Chapter 54

Wu Mian finally opened the porcelain bottle, and inside was a thick, black liquid with a pungent smell that hit his brain. Wu Mian frowned and immediately put the stopper back on, then looked at Gui Bu Gui and said, "How can it have such a foul smell? What's so precious about this elixir that even someone like Guang Ren would be interested?"

Gui Bu Gui lay half on the ground, his eyes shifting between Wu Mian and the porcelain bottle. After hearing Wu Mian's question, the old man said, "People like us have to go through a thirteen-day period of weakness every three years. During these thirteen days, if we can take this elixir, we can immediately return to our peak state. Think about it, if someone comes to cause trouble during your thirteen days of weakness, having just a small bottle of this elixir can immediately turn the tide. This is truly a life-saving elixir. Back then, Xu Fu gave a bottle to each of the Guang generation disciples... and one to me. Later, when I asked him for a few more bottles, that old man refused to give me any more. You tell me, we grew up together, naked as children, and even a dozen bottles of elixir couldn't be exchanged?!"

As he spoke, Gui Bu Gui's eyes were still fixed on the porcelain bottle in Wu Mian's hand. After a while, the old man's eyes became almost entranced.

"A dozen bottles? You don't need to be electrocuted; I'm just considering our childhood friendship," Wu Mian sneered, but then suddenly thought of another question. He looked at Gui Bu Gui, who was still staring at the bottle, and said, "Doesn't Guang Ren already have a bottle? Why is he so obsessed?"

After hearing Wu Mian's words, Gui Bu Gui came back to his senses and said, "Guang Ren is different from you and me. He relied on Xu Fu's help to pass the life-and-death test to change his constitution. During our thirteen days, our seven orifices and all our meridians are temporarily contaminated, making us as weak as normal people. But Guang Ren is different; he has to endure great pain. Every time he enters the period of weakness, he has to take special elixirs to alleviate this pain. This elixir not only helps him return to his peak state but also eliminates this intense pain. Although it only lasts for one time, the next period of weakness will return to normal. But anyone who has experienced that kind of pain would be willing to trade half their life for it, without hesitation. Don't look at me like that; the last few words were what your Great Master told me."

"There's such a thing..." Wu Mian couldn't help but open the bottle again and smell the contents, but he still couldn't stand the pungent smell. He cursed, "What the hell is this smell?"

"Even if it's foul, it's a life-saving thing," Gui Bu Gui stared at the bottle, almost saying, "If you don't want it, give it to me." But considering that this might get him electrocuted, the old man swallowed his words.

Just as Wu Mian was about to put the stopper back on, Gui Bu Gui, who was lying on the ground, suddenly said, "There's something I've wanted to tell you for a long time." The old man's half-sentence left Wu Mian puzzled, "Then just say it."

Gui Bu Gui looked at Wu Mian's face, sensing that he wasn't about to turn on him, and cautiously said, "Actually, I've observed for a long time that most of your magic is related to lightning. This might be because when you changed your constitution, you were struck by lightning and inadvertently stored it in your body. Although using lightning is convenient, everything has its counter. If you encounter someone who has cultivated the ability to counter lightning, your nightmare will begin..."

As Gui Bu Gui spoke, Wu Mian kept looking at him with a strange expression. After the old man finished, Wu Mian said, "Aren't you afraid of being electrocuted?" He then sent a spark from his fingertip. "Zap," the old man fell to the ground again. Wu Mian looked at him and said, "It's still very effective."

Wu Mian squatted next to the convulsing Gui Bu Gui and reached into the old man's robe. Just as his hand entered Gui Bu Gui's robe, a wrinkled, ancient hand suddenly grabbed Wu Mian's wrist. Gui Bu Gui trembled and smiled, "Leave me a little..."

Wu Mian wasn't surprised by the old man's sudden reaction. He glanced at Gui Bu Gui and said, "Leave you what? I have plenty of lightning. How much do you want?" As he said the last word, the old man released Wu Mian's hand.

When Wu Mian's hand came out of Gui Bu Gui's robe, he was holding three identical small porcelain bottles. Additionally, a nearly transparent ring hung from the neck of one of the bottles. The ring was almost the same color as human skin, and if not touched, it could easily be overlooked.

Wu Mian held these items in his hand, looking at Gui Bu Gui and said in his characteristic tone, "I said it, that body's hand wasn't that small, it couldn't have covered just one bottle. But I didn't expect you to have four bottles and not even give me half." As he spoke, he held the ring, put it on his ring finger, and saw nothing unusual. He then took it off and looked at the old man, "Tell me, what's the deal with this ring?" Gui Bu Gui laughed dryly, "It's a family heirloom. I've carried it with me for many years..."

Before he could finish, Wu Mian's harsh voice interrupted, "The first time we met, you weren't wearing much. Where did you hide the ring then? Show me again."

Gui Bu Gui looked at the ring in Wu Mian's hand, blinking continuously. After a moment, just as he was about to speak, Wu Mian suddenly added, "It's best not to say it came from the cave in Yang Mountain. You just said you've carried it with you for many years."

Wu Mian's words left Gui Bu Gui speechless. After a long pause, the old man suddenly laughed, "This thing was found on the body of the Immortal Feathers. Ha... Big Brother wanted to test your eyesight, to see if you could find this little thing. Look, if I hadn't found it early, it would have gone to Guang Ren."

As Gui Bu Gui spoke, Wu Mian kept his eyes on the ring in his hand. After the old man finished, Wu Mian refocused on him, as if he hadn't noticed the old man's lies, and said, "So you must know what this ring is for. Tell me, let me learn something."

Wu Mian expected the old man to seize this opportunity to boast, but Gui Bu Gui's face turned awkward. After hesitating for a while, he said, "Actually, this is the first time I've seen this thing. If it were a magical tool of the Fangshi, I would have seen or at least known about it. But I've never even heard of this. However, one thing is certain: this little thing is definitely not the work of your Great Master."

"Not the work of your Great Master..." Wu Mian repeated Gui Bu Gui's words, his brows slightly furrowed. He examined the ring several times, then flicked it with his thumb, sending it into the air. It landed steadily in Gui Bu Gui's hand.

Seeing the ring back in his possession, Gui Bu Gui seemed a bit uncomfortable. He looked at the ring, then at Wu Mian. After a moment, he said, "What do you mean?"

"It's yours."

"This is likely a relic left by the Immortal Feathers, a true relic. You don't want it?"

"It doesn't fit my finger," Wu Mian said casually.

Gui Bu Gui was overjoyed. He first put the ring on his finger, then, feeling it wasn't quite right, took it off and, after hesitating for a while, put it back in his robe.