The words "spiritual essence" shook the entire private room with a buzzing reverberation. Master Huo had spoken with internal Qi, creating a force that swept outward and scattered the fruit on the table across the floor.
The Heavenly Spirit Pill was a stripped-down version he had produced, its efficacy less than one ten-thousandth of the original formula's. In Canglan City, it would absolutely rank among the finest pills.
The Pill Formula described the Heavenly Spirit Pill's effects in detail, far surpassing every pill currently sold on the market. What shocked him was that its ingredients cost ten times less than those for the second-grade Heart-Nourishing Pill. They were all common spirit medicines available on the market, such as cockscomb grass, which grew everywhere.
"You actually brought a fake Pill Formula here to make trouble. Since this is your first offense, I can spare you this once. Get out of here immediately, or don't blame me for showing no mercy."
A trace of greed flashed in Master Huo's eyes, but he quickly concealed it. If he mastered the method for refining the Heavenly Spirit Pill, he could become a three-star Alchemist and head to the Great Yan Imperial City. That was where cultivators gathered. Canglan City lay tucked away in a corner; against the entire Great Yan Imperial Dynasty, it was merely a drop in the ocean.
What did it mean to be overbearing?
This was overbearing. Wanting to seize the Pill Formula, he turned hostile faster than turning a page. He had already committed its ingredients and proportions to memory. Given a month to study it, he would certainly be able to refine it.
His purpose in accusing Liu Wuxie of bringing a fake Pill Formula was self-evident. A peculiar look appeared in Lei Tao's eyes.
From what he knew of Master Huo, if the Pill Formula were truly fake, he would have swept his sleeves and left long ago, or even attacked. The scene before him was somewhat unfathomable. The value of this Pill Formula could make a dignified two-star Alchemist abandon his dignity and frame a mere live-in son-in-law.
"Clap, clap, clap..."
Liu Wuxie suddenly clapped, intense mockery curling his lips. Naturally, Master Huo's greedy gaze had not escaped his eyes.
"The Pill Treasure Pavilion has truly opened my eyes. A mere little Pill Formula, and you show such hideous faces. Today has truly been an eye-opener."
His face was full of mockery. Master Huo's face alternated between red and ashen, somewhat embarrassed, while Lei Tao lowered his head, his face filled with shame.
"Brat, you injured an attendant of our Pill Treasure Pavilion and tried to deceive us with a fake Pill Formula. You deserve ten thousand deaths."
Master Huo tore away all pretense. His robes billowed, and an overbearing presence swept toward Liu Wuxie to suppress him by force. He would invent a charge to frame him and obtain the Pill Formula as a matter of course. Even if Liu Wuxie made a great fuss, who would believe a piece of trash, let alone a mere live-in son-in-law?
"Kill me?"
"You think you can?"
Liu Wuxie sneered repeatedly, his gaze piercing straight at Master Huo without the slightest intention of backing down. His sharp eyes were like two keen swords, stabbing directly into Master Huo's soul. His body swayed, and he nearly toppled headfirst. What sort of eyes were these, capable of seeing through falsehood?
Master Huo was utterly enraged. In the Pill Treasure Pavilion, his standing was second only to the pavilion master's. Even Lei Tao had to treat him courteously. When had he ever suffered such humiliation, frightened by a mere ant? A vicious gleam appeared in his eyes. "You're courting death, so I'll grant your wish."
He struck a palm toward Liu Wuxie with crushing force. Lei Tao wanted to stop him, but it was already too late. He had not expected matters to develop this way either, with Master Huo suddenly delivering a killing blow.
"If you want to court death, go right ahead. Whenever you refine pills, don't you feel intense pain in your Shanzhong acupoint? And over the past year or two, hasn't that pain grown increasingly severe, requiring you to swallow painkillers before it eases?"
Liu Wuxie stood quietly where he was, not even adopting a stance to fight back. Just as Lei Tao was about to speak up to stop him, Master Huo abruptly withdrew his palm and stared at Liu Wuxie as though he had seen a ghost.
This was his secret. How did Liu Wuxie know? Whenever he refined pills, his Shanzhong acupoint did indeed hurt intensely. In recent months, the pain had made him wish he were dead, and he had considered suicide.
The Pill Treasure Pavilion sold large quantities of pills every month, and most of its Origin-Nurturing Pills came from Master Huo. Over the past two months, the number of Origin-Nurturing Pills had repeatedly plummeted. Master Huo claimed he was feeling unwell, and no one had paid much attention.
"You... how did you know..."
He panicked, then regretted it the moment he spoke. Had he not just admitted that Liu Wuxie was right? Thinking of the agony in his Shanzhong acupoint, a pleading look flashed in his eyes.
"To advance to a two-star Alchemist, you forcibly swallowed a Spirit-Breaking Pill, damaging your heart. The heart belongs to fire. Every time you refine pills and control the fire attribute, your heart bears tremendous pressure, which travels to your Shanzhong acupoint. Within three months, you'll breathe your last."
Liu Wuxie did not conceal anything and explained the problems within his body. Master Huo's expression changed drastically again and again. Even his consumption of a Spirit-Breaking Pill had been unearthed. It was as though someone had stripped him naked and left him standing before them.
Lei Tao's mouth fell wide open. Spirit-Breaking Pills were forbidden pills, and their side effects after consumption were extremely pronounced. No one was willing to try them.
"What should I do? You must know a way, don't you?"
Master Huo panicked. He did not want to die yet. He grabbed Liu Wuxie's arm, wanting to know how to resolve this. The intense pain from his Shanzhong acupoint left him with lingering dread. In three months at most, he would die alive from the pain.
"There is a way, but... why should I save you?"
He flung him off forcefully, his face full of disdain. Even Lei Tao could hardly bear to watch. Just moments ago, Master Huo had accused Liu Wuxie of bringing a fake Pill Formula and nearly killed him to silence him.
"As long as you can save me, I'll agree to any condition. Money? Beautiful women? Whatever you want, I'll give it all to you."
Serving as the Pill Treasure Pavilion's chief Alchemist, he had accumulated a substantial fortune over the years. If it could buy his life, he was willing to hand over that wealth.
"Give it all to me?" Liu Wuxie let out a cold laugh. "Even the Pill Treasure Pavilion might not be able to produce what I want."
A hint of contempt appeared in his eyes. How much wealth could a mere second-grade Alchemist possess? He truly thought nothing of it.
"Young Master Liu, I beg you. What will it take for you to save me?"
Master Huo abandoned his dignity. The pain in his Shanzhong acupoint made him wish he were dead. His gaze filled with pleading, like a drowning man clutching a life-saving straw.
"I can save you. I don't want your wealth, either. I came to the Pill Treasure Pavilion with only one purpose: to work with you."
Once the Heavenly Spirit Pill entered the world, why worry about resources not flowing in? He did not want to give others a handle over him; he would keep the initiative in his own hands.
"Tell me quickly. How do you want to cooperate?"
Master Huo's face was urgent, his gaze eager, leaving Lei Tao speechless. Was this still the two-star Alchemist he had known? He was little different from a lapdog, stopping just short of kneeling to lick Liu Wuxie's soles.
"Are you qualified to decide?"
The icy mockery struck Master Huo's face like a vicious slap. However much it hurt, he had to endure it. To stay alive, he could abandon even his dignity.
Lei Tao truly could not bear to watch any longer and turned his head aside. Everything that had happened today had completely overturned his worldview.
A mere live-in son-in-law had injured more than ten blue-robed attendants in the hall, sent their leader flying with one palm, produced a mysterious Pill Formula, and even exposed Master Huo's hidden ailment, forcing him to willingly bow and scrape. Was this still the wastrel live-in son-in-law from before?
"The pavilion master isn't in Canglan City. I alone can decide matters of cooperation. Speak freely."
After speaking, Master Huo glanced at Lei Tao. The latter offered no objection, proving his words were true. He did indeed have that authority.
Liu Wuxie did not rush to discuss their cooperation. He had Master Huo produce a set of silver needles so he could first treat the grave illness within his body.
His fingers moved like the wind. A finger-length silver needle pierced Master Huo's Shanzhong acupoint, giving off a faint rhythmic vibration.
One needle followed another in a dazzling blur. Lei Tao's expression changed repeatedly. In his memory, the Xu Household's live-in son-in-law knew nothing beyond eating, drinking, and amusing himself.
All the silver needles pierced the major acupoints throughout his body with precision. A warm current arose from the soles of Master Huo's feet and spread through his limbs and bones. The dull pain in his Shanzhong acupoint gradually faded, leaving him immensely excited.
"Your hidden ailment runs too deep. It will take five treatments to eradicate it completely."
Pulling out the silver needles, Liu Wuxie spoke without a trace of emotion. With his methods, he could cure him in a single treatment. If he healed him so quickly and the man turned on him again, would it not be like fetching water with a bamboo basket, only to come away empty-handed?
"Thank you, Young Master Liu. Words cannot express my gratitude for such great kindness. I'll remember this favor in my heart. If you ever have need of this old man, just say the word."
He wore a different face, looking like an entirely different person from moments before.
"There's no need for thanks. Next, let's discuss our cooperation."
Liu Wuxie waved a hand to interrupt him. The situation inside the private room had undergone an earth-shaking reversal. Everything revolved around Liu Wuxie now, and strangest of all, he actually exuded the presence of one who stood above others.