Ascending Dragon Pill

Early September, the sect's trade fair.

The bustling trade fair was crowded with people; most of the stalls were set up by cultivators from the Great Sword Sect, while those browsing for desired items or cultivation resources were half-disciples like him.

He had been at the sect for three months now, and it happened that spirit rice ripened once every three months—he had calculated that this month was exactly when the rice would mature.

"Daoist Su Ding, would you be interested in learning about this Ascending Dragon Pill?"

When Lin Chang'an spotted a familiar figure, he couldn't help but break into a full smile and called out to him.

As this Su Ding turned around, Lin Chang'an was momentarily stunned, then a smile crept back onto his face.

This once spirited youth in white robes, full of vigor, was now listless, his qi and blood floating unsteadily, faint dark circles under his eyes—in just three short months, he seemed haggard and noticeably thinner.

"Ascending Dragon Pill?"

Su Ding, seeing that the newcomer was his acquaintance Lin Chang'an, cupped his hands with a hint of suspicion.

Lin Chang'an, all smiles, pulled him aside, cleared his throat, and took a jade bottle from his bosom, introducing the pill with a solemn expression.

"The Ascending Dragon Pill blends water and fire, harmonizes yin and yang, replenishes essence and marrow. It uses three precious spiritual herbs as the lead, eighteen as supplements, brewed over eighty-one days, and finally—"

At this point, Lin Chang'an, radiating a sacred glow, pulled out a token engraved with the character 'Pill' from his chest. "Finally, it is refined in a top-grade alchemy furnace with true fire."

Su Ding silently stared at the token in the other's hand; he knew this was a token from the sect's Pill Hall, required to rent a Pill Room for alchemy.

"May I ask, Daoist, what is the effect of this Ascending Dragon Pill?"

Su Ding, still giving face, asked the doubt in his heart in a subdued tone—after all that talk, it seemed the pill's actual use hadn't been mentioned at all.

A flicker of embarrassment passed through Lin Chang'an's eyes as he cleared his throat and lowered his voice. "Daoist, let me first introduce these three spiritual herbs."

"The first herb is White Horse Whip, which replenishes primal qi and boosts fertility. The second is Sea Dog Kidney, which tonifies the kidneys, strengthens yang, and replenishes essence and marrow. The third is Epimedium, which promotes urination, boosts qi, and fortifies the will!"

Upon hearing this, Su Ding's face turned green. He glared wide-eyed at Lin Chang'an, who awkwardly waved his hands in explanation. "Daoist, don't misunderstand—I'm not saying you're inadequate. Bah! No, I mean this Ascending Dragon Pill."

"My pill blends water and fire, harmonizes yin and yang, stimulates yang qi, stabilizes the kidney's foundation, and also aids in stamina and delaying release, enhancing sensitivity in the bedchamber, making it easier for two to reach deeper ecstasy—this pill is indescribably wonderful."

Under Lin Chang'an's explanation, Su Ding's face turned iron-gray as he flicked his sleeve and stormed off in anger.

Only Lin Chang'an was left standing there, bewildered in the wind. After a long moment, he rubbed his chin, lost in thought, and muttered to himself, "Could I have been wrong? That doesn't seem right—he didn't even ask the price, and I was trying to help them. That's odd!"

Just as Lin Chang'an sank into self-doubt, his expression growing darker as he feared a loss, a figure appeared before him.

"I heard you have pills here."

A hoarse voice came from a stranger in a gray robe and bamboo hat, his face obscured.

Lin Chang'an, still not fully recovered, was a bit dazed, but out of habit, he broke into a full smile and began his introduction.

"Daoist, you have excellent judgment. This Ascending Dragon Pill of mine is indescribably wonderful. One pill per bottle, dissolved in rainwater. Take it every night—or day, if you prefer—just a small sip, and one bottle lasts half a month..."

As Lin Chang'an cheerfully introduced his pill, the other lowered his bamboo hat and rasped, "How much?"

"One spirit stone per pill. Don't think it's expensive—this pill of mine is—"

Before Lin Chang'an could finish, the stranger, without a word, directly took out two spirit stones. "I'll try two first. If they work as you say, I'll find you here next month."

Lin Chang'an stared blankly at the two spirit stones in his hand. So straightforward, no need for him to waste words?

But when he caught sight of the white boots on the buyer's feet as the man hurriedly disappeared into the crowd, Lin Chang'an's expression shifted to understanding. Recalling that Su Ding had also worn white boots, he muttered to himself, "So it wasn't the pill's fault—I just used the wrong approach."

After a while, a figure in a gray robe and bamboo hat, face hidden, appeared on the spot, constantly stopping passersby to make introductions.

Later, such outfits suddenly became common at the trade fair. The shopkeeper of the clothing store, staring at the gray robes and bamboo hats that usually sold only a few sets a year, found them all gone in half a day. He muttered to himself in self-doubt, watching the increasing number of bamboo-hatted figures on the street.

"Is this style suddenly in vogue?"

By noon, a bamboo-hatted figure asked reluctantly, "None left?"

Lin Chang'an shook his head sincerely, spreading his hands. "Truly none."

"What about tomorrow?"

"Daoist, this pill takes a full month from brewing to furnace refinement."

"I'll be here before sunrise next month to wait for you, Daoist."

Perhaps it was the influence of the outfit, but everyone spoke in hoarse voices and was remarkably straightforward—hardly anyone haggled.

Having shed his bamboo hat and gray robe, Lin Chang'an beamed, patting the bulging storage pouch at his chest, looking completely at ease.

"Tsk, so it really wasn't the pill's problem—using the right method is key. Gone in just two hours, and so many appointments for the same spot next month, all before sunrise."

"Cost ten spirit stones, sold for thirty-one, profit twenty-one. Bah, no, that's not how you count it. The furnace was free, but I can't count my wasted cultivation time as free."

"After a month of hard work, my time should be worth at least five spirit stones. Oh, and the old man skimmed three pills."

As he calculated his gains and losses, Lin Chang'an's smile faded more and more. Finally, rubbing his chin, he muttered sourly, "Profit less than half. A month's hard work nets only fourteen spirit stones, and that's sacrificing cultivation time—a huge loss."

"No, I have to step up my cultivation and break through to mid Qi Refining as soon as possible. Then, whether in magical power or status here, I can ensure the output and quality of the Ascending Dragon Pill while still having time to cultivate."

Thinking of the bright future, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but smile, sighing at his own brilliance as a genius alchemist.

"An ordinary Qi Condensation cultivator in the sect with no special skills makes only five or six spirit stones a month, maybe ten at best. And I'm only at early Qi Condensation."

"Guess I should listen to the ancestors—a skill won't starve you in lean years. I can't afford to let this craft go."

Just as Lin Chang'an was stuffing the storage pouch into his chest with a grin, a deep, resonant bell toll echoed through the sect. In an instant, countless faces turned pale.

Thanks to Daoist 'E Shi Lao Tou' for the 500-point tip, and thanks to all Daoists who support Koi.