’Could it really be just an ordinary piece of wood?’ Chen Che wondered to himself after leaving the office.
Ding Dawei had told him that for both mortals and Cultivators, there were always matters beyond their comprehension. Even the Immortal Sects of today were still exploring the unknown starry sky. The Evil Cultivator who had brought about the Calamity of Heaven’s Fall was proof of that...
The Immortal Sects deduced that there must be other Cultivation Forces in the cosmos.
"This is a notebook from my classmate. I’m ashad to say my talent was poor, so I only got into a second-rate Daoist School, but he was accepted into the Zhurong Daoist School."
As he was leaving, Old Ding had also given him a notebook, saying:
"You advanced in the provincial competition, and I didn’t have a gift for you. So I contacted him and asked for his Pill notes from his university days. You can use them to study ahead, do your own research, or just broaden your horizons."
After leaving the office, Chen Che had a small get-together with so classmates after school before finally heading ho.
He casually flipped through the notebook.
The author’s na was Mo Zixian, and a line was written on the title page:
’I seek not the eternal Great Dao, only for the immortal path to be ever-verdant.’
The notes were as neat as if they had been printed. There were even illustrations for every single material, complete with annotations on their dicinal properties, characteristics, and uses... Combined with so personal insights, it felt like reading a comprehensive encyclopedia.
Chen Che didn’t find any ntion of the piece of wood’s origin in the notebook.
Instead, in one of the sections, he found a lesson on ’How to Study Unknown dicinal Herbs’.
The basic thods were to observe, sll, taste, and ask...
Of course, so items only worked under specific conditions. Others had no effect on their own and were rely used as catalysts... Thus, the Immortal Sect’s Alchemy Dao had developed corresponding research courses.
"Every ti I kill soone, I regret killing them too soon."
Chen Che sighed. Researching this matter would just have to take ti.
To be honest, if he hadn’t found it in Zhou Changping’s Storage Pouch, he might have just tossed it aside.
...
"Open up, open up! Jinyun Valley business!"
The Market was in chaos.
As soon as Chen Che stepped inside, he saw a group of Jinyun Valley disciples searching door to door.
If a door was closed, they kicked it right open. They harshly interrogated any unfamiliar Cultivators they ca across. They even took a manure fork to any latrine they passed, stabbing it viciously all the way to the bottom and giving it three full twists.
When they reached the Pill Shop, he even saw a disciple clasping his hands, looking troubled as he said:
"By order of the Valley Master, we are searching door to door for an Evil Cultivator..."
"Are you blind? How could we be hiding an Evil Cultivator here?"
Ding Fei’s expression soured, and he cursed at them.
How could the prestigious Sacrificial Pill Shop be searched by just anyone who felt like it?
"Go on in and search..."
Chen Che glanced at the disciple and gave a casual nod.
The disciple who received the order walked into the Pill Shop, glanced around perfunctorily, offered a quick apology with clasped hands, and then turned to head for the next establishnt, imdiately stirring up another commotion. On the street, those who didn’t know the situation were scared speechless upon hearing that an Evil Cultivator had killed a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator.
One disciple, thirsty from shouting after making his rounds, went to a tofu pudding stall, downed two bowls, and then turned to continue the search.
’That mask is extraordinary.’
Chen Che held his teacup, gazing at Xiao Chan from afar.
Not only was it flawless in appearance, but it could even fool Divine Sense. As long as the wearer didn’t make a move, no one would recognize them, even if they walked right past a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator.
Earth Elent Star used to sell such items, and they were bestsellers for over a decade. However, the cri rate skyrocketed during that ti, so the Immortal Sects eventually blacklisted them as contraband. All factories were shut down, and further production was strictly forbidden.
Sensing soone staring at him, Xiao Chan looked up.
Their eyes t for a split second before they both glanced away with a tacit understanding, making no further eye contact.
"What’s this?"
Zhao Deyou noticed the piece of wood Chen Che had deliberately placed on the counter. He examined it for a mont, sniffed it, and then casually tossed it into the pile of dicinal dregs.
’Looks like no one recognizes it...’
Chen Che stealthily retrieved it and put it back into his Storage Pouch.
Jinyun Valley was investigating inside its territory, while the Primordial Sect searched outside.
They checked one by one along the river tributaries and even recruited a large number of Loose Cultivators who specialized in tracking.
Chen Che went to take a look. The operation was massive, with even so Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivators hoping to find a clue. Cao Xiong and another Foundation Establishnt Cultivator nad Fu Yuanzhong were also gradually conducting their search.
"Valley Master Lu!"
At the sa ti, Chen Che also spotted Lu Yi watching from a distance.
"These are troubled tis. The Valley Master was furious last night and ordered a strict investigation. I heard so disciples went to the Pill Shop; please don’t take offense. After all, the Primordial Sect lost a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator. This is not a simple matter to resolve."
Lu Yi ca forward to explain.
"Evil Cultivators are terrifying. If they aren’t captured, the people will live in fear."
Chen Che naturally wouldn’t hold a grudge. However, he changed the subject, feigning a casual tone. "I heard the Valley Master has gone into seclusion again? Everyone in the Market is saying he’s refining a Magical Artifact. I wonder..."
"I’m also extrely curious as to what kind of Magical Artifact it is."
Lu Yi chuckled, shook his head, and then got a wistful look on his face.
"However, given the sheer amount of materials and the length of ti this refining has taken, it must be sothing extraordinary, in my opinion. Once the Magical Artifact is complete, Jinyun Valley’s strength will surely increase dramatically."
Chen Che nodded slightly and went along with him.
"A new era of prosperity is just around the corner!"
...
...
「Seven days later.」
WHOOSH!
The flas beneath the Chixia Tripod churned as a dense, hazy mist billowed out of it. If one listened closely, they could hear the dicinal liquid inside roiling as if at a boil.
A mont later.
With a soft BANG, the heavy lid of the furnace was pushed up before slamming shut with a CLANG.
"Failed again!"
Letting out a long breath, Chen Che lifted the Pill Furnace’s lid, and the stench of sothing burnt imdiately wafted out.
’The condensation step requires a tily temperature change—cool first, then hot, and the temperature can’t spike too quickly.’
He first reflected on the errors in his process.
It was a Tier Two High Grade Elixir, after all, slightly more difficult than the Leopard Embryo Elixir. He had already failed five tis in the last few days. Alchemy had too many steps; a problem in any one of them would lead to failure.
However, condensation was the final step...
As long as he solved this problem,
he would be able to successfully refine the Dragon Fish Pill.
Carrying the Pill Furnace, he poured the dregs into the bird’s bowl. The Little Chick gave it a disdainful look but still devoured it with gusto. These were all high-quality Spiritual dicines, plus the Golden Dragon Carp; even a failed refinent contained significant dicinal power.
As he walked back to the side hall, his gaze swept over the piece of wood. He had spent so ti studying it these past few days, but to no avail.
He had even ground it into a powder and tasted it.
Flavorless, with no effect.
Naturally, he still couldn’t identify what it was.
’I’ll try burning it in a few days...’
As for the Dragon Fish Pill, he planned to take a break from it as well.
It was always best to be prudent.
It was a Tier Two High Grade Elixir, after all. A Tier One Pill Master couldn’t even begin to grasp it. He only dared to attempt it step-by-step because of his powerful Divine Sense and True Essence.
After finishing his daily Cultivation, he glanced at his progress:
[Na: Chen Che]
[Realm: Qi Refining Eighth Layer (49.23%)]
[Qi and Blood: Qi Refining Eighth Layer (61.78%)]
[Divine Sense: Foundation Establishnt Seventh Layer (9.76%)]
[Warning: True Essence reserves are 267.1% higher than Cultivators of the sa Tier.]
Then, he headed to the Market.
Jinyun Valley was still heavily guarded. After seven days of searching, they had indeed found no trace of the Evil Cultivator. Many Cultivators breathed a sigh of relief upon learning the Evil Cultivator wasn’t hiding within the valley. As for the area outside, the Primordial Sect was still searching, but they hadn’t found a single clue.
"You are?"
When he arrived at the Pill Shop, he imdiately noticed a young man who looked familiar but whom he was sure he didn’t know.
The young man was chatting with Ding Fei. Upon seeing Chen Che, he quickly stood up and introduced himself.
"I am Dan Guanjing!"
"Ah!"
Chen Che understood imdiately.
"My elder brother has gone missing again. I heard that he had a good relationship with Tributor Chen, so I took the liberty of paying a visit."
Dan Guanjing clasped his hands, his words tinged with a sigh.
"Tributor Chen is a senior and a famous Pill Master. You once gave my brother a couple of pieces of advice. Unfortunately, seven days ago, we lost all contact with him. Now, there’s no sign of him, dead or alive. I fear he has t with a terrible fate..."
"The Cultivation World is nothing like the Mortal World. Every step is fraught with danger, life and death are unpredictable, and disasters, both natural and man-made, are unavoidable."
Chen Che shook his head slowly.
"Please enlighten , Tributor Chen..."
As Dan Guanjing spoke, he took out a Jade Box and pushed it forward.
He opened it.
Inside the box were about two hundred Spirit Stones.
Chen Che saw this and felt the young man was sensible. So, he added a third piece of advice to the original two: "Don’t be too curious!"
"Please elaborate, Tributor Chen..."
Dan Guanjing was puzzled and leaned in closer.
"Cultivators in this world often have their own secrets. If there’s a large crowd gathering, it’s one thing to be curious. But if it’s just a few people and you rush over, you might accidentally stumble upon soone’s secret. Learning sothing you shouldn’t know will inevitably force them to kill you to silence you, perhaps leaving not even bones behind."
"A brilliant insight, Tributor Chen!"
Dan Guanjing was overjoyed. He felt the two hundred Spirit Stones were well spent.
It also seed Dan Guanqing wasn’t lying; Tributor Chen really was easy to deal with. He knew that others wouldn’t just casually impart such experience—this was wisdom paid for with lives. He would definitely heed the advice and avoid places with few people, nor would he go looking for trouble.
Unlike his other brothers, he had no desire to set foot in the Cultivation Realm.
After all, this place was too dangerous. One had to constantly be subservient and tread carefully. But who would have thought the Royal Family would favor him precisely for this cautious nature of his?
If he had the choice, he would much rather have stayed in the Mortal World and been a pampered Prince.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Dan Guanjing stood up and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Tributor Chen!"
Watching his departing figure, Chen Che suddenly grew curious about just how many princes like him the Great Feng Dynasty had.
After quizzing Zhao Deyou and pretending to study the Pill Formula from Cao Xiong for a while, just as Chen Che was about to leave, an old servant suddenly appeared at the door.
"Tributor Chen, my master requests your presence for a talk."
"Your master?"
Chen Che looked at the old servant and recognized him imdiately.
It was the sa gray-robed old man who had been secretly protecting ng Qingxuan that day.
In that case, wasn’t the master he spoke of... ng Changtu?
The man was the current head of the ng Family, ng Qingxuan’s father, and a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator. For him to have co to Jinyun Valley so quietly and now suddenly seek him out... what could he possibly want?
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