Chapter 160: Obtaining the Elixir

Xiao Yuansi patted the elixir furnace in front of him, and the last batch of Serpent Origin Pills shot out. They revolved in the air, emitting a dazzling luminescence, before one by one falling into the jade bottles in his hand.

“Alright, from these seven Serpent Dragon Fruits, a total of forty-five pills have been refined. According to the established rules, I will take nine, and the remaining thirty-six belong to you all…”

Li Tongya shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this. He was no longer the young man who had just entered the immortal path. After cultivating by the lake for thirty to forty years, he understood the common deductions for alchemy and quickly said,

“Senior! This would be too generous for my family. In alchemy, if the materials are self-provided, and the success rate exceeds fifty percent, then all the remaining pills belong to the alchemist. There’s no rule about only taking them if the success rate exceeds seventy percent! You have helped my family too much; how can we possibly take advantage of you like this…”

Xiao Yuansi was momentarily stunned, then chuckled softly. He replied,

“I have already broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, so these Serpent Origin Pills are completely useless to me now. Taking these nine is purely to avoid breaking the rules. Your Li family now has many descendants, and there will be many places where pills are needed. There’s no need to be polite with me!”

“Absolutely not!”

Li Tongya cupped his hands. He knew that Xiao Yuansi felt guilty towards Chijin and was using this to compensate the Li family. He replied,

“My family indeed urgently needs these pills, so let it be this way.”

Saying this, he took out fifty spirit stones from his storage pouch, placed them on the table in front of him, and respectfully said,

“Since these pills are useless to you, Senior, please allow us to convert what you rightfully deserve into spirit stones. I humbly request that you accept them.”

Xiao Yuansi did a quick mental calculation and realized that Li Tongya was still calculating based on a fifty percent share, and the fifty spirit stones were even more than needed. He waved his sleeve, accepting them, and replied,

“I won’t make things difficult for you, then. I’ll accept them.”

As he stood up, preparing to take his leave, Xiao Yuansi suddenly remembered something. He said gently,

“Lixia County suffered a massacre and currently has very few inhabitants. My Xiao family still needs to relocate some people from various families along the Ancient Li Dao. Later, some juniors will visit to discuss the details.”

“This junior understands. Farewell, Senior!”

Li Tongya quickly assented. He watched Xiao Yuansi pilot his flying shuttle into the distance, disappearing into the horizon. Only then did Li Xuanxuan, who had been waiting outside the door, dare to enter. He looked at the jade bottles full on the table, his face filled with joy, and softly said,

“With this batch of pills, the cultivation of our family members can advance further.”

Li Tongya nodded, waved his sleeve, and collected the pills from the table. He replied,

“Serpent Origin Pills are known for their mild properties. They can be consumed by both embryonic breath and Qi refinement cultivators, making them perfectly suited for our family.”

Li Xuanxuan estimated the time and smiled,

“I’ve been at the peak of embryonic breath for two years now. With these Serpent Origin Pills, plus one Talisman Pill for each major realm, breaking through to Qi refinement will be very stable.”

Li Tongya took out a pill and handed it to him, saying softly,

“Have you decided which cultivation method you want to practice?”

“Although the ‘Purple Thunder Secret Origin Art’ is powerful, the required Profound Yin Thunder Liquid can only be collected during thunderstorms at specific times. I can’t wait that long. So, I’ll choose between the ‘River-Qi Art’ and the ‘Cavern Spring Clear Spirit Art’.”

“Both have their unique characteristics, but this nephew prefers the ‘Cavern Spring Clear Spirit Art’.”

Li Xuanxuan finished speaking in one breath, clearly having planned this long ago. Li Tongya waved his hand and asked,

“Tell me your reasons?”

“The ‘Cavern Spring Clear Spirit Art’ uses ‘Cavern Spring Clear Qi’ for Qi refinement. It’s rich in vitality and profoundly subtle, which greatly aids in talisman crafting. This nephew has been studying the path of talismans for over a decade now, and in the future, I can contribute more to the family financially. Furthermore, Xuanling uses a sword, and the ‘River-Qi Art’ is very compatible with him. If everyone in the family cultivates the ‘River Clear Qi,’ their characteristics would be too obvious, making them easily targeted by enemies…”

Li Xuanxuan listed several points. Li Tongya listened and nodded. He handed him a portion of ‘Cavern Spring Clear Qi’ that he had collected in previous years from his storage pouch, saying gently,

“As you said, go prepare the family affairs. If Yuansiu can’t handle it, pass it to Xuanling. Then, go into secluded cultivation.”

Li Xuanxuan nodded heavily. Li Tongya took out the ‘Spiritual Eye Clear Sight’ and instructed him to give it to Xuanfeng, who was in secluded cultivation. He then took out the light purple ‘Secret Essentials of Pill Refining,’ and softly said,

“I’ve read through this. Alchemy isn’t something everyone can manage; it requires talent. Copy out the section in this book about summoning alchemy flames. Distribute it among the disciples in the family to read. If anyone can summon alchemy flames within the next few years, have them come find me on Meichi Peak.”

Li Xuanxuan assented and left. Only then did Li Tongya pick up the Green Ruler Sword, which was hidden in its sheath. He lowered his gaze and looked at it for a moment, then gripped the hilt with his left hand and gently applied force.

“Clang!!”

A gentle white light poured out. The greenish-white sword aura illuminated the courtyard, making it ripple like water from top to bottom. The shimmering light of water traversed the yard. The Dharma sword at Li Tongya’s waist began to clatter and tremble.

“Jing’er…”

When Li Tongya touched the sword, he had an epiphany: he could draw this spiritual blade as long as he used the “Moon Gap Sword Arc” as an opening move. At the time, Xiao Yuansi was still nearby, so he hadn't fully exerted himself. Now, drawing the sword from its sheath, he looked at the two seal script characters “Green Ruler” on the blade and softly said,

“You’ve been wronged.”

The Green Ruler Spiritual Blade hummed in his hand, radiating cold light. Li Tongya saw two seal script characters appear on the sword tassel:

“Slay Break… Green Ruler…”

Li Tongya pursed his lips, sheathed the sword, and rode the wind towards Meichi Peak.

After Li Xuanxuan had settled the family affairs, he took the spiritual qi and went into secluded cultivation on Meichi Peak. Family matters were entrusted to Li Xuanling and Li Yuansiu. Li Qinghong and Li Yuanjiao remained on the mountain to learn the ‘Guiding Art,’ using moonlight to condense profound visions.

On Lijing Peak.

“Knock, knock.”

Li Yuansiu entered the courtyard with a smile. Li Yuanjiao had just finished his cultivation and was wielding a sword in the courtyard. Seeing him, he quickly smiled and came forward to greet him, respectfully saying,

“Elder Brother!”

“Come, Yuanjiao.”

Li Yuansiu ruffled his hair. He placed a jade bottle into Li Yuanjiao’s small hand, saying gently,

“These are the pills your Fourth Uncle-Grandfather sent back. Keep them safe. Take them when you’re about to break through.”

To maintain secrecy, Li Tongya and Li Xuanxuan referred to the items Xiao Yuansi brought as having been sent back by Li Chijin. Li Yuansiu and the others, unaware of the truth, naturally accepted them with joy.

Li Yuanjiao had now been granted a talisman seed. Using moonlight, he had quickly broken through to the Profound Vision stage. Having learned the family’s secrets, he swore a Profound Vision Spiritual Oath and had been cultivating on the mountain ever since.

Watching Li Yuanjiao obediently nod and accept, Li Yuansiu clapped his hands. The several portions of pills Li Xuanxuan had instructed him to deliver before his seclusion had all been delivered. He felt considerably relieved.

“After all, Serpent Origin Pills are precious. It’s better to deliver them personally. Entrusting them to others might lead to unpleasant incidents and unnecessary trouble.”

Li Yuansiu’s lips curved slightly into a smile. Although the external branch cultivators in the family were generally obedient and no unpleasant incidents had occurred, Li Yuansiu still felt uneasy. He preferred to handle important matters personally.

“Clan Head.”

As Li Yuansiu was contemplating this, Li Pingyi and others entered the courtyard and hurried forward. Behind them were several town administrators, all with lowered gazes, not daring to speak. Li Yuansiu was currently managing affairs in the Clan Affairs Hall, so Li Pingyi naturally addressed him as “Clan Head.”

“Who’s causing trouble?”

Li Yuansiu saw that he was addressed as “Clan Head” instead of “Young Clan Master,” and that town administrators were accompanying him. He knew that something had happened with the clan disciples. He asked in a deep voice, secretly thinking,

“I just finished praising the clan disciples, and now something has happened. This is truly laughable.”

Li Pingyi did not dare to delay, and his expression was also somewhat grim. He quickly replied,

“Clan Uncle Qiuyang returned from the mine. He had already broken through to the Jade Capital stage and gained spiritual consciousness. When he returned to the town, he took a stroll down the street. Unexpectedly, his spiritual consciousness stirred, and he caught several clan disciples in a courtyard… in a courtyard…”

“Doing what?”

Li Yuansiu asked in a deep voice, and then saw Li Pingyi grit his teeth and say,

“They were dog fighting for stakes, all baring their chests, behaving wantonly and brazenly, embracing people left and right in the courtyard, and there might have been instances of bullying…”

“How audacious!”

Li Yuanjiao, who was standing below, looked displeased upon hearing this. Li Yuansiu’s expression also changed several times upon hearing these words, feeling deeply ashamed and indignant. He said coldly,

“They truly are audacious…”