Suspended Heart Millet Pearl Pill, Heart-Burning Fire

For a moment, the hall fell silent, as though everyone had been seized by that man's bearing.

"Junior Sister Si, Senior Sister Shen, Senior Brother Zhao."

"Please forgive my presumptuous intrusion."

Only when that warm, clear voice rang through the hall did Shen Shuyun suddenly come to herself. She suppressed the distracting thoughts in her heart, lowered her head, and returned the salute.

"Junior Brother Lu, you are too polite. We are the guests here—how could we call this a disturbance?"

Senior Brother Zhao hastily withdrew his gaze as well and returned the salute.

Si Chuxian merely chuckled. "Not a disturbance, not a disturbance. I'm more than willing to see Senior Brother Lu."

Lu Xuan smiled at Si Chuxian in helpless amusement.

Naturally, he knew Si Chuxian. They had been classmates at Hibernation Academy. Lively and warm-hearted, she was like the little sister next door, with the heart of an innocent child.

Today's gathering had been arranged by her.

"Oh? You're only happy to see Senior Brother Lu? Could it be that you aren't willing to see me?"

Zhang Xuange stepped out from behind Lu Xuan, glaring wide-eyed.

"Hehehe, what are you saying, Senior Brother Zhang? Of course I'm willing to see you too."

Si Chuxian hurriedly tried to patch things up, though truthfully, she had not even noticed Zhang Xuange just now.

Zhang Xuange laughed and scolded her a few times, then let the matter pass.

For a time, the atmosphere in the hall was quite harmonious. Yet after exchanging a few pleasantries, none of them forgot the true purpose of this visit. Si Chuxian hooked her arm through Shen Shuyun's and pointed at Lu Xuan.

"Senior Sister Shen, this is Senior Brother Lu Xuan. He is the one who wishes to trade for a stalk of Bright-Jade Grass."

Lu Xuan promptly cupped his hands. "I ask Senior Sister Shen to trade me the grass. Whatever conditions you may have, please name them. Even if I cannot fulfill them today, I will remember them in my heart and repay Senior Sister in the future."

At first, Shen Shuyun had been stunned by Lu Xuan's celestial bearing. But now that she had steadied herself, she had regained her composure.

"Junior Brother Lu, you are too polite."

"If it had been in the past, it would have been nothing more than a mere stalk of Bright-Jade Grass. Even giving it directly to Junior Brother would have been no great matter."

"But since the beginning of this year, the value of this herb has risen sharply, and demand has far outstripped supply. I have only one stalk in hand, and it has an important use, so I fear it would not be convenient to give it away."

Having hardened her heart, Shen Shuyun refused Lu Xuan.

Yet her words were not false.

Under ordinary circumstances, it was only a second-rank spirit herb. Forging a favorable connection with the Heaven-Gazing Sect through it would not be a loss at all.

Who did not know that the Heaven-Gazing Sect valued promises and life, and would never take advantage of others?

But now, with the emergence of the Quiet-Qi Soul Pill, the value of this herb had soared all the way upward. Giving it away now would not be worthwhile.

Besides, she truly needed this herb to refine pills.

So long as she refined the Quiet-Qi Soul Pill, it would be a truly enormous profit, and it would also prove her talent in the Dao of alchemy.

The Crimson Cloud Sect revered pills and honored rosy clouds. Only attainment in the Dao of alchemy could serve as one's foundation within the sect.

Lu Xuan naturally understood the meaning behind Shen Shuyun's words.

It all came down to a single word: profit.

He immediately spoke again. "How could I dare let Senior Sister give me this herb for nothing? I only wonder whether, aside from Star-Augury Grass and Star-Moon Pills, Senior Sister has any other needs. I will certainly do everything in my power to obtain them for Senior Sister."

Shen Shuyun immediately fell into thought.

If Lu Xuan had merely asked Si Chuxian to request the herb for him, it would have been no issue for her to refuse.

But now that Lu Xuan had come in person, if she refused him again, it would be far too cold and unfeeling. She might even offend the three inner disciples of the Heaven-Gazing Sect.

Yet if she did not sell this herb at a good price, would she not be losing out?

"Senior Sister, the Crimson Cloud Sect has countless wondrous pills. Could it be that Star-Moon Pills are the only ones you have? Are there no other spirit pills you need refined? We can all help."

Si Chuxian's eyes turned as she shook Shen Shuyun's arm, offering a suggestion.

"Other spirit pills?"

Shen Shuyun felt helpless inside. How could the Crimson Cloud Sect lack people to help her with other spirit pills?

Not to mention anything else, "Junior Brother Zhao" at her side was an excellent pair of spare hands.

Why would she need to trade away Bright-Jade Grass?

But with matters having reached this point, she could no longer remain unmoved. With a thought, she took out a yellowed ancient book.

"In the Crimson Cloud Sect, disciples' seats are determined by their attainment in the Dao of alchemy. I ask for nothing else. I merely wish to refine several ancient pills, so that I may move my seat a little farther forward."

"There are three ancient pills recorded in this book, all of which I wish to refine. If Junior Brother can lend me a hand, not only will I offer Bright-Jade Grass with both hands, but after the pills are complete, I can also share one pill with Junior Brother."

Though she said this, she did not believe Lu Xuan could actually help her.

These three pills were even more difficult than the Star-Moon Pill. The alchemist needed to possess some extraordinary ability.

There were many alchemists in the Crimson Cloud Sect, yet very few could refine these three pills.

She merely intended to use this as an excuse to politely decline Lu Xuan.

Unaware of the deeper meaning, Lu Xuan simply accepted the ancient book first and began reading.

"Rock-Mountain Treasure-Body Pill. Upon taking it, one may gain the Rock-Mountain Body. The skin becomes as if covered in mountain rock; ordinary flying swords can hardly wound it. Blunt weapons striking the body are like blows against boulders, and the rebounding force can shake inferior dharma artifacts. It requires Earth-Element Source Qi to refine Earth Origin Crystal..."

"Qi-Sea Heaven-Forged Pill. Upon taking it, the Qi Sea may expand by twenty percent, and the speed of activating all manner of arts will likewise increase by twenty percent. It requires vast Fire Within Stone to refine Void Moss..."

"Suspended Heart Millet Pearl Pill. Upon taking it, Spiritual Sense may increase by twenty percent. Moreover, with a Millet Pearl suspended over the heart, it can illuminate darkness and break falsehood. It requires surging Heart-Burning Fire to refine Unburnt Wood..."

The ancient book first explained the effects of the three ancient pills, before describing the difficulty of refining them.

Lu Xuan did not understand the principles of alchemy, but he understood the key materials required for these three ancient pills.

Source Qi, Fire Within Stone, Heart-Burning Fire.

These were the necessary conditions for the three pills. Otherwise, the main ingredients could not be refined, and the pills naturally could not be made.

He naturally possessed neither Source Qi nor Fire Within Stone.

But as for the final Heart-Burning Fire, he could give it a try.

Lu Xuan raised his head and said to Shen Shuyun, "Senior Sister Shen, if you are willing to refine the Suspended Heart Millet Pearl Pill, I am willing to lend a hand."

Shen Shuyun had still been considering how she could politely refuse Lu Xuan without harming their goodwill. When she suddenly heard those words, she was greatly startled, as though she suspected she had heard wrongly.

"What pill did Junior Brother Lu say?"

She asked uncertainly.

"The Suspended Heart Millet Pearl Pill!"

Lu Xuan answered again.

"This pill requires Burning-Dao Heartfire. Moreover, only one whose Heartfire surges like a tide and burns with extraordinary heat can do it. Junior Brother, are you certain you can?"

Shen Shuyun pressed further.

"I have never refined this pill, so I do not know its exact requirements. But if all it needs is Burning-Dao Heartfire, I can try."

Lu Xuan answered truthfully.

Shen Shuyun heard the confidence in Lu Xuan's words. Her delicate brows immediately knitted together as she revealed a contemplative expression.

"If he truly can ignite Unburnt Wood and refine this pill, then not only my cultivation, but even my standing within the sect could rise another step..."

Thoughts surged through Shen Shuyun's mind, and for a moment, she found it difficult to remain calm.

She had thought this was merely an excuse to turn him down, yet an enormous surprise had fallen from the sky instead.

But she ultimately calmed down. "Junior Brother Lu, it is not that I refuse to believe you. It is simply that this Unburnt Wood is exceedingly rare. I possess only this one stalk, so it cannot be tested lightly."

"The only course now is to test Junior Brother's Heartfire. Would that be possible?"

Lu Xuan naturally had no objection. If this pill could be refined, he would gain no small benefit as well. He immediately said,

"If Senior Sister wishes to test it, then naturally we may do so. I only wonder how we should test it?"

Shen Shuyun glanced at Zhao Ziqi beside her, and an idea came to mind.

"If Junior Brother truly possesses such Heartfire, the tester may be injured. Under ordinary circumstances, that would be of no concern, but now I must control the fire and open the furnace, so it would not be suitable for me to test it personally."

"How about letting Junior Brother Zhao act in my stead and exchange a few moves with you, Junior Brother?"

"Junior Brother Zhao also cultivates Heartfire and is skilled in alchemical principles. He should be able to test it."

Having spoken, Shen Shuyun's beautiful eyes shifted as she looked toward Zhao Ziqi, who had stood quietly at the side without saying much, and asked softly,

"Junior Brother Zhao, would you be willing to test it for me?"