"With so many seventh-grade Yuan Condensing Pills, I don't need nearly this many. At most, three to five will be enough to reach the peak of the Condensing Yuan Realm."
Lin Fan muttered to himself, then decided, "We should take a portion of the remaining pills and store them in the sect's treasury. Every disciple can receive one per month. With these pills aiding their cultivation, their progress will be far more efficient than simply absorbing Yuan Stones."
"That's absolutely right."
Li Changshou nodded repeatedly. "Seventh-grade Ning Yuan Pills are rare, even in first-class sects. Only direct disciples typically have access to them. Ordinary disciples would never dream of acquiring one."
"A pill a month is already an incredible boon for those seven youngsters," he added. "It will significantly speed up their advancement into the Condensing Yuan Realm."
Although the Ning Yuan Pill is primarily used during the Condensing Yuan Realm, its true function is to assist in the condensation of heaven and earth's energy. Even cultivators in the Profound Yuan Realm can take it to great effect. However, beyond the peak of the Profound Yuan Realm, its efficacy diminishes to nothing.
"This should alleviate the disciples' reliance on Spirit Stones," Li Changshou said with visible relief.
Before he could contemplate the next issue, Lin Fan suddenly spoke again. "What if we sell the extra pills?"
Lin Fan tapped his fingers on the table in thought. "Seventh-grade Ning Yuan Pills should be in high demand, and the price should be quite generous. We could exchange them for Spirit Stones as an emergency reserve."
Li Changshou hesitated. "It's not an issue, but... such rare items are difficult to come by. If we sell them now, it's unlikely we'll ever be able to buy them back."
"Why would we need to buy them back? We can refine them ourselves." Lin Fan smirked.
Xiao Ling'er could refine them, and so could he.
If it weren't for the need to maintain secrecy, he would've already ordered the Elders to gather materials from all over the continent for large-scale alchemy. However, Lin Fan knew better than to be careless. This was not a game with a beginner's protection period—if word got out, Xiao Ling'er would be abducted by dawn, forced to spend her days as an alchemy slave.
As for the Moon Embracing Sect…
It had already become history.
Despite the logical argument, Li Changshou still seemed hesitant.
Lin Fan noticed and sighed. "Third Elder, I understand your concerns. But do you know what the greatest regret in life is?"
Li Changshou raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
Lin Fan's eyes darkened. "Dying and leaving behind unspent wealth."
He leaned forward, voice dripping with meaning. "Imagine it—your enemy kills you, then spends your hard-earned wealth, sleeps with your Dao companion in your own bed, and even beats your son when they're done."
Li Changshou's eyes widened as he absorbed the words, his eyelid twitching violently.
"I see now," he muttered. Then, straightening up, he declared, "Let's do as the Sect Master says."
'To hell with that! Letting my enemy spend my money and take my Dao companion? Absolutely unacceptable!'
"Good." Lin Fan nodded. "Take fifty of these Ning Yuan Pills. As for selling them, discuss it with the other four Elders, but ensure anonymity and caution. If word gets out, our sect could be doomed."
Though Lin Fan had little experience beyond the sect, he understood that in a world ruled by strength, peace was a luxury few could afford.
"Rest assured, Sect Master. I'll handle it properly." Li Changshou's expression turned serious.
Those who survived the Lan Yue Sect's decline and reached the Fourth Cave Heaven Realm were not fools.
—
After Li Changshou departed, Lin Fan settled himself and began consuming the pills—three at a time!
If he were still in the Opening Xuan Realm, he would have been more cautious, wary of the overwhelming medicinal power causing internal injuries. However, now at the eighth level of the Condensing Yuan Realm, he no longer had such concerns.
Boom!
The instant the pill entered his mouth, its immense energy exploded within him. Lin Fan closed his eyes, focusing entirely on his cultivation, harnessing the medicinal power to condense his inner vitality.
—
Meanwhile, the sect's six mascots were diligently training when unexpected news reached them.
Murong Loquat burst into the training hall, eyes alight with excitement. "I just ran into the Third Elder—he said the sect treasury now holds Ning Yuan Pills, and we're allowed one per month!"
He lifted his hand, revealing a pill. "I already got mine. Go grab yours! With this, I might finally break through into the Condensing Yuan Realm!"
Qiu Yongqin's face lit up. "Are you serious? I'm going right now!" He dashed off immediately.
The others—Ye Changyi, Fang Kun, Pei Xiuqin, and Zuo Qingqing—followed in quick succession.
Only Xu Shuyi remained, staring at the pill in shock. "S-Seventh-grade?!"
Murong Loquat tilted his head. "What about it?"
Xu Shuyi hesitated before shaking her head. "Never mind. Senior brother, go ahead and train—I'll get my pill now."
Before long, all seven mascots had claimed their pills. Clearing their minds of distractions, they each began their cultivation.
At this very moment, aside from the five elders, every single member of Lan Yue Sect was collectively consuming pills—including Xiao Ling'er herself.
After all, medicine is meant to be used.
—
Hours passed. Under the moon's high arc, Lin Fan finally opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing across them.
"The peak of the Condensing Yuan Realm," he murmured. "Not far from the Xuanyuan Realm now."
The Condensing Yuan Realm focused on guiding heaven and earth's energy into the body, tempering the physical form while gathering energy within the dantian for use. But the Profound Yuan Realm was a step further.
At that level, the condensed vitality would circulate throughout the body, fortifying the physical body and transforming into Qi—a power stored within the body's Xuan gates.
His strength would surge exponentially.
To achieve this, Xiao Ling'er's alchemy skills were invaluable. If he relied solely on the Moon-Swallowing Spirit Art, his progress wouldn't be nearly as fast. Of course, the Earth Core Demonic Fire also played a role.
It was proof that his strategy was correct—cultivating talented disciples and using their abilities to strengthen himself.
"The only downside?" Lin Fan sighed. "No mission rewards."
Everything about this world resembled a game setting, yet there were no quests, no system rewards.
Breaking the cycle—no, breaking the world itself was the only way forward.
—
That night, Lan Yue Sect erupted with celebration.
One breakthrough after another.
It wasn't just Lin Fan. Though the seven mascots lacked his overwhelming talent, their years of training had granted them profound foundations. Most had already opened their eighth or ninth mystical gate.
With the assistance of the seventh-grade Yuan Condensing Pills, they ascended rapidly, stepping into the Condensing Yuan Realm in quick succession.
From this moment forward, every disciple of Lan Yue Sect had officially entered the Condensing Yuan Realm.
—
The next morning, the seven mascots beamed with satisfaction, feeling stronger than ever.
Fang Kun and Zuo Qingqing stood at the mountain gate, their spirits soaring.
However, amidst their newfound strength and joy, a change was quietly brewing…