Chapter 19

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 19

Chapter Title: Purple霞 Divine Pellet

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I opened my eyes.

A familiar ceiling.

"Whoa, fuck, I've always wanted to say that line."

I came to my senses amid a bone-deep exhaustion, like all the strength had drained from my body.

I'd definitely been brewing Wall Valley Pills by the spring that became the origin water, but when I snapped out of it, time had passed.

The last memory that surfaced was feeling like the internal energy in my body was getting sucked away while brewing the Wall Valley Pill—

"Right! My Wall Valley Pill!"

It took a bit after waking up for the memory of the pill I'd been making to come back.

I'd been working hard on it until the end, but I had no recollection of it slipping from my hands at some point.

I frantically looked around,

"Ah, there it is."

Unlike my fears, there was a neatly placed pill off to one side.

Thank goodness—it didn't seem to have rolled away anywhere.

"Phew, what a relief."

I carefully picked it up and placed it on my palm.

"Man, I thought it was ruined when it slipped midway, but I actually succeeded."

Even though it was made from frozen grain, the Wall Valley Pill had come out quite nicely shaped.

Moreover, infused with the energy of the Yin-Yang Five Elements Scripture, it even seemed to have a faint pink glow.

Staring at it, a question arose.

"But... is this really a Wall Valley Pill?"

The Wall Valley Pills I'd seen in wuxia novels were usually hard and dry-looking.

Far from tasty or flavorful, they were like combat rations you force down for cultivation and hardship.

But this one looked nothing like that odorless, tasteless thing at first glance—

I pondered that for a moment, then

"Eh, no way it's spoiled."

decided to brush it off.

The gallery users' wuxia common sense differed from the novels I knew in more ways than one or two.

So what's wrong with a Wall Valley Pill shining a bit?

What mattered wasn't its pink color—it was that I'd successfully made a Wall Valley Pill.

Part of me wanted to upload proof to the gallery right away,

"...Hold back. Not yet."

My stomach was empty, suggesting a good amount of time had passed since I passed out.

The gallery folks had been waiting a while for me to make Wall Valley Pills, so if I posted proof of just one, I'd get flak like "That's all you made?" or "You've lost your beginner's spirit"—a flood of shit.

People naturally want praise and upvotes.

At least ten pills, then they'd say, "This guy's put in some real effort."

"Up we go."

I felt exhausted and hungry, but my condition was better than expected.

Even refreshing, like I'd had a long, deep sleep.

While lighting a fire under the cold barley porridge pot, I resolved myself.

"So my goal is at least ten."

Fill my belly with pre-made mixed grain porridge, devote every spare moment—even gallery time—to making Wall Valley Pills.

A true all-in Wall Valley Pill marathon.

I shoveled the now-warm mixed grain porridge into my mouth, then dove back into making more with the remaining ingredients.

'Now I get the knack. I've done it once.'

I'd passed out midway, but I'd gained something.

At first, I had no feel for the circulation, but now my body knew the flow.

And having done it once, I felt confident I wouldn't pass out again.

So I got right to it.

"Alright, knead the dough lightly, then channel internal energy into it following the Yin-Yang Five Elements Scripture formula. Last time I put in too much and passed out, so little by little... Uh, uhh, uhhh?"

Wuuuuuung—

My internal energy started getting sucked in like a raging torrent again.

No, beyond torrent—a flood.

The difference this time: I could feel more clearly just how insanely fast it was—

'Fuck, at this rate, another unfamiliar ceiling...'

"Ah."

A familiar ceiling.

When a dumb sound slipped from my mouth unwittingly, I realized this was my second blackout.

One silver lining:

"...Well, at least I completed this one before passing out."

In my hand was another finished Wall Valley Pill.

Not like I was getting a passing necklace or anything.

Was passing out a passive every time I made one?

"No way. It's just my skill level's too low."

I decided to think simply.

From what I could tell, making Wall Valley Pills was like a game skill, and when MP runs out, it drains something else and knocks you out, right?

Solutions: expand MP pool or raise skill proficiency.

"Popping Ether to boost my MP would fix it, but the gallery said to use Ether sparingly."

I didn't have much Ether, but my realm was so low that taking it would likely show clear effects.

So I needed to use it cost-effectively; wasting it on one Wall Valley Pill felt too regrettable.

For now, best to keep making them naturally and build proficiency.

"Let's try again. Slower this time. Not dumping all at once—instead, like cracking the sluice gate just a hair, trickle the energy."

I was hungry again upon waking, so I gulped down a bowl of mixed grain porridge before starting production.

As I'd figured out, the key was trickling energy very slowly.

Thinking of internal energy as reservoir water and dantian as the gate, I began releasing it ever so gradually,

"Slowly, slowly, slowl... Ah, fuck!! Again!!!!"

Guuuugugugugu!!

At some point, the energy started pouring out madly.

This was beyond control.

My vision went dark again,

"...Haha, ha, fuck."

Before I knew it, ten Wall Valley Pills were in my hand.

Meaning I'd passed out eight more times in between.

"What kind of system faints once per pill?"

I was glad I'd swept up all the grain sacks.

Otherwise, I'd have starved to death by now.

"Alright, that's enough. I'm done."

I gave up on any more stubbornness.

I'd hit my goal of ten, and honestly, I missed the gallery users' attention and rage.

I meekly posted on the gallery.

And the result:

As expected, the Martial God Gallery welcomed me back with open arms.

After threatening to end unarmed services to learn martial arts, then ghosting the gallery for days, it was only natural.

How to handle this.

I thought it over and decided to come clean meekly.

I meekly posted a four-panel apology on the gallery.

Of course, I didn't think a mere apology would get me forgiven easily.

If apologies fixed everything, why have laws?

So I waited patiently for the shitstorm—

Something about the gallery's reaction felt off.

As I sensed something weird myself,

My martial arts master, the Colorless Phoenix, showed up late but couldn't hide her shock.