Medicine King's Valley –in Past
Nestled in a serene and remote region, Medicine King's Valley is a sacred haven for Alchemists and herb cultivators across the cultivation world. Its reputation is unmatched, famed for its abundance of exotic spirit herbs, rare alchemic materials, and unparalleled expertise in pill refinement.
Upon entering the valley town, visitors are immediately greeted by a fragrant medley of medicinal aromas that permeate the air, soothing the mind and invigorating the spirit. The streets bustle with cultivators and herbalists, while shops lined on both sides showcase dazzling arrays of spirit grasses, wondrous flowers, and exotic fruits—many of which are seldom seen elsewhere in the world.
Every shop is alchemy-related, either selling precious herbs or offering pill refinement services. Most Alchemists here are proud disciples of the valley itself, and their skills are easily identifiable by the embroidered flower insignias on their robes—denoting their grade and rank:
Flower petal count represents the Alchemist's tier (Common, Earth, Heaven, Mysterious),
Color of embroidery indicates proficiency (White for Low, Silver for Mid, Gold for High Rank).
Earth Grade Alchemists are commonly seen here, while Heaven Grade are rare, and Mysterious Grade Alchemists are exclusive to the valley's Elders.
The valley's spiritual heart lies atop Pill Saint's Peak, home to the legendary Myriad Drug Pond—a sacred, forbidden place that nourishes rare herbs and hosts the ancient Pill Saint's Portrait, said to contain unfathomable alchemic insights. Access to this area is highly restricted, limited only to the Valley Lord and Elders. It is revered as the Holy Land of Alchemists, where even a single glance at the Pill Saint's image may grant profound enlightenment or even inheritance.
Despite its peaceful atmosphere, the valley remains heavily guarded—its treasures and knowledge too valuable to risk falling into the wrong hands.
Medicine King's Valley is not just a place—it is a symbol of alchemic purity and tradition, drawing in countless cultivators and herbalists who seek refinement, enlightenment, or merely the comfort of its herb-laden air.
Aftermath Condition of Medicine King's Valley following the Ash-Grey Cloud Evil Land's Attack
Once hailed as the Holy Land of Alchemists, Medicine King's Valley now stood scarred and silent, its vibrant herb fields reduced to smoldering ash and trampled soil. The once-fragrant air, rich with spiritual energy and alchemic essence, had been tainted by the stench of demonic qi and scorched life.
Herb gardens that had flourished for centuries were pillaged or incinerated, their precious spirit grasses either consumed by fire or stolen by the invading cultists. Rare medicinal plants that bloomed only once in a hundred years were reduced to soot in the blink of an eye. Alchemic laboratories and pill refining halls, once brimming with disciples and the glow of pill flames, were now broken ruins echoing with silence.
The Myriad Drug Pond, the core of the valley's surrounding area already destroyed and it's water now full of blood.
Countless disciples were killed or abducted. The remaining ones, including many talented Alchemists, had fled or gone into hiding. The valley's leadership — the Valley Lord and Elders — had either perished defending the sacred sites or vanished amidst the chaos. Survivors whispered of mysterious black-robed figures wielding soul-devouring techniques and of blood rituals being performed atop the pill refining platforms.
Where once thousands gathered to seek alchemic enlightenment, now only a handful of scattered survivors clung to the ruined cliffs and shattered towers, desperately trying to protect what little heritage remained.
Medicine King's Valley was no longer a sanctuary of purity and healing — it had become a desecrated graveyard of dreams, its spirit all but extinguished under the weight of the Ash-Grey Cloud Evil Land's brutality.
Above the ruins, a figure dressed in tattered black robes and a featureless black mask appeared silently, hovering like a vengeful shadow over the ravaged peak.
It was Bai Xuan.
His eyes scanned the half-reconstructed terrain with indifference, then with a flash, he descended onto the highest point of the valley — the summit of Pill Saint's Peak, where the legendary Myriad Drug Pond was once revered.
The valley below was still in a fragile state of rebuilding. Dozens of alchemists moved carefully between tents and broken pavilions, trying to restore what was lost. Bai Xuan ignored them.
He caught one alchemist mid-flight.
"Where is the legendary Myriad Drug Pond?" Bai Xuan asked coldly, his voice muffled through the mask.
The captured alchemist struggled, startled but defiant. "Who are you?! I won't tell an outsider anything!"
Bai Xuan's response was short.
"No need."
He pressed two fingers to the man's forehead, and without hesitation, performed a soul search.
The alchemist screamed, twitched, then fell silent. Bai Xuan dropped his limp body like discarded cloth, eyes glowing faintly behind his mask.
"Found it."
---
The Blood-Tainted Pond
A few minutes later, Bai Xuan arrived.
Before him lay the legendary Myriad Drug Pond — or what remained of it. Once shimmering and radiant, the pond was now thick and dark like blood, reflecting no light, only shadows.
He circled it once in silence.
Then, with a wave of his sleeve, he tossed down several low-grade Saint Crystals, positioning them evenly around the edge. Sitting cross-legged at the edge of the pond, he began drawing intricate lines into the ground with his finger — his aura growing heavier as the Blood Core Formation activated.
A red glow pulsed outward. The surface of the pond began to stir.
This was a forbidden formation — one of Bai Xuan's most sinister creations. It absorbed all blood essence within its domain, purifying the area and converting the blood into condensed blood cores for later use.
As the formation completed its cycle, the red liquid was drained from the pond like it had never been there. In moments, the water turned crystal clear, and at the very bottom, an ancient array revealed itself — a complex pattern etched into the foundation stones for thousands of years.
Bai Xuan narrowed his eyes, satisfied.
"Now it begins."
---
The Second Formation
Without delay, he began crafting another formation.
He etched the first few lines on the ground — using Second Grade patterns — then extended the new array to connect with the structure deep in the pond. His expression remained calm, but inside he was calculating every possible angle.
"This ancient array," he muttered, "is sealed by a method that corresponds to something described in the black book. But I don't have that book…"
He frowned.
If he couldn't unlock it with the original method, he'd force it.
He surrounded the area with several more formation lines, stabilizing the edges and reinforcing the core. Once the setup was complete, Bai Xuan activated the formation.
A faint hum. Light flickered.
But nothing happened.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
He leaned back and closed his eyes briefly.
"No progress... Just as expected," Bai Xuan murmured.
"I've only reached the Master level in formations. But this array… it was left behind by someone beyond that. A Grandmaster. I can't even identify its flaws."
He stood in silence, thinking deeply.
---
The Interruption
Suddenly, a loud voice rang out from behind him.
"Who are you?! This place is forbidden! How did you get here without permission?"
Bai Xuan turned slowly.
An old man in tattered green robes, his breath unsteady but his eyes sharp, stood with a group of injured but determined cultivators at the edge of the ruined cliff. His voice had stirred attention, but his strength was clearly not what it once was.
Bai Xuan didn't respond.
He simply lifted his hand — and with a flick of his fingers, sent a simple sword slash flying toward the old man.
Bang!
The attack never landed. A cultivator standing beside the elder — likely 5th stage — stepped forward and blocked the blow.
"How dare you attack the Medicine King!" the cultivators shouted.
That title caught Bai Xuan's attention.
His head tilted slightly, gaze sharpening.
"Medicine King?" he repeated softly. "Good. You came at the right time."
He took a single step forward, killing intent subtly leaking out with each word.
"Now... start telling me everything you know about the Myriad Drug Pond."
---To be continued---