Qingniu Town, Pill Quality

As for that egg, it at least contained a faint trace of Phoenix Bloodline. Its potential should be quite good.

Eating it was out of the question.

Just then, a maiden came hopping along the bluestone path toward him.

She wore a pale blue dress, with green-gold patterns set into the gauze skirt. Her skin was snow-white, and her nose was small and delicate.

Her round, bright eyes made her look pure and adorable.

She noticed the handsome youth standing beneath a willow tree by the roadside, grinning foolishly.

She quickly stepped forward, gently patted Zhang Xuanchen on the shoulder, and said,

"Seventh Brother, why are you standing here grinning like a fool? I came right up in front of you, yet you didn't even notice.

"Tell me honestly. Have you taken a fancy to some fairy maiden?"

She raised her brows at Zhang Xuanchen, her voice crisp and pleasant.

Pulling the youth back from his thoughts.

"Ahem, Ninth Sister, it's you. You know me—I'm not interested in women."

Looking at the maiden before him, Zhang Xuanchen coughed twice and replied seriously.

Then, sensing her cultivation, he smiled and encouraged her.

"Oh? Qi Refining Fourth Layer already. Not bad, not bad. Keep working hard. The Lineage's future depends on you all."

The maiden was named Zhang Xuanli. She possessed a Water-Wood-Earth Triple Spirit Root, was fourteen years old, and ranked ninth among the Xuan Generation.

She was at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer and a First-grade Mid-tier Spirit Planter.

The Zhang Clan placed great importance on education. They knew full well how harmful a single scoundrel could be to a Lineage.

Thus, when the Lineage was first established, they had set up a school.

After having their Spiritual Roots tested at age seven, all children had to enter the school and study for three years, learning the history of the Lineage's development as well as all kinds of common cultivation knowledge.

Cultivation techniques were taught during that time, but study remained the priority. No one was allowed to miss class during study hours.

Otherwise, the ruler would be waiting.

Only after turning ten did they truly set foot upon the path of cultivation.

The clansmen were also extremely familiar with one another.

"Seventh Brother, don't even think about fooling me. I noticed it back at Horizon Restaurant in Yunhua Immortal City.

"You like women with big breasts and perky butts, don't you?"

Zhang Xuanli revealed a sly look, as though saying, You can't fool me.

Zhang Xuanchen raised his hand.

Knock!

A crisp sound rang out.

The maiden clutched her head, her face full of grievance.

Zhang Xuanchen turned a blind eye and snorted lightly. "Don't spout nonsense! Otherwise, I won't take you out to play next time."

"Don't, don't! I was wrong, I was wrong. Seventh Brother is single-mindedly devoted to the Dao. No matter how beautiful a fairy maiden is, she is nothing but a pink skeleton to Seventh Brother."

Hearing that, Zhang Xuanchen nodded in satisfaction, feeling greatly pleased within.

"Mm. To know one's mistake and correct it—there is no virtue greater than that. Cultivate properly. There will be plenty of chances to go out in the future.

"You're heading to the spirit fields to find Eighth Grandfather, right? Hurry along. Don't keep the old man waiting anxiously."

Eighth Grandfather Zhang Guangyao was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, the Lineage's Second Elder, and a Second-tier Top-grade Spirit Planter—the undisputed number one farmer in the clan.

Zhang Xuanli's Spiritual Root was highly suited to taking Spirit Planter as a secondary profession, and Zhang Guangyao valued her greatly.

"Oh."

Zhang Xuanli held her head and fled as though escaping for her life, afraid of getting hit again.

"Did it hurt that much? I didn't even use any force."

Watching the maiden's retreating back, Zhang Xuanchen looked at his right hand and muttered.

Then he headed toward his Small Courtyard.

He did not immediately enter seclusion.

After all, he still needed to verify the Immortal Fate Information that had surfaced in his mind.

So, he took a dark blue alchemy furnace inlaid with platinum Golden Patterns from his Storage Bag and began refining Essence Condensing Pills.

Zhang Xuanchen possessed a Wind Fire Dual Spiritual Root and practiced alchemy as a secondary skill.

He was already a First-grade Top-tier alchemist.

The Essence Condensing Pill was a First-grade Top-tier medicinal pill. It could accelerate the gathering and refinement of spiritual qi, increasing cultivation speed during Late Qi Refining.

As he completed the final pill-collecting motion, five crimson medicinal pills wafting with pill fragrance appeared in Zhang Xuanchen's hand.

"Sigh, one furnace exploded. The second produced five pills—four Inferior Grade and one Standard Grade.

"Not even dogs would eat pills of this quality!"

Medicinal pills were divided into three grades: Inferior Grade, Standard Grade, and Fine Grade.

Nearly all pills circulating on the market were Inferior Grade. Standard Grade pills were already scarce and cost thirty percent more than Inferior Grade pills of the same level.

As for Fine Grade pills, they almost never appeared on the market. The same was true even for first-grade pills.

The lower a pill's quality, the more mixed and impure its medicinal efficacy. Taking too many would affect the quality of one's spiritual power and damage one's foundation.

Therefore, unless Fine Grade pills were available, one should avoid taking pills unless absolutely necessary.

Since beginning cultivation, Zhang Xuanchen had only taken a single First-grade Mid-tier Fine Grade Spirit Gathering Pill.

"I'll sell them to those Rogue Cultivators at the market."

Rogue Cultivators were unlike disciples of Lineages and sects. They drifted through life, and most were so poor their pockets rang with emptiness. Having pills to take at all was already good enough.

How could they care about so much?

Zhang Xuanchen put away the pills, stood up, stretched lazily, and walked outside.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, its clear moonlight spilling across the ground like a layer of shattered silver, crystalline and gleaming.

Zhang Xuanchen circulated the Breath Concealment Technique, mounted his sword, and flew away. Turning into a streak of rainbow light, he sped toward the foot of the mountain.

Naturally, he knew of Qingniu Town. As for where Wang Yumei's home was, couldn't he just ask?

The instant he departed, an icy blue streak flashed across the high sky.

His face was as fair as jade, his brows and eyes sharp as swords. Cold as frost, he seemed like an immortal banished to the mortal world.

It was none other than Zhang Xuanbing.

His younger brother had gone out without permission. As his elder brother, he naturally had to protect him in secret!

Meanwhile, Zhang Xuanchen headed straight for the home of Qingniu Town's chief, his goal clear.

He knocked on the door, but there was no response.

To ensure nothing went wrong with that Immortal Fate Information, Zhang Xuanchen no longer cared about manners. Sweeping out with his Spiritual Sense, he located the town chief and went directly to the door of his bedroom.

"Madam, that Moon-cut Gauze Skirt of yours is far too tight! Forget it, no need to take it off. Just lift it up!"

"Aiya, Master, why are you in such a hurry? If I don't take it off, it'll get dirty in a while—

"Ah! Don't let your hands wander around."

"Hehe, if it gets dirty, we can just wash it. Come here.

"I have a feeling that this time, we'll definitely have a child with a Spiritual Root..."

"Master~"

Listening to the sounds from inside the room, Zhang Xuanchen stood frozen in place for a moment.

Holy crap!

They were still making babies so late at night!

Were they really working that hard?

They were playing so wildly that they did not even take off the skirt.

They were at a crucial moment right now. Better wait.

If they really made an Immortal Seedling, that would be a huge gain.

With that thought, Zhang Xuanchen flipped onto the rooftop tiles, concealed his presence, and stood with his hands behind his back.

Zhang Xuanbing, hidden not far away, noticed this scene. A hint of surprise appeared on his face, cold as an iceberg.

But upon considering his younger brother's age, he understood.

Fifteen years old—no longer young.

A quarter of an hour later, following Town Chief Zhang's furious roar, the bedroom returned to silence, leaving only heavy panting.

Just as he was about to rest, a voice rang out in his mind.

"Town Chief Zhang, come speak with me in the garden."

Upon hearing the voice, Town Chief Zhang abruptly sat up, startling the beautiful woman beside him, who was wiping down her body.

"Master~ What are you doing? Do you want another round?"

But Town Chief Zhang had no time to answer her. He swiftly put on his clothes.

"Stay here obediently. An immortal has arrived. I'm going out for a while."

As town chief, he was a mortal, but he was no stranger to immortals.

After all, Qingniu Town had an immortal at the Qi Refining Third Layer stationed there to protect their safety.

An immortal visiting in the dead of night must have important matters to arrange. He naturally could not take it lightly!