Deep Within the Vast Sky and Clouds

Within the hall, various wooden boxes were lined up on the table, containing ginseng, polygonatum, deer antler, snake grass, and other medicinal ingredients. Gao Xian, with his photographic memory, identified each one and then recalled the method for refining the immortal pill from the Depraved Flower Immortal Scripture.

"Donkey Guardian!" Gao Xian called out after preparing everything.

"Little Donkey is here!" The donkey's legs immediately took position.

Gao Xian patted a small bronze furnace, the size of a human head, which had been prepared beforehand, and placed it directly onto the central ceramic stand.

With another wave of his hand, polygonatum floated down into the bronze furnace.

The Donkey Guardian spewed divine fire, engulfing the furnace. Its mind was connected to Gao Xian's, precisely controlling the heat and temperature.

The polygonatum instantly transformed into a concentrated essence, settling at the bottom of the bronze furnace.

One herb after another was refined, finally turning into complete essences that fell into the bronze furnace. Gao Xian then covered it with a lid.

What the Silver Flower Palace, even with the power of Northern Wei, could not refine, was as simple as eating and drinking for Gao Xian.

Or perhaps it was the Donkey Guardian's divine fire that was so powerful.

Gao Xian realized that using the donkey's divine ability for attacking enemies was a waste; refining pills was the true purpose of this divine fire.

"Clang!" The sound of the bronze furnace lid being opened.

"There are still flaws!" The first batch was opened, and the resulting immortal pill looked impure, lacking perfect spiritual essence, still retaining a mortal quality.

Gao Xian frowned, dissatisfied.

"Clang!" The lid opened.

"Another batch," Great Immortal Kongchen was still not satisfied.

"Clang!" The furnace opened again.

"One more batch!" Great Immortal Kongchen, sitting cross-legged before the pill furnace, frowned. He looked at the remaining medicinal ingredients and decided to try one more time.

At this point, the Donkey Guardian begged for mercy. Although it was a gentle, continuous flame, it couldn't withstand this much.

It had spewed fire so much that its tongue was split, and the entire donkey lay on the ground like a senile dog, completely lacking any dignity.

"Great Immortal! Great Immortal! I can't do it anymore."

Gao Xian pretended not to see the donkey's pitiful act and calmly asked, "Oh? Why?"

"Didn't you say you would serve this Great Immortal, working like an ox or a horse?"

"Didn't you say you would brave the wind and rain, and brave mountains of knives and seas of fire without hesitation?"

"How can you not handle it after spitting fire twice?"

The donkey would now have to pay the price for its previous boasts, letting it know that some boasts cannot be made.

"But Little Donkey... I really can't anymore."

"If I spit any more, I'll only be able to spit blood!"

Who could the sneaky donkey fool? It couldn't fool Gao Xian.

"The last batch. Refine it, and then you can rest. I can even give you one pill to eat."

The donkey's hooves immediately shot up, and it scrambled to its feet, regaining its energy.

The fragrance emanating from the immortal pill was also a great temptation for it.

The last batch of pills took longer to refine, but as soon as the furnace was opened, a faint glow was seen swirling around the furnace mouth.

Gao Xian looked over and saw three immortal pills at the bottom of the furnace.

It was clear at a glance that the immortal pills refined in this last batch were extraordinary.

With a color as beautiful as jade, they looked less like pills and more like spiritual pearls.

Even before the refining process was complete, the aroma of the miraculous pills had filled the entire mansion, lingering in the air.

Just taking a whiff made one feel refreshed, and old injuries and ailments seemed to be alleviated.

For a long time, everyone inside and outside the mansion knew that the Great Immortal Kongchen in Gongzhou City was refining immortal pills.

This drew many eyes to Gao Xian's refining room, not only from the curious but also from the covetous gazes of martial artists. Many simply wanted to inhale the spiritual energy of the immortal pills, as if a few more breaths could extend their lives and grant them immortality.

However, no one dared to disturb Great Immortal Kongchen while he was refining pills.

Even if they knew these were immortal pills meant for immortals, they had to have the life to consume them. The blood spilled on the west street last night had not yet been washed away.

Seeing Gao Xian finally emerge from the room after finishing his refining, Lu Canghai and Xu Bayuan, who had been waiting outside, immediately entered.

Lu Canghai, with the medicinal scent of the immortal pills deeply etched in his memory, wore a look of profound emotion. He spoke directly, "What the immortal master is refining is actually the legendary Life-Reviving Pill."

"This immortal pill appeared thirty years ago and caused a great stir in the martial arts world. Canghai once acted for this pill but unfortunately missed the opportunity."

Sword Saint Xu Bayuan had also heard of this immortal pill. "It is said that this pill can revive the dead and regrow bone. Hence, it is called the Life-Reviving Pill, meaning it can save even the dead. All incurable diseases... so it was the immortal master who refined it."

Gao Xian looked at Lu Canghai and handed him a wooden box. "This pill was specifically refined for you."

"Take it, and your eyes will regain their sight."

Lu Canghai was stunned. Although he had always said that mortals have eyes but no heart, and swordsmen only needed a sword heart, who would willingly remain in eternal darkness if they could have a pair of bright eyes to behold the mountains and rivers, the moon and flowers?

Years ago, when he vied for this Life-Reviving Immortal Pill, it was to heal his own eyes. The entire martial world was in turmoil then, with various nations even interfering. Countless people died. In the end, the spiritual pill fell into the palace of the Shu Kingdom.

But now, an Immortal specially opened his furnace to refine a pill for him. A pill that even the ruler of the nation, the Emperor, fought over, was given to him without any request.

At this moment, Lu Canghai, with his proud spirit, was weeping tears of gratitude. He immediately knelt on the ground, "Immortal Master, your great kindness is beyond repayment."

Gao Xian gently extended his hand and said with an unchanged expression, "Quickly, take it."

Lu Canghai's hand trembled as he held the spiritual pill. He finally swallowed it in one gulp, and a surge of spiritual energy directly from his core spread throughout his entire body.

It was like a complete transformation. His old injuries healed, and the graying hair at his temples subtly turned black.

However, this was merely a side effect. The most important thing was that Lu Canghai's eyes began to bleed. His once cloudy eyes transformed as if they were being replaced, finally becoming a pair of dark pupils.

"I can see!"

"I can see!"

"Hiss~" The sunlight was too harsh, instantly stinging Lu Canghai's eyes. His eyes, which had been without light for so long, couldn't bear it for a moment.

Gao Xian, who was prepared, waved his hand, and a piece of cloth immediately wrapped around Lu Canghai's eyes.

Sword Saint Xu Bayuan was also happy for his old friend. The two were filled with emotion.

At this moment, General Donkey arrived beside Gao Xian, carrying boxes on both sides, clearly ready to depart.

Sword Saint Xu Bayuan was the first to notice, "Immortal Master, are you... leaving?"

"My business here is concluded, it is time to depart," Gao Xian nodded.

"Where is the Immortal going?" Lu Canghai had already sensed Kongchenzi's intention to leave.

With cloth covering his eyes, he saw the Immortal's figure faintly for the first time. He was just as he had imagined, with an ethereal bearing, his presence as serene as the bright moon in the ninth heaven.

A Daoist mark on his brow seemed like a brand bestowed by heaven and earth, as if a celestial being had descended to the mortal realm.

Gao Xian casually waved his hand, pointing to the earth and sky, "Look towards the vast earth, the high heavens, and the deep clouds. Listen to the surging tides and the rising waves."

Unlike last time, Lu Canghai pursued this time, "May we meet again?"

The Daoist smiled and said, "We will meet again if fate allows."

Gao Xian took out a thin booklet and handed it to Lu Canghai.

The booklet contained nothing other than the four characters "Flying Immortal Beyond the Heavens" that Lu Canghai had given to Gao Xian.

Before parting, Gao Xian imparted the sword technique of "Flying Immortal Beyond the Heavens" to Lu Canghai.

"I hope you will use this to uphold justice and save the common people."

"Canghai will engrave this in his heart and never forget it," Lu Canghai accepted the booklet.

Gao Xian looked at Xu Bayuan. He knew Xu Bayuan wanted to learn Gao Xian's flying sword technique, but as an Immortal like Great Immortal Kongchen, he couldn't pass it down, nor could he teach him flying sword techniques.

Furthermore, Xu Bayuan was known as the Sword Saint and was dedicated to practicing the saber. It wasn't a good fit for swordsmanship.

Gao Xian took out another booklet. On the first page was a blade-intent projection he had imprinted: "Although this flying dagger technique cannot be like a flying sword, taking an enemy's head from a thousand miles away, if you can comprehend it, no one in this world will be able to evade your strike."

"From now on, this move will be called Little Xu Flying Dagger!"

"I also hope you read more books, so that one day your family might produce seven Jinshi scholars and three Tan Hua scholars."

Xu Bayuan held the booklet of Little Xu Flying Dagger, completely bewildered.

However, how could an Immortal's words be mere ramblings?

Xu Bayuan suddenly understood. The Immortal was perhaps telling him that as long as they read more books, his family could indeed produce seven Jinshi and three Tan Hua scholars.

Xu Bayuan was overwhelmed with gratitude, "Bayuan will definitely ensure my descendants read more books from now on."

The Immortal smiled with satisfaction.

Sunlight streamed down the long street, making it impossible to open one's eyes.

It was a bright, sunny day. The ice and snow in the world began to melt, winter giving way to spring, another season.

Gao Xian rode away on the donkey, his back to them.

Behind him, Lu Canghai and Xu Bayuan bowed farewell again, gazing for a long time, as if wanting to engrave that figure in their hearts forever.