Telepathic Jade, Thought Casket Stone

Within the pill furnace, brilliant golden radiance hung in the air. Two pills streaked with flashing golden patterns hovered quietly inside the cauldron.

Two pills had formed, their fragrance assailing the nose. They were top-grade.

Shen Shuyun's face was brimming with delight.

This meant her attainments in the Dao of alchemy had advanced another step.

Though she had anticipated that this batch would yield at least two pills when the furnace was opened, the final result had still depended on her own alchemical skill.

"It was not in vain that I began studying this pill formula in my childhood."

A relaxed smile appeared on her face.

Unlike the disciples of the Heaven-Gazing Sect's Hibernation Academy, Crimson Cloud Sect disciples began tending fires, chopping wood, opening furnaces, and refining powders from childhood. Only after years of bitter cultivation could they begin refining pills at the Qi Refining First Layer.

"Senior Sister's wondrous alchemical arts have won this junior brother's admiration!"

Lu Xuan offered praise at the right moment.

For Crimson Cloud Sect disciples, cultivation and alchemy were deeply intertwined, and their path of seeking the Dao was quite simple.

[Participation Rite] essentially meant comprehending a new pill formula. Whenever a new pill acknowledged by Heaven came into being, the [Participation Rite] would be successfully completed.

[Verification Offering] meant refining pills. So long as the pill was formed, the Grand Rite would be accomplished, allowing one to break through a realm.

The many Minor Offering Rituals were likewise mostly related to pills.

It was precisely because of this that Shen Shuyun had been unwilling to casually trade away the Bright-Jade Grass. After all, every act of pill refinement was intimately tied to her cultivation.

"Not at all. This pill could not have formed without Junior Brother's Heartfire."

Though Shen Shuyun was delighted, she did not forget Lu Xuan's contribution and praised him in turn.

Yet she also felt some regret. If I possessed such Heartfire and refined this pill during a Minor Offering Ritual or Grand Rite, it would surely have marvelous uses.

But that was destined to be impossible, for neither the minor nor grand rites permitted one to borrow another's hand in refining pills. Otherwise, failure was certain.

Whoosh!

Though such thoughts ran through her mind, Shen Shuyun's hands did not pause. Once the pills had been nurtured and their heat had dissipated, she immediately swept her jade-like hand and opened the furnace lid.

In an instant, two streams of light flew out and hovered above Shen Shuyun's palm.

"Junior Brother, this time I relied entirely on your aid. This Suspended Heart Millet Pearl Pill is yours."

"I will give the Bright-Jade Grass to Junior Brother as well."

Shen Shuyun pushed one stream of light toward Lu Xuan, then took out a jade box and handed it to him along with the pill.

Naturally, Lu Xuan did not stand on ceremony. He accepted them at once and bowed to Shen Shuyun. "Then I thank Senior Sister."

Shen Shuyun smiled faintly, then produced another piece of green jade, thin as a cicada's wing and no larger than a palm, and handed it to Lu Xuan.

"Junior Brother, keep this Telepathic Jade. If I have pills in the future that likewise require Heartfire for their refinement, I can contact Junior Brother through this jade. Should Junior Brother be willing to come, I will send a spirit boat to fetch and return you. And the reward certainly will not disappoint you. What do you say?"

There were quite a few Crimson Cloud Sect disciples who had cultivated Heartfire, but those whose flames were as scorching and searing as Lu Xuan's, bearing such vast might, were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.

At the very least, Shen Shuyun had yet to encounter one among the fellow disciples she had met so far.

He was an alchemical partner of immense value.

And the Dao of alchemy was the Dao of commerce.

Had she not previously promised Lu Xuan that she would gift him this Suspended Heart Millet Pearl Pill, she had no idea how many benefits this pill alone could have brought her in exchange.

Even ordinary pills brought considerable profit. Such extraordinary pills were even more outrageously profitable, worth a thousand gold pieces.

Looking at the green jade Shen Shuyun offered him, Lu Xuan revealed a surprised expression. "It is actually a Telepathic Jade. I had long heard that Crimson Cloud Sect disciples were wealthy. Seeing it today, the reputation is indeed well deserved."

As its name implied, a Telepathic Jade allowed hearts to share one point of understanding.

It was a spirit jade that could facilitate contact across a million li. So long as one imprinted the thoughts in one's heart upon one jade, they could be transmitted to the other within only a few breaths, making it exceptionally convenient.

Telepathic Jades also differed in color according to the distance over which they could transmit. Green was the lowest grade, yet it could still cover most of Mountain-Lifting Prefecture and was quite valuable.

Even inner disciples of the Heaven-Gazing Sect had to spend their own Spirit Stones to purchase one, and even the lowest-grade green Telepathic Jade cost at least twenty-odd Spirit Stones.

That was equivalent to two months of Lu Xuan's spirit stipend.

Zhou Xuanpu had set him the assessment of breaking through to the Qi Refining Second Layer within a year. Every one of his Spirit Stones had to be spent where it counted, so no matter how much he coveted such jade, buying it had been out of the question.

Besides, while he was within the sect, he had no one with whom he needed to communicate over such vast distances.

Yet now, he had gained one for nothing.

Shen Shuyun merely shook her head with a soft laugh. "I only saved up this modest wealth through spending all day dealing with furnace fire. It cannot compare with the Heaven-Gazing Sect's treatment. To say nothing else, your sect's Culinary Hall is enough to make others envious."

Remembering the flood dragon meat soup he had eaten over the past few months, Lu Xuan smiled and did not argue further. He put away the spirit jade and thanked Shen Shuyun.

"Since it is a gift from Senior Sister, I shall accept it. Should Senior Sister call upon me in the future, I will certainly do my utmost."

Heartfire could refine pills—this was also something he had never considered before. If they could cooperate again in the future, substantial profits would surely follow, and naturally he would not refuse.

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Lu Xuan rose and took his leave.

Pill refinement greatly taxed one's mind and spirit. After the pill was formed, rest and recuperation were naturally necessary, followed by choosing the right time to consume the pill.

Shen Shuyun did not try to keep him and escorted Lu Xuan out of the hall.

Outside the hall, Zhao Ziqi was waiting anxiously. Seeing this, Lu Xuan sighed inwardly, gave him a Daoist salute, then activated his Cloud Qi and departed from the Honored Guest Hall.

After leaving the Honored Guest Hall, Lu Xuan did not return to Cangyun Island. Instead, he flew on Qi directly to the Hibernation Academy to see Senior Brother Lin.

He then took Senior Brother Lin to the Red Pine Fief, delivered the betrothal gifts, and arranged for Senior Brother Lin to marry into the Radiant Deer Clan.

Senior Brother Lin let out a long, mournful sigh and performed a deep bow in thanks, which Lu Xuan avoided.

Once classmates, they had ultimately become mortals, raising descendants in pursuit of vengeance for their family. Lu Xuan's feelings were likewise complicated.

He did not wish to linger. He had Senior Brother Lin remain behind to grow closer to the Radiant Deer maiden, then departed on Qi, agreeing only to return and offer congratulations on Senior Brother Lin's wedding day.

After leaving the Red Pine Fief, Lu Xuan halted his flight and stood atop the clouds, gazing back into the distance. He sighed in pity for Senior Brother Lin, then ceased thinking of it and flew straight toward Cangyun Island.

It was not until the night had deepened that he returned to his own cave abode.

Coo, coo!

Before the cave abode, a pure white spirit pigeon with lively eyes had apparently been waiting for some time. Upon seeing Lu Xuan return, it hurriedly fluttered toward him.

Lu Xuan had seen this spirit pigeon many times and naturally knew that it belonged to Senior Brother Wei.

But unlike before, this time the spirit pigeon not only held a letter in its beak, but also had a square, amber-like object tied to its foot with red thread.

"What is this?"

Curious, Lu Xuan removed the object from the spirit pigeon's foot.

The object was translucent throughout, resembling amber. Within it flickered a ball of crimson light, carrying an enigmatic heat.

This heat did not come from the flesh, but from one's thoughts. It made one's mind seem ablaze, bringing a restless agitation despite the depths of winter.

"This is... a Thought Casket Stone?"

"Where did Senior Brother Wei obtain such a strange treasure?"

Lu Xuan examined the stone carefully, a trace of surprise arising in his heart.

A Thought Casket Stone was a strange object capable of storing "Spiritual Sense" and "thoughts."

Generally speaking, this object was used in combat.

One could normally store one's own Spiritual Sense within it, then retrieve it when one's Spiritual Sense was exhausted during combat, making it immensely useful.

It was exceedingly precious.

Yet now, Senior Brother Wei had sent this object along with a spirit pigeon. What did he mean by it?

Lu Xuan removed the letter from the spirit pigeon's beak, entered the cave abode, and began to read.