Chapter 1132 Restoration of cultivation

The explosion caused a tremor, collapsing a row of houses and drawing countless eyes. Amidst the chaos, shadows flickered, giving a sense of spatial distortion, as if a battle was taking place.

Hei Huang instinctively wanted to go over and take a look.

But Xu Hei ignored it all and turned to leave.

"Xu Hei, why are you running? They're fighting, and we can take advantage!"

"Hey! Don't go!"

Ignoring Hei Huang's persuasion, Xu Hei sprinted away, leaving Hei Huang with no choice but to follow.

They ran for half an hour until they returned to their small courtyard, finally stopping.

"Xu Hei, you're such a coward! You missed a golden opportunity to get rich!" Hei Huang scolded, pointing at him.

"Next time, I'll put a leash on you!" Xu Hei retorted angrily.

"Woof!"

Frustrated, Hei Huang bit Xu Hei's leg, but the difference in their physical strength was too great, and he couldn't even make a dent, leaving him gnashing his teeth in anger.

Xu Hei recalled the sense of spatial distortion, which reminded him of the Heavenly Balance Ruler. It was likely that the woman in black had gotten into a fight.

This woman had also purchased a Dust Cleansing Pill, something related to mortal realm cultivators, and Xu Hei didn't want to get involved.

The Green Emperor still sat on the rooftop with her eyes closed. Xu Hei took out the medicinal herbs he had bought and handed them to her.

"These should be enough to heal your injuries," the Green Emperor said calmly.

"Thank you!" Xu Hei breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hmph, once I recover my physical body, I'll bite you to death!" Hei Huang thought to himself, glaring at Xu Hei.

But he quickly realized that once he could transform into human form, biting wouldn't be appropriate.

"Don't get too happy just yet."

Suddenly, the Green Emperor's voice turned cold. "There's no such thing as a free lunch. I can refine pills and heal you, but you must agree to two conditions!"

Xu Hei was taken aback and quickly asked, "What conditions?"

The Green Emperor looked at Xu Hei and slowly said, "First, I often research new pills and need some testers. With your physique, helping me test new pills shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Pill tester..."

Xu Hei swallowed hard.

He had the Demon God Cauldron, which could refine most toxins, and his body was naturally strong. If it was just ordinary poison, it wouldn't be a big deal.

But considering it was from the Green Emperor, the potency of the pills couldn't be underestimated.

He couldn't help but think of the strange pills Xu Bai had concocted when she first gained spiritual intelligence...

"What? If it's difficult, you can find someone else," the Green Emperor noticed Xu Hei's hesitation, her expression still indifferent.

"Old Green, you and Xu Hei both come from the mortal realm. Is it necessary to be so ruthless just for healing..." Hei Huang started to say, but the Green Emperor interrupted him, "You're not exempt either. Your Fiendish Demon Body is also suitable for testing pills."

"..." Hei Huang was left speechless.

He cursed himself for speaking up and wished he could slap himself.

Xu Hei remained silent for a long time before finally nodding.

The Green Emperor's request seemed reasonable to him. After all, she had helped him so much; what was a little effort on his part?

"And the second condition?"

"The second condition."

The Green Emperor pondered for a moment, then took out a jade slip. "I plan to open a pill shop. You will help me choose a location and procure medicinal herbs. I will only be responsible for refining pills, and I can give up..."

She hesitated for a moment, "Fifty percent of the profits."

As an alchemist providing the pills, she could dictate the profits from their sale, but she was willing to give up half.

This wasn't just setting conditions; it was practically giving away benefits for free.

"Is that true?" Xu Hei was quite surprised.

"Don't get too excited. I'm only responsible for refining pills; I won't handle anything else. If you can't manage, I can always find a merchant guild to act as a guest elder," the Green Emperor said calmly.

With her pill refining skills, she would be welcomed as a distinguished guest anywhere. That was undeniable.

As for offending the Flying Spirit Platform, in the face of absolute profit, it was nothing. Many forces would be willing to offer her protection.

Xu Hei took a deep breath and nodded firmly.

"Alright, it's settled then!"

If they managed this well, they would have a continuous source of spirit stones, enough to establish themselves in the Spirit Realm. Xu Hei didn't want to miss such an opportunity.

"This is my initial plan. You can handle it," the Green Emperor tossed the jade slip to Xu Hei.

Xu Hei caught it, cupped his hands, and withdrew.

The Green Emperor watched Xu Hei's retreating figure, her face devoid of emotion. She murmured to herself, "Xu Bai, I understand your intentions, but you must realize that giving without expectation won't be remembered. Only equal relationships last the longest."

She knew what kind of feelings Xu Bai had for Xu Hei.

She also understood why Xu Bai was willing to give everything.

When you become accustomed to a benefit over time, you start to take it for granted and don't consider the cost others pay for it.

Only when that benefit is lost will you truly remember it.

…………

A day later, two pills were delivered to Xu Hei.

One was for repairing the primordial spirit, called the Ten Thousand Heart Pill. The other was for restoring cultivation, called the Mystic Dragon Pill.

These two pills were specifically refined for mortal realm cultivators, most suitable for demonic beasts, essentially tailor-made for Xu Hei. They couldn't be bought elsewhere.

Xu Hei calmed his mind, and once he was in peak condition, he took out the two pills and swallowed them in one go.

During Xu Hei's seclusion.

Outside the courtyard, the street occasionally echoed with deafening booms, and there were occasional sounds of fighting from next door.

Xu Hei paid no attention, though Hei Huang went out to check a few times.

It wasn't until a month later that things gradually calmed down.

Unknowingly, half a year passed.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

There was a loud knocking at the courtyard door, followed by a powerful voice echoing throughout the courtyard.

"City Guard search, open the door immediately!"

Xu Hei was suddenly awakened, and his external divine sense quickly retracted, returning to his body.

At this moment, the true essence within Xu Hei was as deep as the ocean, fully integrated into his flesh, achieving unity of form and spirit. His divine sense could extend over a hundred thousand miles.

His cultivation had finally returned to the Void Shattering level.

"After six months of seclusion, I've finally reached that step again." Xu Hei exhaled deeply, feeling that the future was bright.

In the Spirit Realm, the Divine Transformation Stage was already considered powerful, and a Void Shattering Stage cultivator was one in ten thousand, capable of becoming the lord of a small city, definitely able to establish himself in Nanhang City.

Xu Hei calmly walked to the courtyard gate and opened it.

Outside stood two cultivators in brocade robes, with intricately carved tokens on their chests and large swords on their backs. They were the law enforcement elders of Nanhang City's City Guard.

Both of their cultivations were at the initial stage of Void Shattering.

"Fellow cultivators, what brings you here?" Xu Hei cupped his hands.

The two scanned Xu Hei with their divine sense, and upon discovering his cultivation was the same, they slightly restrained their aura and cupped their hands in return. "Fellow cultivator, we are here on orders to track down a criminal. Do you recognize this person?"

One of them took out a scroll, which depicted a masked woman in black. Not only her appearance but even her aura fluctuations were perfectly simulated on the scroll.

Seeing the woman, Xu Hei's heart trembled.

It was the same person he had seen at the black market trade fair.