Volume Four: The Buddha Saves No One; Only I, the Demon, Offer Salvation - Between Gain and Loss (Part Two)

At those words, Longque froze for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. His laughter pierced the clouds and soared to the ninth heaven, startling flocks of birds into flight above the white grass. He laughed until he doubled over and tears streamed down his face.

Luo Qian stared, baffled. Beside him, Tian Shun'er whispered, "He hasn't really gone mad this time, has he...?" Luo Qian shook his head. He couldn't tell either.

Longque laughed for the time it took to drink a cup of tea before gradually quieting. Still chuckling, he wiped away his tears, then clasped his fists and bowed respectfully to Luo Qian. "Thank you..." Luo Qian blinked. "What for?"

"For waking me with a single sentence," Longque said. "All my life, I cared too much for fame and glory. I wanted only to become the greatest Pill Refiner in the Immortal Realm, never realizing that the higher one stood, the greater one's responsibilities. I bore the title, but did nothing for the people of the Immortal Realm. Those who sought pills received none; those who sought treatment went untreated. My excuse was always that I had no time while I devoted myself to studying the art of pill refinement. Yet I forgot that the art exists to save lives. I mastered its techniques but neglected its purpose. I cast aside the root to chase the branches. No wonder the heavens wouldn't let me refine a peerless Golden Core."

"From now on, I'll devote myself to the purpose and concern myself less with technique. Pill refinement is only a tool for healing and saving lives. Treating the sick is its true aim."

Luo Qian saw the clarity in Longque's eyes and knew he'd truly reached enlightenment. He might have failed to refine a Golden Core without equal