Missing Pills

"Uncle-Master, you said last time that my tea wasn't good—I've kept that in mind. Try this Cliff Spirit Tea."

Lei Qingyang's expression was unusually relaxed. He personally poured a cup of fragrant spirit tea for Chen Xian.

Chen Xian took the teacup, sipped it, and glanced sideways. "Out with it. What great joy has befallen you? I've never seen you this happy before."

"Today, the sect has accepted another disciple of exceptional talent. Truly a blessing for the sect."

Lei Qingyang clapped his hands lightly with a smile, the joy in his brows nearly spilling over.

Chen Xian stroked his beard. "Judging by your look, it's not just because I brought back a Talisman Dao seedling, is it?"

Lei Qingyang didn't keep him guessing. With a serious expression, he said, "You know me well, Uncle-Master."

"The Seventy-Three Hanging Sword Array has just reported a victory. The Blood Demon Sect's scoundrels have been utterly routed by our sect! Right now, our disciples are pursuing them, counterattacking their lairs and strongholds. Truly a cause for celebration!"

"That is indeed great news."

Chen Xian set down his teacup, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, and sighed. "But over in Ask-Dao City, the Qian Family's movements are far from quiet."

At the mention of the Qian Family, Lei Qingyang's smile faded slightly, replaced by a grave expression.

Though the frontline had achieved a great victory, the Blood Demon Sect's target was clearly not just the Hanging Sword Array.

They had only uncovered a thread so far, not the full picture. Until it was completely resolved, they couldn't afford to relax.

Chen Xian recounted in full detail the drinking party at the Ask-Heaven Pavilion in Ask-Dao City, and how Qian Yue had tempted him with King Shou'er Tea, trying to recruit him as an inside man to place Qian Family disciples in the upcoming grand competition.

"You're saying... the Qian Family plans to use you, Uncle-Master, to sneak their disciples into the sect during next month's grand competition?"

"No, it might not just be Qian Family disciples. This could very well be one of the Blood Demon Sect's schemes."

Lei Qingyang's eyes flashed with cold light, his Dao Power rippling faintly, causing the candles in the hall to flicker.

"Exactly. That Qian Yue thought This Old Man was desperate to extend his life and tried to lure me in with King Shou'er Tea."

Chen Xian sneered. "Hmph. He even said he'd take me to meet a 'great figure' who could give me a new, young body."

"What 'new body'? Sounds nice, but it's nothing more than a forbidden soul-seizing art! Uncle-Master, you must not fall for it. Qingyang will find another way to extend your life!"

Lei Qingyang shot to his feet, his tone icy. "The Qian Family has indeed become the Blood Demon Sect's hidden agent in Ask-Dao City."

"Don't get worked up. This Old Man naturally scorns such evil arts. Besides, birth, aging, sickness, and death are the way of man. If my time is truly up, I'll accept it."

Chen Xian patted Lei Qingyang's arm in a comforting tone. That Grade 6 Life-Prolonging Pill was enough for him.

"Uncle-Master..." Lei Qingyang was moved.

"Listen to me. We can use this opportunity to uncover the mastermind hiding behind the Qian Family." Chen Xian thought for a moment and voiced his idea.

"Uncle-Master, this is indeed a perfect chance to root out the poison, but with your current cultivation... facing the Blood Demon Sect directly would be far too dangerous."

"We can plan this carefully."

Lei Qingyang pondered for a moment, then flipped his palm, producing a jade slip of vibrant green with faint lightning flowing within, and handed it to Chen Xian.

"I've sealed three Thunderfire Sword Qis inside this jade slip."

Lei Qingyang explained. "It's no secret treasure, but in a critical moment, it can withstand three full-force strikes from a Dao Venerable realm cultivator, or even neutralize a single all-out blow from a Dao Venerable."

"Keep it close, Uncle-Master. If you're in danger, crush this jade slip, and I'll sense it and come to your aid."

Chen Xian didn't stand on ceremony. He took the jade slip; it was cool to the touch.

Storing it in his spatial ring, he downed the last of his tea and stood up. "Alright, I accept your goodwill. But a blade must be forged from good steel. I need to hurry back and go into seclusion to temper these old bones a bit more."

"Take care of yourself, Uncle-Master." Lei Qingyang reminded him with concern.

After parting with Lei Qingyang, Chen Xian didn't return to his remote little courtyard. Instead, he turned and headed for Pill Peak.

Now that he had just entered the third realm of Dao Disciple, he urgently needed to condense his Dao Consciousness, and the most effective pill for that was the Consciousness Returning Pill.

Since he was preparing for seclusion, he naturally had to buy more.

The moment he stepped into the Hundred Herbs Hall on Pill Peak, Chen Xian spotted a familiar figure—Tang Yu.

Always gentle and refined, Tang Yu now had his brows tightly knit, looking worried as he absentmindedly fiddled with medicinal herbs.

"Grand-Uncle-Master..." Tang Yu's hands froze mid-sort when he saw Chen Xian, and he quickly bowed in greeting.

The melancholy between his brows could almost be wrung out like water.

"What's wrong? Still brooding over that mess with your Junior Sister Zhou and Lin Xiaoyan?" Chen Xian settled into a rattan chair with the ease of an old hand.

Tang Yu let out a long sigh, his face full of shame. "I truly don't understand why Wanru insists on treating me this way..."

"Every time I meet Junior Brother Xiaoyan now, it feels like a mountain is pressing down on my heart."

"Grand-Uncle-Master, what do you think I should do about this?"

"Enough. In the end, this has nothing to do with you." Chen Xian waved his hand. "Being liked by someone isn't something you can control."

"As for Zhou Wanru, if you like her, you can accept her pursuit. If you don't, what difference is she from a... a roadside weed?"

Chen Xian had meant to say "roadside dog," but thought it too crude and changed his wording.

"If the heart has intent, speak it early; if the heart is cold, she's but a weed." Tang Yu murmured to himself, lost in thought.

"Give me ten bottles of Consciousness Returning Pills, and ten bottles each of Qi Induction Pills and Foundation Building Pills."

Chen Xian saw that his expression had softened slightly and stated his purpose for coming.

Tang Yu snapped back to reality, found the Consciousness Returning Pill in the pill cabinet behind him, then took out an exquisite jade box, packed ten bottles, and handed them to Chen Xian.

Chen Xian stared at Tang Yu with confusion, just about to ask about the "Qi Induction Pill" and "Foundation Building Pill," when Tang Yu revealed a troubled look.

"Grandmaster Uncle, as for Qi Induction Pills and Foundation Building Pills, these first-grade basic pills... Pill Peak currently doesn't have a single one in stock."

"If you need them, you'll have to wait a day or two for enough to be refined."

"None left?"

Chen Xian frowned. "Shouldn't a dignified Pill Peak have plenty of basic pills on hand?"

"The frontline battle situation is dire!"

Tang Yu smiled bitterly and pointed at the pill cabinet behind him, which was more than half empty. "The elders just issued a strict order: to support the counterattack at the front, all supply pills from first to third grade are to be prioritized for the frontline disciples."

"Right now, aside from Dao Consciousness-type pills and Realm-Breaking Pills for breakthroughs, you can't find a single Qi Induction Pill on the entire Pill Peak."

"Maybe you could check the sect market? You should still be able to buy some private stock."

Chen Xian's heart skipped a beat.

How could they be out of stock?

"Well, since I can't buy them..."

Chen Xian looked at the faintly glowing [Masterful Pill Crafting (Mystic)] entry on his system panel, his eyes darting as a bold idea surfaced in his mind.

"Tang Yu, since there are no finished pills, do you have a lot of medicinal herbs for refining Qi Induction Pills and Foundation Building Pills in stock here?"

Tang Yu was taken aback. "Raw materials are piled up like a mountain. Those Bitter Cold Grasses and Origin Spirit Leaves aren't rare. Why, Grandmaster Uncle, what do you need the herbs for?"

"Give me fifty portions of each, and a pill furnace. This old man has been bored stiff lately, so I plan to set up my own furnace and practice some pill refining."

Chen Xian stroked his beard and smiled mysteriously.

Tang Yu was dumbfounded, then shook his head with a wry laugh. "Grandmaster Uncle, please don't tease your disciple. The path of alchemy—identifying herbs, controlling fire, condensing pills—every step requires years of hard work. Pill refining... really isn't a game."

"Less nonsense. This old man has money. Just say whether you'll sell or not." Chen Xian glared.

"Sell, sell, sell. This disciple wouldn't dare refuse."

Tang Yu had no choice. Figuring his grandmaster uncle was just in a playful mood, he quickly packed up the herbs. "These herbs aren't worth much, but pill refining is no joke. Please stay far away. If the furnace explodes, don't let it singe your precious beard."

"Relax. This old man knows what he's doing."

After paying the Contribution Points, Chen Xian asked Tang Yu for a carrying pole, shouldered his large bundles of herbs, and swayed unsteadily as he walked down Pill Peak.