C9 Soul Nourishing Pill

Xu Qing, feeling as though he had received a royal pardon, cast aside any concerns for his reputation. He nodded vigorously, his excitement palpable, and stood up dejectedly with his guards. Forgoing the sedan chair, he pushed through the crowd and ran toward the Xu family mansion as if his life depended on it.

"Take Lee Huai'en's body and get out of here. Go tell Lee Yu that if he wants to seek vengeance for his son, he's welcome to come to the House of Protector anytime to find me!"

Chen Dutian cast a glance at the two Lee family guards sprawled on the ground before walking with purpose into the Crimson Moon.

Pang Yuan, with a sly grin, quickly followed suit.

Once inside a private room, Pang Yuan didn't bother summoning any maids to entertain them. He simply ordered a spread of food and drink and shut the door.

"Brother, you were absolutely commanding back there!" Pang Yuan said, beaming as he poured Chen Dutian a full cup of wine, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"The Imperial Capital might look peaceful, but beneath the surface, there's a torrent of hidden currents. My father has led his troops deep into the Hundred Thousand Mountains, and there are many eyes on my House of Protector," Chen Dutian said with a wry smile, sipping his wine.

Pang Yuan, quick on the uptake, paused briefly before grasping the implications of Chen Dutian's words.

History has shown that those with great power often meet with grim fates. Emperors rely on such individuals during times of conquest but view them as threats in times of peace.

Lord Protector Chen Dou's influence was vast, with a fiercely loyal Red Banner Army of half a million at his back. Should they ever decide to rebel, they would be unstoppable within the Phethia Dynasty.

"With the deaths of Antler Marquis Qin Fan and the Minister of Personnel's son, Lee Huai'en, Wang Xuanyang and Lee Yu are unlikely to let this slide," Pang Yuan remarked.

"Don't worry. As long as the Red Banner Army stands, no one in the Imperial Capital will dare touch me! Besides, my father should be returning soon," Chen Dutian replied confidently.

In his recollection, a month from now, Lord Protector Chen Dou would return victorious from the southern empire, leading the Red Banner Army to topple the Phethia Dynasty.

Pang Yuan nodded and remarked, "Lord Protector Chen commands a formidable force. Once he returns to the capital, I doubt anyone in the Imperial Capital would dare to cross swords with the House of Protector again!"

The two chatted away for a good while when a sudden knock at the door interrupted them. Pang Yuan, inebriated, yelled out, "Who is it? Mr. Chen and I are enjoying ourselves. If it's not important, scram!"

"Young Master, the Master summons you back home," came a cautious reply from a guard outside.

Remembering his father, Pang Yuan shivered. He set down his wine cup, stood up, and sheepishly scratched the back of his head, chuckling awkwardly, "Brother, I've got to take my leave now. Let's catch up another day!"

Chen Dutian offered a slight smile but didn't insist on Pang Yuan staying. Once Pang Yuan had departed, Chen Dutian indulged in two more pots of wine before he rose and leisurely exited the Crimson Moon.

"Young Master, shall we return now?" a guard inquired softly.

"Yes, it's getting quite late..." Chen Dutian glanced up at the sky where the full moon was suspended, and the visage of his father, Chen Dou, naturally came to mind.

"First, let's make a stop at Herb Haven in the Southern City!"

Chen Dutian knew he had to quickly bolster his strength to face the imminent upheaval in the Imperial Capital. Despite their failed conspiracy using Qin Fan to entrap the House of Protector, Yan Chen and Yan Nantian's treacherous ambitions persisted. They continued to see Lord Protector Chen Dou as a significant threat and were bound to act again.

In a world ruled by the survival of the fittest, only ample strength could safeguard one's family. Chen Dutian was well aware that his real adversary was the venerable Skyflight expert within the Imperial Capital.

A short while later, Chen Dutian, mounted on a majestic steed, arrived at the brightly lit Herb Haven. The attendants at the door, spotting Mr. Chen with his guards, approached with welcoming smiles and courteously inquired, "Mr. Chen, what brings you to Herb Haven at this late hour? If there's anything you need, just let us know and we'll have it delivered to your residence right away!"

Chen Dutian paid no mind to the two attendants as he strolled into Herb Haven. He took a leisurely lap around the shop before settling into a spacious sandalwood chair against the wall.

"Mr. Chen, please enjoy this supreme grade Snow Pine Tea," offered the manager of Herb Haven, serving Chen Dutian personally before respectfully stepping aside.

"Hmm, I require a three-hundred-year-old Dragon Heart Grass, some Dark Wood Vine, and a few Iceflowers. Also, bring me a Scarlet Cloud Fruit," Chen Dutian instructed nonchalantly, sipping his tea.

The shopkeeper diligently noted the request and replied, "Certainly, Mr. Chen. Just a moment, I'll fetch them for you."

Herb Haven boasted the most extensive selection of medicinal herbs in the Imperial Capital, including pills and spirit animal cores for sale. While the items Chen Dutian requested were rare, the shop still maintained a reserve.

Shortly thereafter, the shopkeeper returned with several boxes and placed them on the table next to Chen Dutian, chuckling awkwardly, "Mr. Chen, all the items you requested are here. Shall I arrange to have them delivered to your estate?"

Setting his teacup aside, Chen Dutian briefly inspected the boxes and murmured, "No need, the quality of these herbs is quite satisfactory."

With that, he withdrew all the silver bills from his robe and tossed them onto the table. The medicinal herbs were of exceptional quality and rarity, rendering the hundred thousand taels of silver barely sufficient.

Nevertheless, the shopkeeper held his tongue, expressing gratitude as he escorted Chen Dutian to the door. Watching them vanish into the night, he exhaled deeply, lamenting, "Ah, such supreme grade medicinal herbs in the hands of a dilettante... such squandering of divine treasures!"

Back at his residence, Chen Dutian directed the newly acquired herbs to his room and specifically ordered his servants to procure a top-tier furnace. He then sealed himself inside, seated cross-legged upon his bed.

In his past life, Chen Dutian was revered as the God-Emperor, esteemed not only for his unmatched cultivation but also for his exceptional skill in pill refinement.

Although he currently possessed only the strength of the Spirit Convergence Realm, he found it quite easy to refine some basic pills.

"The Soul Nourishing Pill! A third-level pill that can solidify the spirit without dispersing it, expanding the meridians and nurturing the primordial essence. If I can manage to refine a fifth-level Soul Nourishing Pill, it might just enable me to advance to the Fifth Heaven of the Spirit Convergence Realm!"

In the world, there are nine levels of pills, each with five distinct tiers. The higher the grade, the more valuable the pill, with the ninth-level pills being revered as Divine Pills, possessing the power to resurrect the dead and mend bones.

Each pill is categorized into five tiers. While there are numerous alchemists across the globe, crafting a fifth-level pill requires not only immense Spiritual Qi but also a touch of fortune.

Chen Dutian took a deep breath, centering himself as he channeled the Spiritual Qi within his body through his meridians in complete cycles. Then, with a sudden burst of focus, his eyes snapped open, and he thrust out his hand, releasing a surge of Spiritual Qi that struck the furnace situated three meters ahead with a resounding impact.