Allocation (2)

Ou Peng then took out another, slightly larger porcelain bottle from his embrace.

This made Shangguan the Fourth and Xu the Sixth stunned. They remembered that there were only three small porcelain bottles in the brocade box. What was this?

Liu the Fifth laughed heartily, "Third Brother, what are you doing? Are you going to perform magic tricks, taking things out one by one?"

This time, Ou Peng did not hand the porcelain bottle to Hu the Eldest. Instead, he placed it on the square table next to him. Seeing everyone's surprised gazes, he said, "The items taken from the Secret Realm last time, besides the Qi Boosting Pill, Bone-Strengthening Pill, and Longevity Pill, were a batch of aged medicinal herbs. This item is called the Qi Augmenting Pill. According to the Misty Sect's ancient texts, it's a type of pill similar to the Qi Boosting Pill. When the formula for the Qi Boosting Pill was lost, our sect's ancestors painstakingly experimented to create it. I gave that batch of medicinal herbs to Hall Master Bai of the Medicine Hall, and he formulated this based on the Qi Augmenting Pill's recipe. According to the ancient texts, the pill's function is limited, and the specific increase in cultivation will depend on the user's aptitude and other factors. This bottle is the first batch produced, containing a total of nine pills. They were just finished this afternoon. The previous medicinal herbs should be enough to produce a few more batches."

Hu the Eldest was very pleased to hear this. He clapped his hands and laughed, "Good! With this pill, even if some of our brothers haven't taken the Qi Boosting Pill, they can take this Qi Augmenting Pill. It's not too much of a regret. Moreover, the advantage of this pill is its quantity, which is enough for the second generation of young disciples. We can cultivate several more experts!"

Ou Peng continued apologetically, "However, we don't have a formula for a substitute for the Bone-Strengthening Pill, so we can't provide it to disciples who practice external martial arts. It's truly a pity. If there was only one Bone-Strengthening Pill, then two of our junior brothers would be out of luck."

Hu the Eldest interrupted Ou Peng, saying, "How can anything in the world be perfect? Having such an opportunity is already good. Whether it increases cultivation also depends on fate. Besides, cultivation gained through external means is never as good as diligent self-cultivation. My junior brothers shouldn't fall into Qi Deviation because of this, right?!"

The rest of the crowd felt a jolt in their hearts. Their minds immediately calmed down, and the daze caused by the miraculous pills subsided. Everyone thought to themselves, "Senior Disciple Brother is right. The path of martial arts is all about solid cultivation. Merely pursuing the increase of cultivation without accompanying it with the cultivation of one's state of mind can easily lead to Qi Deviation. This is not uncommon in the martial arts world. While increasing cultivation is important, one's life is also paramount."

Ou Peng said, "Senior Disciple Brother, you speak too severely. Today is a joyous occasion. I know the character and magnanimity of all my brothers. We will certainly not turn this good fortune into bad."

Shangguan the Fourth also expressed his stance, "Eldest Brother, this joyous occasion today is the first of its kind in our lives. Although we were momentarily confused, we won't harm our brotherhood over it, nor will we disregard the sect's interests. Please rest assured. If there was only one Qi Boosting Pill, I suggest Third Junior Disciple Brother take it. Firstly, his Misty Divine Art is nearing completion. With the help of this pill, it will surely reach its full potential. Secondly, he is the Sect Leader of our sect, and the level of his martial arts directly determines the sect's prosperity. Thirdly, this pill was originally obtained by Third Junior Disciple Brother. If he doesn't take it, how could we have the face to take it?"

Everyone praised his words. Hu the Eldest then handed the small porcelain bottle back to Ou Peng.

Ou Peng did not act coyly or push it back and forth. He reached out and took it.

Ou Peng held the small porcelain bottle in one hand and glanced around at everyone again. With his other hand, he gripped the neck of the bottle and applied force, crushing it open with a "crack." A fragrant aroma then diffused out. Ou Peng poured the contents of the small porcelain bottle into a jade box that had been prepared earlier. There were actually three pills. Ou Peng was very happy. He found three jade boxes to put them in, placed them on the table, and pushed them towards Hu the Eldest. He said, "I thought there would be only one, but now there are two more. Please, Senior Disciple Brother, distribute them."

Hu the Eldest gave a wry smile. Looking at the three jade boxes before him, he shook his head and said, "Third Brother, you're giving me a difficult task. One pill would have been fine, but how can these three be divided? Forget it, let's stick to what was said earlier. Third Brother, you take one."

Ou Peng picked up one of the jade boxes as instructed and put it into his embrace.

Hu the Eldest looked at Li the Second and Shangguan the Fourth and said, "Second Brother, Fourth Brother, you each take one."

Li the Second did not get up and asked, "Eldest Brother, what about you? Don't you want one?"

Hu the Eldest laughed heartily, "As the elders, we must make sacrifices. I've been your leader for so many years, and it's time I set a good example for you. I'm old, so I won't take one. I watched all of you grow up. Your achievements are my achievements."

Shangguan the Fourth also said, "Eldest Brother, how about this? I'll give mine to you. It's just twenty years of cultivation, I have time to train it back."

Li the Second also said, "That's right, Eldest Brother. You are old, and relying solely on your own cultivation may not allow you to reach the peak. Fourth Brother and I have ample time. I think you should take one of these pills first."

Ou Peng also wanted to take out his own "Qi Boosting Pill," but he knew that he needed this pill, and his need was also the sect's need. He couldn't abandon the sect's benefit for the sake of brotherhood, so he didn't speak up.

Hu the Eldest looked at his brothers with satisfaction. What good brothers they were! Although they weren't blood brothers, ever since their Master brought them to the Misty Sect, they had grown up together. As the eldest, he had taken care of them since childhood, living and training together. As they grew up, they roamed the martial arts world together, forging the name "Misty Six Tigers" with their sweat and blood. Although they were older now and each had their own achievements and families, facing such a great temptation, they still thought of him. His efforts were not in vain.

Hu the Eldest smiled and said, "Stop talking. My mind is made up. Your taking them will have a greater effect than me taking them. You should take them."

The Council Hall fell silent.

After a moment, Li the Second spoke, "Eldest Brother, I have an idea. Do you think it's feasible?"

Hu the Eldest nodded, "Tell me about it."

Li the Second said, "Eldest Brother knows that I primarily cultivate our Misty Sect's Misty Seven Swords, which does not require very high internal energy. My current achievements in swordsmanship have reached a bottleneck due to my aptitude. To break through further, it's merely a matter of internal energy. The peak of swordsmanship cannot be reached solely through internal energy. After breaking through this bottleneck, I still need to comprehend swordsmanship. Therefore, this Qi Boosting Pill is not something I urgently need. I want to give it to Eldest Brother. What do you think?"

Hu the Eldest fell into thought.

Ou Peng then said, "Eldest Brother, I'm just not sure if the Qi Boosting Pill can be taken in halves. The sect's ancient texts don't specify."

Hu the Eldest opened the jade box containing the Qi Boosting Pill. A fragrant aroma wafted towards him. He squeezed it with his hand and felt it was quite hard. He then closed the lid.

Seeing this, Li the Second said, "Eldest Brother, it's better not to take the risk. I'll take the Qi Augmenting Pill. If the Qi Boosting Pill cannot be taken in halves, and we break it into two, ruining its medicinal properties, wouldn't neither of us benefit?"

Hu the Eldest said, "Second Brother, is what you just said true? We haven't cultivated swordsmanship. You can't lie to your Eldest Brother."

Li the Second replied, "Of course."

Hu the Eldest took out a small, delicate dagger from his embrace, then opened the jade box and said proudly, "Can the bond between you and me, my brothers, be compared to a mere twenty years of cultivation? Since you are willing to give this immense benefit to your Eldest Brother, how can your Eldest Brother miss the opportunity to share it with his Second Brother? Even if it ruins the medicinal properties, and you and I end up with nothing, I have no fear of gambling our brotherhood with this Qi Boosting Pill!"

Upon hearing this, Li the Second's eyes shone brightly (Heh, it was probably not due to being stimulated and his internal energy surging, but rather the reflection of candlelight in his tears, wasn't it?). His expression was moved, and he stepped forward, saying, "Eldest Brother~"

The rest of the crowd stood up and stepped forward.

Hu the Eldest patted Li the Second's shoulder, handed him the dagger, and said, "Second Brother, your swordsmanship is exquisite. The task is yours."

Li the Second took the dagger. The hilt was still warm from his touch. Looking at Hu the Eldest's encouraging gaze, he smiled and nodded. Then, with a slight exertion of his internal energy, he swung his hand and slashed at the jade box.

In the eyes of the crowd, only a curved line was seen. The dagger landed on the Qi Boosting Pill, and the pill split into two along the arc. The jade box remained completely unharmed. Before Li the Second could retract his dagger, and before everyone could marvel at his exquisite swordsmanship, Ou Peng quickly found another jade box and separated the two halves of the Qi Boosting Pill into it.

Immediately, Hu the Eldest took the jade box and put it into his embrace. He then gave another one to Li the Second. Of course, the remaining one was given to Shangguan the Fourth.

With the Qi Boosting Pills distributed, Liu the Fifth and Xu the Sixth then set their sights on the Bone-Strengthening Pill in Hu the Eldest's hand.

Since there were three Qi Boosting Pills, they were not worried about the quantity of Bone-Strengthening Pills. However, Hu the Eldest still asked them what they would do if there was only one pill.

Liu the Fifth said, "Of course, it should go to Sixth Brother. He's the youngest, and we always saved the good things for him before, didn't we?"

Xu the Sixth said, "It used to be like that, but not anymore. I've taken advantage for half my life. This time, it must go to Fifth Brother."

They spoke back and forth, but in the end, neither of them wanted to take it themselves.

Finally, Liu the Fifth became impatient and said, "Eldest Brother, hurry up and open it. Weren't there three Qi Boosting Pills? Maybe this one also has three. Why are we being so hesitant? If there's only one, we'll split it equally."

Thus, Hu the Eldest said no more. He raised his hand and crushed the porcelain bottle, pouring the Bone-Strengthening Pills into a jade box.

As expected, there were three pills inside.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Hu the Eldest placed the Bone-Strengthening Pills into three jade boxes and handed one to Liu the Fifth and one to Xu the Sixth each. Both of them caught them and put them into their embraces.

Hu the Eldest handed the last jade box to Ou Peng and said, "Third Junior Disciple Brother, this last one is for you. You decide who gets it."

Ou Peng nodded and took the jade box. He did not put it into his embrace but placed it on the table again.