I Became the Alchemy Master by Picking Up Trash-Chapter 257 - 255: Long-Haired Thumper

At this moment, Li Xing’s voice rang out among the crowd: "Captain Tang, the Fourth Army surely isn’t encountering long-haired obstacles blocking the road for the first time. How did you handle it in the past?"

Tang Zheng looked at the fair and delicate girl, unable to connect her with the "Big Appetite King" and "She-Hulk" his cousin mentioned, but his expression unconsciously softened.

"You’re right, the Fourth Army deals with long-haired obstacles regularly. Usually, we deploy Earth Elemental Spirit Warriors known for their strength to manually push aside the obstacles and clear the way for the main force."

Li Xing was surprised: "If you push it manually, won’t it lash out in retaliation?"

"Humans exert force in a non-rigid way, with a process from light to heavy. The long-haired creature mistakes this force for a nudge from a companion, and it moves aside to make way. There is a technique to pushing these creatures; if the force is too harsh, they will retaliate, which is dangerous."

So that’s how it is.

Luo Jun’s eyes lit up: "We have quite a few Earth Elemental Spirit users here. Can’t we let them pave the way together?" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Tang Zheng shook his head: "No, we don’t have enough people."

His soldiers, combined with the teachers from Harssas Academy, could at most gather five to sixty Earth Elemental Spirit users, far from the estimated number needed.

"Making one long-haired obstacle feel the push to move away doesn’t require five hundred tons of force, but it’s not insignificant either. Marching through a group of these creatures is absolutely not something ten or twenty Elemental Spirit users can achieve."

"Moreover, you just saw it; with so many long-haired obstacles, trying this without three or four hundred Earth Elemental Spirit users is not advisable."

They didn’t have the advantage of time, place, or harmony. Rescue from Cold Smoke Castle couldn’t come now either, so the only option was to wait for the snowstorm to clear or opt for temporary shelter in other cities, returning once it’s safe.

Luo Jun was persistent: "Captain Tang, why don’t we send a small team to try? Maybe it’ll work. I volunteer!" After all, isn’t it just about using force to push? Although she isn’t an Earth Elemental, she has considerable strength to help.

Without waiting for Tang Zheng to refuse, Wen Dao spoke first: "Teacher Luo, don’t be reckless. Captain Tang is right. We lack manpower, and should not attempt this rashly. If we exhaust our strength halfway, trapping everyone in a circle of long-haired creatures with nowhere to go, it’ll be even more dangerous buried in the snowstorm!"

This was exactly what Tang Zheng was worried about; he nodded in agreement.

"But Principal, if we can’t reach Cold Smoke Castle within three days, the school will have no scores!"

Wen Dao gently patted her shoulder to comfort her: "If there’s none, then there’s none. No competition is more important than life. We’ll wait here, better if the snowstorm clears. If not, we’ll retreat home once the competition time is over."

Luo Jun was about to argue further, but Jin Hua held her back, shaking her head.

All the teachers from Harssas felt reluctant; if only they could have arrived just one hour earlier, they wouldn’t be stuck outside the city. But in this world, hindsight is not purchasable with money.

Just when everyone thought there was no hope, Li Xing spoke up.

"Actually, I also think it’s worth a try."

Wen Dao was exasperated; these two really are teacher and student, blood-related!

"Try what? Just stay put for me!"

"Principal, I’ve invented a new potion that can increase strength upon consumption, which fits perfectly."

Tang Zheng’s eyes lit up at this: "Are you serious? How much can it increase?"

"It depends on the consumer’s physical condition and Elemental Spirit attribute. For physically strong Earth Elemental Spirit warriors, the increase can be up to five times, while for others it varies from one to four times."

Li Xing’s words astonished everyone present, a potion that can enhance strength fivefold was simply astonishing. This meant the task of moving the creatures wasn’t exclusively for Elemental Spirit users; the pool of potential candidates expanded greatly.

Though Li Xing’s alchemy technique was officially recognized by the military academy, as being as good as it gets, this was a serious matter and Tang Zheng wanted to personally verify first.

"Can I try one first?"

"Sure." Li Xing took a bottle out of the Spiritual Pendant and handed him a pill.

Since realizing the sinister intentions of the Extermination Sect, Li Xing prepared many elixirs for herself, and the Dragon Elephant Pill was among them. This pill is best suited for Body Cultivation known for strength, significantly boosting potential, without severe harm to the body except for feeling fatigued afterward.

The earth-colored pill emitted a charred aroma as it lay in Tang Zheng’s palm. As he was about to consume it, Li Xing spoke again:

"Captain Tang, the Dragon Elephant Pill’s effect lasts at most four hours. Afterward, there’s a period of weakness. During this period, you’ll feel body aches and your Elemental Spirit will become sluggish. Please plan your military affairs accordingly."

Tang Zheng thought for a moment and asked: "How long does the weakness last?"

Li Xing: "The more the strength increase, the longer the weakness. If your strength increases fivefold, the weakness lasts about ten hours."

"Can it be taken repeatedly?"

"Only after the weakness period ends."

"Does it affect the Elemental Spirit?"

"No."

Tang Zheng nodded, then immediately tossed the pill into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

He closed his eyes to sense the changes in his body. In just five seconds, Tang Zheng felt a warm current rise from his abdomen and spread to his limbs. As it traveled through his meridians, he noticed his Elemental Spirit becoming incredibly lively, with his body brimming with strength.

To verify the strength increase, Tang Zheng withdrew a disc similar to a simple Element Testing Instrument and punched it hard. The numbers on the disc changed wildly, finally pausing at a terrifying figure.

Looking at the record he just set, Tang Zheng couldn’t help but exclaim: "Holy crap..."

With such unprecedented enhancement effects, even a longer weakness period was worth it!

"Captain Tang, that one was a free trial. If you want more, they won’t be free. I need to recoup at least the costs of production."

Tang Zheng agreed: "Of course! All expenses will be covered by the Fourth Army, making sure you don’t incur any loss."

Seeing Tang Zheng’s performance after taking the potion, Luo Jun excitedly rubbed her palms and persuaded Wen Dao: "Principal, let’s join too. More people clearing the way is safer!"

Wen Dao looked at Luo Jun, then turned to Jin Hua and Zhou Song: "Director Jin, Professor Zhou, what do you think?"

Zhou Song: "I have no objections."

Jin Hua thought for a moment and asked Li Xing: "Li Xing, this potion really won’t cause any hidden harm to the body?" Jin Hua felt this potion was quite similar to the Holy Pill, with its effects seeming too good to be true.

"Mr. Jin, I guarantee with my dignity that this potion will not harm the body at all. The weakness can be alleviated with rest, it’s very safe."

Receiving such a confident response, Jin Hua hesitated no more and voted in favor.

Wen Dao: "Captain Tang, our Harssas Academy has sixty-five teachers capable of joining the clearing operation, all at your command."

Tang Zheng nodded excitedly, then swiftly gathered the team, ready to set off. Considering the Dragon Elephant Pill’s limited duration, Tang Zheng divided everyone into three groups to rotate in turns. This way, peak combat power could last for a maximum of twelve hours.

To move outdoors in the snowstorm, it’s essential to wear battle armor and helmets engraved with a Gravity Rune, otherwise, they’d be swept away by the fierce wind. Tang Zheng had plenty of equipment, enough for the teachers and students of Harssas.

Pleasantly accommodating the civilians left stranded at the Teleportation Port was also part of the plan; luckily, their numbers weren’t many, and the heavy armor Tang Zheng brought was just enough.

The military’s efficiency was unmatched, and the reserve educators from the military academy didn’t lag behind. Soon everyone was equipped, boarded the heavy armor, and headed towards the ice field.

The armored vehicle took less than thirty minutes to reach the area filled with long-haired creatures. Following Tang Zheng’s order, the first group immediately took the Dragon Elephant Pill, ready to pave the way.