Top-tier Unruly Master

While Ding Fan was feeling fortunate that he had managed to cultivate the Nine Luminaries Fire, which would greatly speed up his alchemy in the future, Mei Li had already returned from outside.

When Mei Li first went out on her errand, Mu Zi had specially procured a special pass for her, so Mei Li's access to this military compound wasn't too difficult.

However, when Ding Fan saw Mei Li, his brows furrowed tightly.

Although Mei Li was trying her best to stand, Ding Fan could smell a bloody scent on her, and her face was pale, clearly indicating she was severely injured.

"Brother Fan..." Mei Li, upon seeing Ding Fan, hadn't finished her sentence when she directly fainted in his arms.

It seemed that Mei Li had been holding on by a thread, persisting until now, and finally having seen Ding Fan, she let go and passed out.

Without asking further, Ding Fan knew that he needed to tend to Mei Li's injuries.

He supported Mei Li to his room, and quickly removed her outer garments. At that moment, Ding Fan saw a needle-sized wound on Mei Li's chest, clearly the result of a hidden weapon.

The area around the wound had turned blue, clearly indicating the presence of poison in Ding Fan's assessment.

Ding Fan immediately removed all of Mei Li's underwear. Having previously helped Mei Li with her severe injuries, Ding Fan was unhesitant.

With her clothes removed, Mei Li's imposing figure was now bare before Ding Fan.

Mei Li was usually aloof, but her presence matched her name, endlessly enchanting and infinitely beautiful. Although this wasn't the first time Ding Fan had seen Mei Li's body, he still felt a dry itch in his throat.

However, it wasn't the time to admire. Ding Fan placed a freshly refined Foundation Building Pill directly into Mei Li's mouth.

Mei Li's body was very weak, and considering her poisoned state, the fact she managed to return in such condition was remarkable.

Therefore, Ding Fan used the Foundation Building Pill to inject some energy into her.

If others saw how Ding Fan used the Foundation Building Pill just to enhance the saved person's energy by wasting one, they would certainly declare it a tragic waste.

You must know, the Foundation Building Pill is a Second Grade medicine pill and, on Earth, it's considered exceptional. Many people seek it desperately. Yet, Ding Fan used it as if it were a common pill.

After the Foundation Building Pill was administered to Mei Li, the previously spiritless Mei Li seemed a bit more energetic.

Only then did Ding Fan prepare to treat Mei Li's wound.

Ding Fan examined the poison in Mei Li's wound. This poison was quite different from common ones, which would turn a wound black or purple, but in this case, Mei Li's wound had turned a deep blue.

After some investigation, Ding Fan was shocked to discover that the poison was from a Giant Cicada.

The so-called Giant Cicada is a Second Grade Yuan Beast in the Cultivation World. The creature is roughly the size of a fist with wings like those of a fly, and a head resembling a turtle, hence its name.

This cicada, compared to normal cicadas, is not only larger but its most dangerous aspect is its venom.

Its venom is extremely potent, capable of killing even spiritual beasts of the Cultivation World, which are a whole realm above Yuan Beasts. After Grade Nine Yuan Beasts come spiritual beasts.

This indicates just how deadly the Giant Cicada's venom is.

Ding Fan's brow furrowed tightly as he looked at the wound on Mei Li's chest. How did Mei Li come to be injured by a Giant Cicada, and how could there be a Giant Cicada on Earth?

He had no complete control over the Giant Cicada's venom.

While in the Cultivation World, Ding Fan did know a formula for an antidote for this venom, but now the situation was such that although he possessed the formula, one of the herbs needed for the antidote was particularly hard to find.

It was the Soul Gathering Herb.

This type of Spirit Grass wasn't of a very high grade, at most considered First Grade, but despite its low grade, it was exceedingly rare.

It was hard to find in the Cultivation World, let alone now on Earth.

Cough cough... At this moment, Mei Li coughed, her delicate body beginning to tremble slightly, her expression growing confused, and a pained look crossing her beautiful face.

Ding Fan knew that if he didn't act quickly to save her, Mei Li would surely die.

He immediately took out his silver needles and busily protected Mei Li's heart channels with True Qi. If her heart channels were damaged, then no matter the extent of Ding Fan's abilities, he would not be able to save her.

After safeguarding Mei Li's heart channels, Ding Fan used acupuncture to seal the wound site directly, preventing further blood flow and limiting the spread of the poison as much as possible.

Mei Li then deeply slept, and for a short time, though her poisoning seemed stable and her life not in immediate danger, prolonged time would similarly result in her death.

At that moment, Ding Fan stored Mei Li in his storage ring.

Given Mei Li's condition, she needed to avoid disturbances. While Ding Fan could have taken Mei Li to the military hospital, that would have been too troublesome, so for now, his storage ring was the best place.

Having done this, Ding Fan then began to worry about where he could find the Soul Gathering Herb.

In an urgent situation, Ding Fan asked Mu Wuhui for help.

After all, the Imperial Guard might have some means to help.

When Mu Wuhui heard Ding Fan's request, he didn't delay. Having Ding Fan come to him for help was like cultivating good karma. If Ding Fan hadn't sought his help, he would have been really irritated.

However, the Soul Gathering Herb that Ding Fan needed wasn't available with Mu Wuhui's team.

Immediately, Mu Wuhui arranged for people to search the medicine shops in Yanjing City and nearby towns.

But by evening, there was still no news from Mu Wuhui's side. Ding Fan had anticipated this, as it was a rare item in the Cultivation World, let alone easily found on Earth.

"Brother Fan, the official pharmacies don't have it, but maybe the black market might," suggested Mu Zi just when Ding Fan was panicking about what to do.

That was it. The black market!

Those who mingled in the black market had connections everywhere, and perhaps there he could find what he needed. Without wasting another moment, Ding Fan and Mu Zi set off.

By now, the street lights were just coming on. The sky had turned completely dark.

Mu Zi, familiar with the terrain of Yanjing, drove through the streets, eventually arriving at a rather dim street corner.

Outside this street corner stood two muscular men who looked like they knew some fighting skills.

Ding Fan and Mu Zi got out of the car together. After arriving at the street corner, Mu Zi promptly handed over two red old banknotes. After the men took the money, they gave Mu Zi a harsh look over her chest before letting Ding Fan and Mu Zi through.

Entering the street, a musty, rotting smell hit them, making it quite uncomfortable. However, what Ding Fan cared about most was finding the Soul Gathering Herb.

This street was lined with very dilapidated houses, each door open, and various people shuffled about.

"Sweetheart, I've got Immortal Smoke here, one puff and you'll feel like a god..." a skinny middle-aged man approached Mu Zi, waving a packet that was certainly not tobacco.

Mu Zi shook her head straight away.

At that moment, a long-haired man approached Ding Fan with a stack of photos. "Handsome, a virgin, just turned eighteen, interested...?"

Ding Fan frowned and then shook his head.

There were plenty of odd characters on this street—people selling CDs, pills, and even conducting flesh trades on the spot...

Ding Fan and Mu Zi walked from one end of the street to the other but didn't find anything.

"Is there someone selling herbs here?" Mu Zi was getting anxious, as she wasn't very familiar with this place. Finally, she pulled over a short man wearing a gold chain.

The short man sized up Mu Zi and raised his eyebrows. "Little sister looking for someone, huh?"

As he spoke, his hand reached out towards Mu Zi.

Mu Zi's eyebrows knit together. She spun around and kicked the short man to the ground.

How dare he try to take advantage of her! Not killing him was already letting him off easy.

"Damn! You're quite spicy, aren't you!" the short man snorted coldly as he got up from the ground.

Right after he spoke, about seven or eight men with tattoos and fierce looks suddenly surrounded them.

"Leave if you don't want to die!" Ding Fan was already frustrated from not finding the Soul Gathering Herb and was very irritated.

"Fuck! ****, do you even know who you're talking to!" Immediately after saying this, one of the short man's lackeys handed him a machete as wide as a finger.

With drama unfolding, quite a crowd gathered around the street to watch.

"This idiot's messed with the wrong guy. Little Bear has lost a lot of money gambling these past few days; this idiot is dead for sure now."

"There's going to be a good show soon!"

...

Meanwhile, the man known as Little Bear, brandishing the machete, swaggered over to Ding Fan.

"Let me tell you, on this street, I'm always the one stepping on others. Nobody dares act tough in front of me..."

Having said that, Little Bear raised the machete, pointing the tip directly at Ding Fan.

...