Contract, Neutralizing the Toxins

After the Spirit Stones had been divided.

Having tasted the benefits for the first time, Xiang Sui could not help asking whether Zhu Yu could teach every day. After receiving an affirmative answer, not only he but even Liang Kuan beside him could not help showing delight.

Once there were more lessons in the future, even for Xiang Sui, who came from a Foundation Establishment lineage, it would not be a small sum.

Most importantly, earning these Spirit Stones only required wasting a little breath. Once there were more clients in the future, they would only need to sit back and collect Spirit Stones. It was simply too satisfying.

After chatting briefly.

Xiang Sui took out a bundle, removed brush and ink from it, then laid three identical copies of a black-and-white document on the table. Facing their puzzled gazes—especially Zhu Yu's—he explained:

"To avoid harming the harmony between us fellow disciples in the future, it would be best to sign a formal contract."

"Eh..."

Liang Kuan casually picked up one of the contract documents and suddenly exclaimed, "Senior Brother Xiang is actually this generous? Contract documents bearing the Sect's seal cost one Spirit Stone each."

"With the Sect as witness, we can all rest easy..."

Xiang Sui said with a beaming smile.

Zhu Yu glanced uncertainly at the two of them, suspecting they were hinting at him. His gaze fell on the "contract document," and sure enough, there was a tower-shaped seal stamped upon it. Looking further down—

The clauses were quite simple.

First came the respective shares of the three of them. Then came the number of clients Xiang Sui and Liang Kuan needed to bring within the stipulated time, as well as their obligation to assist Zhu Yu during the teaching period and shield him from outside interference.

Next came the terms concerning Zhu Yu.

As for teaching time, he could not teach fewer than thirty days a year.

At three shichen of teaching per day, that meant he would need to teach for four months each year.

And the contract term was one year.

After reading the contract document, Zhu Yu pondered briefly before deciding to sign it.

Four months of teaching was neither short nor long, especially since the term was only one year. It suited him perfectly.

Having made his decision, Zhu Yu hesitated no longer. He picked up the brush and wrote down a name that looked as though a ghost had crawled across the page.

The contract was signed.

Liang Kuan cheered, while Xiang Sui became even more enthusiastic in speech. He told Zhu Yu some news about the outer market district and Yinming Mansion before finally taking his leave.

"Demon Cave, Insect Nest..."

Zhu Yu sat in his chair, his expression somewhat grave.

According to what Xiang Sui had just said.

Yinming Mansion was not as peaceful as it appeared on the surface. Deep within, a Demon Cave and an Insect Nest were suppressed. They were vast as abysses inside, and there was no shortage of savage demon beasts comparable to Foundation Establishment True Persons.

Most disciples who had advanced to Qi Refining yet did not engage in production fought and killed within those places, plundering spiritual items and earning resources to sustain their cultivation.

Once he advanced to Qi Refining, even if he chose to pursue production, he would still be unable to avoid making a trip through the Demon Cave and Insect Nest. Fortunately, after advancing to Qi Refining, there was a half-year period for stabilizing one's realm—enough time to prepare some means of self-preservation in advance.

"Right now, the most important thing is advancing to Qi Refining..."

Zhu Yu shook his head, casting aside his thoughts. His gaze fell upon the Spirit Stones on the table. He turned and walked to the door, tugging a rope beside it.

The time it took to drink a cup of tea passed.

Knock, knock... The door was rapped. Zhu Yu stepped forward and opened it.

A burly man stood outside, clad in a gray robe. His muscles bulged, and flower-like patterns were branded across his exposed skin. He bowed, his voice calm and devoid of emotion.

"What are your instructions, sir? Please speak plainly."

The burly man was one of the duty servants in the newly admitted disciples' residential area. Though he had no spiritual roots, activating the inscription runes branded upon his body made him comparable to an early Qi Refining cultivator.

Zhu Yu did not dare slight him. He took out the fifteen Spirit Stones that had barely warmed in his hand and passed them over, saying politely, "Please help me buy five Soul Dispersing Pills."

It was not that he did not want to buy other pills, but among first-rank low-grade spirit pills, Soul Dispersing Pills were the cheapest. Other spirit pills cost five or ten Spirit Stones at a time.

"Yes, sir."

The duty servant accepted the Spirit Stones and turned to leave.

Half an hour later.

Stone house.

Zhu Yu opened the pill bottle and tipped it slightly. A dark pill, gleaming with faint golden speckles, rolled into his palm. After examining it for a few moments, he thought:

So this is a Soul Dispersing Pill...

Record the body's specific reactions after taking a Soul Dispersing Pill...

He opened his mouth and swallowed the Soul Dispersing Pill, then closed his eyes and concentrated, visualizing the Three-Ring Pattern.

[Soul Dispersing Pill reacts with gastric fluid]

[Warning: Trace amounts of neurotoxin generated. Warning: Large amounts...]

[Analysis complete: An unknown component in the Soul Dispersing Pill can neutralize the hallucinogenic and aphrodisiac toxins of Meditation Fluid, further strengthening the body-weakening toxins...]

Consciousness space.

Zhu Yu's intent transformed into a brush tip. As though conforming to some mysterious law, it steadily traced the Three-Ring Pattern. Specks of dim light lit up, and soon, a Three-Ring Pattern with a touch of liveliness slowly manifested into form.

He had cultivated in the morning, so the Three-Ring Pattern should have been unable to draw in any more soul force. Yet now, his consciousness clearly sensed a thread of coolness, like a breeze brushing past him.

"What a fine spirit pill..."

Zhu Yu rejoiced inwardly. When the Three-Ring Pattern collapsed into Soul Particles and sank into his Divine Sea, his intent returned to his physical body.

The next instant.

"Urgh..."

Zhu Yu suddenly felt violent pain erupt deep inside his head, as though something hard had been thrust into it and viciously stirred. Unable to stop himself, he cried out in pain and collapsed sideways onto the bed.

It took the time to drink a cup of tea before he recovered.

"Phew..."

Zhu Yu let out a soft breath and rubbed his head as he sat up. Feeling the throbbing pain that still struck his mind from time to time, lingering fear rose in his heart. "No wonder Treasures of the World warned that one pill every three days was best. Taking too many might truly bring the calamity of soul collapse."

After resting for a while and no longer feeling any pain, a thought stirred in his mind. The information recorded by the True Sight Eye flooded into his thoughts.

"Hm? Ah?"

After understanding the information, Zhu Yu's expression shifted endlessly between shock, delight, and worry.

According to the True Sight Eye's analysis.

The neurotoxin contained within the Soul Dispersing Pill could neutralize the hallucinogenic and aphrodisiac toxins of the Meditation Fluid, and the reverse was also true.

In other words, if he took both in succession, not only could he offset the danger of soul collapse caused by the Soul Dispersing Pill, he could also eliminate the permanent mental mutation caused by the Meditation Fluid.

The only drawback was that it would intensify the body-weakening toxins...

"So what if my physique weakens? I'm doing it..."

Compared with the benefits it brought, this minor drawback was nothing to Zhu Yu. What mattered most now was breaking through to Qi Refining within the next twenty days.

After making his decision, he began preparing to take the Meditation Fluid.

In truth, he only needed to prepare three things: clean water, a chamber pot, and sealed doors and windows.

A moment later.

Record the body's reactions after taking Meditation Fluid...

Zhu Yu silently gave the command, then tilted his head back and drained the emerald liquid in the transparent jade bottle in one gulp. It was cool and refreshing, with a hint of mint.

[Meditation Fluid reacts with gastric fluid]

[Warning: Large quantities of hallucinogenic, aphrodisiac, diarrhea-inducing, and vomiting toxins generated...]

"The medicine is really potent..."

As the notification appeared, the thought flashed through Zhu Yu's mind. Then his vision blurred. The stone house vanished, replaced by a grassland of rippling blue-green waves where cattle and sheep grazed upon the grass.

A gentle breeze blew, and the scenery was pleasant.

Baa... Moo...

But before Zhu Yu could examine it closely, countless cattle and sheep suddenly rose onto their hind legs before his astonished gaze. Waving their thin little legs and long legs, they ran toward him while bleating and mooing. Strands of hair drifted through the wind, obscuring his sight.

When his vision cleared, where were there any cattle or sheep...

One exquisite figure after another—some petite, some tall, small where they should be small and large where they should be large—swarmed toward him...

[Neurotoxin neutralized. Warning: Diarrhea-inducing and vomiting toxins have increased drastically...]