Chapter 151: Reborn

In his semiconscious state, the unique constitution of the pure-blooded Medicine Immortal clan began to take effect. As toxins aggressively devoured every cell in Bai Shengye’s body, those very cells began to mutate and reorganize, gradually regenerating into a new type of cell capable of resisting the poison.

This reorganization was accompanied by heart-rending agony; it was no different from having every inch of his old skin, flesh, and bone die, rot away, and vanish, only to be replaced by the new. This was the secret, ancestral art of the Medicine Immortal clan: Rebirth of the Marrow.

This "Rebirth" required a lifetime of training beginning in childhood. The Snowy Domain was a land of extreme cold and harsh conditions, and the Medicine Immortal clan inherited a naturally powerful physique from their ancestors. Before the age of ten, heirs were required to practice day and night in pools of freezing water where mountain snow lotuses bloomed, year after year, allowing the essence of the lotuses to seep into their very marrow. Because the process was excruciating and beyond what an ordinary person could endure, only one in several hundred heirs could truly master it.

This miraculous art could only be triggered by toxins; physical injury alone would not suffice. The more times one underwent this transformation, the more the power of their bloodline would be pushed to its limit, and the greater their resistance to poison would become.

Bai Shengye’s body had sunk completely to the bottom of the toxic pool, and under the influence of hallucinogenic toxins, his spirit was wandering in another world.

The moment his body touched the bottom, he felt a damp, dense forest unfold around him. The light was dim, and he was lying on cool, moist grass. When he opened his eyes, his body felt too heavy to move. The silhouettes of swaying tree branches above were hazy and indistinct, and the sky was a light-proof, dark green.

"Bai Shengye! You idiot!"

A woman’s voice drifted down through the murky sky. Though it sounded muffled and distant, the familiarity was striking. He suddenly remembered that there was something he was supposed to do. He sat up abruptly, yet he could recall nothing. His fingers brushed against several herbs scattered on the ground.

"This is..."

His medicine chest lay shattered on the ground, rotted and warped, buried by soil and lush weeds. He picked up the herbs, brushed off the dirt, and found they were still usable.

"Lotus heart, blood ginseng, mountain ox horn, silver dragon beard, ghost-face fruit, immortal grass..."

As he identified the herbs in the soil and picked them up one by one, someone else sat opposite him, also gathering them. Suddenly, his fingers brushed against another's. They were fair, slender, and exquisite fingers. Following the arm upward, he saw Qianxue, his childhood sweetheart.

"Brother Bai, are you still studying herbs today? Why don't you come and train with me instead?" She tilted her head with a playful smile, her face the same as it had been in their youth.

Bai Shengye thought for a moment. This forest felt like the one near the little river in his hometown, where he used to gather herbs. He shook his head.

"I still need to memorize the formulas in the Pharmacopoeia. Go play by yourself for a while."

"No! Brother Bai, you've been memorizing for days. Just keep me company today!" She shook his arm, pleading.

"I can't. You don't understand; these formulas must be memorized perfectly. If you get one ingredient wrong, a life-saving medicine could become a deadly poison. Every great apothecary starts with this kind of grueling effort, cultivated bit by bit."

"Hmph, memorize, memorize, memorize! All you ever think about is memorizing!"

"Cousin, you must understand. Do you know how many types of herbs there are in the world, and how many formulas can be made from them? All of these must be memorized..."

She stood up in frustration and said indignantly, "Even if you are from the Medicine Immortal clan, you still need to practice magic! Otherwise, if someone close to you encounters danger, won't you need magic to protect them?"

Bai Shengye shook his head. "I don't see it that way. The Clan Leader says that only medicine can truly protect people, not force."

"I don't care!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him up from the ground with a jerk. "I want you to train with me!"

Bai Shengye followed her helplessly. As they walked, his gaze was drawn to the various rare plants growing in the thickets, and he whispered their names and properties to himself. Qianxue ignored him, walking on her own and muttering, "You're nothing but a medicine nerd!"

Leading him to an open clearing, she conjured a magic staff and began waving it about, showing off a spell she had just learned. Bai Shengye, however, remained lost in his thoughts about the herbs.

Suddenly, a snow-white wolf lunged from the forest. Before either of them could react, it snatched up Qianxue and bolted into the woods.

"Qianxue!" Bai Shengye finally snapped to his senses.

"Ah! Brother, save me!"

Without thinking, a magic staff materialized in his right hand. In an instant, a pillar of ice shot from his palm toward the wolf’s back.

"Awoo!" The wolf let out a pained howl, collapsed, and dropped Qianxue.

"How dare you hurt my sister! Frost Snow-Blade!"

A ferocious gleam appeared in Bai Shengye’s eyes. He seemed like a different person as he unleashed a gale of wind and snow, the flakes cutting into the wolf’s thick fur like blades. The wolf could not rise against the powerful wind, and ice began to accumulate on its claws.

"Good brother, don't hit it anymore!" Qianxue ran over, spreading her arms to shield the wolf, then threw herself over to hug it. "It's alright, it's alright! It admits defeat, stop!"

"You... what is this?" Bai Shengye stood frozen, utterly bewildered. As the snow subsided, he retracted his staff.

"Hehe!" Qianxue suddenly jumped up from the wolf, stuck out her tongue, and beckoned the creature to her side. "This is my new mount! What do you think?" She patted the wolf’s back proudly.

Bai Shengye finally understood. She had let the wolf attack her on purpose, just to force him to use his magic.

"You little rascal, don't be so mischievous next time." He walked over, tapped her forehead, and flicked her nose.

"Brother, I saw it this time! You have powerful ice-element skills. What was that move called? It was so cool! Teach me, teach me!"

"Fine, I'll train with you for a while today..." Bai Shengye agreed helplessly. She was overjoyed, and as they raised their staffs, the swirling white snow fell from the sky, intertwining around them.

Suddenly, the scene changed drastically. The sky rippled, flickering between light and dark, and Qianxue’s figure vanished. A hoarse voice echoed from above:

"You're actually not dead? What a surprise."

Looking up, through the thick, dark green gloom and the crisscrossing black branches, Wu Zhen perched on a high limb like a crouching crow.