The Frostfall Pill

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Chapter 7: The Frostfall Pill

"As everyone knows, the cold poison left behind when a cultivator with a water spiritual root fails to reach Foundation Establishment is virtually incurable. Only the Pure Frost Pill can barely suppress it."

"However, there is no hidden injury in this world that pills cannot heal. In the vast world of alchemy, two kinds of pills can cure cold poison."

"The first is the renowned third-tier, superior-grade treasure pill of water-method alchemy, the [Frostbreaker Pill]. This pill can clear away cold poison and restore vitality to the body. Through destruction comes renewal, granting the person who takes it another chance to attempt Foundation Establishment."

At this, Chen Beiwu's expression shifted slightly.

Previously, he had specifically asked the school's alchemy teachers about treating the cold poison in his mother's body.

Without exception, every teacher had said that cold poison was difficult to cure, and only the third-tier treasure pill, the Frostbreaker Pill, could treat its root cause.

Noticing the change in Chen Beiwu's expression, Teacher Li stopped keeping him in suspense and continued, "The second is a relatively obscure second-tier, middle-grade spiritual pill of fire-method alchemy, the [Frostfall Pill].

"Taking this pill can clear away cold poison. Its drawback is that it cannot restore the lifespan the recipient has lost or the cultivation realm they have fallen from."

Chen Beiwu's eyes brightened slightly at those words.

A third-tier, superior-grade treasure pill was hard to come by. Probably only Golden Core True Persons had the authorization and wealth to purchase one. But a second-tier, middle-grade spiritual pill was different; most Foundation Establishment Rogue Persons could afford it.

With the Divine Ability Nine-Breath Qi Ingestion and the supreme treasure Nine-Breath Chaos, Chen Beiwu was confident he could become a Foundation Establishment Rogue Person in the shortest possible time.

As for his mother's lifespan and cultivation realm, he could slowly restore those with other pills when the time came.

"Ring, ring, ring!"

As the bell rang to end class, most of the students in the classroom stole glances at Chen Beiwu, their gazes tinged with envy and jealousy.

The signs of the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining were far too obvious.

Even those who were a little careless and had not noticed Chen Beiwu's transformation could figure it out from their classmates' reactions over the course of the lesson.

Perhaps the gulf between them was too great. Someone could not help muttering a curse: "Holy shit, our class has another immortal seedling with a shot at the Seventy-Nine Upper Sect, or even the Thirteen Immortal Sects!"

Many students called the Seventy-Nine Upper Sect the cradle of Golden Cores, meaning its outstanding graduates could become Golden Core True Persons.

And the Thirteen Immortal Sects were even more extraordinary!

The favored children of heaven who emerged from the Thirteen Immortal Sects were all acknowledged by the Immortal Alliance as having Nascent Soul potential. Even Golden Core True Persons would lower themselves to befriend them rather than offend them lightly.

As for the Five Great Grotto-Heavens, which stood above the Thirteen Immortal Sects, the students present had never even considered them. A true dragon like that could never emerge from the shallow waters of Far Sky County.

Over thousands of years, hundreds of millions of candidates from Far Sky County had taken the college entrance examination, yet not one had gained admission to the Five Great Grotto-Heavens. The difficulty spoke for itself.

"You're famous again." Xu Lingling raised an eyebrow and teased him.

"How boring."

Chen Beiwu stood and headed toward the office under everyone's watchful eyes.

He came, just as expected. Li Jiacheng had barely sat down when he spotted Chen Beiwu. He was not surprised.

Normally, he would not even bother with a student, let alone go out of his way to offer a hint during class.

But Chen Beiwu was different. A sixteen-year-old cultivator at the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining with a clean background was worth casually forging a favorable connection with.

"Teacher, I'd like to ask you something." Chen Beiwu stated his purpose directly.

"That's simple enough." Li Jiacheng took a sip of tea. "The Immortal Alliance only published the Frostfall Pill's formula half a month ago. Although I can refine it, my success rate isn't high-only thirty percent."

"Teacher, what do you mean?" Chen Beiwu asked tentatively.

"The spiritual herbs for one batch of Frostfall Pills cost around three hundred low-grade spirit stones, and each batch can yield about three pills."

Li Jiacheng paused briefly, then said outright, "On the Immortal Alliance's official website, a Frostfall Pill sells for eight hundred low-grade spirit stones. I can sell you one at cost: three hundred low-grade spirit stones."

Chen Beiwu was somewhat surprised.

Did spirit stones no longer hold any appeal?

Why would Teacher Li offer to sell him a pill at cost for no reason?

Seeing Chen Beiwu frozen in place, Li Jiacheng smiled. "What, your teacher wants to forge a favorable connection with you, and you're unwilling?"

"Of course I'm willing. It's just that the price is far too generous. Refining pills costs you resources and effort too, Teacher," Chen Beiwu said hesitantly. The sudden kindness made him suspect a trap.

Hearing this, Li Jiacheng nodded inwardly, feeling rather pleased with himself.

He's a good child. This old man's eye for people is as keen as ever!

As a teacher of the second-year Soaring Class, he knew Chen Beiwu's family circumstances well. Describing them as buried in debt would not be an exaggeration.

Even so, Chen Beiwu still held fast to his principles and refused to take advantage of him as his teacher.

No wonder the second-year teachers had spoken so highly of Chen Beiwu these past few days, calling him a dragon swimming in shallow waters, with something of a Golden Core's bearing. At the very least, he would become a Foundation Establishment Rogue Person.

"Since you think it's too cheap, how about I sell you a Frostfall Pill for seven hundred spirit stones?" Li Jiacheng probed.

"Thank you so much, Teacher. That works." Chen Beiwu nodded confidently.

Stroking his beard, Li Jiacheng grew fonder of Chen Beiwu the more he looked at him. "All right, a man's word is a nail driven home. I said three hundred spirit stones per pill, and three hundred it will be. Offer even one more spirit stone, and I won't sell it."

The boy was not only honest, but also unflappable.

For a moment, he seemed to see a little of his younger self in Chen Beiwu.

Even so, he would not forgo the spirit stones an Alchemist ought to earn. That was Li Jiacheng's principle in business.

For the sake of their teacher-student relationship and forging a favorable connection, he would earn only a few dozen low-grade spirit stones from selling Chen Beiwu a Frostfall Pill. With anyone else, he would make at least four hundred.

"Sorry for the trouble, Teacher," Chen Beiwu said gratefully.

"No need for that. You've earned it yourself." Li Jiacheng waved a hand, then looked up at Chen Beiwu and encouraged him. "The immortal path is boundless. If you want to see broader vistas, do everything you can to get into the Thirteen Immortal Sects!"

After leaving the office, Chen Beiwu had barely reached the corridor when he heard his homeroom teacher's stern voice coming from the classroom.

"Good. Very good. You're getting more impressive by the day. Just one summer vacation, and our class ranking was almost overtaken by the Elite Class next door. Is this your attitude toward immortal cultivation?"

"Or have you decided you don't want to enter a sect through the college entrance examination? Will you be satisfied getting into a vocational academy and going home to herd cattle?"

"You cultivate for yourselves, for longevity and freedom, not for your teacher. To put it bluntly, of all the cohorts I, Wang Kui, have taught, yours is the worst!"

As their homeroom teacher berated them, not a single student in the class dared make a sound, much less argue back.

Damn, rotten luck this time. I've walked straight into my homeroom teacher's line of fire. Chen Beiwu felt a little uneasy, but could only steel himself, step forward, and announce his arrival.

Wang Kui instinctively frowned and turned toward the classroom door.

He wanted to see which fellow had the gall to arrive late to his class.

A ripple of restlessness disturbed the quiet classroom. Almost every student turned to look at the door.

Xu Lingling nudged her best friend with her elbow and whispered, "Hehe, now we're in for a good show."

Xu Ziqing smiled gently and shook her head slightly. "What show is there to watch?"

Sure enough, when Wang Kui saw that the newcomer was Chen Beiwu, the sternness instantly vanished from his face. Looking kindly and benevolent, he said, "Come in. Keep an eye on the time next time."

"???" Xu Lingling's eyes widened.

What was going on? Had Teacher Wang been possessed?

He actually had such a warm, approachable side? That defied all logic!

(End of chapter)