In the aftermath of their passion,
"So, you've truly broken through to the peak of Qi Refining."
The attribute panel of Wang Yuyao immediately surfaced within Wang Jianqiang's mind. Her cultivation was something she could never hide from him.
A faint smile tugged at his lips."Congratulations, Junior Sister, on your breakthrough."
"This is all thanks to the pills Senior Brother gave me." She smiled sweetly, and from her sleeve produced a jade slip. "I came across this item in the marketplace outside the sect. It seems to contain a pill recipe, but it's sealed by a restriction—only a true alchemist can view it."
"Oh?"
Wang Jianqiang's interest was piqued. Withdrawing his hand, he took the jade slip and sent his spiritual sense into it.
At once, his consciousness struck against an unseen wall."As expected… a restriction."
His eyes narrowed. Channeling his full will, he pressed harder.
Crack!
The sound of shattering glass echoed within his mind. The seal broke.
Information flooded into his consciousness.
Wang Yuyao had been right—the jade slip indeed contained a pill recipe.But the name made him pause.
"The Mortal Dust Pill?"
Such a peculiar name.
Brows furrowed, he examined the information carefully.
"Well?"
Having waited a long while in silence, Yuyao finally could not hold back her question.
Jianqiang returned to himself, shaking his head. The slip contained only the recipe—no explanation of its effects.
But seeing the expectation shining in her eyes, he chuckled."A fine pill recipe. I like it very much."
"That's all I wanted to hear."
Relief softened her features, followed by a delighted smile.
For an alchemist, the lure of a recipe needed no explanation. Though Jianqiang was not devoted solely to the pill path, the mystery of this recipe intrigued him. Yet to learn the pill's true purpose, there was only one way—refine it.
He turned toward her."Wait here for me."
With that, he strode into his alchemy chamber.
The required ingredients for the Mortal Dust Pill were surprisingly common; he happened to have them at hand.
Closing his eyes, he focused on the jade slip once more.
The system's voice chimed within his mind:Ding. Inferior-grade recipe detected. To optimize, thirty cultivation points required. Proceed?
"Yes."
Ding. Recipe successfully upgraded. Mortal Dust Pill has become Perfect Mortal Dust Pill.
Excitement rippled through him. He immediately began refining.
An hour later, a single Mortal Dust Pill emerged from the cauldron.
Stepping out of the chamber, he found Yuyao waiting obediently outside.
Smiling, he tossed the pill casually onto the table and strode toward her.
…
Half an hour later.
"The Outer Sect Grand Competition is in just over two months. Have you thought about entering?"
Having regained a measure of strength, Jianqiang turned his head toward Yuyao, now neatly dressed once more.
Her face dimmed."In the competition, only the top fifty receive rewards. Though I've reached the peak of Qi Refining, my grasp of spells is lacking. I fear I cannot rival those ninth-level disciples with solid foundations. Competing would only bring ridicule. Better not to enter."
He shook his head."And if I said I could guarantee you a place in the top fifty—perhaps even the top ten?"
She froze, then her eyes lit with hope."Truly?"
"Wang does not speak without certainty. If I said it, I can achieve it." His gaze held hers. "Tell me—do you wish to enter?"
"The Grand Competition is the greatest event of the sect. To enter the top fifty is to earn a Foundation Establishment Pill—and perhaps the notice of an Inner Sect elder. If I had such a chance, of course I would seize it."
At the mention of the Foundation Pill, color rushed into her cheeks.
How precious was such a treasure? Countless disciples at the peak of Qi Refining yearned for one and died without it.
And yet she, newly advanced, now had such an opportunity.
All because of him.
"Then it's settled," Jianqiang nodded. "Go and sign up. Leave the rest to me."
"Thank you, Senior Brother. I will never forget your kindness."
Her eyes shone with gratitude.
For her, Foundation Establishment had once been the goal of a lifetime. Now, in mere months, she had reached where decades of effort might not have brought her. And with a Foundation Pill within reach, her path forward blazed with hope.
Ding. Favorability increased.
The mechanical voice sounded in his mind. Yuyao's favorability toward him had long since soared, already at ninety.
Now it had reached ninety-six.
"Nearly full…"
Excitement stirred in Jianqiang's heart. He had long suspected that once favorability maxed out, the system would reveal a new function.
But Chen Jiaojiao remained stubborn at eighty, no matter how he tried.
Yuyao, however, had rapidly climbed ahead.
Three months, and already at ninety-six.
Returning from his thoughts, he looked at her, his tone gentle."No need for thanks. Go sign up."
After she left, Jianqiang rested a while longer.
Just as he gathered his strength to rise, a silken, mocking voice suddenly drifted through the air.
"Well, well… the nephew may be old, but his heart clearly isn't."
Before he could react, a figure in crimson appeared at his bedside, smiling with mischief.
Her sudden presence jolted him. Instinctively, he leapt upright—only for his half-healed body to betray him.
Midway up, he fell back with a thud.
Quickly rolling from the bed, he gained distance, then finally looked up at her.
And his eyes nearly froze.
Too beautiful.
On par with Dong Yueru. Perhaps even surpassing Su Yutong, one of the Outer Sect's famed Three Beauties, in both bearing and form.
"Well, well… for your age, your spirit is certainly lively."
Yan Qingxuan's smile was sultry as she tugged deliberately at her hem.
Jianqiang's eyes widened despite himself. A faint fragrance reached him, followed by a cold snort.
"Bold enough to ogle me? Do you not fear I'll kill you where you stand?"
Only then did he realize—at some point, she had closed the distance. Her cold, enchanting face hovered inches from his own.