicinal refinement skills.
Infinite Upgrade System – Liam's unique golden finger. Functions like a game system, allowing cultivation, level-ups, and rewards through skill mastery, battles, and exploration.
Double Training Card – Doubles cultivation gains for one day (does not affect combat experience).
Low-grade EXP Pill – Consumable item granting 100 EXP instantly.
She is called the Dragon King because in the Ming Cult, Dragon King is not a literal, gendered title—it is one of the four high-ranking positions known as the Four Great Protector Lords.
The title signifies supreme authority over a division of the cult (often tied to a symbolic beast) and mastery of elite martial arts, regardless of the holder's gender.
Isolde Serpentis earned the rank Purple-Clad Dragon King through her power, influence, and unrivaled skill in both martial arts and poison craft
This story is inspired from various Wuxia novels i have read so if you find any similarities please dont mind . and if you think this is boring wait till the Dual cultivation starts ,Thank you .
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T/N :
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