Located on the northernmost border of the Kingdom of Serenvale is the Crystal Peak Province, known for its perpetual snow and formidable mountain range that serves as a natural barrier. Ordinary soldiers with low cultivation wouldn't be able to climb this cold and steep mountain without spending too much energy. But in the middle of the mountain range, there is a 30-meter-wide open space that can be used to move to the other side of the mountain. Serenvale decided to make this a military camp and stronghold because it is easy to defend and hard to attack due to the natural formation, and they call it the mountain pass of the north. On the other side is the Kingdom of Valoria, which is a lot stronger than the Kingdom of Serenvale. Valoria constantly tries to attack Serenvale, and the average cultivation level of the Valorian cultivators is a level higher than that of Serenvale. They even have Core Formation cultivators in their rank. However, thanks to the natural defences of the mountain pass and the fact that they cannot send their core formation cultivators to Serenvale due to the threat from the Sultanate of Al-Razil in Valoria's northern boarder, Serenvale has managed to fend off the invasion.
Inside the camp of the mountain pass of the North, the Northern General, Yan Zhi, who is also Yan Sen's father, received the distressing news that his only son was in a coma and his wife, Lady Meilan, was being suppressed by his rival, General Guan of the West, into getting the medicine needed for Yan Sen’s recovery. (The news of Yan Sen's recovery had not reached him yet.) Yan Zhi's anger flared up, and he wanted to go home immediately to teach the arrogant General Guan a lesson.
"We are comrades in arms, and yet he would stoop so low!" General Yan Zhi exclaimed, venting his frustration to his trusted advisor, Qin Baoyu. "If it wasn't for the threat of Valorian idiots, I would have already marched back to Faybrook to give that idiot a piece of my fist!"
"General, please reconsider," Baoyu advised. "Our camp here is vital to the kingdom's defence. Leaving it unguarded could be dangerous. Besides, we still need to confirm who was behind the attack on Yan Sen."
"You're right, Baoyu. I cannot leave the mountain pass vulnerable to an attack from Valoria. But I won't rest until I find out who dared to harm my son," General Yan Zhi replied, torn between his duty and his paternal instincts. General Yan Zhi had decided to stay in the camp and postpone his return to Faybrook. He couldn't risk leaving the mountain pass vulnerable to an attack from Valoria while his son was still in a coma. Unbeknownst to everyone in the camp, Qin Baoyu had disguised himself as General Yan and left the camp to assist Lady Meilan in taking care of Yan Sen's medication needs and inform the king of Serenvale for possible spies among the ranks of officials. He keeps a close eye on Lady Meilan and Yan Sen, and protects them discreetly, following General Yan Zhi's orders.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain pass, in Valoria's camp, General Henry Parker, a low-level general, received a report about Yan Sen's attack. With General Yan Zhi potentially returning home, Parker saw an opportunity to invade Serenvale.
"General Parker, do you think the news is reliable?" asked one of his officers. "Attacking while General Yan Zhi is still present would be risky."
"Have no fear," General Parker replied confidently. "Our intelligence sources are reliable, and we have an ace spy in the enemy territory. If the opportunity arises, we must seize it and take control of the mountain pass." General Parker still imagines the merit that he will get from occupying the enemy's most important stronghold.
Inside Yan Manor, Yan Sen marveled at the medicinal grass and herbs Lao Chun and the other servants brought. "Too many," he thought, trying to figure out what to do with all of them. He turned to Time Sovereign for advice, seeking guidance on his next steps.
"Master, what should I do next?" Yan Sen asked the Time Sovereign, eager to make the most of the resources he had.
The Time Sovereign chuckled, "Ah, my impatient young disciple, I have an idea. Why don't you ask your mother for a separate courtyard or a room of your own within the manor?"
"A separate courtyard? But why, Master?" Yan Sen asked, curious about the suggestion.
"You see, having your own space will allow you to cultivate and experiment with your elixirs without disturbing the important people within the main house," the Time Sovereign explained, knowing that cultivating in peace was crucial for Yan Sen's growth.
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Encouraged by his master's advice, Yan Sen approached his mother, Lady Meilan, and made the unusual request for a separate courtyard. Though surprised by the unusual desire, Lady Meilan agreed, thinking that her son just wanted a play area of his own. In the world of cultivation, it was not uncommon for children to start martial arts and cultivation training from a young age to mature quickly and grow stronger than ordinary kids.
Yan Sen's courtyard was set up at the corner of the manor, right beside the servant's quarter. This arrangement allowed him to call for help easily whenever needed while also ensuring he wouldn't disturb important people in the main house when practising his cultivation techniques or concocting elixirs.
Excited about his new space, Yan Sen asked the servants to bring three large drum bathtubs and a stove with a pot. They looked at him with bewilderment, hesitant to fulfil such an unusual request from a six-year-old. However, Yan Sen insisted, and the servants eventually complied with his demands afraid of his tantrums, he even make fun of the Yan family's family head from time to time, how can the servant not be afraid of their young master’s mischievousness?
Just as everything was being set up, Mei Lin arrived, curious about the commotion. Yan Sen eagerly explained that he wanted to invite Li Wei and her to his new courtyard the next day, as he had something important to share with them.
"Really? What's so important?" Mei Lin asked, intrigued by her mischievous friend's excitement.
"You'll see! Just be there tomorrow, okay?" Yan Sen replied with a playful grin.
As Mei Lin left to inform Li Wei about the upcoming meeting, Yan Sen turned to the Time Sovereign again, seeking knowledge about making the essence elixir.
The Time Sovereign provided detailed instructions, and Yan Sen diligently followed them. Boiling the herbs according to the given measurements, he soon had three bottles of elixir ready and he called it essence elixir. Filled with anticipation, Yan Sen asked the servants to fill one of the bathtubs with warm water and he pour a litre of essence elixir inside. Yan Sen couldn't believe the miraculous effects of the essence elixir he had just prepared with the help of the Time Sovereign. As he soaked in the bathtub filled with the elixir, he could feel the gentle energy enveloping his body and nourishing his soul. The sensation was so soothing that he almost drifted off to sleep.
Time Sovereign's voice echoed in his mind, "Cultivate your technique, Yan Sen. Let the essence elixir work its magic and strengthen your soul."
Following his master's guidance, Yan Sen began circulating the Mortal Level Unified Chrono Heart Cultivation Technique. As he did so, he could feel the essence elixir merging with his cultivation, accelerating the healing and growth of his soul. The benefits of the elixir were even more profound than he had anticipated.
In just an hour of cultivation inside the essence elixir bath, Yan Sen's soul had not only healed completely but also experienced substantial growth. The young boy marveled at the power of the elixir and the guidance of his Time Sovereign mentor. He felt grateful for having such a knowledgeable master.
After six hours of cultivating in the essence elixir, Yan Sen finally decided to get out of the tub. He felt revitalized and brimming with energy. He felt that as his soul grows stronger, he now has a stronger perception and he can learn things more quickly, he can also feel that he is about to break through to 3rd stage of skin tempering. Advancing 1 stage of skin tempering usually took 4 months on average but at this rate, he thinks it will only take a week or two. As he stepped out, the servants waiting outside were astonished to see him looking healthier and more vibrant than before.
Yan Sen thanked the Time Sovereign in his mind and made a mental note to preserve the remaining herbs for future use. The essence elixir was a precious resource that he couldn't afford to waste.
The next day, Yan Sen's two loyal friends, Li Wei and Mei Lin, arrived at his courtyard as he had requested. They were curious about the urgent matter Yan Sen wanted to discuss with them.
End of Chapter 6
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Elixir- An elixir is a mystical liquid substance with potent medicinal and spiritual properties, commonly found in the realms of cultivation. It is often created through the intricate combination of rare and precious ingredients, including herbs, minerals, and other mystical components.
Elixirs can come in various forms, such as rejuvenation elixirs that promote healing and rejuvenation, enhancing a cultivator's longevity, or muscle-forging elixirs that bolster one's physical body, making it more resilient and powerful. Other elixirs may grant temporary or permanent boosts to elemental affinities, spiritual perception, or mental clarity.
The process of crafting elixirs is often a complex and delicate art(except for low-level elixir, it can be as simple as boiling), requiring skilled alchemists or cultivators with profound knowledge of the Dao (natural laws) and the ability to control Qi and manipulate the elemental forces. Due to their rarity and value, elixirs are highly sought after, often becoming coveted treasures that can significantly impact the fate of individuals, sects, or entire realms in the world of cultivation.