Xiao Tongquan finished demonstrating his technique. With a sweep of his wide sleeve, he turned and returned to the tea table, his bearing composed and at ease.
Luo Tong watched with dazzled eyes, his heart racing with longing.
He had spent seventy to eighty thousand talisman coins to get on Zhou Guang's good side in the Forging Room, securing a Minor Refining Primal Fire Control Technique from the archives of the Service Court. Yet to this day, he couldn't find the way in.
Needless to say, he was nowhere near Xiao Tongquan's level of smooth, willful operation moving by thought alone. Even the most basic circulation exercises were extremely difficult.
Zhou Guang was a money-grubbing miser with an insatiable appetite. Even though Luo Tong frequently paid him tribute, he only received terse, rough pointers in passing.
Many points of confusion, such as "drawing lead to replenish Li, using lead to replenish mercury," or "calcining the primal truth, steering qi to birth fire"—these abstruse critical junctures—
Luo Tong truly couldn't comprehend them, so he had no choice but to send a letter home to consult the clan elders.
Yet he couldn't write too clearly or copy the original. Otherwise, he'd be suspected of leaking the technique and punished under sect rules!
On this path of cultivating the Dao and refining techniques, he stumbled with every step; each advance was fraught with endless difficulty.
"Senior Brother Xiao is so impressive!"
Luo Tong was the first to praise, laying it on thick with flattery:
"Such skill in controlling true qi and training water-nature manipulation—even Inner Peak disciples couldn't do better!"
Xiao Tongquan's tone was indifferent, as though he wasn't buying it:
"Does Junior Brother Luo mean that all Inner Peak disciples are good-for-nothings, that after bitter cultivation for so many years, they still can't compare to an Outer Sect member like me?"
Luo Tong's forced smile froze, his face flushing red. Xiao Tongquan's merciless retort left him unable to step down from the stage; he felt nothing but burning shame.
Yet he didn't dare lose his temper, forcing a hollow laugh:
"Senior Brother Xiao misunderstands... I didn't mean that."
Xiao Tongquan no longer looked at him. He casually fiddled with his teacup twice, then suddenly rose. "My interest is spent. Let's gather another day."
With that, he left with long strides.
Wang Heng and Lu Yun were both astute people. Seeing Xiao Tongquan leave in a huff, they naturally didn't wish to stay long. The two cupped their hands toward Jiang Yi and Li Ruohan, each found an excuse, and slipped away swiftly.
In the blink of an eye.
In the private room on the second floor of the Heshui Grotto, only Li Ruohan, Jiang Yi, and the deathly pale Luo Tong remained.
"Senior Sister Li... I..."
Luo Tong was at a loss, too terrified to speak. At first glance, he even seemed somewhat pitiful.
"Junior Brother Luo, go back for now."
Li Ruohan was helpless to aid him and advised tactfully:
"Senior Brother Xiao's temper sometimes flares up quickly; perhaps you just happened to run into it today. Go back for now, and we'll speak of this later."
Luo Tong stood dumbstruck. To this day, he still hadn't figured out where he had gone wrong to incur Xiao Tongquan's displeasure.
"...This junior brother takes his leave."
He rose in a daze and staggered toward the door.
Just as he was about to cross the threshold, he suddenly turned back and saw Li Ruohan and Jiang Yi sitting facing each other in peace.
The former was chatting and laughing brightly, her eyes curved in smiles; the latter was composed and speaking eloquently.
"What am I to do! Senior Sister Li certainly won't help me anymore. Who else can pull me up... Jiang Yi!"
Luo Tong looked utterly devastated, his head drooping listlessly like a stray dog chased out in disgrace.
"Beg Senior Brother Jiang! Have him put in a good word for me out of consideration for my elder sister!"
At this thought, clarity dawned. Luo Tong seemed to have grasped a lifeline.
He lingered outside the door for a moment, then suddenly turned around, found a seat in a corner of the first-floor hall, and waited bitterly for Jiang Yi to emerge.
……
……
Sunset glow illuminated the white snow upon the blue mountains. Snowflakes drifted past the railing into the room, melted by the warmth into wisps of faint smoke.
Li Ruohan's cheeks were flushed red. She held her teacup with both hands and raised it toward Jiang Yi as if offering a toast:
"Thank you, Senior Brother Jiang, for enlightening me. Many things I couldn't understand were immediately resolved with a gentle pointer from Senior Brother!"
Jiang Yi responded with a smile:
"Junior Sister is too polite. It was merely a slight effort."
Having undergone the Heavenly Book's "empowerment," and because he frequently compared original texts against their analyses while diligently studying them, his accumulation in cultivating the Dao and refining techniques improved rapidly.
Even Li Ruohan, who hailed from the Li Clan of Bo Commandery, was sincerely convinced, admiring and marveling at him.
"What a pity Senior Brother Xiao left in such a hurry. I had wanted to properly introduce you, Senior Brother, to resolve his worries about refining techniques.
With Senior Brother Jiang's talent, you would certainly be able to help Senior Brother Tongquan."
Li Ruohan said with regret.
Although Wang Heng had taken the lead in forming the society, Xiao Tongquan was its head, with the others assisting.
The reason was simple.
Xiao Tongquan was the most likely to enter the Inner Peak. When that time came, as he came and went from the resource sites of the Qianji Sect, he would inevitably need trustworthy people to manage affairs for him.
Wang Heng, Lu Yun, and even Li Ruohan—as long as they didn't become Inner Peak disciples for a day, they could bask in his reflected glory for that day.
"My paltry shallow insights may not catch Senior Brother Xiao's eye."
Jiang Yi didn't speak to the full extent, leaving himself leeway.
He hadn't expected the monopoly of the demonic path's orthodoxy over technique annotations to be so severe.
Although original main texts could be publicly displayed, the essential analyses were kept secret and not transmitted, causing even the direct lineages of rural clans to face extreme difficulty in comprehending techniques.
Instead, it made him—a mere mouthpiece repeating the Heavenly Book's analyses—into a "refining techniques prodigy" in Li Ruohan's eyes.
"Seen in this light, the notebook grandfather gave me is truly precious!"
Jiang Yi realized this belatedly, inwardly moved.
His thoughts surged. He chatted casually with Li Ruohan for a while longer. Seeing that the sky had grown late, the two finally rose and bid farewell.
Stepping out of the Heshui Grotto, Jiang Yi watched Li Ruohan leave, then turned back and entered the main hall again.
He said a few words to the attendant and walked straight to a quiet, elegant room in the back courtyard.
……
……
About the time of a single incense stick later, Jiang Yi sat facing a middle-aged cultivator dressed in a brocade robe with a graceful, magnanimous bearing.
This person was precisely the steward of the Heshui Grotto, one of Elder Xu's trusted confidants.
"This junior Jiang Yi greets Steward Xu."
Jiang Yi saluted neither haughtily nor humbly, then took out a small bottle from his chest:
"This is an Azure Ganoderma Syrup this junior improved upon based on an ancient formula. Please taste and evaluate it, Steward."
Steward Xu took the jade bottle, pulled out the stopper, and sniffed lightly. A trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.
He took a jade cup, poured in a little, and observed carefully. The syrup was crystal clear and translucent, faintly carrying the fresh scent of herbs.
He then touched it lightly with his fingertip, feeling it cool and moist. Tasting a small sip, the gentle medicinal power slowly dissolved.
"The medicinal nature is pure, gentle to the hundred bones; even more rare, its color and taste are excellent. It is indeed much better than the ordinary goods in the market!"
Steward Xu nodded slightly, very satisfied:
"Junior Brother Wang truly didn't exaggerate! I wonder how much Young Brother Jiang wishes to price it at?"
He had originally only come to discuss this business with Jiang Yi out of regard for Wang Heng's face.
Because of his humble, ordinary origins, Steward Xu hadn't taken any "ancestral medicinal formula" seriously at all, with zero expectations.
After tasting it, he was overjoyed instead. This Azure Ganoderma Syrup was of superior quality, perfect to serve as a primal-strengthening drink at the Heshui Grotto for Inner Peak disciples' gatherings and banquets.
Jiang Yi had long since prepared his lines and said softly:
"This junior is willing to sell this formula to the Heshui Grotto for only one hundred fifty thousand talisman coins."
Steward Xu pondered silently, a trace of surprise passing through the depths of his eyes.
He had originally thought Jiang Yi would request a long-term cooperation, a steady trickle of profit. He hadn't expected the other party to be willing to sell the formula outright.
According to his usual business style, the idea of maximizing profits would be to nail down details with the Heshui Grotto and supply monthly...
"Young Brother Jiang is so willing to part with it?"
Steward Xu asked with a smile.
One hundred fifty thousand talisman coins was not a large sum for the Heshui Grotto.
Inner Peak disciples earned money easily and were generous. As long as the quality was superior, they never stinted on spending.
"To be honest with Steward, I am devoted to cultivating the Dao with my heart set on the Inner Peak. Beyond that, everything else is trivial."
Jiang Yi understood Steward Xu's concerns and stated frankly:
"If I cannot enter the Inner Peak, what use is earning a few more talisman coins? In the end, it would still amount to nothing.
If I enter the Inner Peak, I will become a Dharma Lineage cultivator, a talent of the demonic path—how could I possibly lack ways to earn money!"
Steward Xu was startled upon hearing this and praised sincerely:
"Junior Brother Jiang is a clear-headed young man with good sense. Then it's decided: one hundred fifty thousand talisman coins in exchange for the Azure Ganoderma Syrup formula!
A deposit of fifty thousand first. I'll make up the remainder tomorrow and have Junior Brother Wang deliver it to Chiyan Peak. How about that?"
"Excellent!"
Jiang Yi nodded, a huge weight lifting from his heart.
With these one hundred fifty thousand talisman coins as a foundation, it would be much simpler for grandfather to prepare the ritual ceremony and construct the water pool and fire marsh.
……
……
Luo Tong, huddled in the corner of the main hall, after a long while saw Steward Xu of the Heshui Grotto step out of the elegant room.
He saw the other call over an attendant, telling him to fetch fifty thousand talisman coins from the cash cabinet, count it carefully, and pack it up.
"Tomorrow I'll bring another one hundred thousand. You are to give it to Junior Brother Wang Heng and have him bring it to Junior Brother Jiang Yi on Chiyan Peak. Remember that?"
"This lowly one will remember!"
Luo Tong, who was pretending to settle his bill while actually eavesdropping, craned his neck to watch the attendant pack bundles of bright red talisman coins into a bag. He also keenly caught the words "fifty thousand," "one hundred thousand," and "Junior Brother Jiang Yi."
His heart was immediately thrown into turbulent waves!
"One hundred fifty thousand talisman coins! What did Steward Xu of the Heshui Grotto discuss with Jiang Yi? How does he have such ability?"
"That iron rooster Zhou Can probably couldn't produce this much even if wrung dry!
If elder sister could be with Senior Brother Jiang... no, with Brother-in-Law Jiang, why would I need to worry about my future?!"
His eyes swiveled. He quickly strode out of the Heshui Grotto and, while the sky had not yet completely darkened, headed straight for the Outer Sect's Fengyi Peak!
PS: Still two releases, still posted together, still earnestly requesting monthly tickets!