Magical implements are spell-casting tools crafted from suitable materials, using appropriate restrictions, and refined over time. They are powerful, convenient to use, and are the most favored items among cultivators. Naturally, they are also extremely precious. Magical implements are divided into four levels: magical implements, spiritual implements, magical treasures, and spiritual treasures. The refining of magical implements uses corresponding Earth Fiend restrictions; when the Earth Fiend restriction of a magical implement is perfected and merges into a Heavenly Gang restriction, it advances to a spiritual implement. Only then can one continue to refine the Heavenly Gang restriction. The restrictions for magical treasures and spiritual treasures are called Treasure Restrictions and Spirit Restrictions, respectively. In general, magical implements and spiritual implements are items for the Qi Refining stage, while magical treasures and spiritual treasures are for the Nascent Soul stage.

Ryan Clark finished inspecting the relics left by the old Daoist, kept the scriptures close to his body, placed the talismans in hidden pockets in his belt and sleeves for easy access, and put the mirror in his own bundle. Since he had neither other suitable materials nor refining techniques at the moment, there was no use drooling over magical implements.

After resting for a bit, it was time for the medicinal herbs to finish simmering.

Chapter Four: Testing Medicine and Beginning Body Tempering

As he was about to reach the kitchen, Ryan Clark suddenly thought that there might be some kind of airborne poison, so he quickly stopped, gritted his teeth, and stuck an Earth-Absorbing Armor Talisman on himself. Upon activation, the ground squirmed, and yellow earth crawled up from his feet to cover his body in a single breath, making him look like a terracotta warrior. He also cast a Dust Removal Spell on his face before continuing toward the kitchen.

As soon as he entered the kitchen, the fragrance of medicine filled his nose; all three decoctions smelled non-toxic and harmless.

Ryan Clark wrote the large characters A, B, and C on the medicine pots, then found three bowls and wrote A, B, and C on the rims as well. He stuck one of his previously drawn dust-proof talismans on the tray and activated it, then poured the medicinal liquid into their corresponding bowls. Ryan Clark thought proudly, “Even though this is ancient times and there’s no laboratory environment, I can still perform sterile operations. Daoist arts truly are miraculous.”

Carrying the tray, he went into the courtyard and stopped at the corner where four dogs were tied up. He set the tray on the ground, formed hand seals, stepped out the Seven Stars Step, and chanted incantations under his breath, mobilizing his internal energy. After a moment, he cast a Paralysis Spell to immobilize the four dogs. Ryan Clark quickly fed the three bowls of medicine to two black dogs and one yellow dog, then retreated to the side to observe the effects.

After a few breaths, one of the black dogs suddenly convulsed all over, foamed at the mouth, blood seeped from its eyes, and though it struggled, it couldn’t move. In less than a moment, it fell silent, but due to the spell’s effect, it remained standing. Ryan Clark broke out in a cold sweat—good thing he did the experiment first. Maybe this stuff could be sold as a secret poison recipe for a good price in the future. As for why he wouldn’t use it himself, mainly because from the results, it didn’t dissolve into a pool of blood or emit yellow smoke; it seemed only effective against ordinary people or martial artists, and probably wouldn’t do much against cultivators with some skill.

At this point, the other two dogs appeared energetic, eyes red, and started barking, but nothing seemed wrong. However, after a while, the yellow dog suddenly broke free from the spell’s restraint and began running wildly around the courtyard. If the walls weren’t so high, it might have jumped out. Ryan Clark observed for a moment and was about to compare it with the remaining black dog when the yellow dog slowed down, whimpered, and collapsed.

Ryan Clark went over to check carefully and found that it had only fainted, but its body was exhausted, as if it had overdrawn a great deal of energy. It seemed this formula was more like a stimulant, harmful rather than beneficial to the body.

Ryan Clark returned to the corner and kept watching the remaining black dog until the spell wore off. The black dog merely excreted a layer of black substance from its body, and after the spell ended, it seemed lively and energetic. Now Ryan Clark had a good idea about the formulas, but to be safe, he decided to wait another night and check on the two dogs again the next day.

Since the ingredients for the medicinal bath and the oral formula were the same, just with different proportions, he could now determine the formula for the medicinal bath. Still, caution came first, so he decided to test it on the remaining dog.

The results of the experiment greatly satisfied Ryan Clark. After the yellow dog took the medicinal bath, it showed no adverse symptoms, only rubbed itself as if its bones were itchy, but by evening it had recovered. Ryan Clark guessed this was the medicine’s power seeping into the skin.

After a day of running around and being busy, Ryan Clark was exhausted. After going out for dinner, he returned, meditated for a while, and then fell asleep.

The night passed uneventfully.

The next morning, Ryan Clark got up early. Both dogs that had taken the medicine were still alive and well, though the yellow dog that had taken the suspected stimulant looked much older, lying listlessly in the corner.

Ryan Clark was now confident in the medicine’s effects and felt at ease. Today, he would begin his own body-tempering cultivation.

The human body and soul have a mysterious and close connection, which is why people with strong bodies often have better spirits, while those who are physically weak tend to be dispirited. Body tempering and soul nurturing involve practicing various external techniques to strengthen the body and, in turn, nourish the soul. When the body is trained to a certain limit, internal energy will naturally arise, and the soul will break through to enter the Qi Nurturing and Soul Strengthening stage.