Chapter 137: Thank You, Master Xiao, For Your Guidance—I'm Deeply Grateful

Chapter 137: Thank You, Master Xiao, For Your Guidance—I’m Deeply Grateful

The next morning, Xiao Chen waited outside Elder Chen’s courtyard.

He ended up waiting nearly two hours before finally seeing Elder Chen return around noon, looking somewhat weary.

“Ah, Xiao Chen! What brings you here today? Did you hit a snag in your cultivation?”

Generally speaking, a teacher’s role was to transmit knowledge, provide instruction, and resolve doubts. While the Lihuo Sect’s Scripture Pavilion handled most formal teachings, personal mentors were still crucial for the latter two responsibilities. A mentor’s skill and dedication significantly impacted their disciple’s progress.

Yet Xiao Chen was an exception.

Yellow-tier cultivation manuals were inherently simple and accessible, designed for easy mastery even by cultivators with mediocre talent. And the Yu Ling Jue he practiced was even more exceptional—it replaced the traditional cultivation process entirely with the nurturing of a Spirit Seed.

As a result, Xiao Chen had always learned independently, never encountering obstacles requiring a mentor’s help.

Elder Chen found this rather frustrating.

Truthfully, he longed to guide and nurture his disciple more during his growth. But his own apprentice had abysmal spirit roots yet an astonishing cultivation aptitude. Give him a secret manual, and he’d master it alone at an alarming speed.

Seeing Xiao Chen waiting, Elder Chen actually felt a flicker of anticipation.

But he’d soon be disappointed.

Xiao Chen wasn’t here for guidance: “Master, I’ve been studying pill forging lately. Do you have any Second-tier pill formulas to share?”

“A Second-tier formula?” Elder Chen asked, surprised. “Of course I do. But why do you need one?”

Before Xiao Chen could answer, realization dawned: “Wait—you’ve already self-taught yourself Second-tier pill forging?!”

Elder Chen stared, disbelief plastered across his face.

It was implausible. While self-learning Yellow-tier cultivation was feasible, becoming a Pill Forging Master required extensive practice and mentorship.

Basic pills like Nourishing Qi or Bigu Pills relied on rote practice, but anything more complex involved numerous Spirit Herbs and exponentially more complex interactions. Self-learning advanced techniques was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Most novices needed experienced mentors to guide them.

But then again—this was Xiao Chen.

Elder Chen’s expression cycled through emotions before accepting the situation. “Hmm… Knowing it’s you, I guess it’s not that strange.”

He pushed open the courtyard gate. “Come in. I have a pill forging notebook you can borrow.”

Inside, Elder Chen retrieved a thick notebook from his desk drawer. “If you have questions—even if you do seem unlikely to—feel free to ask.”

“I’ve been helping at the Alchemy Hall lately, refining formulas. You can find me there directly, or just wait inside instead of loitering at the gate.”

Xiao Chen found the exchange odd.

He hadn’t even spoken yet—Elder Chen had answered his own questions, clearly lost in his own assumptions.

But with the notebook secured, details hardly mattered.

He bowed. “Understood, Master. I’ll take my leave then. I’ll ask if I need anything.”

Of course, it was just polite lip service.

With the [Pill Forging Master’s Heart], Xiao Chen could now forge any First or Second-tier pill instantly upon seeing its formula.

Spending an entire day poring over Elder Chen’s notes left him deeply satisfied.

The notebook was generous—packed with formulas, practical forging tips, and Elder Chen’s personal insights. It even included incomplete formula drafts and theories on ancient recipes. Clearly, nothing was held back.

The latest page detailed a fragmented formula. Elder Chen proposed two theories but lacked time/materials to test them.

Xiao Chen instantly identified the second theory as correct. He scribbled a note suggesting Elder Chen prioritize testing it, slipping the paper into the notebook.

“Mission accomplished!”

“Time to hit the Alchemy Hall—see if I can find profitable opportunities.”

Balancing cultivation with other pursuits maximized efficiency.

If conditions allowed, Xiao Chen planned to split his time evenly—half cultivating, half forging pills. This way, pill forging served as rest between cultivation sessions while earning spirit stones to repay debts.

“Ah, spending spirit stones feels great—until you’re drowning in debt.”

Zhang Ruihao’s bidding war left him owing 48,000 stones to the Liu Clan and 50,000 to the Chen Family. After deducting his remaining 8,000 stones, he still faced a staggering 90,000 debt.

Suddenly burdened with such a sum felt surreal.

At the Alchemy Hall, five levels bustling with activity, Xiao Chen sought profitable pill forging tasks.

Chen Tianyuan and Elder Chen were on the fifth floor, brainstorming improvements to the Blood Piercing Pill—a modified formula from the Divine Flame Sect.

The Spirit Origin Sect had urgently ordered large quantities of these pills to enhance spell potency for an upcoming conflict. Though the price was generous, the Lihuo Sect’s profit margin remained razor-thin due to a success rate under 50%.

Despite six months of effort, the Chen Family had barely stabilized the forging time.

When Xiao Chen expressed interest in pill forging tasks, Chen Tianyuan summoned a disciple. “Show Xiao Chen the second-floor tasks.”

“Master Xiao,” the disciple explained, “grayed-out tasks are common pills we’re short on. Green are Merit Hall commissions. The red ones on top are external sect orders.”

Using his spiritual sense, Xiao Chen scanned the list.

Though varied, profits were meager—perhaps 100-200 stones monthly. Enough for ordinary Foundation Building disciples, but Xiao Chen needed far more to cover interest payments, even with the clans’ leniency.

He’d overestimated pill forging’s earning potential.

Critical pills like Foundation Building or Life Extension Pills were nearly impossible to profit from due to scarce primary ingredients. Less scarce formulas yielded minimal returns.

Only the top-tier red task—the Blood Piercing Pill—looked promising.

Xiao Chen claimed the order, registered at the counter, and collected the formula and materials.

He’d planned to take multiple batches back to Cuiwei Valley, but the clerk hesitated: “Master Xiao, the Alchemy Hall prohibits taking Spirit Herbs off-site. Forging must happen here.”

A sign behind him confirmed: No hoarding or smuggling Spirit Herbs.

“Fine. I’ll work here.”

Without his personal pill furnace, he used a lower-quality public one on the third floor.

No matter—his skills rendered quality irrelevant now.

He’d forge today’s two batches here, then take tomorrow’s materials home.

Downstairs, Jiang Shize displayed two jade vials containing six freshly-forged Blood Piercing Pills.

“Achieving a 60% success rate already? Impressive!” disciples marveled.

“Director Jiang’s always excelled at volatile formulas like this.”

“Sixty percent—profitability’s within reach!”

“I hear the Spirit Origin Sect’s desperate for these. Jiang’s about to rake in the stones!”

Smiling smugly, Jiang greeted Chen Tianyuan and Elder Chen descending from the fifth floor: “Senior Chen, I’ve just devised a method to boost the Blood Piercing Pill’s success rate to 60%. Any progress on your end? Let’s compare notes.”

His tone dripped with faux politeness—he already knew the Chen Family had hit a dead end.

“Is that so?” Jiang Shize, the Vice Hall Master, said with a smirk. “Truly, a Pill Forging Master recognized by the Sect.”

Chen Tianyuan emphasized the word “Vice” deliberately, “Congratulations to Hall Master Jiang, then.”

Hearing this, Jiang Shize didn’t seem offended. Instead, his smile widened. Of course the Chen Family has made no progress, he thought. Otherwise, they wouldn’t resort to pulling rank on me.

“Oh, I was hoping to discuss my insights with Senior Sect Brother Chen,” Jiang Shize continued, feigning disappointment. “Looks like I’ll have to wait for another chance to seek your guidance.”

After his veiled jab, he turned to the counter. “Bring me all the existing ingredients for the Blood Piercing Pills.”

“I’ll work extra this month to finish this order.”

The disciple at the counter hesitated. “Hall Master Jiang, the Blood Piercing Pill order has already been claimed by Senior Sect Uncle Xiao Chen, the apprentice of Elder Chen.”

“What? Already taken?”

Jiang Shize raised an eyebrow. “Who’s this ‘Senior Sect Uncle Xiao Chen’? The Alchemy Hall’s guest elders are only Elders Zhang, Wang, Li, and Zhao. The rest are from the Jiang or Chen families. Since when do we have a ‘Xiao Chen’?”

The disciple stammered, “It’s… it’s Elder Chen’s apprentice, Senior Sect Uncle Xiao Chen.”

“Xiao Chen?” Jiang Shize’s tone sharpened. “Nonsense! This is an order from the Spirit Origin Sect. How could you let him take it? Why didn’t you stop him?”

The disciple looked flustered. “But… it was Senior Sect Brother Chen who brought him here. I thought…”

He’d been surprised to see Xiao Chen escorted by Chen Tianyuan’s personal disciple, but how could he dare block them?

Jiang Shize pressed on, “So what if it was Chen Tianyuan? Xiao Chen’s always been reckless. Are you reckless too?”

Elder Chen interjected, “Jiang Shize, what are you implying?”

Jiang Shize plastered a fake smile. “Senior Sect Brother Tianyang, I admit Xiao Chen has talent in cultivation. But let’s be honest—he cultivates so fast because he spends all his time on it. Who’s seen him study pill forging? Taking these spirit herbs is just wasting them!”

A guest elder countered, “Still, Xiao Chen is Senior Sect Brother Tianyang’s disciple. He must have some skill in pill forging.”

Jiang Shize shrugged. “Skill? Every Pill Forging Master here has skill. But how hard is it to make Blood Piercing Pills? Everyone knows the answer.”

The guest elder fell silent. The onlookers nodded, swayed by his words.

Jiang Shize glanced at Chen Tianyuan’s darkening face. “The Spirit Origin Sect provided limited ingredients. Letting Xiao Chen waste them could delay the order. Where is he? Take me to him now!”

Elder Chen wanted to object but hesitated. Xiao Chen had taken his pill forging notes to study second-tier pills just yesterday. Even a prodigy couldn’t master new techniques in a day. The Blood Piercing Pill formula wasn’t even in the notes yet.

They ascended to the third floor. As Jiang Shize raised his hand to knock on the pill room door, it creaked open. Xiao Chen stepped out, puzzled by the crowd.

“Why’s everyone here? Some group activity?” He glanced at their stares. “What? Is my outfit weird today?”

Jiang Shize seized the moment. “Since you’re out, perfect. The clerk made a mistake letting you take the order. You’re out early—admit you can’t handle it.”

“Hand over the ingredients.”

Xiao Chen sized him up. “Who’re you?”

Jiang Shize smiled silently.

A Jiang disciple piped up, “This is the Sect’s Pill Forging Master, Hall Master Jiang.”

“Oh, a Jiang family member,” Xiao Chen said. “That explains why you bark like a dog.”

“You—!” Jiang Shize pointed, then sneered. “Just clever talk.”

He turned to Chen Tianyuan. “If the ingredients are wasted, the Spirit Origin Sect won’t be pleased.”

Chen Tianyuan replied coolly, “That’s not your concern, Vice Hall Master.”

He faced Xiao Chen. “Did you take the Blood Piercing Pill order this morning?”

Xiao Chen nodded. “Yep. I picked it because it’s easy and profitable. I saw it first—ask the clerk.”

“Easy?” Jiang Shize laughed. “Arrogant fool! This order’s been on the second floor for six months. If it’s so easy, why hasn’t anyone finished it?”

“I heard you started at dawn. If it’s easy, did you even form a pill core yet?”

Before he finished, Xiao Chen pulled out a jade vial. The scent of fresh Blood Piercing Pills wafted out.

“This is the Blood Piercing Pill aroma!” a guest elder gasped. “A full vial—five pills! How?”

Elder Chen stepped forward, inspecting a pill. His mouth opened, then closed, speechless.

“This is impossible!” Jiang Shize roared. “The Blood Piercing Pill formula was reverse-engineered from a corrupted pill. No one can achieve a perfect formation rate! You’re cheating!”

He pointed at Chen Tianyuan. “Even you can’t do it. You’re using a disciple to fool us. And Xiao Chen ‘coincidentally’ shows up when I’m about to take the order. I’ll ask Zhenren Mingyan to judge!”

The guest elders exchanged doubts. If Elder Chen couldn’t succeed, how could his apprentice?

A guest elder asked, “Xiao Chen, did you really make these?”

“Of course,” Xiao Chen shrugged. “Why doubt it? You’ve all been wondering how to achieve a perfect formation rate, right? I’ll show you.”

He turned back to the pill room. “It’s simple. Anyone who doesn’t believe can watch.”

The guest elders followed, along with two elderly pill masters. The disciples crowded outside.

Xiao Chen began: precise ingredient timing, fluid rotations. His movements were effortless, yet flawless.

Elder Chen imagined Xiao Chen practicing tirelessly at Azure Water Peak and Cuiwei Valley. He felt shame—had he only seen Xiao Chen as a prodigy, ignoring his relentless effort?

Before the final step, the crowd was already convinced. The furnace yielded five perfect Blood Piercing Pills.

“That’s how I did it. Any questions?” Xiao Chen asked.

Silence. Even Jiang Shize had no words.

“Then the order’s mine?” Xiao Chen grinned.

A guest elder bowed. “Thank you, Senior Sect Uncle Xiao Chen!”

Others followed, including Chen Tianyuan, his face alight with revelation. They rushed to test their newfound insights.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end