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nEditor: Casey

nA Longevity Pill.

nA Longevity Pill that could attract a Pill Aurora.

nSuch a priceless treasure was fed, right in front of several supreme elders, to a disciple with a ruined spiritual root, someone who couldn’t even achieve immortality in the future.

nHowever, they could not say anything because this Longevity Pill was made with this disciple in mind.

nThe hearts of the supreme elders ached and bled.

nThat was a Longevity Pill!

nEven powerful people like them longed for these pills that could increase their lifespan by at least a century.

nAfter all, the road to immortality was very long and fraught with danger. Cultivators seemed to wander on this road blindfolded at night. No one knew if their next step would send them falling off a cliff.

nIf cultivators reached a bottleneck for some reason, their only hope would be Longevity Pills.

nMaybe they would be able to break through after a hundred years and increase their lifespan even more.

nThe longer a person has lived, the more they value their life. Naturally, this was the case with these supreme elders.

nBut due to their high status, they can’t bring themselves to say directly, “Why are you giving it to him??”

n“I never thought you knew how to refine pills.”

n“Same here. I’ve watched you grow up as a child, and even I didn’t have a clue.”

nSomeone else smiled and glanced at Zhang Cheng. “We had some doubts on the way here. After all, your Qing Jian Peak didn’t seem to have any pill refining masters. Before that, Supreme Elder Zhang Cheng even said that this Pill Aurora might have been formulated by one of his Chi Xia peak disciples! But I never expected it to be you.”

n“Oh?”

nShi Qing obligingly glanced at Zhang Cheng, who was standing beside him. He smiled, “By the way, I have to thank Supreme Elder Zhang Cheng.”

n“If you didn’t order Chi Xia Peak to stop providing my Qing Jian Peak with pills, I wouldn’t have tried refining myself. Then I wouldn’t have discovered my talent at this! In only two hours, I was able to refine two Longevity Pills. It almost seems like I’m more suitable for Chi Xia Peak.”

nZhang Cheng: “……”

nIn just two hours?!

nCould it be that Shi Qing is really a genius at pill refining?!

nZhang Cheng wanted to teach this junior a lesson, but how did he end up helping him discover his innate talent?!?

nHis expression was horrible, but the supreme elder couldn’t say anything to retort with those pills in front of him.

nZhang Cheng couldn’t even blow his top.

nLooking at the pill’s fragrance and the aurora in the sky, he knew that he lost more than just face this time.

nNow that Shi Qing suddenly gained a new skill out of nowhere, and one perfectly suited for stealing business from him, these old foxes were bound to switch sides.

nZhang Cheng’s guess was absolutely correct.

nHelping a young man who relied on pills to cultivate and helping someone who could refine Pill Aurora grade pills were naturally different.

nEspecially to these supreme elders.

nIt was as if they had suddenly discovered how gifted their junior, Shi Qing, was. One by one, they all became amiable and warm.

n“I knew you had great potential since you were a child. Although your father has now ascended, there are still people like us to hold down the fort. Since you have talent in pill refinement, feel free to continue practicing.”

n“I agree. Even Supreme Elder Zhang Cheng would find it difficult to refine Pill Aurora grade Longevity Pills in just two hours.”

n“Right? By the way, Supreme Elder Zhang Cheng has been studying pill refinement since he was a child. Who would’ve thought that he would be inferior to you on your first try.”

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nShi Qing looked at Zhang Cheng, whose expression was twisting more and more. His smile remained unchanged. “I still have to thank Supreme Elder Zhang Cheng. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have started refining pills.”

nYes, that was true.

nIf it wasn’t for the conflict with Zhang Cheng, who had blacklisted Qing Jian Peak, why would the spoiled Shi Qing who has always been given everything he wanted try refining pills?

nThat being said, none of the supreme elders really thought that Shi Qing was genuinely thanking Zhang Cheng.

nThey all smiled at each other and exchanged glances.

nIt seemed that it was time to stay away from Zhang Cheng in the future.

nBut first, everyone’s eyes fell on the remaining Longevity Pill. “Shi Qing, what are you going to do with this Longevity Pill?”

nPretending he didn’t understand their hint, the blue-robed supreme elder put the pill back into the pillbox. “I have other uses for it.”

n“As my fellow supreme elders must be aware, Pill Aurora grade Longevity Pills are very rare.”

n“Yes, yes, yes.”

n“That’s right. It’s natural for you to keep such a rare pill for yourself.”

nThe supreme elders all smiled and carefully tested the water. “Then, if we want pills in the future, can Shi Qing also make some for us?”

nThis time, Shi Qing was quick to agree.

n“Of course. In the future, if my fellow supreme elders have any pills they want, feel free to come to me. No payment is needed, just bring the necessary ingredients.”

nHis refinements produced twice the yield as other pill refinement masters anyway, so he could just keep the extra portion for himself.

nAs soon as this was said, the supreme elders’ faces immediately brightened.

nThey all lavished Shi Qing with praise.

n“I knew you were good-natured.”

n“Thank you then. If there is anything you need me for in the future, I will do my best.”

nAs for the gloomy Zhang Cheng on the side…

nWho cared what he thought?

nHe was just a pill refining master delusional enough to believe the entire Chi Yun Sect depended on his Chi Xia Peak for pills. He walked around with his nose in the air all day and allowed that grandson of his to run amok in Chi Yun Sect.

nThe only reason the other supreme elders tolerated Zhang Cheng’s attitude was because pills needed at their level could only be refined by a high-level pill refining master, while pills required by disciples could just be purchased from the market.

nChi Yun Sect was a sword cultivation sect, which was why Zhang Cheng enjoyed such status.

nBut now, he was no longer the only pill refining master who could supply the supreme elders.

nShi Qing was more talented than him and easier to talk with. He didn’t even require compensation! Wasn’t it obvious who they would go to?

nOn this day, many of the disciples saw the supreme elders descend from Qing Jian Peak. When Supreme Elder Shi Qing saw them off, they all smiled and responded warmly.

nLike they were all one happy family.

nSome slow-witted disciples didn’t sense anything strange, but those with sharp minds understood that all of these supreme elders had decided to side with Qing Jian Peak in their conflict against Chi Xia Peak.

nBut why?

nThese disciples soon got their answer. The news that Supreme Elder Shi Qing of Qing Jian Peak actually had a previously undiscovered talent for pill refinement soon spread through the entire sect.

nThen, the entire cultivation world found out.

nEveryone was shocked.

nIt wasn’t because the successor to Qing Jian Peak, which was a sword cultivation peak, turned out to have pill refinement talent.

nThey were astounded by how Shi Qing successfully refined Pill Aurora grade Longevity Pills with no prior training!

nThese were Longevity Pills, ah!

nWith this level of talent, Shi Qing would be welcomed wherever he went.

nAfter all, pill refining masters were highly sought after by every powerful cultivator force.

nPreviously, when Shi Qing feuded with Chi Xia Peak, many people thought that Qing Jian Peak would be left in ruins under his leadership.

nUnexpectedly, he was able to make such a devastating comeback!

nMoreover, it was in such an unexpected way.

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nAfter making many in the cultivation world drop their jaws in shock, Shi Qing continued to hide away in his house and cultivate like before.

nThe difference was that this time, he has an extra disciple by his side attending to him.

nRong Jue took care of everything just right, from his morning routine to his three meals to washing his feet at night.

nThere was no way to tell that such a docile-looking disciple was actually a brutal demon lord inside.

nRong Jue acted as if the Longevity Pill he had been given made him respect his Shizun even more.

nEven Shi Qing might’ve been deceived if it wasn’t for Rong Jue’s stagnant animosity value.

nDue to his ‘ability to refine Longevity Pills’, Shi Qing finally became more than a figurehead that was inferior in the sect. Especially after refining three cauldrons worth of Great Perfection grade pills and sending them to the sect’s treasury, the higher-ups were finally paying attention to him

nOn the tenth day of Shi Qing’s arrival in this world, the Sect Master sent a disciple to deliver a key to Shi Qing.

nThe disciple was very respectful. “The Sect Master said that this key allows access to the Wei Xuan Secret Realm. Our Chi Yun Sect obtained five keys in total, and each key can take one person inside. Supreme elder can take one person in when the secret realm opens in 19 days.”

nRong Jue, who was following beside his Shizun, moved his eyes slightly.

nThe keys to secret realms were usually given as a reward for those who have made immense contributions to the sect. After all, there were a finite number of keys to the vast and bountiful secret realms. You wouldn’t return empty-handed even if you just picked things off the ground once inside.

nIn his last life, the Wei Xuan Secret Realm also opened around this time. But since Rong Jue didn’t seek help from Shi Qing, his Shizun didn’t confront Chi Xia Peak for him.

nTherefore, Chi Xia Peak didn’t stop supplying pills, so his ‘wonderful’ Shizun didn’t try to refine some himself.

nAs such, without any contributions, how could Supreme Elder Shi Qing have obtained a key?

nEverything was different this time around.

nShi Qing waved his hand and summoned the key to his hand. He seemed somewhat pleased.

nThe supreme elder rarely showed any outward emotion on his face. Even if he did, it was very faint.

nOnly Rong Jue has stayed by his side long enough to decipher his every action.

nRong Jue only asked when that disciple left, “Shizun seems to be somewhat pleased?”

n“Of course.”

nWith a light smile on his face, Shi Qing looked down at the key that fell in his fair palm: “I heard that the Wei Xuan Secret Realm contains a spiritual stone that can see the past and the future. I wish to see what is to come.”

nHe looked up slightly at his eldest disciple with a smile. “There is no danger in the Wei Xuan Secret Realm, so I will take you along. I heard that there is a spiritual spring there that can provide immunity to all illnesses for mortals.”

nRong Jue also beamed like the sun, “This disciple is truly grateful for the great lengths Shizun has gone to for my sake. How can I ever repay Shizun?”

nAt these words, the smile on the blue-robed supreme elder’s lips grew gentler. Even his tone seemed to soften.

n“You leading a happy and healthy life is all the repayment this master needs.”

nShi Qing was blessed with excellent features. It wasn’t as evident when he was his usual aloof self, but when he thawed, his pale and beautiful face seemed to bloom like a flower.

nRong Jue couldn’t look away from the rare tenderness in Shizun’s eyes. When he discerned Shi Qing’s sincerity, even his gaze softened a little.

nHe suddenly asked, “Shizun, of the three of us, is this disciple the one you value the most?”

n“Naturally.”

nShi Qing replied without the slightest hesitation. Then he asked his eldest disciple, somewhat confused, “Why are you suddenly asking this?”

nRong Jue: “No reason in particular. This disciple just suddenly wanted to ask.”

nHis right hand that has always been behind his back, relaxed slightly at Shi Qing’s answer. The corners of his mouth slowly curved up a bit.

nDing! Rong Jue’s animosity value: 450

/500

nThe System was so excited it could cry: Finally, after all that hard work! It’s been so hard to get here!!

nSystem: This Rong Jue is so difficult, wuwuwu. It’s been ten days…

nShi Qing: There’s no hurry.

nAfter Rong Jue’s animosity value dropped so much in one go, the System wasn’t as apprehensive as before. It relaxed: Since we’ve gotten past the initial bottleneck, the rest should be much easier.

nShi Qing didn’t reply.

nAs he was about to continue refining pills, a cheerful youth’s voice suddenly came from outside: “Shizun! Shizun!”

nRong Jue looked up slightly out the window. “Shidi seems to be here.”

nHe turned around, wanting to ask Shi Qing if he wanted to let his other disciple in…

nBut he couldn’t help but notice how the smile on the blue-robed supreme elder’s face became even gentler than before.

nWith that, not a trace of the demon lord’s previous good mood remained.

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