Before Master Mo returned to the mountain, Han Li knew that it was safe to use the small bottle within the Valley of Divine Hands. After all, he was the only one in the entire valley, and there was little risk of outsiders wandering in. This provided Han Li the freedom to use the bottle without worry for the time being.
Han Li estimated that Master Mo would not return anytime soon. He figured that the master would need to go quite far to find the rare medicinal herbs he sought. Such places were deep in the mountains or in isolated forests, areas where rare herbs grew. However, these remote locations were time-consuming to reach, and it would likely take him almost a year to gather enough herbs and return to the mountain.
It had been almost half a year since Master Mo left, and Han Li believed that the master would probably return in about six to seven months. Until then, Han Li intended to maximize the use of the small bottle. He wanted to create as many useful medicinal herbs as possible, especially those that would help him break through his cultivation bottleneck. He was determined to make good use of this rare opportunity to obtain powerful spirit medicines.
The medicines Han Li was crafting were not ordinary potions; they were the ultimate sacred medicines that Master Mo had once wished to concoct but had never been able to gather all the necessary ingredients. Each of these medicines, if placed on the market, would be worth a fortune, enough to bankrupt a family or cause intense conflict among martial artists.
Despite Master Mo's exceptional medical skills, he had never seen any of these medicines completed, let alone made them himself. While he had the formulas and methods for crafting them, without the right materials, he could only sigh in disappointment. Han Li, during his time as Master Mo's apprentice, had taken great interest in these rare formulas. Though he had never expected to make them himself, he had carefully memorized the recipes. Master Mo had been indifferent about Han Li's interest in these formulas, and whenever Han Li asked, the master would explain them in detail without any hesitation.
Now, these formulas had become a precious resource for Han Li. He faithfully followed the prescribed years of cultivation needed for the herbs, using the green liquid from the bottle to grow them. Time was of the essence, and Han Li couldn't afford to waste any more of it. He had to prepare these medicines before Master Mo returned, and once he did, Han Li would stash the bottle away and never use it again in the mountains.
Han Li had no confidence that he could use the bottle in front of Master Mo without revealing his secret. He understood just how sharp and cautious Master Mo was. There was no way he would let him know about the bottle's power. Their relationship was strange, far from the usual teacher-student dynamic. Over the past couple of years, Han Li had grown increasingly suspicious of Master Mo's intentions. The master often gave him strange, knowing glances, as if he was hiding something. This only deepened Han Li's mistrust.
In everyday life, Master Mo treated Han Li well enough. He was not abusive or rude, and he created the best conditions for Han Li to cultivate his secret technique. However, there was always an underlying tension between them, an awkwardness that neither of them ever addressed. Han Li was certain that the master's odd glances had not ceased, even if they had become less frequent. His intuition told him that Master Mo was hiding some ulterior motive, and Han Li knew he had to be cautious.
Having read numerous historical books, Han Li had learned a valuable lesson: "Do not harbor malicious intentions toward others, but always be wary of others' intentions." Whether Master Mo meant harm or if Han Li's suspicions were misplaced, it was wise to stay on guard. He was determined to remain a loyal apprentice to Master Mo, and he wouldn't betray him. But at the same time, he couldn't risk revealing the secret of the bottle. If the master wanted to harm him, Han Li's vigilance would protect him. If it was just a mistaken feeling, then being cautious wouldn't hurt.
After coming to this conclusion, Han Li felt a sense of unease. His relationship with Master Mo was likely unique in the entire Seven Mystic Sect, and it left him feeling uneasy. He sighed deeply.
Han Li made a firm resolution: he would never use the bottle once Master Mo returned. No matter how well he had hidden it, there was no telling who might discover the secret. Even if he managed to keep it from Master Mo, someone else in the sect might find out. The safest option was to put the bottle away and pretend it had never existed.
With his mind at ease, Han Li finally allowed himself to sleep, exhausted from the mental strain of his planning.
For the next several months, Han Li continued to secretly use the green liquid to cultivate rare herbs. He carefully followed the formulas he had memorized, crafting precious medicines. However, there were many failures along the way. Each failure left him frustrated, as the materials used to create these medicines were some of the rarest and most expensive in the world. A single failure was like throwing away a small fortune.
But Han Li wasn't discouraged. He knew that every alchemist faced failure in the process of experimenting, and even Master Mo, with all his experience, would have made mistakes when crafting these sacred medicines. Han Li comforted himself by remembering that success would come with persistence.
The medicines he crafted, such as the Yellow Dragon Pill, Clear Spirit Powder, Golden Marrow Pill, and Nourishing Essence Pill, were all extremely rare, and each one was a treasure. Han Li looked at the small bottles containing these medicines, his face lighting up with joy. With these powerful pills, he was confident that he could break through his cultivation bottleneck, not just reaching the fourth level of his secret technique but possibly even the fifth or sixth level.
Among these medicines, the Yellow Dragon Pill and Golden Marrow Pill were particularly beneficial to his cultivation, capable of greatly increasing his strength and enhancing his abilities. The Clear Spirit Powder was a rare antidote, capable of neutralizing hundreds of deadly poisons, while the Nourishing Essence Pill was effective in treating both internal and external injuries. Even the most serious injuries could be alleviated with a single pill, preserving the person's life.
With these treasures in hand, Han Li felt more confident in his future, but he also knew that he couldn't let his guard down. The road ahead was still fraught with danger, and he needed to be cautious in every step he took.