Huang Ying

Zhu Qiniang left, taking with her the five hundred White Dew Pills and two hundred Heavenly Gui Pills Gao Xian had refined.

Gao Xian sat on the bed and pondered for a long while, but still couldn't figure out what to do with the Heavenly Gui Pills he had on hand.

Zhu Qiniang and Zhou Yuling had both confirmed the Heavenly Gui Pill's efficacy. It really was especially suitable for female cultivators.

As for its effects of preserving beauty and delaying aging, those were hard to see in the short term.

Even so, the Heavenly Gui Pill was sure to be popular with female cultivators.

The question was who to entrust with selling it.

Giving the job to Zhou Ye was clearly unwise. You shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket—that was a very simple principle.

Besides, Zhou Ye was a man, after all. There was no problem with him selling aphrodisiacs, but selling the Heavenly Gui Pill, a medicine exclusively for women, would be rather awkward.

Zhou Yuling wasn't suitable either.

He really liked Zhou Yuling and didn't want to go into business with her.

Mixing feelings and profits together would only complicate things.

There was no choice. He could only ask Zhu Qiniang to find him a business partner.

Gao Xian wasn't in a hurry. He had only a hundred Heavenly Gui Pills left, so there was no harm in setting them aside for a while.

What he cared about more was whether the Heavenly Gui Pill could increase his Humanity Aura.

When Zhou Yuling and Zhu Qiniang had taken the pills, he'd checked the Wind and Moon Mirror deep between his brows. The Humanity Aura had indeed increased a little.

But he had sold a lot of Deer Antler Powder, and the Humanity Aura was growing all the time. That made it difficult for him to determine where the increase was coming from.

"Humanity Aura comes so fast, sometimes it's a headache in itself!"

Gao Xian put on a show of sighing, then casually scooped up the Little Black Cat as it passed by. He stroked it until it meowed for mercy and gave in.

For the next stretch of time, Gao Xian simply cultivated, ate, played with the cat, and slept every day, then practiced dual cultivation with Sister Lan in his dreams.

Every few days, Gao Xian would fire up the furnace and refine a batch of pills.

The weather grew hotter and hotter, and refining pills became even more stifling.

Fortunately, Gao Xian's Alchemy Art had improved greatly. Even the most difficult pill, the White Dew Pill, now took only a day to make.

His success rate was also extraordinarily high. He hadn't failed a single time whenever he started up the furnace.

That gave him the confidence to refine large batches of pills at once, saving a great deal of time and effort.

His days were simple yet fulfilling. His cultivation improved a little every day, and he loved this rhythm.

In just over twenty days, his Humanity Aura had accumulated more than seven hundred points.

Every day, watching the Humanity Aura continue to grow filled Gao Xian with indescribable joy.

He had enough Humanity Aura to raise the True Yang Spear to the Grandmaster level.

But he was a little reluctant.

At its current rate of growth, if he saved for another two months, he could raise the Lightning Dragon Hand to the Grandmaster level.

By comparison, although the True Yang Spear was useful, there was no need to rush.

The Evil Spirit that had been Old Wang took a shot from his spear and had almost been blasted to ashes on the spot. Even if it survived, it wouldn't be a threat.

Investing so much Humanity Aura in the True Yang Spear would be a bit of a waste.

Each time the Lightning Dragon Hand leveled up, it transformed and strengthened his muscles and bones.

Gao Xian guessed that when the Lightning Dragon Hand reached the Grandmaster level, it would be able to strengthen his spine.

If so, perhaps the Qi Aperture in his spine would open, allowing his cultivation to advance to the third level of Qi Refining.

Zhu Qiniang and Zhou Yuling had both reminded him that spells and pills were only supplementary. A cultivator's foundation was still their cultivation.

Only with powerful cultivation could a cultivator wield greater strength and live longer.

Gao Xian deeply agreed.

As good as the True Yang Spear was, it clearly couldn't help him as much right now as the Lightning Dragon Hand.

What Gao Xian really wanted to upgrade was the Great Idol Spirit Method, but it required far too much Humanity Aura, so he had to settle for the next best thing.

Zhu Qiniang came by again that day. Every ten days or so, she came to Gao Xian's place to collect pills.

As usual, Zhu Qiniang guided Gao Xian in cultivating the Iron Dragon Hand and helped answer some of his questions about cultivation.

Gao Xian lacked knowledge about cultivation, so he could only rely on Zhu Qiniang's guidance.

"You're making rapid progress. It won't be long before you've refined the great dragon that is your spine."

Zhu Qiniang ran a fingertip down Gao Xian's spine. Although he still felt considerable pain, he could now endure it.

After taking Dragon Bone Pills every day during this period, Gao Xian could clearly feel that his bones had grown stronger, and his muscles had gained tremendous strength as well.

"Qiniang, how are the Heavenly Gui Pills working?" Gao Xian asked.

"Very well."

Zhu Qiniang was extremely satisfied with the Heavenly Gui Pills. After taking them for a while, her mutated body had improved noticeably.

At this rate, it wouldn't take a year for her body to return to normal.

When that happened, she would even have a chance to make a push for Foundation Establishment.

Back in the bedroom, Gao Xian gave Zhu Qiniang a full-body massage.

Her soft, supple body was wrapped in close-fitting undergarments, while her wheat-colored arms and long legs were exposed. A fine sheen of sweat lent her skin an even more beautiful glow, like an exquisite work of art.

A phrase came to Gao Xian's mind: a jade body laid bare.

After Zhu Qiniang's body had mutated, her temperament had turned hard and aloof. Deep down, she hadn't cared much about anyone or anything.

As her body gradually returned to normal, though, she could no longer see Gao Xian as merely a playmate.

When she saw the heat in Gao Xian's gaze, she felt a bashful unease rise within her.

She hurriedly changed the subject. "I've thought it over. Huang Ying from the Hundred Weapons Hall is the best fit. She's decent, discreet, and well-off, so she won't covet your money."

"Also, her cultivation is quite good, and she has backing in the Lianyun Sect, so she doesn't fear Old Zhu. We get along fairly well, too."

Once they started discussing business, Zhu Qiniang relaxed. "I've already given her twenty Heavenly Gui Pills. After taking them for a while, she's experienced their wonderful effects for herself."

"With that foundation, it'll be easy to discuss a partnership."

Gao Xian was delighted. He hadn't expected Zhu Qiniang to be so efficient; she had arranged everything very neatly.

He said excitedly, "Great! When would be convenient? I'd like to meet Huang Ying."

Zhu Qiniang thought for a moment. "I'll bring her over tonight to talk with you."

By rights, given Gao Xian's low status, he should have gone to meet Huang Ying. But it was better to keep this sort of thing discreet.

Besides, Gao Xian had medicinal ingredients here and couldn't leave them unattended.

Zhu Qiniang thought for a moment, then asked, "What will you do if Old Zhu won't let you sell them?"

"Who cares? I'll sell them first and worry about it later." As a middle-aged office drone, Gao Xian was very good at skirting the rules and taking shortcuts.

If something was strictly forbidden, did that mean you just wouldn't do it? People had to hold on to their principles while knowing how to adapt.

Zhu Qiniang nodded and said no more.

The new moon rose in the sky as insects chirped and frogs croaked.

Huang Ying followed Zhu Qiniang. Her figure was as light as a cloud; she walked without her feet touching the ground, her robes fluttering gently around her in an elegant, airy manner.

She was using the Flying Feather Art, which made her as light and graceful as a feather.

The roads here were muddy, strewn with all kinds of garbage and human and animal waste. Although the Flying Fish Talisman couldn't make her truly fly, a slight push was enough to send her gliding a great distance, keeping her from the awkwardness of stepping in filth.

"We're here."

Zhu Qiniang stopped ahead and beckoned to Huang Ying. "The wall is low. We can just go straight in."

Huang Ying grabbed Zhu Qiniang and said cautiously, "Wouldn't it be rude to barge in like this?"

She had been taking Heavenly Gui Pills every day during this period. Though they were ordinary pills, they had brought her a tremendous surprise.

Her skin had grown firmer and softer, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes had disappeared, and the yin essence in her body had become pure and lively. She was full of vitality, as if she had suddenly returned to the age of eighteen.

Most importantly, her body could absorb the low-level Heavenly Gui Pills completely.

That meant she could take them over the long term without accumulating pill toxins.

A Heavenly Gui Pill like this was practically a divine medicine. Anyone capable of refining a divine medicine had to be a master alchemist!

Although the place where the man lived was dilapidated, she couldn't just barge in with Zhu Qiniang. That would be terribly rude!

Zhu Qiniang didn't explain. She grabbed Huang Ying by the wrist and exerted her strength. The two of them vaulted over the nine-foot earthen wall and landed in the courtyard.

Zhu Qiniang called softly, "I've brought Shopkeeper Huang."

The door opened, and Gao Xian came out with a smile. "Sister Ying, Qiniang, please come in..."

In the dim moonlight, Huang Ying recognized the handsome man at once: Gao Xian, the young cultivator who had bought the White Plum Needles.

Huang Ying was a little surprised. She knew Gao Xian could refine pills, but she had never imagined that someone barely in his twenties could make such a special pill as the Heavenly Gui Pill!