Using Pills to Seek the Path and Point Out the Barrier

Just as expected!

Liu Dongqing had known that, since Zhang Qiwei belonged to the Seven Emotions Enter the Flame lineage, she could not possibly be indifferent to any further news about the Li Fire Void-Soaring Origin-Unity Pill Formula he had presented.

The real big catch is coming!

At that moment, Liu Dongqing abruptly roused every ounce of his focus.

After all, the Jade Cloud Fruit was already in hand. Between Liu Dongqing and Zhang Qiwei, there had already been two rounds of direct or indirect entanglement.

Had its medicinal power not utterly surpassed expectations—

Zhang Qiwei would not even have descended upon Sunward Dao Academy this time, much less bestowed an additional art out of concern for Liu Dongqing's safety.

But such tangible gains were, in truth, quite limited.

Even knowing that Zhang Qiwei had developed certain "covetous" thoughts toward him, after that lightning-flash deliberation, Liu Dongqing still decided to wring something truly substantial out of her first.

Thus.

Liu Dongqing first put on an expression as though he wanted to speak but hesitated.

Then, beneath Zhang Qiwei's increasingly curious gaze, he still said nothing. Instead, he flipped his hand and took a wooden box from his sleeve, opened it halfway, and held it out before her.

"To speak of it, this junior brother is ashamed. Senior Sister had clearly already given me guidance, yet I studied the medicinal principles of the Li Palace Eight Trigrams for many days and still could not find any thread to follow.

I only felt that the principles behind the waxing and waning transformations of those medicinal natures were as difficult to understand as a heavenly book.

Fortunately, the spirit materials required for the Li Fire Void-Soaring Origin-Unity Pill were not precious. One day, after thinking about the pill formula until my head was muddled, my blood and qi surged, and I simply took a batch of spirit materials and tested the formula through direct refinement.

And so I failed again and again.

Yet each refinement process lasted far, far longer than the last, which instead made me persist.

Until the twelfth attempt.

Senior Sister, guess what happened—

The treasure pill actually came out just like that!"

While he spoke, Zhang Qiwei had only listened halfway before she truly caught the fragrance wafting from the treasure pill. How could she possibly wait for Liu Dongqing to finish?

She stretched out her hand and almost snatched the wooden box from Liu Dongqing's grasp.

This time, Zhang Qiwei was truly a little anxious.

That fair, delicate hand she thrust out had nearly more than half clenched around Liu Dongqing's hand, even picking up some of the sweat and dirt on the back of it.

Yet Zhang Qiwei had no mind for that. She nearly lifted the entire wooden box to her eyes, wanting to inspect the treasure pill itself closely.

When she saw the pill patterns branded upon it, her entire body gave a violent shudder.

At the same time.

At her side, Liu Dongqing seemed wholly unaware of Zhang Qiwei's reaction and continued speaking to himself.

"At the time, over a dozen pills came out. Looking at them, they all appeared much the same, and when I smelled that pill fragrance, it truly refreshed the heart and delighted the mind, as though it were tempting me to swallow it.

In the end, I really could not hold myself back and swallowed one of the treasure pills.

As the medicinal power spread, I immediately felt a cool medicinal force wrapping around my blood and qi, surging straight toward the Niwan Palace and Violet Mansion..."

At that moment, Liu Dongqing's voice suddenly slowed.

Even his tone itself became deeper.

At the same time.

Liu Dongqing secretly circulated the Lesser Thought Art. Holding fast to upright thoughts, he infused all the surging ripples of the Seven Emotions into every word he spoke.

It was not Heavenly Light Bewildering Spirit, yet it surpassed Heavenly Light Bewildering Spirit.

At this moment, as Liu Dongqing carefully described his sensations after swallowing the treasure pill, he gave Zhang Qiwei a vivid feeling as though she were personally there.

At last.

Just as Liu Dongqing's words had said, unable to hold herself back.

Zhang Qiwei, too, could not hold herself back. In a manner that was even somewhat ungraceful, she raised the wooden box in her hand toward her mouth, her exquisite sandalwood lips parting slightly.

Liu Dongqing saw it clearly. She first caught the treasure pill between her lips, then tilted back her head and rolled it in with her tongue.

Gulp—

Liu Dongqing saw only the movement of her throat along that long, slender neck.

Where he stood.

Liu Dongqing's dreamlike, murmuring voice abruptly paused.

Then.

Following his own experience of swallowing the treasure medicine, Liu Dongqing judged that the medicinal power had already spread through her mind along with the force of her blood and qi before his voice resumed of its own accord.

"After taking more than a dozen treasure pills in succession, this junior brother gained no small benefit. But tending the Jade Cloud Fruit had reached a critical juncture, so I did not dare delay any longer. And I also thought that this pill formula had, after all, been bestowed by Senior Sister.

Liu is someone who keeps others in his heart, someone who knows gratitude.

So, though I did not refine any more pills, I still steeled myself and kept one behind, thinking that when I next saw Senior Sister, I would let you admire it.

Senior Sister was able to revise an ancient formula, so you must be a true prodigy of the Pill Dao. I wonder whether this mud pellet I kneaded can still catch your eye..."

Those words woke Zhang Qiwei from her experience of the treasure pill's medicinal power.

Having that enjoyable process of body and soul harmonizing interrupted—

Zhang Qiwei felt her mind, which had been filled to the brim, suddenly turn empty.

She actually shot Liu Dongqing an irritated glare without thinking.

But the next instant, once she recalled what Liu Dongqing had said, she urgently pressed him again.

"There is only this one treasure pill left?"

At that, Liu Dongqing merely pointed to the tilled field without saying a word.

So Zhang Qiwei asked again, unwilling to let it go.

"Since you have already refined a batch of Departing Fire Pills and tested it in practice, did you truly gain not the slightest understanding of the medicinal principles of the Li Palace Eight Trigrams?"

Liu Dongqing immediately shook his head like a rattle-drum.

"No, not a bit of enlightenment. To speak of it, this junior brother is also completely baffled. I merely relied on instinct, tossing this and that spirit material into my natal candle flame, and the treasure pills came out just like that. Strange indeed, truly strange..."

In truth, Liu Dongqing had considered finding some pill manuals, dressing himself up with the theories within, and using them as a disguise.

But while he was working out his wording, he completely discarded that thought once more.

Reciting what one had read from books could never compare to the rich experience gained through actual practice.

No manner of rhetoric could save that. He would likely be seen through by someone who truly understood the Pill Dao after only two or three sentences, inviting needless twists and turns instead.

Rather than that, he might as well cast aside all pill theory completely.

This Pill Master Liu understood not a scrap of medicinal principles—he had simply charged through by sheer talent!

What, dissatisfied?

Then go argue with Heaven itself!

Just like now, Liu Dongqing could no longer describe the complex expression that flashed across Zhang Qiwei's face—envy, jealousy, and the wild desire to take his place, all tangled together.

After taking a deep breath.

She continued asking, unwillingly.

"Then... may I watch as Junior Brother refines another batch of treasure pills?"

At that, Liu Dongqing did not answer immediately. He merely gazed quietly at Zhang Qiwei, staring until the trace of unwillingness on her face had vanished like smoke before he finally spoke.

"Senior Sister, I call you Senior Sister, and I am your junior brother, but I am not your Dao Slave!

I let Senior Sister see this treasure pill because I remembered the kindness of your bestowing the pill formula. But is there any reason to repay kindness with enmity?

Of course, I know Senior Sister is devoted to the Pill Dao, so it is understandable. Liu also wishes to continue this karmic connection with Senior Sister.

In truth, I cannot speak even half a word of medicinal theory, and my pill-refining methods are even more of a wild path. Learning from me would be like learning an unorthodox art; Senior Sister would likely be more apt to go astray after watching.

But I have heard that within the Pill Dao, there is a wondrous auxiliary method of investigating things. With a finished treasure pill in hand as proof, a pill master can often slowly comprehend the complete method of refinement.

How about this? When Senior Sister comes again in some days, I will give you another finished treasure pill for you to study in the Pill Dao.

This junior brother cannot offer any profound principles, so let us use this treasure pill to discuss the Pill Dao, Senior Sister. What do you say?"

At that, Zhang Qiwei stared blankly at Liu Dongqing. Her throat moved involuntarily once more along her slender neck.

"You have spoken so much of the benefits. If I do not wish to repay kindness with enmity, then what should I use to repay Junior Brother for this favor of discussing the Dao and pill methods?"

In that lightning-flash instant, Liu Dongqing's thoughts spun wildly.

Arts? Resources? The Seven Emotions Formation?

All kinds of stray thoughts rose up, only to be suppressed by Liu Dongqing in an instant.

After several breaths of silence, Liu Dongqing finally spoke.

"Since this is a discussion of the Dao, it should be repaid with the true Dao alike.

This junior brother asks Senior Sister to explain in advance the crucial essence of the barrier to advancing to Foundation Establishment!"