C19 Selling Pills

Four hours had passed when Lu Shaoyou successfully transformed the ingredients for the Adoptive Pill into streams of spirit liquid. Drained of spirit energy, he could no longer continue, his body weary from the effort.

He immediately set about regulating his breath to recuperate. As his spirit energy gradually replenished, the exhaustion was swept from his body.

Once his spirit energy was restored, Lu Shaoyou felt a renewed vigor, and his spirit energy seemed to have even increased. With this newfound strength, he resumed the pill refinement process.

Channeling his spirit energy into the Fire Dragon Cauldron, the cauldron's solidified green and red flames reignited, fusing the spirit liquid into a pill. This was the most challenging step, as each medicinal ingredient resisted in its own way. The compatibility of the spirit medicines and their optimal temperatures varied, requiring precise control of spirit energy. It was akin to wielding a keen and powerful soul to master and sense the delicate balance.

There's a saying: a miss is as good as a mile. Aware that any slip could ruin the pill, Lu Shaoyou was meticulous, lacking Uncle Nan's guidance and relying solely on his own skill.

"I can do this," Lu Shaoyou assured himself internally. He knew he had to face future challenges on his own and believed in his ability to succeed.

Engrossed in refining the Adoptive Pill, Lu Shaoyou was unaware of someone approaching the usually deserted courtyard.

The newcomer, Lu Wushuang, was clad in a silk robe that accentuated her graceful figure, her long legs, and ink-black hair with strands playfully framing her face. She exuded an air of elegance. Curiosity had piqued her interest in Lu Shaoyou after sensing an imperceptible change in him, and she sought to know more about him.

Lu Wushuang entered the courtyard with delicate steps. Finding it empty, she was about to leave when she detected a surge of Spiritual Qi from a room, accompanied by a subtle Qi fluctuation in the courtyard.

As a rare prodigy among the Lu family's younger generation, nineteen-year-old Lu Wushuang had already attained the rank of First Layer Martial Master, a respectable level of cultivation within her clan.

Sensing something amiss, her beautiful eyes clouded with confusion. She concentrated on the source of the Qi fluctuation, her inner Spirit quietly gathering strength.

Following the Qi trail, Lu Wushuang arrived at Lu Shaoyou's door. The rich scent of Spiritual Qi and the pulse of energy were unmistakable from within.

After a moment's hesitation, she gently pushed the door open. Surprise washed over her face, her hands flew to her mouth. Before her stood Lu Shaoyou, the young master deemed worthless by the Lu family, now deeply engrossed in pill refinement.

Lu Wushuang had witnessed Spiritual Cultivators at work before, but seeing Lu Shaoyou surrounded by a halo of Spiritual Qi, she realized he was no ordinary practitioner. His ability to refine pills confirmed that he had ascended to the status of a Spirit Disciple or higher.

Lu Wushuang watched intently as Lu Shaoyou's handprints shifted, releasing streams of Spiritual Qi. She was in disbelief; had she not witnessed it herself, she would never have accepted that the Lu family's seemingly worthless young master was, in fact, a Spiritual Cultivator.

"It turns out everyone was mistaken; he's a Spiritual Cultivator. But why the pretense of weakness?" Lu Wushuang mused, her eyes wide with astonishment.

"He must have been compelled to hide his true nature. Since he's chosen to keep a low profile, it's best I don't reveal my presence. If he can bear this burden, then I needn't worry about him any longer." With a soft smile, Lu Wushuang quietly closed the door, understanding all too well the reasons behind Lu Shaoyou's discretion. She was, after all, well-acquainted with the intricacies of the Lu family.

"Why isn't he more cautious? If someone else were to catch him crafting pills, it could spell trouble," she whispered to herself before stepping out into the courtyard, where she stood silently at the gate.

Inside, Lu Shaoyou was engrossed in concocting the Adoptive Pill, oblivious to Lu Wushuang's presence just outside. Any seasoned Spiritual Cultivator would have detected her, but Lu Shaoyou's attention was fixed on his alchemy. Anxiety gripped him; a failed attempt would mean the loss of dozens of gold coins. His inexperience meant he hadn't realized his secret was out.

Four hours later, he lifted the lid of the cauldron. A rich medicinal fragrance filled the air as a thumb-sized yellow pill leapt from the Fire Dragon Cauldron into the room.

"I've done it," he whispered, physically drained but mentally exhilarated, a triumphant smile crossing his face. He had successfully refined a pill on his own.

"He appears to have succeeded," Lu Wushuang noted, her keen senses as a First Layer Martial Master picking up the activity from the courtyard. She allowed herself a slight smile and glanced back at Lu Shaoyou's room before exiting the courtyard.

Holding the Adoptive Pill, Lu Shaoyou felt an immediate impulse to consume it, knowing it would surely enhance his cultivation. Yet, he realized that selling the pill could turn a tidy profit, enabling him to purchase even more medicinal ingredients for future refinement. This cycle was essential to maintain a steady flow of gold coins for his alchemical pursuits.

Resolved, he decided to sell the Adoptive Pill that afternoon and restock his supply of herbs. After storing the Fire Dragon Cauldron, he tidied up and set out, taking the back door to the bustling marketplace.

"Miss, I've gathered information on Lu Shaoyou," reported Deacon Wu in an elegantly furnished room where Dugu Binglan and Cuiyu sat. The Heavenly Treasure Sect official bowed as he delivered his findings.

"Let's hear it," urged Dugu Binglan.

Deacon Wu began, "His father is the Lu family's third son, and his mother was a maid. Both he and his mother faced exclusion by his father's principal wife from the Zhao family. Due to his physical limitations, he couldn't cultivate Spirit to become a Fighter. He's been treated no better than a servant within the clan, often enduring humiliation from the Zhao family. His father lacked the courage to defend him."

"Does the Zhao family hail from the Zhao family?" inquired Cuiyu.

"Indeed. It seems the Lu family is wary of crossing her, which is why Lu Shaoyou and his mother have fallen to their current state," Deacon Wu remarked.

"Judging by Lu Shaoyou's demeanor that day, he's no ordinary man. Such a presence is not found in the mediocre. Moreover, he chose not to take the pill-refining materials directly from the Lu family. Miss, we ought to keep a closer eye on him. Should he return to purchase more materials for pill refinement, it could indicate that he's a Spiritual Cultivator. Alternatively, he could be running errands for one," Cuiyu suggested.