"Your pay is quite generous. There’s no need for you to keep living in a low-grade cave residence. I’ve already given you Jade Dew pills for cultivation, and you don’t need to worry about enchanted artifacts or treasures either. If you ask me, you should go speak to Shi Boying when you have time and rent yourself a mid-grade cave residence." Inside Cave Residence Bing Seventeen, Luo Chen and Sima Huiniang sat across from each other, enjoying breakfast rich in spirit energy. Hearing Luo Chen’s advice, Sima Huiniang smiled faintly. “I’ll think about it.” "Don’t think about it. Just get it done soon!" Luo Chen grew inexplicably irritated at how lax she was toward cultivation. "There’s an empty residence a hundred zhang below mine. Just rent that one." "Alright, alright, I’ll do as you say." Sima Huiniang gave in with a helpless smile. "I’m done eating. I’ll head to Danxia Peak now. I expect it’ll be a busy day, can’t afford to delay." Luo Chen hastily shoveled a few more bites of food, then walked her out himself. Watching her graceful figure disappear into the distance, Luo Chen stood beneath the Xuyang Tree and clicked his tongue. At that moment, he looked a bit like a housewife sending her husband off to work, except genderswapped. Luo Chen chuckled as he sat down and took out an alchemical manual. He began reading intently. This manual wasn’t like the others; he had obtained it from Dan Yuanzi’s storage pouch. Not long ago, he had unlocked the remnants of that pouch, and the rewards had been immense. The spirit stones alone totaled one hundred and fifty thousand, while the alchemical manuals and materials were no less valuable. Among them were several first-tier alchemical formulas, and one second-tier formula called the Blood-Boosting pill. Dan Yuanzi had become a second-tier alchemist by mastering the refinement of that pill. Luo Chen had already skimmed through the formula once. It was a cultivation pill that boosted a cultivator’s blood qi, though it offered no increase to spirit energy. Much like the Golden Jade Liquid, it leaned toward Physique Refinement applications. If he could refine it successfully, the pill would be immensely beneficial for Physique Refinement cultivators. However, the primary ingredients had caught Luo Chen’s attention: cultivator essence blood, demonic beast blood, and the sap of a particular spirit wood. These three components closely mirrored those of the Blood Fiend pill. In other words, both could easily be classified as devil path pills. “No wonder Dan Yuanzi seldom refined this thing after making it the first time. Enhancing blood qi offers little benefit to most cultivators. And the ingredients are rare and risky to acquire. Come to think of it, Wang Yuan gave me quite a bit of essence blood. If there’s any left after refining the Blood Fiend pills, I could give this formula a try.” Luo Chen smiled and flipped to the next page. A line of insight caught his eye. “So Essence Restoration[1]can actually be used …” Before long, he had become completely absorbed in the text. Then crisp footsteps reached his ears, and he reluctantly pulled himself away from the book. He looked up at the approaching figure, and a radiant smile bloomed on his face. “Fellow Daoist Tao, you’re finally back!” It was none other than Tao Yisheng of Green Pill Valley. Under the Xuyang Tree, Tao Yisheng took a seat and sipped the spirit tea Luo Chen had poured. A long breath escaped his lips, as though releasing years of accumulated weariness. "At last, my ten-year guard assignment in Yuanzhao is over," he said with relief. "Now I can finally dedicate myself to cultivation again." Luo Chen looked at him with a smile. "Does your sect really issue that many tasks to its disciples?" Tao Yisheng nodded emphatically, and as if unburdening himself, launched into a stream of complaints about his sect’s duties. Qi Refinement disciples who failed to reach Foundation Establishment were demoted to the outer sect and swamped with endless chores. Even those who managed to reach Foundation Establishment were not spared. Every three years brought a minor task, and every ten years a major one. Some duties were internal, others external. Internally, disciples tended to the herb fields, cared for powerful spirit beasts, or assisted elders in alchemy. Externally, the responsibilities were even more troublesome. As a major sect with Golden Core cultivators, Green Pill Valley managed countless enterprises in the outside world—mines, spirit medicine gardens, shops, and security patrols. All of it was complex, tedious, and time-consuming. "After stabilizing my cultivation, I was hoping to take on an easy internal task so I could focus on alchemy. I don’t know what madness possessed my sister, but she insisted I accept that guard duty in Yuanzhao. And just like that, ten years are gone! A full ten years! It really set my cultivation back!” Tao Yisheng looked deeply frustrated. Clearly, he had hated that assignment. Luo Chen listened attentively without interrupting. He played the role of the patient confidant to perfection, and it was not merely out of courtesy. Not only was the information valuable in itself, but... he needed something from Tao Yisheng. Namely, the latter held the key to Luo Chen’s acquisition of a top-grade second-tier pill. At Sima Huiniang’s Foundation Establishment Ceremony, there had been too many people and distractions for a proper discussion. Soon after, Tao Yisheng returned to Yuanzhao to complete his mission, delaying everything by several months. Now that he had finally finished and agreed to meet, Luo Chen would not miss the chance for any reason. Tao Yisheng seemed to enjoy having a receptive interlocutor and rambled on about his sect’s affairs. Despite his complaints, pride occasionally crept into his tone. Being a disciple of Green Pill Valley, one of the great sects of the Jade Cauldron Domain, was no small thing. From his words, Luo Chen came to understand just how powerful Green Pill Valley truly was in the Jade Cauldron Domain. Although it had no Nascent Soul Sage, the number of Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators within the sect far surpassed the other five sects of the region. The Ice Fortress, for example, was considered a local powerhouse with nine Golden Core cultivators. Meanwhile, Green Pill Valley boasted a staggering total of fifteen, three of whom were already at the late stage of the realm! With such an impressive lineup, even the newly ascended Falling Cloud Sect could not compare. In truth, it was only on par with the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect in overall power. Green Pill Valley stood as a behemoth built upon the Dao of Alchemy, and that reputation was no exaggeration. Places like Ailao Mountain, with just five Golden Core cultivators, or the Hundred Flowers Palace, with only three, could not even be mentioned in the same breath. Beyond that, the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in Green Pill Valley was astonishing. Their ranks had once exceeded a thousand, at one point even surpassing the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect. Only in recent years had the Sword Sect regained the lead, drawing upon the vast resources of the Jade Cauldron Domain. Even so, Green Pill Valley still ranked among the very top in terms of Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators. After grasping the true scale of Green Pill Valley’s strength, Luo Chen finally understood the source of Tao Yisheng’s pride. It also explained why Tao Wan had always carried that natural air of haughtiness during their encounters—she was practically aristocracy! Yet Luo Chen was unbothered. In fact, he understood it perfectly. The more prestigious the sect, the better. Only then would there be something worth squeezing from them. It had likely been a long time since Tao Yisheng last enjoyed such a casual conversation with a fellow cultivator. He spoke at length, without pause, before finally coming to a halt. Lifting his teacup awkwardly, he said, "I’ve truly ranted a lot. Apologies, Brother Luo." Luo Chen smiled and shook his head. "Your sect truly lives up to its name as an alchemy powerhouse. With such formidable cultivators, I assume pill supplies for cultivation must be plenty for everyone?" To his surprise, Tao Yisheng merely pursed his lips. "There are certainly plenty, but I wouldn’t say they’re for everyone." Luo Chen frowned. "Hmm?" "It’s simple. Pills may be good, but too much of a good thing might turn into a problem. You’re an alchemist too, so I’m sure you understand. Not to mention, anyone admitted into Green Pill Valley must have at least dual spirit roots. If someone with triple or quadruple roots is admitted, it’s because they possess some rare physique or something like that. In other words, their cultivation aptitude is already high to begin with, so why use pills? Coupled with the second-tier spirit lands we cultivate on, their progress isn’t exactly slow." Luo Chen still looked puzzled. "But with so many grand cultivators in your sect, could they really rely on sheer perseverance?" Seeing Luo Chen press again, and realizing the conversation kept circling back to pills, Tao Yisheng finally caught on. He remembered what his elder sister Tao Wan had mentioned earlier, and a smile spread across his face. “Brother Luo, you’re asking about top-grade pills, aren’t you?” Luo Chen nodded. After all that setup, it was clear what he was after. There was no need to beat around the bush anymore. Tao Yisheng chuckled. "As disciples, we do receive one bottle of top-grade Ascending Dragon pills each year. But only one bottle. Only late-stage people receive a steady supply of those pills, but even those are just enough for themselves.” As soon as those words were spoken, Luo Chen’s heart sank like a stone. He had gone to great lengths to befriend Tao Yisheng, hoping to obtain a good quantity of top-grade pills from him or his sister. But from what he heard, even someone like Tao Wan, a late-stage Initiate, only had access to a limited amount. Under such conditions, how could there be any leftovers for him? If it were him, he would certainly prioritize his own needs before helping others. Though he instantly noticed Luo Chen’s unhappy expression, Tao Yisheng remained unconcerned. He said casually, “Still, it’s not like there’s no way to obtain large quantities of top-grade pills.” “Oh?” Luo Chen’s eyes lit up immediately. But Tao Yisheng deliberately dodged the topic and shifted the conversation elsewhere. "Having met you a few times now, Brother Luo, I must say your insights into alchemy are truly profound. I happen to be free lately and I was hoping that you could advise me on a few matters. I wonder if you'd be willing to instruct me a little?" Luo Chen stared straight at him. So providing guidance on alchemy is the price for top-grade pills?` He pressed his lips together, then smiled brightly. "I wouldn’t dare speak of instructing. As a disciple of a major alchemy sect, you surely have deep knowledge of your own. We’re merely exchanging ideas and growing together." Tao Yisheng clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Excellent!" Late at night, Luo Chen returned to his cave residence. The cheer on his face vanished the moment he stepped inside, his expression turning cold and somber. It was not anger toward the Tao siblings themselves, but frustration caused by their endless hedging. They kept stringing him along, never once stating their terms outright, and that was quite aggrieving. When it came to cultivation, he preferred things to be straightforward and direct. Any delay, no matter how small, was time lost. And for him, time was a precious, irreplaceable resource. He could not afford to waste it. “Master, dinner is ready…” Bai Meiling’s voice trailed off mid-sentence. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝※𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖※𝕟𝕖𝕥 She had caught sight of the shadow on his face and sensed the gloom in his aura. Instinctively, she froze at the doorway, too cautious to step forward. Realizing he had startled her, Luo Chen forced a tight smile. "Just bring it out. I’ll wash my hands and join you shortly." Do cultivators even need to wash their hands? Bai Meiling tilted her head in confusion, clearly puzzled by the notion. Outside, Luo Chen knelt beside the spirit spring near his residence and splashed cold water across his face. The chill seeped into his skin, steadying his breath and quieting the unrest in his chest. "Lately, everything’s gone too well. Success in my ventures, a beauty at my side… perhaps I’ve let it all go to my head. Dealing with top-grade pills was never going to be that easy. I shouldn’t have been so hasty." With his emotions calmed, Luo Chen returned to the dining table. As he thought back to the conversation earlier that day, he shook his head, a trace of regret flickering in his eyes. He had been too rigid, too forceful. Even his tone and expressions may have come across poorly. That shouldn't have happened! The cultivation road is long and winding, he reminded himself. One may race against time, but haste still leads to failure. If he’s dragging things out rather than rejecting me outright, he must be after something. No need to rush. No need to rush. I’ll follow the thread they’ve offered. Eventually, I’ll find the knot they don’t want me to pull. Luo Chen drew a deep breath and cast away his impatience completely. The Ice Spirit Jade at his neck radiated its chilling calm, gradually bringing him back to steadiness. As he savored the meal, his mind continued to turn over Tao Yisheng’s words. Let’s see what game you two are playing!