Chapter 29: Another Lucky Find

"Foolish!" Qin Liang and Jiang Xuehan cursed simultaneously. For his own sake, Li Hongcai had inadvertently pushed the Jiang family into opposition with the City Lord's Mansion.

As the auction concluded, the crowd dispersed. Jiang Hai hurried away, desperate to catch up and offer compensation to the City Lord; otherwise, the future of the Jiang family looked grim.

Li Hongcai, having secured the Spirit Transformation Pill and paid the spirit coins, felt quite satisfied. Li Qiumei, however, wore a grim expression. Realizing she had been too indulgent with her nephew and that it would likely cause trouble in the future, she sighed helplessly. "You... cultivate diligently from now on. No more reckless behavior."

"Don't worry, Aunt, I won't," Li Hongcai nodded repeatedly, though it was unclear if he had truly taken her words to heart.

After escorting Jiang Xuehan back, Qin Liang headed out once more to complete his remaining tasks.

...

Inside a quiet chamber at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.

"Here are the Ice Spirit Grass and the spirit coins from the auction. Please, Master, have a look." Luo Qian handed over a Qiankun bag.

Qin Liang, wearing gloves, took the bag and checked its contents, nodding in satisfaction. Luo Qian did not withhold the fact that the auction house had waived its commission, reporting everything truthfully. Qin Liang felt a flicker of surprise; Qian Youcai was indeed a seasoned veteran, having subtly maneuvered him into owing the auction house a favor.

But then again, what did a second-grade alchemist owing a favor have to do with him, Qin Liang?

"I have another matter I wish to entrust to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. Is Pavilion Master Hua interested?" Qin Liang asked. "If successful, I may refine another pill for your pavilion, the grade to be determined."

"Grade to be determined" meant it could potentially be a second-grade pill, provided the other party supplied the necessary spirit herbs for a second-grade recipe. He was only responsible for the refining, not for providing the ingredients.

Hua Zhiqiao’s eyes brightened. She smiled and said, "Please, Master, speak. Anything within our power, we shall certainly fulfill."

The pavilion had originally hoped to profit from the Ice Spirit Grass, but they had ended up with a surplus. With eight hundred thousand spirit coins split equally, and after deducting the hundred and fifty thousand for the Ice Spirit Grass, there was still a significant remainder. She was eager for more such partnerships; why would she ever refuse the Master’s request?

Following this, Qin Liang and Hua Zhiqiao held a private meeting in the quiet chamber, which lasted for an hour.

...

It was dusk by the time Qin Liang returned to the Jiang residence.

"Everything is arranged. Once I finish refining the Cold-Resistant Pill, I shall be ready to set off for Rainbow Glow Mountain."

In his room, he summoned the Heaven-Desolate Cauldron and retrieved the herbs needed for the Cold-Resistant Pill.

He went through the motions, tossing the herbs into the cauldron one by one to refine and fuse them. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a pill wreathed in white, icy mist emerged, its fragrance crisp and ethereal.

He put away the Heaven-Desolate Cauldron and brought the pill to Jiang Xuehan’s courtyard.

"This is also... of perfect quality?" Jiang Xuehan looked at the pill in her hand, startled. Since when did perfect-quality pills become so common? She had believed Qin Liang when he said the perfect-quality Tendon-Strengthening Bone-Building Pill was a fluke, but surely this wasn't another one?

"Yes!" Qin Liang nodded. "Take it and see."

She trusted him. Nodding, she swallowed the pill without hesitation and began to circulate her energy to refine it.

"This pill..." She was astonished to find the medicinal power flowing directly toward her dantian.

There, a cluster of cold poison was locked away by her Dao root. Upon sensing the surge of medicinal power, it seemed to sense danger and began to struggle violently. Yet, in the face of her ninth-grade Dao root, all resistance was futile. The medicinal power enveloped the cold poison, wrapping around it and binding it to her fifth-grade Dao root, gradually fusing them together.

Slowly, the cold poison ceased its struggle, yielding to her control. It began to use the fifth-grade Dao root as its foundation, becoming as responsive to her command as her own limbs, with the fifth-grade Dao root serving as the bridge between her and the poison.

She opened her eyes, a sliver of icy mist spilling from them, accompanied by a trace of joy.

"Want to try it?" Qin Liang smiled.

Jiang Xuehan nodded, and with a wave of her hand, a surge of cold air swept out, instantly enveloping the courtyard. Whether for combat or intimidation, it was an effective tool for her.

The courtyard, no more than thirty meters across, was transformed into a miniature frozen wasteland. All the flowers and plants were instantly encased in ice, and her entire demeanor seemed to shift. Her aura turned cold and detached, like an empress of frost, with the warmth of her smile fading.

Watching her, Qin Liang felt a momentary sense of loss. He had a premonition that as Jiang Xuehan used the cold poison more frequently, her temperament might change permanently, making it difficult for her to smile again. He wondered what that future would look like.

Withdrawing the cold poison, Jiang Xuehan turned back, sensing his thoughts. "Don't worry. The cold poison Dao root is only fifth-grade; the ninth-grade Dao root you gave me will keep it in check. I said I would repay you with my entire life—through the end of time and the weathering of mountains—I will not break my word."

Her comfort warmed his heart, and he kissed her lips. As the kiss deepened, their instincts pulled them toward a more profound intimacy, but Jiang Xuehan, her cheeks flushed, gently pushed him back. "Not yet. We aren't married. Wait a few more days."

"My apologies." Qin Liang pulled back, knowing it was time to leave; there was work to be done.

Before departing, he looked back at her and said, "I am leaving for a period of training. The day I return will be the day I marry you."

"Be careful in everything you do!" Jiang Xuehan smiled and nodded. "I will be here waiting for you."

She knew the dangers of Rainbow Glow Mountain. Although she wanted to follow and protect him, she knew it would do little to help his growth. She chose to trust—trust that he would return to marry her, for trust was greater than anything else.

Back in his room, Qin Liang summoned the Heaven-Desolate Cauldron and took out the Water Source Ore. The ore was only the size of a fist, but he could sense the abundance of spiritual essence within, comparable to half a second-grade spirit herb. If he could refine it, it might assist him in his fifth spirit refining.

*Crack!*

Inside the cauldron, cracks appeared on the Water Source Ore and spread rapidly. The auction house had tried many methods to break or refine it, but before the Heaven-Desolate Cauldron, it was as soft as tofu. It was quickly ground into powder, all impurities removed, leaving only a single drop of essence liquid.

"I suppose this counts as picking up a bargain," Qin Liang muttered to himself. He drank the spiritual essence and began to circulate his energy to refine and absorb it.

The fifth spirit refining was systematic; once completed, his overall capabilities would be elevated. By then, when he unleashed his "Seven-Star Fist," he would be able to incorporate seven layers of dark energy, greatly increasing its power. This gave him yet another means of self-preservation for his journey into Rainbow Glow Mountain.

Under the influence of the "Heaven-Desolate Profound Dao Manual," the surging energy within Qin Liang’s body felt like a rain of stars, falling upon the earth of his physical form, nourishing every inch of soil. Every cell, like a nestling bird waiting to be fed, hungrily devoured the spiritual essence and grew robust.

During the process, Qin Liang entered a state of meditation, losing all perception of the outside world. It was a marvelous sensation; he could feel his connection to the Great Dao of heaven and earth deepening.

The feeling did not fade until the next morning. Qin Liang awoke amidst the morning glow, feeling as though he had just woken from a pleasant dream—a deeply refreshing sleep.

With the fifth spirit refining complete, he felt invigorated and stretched his limbs.

"Time to head into the mountains for some beast meat. I'll bring the pot, and don't forget the seasonings."

He raided the kitchen, stuffed everything he needed into his Qiankun bag, and stepped out of the courtyard. First, a trip to the market; a map of Rainbow Glow Mountain was essential.