Chapter 48: A Desperate Gamble

  After leaving the blacksmith's shop, the two of them still didn't head to the martial arts arena, but instead directly exited through the North City Gate at dawn.

  Ran Li didn't have much objection to this, if it were in the past, it would be somewhat inappropriate. But now that Yue Zhang's pharmacy business has grown bigger and bigger, his voice within the clan has also become louder and louder, and no one will easily find trouble with them because of one or two absences.

  He now only finds it strange that Yue Yu ordered those weapons today. Especially that seventh-grade sword, which is particularly puzzling to him.

  The weapons of the Dongsheng continent are divided into four levels and twenty grades according to their sharpness and durability. In addition to the first five grades of ordinary weapons, there are also three levels: Yibing, Baobing, and Lingbing. However, in the Beima Yuan area, weapons above level 8 are extremely rare. Even the highest grade, only Licheng has a twelve-level Baobing.

  It's not strange that Yue Yu would buy a better weapon. However, according to Rong Li's knowledge, Yue Yu's father had already prepared an eighth-grade Bi Shui sword for him before his death, and left behind a ninth-grade Chong Xiao sword, so Yue Yu actually didn't lack high-level weapons to use.

  These doubts could be endured without being spoken during the journey, but after arriving at their base, they could no longer suppress the curiosity in their hearts.

  "Little master, what do you want with a seventh-grade heterodox soldier? And there are so many more soldiers, are you planning to go outside the valley again?"

  Ran Li's eyes flashed with a hint of brightness, this was the only reasonable explanation he could think of now. It was also possible that this was the reason why he needed to keep it from Yue Zhangshi. Ran Li made an even bolder guess, Yue Yu might be planning to go deeper into the woods outside the valley, which would explain his thorough preparation.

  Although they had gone to Hei Yun Ridge three months ago and had harvested enough crystals to refine thirty Huā Chén Líng Wán, which was enough for him to use for several years. However, what Rǎn Lì valued more now was the innate divine ability promised by Yuè Yǔ.

  "How is that possible? I've only heard that Vice City Master Hong Zheng of Cloud City has a tenth-grade heterodox weapon..."

  Yue Yu slightly shook her head and left Ran Li, who was confused, to look at the three Wu Xing Spirit Pills in her hand.

  This is not the kind that was divided into three portions half a year ago, but rather made from the intact secondary superior demon beast's leftover demonic power crystal. Its effect of increasing cultivation is several times stronger than the small-sized weakened version of the Five Elements Spirit Pill he is currently taking.

  However, its efficacy is strong, and the side effects are also much greater. Yue Yu had already discovered a phenomenon, that is, the fewer foreign true yuan in the body, the easier it is to be absorbed. With his current strength, Xiao Ben's Ling Wan was the most effective.

  Originally, Yue Yu's purpose in refining them was to wait until he advanced to the Wu Shi level of cultivation before using them. At that time, his own true energy already had a sufficient foundation, and absorbing a little more demon power wouldn't have too much of an impact.

  But Yue Yu is now hesitating.

  As the saying goes, "If one wants to do a good job, he must first sharpen his tools!" If Yue Ning can really get him a seventh-level or higher hetero-weapon, then this tool is sharp, but the person using the tool is slightly worse.

  Yue Yu didn't know what level of high-ranking warrior that Canglan Sword King Hong Zheng was. However, once the situation took a turn for the worse and that situation he least wanted to see appeared, then without sufficient strength, it wouldn't be easy for him to escape danger, let alone resolve the crisis.

  The only turning point now lies in these Five Elements Spirit Pills. Three complete versions of the dosage, its demonic power is enough for Yue Yu to cultivate his inner breath and raise it to the peak of a 9th-level warrior or even higher levels.

  But if it were that easy, Yue Yu wouldn't be so hesitant. The explosive increase in internal energy also means a huge cost. Insufficient control over the internal energy within the body is only secondary, and even within ten to fifteen years, it will not be possible to use the Five Elements Spirit Pill to enhance one's strength again, which is not a big deal.

  The real trouble is the period of time when the medicine takes effect. Yue Yu judged that there was almost a 90% chance of the worst outcome occurring during this time.

  And what is referred to as the worst, refers to the meridians being severely damaged, going crazy from excessive energy, and the body being unable to withstand the massive high-intensity foreign true yuan and shattering.

  Isn't the price paid this time too high?

  Yue Yu thought to himself that if he started preparing to escape from now on, he should still be able to jump out of this quagmire, which was currently the approach he was most inclined towards.

  However, when Yue Zhang's figure flashed through his mind, he couldn't help but shake his head and smile wryly. If it were a year ago when he had just arrived in this world, he could have done so without hesitation. But now, he couldn't let go.

  It would be a good idea to advise Zhangshi to leave with him, but he knew it was impossible. He had already probed with ambiguous words yesterday, but before he could bring up the topic, he was interrupted by Zhangshi's sensitive interjection. Although Yu Ye was helpless, he could more or less understand Zhangshi's feelings.

  Setting aside the ancients' sense of hometown, just the countless dangerous and ferocious beasts outside the valley are enough to make one deeply fearful. If there weren't any major changes, it's likely that no one would easily leave the protection of their clan and face that dangerous world and unpredictable fate alone.

  Moreover, this is the root of Yue Zhangshi. Almost every few days, Yue Zhangshi would go to his 'father's' grave. Yue Yu could also clearly feel Yue Zhangshi's attachment to his 'father' and this city.

  I'm afraid even now, Yue Zhangshi is still fantasizing that she can resolve this incident through other means.

  This has nothing to do with ability, but rather a difference in perspective. Moreover, in the eyes of Yue Zhangshi, I'm afraid that even their own family doesn't have the confidence to leave the clan and face the storms of the outside world.

  After all, it's still a matter of timing!

  Yue Yu smiled self-deprecatingly and then swallowed the medicine pills one by one. Next to him, Ruan Li was initially stunned, but when he came back to his senses after counting his breaths and realized that he should rush up to stop Yue Yu, he didn't dare make a move. At this time, Yue Yu had already sat down cross-legged in meditation.

  The fierce and terrifying spiritual power surged through the twelve regular meridians, then frantically poured into the dantian. Yue Yu also began to exert his utmost effort to urge on his own true qi, driving these demonic powers along the route of the Great Chaos True Power's operation. At first, he could still barely hold on, but as more and more demonic power entered the meridians, Yue Yu's face finally revealed a painful expression.

  His body's true energy assimilating the demonic power at a speed that was far from comparable to the infusion of the three Five Elements Spirit Pills. Some of the demonic powers that had escaped his control had already begun to wildly rampage and roam about.

  Yue Yu is now racing against time. If he can absorb at least half of the demonic energy contained in the Wu Xing Ling Dan before it's fully absorbed into his body, then this gamble should have at least a 30% chance of success.

  At this moment, Yue Yu almost brought all the functions of his auxiliary intelligent system to the extreme, helping him calculate and control the flow of true energy in both Ren and Du meridians. And with all his might, he lured those scattered demonic energies into some meridians that still had a certain capacity to withstand them - at this time what he was most worried about was that those demonic energies would gather too much in the same area within the meridian, causing the inner wall of the meridian to expand.

  However, when the last bit of the Five Lines Spirit Pill's contained demonic energy entered his meridians, Yue Yu gradually fell into a deep abyss of despair.

  At this moment, the enormous demonic energy inside him was churning like molten lava, and also bursting out wildly like a ferocious beast. Although he was transforming the demonic energy at an extremely fast speed, ultimately, more of the demonic energy's true essence escaped his control and broke free from the flow of true energy. Even if Yue Yu utilized every last bit of his own true energy to its utmost limit, he still couldn't stop this trend. The situation could still be barely maintained for now, but it was only a matter of time before everything collapsed.

  Yue Yu's expression was bitter and sad as he smiled, knowing that he had overestimated himself and been too greedy. The three Wu Xing Spirit Pills were the limit of what he could currently withstand, but taking them one by one would only allow him to push his internal energy to the peak of the 9th rank. However, if he took all three at once, there was a slight possibility that with the massive influx of demonic energy, he could refine his True Yuan Spirit Energy and break through the boundary of being a Martial Artist.

  However, his adventure ultimately ended in failure. He overestimated the capabilities of the auxiliary intelligent system and underestimated the crazy properties of the demon's power.

  Taking a deep breath, Yue Yu tried to calm her emotions. Then she opened her eyes and gazed at the rising sun in the east.

  But when the red circle in the distance was reflected in his eyes, Yue Yu suddenly moved in his heart, drew out the sword from his waist, and began to practice according to the fitness sword routine.