Chapter 144: Mixing This Toxin Into Pills – Xiao Chen, What's Your Intention!

Chapter 144: Mixing This Toxin Into Pills – Xiao Chen, What’s Your Intention!

“Mingyan Zhenren has already reached an agreement with Lei Yin Zhenren of the Spirit Origin Sect. Starting today, our two sects will stand together against the Divine Flame Cult.”

Mei Yong dropped the news without preamble.

Xiao Chen wasn’t surprised by the alliance itself. The Divine Flame Cult’s growing power made it both prudent and necessary for orthodox sects to support Hezhou. Otherwise, once the Cult conquered Hezhou, Lizhou would be next. By then, no allies would remain to offer aid.

The real question was whether this alliance had come too quickly. Could Hezhou already be on the verge of collapse after less than two years? From what he knew, the Yueyue Immortal Sect had held its mountain gates under siege for over three years before falling.

Others also looked startled, asking Mei Yong for details about Hezhou’s current situation.

Mei Yong’s expression turned complicated. He seemed eager to clarify the misunderstanding but struggled to find words. Finally, he silently unfurled a freshly drawn map of Hezhou’s war zones.

“The white circles mark territories still controlled by the Spirit Origin Sect. The red areas are regions already occupied by the Divine Flame Cult.”

Xiao Chen studied the map and immediately noticed something odd. The northern borders of the Spirit Origin Sect’s lands were surrounded by dense red outposts, nearly forming a continuous line—especially near two first-tier spirit veins, where the red ink turned almost black. Yet the central and southern regions of Hezhou had only scattered red dots, disorganized and disconnected, as if rogue bandit cultivators were exploiting the chaos under the Cult’s name.

This was intriguing. Judging by the map, it seemed more accurate to say the Spirit Origin Sect itself was under invasion rather than Hezhou.

“Ahem!” Mei Yong cleared his throat. “In short, the situation is dire. We urgently need reinforcements to hold the frontlines.”

“This meeting is to ask all senior sect brothers if anyone is willing to go to Hezhou and fight the demonic cultivators.”

“I also have here the Spirit Origin Sect’s extermination rewards.”

With a wave of his hand, an inner sect disciple distributed freshly copied reward ledgers to those present.

Xiao Chen flipped through the ledger. The rewards were indeed generous—diverse and filled with rare treasures seldom seen. There were sixty-four superior-grade magic artifacts, twenty mystic-rank legacies, and countless mid-grade artifacts, second-tier spirit pills, rare spirit fruits, and five-element spirit sands.

He skipped to the final pages listing the most coveted prizes: twenty portions of top-tier five-element spiritual elixirs, five top-grade magic artifacts, eight complete earth-tier legacies, nineteen different earth-tier techniques, and a second-tier crocodile-cat Internal Elixir.

Most importantly, the required points for these rewards were surprisingly low. The Spirit Origin Sect had listed dozens of tasks to earn points—tasks theoretically allowing one to accumulate a decade’s worth of rewards in just a year.

Xiao Chen felt tempted. If he could secure that crocodile-cat Internal Elixir, he might finally advance his false core through ritual refinement. Others were equally excited, with several guest elders declaring they’d depart immediately to defend Hezhou.

Mei Yong waited until the excitement died down before tempering the mood.

“Senior sect brothers, hold on. There’s also bad news.”

“According to reliable intelligence, the Spirit Origin Sect’s generosity stems from casualties among their Foundation Building Late Stage cultivators.”

“These high-point tasks carry significant risks.”

This gave some pause, particularly older cultivators or those from influential families reluctant to gamble their lives. Yet others, like Huang Haoran—younger or without family ties—declared they welcomed the challenge.

“Don’t rush,” Mei Yong advised. “Though time is tight, you have three days to prepare.”

“This concerns your life. Return home, discuss it, and decide. Those going should gather at the plaza at noon on the second watch three days hence.”

“Once you leave for Hezhou, there’s no turning back. Until then, you may change your mind.”

Xiao Chen coveted the crocodile-cat Internal Elixir and the wood-element spirit liquid but hesitated. The next day, he visited Elder Chen for advice.

Other Chen family members were present.

Chen Tianyuan immediately warned, “Junior Xiao, Hezhou’s chaos isn’t an opportunity. It’s perilous.”

Elder Chen nodded. “Your master is right. Your talent as a Pill Forging Master is wasted on such risks.”

Chen Tianfeng added, “Junior Xiao, warfare is dull. Have you considered forging?”

Chen Tianyuan countered, “What’s so great about forging? He’s already chosen pill forging—abandoning it now would be foolish.”

“Incidentally, the Spirit Origin Sect sent new orders. You could visit the Alchemy Hall if you’re free.”

They discussed Hezhou’s situation. Chen Tianyuan’s stance was clear: “The Jiang and Song families are more desperate. Let them take the lead. The sect will likely send a second wave later. We can go then if the risks subside.”

Xiao Chen learned the Five Great Families’ positions: The Jiang and Song families were eager—Jiang for pill forging markets, Song for restoring trade routes. The Liu clan guarded their plains spirit fields, while the Su family clung to Nanhu Lake. Both opposed fighting in Hezhou. The Chen family remained neutral, wanting rewards but fearing risks.

Xiao Chen’s thoughts aligned. The rewards, though tempting, weren’t essential. His current elixirs sufficed, and he lacked no top-grade artifacts or earth-tier legacies. Even if he delayed, his strength would secure the Internal Elixir later.

Three days later, Xiao Chen arrived at the sect plaza to bid farewell to Huang Haoran and Ye Fei.

Ye Fei invited him: “I heard you seeking top-tier elixirs. The Spirit Origin Sect offers six bottles of wood-element spirit liquid. With your strength, earning points would be effortless.”

Huang Haoran disagreed: “Better he stays. Someone must hold down Chu Mo Dian.”

“There’s a new lead we haven’t checked—a report in the back hall archives. Xiao Senior Brother, could you look into it?”

Xiao Chen agreed. Chu Mo Dian had four Foundation cultivators, but Miao Yuqing followed Ye Fei everywhere. With three departing, and fifty Foundation cultivators reassigned, Xiao Chen would handle affairs alone.

Fortunately, trouble had dwindled. After the Lihuo Sect’s relentless purges, demonic cultivators vanished. Following Huang Haoran’s notes, Xiao Chen investigated but found no demons—only a forbidden lovers’ meeting in a forest.

The woman hailed from a Foundation family, the man a nameless solitary cultivator. Forbidden to marry, they met secretly at night, mistaken by spirit farmers as demonic activity.

Other “urgent reports” were similar false alarms. The worst incident involved ten children disappearing in a northern town—each vanishing at night, reappearing dead in a temple. Xiao Chen traced it to a solitary cultivator who’d found a fake “immortality elixir” recipe. A single sword strike ended both the man and his delusions.

A month passed uneventfully until the Alchemy Hall received a new order for Blood Piercing Pills.

This time, Chen Tianyuan sent someone directly to notify Xiao Chen to come collect medicinal ingredients.

Since the Lihuo Sect and Spirit Origin Sect had formed an alliance, both the Alchemy Hall and Weapon Forging Hall had received a flood of tasks. No matter when one visited, there were always crowds of cultivators busy processing spirit herbs or refining pills.

Xiao Chen casually stuffed all the ingredients required to refine Blood Piercing Pills into his storage bag. Normally, this would have been strictly prohibited, but after he’d previously returned fifty vials of Blood Piercing Pills, no one dared mention the rule again.

Just as he was about to leave with the spirit herbs, a familiar voice called from behind, “Master Xiao, please wait a moment.”

Turning around, he saw an elderly man he vaguely recognized. The old man approached and bowed respectfully. “Master Xiao, we’ve encountered an incomplete pill formula that’s left everyone puzzled. Since you’re here today, would you mind offering some guidance?”

The title “Master Xiao” had originated after Xiao Chen’s previous pill refinement success. He’d tried correcting them several times, but to no avail. Eventually, he’d simply accepted it. As a compromise, he occasionally answered questions about pill forging, and when explanations grew too complex, he’d demonstrate directly. Over time, the group grew even more enthusiastic about using the title.

“Haven’t you all been busy handling tasks for the Spirit Origin Sect lately?” Xiao Chen asked.

“This is a task from the Spirit Origin Sect,” the elder replied.

“What? Shouldn’t they have provided a complete pill formula then? Why is it incomplete?”

An incomplete pill formula was useless until repaired.

The elder sighed. “This case is different. During recent battlefield duels, disciples of the Spirit Origin Sect suffered heavy losses, especially at the Lian Qi stage. The casualty gap was staggering. After an investigation, they discovered that Divine Flame Cult disciples had been consuming large quantities of a pill called Iron Bone Pill, allowing many demonic cultivators to survive even the aftershocks of Foundation Building cultivators’ battles.”

“Iron Bone Pill?” Xiao Chen frowned, the name stirring a distant memory.

The two arrived at the fourth floor of the Alchemy Hall, where a special chamber was dedicated to studying incomplete formulas. Several Pill Forging Masters stood as Xiao Chen entered, greeting him warmly.

“Well, if it isn’t Master Xiao!” A sarcastic voice cut through the air—Jiang Shize.

Xiao Chen ignored him, stepping directly to the table. “This is the Iron Bone Pill formula?” He studied the list of herbs already identified, the familiarity intensifying. Suddenly, he recalled: during his time in Jingchuan County, he’d seized an Iron Bone Pill formula from a body cultivator. Most of the herbs matched this fragment, except for a few critical ingredients.

“We’ve double-checked everything, but one question remains,” an elder guest master interjected. “How did they achieve such potent body cultivation effects while keeping production costs so low?” Others nodded in agreement.

Xiao Chen picked up a brush and swiftly wrote a single ingredient on the paper: Chigong.

“What if you substitute this herb here?”

The group leaned in, their expressions shifting to shock and disbelief. Chigong was highly toxic—only a date-pit-sized piece could kill a late-stage Lian Qi cultivator. Some frowned, others shook their heads.

“This… this can’t be right,” one elder stammered.

Another hesitated. “Isn’t this too reckless?”

Despite their doubts, no one voiced outright opposition. Xiao Chen’s reputation loomed large, and while his approach seemed radical, history showed that some pill formulas used toxic ingredients for curative effects. Yet the risk remained: no herb in their current arsenal could neutralize Chigong’s poison.

Jiang Shize had no such reservations. “Utter nonsense!” he barked. “Chigong does enhance body cultivation, but its toxicity would turn these pills into lethal poison. Are you trying to kill people, Xiao Chen?”

His resentment had festered since Xiao Chen’s earlier success. Now, seeing an opportunity, he seized it. “Pill forging is like medicine—it demands compassion. Resorting to such methods is no different from demonic cultivation!”

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room.

Xiao Chen shook his head. “Firstly, Iron Bone Pill is a demonic cultivation formula. Didn’t the Spirit Origin Sect tell you they seized it from Divine Flame Cult disciples?”

The group hesitated.

“True, but as orthodox cultivators, we should correct such flaws,” Jiang Shize pressed. “Your mindset is deeply troubling.”

A younger pill master chimed in: “Senior Jiang is right. Some things demonic cultivators do, we must not.”

Xiao Chen sighed. “I came to discuss improvements, but some clowns couldn’t wait to perform.”

He rewrote three herbs, striking out the flawed ones. The revised formula now suppressed Chigong’s toxicity while enhancing its body cultivation effects. The room fell silent.

“Will your mockery and criticism fix this formula?” Xiao Chen asked quietly. “Or does it just make you feel better?”

His words hung heavy.

Slamming the brush down, he turned and left.

The elder who’d first spoken finally snapped. “Master Xiao was helping, and you disrupted everything, Jiang Shize! If he stops sharing his knowledge, you’ll be to blame!” Others glared, their silent disapproval evident.

The elder pivoted, now scowling at Jiang Shize. “You’re just jealous of his talent and spewing slander!” His tone mirrored his earlier criticism of Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen returned to Cuiwei Valley, resuming his routine: morning cultivation, nighttime pill forging. Occasionally, a Chu Mo Hall disciple arrived with scrolls, which he’d address. Every three days, Su Wanning visited to tend spirit flowers.

Under her care, the twelve spirit flowers thrived—stalks two feet tall, buds three inches wide, nearly blooming. Initially puzzled by their vigor (they dwarfed those on Azure Water Peak), she eventually credited her nurturing skills.

“Master Xiao, look how well I’ve done!” she beamed. “Promise me you’ll let me care for your next batch!”

He praised her, though privately noting the true cause: the special seeds he’d planted. Those from Huangfeng Valley had been larger than market varieties, and now their potential was clear. He anticipated the blossoms’ unveiling.

This peace lasted until the last day of the seventh lunar month, when a Chu Mo Hall disciple pounded on his door at night.

“Master Xiao! A Foundation Building demonic head is causing chaos!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end