Chapter 74: Lingdan Pavilion

## Chapter 74: The Spirit Pill Pavilion

"What? Xu Fu?" When Ge Hong and True Person Qingyang received the report from their disciple, even they were taken aback by the news.

"For this, Elder Xu Fu nearly came to blows with Elder Zhao Zhijing."

Upon hearing this, Ge Hong and True Person Qingyang exchanged glances, their eyes filled with profound disbelief. This turn of events was entirely unexpected; despite all their plotting, they had never imagined Xu Fu would become involved.

A deep frown creased their brows, and their eyes flickered with uncertainty. They couldn't fathom why Xu Fu would intervene to save a mere Qi Condensation realm outer disciple, and to the extent of nearly clashing with the Disciplinary Hall. This fact alone proved that Ye Chen was far from the simple figure he appeared to be.

"Could it be because of Ye Chen's talent?" Ge Hong mused aloud.

"With Xu Fu protecting him, it will be even more difficult to deal with Ye Chen," True Person Qingyang's expression also turned exceedingly grim.

Both understood in their hearts that within the Hengyue Sect, provoking anyone was preferable to offending Xu Fu. If he were angered, he possessed ten thousand methods to withhold the supply of Spirit Pills and Spirit Liquids. Without a steady supply of these resources, what cultivation path could one possibly pursue?

Compared to the two of them, Old Daoist Zhong of Tianyang Peak was left utterly stunned upon hearing the news.

"Xu Fu saved Ye Chen? What is going on?"

***

On a comfortable, large bed, the sleeping Ye Chen rubbed his nose and greedily inhaled the rich medicinal fragrance that permeated the air.

The next moment, he opened his eyes, only to be met with Xiong Er's round, fleshy face.

"You're finally awake," Xiong Er breathed a deep sigh of relief.

"Where is this?" Sitting up, Ye Chen rubbed his temples, his gaze sweeping over the unfamiliar surroundings.

"The Spirit Pill Pavilion," Xiong Er grinned.

Ye Chen's memories of the day's events flooded back: the great battle on the Wind Cloud Platform, being ambushed by disciples from two peaks, being dragged into the Disciplinary Hall… Scene after scene became clear in his mind. Yet, he had never anticipated that the one who saved him would be Xu Fu.

"I'm sorry, to save you, I had to break our agreement," Xiong Er said in a low voice from the side.

Ye Chen didn't speak, knowing precisely what Xiong Er was referring to. There was an understanding between them regarding his True Fire, a secret that Xiong Er was sworn to keep. The matter of his True Fire was of immense importance; besides aiding cultivation, it could also assist alchemists in refining pills.

The Hengyue Sect possessed only one Earth Fire, which was under the mastery of Xu Fu, the head of the Spirit Pill Pavilion. It was precisely because of this Earth Fire that Xu Fu was able to refine Spirit Pills and Liquids, supplying the needs of the entire sect.

This, too, was likely the reason for Xu Fu's intervention on his behalf. Earth Fire and True Fire, even by their names, were not on the same level. The grade of True Fire was far superior to Earth Fire, and one could imagine how much more potent pills refined with True Fire would be compared to those refined with Earth Fire.

The significance of True Fire to an alchemist was self-evident. It was precisely this point that Xiong Er had seized upon when seeking help at the Spirit Pill Pavilion. The fact proved that his decision was sound. Regardless of whether Xu Fu intended to seize Ye Chen's True Fire or not, at least Ye Chen was alive. Whatever the outcome, it was better than perishing in the Disciplinary Hall.

"What kind of person is Xu Fu?" After a moment of silence, Ye Chen looked at Xiong Er.

"How to put it?" Xiong Er scratched his ear. "This old man seems upright, but he's actually quite crafty."

"What kind of answer is that?"

"You're afraid he'll seize your True Fire, aren't you!" Xiong Er wasn't foolish and understood the true nature of Ye Chen's question.

Ye Chen didn't deny it, nodding slightly. "He saved my life. Even if he were to seize my True Fire now, I would have no complaints."

"Then I wish you luck!" Xiong Er shook his head helplessly. "True Fire is too important to an alchemist. Even if Xu Fu is upright, it's still entirely possible he could seize your True Fire."

"Little Fatty, what do you take this old Xu for?" A disgruntled voice sounded, and then the door was pushed open, and someone entered.

Seeing the figure, Xiong Er gave a dry cough and dared not speak further.

Beside him, Ye Chen had already flipped off the bed and bowed respectfully to Xu Fu. "Disciple Ye Chen, I am deeply grateful for Elder's life-saving grace."

"Just words? Is there nothing tangible?"

Hearing this, Ye Chen pursed his lips and said, "Senior, if you desire my True Fire, you may take it at any time."

"That depends on whether I can subdue it," Xu Fu smiled, looking at Ye Chen. "Show me your True Fire; it's been many years since I've seen one."

Ye Chen took a deep breath but still acted on instinct. The golden True Fire in his Dan Sea transformed into a flame and appeared in his hand.

"Golden True Fire!" Upon seeing it, even Xu Fu, known for his composure, couldn't help but exclaim.

Immediately, he produced an ancient scroll from his robes. After opening it, he examined it carefully. Ye Chen glanced at it and noticed that every page of the scroll depicted a True Fire: some purple, some yellow, some blue, with each flame accompanied by annotations.

"Not there?" Xu Fu checked through the scroll and then looked at the True Fire in Ye Chen's palm, his eyes narrowing slightly. He murmured, "This Golden True Fire is the first I've seen. It's not even recorded in the Flame Compendium."

"But that's also right. There are too many flames nurtured by heaven and earth; this Flame Compendium doesn't record them all."

"However, this golden flame truly appears extraordinary."

Xu Fu examined Ye Chen's True Fire from every angle, muttering to himself for a long time. Finally, Xu Fu reached out his hand and grasped the True Fire in Ye Chen's palm, hoping to see it more clearly.

Only, a strange scene unfolded. Ye Chen's True Fire seemed to possess sentience. As soon as it was grasped by Xu Fu, it resisted violently, burning fiercely.

"Wa!"

Xu Fu cried out in pain, hastily letting go, but his palm had been scorched black by the True Fire. Looking at the True Fire again, it transformed into a golden light and burrowed back into Ye Chen's body, leaving even Xiong Er beside him utterly astonished.

"Your True Fire actually has intelligence!" Ignoring the pain in his palm, Xu Fu was filled with surprise.

"Elder, don't all flames nurtured by heaven and earth possess sentience?" Xiong Er asked doubtfully.

"Who says all flames nurtured by heaven and earth possess intelligence?" Xu Fu glanced at Xiong Er and then stroked his beard, explaining, "Any flame nurtured by heaven and earth possesses spirituality, but possessing spirituality and possessing intelligence may not be the same concept. If categorized by grade, intelligence is a higher grade than spirituality. Although it's only a difference of one word, it's a difference between heaven and earth."

"This... this is what I mean!" Xiong Er scratched his head.

"Elder, how are the grades of True Fire divided?" Ye Chen looked at Xu Fu and asked. Previously, in the Netherworld Black Market, when refining the Witch Curse with the purple-robed elder, he had learned that True Fire also had grades, but the purple-robed elder hadn't elaborated.

"That's difficult to say," Xu Fu stroked his beard. "Some are divided by the level of spirituality, some by the strength of the flame, and some by the era they appeared in. As for clear grades, even with my many years of cultivation experience, I still don't know."

Alas!

Saying this, Xu Fu sighed. "Originally, I wanted to borrow your True Fire to fuse into my body, and return it to you after my demise. Now it seems my idea is not feasible."

"Why?" Both Ye Chen and Xiong Er asked.

"Because your True Fire inherently possesses intelligence and has already recognized you as its master. Forcibly taking it into my body would instead result in a strong backlash. This is a matter of fate. Since it chose you, it cannot be forced."

Hearing this, Ye Chen's heart suddenly relaxed. Xu Fu's words were clear: he had no intention of taking the True Fire. This meant his True Fire was safe.

"However, I can't save you for nothing," Xu Fu gave a dry cough.

"Whatever Elder commands."

"Help me refine pills."

"Refine... refine pills?" Ye Chen was startled, then smiled awkwardly. "Well, Elder, extracting Spirit Liquids is fine, but when it comes to refining pills, I'm completely clueless."

"Don't you still have me!"

***

That night, Ye Chen walked out of the Spirit Pill Pavilion, having agreed to return in three days to help Xu Fu refine pills.

Throughout the journey, Ye Chen remained silent. His survival from this great ordeal was pure luck. The conspiracies targeting him by Renyang Peak, Diyang Peak, and the Disciplinary Hall sent shivers down his spine even now. If not for Xu Fu's timely arrival, he would surely have become a ghost under their knives.

An open attack is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is difficult to defend against. He was certain that even with Xu Fu's protection, he was still at risk of being eliminated at any time.

A righteous sect, though it sounded noble, was fraught with hidden dangers, as he had seen clearly.

"I am too weak," he murmured, clenching his fists tightly. A roar erupted from within him. "I want to become strong, to protect the people I care about."

Returning to the small spirit garden, he knelt outside Zhang Fengnian's room for a long time. It was this elderly man who had not hesitated to abandon his dignity, who had not hesitated to use his life to save him. The overwhelming guilt caused him to fall to his knees with a thud.

"Senior, it is I, your junior, who has caused you such humiliation. Ye Chen swears here and now, those who bullied you, I will make them pay a hundred, a thousand times the price."