After saying this, Ouyang Peng once more pulled a slightly larger porcelain bottle from his robes.
This left Shangguan the Fourth and Xu the Sixth stunned as well. They remembered that there had only been three small porcelain bottles in the Brocade Box. What was this one?
Liu the Fifth burst out laughing. "Third Brother, what are you doing? Don't tell me you're performing magic, pulling them out one by one?"
This time, Ouyang Peng did not hand the porcelain bottle to Hu the Eldest. Instead, he placed it on the square table beside him. Looking at everyone's astonished expressions, he said, "Among the things brought back from the Secret Realm last time, aside from the 'Qi Boosting Pill,' 'Bone-Strengthening Pill,' and 'Longevity Pill,' there was also a batch of medicinal herbs with considerable age. This is called the 'Qi Augmenting Pill.' It is a pill recorded in the Misty Sect's ancient texts, similar to the 'Qi Boosting Pill.' After the formula for the Qi Boosting Pill was lost, the forebears of our sect exhausted their hearts and efforts to develop it through experimentation. That batch of medicinal herbs was given to Hall Master Bai of the Medicine Hall. Following the formula for the Qi Augmenting Pill, he prepared these pills. According to the ancient texts, this pill's effects are limited, but precisely how much it can increase one's cultivation depends on many factors, such as the user's aptitude. This bottle is from the first batch, with nine pills in total. They were only finished this afternoon. The herbs from last time should still be enough for several more batches."
Hu the Eldest was overjoyed. Clapping his hands, he laughed and said, "Good! With this pill, even if some of our brothers do not take the Qi Boosting Pill, they can take this Qi Augmenting Pill instead. That is not too great a regret. Moreover, this pill's advantage lies in its quantity. There will be enough for the younger second-generation disciples to use. We can cultivate several more experts."
Ouyang Peng continued apologetically, "However, we do not have a formula for a substitute Bone-Strengthening Pill, so there is no way to provide one for disciples who cultivate external martial arts. That is truly regrettable. If there were only one Bone-Strengthening Pill, then one of the two junior brothers would have to go without."
Hu the Eldest interrupted him. "How can anything in this world be perfectly flawless? Having such an opportunity is enough. Whether one can increase one's cultivation also depends on fate. Besides, cultivation gained through external aid is inherently inferior to that earned through bitter training. None of you junior brothers will suffer Qi Deviation because of this, will you?"
Everyone else felt a chill in their hearts, and their minds immediately calmed down. The heads that had been swept away by the miraculous pills also settled. They all thought, Eldest Brother is right. The martial path must be cultivated solidly and honestly. If one blindly pursues increased cultivation without cultivating one's state of mind as well, it is all too easy to suffer Qi Deviation. Such cases are common in the martial world. Increasing cultivation is important, but one's life is important too.
Ouyang Peng said, "Eldest Brother is overstating it. Today is a joyous occasion. We all understand one another's temperaments and breadth of heart. Surely none of us will turn such a good thing into a bad one."
Shangguan the Fourth also stated his position. "Eldest Brother, we have never encountered such joy in our lives before. Though we were briefly muddle-headed, we would never damage the harmony between brothers over this, much less disregard the sect's interests. Please rest assured. If there is only one Qi Boosting Pill, I suggest that Third Junior Disciple Brother take it. First, his Misty Divine Art is already approaching great completion. With this pill's assistance, he will certainly achieve full mastery. Second, he is the sect leader, and the level of his martial arts directly determines the sect's prosperity. Third, this pill was obtained by Third Junior Disciple Brother in the first place. If he does not take it, what face would we have to do so?"
Everyone voiced their approval, and Hu the Eldest handed the small porcelain bottle back to Ouyang Peng.
Ouyang Peng did not stand on ceremony or push it back and forth. He reached out and accepted it.
Holding the small porcelain bottle in one hand, Ouyang Peng swept his gaze around the room once more. With his other hand, he gripped the bottle's neck and circulated his qi as he squeezed. Crack! The mouth of the bottle opened, and a fragrant aroma immediately spread through the room. Ouyang Peng poured its contents into a jade case prepared earlier. There were actually three pills inside. Ouyang Peng was greatly delighted. He found three jade cases, placed one pill in each, and set them on the table before pushing them toward Hu the Eldest. "I thought there would be only one, but there are two more. Eldest Brother, please distribute them."
Hu the Eldest gave a bitter smile. Looking at the three jade cases before him, he shook his head. "Third Brother, you have given me a difficult problem. One pill would have been simple enough, but how should these three be divided? Fine, we will follow what was just said. Third Brother, take one."
Ouyang Peng did as instructed, picking up one jade case and placing it in his robes.
Hu the Eldest looked at Li the Second and Shangguan the Fourth. "Second Brother, Fourth Brother, each of you take one as well."
Li the Second did not rise. "Eldest Brother, what about you? You will not take one?"
Hu the Eldest laughed heartily. "An elder must give something up. I have been your eldest brother for so many years; it is time I set an example for you. I am old, so I will not take one. I watched all of you grow up. Your achievements are my achievements."
Shangguan the Fourth said as well, "Eldest Brother, how about this? Give mine to you. It is only twenty years of cultivation. I have time to cultivate it back."
Li the Second also said, "That is right, Eldest Brother. You are already advanced in years. Relying on cultivation alone, you may not necessarily reach the pinnacle. Fourth Brother and I, however, have ample time. I think you should take this pill first."
Ouyang Peng also wanted to take out his own Qi Boosting Pill, but he knew that he needed it. His need for it was also the sect's need for it. He could not abandon the sect's interests for brotherly affection, so he said nothing.
Hu the Eldest looked at his brothers with gratification. What good brothers they were. Though they were not blood brothers, ever since their master had brought them all into the Misty Sect, they had grown up together. As the eldest, he had led them in life and martial training since childhood. When they grew older, they had roamed the martial world together, forging the name of the Misty Six Tigers with sweat and blood. Though they were now older, each with their own achievements and families, in the face of such a tremendous temptation, they still thought of him. His painstaking care had not been in vain.
Hu the Eldest smiled and said, "Say no more. My mind is made up. The pills will do more for you than for me. You should take them."
The Council Hall fell silent at once.
After a moment, Li the Second spoke. "Eldest Brother, I have an idea. See if it is feasible."
Hu the Eldest nodded. "Let us hear it."
Li the Second said, "Eldest Brother knows that my main cultivation is our Misty Sect's Misty Seven Swords. Its requirements for internal energy are not particularly high. My accomplishments in swordsmanship have already reached a certain bottleneck, given my aptitude. Any further breakthrough would only be a matter of a little internal energy, while the pinnacle of swordsmanship cannot be reached through internal energy alone. Even after breaking through this bottleneck, I would still need to comprehend swordsmanship itself. Therefore, this Qi Boosting Pill is not something I urgently need. I want to yield it to Eldest Brother. What do you think?"
Hu the Eldest fell into thought.
Ouyang Peng said, "Eldest Brother, we simply do not know whether this Qi Boosting Pill can be taken in portions. The sect's ancient texts do not explain it."
Hu the Eldest opened the jade case containing the Qi Boosting Pill. A wave of fragrance rushed straight at his face. He pinched it with his fingers and found it extremely hard, then promptly closed the lid.
Seeing this, Li the Second said, "Eldest Brother, we had better not take the risk. I will take the Qi Augmenting Pill instead. If the Qi Boosting Pill cannot be taken in portions and cutting it in half ruins its medicinal properties, would that not leave neither of us with any benefit?"
Hu the Eldest said, "Second Brother, was what you said just now true? We do not practice swordsmanship. You cannot deceive your eldest brother."
Li the Second said, "Of course it was true."
Hu the Eldest took a small, exquisite dagger from his robes. Then he opened the jade case and said proudly, "Can the bond between you and me as brothers be measured against a mere twenty years of cultivation? Since Second Brother is willing to give such heaven-sent benefit to his eldest brother, how could I possibly deny my second brother the chance to share it? Even if it ruins the medicinal properties and leaves us brothers drawing water with a bamboo basket—only to end up empty-handed—what have I to fear if we use this Qi Boosting Pill to wager on the bond between us?"
Upon hearing this, Li the Second's eyes shone brilliantly. His emotions surged as he stepped forward. "Eldest Brother—"
The others all rose and stepped forward as well.
Hu the Eldest patted Li the Second on the shoulder and handed him the dagger. "Second Brother, your swordsmanship is exquisite. It is up to you."
Li the Second took the dagger. The handle still bore Hu the Eldest's warmth. Looking at Hu the Eldest's encouraging gaze, he smiled and nodded. Then, with a slight circulation of qi, he raised his hand and slashed down at the jade case.
All the others saw was an arc flash before the dagger landed on the Qi Boosting Pill. Following that arc, the pill split neatly in two, while the jade case remained utterly unscathed. Before anyone could praise Li the Second's exquisite swordsmanship after he withdrew the dagger, Ouyang Peng quickly found another jade case and placed each half of the Qi Boosting Pill into its own case.
Hu the Eldest then took one jade case and put it into his robes, handing the other to Li the Second. Naturally, the remaining one went to Shangguan the Fourth.
With the Qi Boosting Pills distributed, Liu the Fifth and Xu the Sixth fixed their eyes on the Bone-Strengthening Pill in Hu the Eldest's hand.
Because there had been three Qi Boosting Pills, neither man worried about the number of Bone-Strengthening Pills. Yet Hu the Eldest still asked them what they would do if there were only one.
Liu the Fifth said, "Of course it should go to Sixth Brother. He is the youngest. Hadn't good things always been saved for him before?"
Xu the Sixth said, "It was like that before, but it cannot be this time. I have taken advantage for half my life. This time, it must go to Fifth Brother."
The two exchanged words back and forth. In short, neither wanted to take it himself.
At last, Liu the Fifth grew impatient. "Eldest Brother, hurry up and open it! There were three Qi Boosting Pills, so perhaps there are three in this one too. Why are we dawdling like this? If there is only one, we will split it evenly."
Thus, Hu the Eldest said no more. Raising his hand, he crushed the porcelain bottle and poured the Bone-Strengthening Pills into a jade case.
Sure enough, there were three pills inside.
Everyone let out a breath of relief.
Hu the Eldest placed the Bone-Strengthening Pills into three jade cases and handed one each to Liu the Fifth and Xu the Sixth. Both accepted them and put them into their robes.
Hu the Eldest handed the final jade case to Ouyang Peng. "Third Junior Disciple Brother, I will leave this last one to you. You decide who should receive it."
Ouyang Peng nodded and accepted the jade case. Instead of putting it into his robes, he placed it back on the table.