The Strange Qi Gathering Pill

"Thanks to you, little friend, I've fully recovered," Qu Qianli said with a smile.

"What about Qu Huai? Is he doing better?" Lu Feng asked. Not long ago, when he had visited the Qu Estate, Old Qu had still been talking about Qu Huai.

"Though he hasn't recovered as completely as I have, he's seven or eight parts healed," Qu Qianli said after taking a sip of tea. "That boy turned misfortune into fortune. The miasma entering his body indirectly tempered the spiritual energy within him. As the miasma dispersed, his strength also began drawing closer to the Spirit Gathering Realm."

"Little Friend Lu, what have you come to buy this time?" Qu Qianli asked.

"I'd like some basic jade stones for setting up arrays. I'd also like to look at array weapons..." Lu Feng said.

Qu Qianli instructed a shop assistant to prepare the basic jade stones downstairs.

Lu Feng followed Qu Qianli to the second floor. This was where the true essence of Array Core As You Wish lay.

"Most of the shop's array weapons are here," Qu Qianli said, leading Lu Feng to an area and pointing at the various miniature objects before them.

There were miniature flying swords the size of fingers, miniature hammers the size of fists, miniature long blades as large as palms, spear-shaped objects like writing brushes, staffs...

Every one of them was exquisitely crafted and finely detailed, identical to ordinary weapons except in miniature.

Lu Feng knew that although these miniature weapons were small, once array patterns were inscribed upon them and arrays incorporated into them, the power they produced would be far more terrifying than that of ordinary weapons.

"Old Qu, what is this set of array weapons used for?" Lu Feng asked, lifting a transparent cover. Inside lay more than a dozen jade staffs, each of a different length, making for an oddly awkward sight.

"The Soul Extinguishing Rod. It can be used to set up certain killing arrays. If used properly, it can beat anyone below the Seven Souls Realm into retreat after retreat," Qu Qianli explained.

"A killing array?" Lu Feng muttered, though he had a different understanding of this set of array weapons in his heart.

"How much for this set, this set, and this set together?" Lu Feng simply stopped asking about their uses, since Qu Qianli himself only had a superficial understanding of them.

"The Soul Extinguishing Rod, Golden Silk Fishing Net, and Heavenly Thunder Hammer," Qu Qianli said, introducing them in the order Lu Feng had pointed. "The Soul Extinguishing Rod and Heavenly Thunder Hammer are materials for killing arrays, so they're relatively more expensive. The Golden Silk Fishing Net is material for an entrapment array, so it's cheaper. The total is one hundred seventy thousand. I'll give you a discount and charge you one hundred sixty thousand."

"All right." Lu Feng nodded. It was a little lower than he had expected. Clearly, Qu Qianli had no intention of profiting from him and was selling them at cost.

As Lu Feng rose to leave, he suddenly noticed an inconspicuous little bell. It reminded him of the Ocean Stabilizing Golden Bell in Tang Yuan's hands, and he immediately asked, "Old Qu, do you have any more little bells like this? How much is each one?"

"This..." Qu Qianli actually looked somewhat embarrassed as he explained, "Back then, I saw the golden bell in Tang Xuan's hands—Tang Yuan's father—and wanted to imitate it. These were made from leftover materials."

Seeing Old Qu's awkward expression, Lu Feng knew the imitation had certainly failed.

The Ocean Stabilizing Golden Bell in Tang Yuan's possession was no array weapon, but a Treasure Item. Given its high grade, how could someone at the Spirit Gathering Realm possibly replicate it?

Seeing Lu Feng turning it over in his hands, Old Qu smiled knowingly. "If you like them, little brother, I still have six or seven. I'll sell them to you cheaply."

Lu Feng had no delusions of replicating the Ocean Stabilizing Golden Bell, but it had inspired him. A rough idea for a similar array weapon had formed in his mind.

In the end, Lu Feng selected over two hundred thousand worth of materials from Array Core As You Wish. The bulk of it was naturally the three sets of array weapons, while the rest consisted of basic array-setting materials. It was enough for him to arrange Water Bamboo Pavilion properly.

Though the shop still had many fine materials and beast cores, their prices were far too high. Lu Feng wanted to buy them, but lacked the money to afford them.

After leaving the array shop, Lu Feng went to the weapon shop to collect the remaining arrows, paid the balance, and redeemed his jade pendant.

Looking at the jade pendant in his hand, Lu Feng's thoughts drifted. Figure after figure surfaced in his mind as he muttered, "I wonder how Senior Brothers have been these past three years... and Senior Sister..."

Though Lu Feng was desperate beyond measure to return to the sect and see them, the wounds to his seven souls remained unresolved, and he did not even know how much longer he could live. If he returned now, he would only make them grieve once more.

Making the people he cherished most watch him die and mourn for him was something Lu Feng was utterly unwilling to do.

After retrieving the jade pendant, Lu Feng headed toward Water Bamboo Pavilion when he suddenly noticed a furtive-looking man approaching him.

The man held a Small Jade Bottle in his hands. He shuffled timidly up to Lu Feng and whispered, "Young Master, would you like a Qi Gathering Pill?"

"A Qi Gathering Pill?" Lu Feng froze and stopped walking. A Qi Gathering Pill was an elixir capable of raising one or two realms. Though it could only be used below the Spirit Gathering Realm, in this remote little town it was still something that had a price but no market.

"That's right, a Qi Gathering Pill. And it's no ordinary Qi Gathering Pill—it's a highly concentrated Qi Gathering Pill. Even a soul master at the Spirit Gathering Realm can raise their realm after taking it," the lecherous-looking man boasted.

Lu Feng was somewhat tempted. He took it and inspected it. Sure enough, whether its scent, shape, or the spiritual energy it emitted, all matched the characteristics of a Qi Gathering Pill. Yet the medicinal properties within seemed somewhat unstable.

"How much?" Lu Feng asked. If it truly was a Qi Gathering Pill, Jiang Ruoyun's strength would surely advance by leaps and bounds after taking it.

"One thousand Copper Soul Coins," the lecherous-looking man said, his eyes fixed on Lu Feng.

"One thousand Copper Soul Coins?" Lu Feng frowned in surprise. A Qi Gathering Pill should cost at least ten thousand. Since when had it become so cheap?

Seeing Lu Feng's hesitant, thoughtful expression, the man assumed he was reluctant to part with the money and immediately lowered the price. "If you think it's expensive, eight hundred will do."

"Mm... if that still won't work, I'll take the loss. Five hundred. I'll sell it to you for five hundred!"

Curious, Lu Feng took out his soul coins and counted out five hundred.

"Where did you get this pill?" Lu Feng asked.

After taking the coins Lu Feng handed over, the lecherous-looking man gave him the Qi Gathering Pill. Yet he did not answer Lu Feng's question, instead leaving in another direction.

Lu Feng frowned suspiciously and examined the Qi Gathering Pill in his hand once more, but still found nothing unusual. Its pill fragrance was merely much richer than that of an ordinary one.

Five hundred Copper Soul Coins for a Qi Gathering Pill worth over ten thousand?!

Could there really be such a bargain in this world?

Lu Feng still found it hard to believe. If the man selling the pill had not known its origins, that would have been understandable. But he clearly knew it was a Qi Gathering Pill and still sold it so cheaply...

It was truly suspicious!

When he returned to Water Bamboo Pavilion, Lu Feng ran into Xiao Rou at the entrance, carrying a pile of food.

"Young Miss is cultivating, so I went out to buy some ingredients," Xiao Rou explained.

"Thanks for your hard work," Lu Feng said with a smile.

"By the way, when are you going to start setting up the arrays?" Xiao Rou asked.

"Right away," Lu Feng answered before beginning to organize things by himself.

Lu Feng surveyed the layout of Water Bamboo Pavilion, intending to set up as many arrays as possible and make every corner impregnable.

"I'll go prepare the food first," Xiao Rou said tactfully as she headed toward the pavilion.

Standing in the open space at the center of Water Bamboo Pavilion, Lu Feng roughly divided it into seven areas: three before the pavilion—the Secluded Water Bamboo area, Azure Water Bamboo area, and Epiphyllum Lotus Pool area; the central clearing and its two Water Wells; and the pavilion and gazebo behind it.

After some deduction, Lu Feng had already formed a plan. He slowly walked toward the Secluded Water Bamboo and Azure Water Bamboo at the very front.

Lu Feng stood atop a Stone Stool beside the Epiphyllum Lotus Pool, looking at the water bamboo on both sides. The water was deep and tranquil, the breeze gentle, and from time to time several Bamboo Leaves drifted down.

The fallen leaves obscured Lu Feng's vision, but did not hinder the blade in his hand. He carved and polished several jade stones, engraving strange patterns upon them, before they flashed and vanished into the water bamboo pools on either side.

Water splashed, accompanied by crisp sounds. A faint flowing radiance emerged over the bamboo stalks on both sides. The water bamboo and pools sent out wave after wave of tremors, creating ripples that continued for a long time before finally settling.

Whoosh...

The Array Chant rose, and the array was complete.

Lu Feng then walked toward the clearing. Standing by the fan-shaped Epiphyllum Lotus Pool, he gazed at the seven Stone Stools before him, the corners of his lips curling slightly as he flung out seven jade-colored little bells.

Controlled by Lu Feng's spiritual energy, the little bells floated around him. Lu Feng closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then held a carving knife in each hand and engraved array patterns onto every golden bell with balanced motions to the left and right.

Lu Feng's control over his force was exceptionally precise. Every stroke landed without the slightest deviation. With each sweep of the blade, patterns appeared. Each golden bell was engraved with symmetrical patterns, and the seven bells' patterns overlapped and encircled one another, producing resonant bell chimes between them.

"Huff." Lu Feng put away the carving knives, swept out his sleeve, and the seven golden bells landed precisely atop the seven Stone Stools. They gave off faint golden radiance, enveloping every Stone Stool before fading without a trace. Everything returned to calm.

After resting for a moment, Lu Feng came to the middle of the clearing and sat down. He calculated the setup for the next array in his mind. The clearing was where people gathered most easily, and it needed a powerful killing array to support it.

Heavenly Soul Rod, Golden Silk Fishing Net, Heavenly Thunder Hammer...

Lu Feng considered which combination would be most suitable. Drawing upon the array knowledge he had learned, he ultimately chose the Heavenly Soul Rod, while keeping the Heavenly Thunder Hammer in reserve.

The clearing was completely bare, making it difficult to conceal an array. Lu Feng took out many ordinary wooden staffs and swords, set up weapon racks, and placed them on either side of the clearing, facing each other from afar.

In the end, he concealed the true Staff Array among the ordinary weapons, making it difficult for anyone to notice easily.

Naturally, Lu Feng would not set up only a single array in such a large clearing. The two massive Water Wells happened to suit an exceedingly rare Twin Spirit Array. With the favorable heavenly and earthly terrain, Lu Feng was confident he could set it up.

The Water Well on the left had almost been abandoned. This was related to the previous owner of Water Bamboo Pavilion: his beloved son had fallen into the well and died, and in his fury, he had filled it with soil and buried it.

Yet the well water in the right-hand Water Well was unfathomably deep. It even affected the Water Well on the left, as though they were connected underground, constantly restoring vitality to the left well.

After thinking it over, Lu Feng began setting up the array.