C9 Spirit Cultivating Pill

Xu Qing, feeling as though he had received a royal pardon, no longer cared about saving face. Overcome with emotion, he nodded vigorously and stood up, his guards in tow. Forgoing his sedan chair, he pushed through the crowd and sprinted toward the Xu Family Mansion as if his life depended on it.

"Take Li Huaien's body and get out of here. And tell Li You that if he wants to seek revenge for his son, he's welcome to find me at the Lord Protector's Mansion anytime!" Chen Dutian declared, casting a glance at the two Li Family guards sprawled on the ground before striding confidently into the Crimson Moon.

Pang Yuan, wearing a broad grin, quickly followed suit.

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

"Brother, that was quite the show of force you put on earlier!" Pang Yuan said, chuckling as he poured Chen Dutian a full glass of wine, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"The capital may appear tranquil, but it's really a maelstrom of hidden tensions. With my father leading troops into the Hundred Thousand Mountains, there are many eyes on the Lord Protector's Mansion," Chen Dutian remarked with a wry smile, sipping his wine.

Pang Yuan, ever perceptive, paused briefly before grasping the implications of Chen Dutian's comment.

History has shown that those with great power often meet with unfortunate ends. Emperors need such individuals to build empires, but once peace is established, these same heroes become threats to the throne.

Lord Protector Chen Dou had numerous loyal followers, and the unwavering allegiance of the half-million-strong Red Banner Army. Should they ever harbor thoughts of rebellion, no one in the Phethia Dynasty would be able to stop them.

"You've eliminated the Marquis of Deer Cauldron, Qin Fan, and Li Huaien, the eldest son of the Minister of Personnel. Wang Xuanyang and Li You are unlikely to let this slide," Pang Yuan observed.

"Don't worry. As long as the Red Banner Army stands with us, no one in the capital will dare to cross me! And besides, my father will soon be back," Chen Dutian replied confidently.

In his recollections, a month from now, Lord Protector Chen Dou would return triumphant from the Southern Barbaric Empire and, with the might of the Red Banner Army, topple the Phethia Dynasty.

Pang Yuan nodded in agreement, "With the Lord Protector, Chen, commanding such a formidable force, once he returns to the capital, I doubt anyone will dare to challenge the Lord Protector's Mansion again!"

The two chatted away for a good part of the hour when a sudden knock interrupted them. Pang Yuan, slightly inebriated, bellowed, "Who's there? Chen and I are having a great time. If it's not important, beat it!"

"Young Master, your father is summoning you home," came the cautious reply from a guard outside.

Remembering his father, Pang Yuan shivered, set down his wine cup, and stood up. He sheepishly rubbed the back of his head and chuckled, "Well, brother, I guess I'll take my leave now. Let's catch up again soon!"

Chen Dutian offered a faint smile, making no effort to detain him. After Pang Yuan 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.

"Mm, it's getting quite late..." Chen Dutian looked up to see the moon riding high in the sky, his father Chen Dou's image coming unbidden to his mind.

"First, let's make a stop at the Herbshop in South City."

Chen Dutian knew he needed to quickly bolster his strength to face the impending upheaval in the capital. Despite their failed scheme to entrap the Lord Protector's Mansion using Qin Fan, Yan Chen and Yan Nantian's treacherous ambitions persisted. They continued to see the Lord Protector, Chen Dou, as a looming threat and were bound to strike again.

In this dog-eat-dog world, only ample power could safeguard one's family. Chen Dutian was well aware that his real adversary was that venerable Skyflight realm elder in the Imperial City.

In the time it took to sip a cup of tea, Chen Dutian arrived on horseback at the brightly lit Herbshop in South City. The shop attendants, spotting Chen Dutian and his guards, greeted them with warm smiles, "Young Master Chen, what brings you to our Herbshop at this late hour? Whatever you require, just let us know, and we will deliver it straight to your residence!"

Chen Dutian paid no mind to the two attendants as he strolled into the Herbshop. After a leisurely circuit of the premises, he settled into a spacious sandalwood chair against the wall.

"Master Chen, do try this exquisite Snow Pine Tea!" The proprietor of the Herbshop personally served Chen Dutian, then respectfully stepped aside.

"Mm, I require a three-hundred-year-old Dragon Heart Grass, some Black Wood Vine, and a few Heavenly Snow Lotus stalks. Also, bring me a Scarlet Cloud Fruit," Chen Dutian instructed, sipping his tea with a nonchalant air.

The shopkeeper took note and responded, "Certainly, Master Chen. Just a moment, and I will fetch them for you."

The Herbshop boasted the most comprehensive selection of medicinal herbs in the capital, offering pills and spirit beast cores as well. Despite the rarity of the items Chen Dutian requested, the shop maintained a reserve.

Shortly, the shopkeeper returned with several boxes and placed them on the table next to Chen Dutian, offering a forced smile, "Master Chen, your items are all here. Shall I arrange to have them delivered to your residence?"

Setting his teacup aside, Chen Dutian briefly inspected the boxes and murmured, "That won't be necessary. The quality of these herbs is quite satisfactory."

With that, he withdrew a stack of silver bills from his robes and tossed them onto the table. The herbs, being of superior quality and scarce, were worth far more than the hundred thousand taels he offered.

Yet the shopkeeper bit his tongue, expressing gratitude as he escorted Chen Dutian to the door. Watching them vanish into the night, he lamented, "Ah, such premium herbs in the hands of a profligate... It's a tragic squandering of treasures!"

Back at his residence, Chen Dutian directed the newly acquired herbs to his room and specifically instructed his staff to procure a fine cauldron. He then sealed himself inside, sat cross-legged on his bed, and began to meditate.

In his past life, Chen Dutian was revered as a divine emperor, esteemed not only for his formidable cultivation but also for his exceptional skill in pill refining.

Currently, his strength was limited to that of the Spirit Convergence Realm, yet he found it remarkably easy to concoct some of the lower-tier medicinal pills.

"Spirit Cultivating Pill! A third-grade medicinal pill that solidifies the spirit without dispersing it, expands the meridians, and nurtures the core. If I manage to produce a fifth-grade Spirit Cultivating Pill, it might just propel me to the fifth level of the Spirit Convergence Realm!"

In the world, there are nine grades of medicinal pills, each divided into five levels. The higher the grade, the more valuable the pill, with the ninth-grade pills revered as divine, possessing the power to revive the dead and heal the gravely wounded.

Despite the abundance of alchemists, creating a fifth-grade pill is no small feat; it requires not only immense Spiritual Qi but also a touch of fortune.

Chen Dutian took a deep breath, concentrating as he circulated the Spiritual Qi within his body through his meridians several times. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, and with a swift motion of his hand, he unleashed a surge of Spiritual Qi that struck the cauldron positioned three meters away with a resounding impact.