Peaceful Days

Chapter 26: Peaceful Days

"Junior Brother Han, we specifically waited here for you."

"Uncle Qi told us that you passed the Return-to-Sect Assessment. We've come to invite you to move to Little Sea View Peak."

Chu Jinmo did not beat around the bush, getting straight to the point.

Han Yi's brows relaxed. He had guessed that this was probably the only reason.

"My apologies. I've given it much thought since returning, and for now, I have no plans to move."

Han Yi cupped his hands and stated his position.

"Junior Brother Han, won't you reconsider?"

"If you move to Little Sea View Peak, not only will you be assigned a larger courtyard, but there are also countless junior sisters there. You certainly wouldn't lack a Dao companion."

Chu Jinmo had not expected Han Yi to be so resolute, rejecting her outright. Her tone could not help becoming urgent.

"There's no need to reconsider."

"Senior Sisters, if there is nothing else, please return."

Han Yi cupped his hands, brushed past Chu Jinmo, and caught a faint fragrance from her body.

He then opened the courtyard gate, walked inside, and slammed it shut behind him.

There was not the slightest hint of reluctance.

"Senior Sister, let's go. His attitude is firm—he clearly has no intention of moving. And he obviously isn't that concerned about Dao companions. Little Sea View Peak no longer has any advantage to offer him. There's nothing left to discuss."

Behind Chu Jinmo, the explosively curvaceous Yan Ru spoke expressionlessly, calmly analyzing the situation.

Chu Jinmo sighed.

"There are not many outer disciples in the sect like Han Yi, whose cultivation realm is low but whose alchemy skills are superb. If he could move into Little Sea View Peak, it would bring our peak many benefits."

"What a pity. What a pity."

"Let's go."

The two left. Han Yi, separated from them by only a wall, had not eavesdropped on their conversation.

Instead, he returned to the Meditation Chamber only after confirming that they had left.

"Little Sea View Peak actually came personally to invite me. Will Little Blazing Fire Peak and Little Green Cloud Peak send people as well?"

"I must reject them all in one breath, without leaving them even the slightest hope. Only then can I cut off future trouble at the root."

Having made up his mind, Han Yi did not begin refining pills. Instead, he went to the backyard and began practicing the Sword Control Technique.

Sword Control Technique (First Glimpse 34/100)

This Sword Control Technique had come from the Lei Family Market in Mengshan City. It had cost him more than several dozen spirit stones to buy.

Though it was an incomplete version, when it advanced from Novice Practice to First Glimpse, it had conjured countless insights for Han Yi out of thin air.

More precisely, this Sword Control Technique had now shed its old form and been reborn from the original version, becoming something entirely new.

And this—

after reflecting on the Spirit Void Finger and the Sword Control Technique, allowed Han Yi to uncover another secret concerning proficiency.

That was, by relentlessly grinding the progress bar, one could complete a spell technique.

Simply put—

having obtained an incomplete Sword Control Technique, Han Yi had continuously grinded its progress through the proficiency panel, eventually filling in the technique's missing pieces.

Since returning from Mengshan City, he had packed his schedule full with everything he needed to do. Only now could he freely choose between practicing spell techniques and refining pills.

And Han Yi's first choice was to practice the Sword Control Technique.

Back in Mengshan City, he had only gotten started, pushing the Sword Control Technique's proficiency to First Glimpse 34/100.

Next—

he planned to practice the Sword Control Technique, refine pills, sell those pills at the market, cultivate with spirit stones, and then, once both the Sword Control Technique and his alchemy had reached Comprehensive Mastery, advance all three spell techniques side by side toward the next realm.

Time slowly passed amid cultivation.

For Han Yi, life became peaceful and settled.

During this period, just as he had expected, Little Green Cloud Peak and Little Blazing Fire Peak also sent people to invite him to move in, but he rejected them all outright.

The Peak Master of Little Spirit Void Peak somehow learned of Han Yi's circumstances. In order to keep him, he bestowed upon him a spell technique, the Body Lightening Technique, and even wanted to exchange his courtyard for a better one. Han Yi refused the latter.

Besides—

after acquiring spirit stones, Han Yi did not invite Zheng Hai to Drunken Immortal Pavilion for a celebratory feast as he had initially planned. Instead, he kept a low profile.

Because Han Yi was somewhat afraid in hindsight. Merely displaying part of his alchemy skills had already drawn the attention of several Outer Peaks. If he also displayed his wealth, it would certainly attract the notice of even more people with ulterior motives.

The cultivation environment of the Outer Peaks was very safe, but it was not one hundred percent safe.

Malicious incidents occurred from time to time as well.

Given the chance, certain high-ranking disciples would not mind temporarily playing the role of robber cultivators. After all, as long as they were not caught, who would know what they had done?

After all, murder and arson paved the way to golden belts.

Three months later.

Little Sea View Peak.

Han Yi entered a room where more than a dozen female cultivators stood waiting.

"Junior Brother Han is here. We've been waiting for you for quite some time."

Chu Jinmo rose to her feet. Though she still wore the gray robes of an outer disciple today, her long hair was coiled into a bun, revealing an even more radiant face.

"Greetings, Senior Sister Chu, and greetings to all Senior Sisters." Han Yi cupped his hands.

The female cultivators before him were all at least at Qi Refining Layer 4. Most were at Qi Refining Layer 5, and there were even female cultivators like Chu Jinmo at Qi Refining Layer 6 present.

"Enough nonsense. We already made the purpose of inviting you here clear, so let's begin."

As usual, Yan Ru's face held little expression.

The moment she said this, the many senior sisters in the room turned their bright, gleaming eyes toward Han Yi.

Being stared at by so many female cultivators, Han Yi was honestly a little nervous. He steadied himself before slowly speaking.

"Today is our first transaction. I've brought along some of the pills I saved up over the past year."

"They are Evil Warding Pills and Qi Nourishing Pills."

"There may not be many varieties, but rest assured: among pills of ordinary quality, my Evil Warding Pills and Qi Nourishing Pills are absolutely top-notch. They can also play an important role in the cultivation of those at Qi Refining Layer 5 and Qi Refining Layer 6."

"They may be appraised on the spot."

Han Yi walked over to a table and took ten bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills and five bottles of Evil Warding Pills from his storage bag—pills he had refined and prepared over this period of time.

Today, at Chu Jinmo's invitation, he had come to Little Sea View Peak to sell pills privately.

More than two months ago, when Chu Jinmo had invited Han Yi to move to Little Sea View Peak and he had flatly refused, she had not given up. Instead, she had continued visiting him over the following days.

After finally learning what Chu Jinmo needed, Han Yi had a flash of inspiration.

He had excess pills that he needed to sell through the market district.

Little Sea View Peak's disciples happened to need pills as well. Rather than going through the market district or official channels, they wanted to use private channels in hopes of getting them more cheaply.

After all, the official channels and the market district were equivalent to middlemen taking their cut, whereas private transactions removed that brokerage fee and indirectly lowered the cost.

And today was the day he and Chu Jinmo had agreed upon for their private transaction.

The buyers were the mid-stage Qi Refining female cultivators of Little Sea View Peak.

At the scene.

Once Han Yi had laid out the pills, the female cultivators crowded forward, pouring them from their jade bottles to sniff, smell, pinch, and inspect them.

The more they appraised them, the brighter their eyes became.

"Not bad. The quality is quite good."

"These are even better than the ones I bought in the market district."

"No wonder Uncle Qi said your pill-refining skills were formidable."

"Does Junior Brother Han have a Dao companion?"

Surrounded in the middle, Han Yi's expression did not change and his heart did not race. He did not answer the question about Dao companions.

Han Yi had also learned who the Uncle Qi these female cultivators spoke of was: the plump female cultivator in her forties from the Return-to-Sect Assessment.

Only after everyone had finished appraising the pills did he slowly speak.

"At market price, one Qi Nourishing Pill is worth around one and a half spirit stones. Since this is a private transaction, I can make it cheaper: ten Qi Nourishing Pills for twelve spirit stones, a discount of three spirit stones. That's equivalent to twenty percent off. I believe that is sincere enough."

"Besides, everyone can plainly see that the quality of my Qi Nourishing Pills is far superior to those on the market."

"The market price for an Evil Warding Pill is five spirit stones. I'll give the same twenty percent discount, so only four spirit stones each."

"And there will be no bargaining. If you can trade, then trade. If not, I'll leave right now."

A moment later.

Han Yi walked out of the room in satisfaction, with Chu Jinmo following beside him.

"Senior Sister Chu, I'll take my leave. Once I've saved up some more pills, I'll let you know the time for our next transaction."

Han Yi cupped his hands and was about to leave. Inside just now, the instant his words had fallen, the pills had been snatched clean within ten seconds. It was easy to see just how popular his price was.

"Very well. Then on behalf of all the junior sisters, I thank Junior Brother Han."

Chu Jinmo smiled sweetly, but did not stop there. She continued, "Oh, right, Junior Brother Han. Among all these junior sisters, is there one you've taken a fancy to?"

"If there's someone you have an affinity with, just tell me. This senior sister can play matchmaker for you."

Han Yi gave a bitter laugh. "Senior Sister Chu, this junior brother's cultivation is too low. For now, I don't dare reach so high."

Chu Jinmo tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Though you are only at Qi Refining Layer 4, your pill-refining skills are outstanding. With that skill, you need not worry about cultivation resources. Reaching Qi Refining Layer 5 or Qi Refining Layer 6 should only be a matter of time."

"And when you reach Qi Refining Layer 6, if I have not yet broken through to Qi Refining Layer 7, I could consider becoming Dao companions with you."

Chu Jinmo wore a perfectly serious expression. Han Yi fled in disarray, while melodious laughter trailed behind him.

To be honest, Chu Jinmo had a truly impressive face and figure. Besides, Han Yi was someone who cared deeply about voices, and in that regard, Chu Jinmo scored full marks.

It was just that Han Yi carried too many secrets himself, making it unsuitable for him to have a Dao companion by his side.

So he could only let the matter go.

Han Yi returned to his courtyard and laid out the spirit stones he had gained from the trade—nearly two hundred more.

And he still had half of his pills left.

He had kept an extra card up his sleeve and had not taken them all out. His explanation had also been that this batch of pills was merely part of the stock he had accumulated over more than a year.

He continued cultivating.

His days became even calmer and more solid.

Han Yi divided his pills into three portions: one portion was exchanged for sect contribution points to buy alchemy ingredients and the like; one portion was supplied to the female cultivators of Little Sea View Peak; and one portion was sold in the market district.

This reduced the risks to their lowest point, and few people grew suspicious.

In the blink of an eye, three years passed.