One, two, three... six ivory-white pills lay silently within the Demon Refining Furnace, resembling pearls, a gentle, soft white light still emanating from their surfaces, carrying an intoxicating fragrance.
Even Zhang Yang couldn't believe that such a small piece of Spirit Beast Inner Core could yield six spirit medicines. This refining session had been a resounding success.
"Jee-jee-jee!"
"Squeak-squeak-squeak!"
Wuying and Shandian immediately cried out, eagerly begging Zhang Yang to give them two pills each.
After the white smoke cleared, Zhang Yang carefully retrieved the pills from the furnace. This refining process had no established formula; Zhang Yang had relied solely on his spiritual intuition regarding elixirs, combined with some rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures, to conduct the alchemy himself. The actual efficacy of these spirit medicines remained unknown.
Zhang Yang took out two of the spirit medicines; these two were specifically for the two little fellows, Shandian and Wuying.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Seeing Zhang Yang take out two pills, the two little creatures instantly knew they were reserved for them. With no hesitation, they transformed into two streaks of afterimages, snatching the spirit medicines right from Zhang Yang’s hand and stuffing them into their mouths.
Zhang Yang watched Shandian and Wuying with bated breath. The specific effect of this spirit medicine, refined from a Spirit Beast Inner Core, would soon be revealed by how the two little ones reacted.
"Hic!"
After swallowing the spirit medicine, both creatures let out a simultaneous, satisfied belch, exhaling only the purest essence of heaven and earth energy.
As if intoxicated, the two little ones immediately started staggering, occasionally murmuring nonsensical sounds, as if rambling incoherently.
Shandian and Wuying, in their dazed state, exchanged words that finally allowed Zhang Yang to grasp the true effect of the spirit medicine.
This pearl-like spirit medicine had retained the vast majority of the energy contained within the Spirit Beast Inner Core. Now refined into a pill, it was equivalent to distilling that inherent energy into an even purer form of heaven and earth energy. For Wuying and Shandian, it was like the most mellow, fragrant wine, utterly intoxicating.
He recalled the two parrots he met in the Savage Mountain—were they not empowered by top-tier experts planting energy seeds within them, which ultimately led to their formidable cultivation?
Zhang Yang suddenly felt a surge of excitement. To grant animals lacking spirit beast bloodlines abilities like the Spirit Eye, the first step was to utilize heaven and earth energy to its absolute limit, potentially altering their constitution so they could cultivate on their own, just like spirit beasts.
Zhang Yang currently lacked the means to do this, but these few pills in his hand meant he had temporarily acquired that very capability!
However, the spirit medicine had its drawbacks. Based on Zhang Yang’s speculation, since these pills were refined from the Spirit Beast Inner Core, giving them to ordinary animals might indeed transform them into spirit beasts, but they would never attain the power of the parrots from the Savage Mountain. In that case, it would be better to save these pills for Yan Liangfei and the couple Yan Yefei and Li Juan. Since the three of them were starting their cultivation from scratch, receiving this medicine was like having an energy seed implanted within their bodies (〖〗); their cultivation speed would surely advance by leaps and bounds.
After rewrapping the remaining Spirit Beast Inner Core in the piece of animal hide and storing it away, Zhang Yang kept the remaining four spirit medicines on his person. These four were already allocated.
Shandian, Wuying, plus Yan Liangfei—one pill each for those three. He couldn't favor one over the others, so the final pill was naturally reserved for Zhuifeng.
After all, there were still Spirit Beast Inner Cores remaining; if needed in the future, he could simply refine more.
Because this spirit medicine possessed the unique characteristic of an energy seed—intended for bestowing legacy—Zhang Yang named it the Legacy Pill ().
As Yan Yefei and Li Juan were currently unsuitable to take the Legacy Pill, Zhang Yang only administered it to Yan Liangfei for the time being.
Yet, after Yan Liangfei consumed the Legacy Pill, no immediate abnormality occurred, which momentarily puzzled Zhang Yang.
But Zhang Yang quickly understood the difference. Wuying, Shandian, and Zhuifeng were already fourth-tier spirit beasts, possessing a stronger capacity to absorb energy. Yan Liangfei, however, was an ordinary human. Taking the Legacy Pill was akin to planting an energy seed in his body (〖〗); he required the right moment to fully absorb the spirit medicine, allowing the nascent energy seed to take root, sprout, blossom, and eventually transform into his own vital internal energy ().
Since Jinghe Hospital managed to reclaim Zhang Yang from the representatives of other hospitals, Guo Yong’s smile had become increasingly frequent lately.
Jinghe Hospital's standing in Changjing had silently soared, and its reputation grew ever larger—a fact Guo Yong clearly attributed entirely to Zhang Yang.
What brought Guo Yong even greater happiness was the transformation in Yan Liangfei. Since Zhang Yang had unceremoniously taken Yan Liangfei back to his hometown last weekend, Yan Liangfei’s attitude had changed remarkably.
The former Yan Liangfei was impulsive and rash, often smug about his slight innate talent. But after this trip, he had changed considerably. Not only had he become more humble, but he also studied with far greater diligence. Often, Guo Yong would observe Yan Liangfei sincerely seeking guidance on medical skills from other doctors.
Previously, Yan Liangfei had shown politeness toward other doctors, but Guo Yong knew it was merely superficial courtesy extended because they were much older. Now, however, Guo Yong was certain that Yan Liangfei was genuinely learning from the veteran physicians at the hospital.
“Director Guo!”
At that moment, a nurse hurried over, calling out to Guo Yong, who was currently making rounds within the hospital.
“What is it? Is something wrong?” Guo Yong asked with a smile, looking at the young nurse who had stopped him. Anyone could tell he was in an exceptionally good mood.
“It’s like this, Director Guo, a foreign doctor claiming to be from Eunsan Hospital in Korea has suddenly arrived at our hospital,” the nurse managed, calming her breath slightly.
“Eunsan Hospital?” Guo Yong paused. Eunsan Hospital was the largest hospital in South Korea, possessing the nation’s highest standard of medical care and cutting-edge equipment. In essence, Eunsan Hospital in Seoul was the premier medical institution in South Korea.
If the doctor was from Eunsan Hospital, he certainly wasn't here as a patient. This made Guo Yong even more perplexed: why would this doctor choose to visit the relatively ordinary Jinghe Hospital in Changjing?
“Where is he now?”
“Oh, he is waiting for you in your office, Director.”
“Alright, I know. You can get back to your duties!”
Guo Yong finished speaking and turned toward his office. Along the way, he could still hear whispers discussing the foreign doctor.
Outside the door of the Director's office at Jinghe Hospital, several rather bold nurses were hiding near the doorway, peering sneakily inside through the crack.
“Look, look, that’s the Korean man who arrived at our hospital today!”
“Yes, I heard he’s a top student from Eunsan Hospital in Seoul, and he’s quite handsome!”
“Handsome? I don't think he’s anything special. I think our own Dr. Xiao Yan and the new Dr. Zhang Yang are much more handsome.”
“Xiao Xiao, you aren’t secretly crushing on Dr. Yan and Dr. Zhang, are you?”
“Go on, stop talking nonsense…”
The few young nurses broke into suppressed laughter amongst themselves.
“Ahem!”
Guo Yong reached the door to his office just as he overheard this exchange and cleared his throat.
Hearing the cough, the bold nurses were instantly startled, standing frozen, not daring to breathe in Guo Yong’s presence.
Guo Yong waved his hand, and the nurses let out a sigh of relief and quickly scurried away.
“Wait, Xiao Xiao…” Guo Yong suddenly called out to one of the departing nurses—the one who had just been teased with the nickname Xiao Xiao, whose real name was Xiao Xiao.
“W-what is it, Director Guo…” Xiao Xiao asked nervously, standing still.
Guo Yong smiled faintly and then said, “Please help me ask Dr. Hu for some of his Da Hong Pao tea. I’ve wanted to try his tea for a long time; this is a perfect opportunity to sample it while entertaining a guest.”
“Ah, yes, yes!” Xiao Xiao immediately agreed, then turned and left.
Only then did Guo Yong push open the office door and step inside.
Inside the office, the tall young man appeared to be only about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old—very youthful, with slightly wavy, light-brown hair and a well-proportioned physique; truly a man with pleasing features.
“Hello,” Guo Yong said, extending his hand in polite formality.
The young man quickly came forward, shook Guo Yong’s hand, and said in slightly broken Mandarin, “Hello, Director Guo, I have long admired your reputation…”
“Please, sit down. Have a seat,” Guo Yong motioned for the doctor from Korea to take a seat, then sat opposite him and inquired, “You are from Eunsan Hospital?”
“Yes, my name is Park Yong-jun. I am an intern doctor who has just recently passed probation at Eunsan Hospital,” the young man named Park Yong-jun replied immediately.
Guo Yong habitually narrowed his eyes, curiosity piqued, “Then why has Your Excellency come to our Jinghe Hospital…”
“To exchange medical skills!” Park Yong-jun answered promptly. “Eunsan Hospital is dispatching a group of newly graduated, fully certified doctors to renowned hospitals across China for academic exchange this time, and I have been assigned to Changjing.”
Guo Yong was momentarily stunned. There had been rumors about an upcoming major medical exchange event involving young doctors from Korea, Japan, and even some European and American countries visiting China. However, because this event involved numerous parties, it was still in the planning stages. He had not expected a foreign doctor to arrive at Jinghe Hospital prematurely. Furthermore, this young doctor from Korea’s most famous Eunsan Hospital had specifically chosen the relatively modest Jinghe Hospital. Guo Yong had largely guessed who he was here to see.
“I heard that your hospital has an exceptionally skilled intern doctor named Zhang Yang. I have come specifically to meet this Zhang Yang,” Park Yong-jun stated his purpose before Guo Yong could even speak, confirming Guo Yong's suspicion.
At that moment, the nurse Xiao Xiao, whom Director Guo had just instructed to fetch tea, pushed open the door. She placed two freshly brewed cups of tea on the coffee table in the office, coincidentally hearing Park Yong-jun’s statement. (To be continued.)