Ch 9: The Medicinal Bath
Feng Chen was basking in the glow of his recent accomplishments. His muscles were taut with power, his qi flowed smoother than ever, and he felt as if he could take on the world. The transformation over the past few weeks was nothing short of extraordinary, and he was more than ready to push his growth even further.
But just as he was savoring his achievements, the system rudely interrupted his moment of self-congratulation.
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System Notification:-
New Mission: Use the Beast Cores to create a Medicinal Bath and strengthen your physique.
Description: The host can combine the spiritual energy within beast cores to concoct a powerful medicinal bath.
Reward: Unknown.
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Feng Chen blinked at the message, feeling a twinge of irritation at the system's timing.
"Really, system? Right when I'm getting comfortable? Can't you let me enjoy my glory for just a moment?"
The system, as usual, didn't respond, leaving Feng Chen to his grumbling.
Still, the notification brought back a critical memory. He couldn't believe he had nearly forgotten about the medicinal bath... a classic method in countless cultivation stories he had read in his previous life. In those tales, warriors would soak in baths made from rare elixirs and herbs, using them to temper their bodies and enhance their cultivation.
But here, in this world, there was something even better: beast cores. Packed with spiritual energy, these cores could create a bath far more potent than any herb or elixir.
A grin spread across Feng Chen's face.
"This world really does have its perks. Reincarnation's not so bad after all."
However, as he looked around the cramped confines of his cave, his excitement dimmed slightly.
"Where am I going to set this up?" he wondered aloud. The cave, while cozy, was far too small to accommodate a proper bath.
He could carve out a wooden tub by hand, but just the thought of all that labor made his muscles ache in protest. Feng Chen sighed dramatically, casting an exaggeratedly disappointed glance at the system's interface.
"You know, if you were really the top-tier system you claim to be, you'd at least help me out with this."
The system remained silent, as if it had nothing to say about Feng Chen's request... or his laziness.
"Figures," Feng Chen muttered, realizing he had no choice but to do it himself. With a resigned groan, he dragged himself outside the cave and began scouting the area.
His eyes roved over the landscape until they landed on a spot just outside the cave entrance. It was a flat, open area with soft earth... a perfect place to dig out a makeshift bathtub.
"Guess this will have to do," he said to himself, cracking his knuckles as he prepared to get to work.
"Alright, Feng Chen, time to show these muscles what they're made of."
Without further delay, Feng Chen plunged his hands into the ground and began digging, his enhanced strength making the task almost effortless. Clods of earth flew behind him as he worked, creating a sizable pit in a matter of minutes.
Despite his earlier complaints, he found himself enjoying the physical labor, each scoop of earth reminding him of how far he had come since his days in the Feng Clan.
Soon, the pit was dug out, a decent-sized depression in the ground that would serve as his bath. Feng Chen wiped the sweat from his brow and stood back to admire his work.
"Not bad for a guy who just wanted to relax," he said with a satisfied nod. But he wasn't done yet.
The pit needed a proper lining to hold the water and give it a polished look. Feng Chen eyed the surrounding trees with a gleam in his eye.
"Let's put these hands to work," he muttered, raising his palm and channeling qi into it. With a swift motion, he unleashed his Heavenly Thunder Palm, sending shockwaves through the forest.
Several trees came crashing down, their massive trunks snapping like twigs under the force of his attack. Feng Chen wasted no time, using his fists to carve the fallen trees into smooth logs. The raw power of his strikes turned the wood into usable planks in no time, each one perfectly shaped for his purpose.
He laid the wooden planks along the bottom of the pit, taking care to fit them snugly together. The wood was sturdy and would hold the water well, creating a rustic but functional bathtub. Feng Chen stepped back, his hands on his hips as he surveyed the finished product.
"Rustic, but effective. Just the way I like it."
The next step was filling the pit with water. Feng Chen grabbed a nearby log, channeling qi into it to create a small, makeshift channel. With a few precise strikes, he redirected a stream from the nearby lake, guiding the water into his new bath. He watched with satisfaction as the water began to pool in the pit, the level steadily rising until it was full.
"Now, for the fun part," Feng Chen said with a grin. He reached into his inventory and pulled out the fifty beast corpses he had collected during his hunt.
"Time to make this bath truly legendary."
With a dramatic flourish, he summoned the corpses, watching as they tumbled out in a chaotic heap around him. The sheer number of bodies created a small mountain at his feet, their lifeless eyes staring up at him.
"Not bad, not bad at all," Feng Chen said, nodding approvingly. He began extracting the beast cores from the bodies, each core glowing with a potent spiritual energy. They were about the size of marbles, and Feng Chen could feel the power thrumming within them as he held them in his hands.
But before he could proceed, a thought struck him.
"Wait a second," he said, narrowing his eyes as he looked at the corpses.
"In all those stories, people always got into trouble eating these things without preparation. Qi deviations, poisoning, or worse. Should I even be touching these?"
He turned to the system, raising an eyebrow.
"Hey, system, are these corpses safe to use? I've seen people in those cultivation stories get into all sorts of trouble from consuming beasts without proper preparation."
The system's response was immediate, its tone as neutral as ever.
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System Notification:-
Warning: The beast corpses contain toxins that could block the host's meridians or cause severe poisoning. The host is currently not strong enough to safely process these toxins.
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Feng Chen let out a relieved sigh, his earlier bravado fading as he realized how close he had come to making a fatal mistake.
"Phew, that was close. Almost ate a big bowl of death noodles," he muttered, shaking his head at the thought.
Deciding it was best not to mess with things he didn't fully understand, Feng Chen stored the corpses back in his inventory.
"Better safe than sorry," he said with a shrug. He then turned his attention to the cores, an idea forming in his mind.
Recalling a scene from one of his favorite manga, Feng Chen began arranging the cores in the pattern of the Eight Trigrams. His hands moved with precision, each core placed in its exact position with the confidence of someone who had done this a thousand times... in his imagination, at least.
As he placed the final core, the water in the pit began to glow with a strange, greenish light. The cores dissolved, releasing their potent energy into the water. The liquid turned a deep, murky gray, and a medicinal scent filled the air, mingling with the fresh scent of the forest.
Feng Chen stepped back, watching in awe as the water transformed before his eyes.
"This… this is incredible," he whispered, his excitement growing as the energy continued to intensify.
But just as he was about to admire his handiwork, a barrage of system notifications flooded his vision, nearly overwhelming him with their sudden appearance.
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System Notification:-
Mission Complete: Create a Medicinal Bath!
Outstanding Achievement: The host has created a medicinal bath with a potency that far exceeds the expected effects of its ingredients.
Achievement Unlocked: Created an array independently.
Rewards:-
- Qi-Enhancing Elixir (x2)
- Increased Qi Flow (24 Hours)
- Refined Beast Core (x1)
- Minor Strength Talisman (x3)
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Feng Chen's grin widened into a full-blown smile, a genuine expression of pride that lit up his face.
"Look at me, making breakthroughs like a true genius!" He puffed out his chest, feeling an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.
The system, however, wasn't as impressed.
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System Notification:-
Reminder: You do realize you just followed some random memories from your previous life, right?
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It chimed in, its tone flat and unamused.
Feng Chen chuckled, finding the system's rare display of sass amusing.
"Love you too, system." He then stripped off his clothes and, with a satisfied sigh, jumped into the bath. The moment his body hit the water, he felt the potent energy start to seep into his skin, strengthening his muscles, bones, and qi channels.
The sensation was almost overwhelming, and he let out a contented groan as he sank deeper into the water, allowing the warmth to envelop him completely.
The bath was everything he had imagined and more. The energy from the dissolved cores was like nothing he had ever experienced, surging through his body in waves, cleansing, strengthening, and fortifying every fiber of his being.
His muscles tightened and bulged slightly as the spiritual energy reinforced them, his bones hummed with new strength, and his qi channels widened, allowing for a more potent flow of energy.
"This is heaven," Feng Chen murmured, his eyes closed as he floated in the bath, nearly on the brink of sleep. He could feel the transformation happening within him, each breath drawing in more of the medicinal energy.
The power was intoxicating, and for a moment, he forgot all his worries, all his frustrations. He was simply basking in the glow of his newfound strength.
Time seemed to stretch out as he relaxed, the worries of the world slipping away. Feng Chen was so relaxed that he nearly dozed off, his mind drifting into pleasant thoughts of future victories and triumphs.
But just as he was about to succumb to the soothing embrace of the bath, a sudden jolt of electricity shot through his body, snapping him awake with a start.
"What the-?" Feng Chen bolted upright in the water, his heart pounding as his mind raced to make sense of what had just happened. It took him a moment to realize that the jolt wasn't an attack but a sudden surge of qi. His eyes widened as he remembered something crucial, something the system had mentioned but that he had completely ignored.
He slapped his forehead, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed.
"How could I forget something so important?"
He quickly sat up in the bath, the soothing warmth suddenly feeling less comforting as he pieced together the realization.
"System," he called out sweetly, his voice dripping with deceptive calmness,
"There was something I've been meaning to ask you. You wouldn't happen to have a 'sign-in' function, would you?"
There was a brief pause before the system responded, and for the first time, the text on the screen seemed to tremble slightly, as if the system itself was sweating bullets.
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System Notification:-
Error: The sign-in function has not been activated. Would the host like to activate it now?
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Feng Chen's eyes narrowed, and his dangerous smile widened.
"Oh, so there is a sign-in function. And you conveniently forgot to mention it until now?"
He could almost hear the system scrambling for a response, but all that appeared on the screen were those same trembling words. Feng Chen's bathwater rippled as his qi flared in response to his rising temper, the energy swirling around him in a way that suggested the bath itself was nervous about what might happen next.
"You've been holding out on me, haven't you, system?" Feng Chen's voice was a mixture of amusement and annoyance, his knuckles cracking ominously as he considered all the potential rewards he might have missed out on.
"We're going to have a VERY long conversation about this, my dear system."