With trembling hands, he used his spiritual energy to lift one of the pills, bringing it close to his eyes for a careful inspection. The body of the pill was warm and translucent, a uniform dark-gilded gold without a single speck of impurity or discoloration.
A smooth cloud pattern coiled around the pill, perfectly even in depth. Its spiritual light was restrained and gentle. With a slight turn, a thin mist of golden radiance drifted up from its surface, lingering for a long time.
“It really is a supreme-grade Foundation Establishment Pill!”
He suddenly recalled the prophecy left behind by his master—
“A dawn will surely rise for the sect within a hundred years.”
Su Mingyuan looked at his youngest disciple, who was smiling so obediently in front of him, and his heart leaped violently.
Could it be...
Holding the pill, he laughed and cried at the same time, looking quite comical.
The Chaos Spiritual Root grumbled inside Xue Mingzhao, “Is this old man crazy?”
Was a single Foundation Establishment Pill really worth all this?
This was also the first time Su Ye had witnessed his junior sister refining pills with his own eyes. He had been quite shocked at first, but seeing how excited his master was, he suddenly felt... that he was actually quite composed.
Xue Mingzhao said with utmost sincerity, “Master, this is only the beginning. With Senior Brother and me by your side, the Grand Primordium Sect will definitely not decline like this.”
“Besides, I just named our little courtyard, and Senior Brother has only just stabilized his sword stance. We want to stay in the Grand Primordium Sect forever to accompany you and our martial uncles.”
Su Mingyuan’s voice choked with emotion. “Good children. With these words from you, even if I have to guard this Eastern Territory where the spiritual energy has withered, I do so willingly. From now on, as master and disciples, we will be of one mind. The Grand Primordium Sect will surely survive this low point.”
...
After leaving Su Mingyuan’s quarters, Xue Mingzhao squatted on Su Ye’s new spirit boat, lost in thought.
The problem of spirit stones was resolved, but the fact that the spiritual energy in the Grand Primordium Sect was toxic remained a lingering worry.
How could perfectly good spiritual energy carry toxins?
Su Ye leaned over. “What are you thinking about, Junior Sister? You look so serious.”
“I’m wondering why the spiritual energy in the Eastern Territory is getting scarcer and scarcer.” Xue Mingzhao frowned. “It’s bad enough that it’s scarce, but why is it also toxic?”
Su Ye stroked his chin and analyzed solemnly, “There are usually only a few possibilities for spiritual energy to suddenly grow scarce. Either the underground spirit veins are damaged and the spiritual springs have run dry, leaving the earth veins unable to supply spiritual energy; or someone has set up a spirit-draining formation to secretly siphon it away; or perhaps evil miasma and baleful energy have bred underground, swallowing up all the spiritual energy.”
Before Xue Mingzhao could speak, Cang Jue’s voice rang out in her mind. “I know a thing or two about formations. Why don’t you take me for a spin around the Grand Primordium Sect so I can take a look?”
Xue Mingzhao’s eyes lit up. “You even know about formations? You really are my sweet little darling!”
Cang Jue felt a bit embarrassed by the praise, and his voice softened. “Just... just a thing or two...”
The Chaos Spiritual Root was displeased and spoke up sourly, “You’d rather ask this broken cauldron than me? He’s just a medicine-brewing pot, what does he know about formations?”
Xue Mingzhao asked, “Oh? Then what do you think is the reason?”
The Chaos Spiritual Root replied, “I don’t know.”
Xue Mingzhao: “...”
So you just came here to argue, didn’t you?
She couldn't be bothered to pay attention to the Chaos Spiritual Root, turning instead to instruct Cang Jue, “Cang Jue, tomorrow I will prepare the ingredients for the Nirvana Pill. Help me refine a batch.”
Hearing the words “Nirvana Pill,” the Chaos Spiritual Root immediately panicked. “Hey, hey, hey, don’t be hasty! Although I don’t understand formations, I understand spiritual energy! I can help you find the source of the toxic gas!”
Xue Mingzhao said flatly, “If you can’t find it, I’ll replace you.”
The Chaos Spiritual Root fell silent, realizing it shouldn’t have opened its mouth.
...
Su Ye’s spirit boat slowly circled above the Grand Primordium Sect several times.
The evening breeze brushed against their faces. The sect was quiet and peaceful in the night, showing no sign of any hidden danger.
Cang Jue’s voice carried a hint of certainty. “There is no formation. At least... there are no traces of a spirit-draining formation. Should we look elsewhere?”
The Chaos Spiritual Root suddenly spoke, its tone rare and somewhat serious. “This toxic gas... gets denser the closer it is to the ground. It’s highly likely that the source is at the bottom of the sea.”
Xue Mingzhao’s eyes lit up, and she patted Su Ye on the shoulder. “Senior Brother, I feel like the cause might be underwater! Shall we go take a look at the seabed?”
Su Ye wore an expression that clearly said, “Are you kidding me?” “Junior Sister, the Water-Repelling Spell can only be practiced after reaching Foundation Establishment. You have to reach Foundation Establishment first.”
Xue Mingzhao nodded. “Then we’ll go tomorrow.”
Su Ye: “...”
Wait, if he remembered correctly, wasn’t she only at the seventh level of Qi Condensation?
Going tomorrow?
So, she planned to reach Foundation Establishment overnight?
Was this the confidence of a genius?
He originally wanted to say that Foundation Establishment was, after all, a major breakthrough from Qi Condensation. Even for a genius, rushing from the seventh level of Qi Condensation to Foundation Establishment in a single night was virtually impossible.
But the words caught in his throat, and he swallowed them back down.
Forget it, his junior sister could no longer be described merely as a “genius.”
The things she did made her a genius among geniuses, a monster among monsters.
Maybe... she really could work a miracle?
Xue Mingzhao stared at the dark, churning surface of the sea, falling into silent contemplation.
Cang Jue had just told her that refining a Water-Repelling Pill was not a difficult task.
But after weighing her options, she decided to dive into the ocean only after breaking through to Foundation Establishment.
If there was some unknown danger hidden below, at least she would have the capability to escape after reaching Foundation Establishment.
The Chaos Spiritual Root disagreed completely. “A danger that a seventh level Qi Condensation cultivator can’t handle can be resolved just because you newly reached Foundation Establishment? A minor increase in cultivation doesn’t mean you’ll be invincible.”
Xue Mingzhao ignored it.
Nonsense.
An extra layer of cultivation meant an extra layer of protection. Did she really need it to tell her that?
...
Back in his courtyard, Su Ye lay down on his bed. Just as he was about to close his eyes and sleep, he suddenly sprang back up.
What if... he meant just in case, his junior sister really broke through to Foundation Establishment overnight?
Wouldn’t he be left even further behind?
No, no, he couldn’t drag her down!
Su Ye flipped himself out of bed in one swift motion, pulled out the pill Xue Mingzhao had stuffed into his hands, swallowed it in one gulp, and sat cross-legged to begin cultivating.
No matter what, he had to take another small step forward tonight!
Rate on N.U.
