2. Elixirs and Miraculous Remedies

“Little Guo’er, where did you get this miraculous elixir? Why do I feel as if I’ve become ten years younger?” The old man scrambled up, disbelief written all over his face as he asked. He picked up the vial, sniffed it, and even snuck a lick.

Seeing her master recover, Guo’er was overjoyed. She pointed to Li Miao at the doorway and said, “Master, it was this uncle who gave it to me!”

The old man glanced over and exclaimed, “Ah, so it was this black-faced friend who bestowed it! I am Xuan Zhenzi of Mount Zhongyun—my thanks to you, black-faced friend!” He hurried to his feet and offered a salute.

Black… black-faced?

Li Miao was taken aback, reached up, and wiped a layer of soot from his face.

His face grew even darker. With an awkward cough, he said, “Uh… Elder, my name is Li Miao. I’m an extraordinary warrior of the Seventh Guard of the Ninth Fleet, Silver League Expeditionary Army. I accidentally landed on this planet and destroyed your house. I truly feel sorry. Perhaps you could make a list, and I’ll compensate you at double the alliance market price.”

Originally, he only needed to pay the standard compensation, but seeing how destitute the old and the young were, compassion stirred in him and he wanted to give more.

After all, the Alliance had plenty of money. To them, compensating for a house—or even for an asteroid—was nothing.

The old and the young listened but didn’t quite understand what he meant. After a long while, they asked, “Black—no, Li Miao, friend, this Silver League… this sword team you speak of, is that what you call a sect?”

“Uh…” Li Miao’s expression stiffened.

So this world was so backward it didn’t even know about the Galactic Extraordinary Alliance or the Expeditionary Fleet?

He felt a bit troubled. Dealing with such a primitive planet was truly difficult. Communication alone was hard enough, and even the universal currency of the Silver League would be useless here. For the honor of the Alliance, he couldn’t just take off without making proper amends; that would violate the code of honor for extraordinary warriors.

What to do?

The three of them stared at each other.

What if… he rebuilt their house and gave them some food as compensation?

That seemed doable!

Li Miao nodded inwardly, then laughed and said, “Yes, yes, you’re right, it’s just like a sect. Our sect never takes advantage of others. Since I broke your house, I’ll help you rebuild it. And as an apology, I’ll give you ten sacks of rice as extra compensation.”

“What? Ten sacks of rice! Ten sacks!” Xuan Zhenzi nearly leapt through the rickety floorboards in shock.

In his entire life, he’d never seen so much rice. Convinced Li Miao was exaggerating, he asked, “You… you mean, how big is a sack?”

“Uh, about this big.” Li Miao spread his arms, indicating the size.

When Xuan Zhenzi saw, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot.

“Master, master! Wuwuwu~”

Guo’er thought her master had died again and began to wail.

Li Miao checked his breathing—he was fine. The joy of ten sacks of rice had simply overwhelmed him. Relieved, he patted Guo’er’s head and explained, “Don’t cry, your master is all right. What’s your name? Do you know if there are any shops nearby?”

“Master’s all right?” Guo’er saw her master’s chest still rising and falling and breathed a sigh of relief. Wiping her tears, she said, “My name is Guo’er, but… what’s a shop?”

“A shop… is a marketplace, bazaar, supermarket, or store.”

Guo’er thought for a moment, then nodded, “Master once said that at the foot of the mountain, in Nanshan Village, there’s a small market. On the first and fifteenth of each month, people gather to buy and sell rice.”

At the foot of the mountain?

Li Miao nodded and stepped outside.

This dilapidated little hut was built halfway up a great mountain, surrounded by dense wilderness and so primitive that there was barely a path down.

He looked toward the foot of the mountain and saw a small village in the distance. For an ordinary person, it would take three or four hours to make the round trip. The old and the young had probably seldom, if ever, left the mountain.

“Would you like to go down and have a look?” he asked.

Without hesitation, Guo’er replied, “No! Master said there are man-eating monsters everywhere down there. I don’t want to be eaten!”

Li Miao chuckled. “Don’t be afraid. With me here, even the fiercest monster is just a paper tiger. And there’s plenty of delicious food down there. Don’t you want to see for yourself?”

“Delicious food…”

At the mention of that, Guo’er’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Li Miao thought to himself what an easy little girl she was to coax. He first asked her to find a mountain spring and wash herself, then changed into clean clothes. Then he scooped Guo’er up and raced down the mountain.

He was an elite of the Expeditionary Army, his genetic potential at Level 3—forty times stronger than an ordinary human. Though he couldn’t yet use his energy to fly, his running and jumping far surpassed a cheetah’s.

To shield Guo’er from the wind, he restrained his speed, leaping lightly among the treetops at a normal pace.

Guo’er, who had never climbed so high, screamed in terror at first but soon dissolved into laughter. “Wow, I’m flying! Guo’er is flying!”

The girl’s bell-like laughter was infectious. Li Miao laughed heartily as well, feeling an uncommon sense of freedom. Since joining the Expeditionary Army, he hadn’t felt so relaxed—the training was harsh, and missions constantly flirted with death, leaving no room for ease.

Landing on this primitive planet, and unable to contact the fleet for now, he might as well take this as a rare break.

Swinging through the forest, he chatted with the little girl.

“Guo’er, why do you live so high up the mountain?”

“Because there are monsters down below. It’s only safe up here.”

“But there’s no food up here. What do you do?”

“It wasn’t always like this… Master and I used to grow lots of rice, and we ate thick rice porridge every day. But then a giant rat ate it all, even the seeds. Now we only eat wild fruits, vegetables, and banana leaves.”

“A giant rat? You mean one rat ate all your rice?”

“Yes! It was this big—this big!” She stretched her arms as wide as possible, but still couldn’t convey just how enormous.

Li Miao was skeptical, thinking perhaps the trauma had exaggerated the rat in her memory. After all, not even the Galactic Alliance’s database mentioned rodents larger than a human.

“If that giant rat shows up again, I’ll catch it and roast it into rat jerky for the cat!” he promised.

Guo’er, full of trust in this tall and marvelous alien, nodded vigorously. “Great! We’ll feed it to the big mountain cat that always plays with me!”

As they spoke, they soon reached the foot of the mountain.

Nanshan Village lay ahead—a simple, tranquil cluster of forty or fifty households.

At the entrance, a big dog was chained beneath an old locust tree, looking every bit the village guardian.

Li Miao set Guo’er down and took her little hand as they headed into the village.

They had barely walked a few steps when the “guardian” dog rose and barked furiously.

Guo’er shrank back in fear.

Li Miao squeezed her hand gently and said in a warm voice, “Don’t be afraid—dogs that bite don’t bark. He just looks fierce.”

They kept walking.

The dog barked even louder, bared its teeth, and looked ready to fight.

Guo’er grew more frightened, but Li Miao, confident in his skill, pressed on toward the village entrance.

Suddenly, the dog lunged and bit hard at his leg.

“Damn, I thought dogs that barked didn’t bite! This one’s got no manners!”

He yelped, pulling Guo’er aside.

The dog lunged again, but the chain held it back.

The noise brought villagers running—several robust young men with blades and iron rods.

“Who are you? How dare you trespass on Nanshan Sect land!” they shouted.

“We are…”

Li Miao started to answer, then paused.

“Isn’t this Nanshan Village? How did it become Nanshan Sect?” he asked in confusion.

The leader, a burly youth with a beard, waved his blade and snorted, “We have our own cultivation methods and two Qi Refining experts. Of course, we’re a sect!”

Cultivation methods? Qi Refining?

Li Miao didn’t understand this world’s power system, but he noticed these villagers were all physically robust, at least on par with a Level 1 extraordinary warrior.

Not the physique of ordinary villagers!

“Hey, kid, state your name or don’t blame us for being rude!” the bearded man—Wang Wu—demanded, brandishing his weapon.

Li Miao didn’t want trouble, so he replied politely, “My name is Li Miao, just a traveler looking to trade for some grain, if that’s possible?”

“Trade for grain? What do you have to offer?” Wang Wu sneered, looking them up and down. Li Miao wore expeditionary leisure wear—fine, but simple, and short-sleeved. Here, only paupers dressed like that. Guo’er, patched and ragged, looked like a little beggar.

Li Miao was unfazed by their scorn. He took a gold bar from his “Cosmic Microcosm Ring” and tossed it to Wang Wu.

Wang Wu caught it, surprised by the weight—it was a full pound of gold. His attitude changed instantly. He tucked away his blade and greeted Li Miao with a clasped fist: “An honored guest! Nanshan Sect is delighted—please, come inside!”

In such a remote village, many had never seen gold. For someone to offer a bar of it—he must be wealthy or powerful.

Li Miao followed Wang Wu into the village.

Soon, they passed a group of children practicing martial arts—boys and girls, from teenagers to little ones barely six or seven.

“Does everyone here practice martial arts?” Li Miao asked, intrigued.

Wang Wu puffed up with pride. “In this world, might makes right. We’re done being bullied—now everyone trains. Whether it’s the corrupt officials or man-eating monsters, we can stand up to them!”

To turn a farming village into a martial sect was no easy feat. Li Miao was impressed. “Your leader must be remarkable.”

Wang Wu beamed. “Of course! Our chief—no, our sect leader—has dealt with immortals before. The cultivation arts we practice were all obtained from immortals. He’s our great benefactor!”

“Immortals? What kind of immortals?”

Li Miao’s curiosity was piqued.

“Immortals are the most powerful beings under heaven. They are ageless and undying, capable of moving stars and overturning seas. Gold, power, and beauty mean nothing to them—they seek the ultimate truth of the world!” Wang Wu’s tone was full of pride, as if he were an immortal himself.

“I see,” Li Miao said thoughtfully.

He had assumed this was a backward world, both technologically and biologically primitive, but perhaps not. If immortals were as powerful as Wang Wu claimed, he’d have to take this accidental journey seriously.

According to alliance law, when an extraordinary warrior discovers an unregistered world, he must first report its location. If unable to do so, he must collect information and, if possible, conquer the world for the Alliance.

But if the natives were powerful, he could bide his time and await reinforcements.

Wang Wu’s description of immortals matched the highest-tier extraordinary warriors—immortal and immensely powerful. Compared to them, he was but an ant.

Until he contacted the fleet, he would keep a low profile.

“We’re here.”

They stopped before the largest wooden house in the village.

Wang Wu called inside, “Chief! I’ve brought an honored guest who wishes to buy grain!”

At once, the door swung open.

A robust, elderly voice called out, “How many times have I told you—call me Sect Leader from now on! Why can’t you remember?”

“Ah, yes, yes, Sect Leader—sorry, Chief, I forgot again.” Wang Wu scratched his head in embarrassment.

A robed old man appeared—seventyish, with keen eyes and a vigorous stride.

Li Miao sensed that the old man’s aura was not weak—nearly at Level 2 extraordinary warrior—but his physical strength was inferior, relying more on internal power.

The old man, Wang Lang, eyed Li Miao. “You don’t look local. Where are you from?”

He couldn’t tell the truth.

Li Miao answered, “Mount Zhongyun, behind the village. That’s local enough, I suppose.”

“Mount Zhongyun?”

The old chief’s expression changed, his gaze wary as he stared at Li Miao and Guo’er. “Did your elders send you?”

This reaction made Li Miao suspicious—was there some secret here?

He simply replied, “What elders? I’m just here to buy rice…”

Wang Lang was skeptical. He ignored the trade matter and asked, “I haven’t been up the mountain in over a decade. What’s it like up there now?”

“It’s very good! Master says, we’re doing well!” Guo’er, silent till now, suddenly spoke up.

“Guo’er?” Li Miao was baffled.

So poor they couldn’t afford rice, and she said things were good?

Seeing his confusion, Guo’er leaned in and whispered, “Master says, never let the villagers know we’re struggling. Even if we starve, we must starve with dignity!”

Li Miao understood at last.

Guo’er’s words seemed illogical, but paired with Wang Lang’s reaction, it revealed something: there was a rift between Mount Zhongyun and Nanshan Village.

But Wang Wu and the other villagers seemed unaware, suggesting this was knowledge reserved for only a few—Wang Lang, Xuan Zhenzi, and the like.

Wang Lang’s face was cloudy with indecision. After a long pause, he suddenly barked, “Take them!”

Wang Wu was stunned. “Sect Leader—weren’t they honored guests, why—”

“Honored guests? They’re here to spy and plot revenge! Seize them!” Wang Lang snapped.

“Yes, Sect Leader!” The villagers, though confused, trusted their chief.

Wang Wu and the young martial artists surrounded Li Miao and Guo’er, blocking all escape.

Two young men lunged to seize Li Miao.

But as they neared, a mighty force sent them flying, crashing into their comrades.

Li Miao’s expression didn’t change, as if he’d done nothing of consequence. He said to Wang Lang, “Clearly you’re hiding something. I didn’t come to make trouble, but if you want a fight, I don’t mind obliging you.”

Combat was a warrior’s profession—he’d never shied from a fight.

The villagers hadn’t even seen how he’d felled the two men and were now wary.

Wang Lang sneered, “So you have some skill. Xuan Zhenzi must have passed down his secret art to you. Fine—since you’ve delivered yourself to my door, I’ll gladly accept this gift.”

He gestured, and a sword flew into his hand by force of will. He charged at Li Miao.

This telekinetic feat startled Li Miao, but he had no time to think—the sword was already upon him.

Li Miao dodged low and, holding Guo’er, retreated several steps.

Seeing the chief attack, Wang Wu and the others joined in, swinging blades and staves at them.

Surrounded by a dozen attackers, Li Miao remained calm, weaving nimbly among them, occasionally knocking one down with a punch or a kick.

Such opponents, merely at the “Awakened” level, posed no threat. If not for fear of Guo’er being hurt, he could have ended the fight in seconds.

Even carrying a child, it only took him half a minute more.

The gap in strength could not be bridged by numbers. With dull thuds, the young men were soon sprawled on the ground, groaning—only Wang Lang remained standing.

More villagers arrived, but seeing his prowess, none dared intervene.

“Not much of a fight. Any more?” Li Miao asked.

Wang Lang responded with a cold snort.

Confident in his strength, the old man showed no fear. Brandishing his sword, he darted forward with unexpected agility. The blade whistled through the air, but Li Miao sidestepped and countered.

The two exchanged blows, the villagers cheering their chief on.

It looked evenly matched, but anyone with sense could see Wang Lang couldn’t even touch Li Miao’s sleeve.

As a Mountain-and-River Class extraordinary warrior, Li Miao outclassed Wang Lang by a full realm. Even handicapped by a weapon disadvantage and carrying a child, Wang Lang, newly entered the Qi Refining stage, was no match.

After less than a minute, Li Miao seized an opening, rammed Wang Lang in the chest like a bull, and sent him flying. Blood spurted from Wang Lang’s mouth as he crashed into the crowd.

The fight was over.

“Chief!”

“Sect Leader!”

The villagers cried in shock, unable to believe their chief, slayer of monsters, had been so easily defeated.

They didn’t realize Li Miao had held back. Had he used his full strength, Wang Lang would have been shattered.

“Where’s the granary?” Li Miao demanded.

The villagers glared at him, but none replied.

Li Miao shrugged, then switched to the cold-blooded tone he’d honed on the interstellar battlefield. “Answer me!”

Every soldier in the Expeditionary Army was a battle-hardened reaper of countless civilizations. In normal times, his demeanor was easy-going, but when serious, his killing intent was palpable.

Simple mountain folk, most of whom had never fought, could not withstand such a presence. Someone finally pointed to a round wooden building nearby.

Li Miao wasted no more words, stowed his killing intent, and strode toward the granary with Guo’er.