By the time the martial arts field closed at sunset, Li Xunmiao had established an impressive record of thirty wins and zero losses.
As Qiaogu accompanied the two on their way back, the brief conversation they shared proved quite enlightening.
He could not help but marvel at how powerful both of these Biluo Peak cultivators were — even though Gu Ze had not lifted a finger the entire time.
The group returned to their lodgings with lighthearted chatter and laughter. However, the moment they stepped into the courtyard, Gu Ze discovered that his world had literally collapsed.
To be precise, the courtyard had collapsed.
Next door, at Chen Xin’s residence, it looked as if an explosion had occurred, leaving half the house missing.
Gu Ze and Li Xunmiao’s quarters had not been spared either; one outer wall had been completely blown down.
Fortunately, the protective arrays had held, so the interior of their rooms remained unaffected.
Though Gu Ze had not stayed on Dan Yin Peak for long, he could easily guess what had happened. This was a classic case of failing to control the pill-refining process, resulting in a furnace explosion.
Chen Xin stood before her house in a robe stained with lingering patches of soot. Her face was set in a grim expression, looking utterly depressed.
Qiaogu felt equally embarrassed and explained, “This is a common occurrence for Junior Sister Chen. Please don’t take offense. This area will be repaired quickly; it won’t affect your stay.”
No wonder Qiaogu had warned them to be on guard against Chen Xin’s side. Who could endure a neighbor whose furnace exploded constantly?
Still, Chen Xin was Wang Xiao’s Progeny Disciple. Why would an amateur mistake like a furnace explosion happen to her so frequently?
Just as the doubt surfaced in Gu Ze’s mind, Chen Xin noticed them. She seemed to read the confusion in his eyes and spoke up of her own accord.
“The pill I am refining is no ordinary medicine. I am refining a foundation establishment opportunity, and the success rate is extremely low. That is why the furnace explodes so often.”
Gu Ze suddenly understood.
However, beside him, Qiaogu let out another heavy sigh, his brow furrowing. Clearly, Qiaogu believed the path Chen Xin sought for her “foundation establishment opportunity” was an incredibly difficult one.
Gu Ze immediately sensed there was more to Chen Xin’s situation. If he could use this as an entry point, perhaps he could obtain the ancient pill recipe in her possession.
He quickly cupped his hands and asked her, “Senior Sister, if I may ask, what kind of Foundation Establishment Opportunity is it?”
Chen Xin did not try to be mysterious; most disciples on Dan Yin Peak had heard of this matter.
“I intend to use a pill to establish my foundation.”
Relying on a pill meant a Human Path Foundation Establishment. Clearly, this should not be the choice of a peak lord’s Progeny Disciple.
Even if Chen Xin did not have the opportunity for a heavenly path foundation establishment, Wang Xiao was not so poor that he could not provide the heavenly materials and earthly treasures required for an earthly path foundation establishment.
Qiaogu chimed in with a helpless tone. “Junior Sister is too obsessed with the pill dao. She wants to pursue a perfect human path foundation establishment.”
“She believes that if she can improve the recipe for the foundation establishment pill, she can reach Level 3 of foundation establishment immediately after a perfect breakthrough.”
To Qiaogu, this was clearly a pipe dream.
Chen Xin’s face flushed as she defended herself. “It isn’t just something I think! It’s recorded in ancient books. There was once an alchemist who refined a perfect foundation establishment pill, but that recipe has since been lost…”
“Even though Level 3 is still just a human path foundation establishment, how many disciples at the great perfection of qi refinement in the Cloudsea Immortal Pavilion have no hope of an earthly path foundation establishment? If I succeed, I can benefit countless disciples of the pavilion.”
Hearing this, Gu Ze could not help but hold Chen Xin in higher regard.
Though she had an eccentric personality and poor social skills, her selfless magnanimity was something few could match.
‘Is she really Wang Xiao’s disciple?’ Gu Ze felt a bit sorry for her. Her master did not treat qi refinement disciples as human beings, yet she wanted to change the fate of every average disciple in the pavilion.
If there were a way to go from the Great Perfection of Qi Refinement directly to Level 3 of Foundation Establishment, many cultivators stuck at Level 8 or 9 would surely feel their passion for cultivation reignite.
“Senior Sister’s righteousness is admirable,” Gu Ze praised. At the same time, a flash of decisiveness crossed his eyes.
Chen Xin was a good person. But the ancient pill recipe in her hands was an opportunity that originally belonged to Li Xunmiao; he obviously could not give up on it because of that.
In that case, he would just have to play the villain.
“However, Senior Sister, being too obsessed with the Pill Dao isn’t necessarily a good thing. Pursuing a perfect human path foundation establishment has caused you to neglect your own cultivation instead.”
“If you had established your foundation earlier, wouldn’t your understanding of the Pill Dao be even deeper? Wouldn’t refining the foundation establishment pill be easier then?”
“Who says a foundation establishment pill can only be refined by someone at the great perfection of qi refinement? By neglecting yourself for the Pill Dao, I fear you are a great perfection in name only. It would be easy for someone of a lower level to defeat you.”
Having said his piece, he led the high-spirited Li Xunmiao back to their damaged quarters.
Fortunately, the two shared a room, so the collapse of one side of the building did not hinder their living arrangements.
Qiaogu watched Gu Ze’s departing figure, his mind filled with confusion. He could tell Gu Ze’s words were meant to provoke her, but… why would Senior Brother Gu deliberately goad Chen Xin?
He remained silent and did not explain Gu Ze’s intentions to her, deciding instead to wait and see. Neither of these two were ordinary people; perhaps this was also an opportunity for Junior Sister Chen.
***
The next morning.
Although Chen Xin lived a secluded life and had few friends, it did not mean she was deaf. With her residence demolished, she had no place to refine pills in peace, so she walked through the mountains.
The news of Li Xunmiao setting up a stage and defeating numerous Dan Yin Peak disciples was loud enough to reach her ears.
She was already in a bad mood, and Gu Ze’s comments about being “defeated by someone of a lower level” had been weighing on her mind.
Staying in a temporary Dongfu overnight, she had tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She felt certain Gu Ze was implying her strength was inferior to Li Xunmiao’s.
Even if the other party was the pride of Biluo Peak, this was simply too insulting.
And so, Chen Xin took the bait.
She arrived at the Martial Arts Field and silently watched Li Xunmiao’s second day of challenges.
It was obvious that after losing all day yesterday, the morale of the Dan Yin Peak disciples had plummeted.
Few were willing to step onto the stage. On the rare occasion someone tried their luck, Li Xunmiao defeated them in just a few moves.
Gu Ze naturally noticed Chen Xin. Seeing her face turn ashen, he knew she was reaching her breaking point.
Gu Ze deliberately raised his voice from below the stage. “Who else? Is there no one left who dares to step up!”
Chen Xin’s face darkened as she was instantly triggered. Did they really think Dan Yin Peak had no one left?
With a leap, Chen Xin landed on the stage, instantly becoming the center of attention for the Dan Yin Peak cultivators.
“Chen Xin, Progeny Disciple of Dan Yin Peak. I ask for Junior Sister’s guidance.” She announced her name, even though the two had met before.
Li Xunmiao smiled thinly, her energy surging. “Senior Sister, I have been waiting for you for a long time.”
‘Waiting for her for a long time?’ What did that mean? Chen Xin felt something was wrong, sensing a flicker of danger.
But there was no turning back now. The eyes of everyone on Dan Yin Peak were fixed on the stage, eager to see a battle between two Progeny Disciples.
“Senior Brother Gu said that if I face you, I must go all out. Therefore… Senior Sister, watch my sword!”
Li Xunmiao gave Chen Xin plenty of time to react as she slowly raised her right hand.
Chen Xin pulled out a gilded steel ring, her usual weapon of choice. Her expression was grave, as if facing a great enemy, as she stared at Li Xunmiao’s hand.
‘Watch her sword? Where is the sword?’
Li Xunmiao closed her hand, and the Zangtian Sword appeared in her grip.
In an instant, a cold light flashed. Li Xunmiao had kept her sword sheathed for days, and now its brilliance was revealed. A supreme sword intent gathered around her, appearing as natural as the world itself.
The crowd below watched with such intensity that a few were even affected by the sword intent, blood and tears streaming from their eyes.
‘This sword… no one below the stage can block it.’ That was the thought that struck everyone simultaneously.
Opposite Li Xunmiao, Chen Xin faced the full brunt of the sword’s sharpness. her face turned incredibly pale.
‘This is Qi Refinement?’ She had only felt this kind of pressure from Senior Brothers and Sisters who were already at Foundation Establishment.
Li Xunmiao swung the sword, but not at Chen Xin. She knew Chen Xin could not possibly withstand it.
The sword qi soared straight into the clouds, shattering the mists and cutting through the wind, as if to carve its name into the highest heavens.
Nearly all of Dan Yin Peak could see that soaring sword qi. Its glory struck directly into the hearts of everyone present, leaving an indelible mark.
Chen Xin stood frozen, looking up at the spot in the sky where the sword qi had vanished.
“Senior Sister, was my sword strike beautiful?” Li Xunmiao’s calm voice drifted over.
Chen Xin’s mouth was still slightly agape in shock. She slowly withdrew her gaze and met Li Xunmiao’s clear, crystalline eyes.
The cold young woman held the Zangtian Sword as if she were in an uninhabited land, a solitary immortal left in the world.
Standing there, she was indeed peerless.
“I lose,” Chen Xin said. She turned and stepped off the stage.
However, Gu Ze suddenly blocked her path, staring at her with a smile.
“What else do you want?” Chen Xin wanted to see his face least of all right now.
Thinking back, her inability to resist stepping onto the stage was exactly what Gu Ze had provoked.
Furthermore, Li Xunmiao’s use of a finishing move to establish dominance must have been Gu Ze’s instruction as well.
This Junior Brother was wicked to the core!
“Senior Sister, my Junior Sister’s sword isn’t something you can watch for free. Our stage has rewards for winning, and those who lose must provide a little something as well.” Gu Ze rubbed his fingers together and smiled at Chen Xin.
The woman frowned. “I’ll give it to you then.”
She held out a few pills, but Gu Ze waved them away. “I’m already at Dan Yin Peak; we aren’t exactly short on pills here. Would Senior Sister mind giving me something other than pills?”
“I know Senior Sister is magnanimous and has ambitions different from ordinary people. Surely the thing Senior Sister gives… must be like your heart of the dao, worth more than a thousand pieces of gold.”
Hearing Gu Ze praise her so highly, Chen Xin gave a cold laugh and pulled out a thin piece of paper. “I have an ancient pill recipe here that I transcribed from my Master’s books. If I give it to you, can you even understand it?”
As expected! She had produced the pill recipe.
Gu Ze had guessed long ago that because Chen Xin’s furnace exploded so often, she must be quite short on funds.
Although Alchemists were wealthy, pill furnaces were also very expensive. By mentioning something of value, it was easy to get her to produce this recipe.
“Then I shall accept it.” Gu Ze suppressed the excitement in his heart and took the recipe without showing any emotion.
Chen Xin had already studied this item, and what she gave him was merely a transcription; to her, it was not particularly precious.
Seeing that she had dealt with Gu Ze, Chen Xin sat down cross-legged in a less crowded spot, her face stiff.
She had just lost a match and embarrassed herself in front of so many disciples. She felt it would be better to just go back to refining pills. But if she fled immediately after losing, that would be even more disgraceful.
Gu Ze found a corner and cautiously opened the pill recipe.
‘Ordinary Alchemists use a furnace to refine materials. Our kind uses heaven and earth as a furnace, capable of refining nature, demonic beasts, and even cultivators.’
‘During my Nascent Soul formation, I had a realization. If one leads eight streams of Golden Core Divine Fire to lock down heaven and earth and trap a cultivator undergoing Nascent Soul formation, one can—’
“That sword strike was truly stunning; it had the style of Qingquan from back in the day.”
A voice suddenly rang out. Gu Ze’s heart skipped a beat, and he looked up to see Wang Xiao had arrived at the Martial Arts Field at some point.
“In other words, do you two also want to demolish my Dan Yin Peak?”
Gu Ze did not dare move recklessly. In a situation like this, the more panicked he appeared, the easier it would be to reveal a flaw. He calmly tucked the pill recipe into his storage bag.
Still feeling uneasy, he used his soul fire to burn it into ash, leaving no trace behind.
“Immortal Lord is joking. My Junior Sister was just playing around,” Gu Ze said with a forced smile.
“Chen Xin, have you already competed with Li Xunmiao?” Wang Xiao noticed his disciple’s figure and called her out.
“In response to Master… I lost…” Her head was bowed low, clearly at her lowest point. It was bad enough to lose face in front of her fellow disciples, but now even her Master knew.
Wang Xiao, however, kept his hands behind his back and paced over to her side. “No matter. In any competition, there are winners and losers.”
“I hear you are still studying that Foundation Establishment Pill. Do you know why that pill is so difficult to complete?”
It sounded as if Wang Xiao felt his disciple had lost too miserably and intended to offer some guidance to repair her damaged heart of the dao.
“This disciple does not know.”
“Every person’s destiny is different, and the base during foundation establishment is also different. But have you ever wondered: what if it is not the cultivator who chooses the base, but the base that chooses the cultivator? The same pill has different effects on different people.”
“Similarly, not everyone can use the same heavenly material or earthly treasure to establish their foundation; this is the treasure selecting the cultivator.”
“The principle of the foundation establishment pill is to use spiritual energy that all cultivators can absorb to build a fragile base, barely allowing them to step through the threshold of foundation establishment.”
“If you want the perfect foundation establishment pill to break through this limitation, you must address the unique situation of every cultivator, assisting them in forming a base that lies between a human path and an earthly path foundation establishment.”
“It must not be so fragile, yet the materials must not be so difficult to find.”
Although he was speaking to Chen Xin, his words were meant for every disciple present.
Gu Ze also had a moment of realization and listened quietly from his corner.
By the time Wang Xiao departed, Gu Ze’s clenched fists finally relaxed slightly.
Although Wang Xiao was already a villain in Gu Ze’s eyes, his insights into the Pill Dao were indeed something Gu Ze could not hope to match with his own superficial knowledge.
Unfortunately, that talent was being used entirely for wicked ends.
Gu Ze grit his teeth. The most urgent task now was how to save Qingquan.
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