Chapter 1

In the dead of night, as the first snow began to fall, the city of Green Mountain was shrouded in silence.

In a secluded courtyard of the Li family's residence on South Street, a flickering candlelight could be seen.

Inside the room, a young boy of thirteen or fourteen, with a delicate appearance, sat cross-legged on the bed, his bare upper body pierced by several silver needles.

The fire in the brazier beside the bed burned brightly, and the boy sat as still as an old monk, unmoving.

It wasn't until the candle burned down to the end that he opened his eyes, raised his eyebrows, and said in a deep voice, "What a wretched body, but even if it were a hundred times worse, I will still transform you completely!"

His real name was Nie Yu, the first-grade alchemist of the powerful Shangtian Kingdom, and the chief elder of the imperial medical college, enjoying the privilege of not having to bow to the emperor.

With his "Heavenly Dao Fire Technique" and the nine-layer purple platform earth fire, he had refined countless rare elixirs for the royal family, and his status was so exalted and glorious that no one could match him.

Even his few disciples were renowned throughout the court, and their influence could shake the imperial city.

But unexpectedly, at the height of his power, he was involved in a struggle for the throne among the princes and was killed by a martial arts expert in a fierce battle!

At the moment of his death, his fine robes were stained with blood, and his proud spirit was trampled underfoot by others.

The glory and honor he had accumulated in his life were shattered in an instant, and the humiliation he suffered made him howl with anger and resentment.

Life was like a dream, and when he woke up, he found himself reborn as Li Mo, the young master of the Li family in Green Mountain City.

It was said that this Li Mo had fallen into the water while playing outside and was thought to be dead when he was rescued, but after coughing up some water, he miraculously survived.

Nie Yu was certain that the young master of the Li family had died when he was rescued, but his soul, filled with resentment at the time of his death, had moved to this small city in a neighboring kingdom and possessed the body.

From then on, the first-grade alchemist of the Shangtian Kingdom was no more, and there was only Li Mo of the Li family, who would live on with this new identity and pursue the path of alchemy once again!

The tragic death he had experienced made him deeply understand the importance of martial arts cultivation.

The "Heavenly Dao Fire Technique" he used for alchemy was known to the world as a method for controlling fire and refining elixirs, but few knew that it was also a profound offensive technique.

However, he had always focused on alchemy and neglected martial arts training.

Even so, he had cultivated to the eighth realm of the ninth level of martial arts in his lifetime, making him a world-renowned expert.

But this self-satisfaction was shattered when he was killed in one move by a spirit realm expert who had broken through the ninth level, a naked mockery and trampling.

This time, he was determined to break through the constraints of martial arts and take his revenge!

To cultivate the "Heavenly Dao Fire Technique," one needed an excellent constitution and a strong body.

But this young master of the Li family was born weak, with a wretched constitution that made it impossible for him to practice martial arts.

Moreover, this boy had no interest in martial arts and spent his days sightseeing, so by the age of thirteen, his body was weak and frail, and he had no trace of true qi.

Starting martial arts training at this age was already several years too late.

However, Li Mo, the first-grade alchemist of the Shangtian Kingdom, had a skill in alchemy that could turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, and he was determined to transform his constitution and cultivate martial arts to the extreme.

In recent days, he had tried many methods, and tonight he had used the ancient silver needle technique to regulate his meridians, but the wretchedness of his constitution exceeded his expectations.

Therefore, he decided to refine the Taiyuan Pill.

Starting over, he no longer had the nine-layer purple platform earth fire, and he had not yet begun to cultivate the "Heavenly Dao Fire Technique," so the best he could do was to refine the lowest-grade yellow pills.

However, although the Taiyuan Pill could not completely reverse his constitution, it could improve its quality.

As long as his constitution improved, he could cultivate the "Heavenly Dao Fire Technique," and refining mystic-grade and earth-grade pills would be within reach.

To refine the Taiyuan Pill, he needed to purchase several dozen taels of medicinal herbs.

Although the Li family had some assets, this was still a significant expense, and it would be difficult to obtain the money from his parents.

Li Mo searched his memory, and the name Li Gaoyuan came to mind.

Compared to the Li family, the Li Gaoyuan family, also a branch of the Li family in Green Mountain City, was much larger and wealthier, including a large-scale Li family pharmacy.

This young master Li Gaoyuan was Li Mo's childhood friend.

Early the next morning, Li Mo set out and went to the Li family residence on North Street.

As he entered the courtyard, he saw a chubby boy sitting on a stool, panting heavily.

His face was flushed, and he was sweating, looking like he had just finished his morning exercise.

Seeing Li Mo, the chubby boy exclaimed dramatically, "What the heck, Li Mo, you usually sleep until the sun is high, but why are you up so early today?"

Li Mo smiled faintly and said, "I have something to do today, so I got up early."

"What big deal could make you get up early?" Li Gaoyuan asked curiously, raising his voice even higher.

"I want to refine a pill," Li Mo said casually.

"What, you—refine a pill?" Li Gaoyuan stared at him with wide eyes, then burst into laughter, pointing at him and scolding, "Li Mo, Li Mo, if you want to read and write, that's fine, but alchemy isn't something anyone can learn. Your body is so weak, you'll probably collapse before you even finish refining the pill."

The chubby boy spoke bluntly, but Li Mo had already prepared an excuse, saying, "Because my constitution is so poor, I have chosen to devote myself to alchemy. By using pills to cleanse my marrow and refine my meridians, I can transform myself completely."

Seeing the serious expression on the young boy's face, Li Gaoyuan was amazed and slapped his thigh, saying, "Li Mo, you've really come to your senses! I will definitely support you in your alchemy! By the way, you need medicinal herbs, so let's go to the pharmacy."

The chubby boy was straightforward, and Li Mo nodded slightly.

He never owed anyone a favor, especially not a junior, so he thought he would teach him some martial arts techniques as a thank you.

In no time, the two of them arrived at the Li family pharmacy.

With its red pillars and gilded sign, the pharmacy was bustling with busy doctors and a long queue of patients.

When the shop assistant saw Li Gaoyuan, he hurried to inform the manager, while Li Mo walked to the medicine cabinet to check if the required herbs were available.

At that moment, he overheard a few shop assistants whispering.

"I don't know what our young master is thinking, actually playing with this waste of space."

"Exactly, our Li family is a family of martial arts, and this Li Mo, though a young master, can't even practice martial arts. It's a joke."

"I think he's just trying to ingratiate himself with our young master. He's so shameless."

Li Mo's expression didn't change; he had no interest or time to deal with these gossiping subordinates. However, his eyes lit up when he saw a corner of the counter.

There was a large basket of black spearwood, short and dark, unremarkable, but he敏锐地发现其中有一截红戟木。

黑戟木价格低廉，半两银子可以买一大筐。

红戟木是其变种，这一截虽然不过百两银子，但因其稀有而显得珍贵。

除了追求丹道，李默平生唯一的兴趣就是敛宝。

想想他生前居住的皇城大宅里，宝库藏宝无数，当年多少人为了求得一丹，挤破了门槛，拱手将祖传秘籍和灵宝献上。

结果，辛苦积攒了那么多宝贝，如今不知落入谁手。

不过，他的东西岂是别人想拿就拿的？等他修炼好了，一定要把这些宝贝连本带利拿回来！

他立刻告诉了李高远，李高远便叫来伙计将这截红戟木拿出包好。

这时，一个五旬老者从里间赶了出来，正是掌柜李宋池。

李高远拿出李默给的药方，说道：“四堂叔，把这药方上的药材给我抓几副。”

李宋池接过药方扫了一眼，便好奇道：“这是太渊丹的药方，小少爷是要找人炼太渊丹？”

“不，是李默自己炼来用的。你尽管拿药就是了，多拿几副。”李高远答道。

李宋池一听，老脸上顿时浮起鄙夷之色，轻蔑地瞥了李默一眼，甚至重重哼了一声。

太渊丹在黄级丹药中是极难炼制的一类，二品黄级炼丹师都不敢碰这玩意儿。

这个不学无术的李默竟然想炼此丹，真是不自量力！

别说几副药材，就算几十副药材，那都是被糟蹋的份。

不过，他也没再追问下去，转身即去拿药。

几副药不过几十两，对于家大业大的李家而言，也就是少爷李高远一句话的事情。

待药材取到手，李默又向李高远借了丹炉，再加上那截红戟木，返回了家中。

一回家，关上房门，李默即刻起火炼丹。

不到一个时辰，太渊丹出炉。

一炉四丹，三枚上品，一枚极品。

若李宋池亲眼目睹，只怕眼珠子都要瞪出来。

只是李默并未有半点满意的表情，反倒是摇了摇头，叹息道：“一切从头开始，万事维艰呐，若我还是地级炼丹师，四枚都当是极品。”

说罢，他才慢悠悠地拾起极品丹，丢入口中。

一触舌头，小小一颗药丸中喷冒出无数股洪流般的力量，宛如山洪爆发般朝着体内经脉冲撞而去。

根骨上乘者，体内气脉通畅，一气冲天。

李默这劣等根骨则是气脉曲折，以至于气息流动七拐八折。

如今，这药丸之力化为洪流之能，一路冲撞过去，硬生生将曲折的经脉打直。

伴随着的，除了猛烈的冲击外便是难以忍受的剧痛。

好似一把把刀子在经脉上刮动着，那种刮骨跺筋之痛就是健壮的武者都难以承受，更别提李默这单薄如纸的身子。

李默早知药效刚猛，他双拳紧握，强大的意志力支持下，纵如狂风巨浪下的小舟，但任风雨再大，也如磐石般不倒。

足足一刻钟的冲击，太渊丹的力量才渐渐缓和下去。

李默浑身汗流浃背，轻吸了口气，这才露出淡淡笑意。

自他借体重生，呼吸都带着喘音，一口气吸进肚子，宛如渡过千沟万壑，但是如今是一口气就到了底，说不出的顺畅。

只是一颗太渊丹，便令根骨发生了如此转变，令他心中有数，他断定三颗太渊丹服下去，便能够成为普通的武道根骨，修炼武学成为可能。

拿着那截红戟木，李默走到院中。

洗净表面的泥土，阳光下可以清晰看到这木头上有着黑戟木所没有的赤红色纹路。

赤纹和黑纹交错而行，构造成细腻完美的线条。唯一欠缺的地方，便是这木头中间处有着一处树眼，影响观瞻。

他不经意地在树眼上摸了一下，陡然感到这地方似乎有些松动。

“莫不成，这竟是个匣子？”李默心头砰然一动。