Chapter 3 Many Things Waiting to Be Done
Li Sheng, still deep in sleep, was abruptly awakened by a series of notifications.
"Ding, spiritual pulse upgrade complete."
"Ding, alchemy room upgrade complete."
"Ding, treasure vault upgrade complete."
"Ding, mountain protection array upgrade complete."
"Successfully upgraded?" Li Sheng rubbed his eyes and activated the sect panel.
Host: Li Sheng
Title: Sect Master of Qingling Sect
Sect: Qingling Sect+ (low tier, upgraded to three-star sect, condition: refining level)
Sect Points: 0
Cultivation Level: Ninth Grade Body Refining Realm
Martial Arts: White Elephant Body Refining Skill (entry level)
Talent: Mediocre (average)
Comprehension: Ordinary (above average)
Skills: None
Training Ground+
Inheritance Hall+
Treasure Vault (martial arts simulation)
Spiritual Spring Pool+
Alchemy Room (alchemy synthesis)
Spiritual Pulse: Low Tier (talent +2, comprehension +2, physique improvement - strong)
Mountain Protection Array: Second-tier array (repair)
"After upgrades, the plus signs for facilities are gone... Looks like I need to further upgrade the sect to enhance them."
"And my talent and comprehension have increased!"
Feeling refreshed, Li Sheng thought for a moment before raising his awareness.
His vision elevated, allowing him to survey the entire Qingling Sect.
"Hm?" Li Sheng furrowed his brows, sensing some commotion within the mountain protection array: "Are we being robbed?"
With a thought, he zoomed in on the situation.
Inside the array, a white mist enveloped three black-clad figures who stood alert, weapons drawn, scanning their surroundings.
"What's going on, Second Brother?"
"Yeah, what's up?"
"Don't panic, I was careless. I didn't expect this maze to be so powerful; it's likely one of the best among first-tier arrays."
"Hurry up with a plan; I have a bad feeling."
"Can't be! Big Brother, you're a seventh-grade warrior; a first-tier maze shouldn't pose a threat to you!" the Third Brother exclaimed.
"Just be cautious."
"If this path is blocked, let's try the other two routes," the Second Brother decided.
As the mist swirled, they dashed forward, soon realizing they were lost.
"Big Brother... the information was wrong; this is definitely not a first-tier array, but a second-tier one…"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible?!"
"Only a handful of two-star sects possess such arrays; how could a nearly disbanded three-star sect have one?"
Seeing the genuine fear in his companions' expressions and feeling an unseen danger around them, the leader's heart sank. A second-tier array could threaten seventh-grade warriors; a single misstep could lead to his demise.
Fortunately, the array was merely a maze, and the sect's members had left, leaving behind just a ninth-grade "waste."
But if there really was a second-tier array, why hadn't the sect's elders taken it down before leaving? After all, the price of a second-tier mountain protection array was exorbitant. The leader was filled with doubt.
He decided to test the waters, loudly calling out:
"My brothers and I accidentally entered your sacred place; we hope the masters here will let us go. We are willing to offer a large amount of cultivation resources as compensation..."
Hearing their repeated pleas, Li Sheng scoffed internally: "What kind of good person roams around in night clothes at this hour, accidentally entering someone else's territory?"
Though he was laid-back and preferred to avoid trouble, he wasn't foolish.
Thinking of letting them go only for them to take revenge later or lie in ambush outside his mountain gate felt like too much hassle.
His mind then focused on a floating white light within the array, emanating a familiar and affectionate feeling.
"Is this the array spirit?" Li Sheng exclaimed in wonder, then sent a thought: "It's up to you; handle it cleanly."
"Chirp chirp..." A joyful emotion returned to him.
Li Sheng retracted his gaze from the array, for he was kind-hearted and disliked conflict, particularly bloody scenes. As for whether the array could take out the intruders, he felt no worry.
A first-tier killing array could annihilate ninth-grade warriors and severely injure eighth-grade warriors; a second-tier killing array could eliminate seventh-grade warriors and severely injure sixth-grade ones.
His mountain protection array, while not purely a killing array, possessed strength comparable to or exceeding that of a second-tier killing array, especially with the array spirit's enhancement.
As Li Sheng's attention shifted to the spiritual pulse, five stone chambers came into view, their spiritual energy abundant, significantly stronger than elsewhere.
"This is a great place! With these five stone chambers, both my strength and the sect's development will see immense boosts."
He then checked the changes in the alchemy room and treasure vault; the sizes remained the same, but their architecture had become more exquisite.
The alchemy room now housed a waist-high alchemy furnace, adorned with intricate carvings of plants and trees, exuding an ancient charm.
As he focused on it, a prompt appeared.
[Herb Spirit Furnace: Can refine elixirs five times daily, and gather spiritual energy once.]
"Refining on my own? What a great item! But what does 'gather spiritual energy' mean? I'll have to buy some herbs at dawn and test it."
In the treasure vault, a rustic black cauldron sat at the center, towering over him, decorated with carvings of the sun, moon, and stars, radiating a mesmerizing glow.
[Purple Star Martial Cauldron: One simulation per day, five synthesis chances.]
"This Purple Star Martial Cauldron has effects similar to the Herb Spirit Furnace. There are still many martial arts texts in the sect; though most are ordinary, they might work well for synthesis and simulation." Li Sheng walked out of the room, heading toward the treasure vault.
Inside the treasure vault, Li Sheng scanned the surroundings; there were about twenty or so ordinary martial arts texts.
There were only seven entry-level martial arts texts, all hand-copied, clearly taken away by several elders.
Ninth-grade body refining martial arts: White Elephant Posture, Spirit Crane Seven Techniques.
Eighth-grade intermediate martial arts: Turtle Breath Technique, Cloud Inhalation Technique.
Seventh-grade bone forging martial arts: Tiger Roar Blade Technique, White Ape Cloak Hammer.
Sixth-grade refining martial arts: Wind Thunder Breathing Technique.
"There's only one simulation chance; let's see how the synthesis works."
Li Sheng tossed two ordinary martial arts books into the cauldron, and a prompt appeared.
[Martial Arts Synthesis Progress 2/5]
"Is it five to one?" Li Sheng nodded and tossed in three more martial arts texts.
A swirl of light enveloped the space, and in a single breath, a brand-new martial arts book floated at the cauldron's opening.
Li Sheng eagerly took it and began flipping through it, becoming increasingly astonished; despite his mediocre talent, his eyesight was keen.
To his surprise, five ordinary martial arts could synthesize a ninth-grade martial art, and its quality surpassed the two existing ninth-grade martial arts in the Qingling Sect.
"Let's try again."
Next, Li Sheng tossed all remaining ordinary martial arts books into the cauldron, and soon, he held five brand-new ninth-grade martial arts texts.
Including the two he already had, Li Sheng now possessed seven ninth-grade martial arts books.
"Perfect, that uses up all synthesis chances; let's test the simulation effect." A glimmer of anticipation flashed in Li Sheng's eyes.
He first tossed in one ninth-grade martial arts book, and a prompt appeared.
[Martial Arts Simulation Progress 1/5]
"Same process?"
Understanding this, Li Sheng threw in four more ninth-grade martial arts books, and after a swirl of seven-colored light, a book floated up.
He eagerly opened it, and two beast shapes caught his eye.
"Ninth-grade martial arts: Turtle-Snake Body Refining Technique, with turtle and snake forms... it's actually a spiritual-level martial art!" Li Sheng was struck with astonishment: "Moreover, it's a spiritual-level martial art that combines two spiritual forms..."
In this world, martial arts were divided into ordinary, entry-level, and spiritual-level.
He knew that spiritual-level martial arts only existed in top sects and royal families, guarded by master-level experts.
The few spiritual-level martial arts known to the world were extremely rare, and when discovered, they would attract countless powerful figures, leading to bloodshed.
Chapter 4 Bai Ye's Determination
This kind of technique must be well-hidden. If word of it spreads, the small Qingling Sect could be destroyed in an instant. As for whether to pass it on to that girl Bai Ye, Li Sheng still had some hesitation. A spiritual-level martial art, once mastered, could alter one's physique and enhance their potential, a temptation far too great for any martial artist. Though he had already acknowledged her character, the two of them didn't have much prior interaction.
It would be best to observe her for a few more days before making a decision. After all, if the sect wanted to advance quickly, they would still need to rely on her. With this thought, Li Sheng tucked the secret manual into his chest and shifted his focus to the protective mountain array.
At that moment, the fog within the array dispersed, and the three black-clad figures had disappeared, leaving only three piles of tattered clothing on the ground, which stood out sharply.
"So, this is the power of a second-level array?" A smile tugged at the corner of Li Sheng's mouth as a wave of satisfaction washed over him. Who would have thought that just half a day ago, he was a man at the mercy of others, framed and scapegoated? Now, under his hand, a seventh-grade and two eighth-grade martial artists had silently perished. It should be noted that even the three elders of the Qingling Sect were only seventh-grade.
As his mind returned, Li Sheng walked out of the hidden technique pavilion and headed toward the mountain gate.
Inside the array.
Li Sheng crouched on the ground, using a stick to rummage through the debris. A fist-sized ball of white light swirled around him, occasionally brushing against his face.
"Cold... and soft." Li Sheng could clearly sense the little thing's affection for him and let it frolic freely.
After a thorough search, Li Sheng sighed, thinking he would strike it rich this time, but these guys turned out to be penniless.
The cultivation resources from the three of them amounted to only twelve spirit stones, though they did have over four thousand silver notes, worth four or five spirit stones. As for the rest, the weapons and small flags weren't worth much, and the techniques or pills he had hoped for were nowhere to be found.
"Even a mosquito is meat, no matter how small." Li Sheng pulled out a cloth, packed up the items, and tossed a few pieces of clothing into the bushes before heading back to the sect.
On the way back, the array spirit sometimes swirled around him and sometimes hovered above his head. After asking, he learned that with the array's upgrade to the second level, its range now encompassed the entire sect. Qingling Sect wasn't very large, covering about the same area as three soccer fields from his previous life.
Upon learning this, Li Sheng was overjoyed. As long as he was within the sect, seventh-grade martial artists could be killed at will, and as long as he didn't let a sixth-grade master get close, his safety was greatly enhanced by the protection of the array.
Now, with his talent and comprehension greatly strengthened by the sect's blessings, his enthusiasm for cultivation had reached unprecedented heights.
After dropping off his bundle in his room, Li Sheng went into the courtyard and began studying the Turtle and Snake Body Refinement technique. Unlike ordinary ninth-grade martial arts, spiritual-level techniques involve the 'spiritual form,' requiring far more intricate stances.
There are nine Turtle Stances and nine Snake Stances; mastering them marks the beginning of proficiency. After that, learning the Turtle and Snake Eighteen Forms leads to mastery. The final and most important step is the fusion of spirit and form!
By shaping the spirit of the turtle and snake, one's physique would transform, and each move would become vastly more powerful, akin to supernatural abilities.
After reading the martial art manual, Li Sheng began practicing the Turtle Stance under the night sky. His body crouched low, leaning forward slightly, with arms spread wide. Under the moonlight, his shadow looked remarkably like a turtle.
"Huff~"
After a quarter of an hour, Li Sheng exhaled, feeling his energy drain rapidly, and sweat beaded on his forehead. As he withdrew his stance, the unique warmth within him dissipated entirely.
"This isn't going to work. I couldn't even hold the first stance for long before my stamina ran out."
"And this is with the improved constitution I gained from the sect's support. If it were before, I would have collapsed after just a few breaths. I'll need to pair this with body-refining pills." Li Sheng wiped the sweat from his forehead, pondering.
Body-refining martial artists require very little spiritual power. It's only from the eighth grade, the Inner Strength realm, that one can begin using spiritual power for cultivation. Currently, he had no access to the five Spirit Gathering Chambers.
"I need to refine pills as soon as possible, or having a spiritual-level technique but being unable to practice it is truly frustrating."
With these thoughts, Li Sheng made his way to the bathhouse. Seeing the empty tub, he remembered that all the servant disciples had run off.
Shaking his head, he picked up two wooden buckets and headed next door.
As a ninth-grade body-refining martial artist, he had strength equivalent to two thousand pounds. Although his realm wasn't perfected, he could still manage a thousand pounds of strength.
Soon, Li Sheng filled the bathtub but didn't bother heating the water. After a simple wash, he returned to his room and fell asleep.
——
"Senior Brother Sect Master, Bai Ye wishes to speak with you." A pleasant voice rang out from the courtyard.
Still half-asleep, Li Sheng opened his eyes and yawned, raising his hand to shield his eyes from the blinding sunlight.
After dressing, Li Sheng welcomed Bai Ye into the study. As they sat down, he looked at her delicate, radiant face, unadorned yet stunning, and his mood instantly lifted.
"Truly, the ancient saying 'to love beauty is human nature' was not wrong. Just looking at her puts me in a good mood. If only..."
Shaking off his wandering thoughts, Li Sheng said, "I was planning to come find you after waking up, but it seems you beat me to it."
Bai Ye's lips parted slightly, and her expression was no longer as cold as before, with a hint of warmth as she said, "If Senior Brother Sect Master has something to say, please go ahead."
"You go first," Li Sheng replied, pouring them both a cup of tea before sitting down.
"Alright."
After a brief moment of contemplation, Bai Ye spoke, "If a sixth-grade expert from a three-star sect doesn't fulfill the alliance duty, they must pay a fine of five hundred spirit stones to offset the garrison task."
Li Sheng nodded, signaling her to continue.
"What resources does the sect have left?" Bai Ye asked, looking at Li Sheng.
"When those people left, they took everything they could. The fish fry in the spirit pond were only recently introduced and aren't worth much yet. As for resources, I've accumulated around twenty spirit stones over the years."
"Twenty?" Bai Ye shook her head. "I have two hundred and forty-three spirit stones here, but combined, we're still short by half."
"Two hundred and forty-three spirit stones?"
Bai Ye had only been with Qingling Sect for two years, and in these years of resource scarcity, the sect had stopped distributing spirit stones four years ago. For her to have amassed such a sum, her background was no ordinary matter.
Li Sheng was deeply surprised and even more impressed by her integrity. With such a large sum, she could have gone anywhere to cultivate, yet she still intended to spend it on the Qingling Sect.
To outsiders, the Qingling Sect was a veritable money pit. To maintain the sect's foundation, they had to pay five hundred spirit stones every year, totaling fifteen hundred over three years.
If no sixth-grade expert appeared after three years, the sect would still have to dissolve and relinquish the spiritual land.
With this in mind, Li Sheng's admiration for her grew even stronger.
Furrowing her brows slightly, Bai Ye spoke softly, "There's only one way left now."
"What way?" Li Sheng was curious. Although he already had a plan to solve the resource issue, he wanted to hear what the girl had in mind.
"Hunting demon beasts!"
"Hunting demons?!" Li Sheng was stunned, thinking this girl was bold.
The Evergreen Mountains stretched for thousands of miles, vast and wide, with countless sects and demon beasts within. But surviving in such a mountain range wasn't easy. Even low-level beasts often had powerful clans backing them. Killing one could provoke an entire group. Moreover, even an eighth-grade demon beast was worth only a dozen spirit stones. How many would they need to kill?
Chapter 5 The Pretentious Him, the Bewildered Her.
Seeing the confused look on Li Sheng's face, Bai Ye spoke firmly:
"This is the only way. Now that my Inner Strength Realm is close to perfection, I can use this opportunity to hone myself against the beasts. If I break through, I might even be able to try hunting seventh-grade beasts. A seventh-grade beast is worth fifty to a hundred spirit stones. Killing just two would be enough to gather the resources."
Sensing the determination in her tone, Li Sheng sighed inwardly. If it weren't for the sect being bound to him, he would have handed over the sect leader position to her. But it seemed Bai Ye had no intention of taking on that role.
With this thought, Li Sheng shook his head slightly and decided it was time to lay all his cards on the table.
Seeing Bai Ye's unwavering gaze, she spoke first: "I've made up my mind, Senior Brother Sect Leader, you don't need to persuade me any further."
"There's no need for that. I have a better solution. If you take on all the hard work, wouldn't that make me, the sect leader, seem useless?" Li Sheng's face displayed a confident smile.
At this, Bai Ye was momentarily stunned, giving Li Sheng a strange look, as if to say, Aren't you already useless?
Feeling a bit awkward, Li Sheng scratched his head, silently complaining, "Damn, she understands too quickly."
Then, he pulled out the Turtle-Snake Body Refining Technique from his pocket and casually tossed it over.
Bai Ye raised her slender hand, catching the manual precisely. She looked at it with curiosity.
As soon as the two spiritual shapes of the turtle and snake appeared before her eyes, Bai Ye's pupils shrank abruptly, and her delicate face filled with shock. She quickly flipped through the pages.
Moments later, Bai Ye lifted her head in confusion, seeing Li Sheng's intentionally profound expression. She felt as though everything was too surreal.
"This is a spiritual-level martial art, and it even has two spiritual shapes. If this martial art were to be made public, every grandmaster in the world would come rushing." Imagining such a scenario, even with her typically cool demeanor, Bai Ye couldn't help but feel her heart race, her ample chest rising and falling rapidly.
Her once-useless senior brother now seemed to be shrouded in a mysterious veil, making her unable to see through him.
"Se... Senior Brother Sect Leader, are you planning to sell this spiritual-level martial art?" Bai Ye asked softly, her expression dumbfounded, looking unusually adorable. Her cold demeanor had completely vanished.
"Not at all!" Li Sheng shook his head.
Seeing this, Bai Ye breathed a sigh of relief. Even if someone offered tens of thousands of spirit stones for such a martial art, there would be forces vying to buy it. However, Qingling Sect wasn't big enough to handle such wealth.
"Tuantuan."
With a word, a small fist-sized ball of light, like a white cloud, quietly appeared and began to circle around Li Sheng before affectionately nudging him.
Feeling the soft touch against his cheek, Li Sheng smiled and spoke to the ball of light:
"This girl is my junior sister. Don't harm her in the future."
"Chirp chirp chirp..." A happy sentiment flowed out.
The white ball of light began circling around Bai Ye.
Bai Ye, curious, reached out her jade-like hand, and the ball of light gently settled on it. The two of them—human and spirit—quietly observed each other, creating a beautiful scene.
"Senior Brother Sect Leader, what is this?" Bai Ye asked, her red lips slightly parted, curiosity evident. It was clear she was fond of the little creature.
"It's a spirit of the array."
"A spirit of the array?"
Bai Ye was startled once again. Array spirits were rarely seen, even in renowned sanctuaries and royal dynasties. Their scarcity was greater than that of dual-spirit martial arts.
"Senior Brother... this..." Bai Ye was beginning to doubt reality.
Looking at the dumbfounded beauty before him, Li Sheng felt pleased and said:
"I've studied array formations for some time, and this little one was created when I upgraded the mountain protection array last night."
"And the spiritual-level martial art?"
"As for the martial art, I have some aptitude in martial arts and gained some insights. I just happened to deduce it last night."
"Just happened?" Bai Ye rolled her eyes, feeling that her senior brother's words were becoming more and more far-fetched. She was more inclined to believe that her senior brother had stumbled upon an ancient ruin, where he acquired these things.
Seeing her disbelief, Li Sheng didn't bother explaining. He stood up and said, "Follow me."
Moments later, the two of them arrived at the back mountain, where five ancient-looking stone chambers stood.
"Senior Brother, what is this?" Feeling the spiritual energy emanating from the stone chambers, Bai Ye's heart raced once again.
"These are spirit-gathering chambers I've created. Their effect is similar to cultivating in a mid-tier spiritual vein," Li Sheng replied nonchalantly.
"Senior Brother, may I cultivate in one of these?" Bai Ye looked at Li Sheng expectantly. At this moment, she began to believe his claim of having profound knowledge in arrays.
"Of course. It's just the two of us in the sect, so you can cultivate whenever you want. No need to ask for my permission. You can also cultivate that spiritual-level martial art."
Seeing how she stayed with the sect during its crisis and even contributed over two hundred spirit stones, Li Sheng had no doubt about her character.
Thanks to his experiences in his previous life, the concept of repaying kindness with even greater kindness had become deeply ingrained in him. If someone treated him like an honored guest, he would treat them the same in return.
Seeing Bai Ye's dazed expression, Li Sheng smiled. He knew that throwing out all these things at once was overwhelming for the young woman.
After a moment, Li Sheng said softly, "Junior Sister, I have something for you to do."
Hearing there was a task, Bai Ye returned to her senses, her expression calm once more.
"Please tell me, Senior Brother."
"It's like this..." Li Sheng handed her a list.
The list contained the necessary medicinal ingredients for alchemy, ordinary martial arts manuals, and food items.
Before she left, Li Sheng gave her serious instructions:
"Once you leave the sect, keep your eyes and ears open. Don't get involved in anything. If you see a lone traveler, don't engage. If you see a group, avoid them. If you encounter a fight, go around it by at least three miles. If there's danger, run first. If someone tries to strike up a conversation, avoid them. If you can't, lead them back to the sect. If you see..."
In short, it was all summed up in one word.
"Caution."
Seeing Bai Ye's confused expression as she left, Li Sheng clapped his hands with satisfaction.
This was his two lifetimes' worth of survival wisdom. Not something easily taught to others.
See, after just a little demonstration, the girl already saw him as someone extraordinary, full of admiration.
Back at his place, Li Sheng made himself some porridge. After several bowls, his hunger was gone.
Feeling full, he headed out into the courtyard to continue practicing the Nine Forms of the Turtle.
Li Sheng assumed a stance, and a warm current rose within him, circulating along a specific path, tempering his body.
...
Time passed slowly, and before he knew it, it was the third day.
At the Spirit Pool.
Leaning against the stone pavilion's railing, Li Sheng watched the golden fish swimming in schools below, a faint smile on his face, though his thoughts wandered elsewhere.
Over the past three days, apart from the first day of dedicated cultivation, he had been completely idle.
It wasn't because he was lazy, but the consumption of spiritual-level martial arts was too great. Without blood food or elixirs to support him, forcing himself to cultivate would only harm his body.
"Three days have passed. Is Bai Ye in trouble...? I can't keep waiting like this. The daily chances in the treasure vault and alchemy room are going to waste..."
Thump!
A soft sound interrupted Li Sheng's thoughts. Turning around, he saw a giant turtle, about the size of a millstone, slowly crawling, and beside it, a stone stool had been toppled over.
"The turtle woke up?"
Li Sheng was surprised. In his ten years at Qingling Sect, it was the first time he had seen the turtle come out of the Spirit Pool for a stroll. The previous sect leader had mentioned that the turtle was at least three hundred years old.
"Chirp chirp chirp..." The array spirit appeared, chirping joyfully.
"Junior Sister Bai has returned?" Li Sheng's face lit up with joy. Finally, she was back.
Chapter 6 Supreme Pills
Li Sheng's mind flickered, and his vision elevated in an instant, taking in the entirety of Qingling Sect. Just outside the sect's gates, five carriages slowly came to a stop, and Bai Ye, dressed in black and wearing a wide-brimmed hat, jumped off the lead carriage.
Seeing this, Li Sheng was stunned, finally understanding why Bai Ye had been gone for three whole days.
"Goodness, did she move house while she was at it?"
Retracting his thoughts, Li Sheng instructed the formation spirit to open the grand protective array.
Outside the gate, the white mist parted to reveal a straight path leading directly into the sect. Bai Ye was about to head inside to inform her senior brother, but seeing the way had already opened, she realized he was already aware. At this moment, Li Sheng's image became even more mysterious in her heart.
"Follow the path straight ahead. Do not stray into the white mist, or the consequences will be on your own heads." Coming to her senses, Bai Ye gave instructions.
"Understood!"
The drivers, witnessing this magical sight, swallowed nervously.
Inside the sect, watching the carriages approach, Li Sheng couldn't help but ask, "How much did you buy, junior sister?"
Once the carriages stopped, Bai Ye removed her hat, revealing her delicate face with a hint of fatigue. Seeing Li Sheng, her long, phoenix-like eyes glistened with joy, indicating she was quite pleased with the results of her shopping.
"Hold on."
Bai Ye gestured for him to wait, then gave some orders to the people on the carriages. Four middle-aged women descended and began unloading.
"Senior brother, these are farm women from nearby villages. They can help with chores. Where should I place the books and herbs?"
"Herbs in the alchemy room, books in the cultivation archive. But you still haven't told me what you bought."
The two walked side by side, chatting as they directed the carriages to the proper destinations.
"Not that much. Aside from food supplies, I mostly bought martial arts manuals—over six hundred in total. Basic manuals are cheap, about 20 silver taels each, and I had to scour the whole Qing Mountain City to collect that many."
"Over six hundred?" Hearing the number initially seemed a lot, but after a brief thought, Li Sheng realized these six hundred manuals were only enough to deduce one sixth-grade technique.
"And the herbs?"
"Well... twenty sets for Body-Tempering Pills, each costing two spirit stones. Ten sets for Internal Energy Pills, each costing five spirit stones. Altogether, I spent 102 spirit stones."
"Senior brother, can you really refine pills?" Bai Ye blinked curiously.
"Don't worry, once the pills are ready, you'll see for yourself."
After everything was unloaded, Li Sheng went alone to the alchemy room. The waist-high alchemy furnace looked ancient and mysterious. As his gaze fell upon it, a line of text appeared.
[Refining Attempts: 5/5, Infusion Attempts: 1/1]
After placing five sets of ingredients into the furnace, multicolored light began to swirl, and the materials slowly sank into the furnace.
"I hope I succeed before the attempts reset." Based on his observations, the reset for the archive occurred around noon, which was fast approaching.
About a quarter of an hour later, a fragrant aroma spread through the room, followed by a flash of multicolored light. In the next instant, five round, smooth, green pills hovered above the furnace.
"Only five? That's a bit underwhelming." Li Sheng frowned, but after taking a closer look at the pills, a smile crept onto his face.
"Superior-grade pills!"
Pills are categorized into low, medium, high, and supreme grades. Even in the past, Qingling Sect only distributed one low-grade pill per month to its disciples. Generally, a pill refiner would produce seven or eight pills at a time, with a low-grade pill fetching one spirit stone for every two.
A medium-grade pill, however, was worth five spirit stones, while a superior-grade pill was extremely rare and could sell for up to two or three hundred spirit stones. Though he believed this price was somewhat inflated—likely due to its collectible nature—he estimated the real value to be around one hundred spirit stones per pill.
Holding the five pills in his hand, Li Sheng couldn't be happier. Despite the small quantity, the quality was far higher.
Estimating that the reset time was near, Li Sheng wasted no time tossing the pills back into the furnace, murmuring, "Infuse!"
The colorful light swirled again, and the medicinal fragrance grew even stronger, wafting through the air. Even Bai Ye, cultivating in the Spirit-Convergence Chamber, noticed it.
In the Spirit Pool, the golden fish leaped out of the water as though trying to absorb the fragrance, while the old tortoise sunbathing by the pool moved slightly, lifting its head to gaze in the direction of the aroma.
Moments later, the light dissipated, revealing a single, pristine, snow-white pill, marked with four distinct green lines.
"Four lines... Holy cow! Supreme-grade pill!" Li Sheng excitedly shouted out an expletive in his native tongue.
Calming himself, he quickly headed to the cultivation archive to use his remaining attempts, finding five new ninth-grade martial techniques on the shelves, bringing his total to seven. However, since there were only two eighth-grade techniques, it wasn't enough to deduce the next level.
"Another two days and I'll be able to deduce an eighth-grade technique... then..." Li Sheng suppressed his excitement.
Just then, a prompt sounded.
[Attempts reset]
Hearing the reset, Li Sheng synthesized five more techniques before leaving the archive. He returned to the alchemy room, repeated the process, and soon produced another supreme-grade pill.
Satisfied, he headed towards the spiritual vein chamber.
Inside the Spirit-Convergence Chamber, Bai Ye was studying the spirit-level technique. The earlier two bursts of pill fragrance had disturbed her focus, and just as she calmed her mind again, she noticed her senior brother approaching.
"Senior brother, did the pill refining succeed?" Bai Ye stood up, her tone carrying a hint of respect, something even she hadn't noticed.
"Indeed. Junior sister, here's a pill for you. With its help, practicing the Dragon-Serpent Body-Tempering Technique will be much more effective." Li Sheng grinned and tossed her a jade bottle.
Bai Ye instinctively caught it, and when she poured it out, a pristine, snow-white pill with four lines appeared in her slender palm.
"Four lines... a supreme-grade pill?!" Bai Ye's lips parted slightly in shock, her perfect features filled with astonishment.
"This..." She hesitated, looking at the pill, before turning to Li Sheng. Her fair cheeks flushed slightly, and as though remembering something, her expression dimmed.
She gently placed the pill back into the jade bottle, walked over, took Li Sheng's hand, and put the bottle back into his palm. She then looked earnestly at his clean-cut face.
"Senior brother, this pill is far too valuable. I... I cannot accept it."
"Huh?"
Li Sheng was taken aback, thinking, You need to take it! Without you improving your strength, how will the sect advance, and when will I get my sect points? I was even planning on refining a supreme Internal Energy Pill tomorrow to help you break through to the seventh grade. What's going on?
Seeing his confusion, Bai Ye sighed, her expression tinged with melancholy.
"Senior brother, a supreme-grade pill is not like ordinary pills. It contains spiritual essence that can help a person enter enlightenment. Its wonders are unmatched, and even grandmasters covet them. Its value is immeasurable."
"I appreciate your kindness, but I cannot accept this. My great vengeance is still unresolved, and I cannot be distracted by personal feelings. The spirit-level technique is already more than I deserve. As for this pill... please, senior brother, take it back."