Under the scorching sun, the wooden door of the neighbor's house creaked open once again.

  The thin man gazed at Stirling, who had reappeared before him. As he was about to talk, his nose twitched. His yellowish-brown eyes focused on the package Stirling held.

  "Gulp." The man swallowed hard and spoke at a snail's pace. "Two pounds of meat, one elixir."

  Stirling nodded a bit and handed the package over.

  The man took it, weighed it in his hand, and then turned and disappeared into the house.

  After taking about a dozen breaths, he returned to the doorway and handed Stirling a small cloth bag.

  "Twenty pounds of meat for ten pills," he said in a low tone.

  Stirling took the bag without a word. He didn't open it. Then, he walked to Old Larry's house next door.

  "Next time, if you have something to trade, come back," the man said, surprising Stirling a bit.

  But Stirling did not stop. Instead, he returned in a hurry to Old Larry's house and bolted the door shut behind him.

  He stepped inside and opened the small cloth bag. Inside, he found ten round, reddish pills. Each was about the size of a red bean.

  Stirling mutters to himself as he examines the ten pills.

  Yet, he dared not head on consuming the elixir. It came from the temple, so he couldn't ignore possible hidden dangers or side effects.

  Stirling grabbed the cloth and charcoal pencil. Then, he started his experiments.

  "Non-toxic, harmless, significant increases in strength, and easy to absorb."

  His first attempt aimed at optimal enhancement of its own accord. Yet, this method required the consumption of one month of lifespan. The pill became more effective, but the cost-benefit ratio was too low. It needed one month for each pill. Thus, Stirling discarded this option.

  "Non-toxic, harmless, strength-boosting, and easy to absorb."

  The second attempt had easier conditions. This cut the lifespan cost to eight days per pill. Still, Stirling remained somewhat dissatisfied. Eight days per pill was manageable. But ten pills meant eighty days—almost three months—of his life. Such an enormous cost was not attractive.

  "Non-toxic, harmless, strength-boosting."

  In the end, Stirling abandoned the "easy to absorb" condition. The condition was unnecessary, especially since it boosted strength. Given his current situation, he had no choice but to give it up.

  This time, the enhancement required only three days of lifespan per pill.

  "Three days is acceptable. Let's proceed." Stirling looked at the red pill on the table and selected the "Yes" option.

  The next moment, a familiar glow flashed, and the pill on the cloth transformed completely.

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  [Blood Essence Pill.] An elixir from the Blood God Temple, it comes from the essence of flesh and blood. Heavenly Corpse Grass, Bitter Heart Branch, and Duckweed Water make this blood marrow pill. A rare medicinal elixir.

  Stirling gazed at the bigger pill, feeling a rush of strange excitement. The success of the pill confirmed that his idea was correct. And with this success, he saw the potential for further improvement. With such potential, he could subdue even that temple with a mere wave of his hand.

  Falling into fantasy, Stirling forgot the anxiety he had felt moments ago altogether. He imagined flying through the clouds, soaring toward heaven in the bright sun, like a god.

  Stirling scratched his head. He picked up the pill with his fingers and held it up to his eyes for a closer look.

  He leaned in and smelled blood. It reminded him of the Blood Temple.

  A sudden thought crossed his mind, and his brow furrowed a little.

  Stirling shook his head, dispelling the chaotic speculations from his mind. Then, looking at the bright red pill, he tossed it into his mouth without hesitation.

  The moment the pill hit his tongue, it melted into a soft, cottony liquid. It then flowed down his throat and into his stomach with no blockage. Then, a surge of intense heat erupted from his lower abdomen.

  Thin blood-red lines soon appeared beneath his skin, then spread at once across his body, like spider silk.

  Stirling's pupils narrowed at the sight. A wave of panic rushed over him. He remembered in a hurry his prepared stance and took the Aether skills posture. He focused on his breathing. The searing heat shot from his lower abdomen. It spread through his body along the usual meridians.

  The heat made his whole body feel tingly and very comfortable, and his tense emotions relaxed considerably. Each time the heat moved through his stomach, it seemed to pull warmth from inside him. This warmth then circulated through his body.

  In this way, the heat flow grew stronger with each circulation. After a few dozen times, it had reached the thickness of a human hair. This growth rate was over ten times faster than in his previous practice!

  Stirling's heart shone with delight; his eyes gleamed. He then calmed down and continued to practice the Aether skill.

  Time passed like this, minute by minute, until it was completely dark. Stirling came out of his practice gradually and let out a long sigh.Stirling raised his arm. He inspected it and then pressed it against his body. Puzzled, he thought, Stirling wondered if this energy could be the legendary Aether. He thought for a moment and took the Aether skill stance. Then, he channeled the warm current from his lower abdomen into his palms.

  Then, Stirling slammed the table in front of him. There was a crisp but the table didn't shatter as Stirling had imagined; it shook a little. Stirling touched the table in front of him, a hint of confusion on his face.

  Stirling generously forgave his wild ideas and looked out of the window. As night fell tonight, he chose not to board up the windows. Lifting both oil lamps on the table, he hoped to attract the ghostly hornets and kill them, which might extend his remaining lifespan. Stirling laid the bag from his morning hunt on the table. He sat in silence next to it, waiting.

  The gray rabbit's blood stained the bag, and even now after drying, it still gave off a pungent, fishy odor.

  During the ghostly hornet attack last time, Stirling had a suspicion. The blood flowing from the old woman's pierced body attracted them. Otherwise, even with the window open, they wouldn't have found this place in a short time.

  Sure enough, not long after, Stirling, who was sitting at the table, seemed to sense something. His brows raised, and his gaze darted to the window.

  A familiar sound echoed from the dark window. Then, black shadows rushed into the house!

  Stirling, seeing this, delighted without surprise, and almost could not help laughing aloud. He then took out an oil lamp and advanced through the swarming shadows with casual steps.

  Stirling's mind echoed with familiar sounds. They blended into the joyful buzz of the swarm. It felt like a harmony with many cheerful notes lifting his mouth.

  "Beautiful song!" Stirling murmured.