Chapter 8: Hong Seolhwa (3)

“Hoo…”

I hope this works out.

Mixing the two wasn’t a decision I made lightly.

Just a moment ago—

I wondered if I could combine the two.

So I searched on 「SuperNet」.

Would there really be any relevant posts?

Honestly, I was 50/50 on it.

But surprisingly, there was one.

……….

Username: SearchingForElixirsFarAndWide

Title: Let’s Learn About Unique Elixirs (25)

Content: Hi! This is the 25th post. The herb we’re going to learn about this time is Tai Yin Yang Essence.

This herb doesn’t occur naturally, but rather appears when two herbs are combined.

It was “Public healing oil” and “White Sun Herb.”

Both are high-grade elixirs, right?

So, imagine what kind of elixir you’d get by mixing the two.

Exactly.

An elixir worthy of being called top-tier is born.

The deep Yin energy of Public healing oil and the strong Yang energy of White Sun Herb are neutralized through the mixing furnace… (Omitted)…

This elixir achieves a perfect balance of Yin and Yang energies… (Omitted)…

In short, “Tai Yin Yang Essence” enhances both the body and internal energy of the user to the maximum, and allows them to wield both Yin and Yang energies simultaneously.

It’s especially effective in correcting the internal flow of energy, making it excellent for resolving issues caused by imbalance between Yin and Yang, such as blocked meridians.

-Wow. Sounds like a god-tier elixir for people suffering from qi deviation or mana overload.

[Author] That’s right. For them, it’s more valuable than any treasure. However, both Public healing oil and White Sun Herb are extremely rare. And the mixture has to be perfectly balanced, so without master-level elixir crafting skills, success is nearly impossible.

ᄂ Sounds like it would cost a fortune.

[Author] Yes. In fact, even worldwide, there have only been a few successful combinations ever recorded. It was a long explanation, but the conclusion was simple: A very difficult elixir to make.

……….

“Can I really do it?”

If I try mixing them now—

I’d be relying completely on luck.

“Tch.”

First, I plucked just three petals from the White Sun Herb.

The rest?

I planted them in the ground.

And whether I should call it lucky or not—

The White Sun Herb that Hong Seolhwa gave me had seeds in it.

So, I planted the seeds too.

Not sure if they’ll sprout,

but it feels like I’ve got an insurance policy.

“Just a bit of the Public healing oil too…”

I set aside a small amount of the Public healing oil I collected.

Roughly 50 mL.

On top of that,

I placed all three White Sun Herb petals.

Since the petals were quite large by default, I wondered if the Public healing oil might be lacking in volume.

‘But the White Sun Herb is Level 65.

What about the Public healing oil?

??? Level.

It might turn out to be lower level than the herb But I figured that was unlikely.

“This Public healing oil is special.”

Judging by its transparent color, I was sure it had to be of a higher level than ordinary Public healing oil.

“Even if I fail, there’s no big risk.”

I still had more White Sun Herb left.

And the Public healing oil was abundant enough to form a small spring.

Clatter!

[Activating the <Alcemy  Furnace>]

Vrooooom!

The Alcemy  Furnace starts to spin.

Please, I hope it works on the first try.

If the concoction is successful…

It could become a turning point in my growth.

Our lucky charm, the Dragon egg, also had a higher chance of hatching faster.

So please!

I placed my hand on the lucky charm and prayed.

There wasn’t any deep reason for the act.

It was just that the lucky charm had such good energy.

I wanted to soak in some of that good energy.

But then—

[<Dragon’s Oath (EX)> trait effect activates]

[Initiating with the < Dragon’s Egg > and <Spiritual Exchange>.]

A system message popped up before my eyes.

KWAAAAAH!!

Golden particles flowed out of the < Dragon’s Egg >.

“Huh?”

A feeling of total fullness swept over me.

A euphoria like I was floating among the clouds.

[Congratulations. You have acquired the trait skill <Elixir Master (SSS)>.]

“Holy crap!”

What is this?!

…..

<Elixir Master (SSS)>

-Gain high proficiency and expert abilities in handling elixirs, spiritual herbs, etc.

-Greatly increased elixir combination success rate, greatly increased cultivation success rate, significantly reduced cultivation time, can check cultivation duration, can view all elixir levels, can appraise elixirs.

…..

This is insane.

It’s a trait that basically makes you a master of anything elixir-related.

[<Elixir Master (SSS)> trait skill activated!]

[Fusion success rate between <Public Healing Oil> and <White Sun Herb> greatly increased]

With that message, a bright light poured out from the furnace.

Shiiing!

The result of combining the transparent Public Healing Oil with the red-and-white petaled White Yang Herb.

A pink-colored liquid.

[Congratulations. <Public Healing Oil> and <White Sun Herb> have successfully fused.]

[ Tai Yin Yang Essence, Lv 82]

“……!”

It worked!

The power of the <Elixir Master (SSS)> trait skill was overwhelming.

SSS-class indeed.

But…

The level is weird?

“Level 82?”

I used a Lv 65 White Sun Herb. How did it become Lv 82?

A post I saw on SuperNet comes to mind.

…..

– What determines the level when you combine two elixirs?

ᄂ Usually, the result is around the average of the two.

ᄂ So if you mix a Lv 50 and a Lv 30 elixir, you get something around Lv 40.

ᄂ Yep, that’s right.

…..

“If that’s the case…”

I immediately checked <Essence Collector> the containing the <Public Helaing Oil>.

[<Elixir Master (SSS)> trait skill effect activates.]

[Checking the level of <Public Helaing Oil>. ]

Normally, I wouldn’t have been able to see the level of Public Healing Oil.

But not anymore.

[Public Healing Oil, LV 99]

“Holy—!”

I almost dropped the <Essence Collector>.

Level 99?!

Is this even possible?

Then maybe…

I checked as well.

[Lunadria, LV 99]

Also 99.

[Ten Thousand Year Stone Mushroom, LV 99]

All of them were LV 99.

“Ha!”

Unbelievable.

Had a stat like 99Lv ever appeared before?

I rushed straight to 「SuperNet」.

……….

Username: Anonymous

Title: Has there ever been an elixir with 99Lv?

Content: Doesn’t matter if it’s an elixir, a spiritual herb, or even a synthesized elixir has there ever been one with level 99?

[TasteReview]: As if that could exist.

[Gayasohn]: Even Eden Carter, the strongest among the current Ten Heavens, is only in the 80Lv range. How could a 99Lv elixir exist? LOL

[Appetizer]: If that kind of thing existed, post it. The whole world would go crazy.

……….

There isn’t one.

The top superhuman just barely entered the 80Lv range.

Currently, 99Lv is a far-off, unreachable realm.

“What on earth…”

A place where 99Lv elixirs and spiritual herbs are just lying around…

What could this place be?

What else—

A dragon’s lair.

The strongest, most fearsome creature:

The Dragon.

“Oh… yeah. That makes sense.”

Thinking of it as herbs that grew in a dragon’s lair, 99Lv suddenly makes perfect sense.

This must be the Dragon Effect.

‘wow’

As reality set in, a delayed thrill washed over me.

This is insane. Seriously.

“Wait, didn’t I sell that Lunadria for only 50,000 coins? That was way too cheap, wasn’t it?”

If I had revealed the level, I could’ve sold it for way more.

Still, that’s fine.

“Now that I know, where is it?”

Hehehe.

I couldn’t help but grin.

I’m rich now!

Just selling Lunadria, White Sun Herb, and Public healing oil would be enough to become the richest person on Earth.

“No, wait—why sell it?”

Me and Lucky Charm should eat it all.

If there’s any extra, then I’ll sell.

I can use some profits to buy the <Skill book> and <Items> I need to grow.

Or buy seeds of the herbs and try farming them.

Heheheh.

Alright then—

Let’s try the <Tai Yin Yang Essence> that is recently completed.

I’ve got to taste it.

Since the level is high, I’ll just take a tiny sip first.

Consuming too much mana all at once could trigger mana overload.

So, I took a small sip.

“Ah!”

It was like fireworks exploding in my mouth.

The moment it touched my tongue—

A chill like ice spread from the tip of my tongue throughout my entire mouth.

A sensation like a cold winter’s night.

But that chill didn’t last long.

It quickly turned into searing heat, like a fire blooming in the dead of winter, warming my entire body.

The cold and heat intertwined, creating a bizarre sensation like cold and hot water flowing through my mouth at the same time.

As the two forces settled, a deep umami flavor lingered.

The taste soaked in like a rich broth flowing from the tip of the tongue down the throat,
letting me feel the potent essence of the elixir.

Kah.

That wasn’t the end.

After the heat faded, a refreshing clarity returned.

Like drinking from a clear mountain stream a clean aftertaste.

The lingering flavor calmed my mind.

The taste of was a mystical contrast of hot and cold sensations.

From the very first sip, I could feel the mana spreading through my body.

“Crazy…”

It felt like drinking the most delicious tea I’ve ever had.

As I was overwhelmed by the sensation—

System messages began popping up before my eyes in succession.

「Your mana has greatly increased.」

「 Your Level has increased!」

「 Your Level has increased!」

「 Your Level has increased!」

「 Your Level has increased!」

「 Your Level has increased!」

I gained 5 levels instantly.

“Whew…”

That made my level: 9.

The Special thing is-

This was only Day 1 since I entered the dragon’s lair.

“At this rate, I’ll hit level 100 before I leave.”

I muttered jokingly.

But honestly, it didn’t seem impossible.

Just consuming elixirs was enough to skyrocket my level.

“Can’t have any more for now though.”

I wanted to eat more, but now, magical energy was surging violently inside my body.

To exaggerate a little, it felt like the energy of Tai Yin Yang Essence was pouring out of my mouth and nose.

「Kyuuuu… I’m hungry.」

Right on cue, our Lucky Charm woke up.

My eyes sparkled.

“Then how about we give the rest to our little blessing?”

I could always make more for myself tomorrow.

I approached the little one and gently poured the Tai Yin Yang Essence.

「Kyuuuuuu?!」

The little one cried out in surprise.

Haha.

Looks like it was startled by the unique flavor too.

「Kyuuuu—Delicious!!」

At the little one’s exclamation—

Wooooooong!

A brilliant golden light, the likes of which we’d never seen before, began to pour out of the <Dragon’s Egg>.

***

「Personal trade completed.」

“Ah.”

Hong Seolhwa let out a gasp as she looked at the three flowers in her hand.

Why three flowers?

……….

[Archmage Emperor]: If you give me White Sun Herb, I’ll send you three Lunadrias.

[Spicy Nuclear Punch]: Three?

[Archmage Emperor]: Yes. White Sun Herb is worth at least 500,000 coins. Giving you three makes it a fair deal.

[Spicy Nuclear Punch]: Ah, thank you so much, Archmage Emperor.

……….

The Archmage Emperor was a Superhuman with honor and conscience.

In this world where everyone only chased personal gain, how rare and beautiful it was to find someone with such a generous heart.

“Thank you. Truly.”

With trembling hands, she gently clutched the three flowers and whispered.

“Then…”

She looked at Hong Kanghyun, signaling that she would consume it right away.

Hong Kanghyun nodded and stood by as her guardian.

‘Please…’

Just like when she had eaten Chef Ahn Jaeseong’s food.

Let this have an effect.

With sincere hope, she plucked a petal from the and placed it in her mouth with trembling fingers.

Gulp.