Chapter 218: Unbending Resolve, Schemes

218. Chapter 218: Unbending, Not Bent, Schemes

The one who pushed the door open and walked in was a cultivator who still looked quite vigorous; his hair was only slightly graying, his face bore few wrinkles, only his eyebrows were long and snow‑white, and his eyes seemed able to perceive all things of the world.

This person was the head of the Pill Alliance in the Da Yu Cultivation World, the Baimi Zhenren of late Core Formation stage.

After pushing the door into the private room, Baimi Zhenren's first action was to use his spiritual perception to scan Xiao Zhangqing inside and out.

Unsurprisingly, even though he was of late Core Formation, he could not see through Xiao Zhangqing's illusion; he merely thought the person before him an ordinary Foundation Establishment Perfected cultivator, unaware that it was a duplicate.

"Token."

Compared with the courteous politeness of the two shopkeepers earlier, this Baimi Zhenren's attitude was markedly lofty and pretentious.

Xiao Zhangqing handed over the spiritual vein again.

After a round of inspection and confirmation, Baimi Zhenren finally spoke: "As far as I know, Hu Chunzhong, more than forty years ago, had his entire clan exterminated in Liyang Immortal City by the Blood Crow Immortal. None of his disciples or family escaped. How did you obtain this Token?"

"It seems you still don't intend to give me the Condensing True Pill outright..."

The other's repeated question, in Xiao Zhangqing's view, was not caution or superstition.

It was clearly looking for trouble, trying to find a flaw in him, so they could renege and keep the Condensing True Pill for themselves.

"Pill Master Hu Chunzhong had a beloved disciple named Zhu Youlong, who by chance escaped the Blood Crow Immortal's pursuit. When Zhu Master neared his critical end, he handed this Token to me, saying that once I cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Perfected realm, I could use the Token to obtain a top‑grade Condensing True Pill from the Pill Alliance..."

Xiao Zhangqing had to briefly recount the events.

After listening, Baimi Zhenren neither affirmed nor denied, and asked: "Did Zhu Youlong hand you the Token without any conditions?"

Xiao Zhangqing, neither humble nor arrogant, retorted: "That should have little to do with the Pill Alliance, right?"

"Hmph!" Baimi Zhenren sneered coldly, then said lightly: "I can already guess that Zhu Youlong's condition for giving you the Token was to obtain the Condensing True Pill, and after Core Formation, avenge his master, right? You're lucky; the Blood Crow Immortal died over a decade ago, so you need do nothing and just reap the benefit."

Having said that.

He made no further obstacles.

The original agreement between the Pill Alliance and Hu Chunzhong indeed stipulated that anyone at the Foundation Establishment Perfected level, bearing this Token, could go to the Pill Alliance and take a Condensing True Pill.

No questions of reason or identity.

Now that Xiao Zhangqing has disclosed the whole cause, the Pill Alliance truly has no reason to further trouble him.

Even though Baimi Zhenren is reluctant and loves money, he cannot be overly unreasonable in this matter.

After all, he is merely an officer of the Pill Alliance; though his rank is high, it does not grant him the license to act arbitrarily and tarnish the Alliance's reputation.

The Pill Alliance spans several cultivation realms, with numerous Nascent Soul True Lords within the Alliance.

He, a late Core Formation real person nearing his critical end, if he behaves properly, diligently fulfills his duties, and makes money within the rules, that is acceptable.

The Pill Alliance would acknowledge his merits, grant him dignity, and perhaps even look after his descendants after his death.

If he oversteps, he may meet an untimely end.

"Wait here for half an hour; I have already sent someone to fetch the Pill."

Baimi Zhenren left after uttering that sentence.

Xiao Zhangqing was puzzled: what does 'fetch the Pill' mean? This is the Pill Alliance's headquarters in the Da Yu Cultivation World; there are no other branches. If the Condensing True Pill isn't stored here, where else could it be? Why would it take half an hour to retrieve? He couldn't understand.

However, since the other side had already honored the deal and was willing to deliver the Condensing True Pill, Xiao Zhangqing didn't dwell on it; waiting half an hour was trivial.

………

………

Deep within the Pill Alliance's attic complex.

After seeing Xiao Zhangqing, Baimi Zhenren came here.

He neither fetched the Pill nor sent anyone.

Just as Xiao Zhangqing had guessed, the Pill Alliance has only this single base in the Da Yu Cultivation World, so a strategic and precious Pill like the Condensing True Pill is naturally kept here.

It can be taken at any time.

The reason Baimi Zhenren made Xiao Zhangqing wait half an hour was that he needed to meet someone first.

Soon, a young cultivator clad in a golden robe arrived.

He appeared unremarkable, plain and ordinary, with nothing special, but upon close observation or probing with magical power or Soul Transformation, one would discover the sharp aura hidden within his body.

"Baimi Zhenren, you're so eager to summon me here—has the Condensing True Pill already been prepared?"

The golden‑robed cultivator asked.

In front of Baimi Zhenren he was unrestrained, treating him as an equal.

His cultivation was slightly weaker, only mid Core Formation, and he clearly looked much younger, yet he could address Baimi Zhenren as an equal, indicating a respectable background.

Indeed, the golden‑robed cultivator was named Fang Yan, a Core Formation real from the Seven Star Sword Sect, currently the most prominent and considered most likely to achieve Nascent Soul.

Although Fang Yan's golden core was slightly inferior to Qin Feng's, not a flawless pure‑color golden core, it was still of the same rank as the ancient sect's Nascent Soul, merely bearing a few minor flaws.

Moreover, while Fang Yan's Core Formation quality was slightly lower, his cultivation insight surpassed Qin Feng's; he was a natural sword‑path prodigy with the rare "Sword‑Heart Clarity" talent! Fang Yan and Qin Feng were close in age; they once sparred when they first entered Foundation Establishment, and Fang Yan emerged victorious.

Before his Core Formation, Qin Feng traveled the world, challenging Foundation Establishment masters to strengthen his foundation and confidence, largely because his earlier defeat by Fang Yan remained a lingering sore spot he wished to remedy before forming his core.

He simply could not challenge Fang Yan again to face his 'inner demon', as Fang Yan had achieved Core Formation over ten years before him.

Nevertheless, Qin Feng never lost in his challenges and reaped much; ultimately he forged a flawless top‑grade golden core surpassing Fang Yan's, which served as his strongest retaliation.

Now in the Da Yu Cultivation World, few consider Qin Feng weaker than Fang Yan; many even believe Qin Feng has greater prospects of achieving Nascent Soul and leading Xingyue Palace.

Conversely, Fang Yan's golden core quality is insufficient, making his chance of attaining Nascent Soul bleak and likely to fail.

If that's the case, Fang Yan would have no right to be compared with Qin Feng at all.

"Fang Xiaoyou, your Condensing True Pill was intercepted," Baimi Zhenren said, shaking his head.

Fang Yan frowned slightly at the words, but did not become angry or immediately question; he sensed there was hidden context.

In the Da Yu Cultivation World, especially in Panlong Immortal City, few dare to intercept what he seeks.

Baimi Zhenren did not conceal anything: "Fang Xiaoyou, you know the Condensing True Pill is a scarce medicine; gathering a full set of ingredients depends on luck, not on demand. Currently the Pill Alliance's base in the Da Yu Cultivation World has only one ready‑made authentic Condensing True Pill; the next one's arrival is uncertain—perhaps in two years, five, ten… After you mentioned it last time, I've been thinking of giving you this existing Condensing True Pill."

"But unfortunately, after the 'owner' of this Pill vanished for nearly forty years, it resurfaced, and I had to give it to him..."

Immediately.

Baimi Zhenren roughly recounted the transaction that Hu Chunzhong had made with the Dan Dao Alliance earlier.

Fang Yan, after listening, sighed helplessly and asked, "So Baimi Zhenren means I can only wait for the next time now?"

Baimi Zhenren twitched his eyebrows, saying with a half‑smile, "Not necessarily…"

"Any other ways?" Fang Yan asked.

Baimi Zhenren said slowly, "As for this Condensed True Pill, I have to hand it over. However, once it leaves the territory of my Dan Dao Alliance, who the Pill belongs to is no longer my concern. If Fang Xiaoyou really wants this Condensed True Pill, I can give you Fang Xiaoyou's information. If Fang Xiaoyou obtains it, you only need to pay the fifty‑percent price we previously agreed upon…"

"Baimi Zhenren, what kind of person do you think I am?" Fang Yan, without thinking, immediately grew cold and retorted, "If I were willing to commit murder, arson, and petty theft, would it be hard to get a Condensed True Pill? Do I still need to appeal to the Dan Dao Alliance?"

Baimi Zhenren was momentarily stunned, then let out a laugh and said, "I'm overthinking."

Fang Yan's request for a Condensed True Pill was certainly not for himself.

His cultivation had long entered the mid‑stage of Core Formation.

The reason he still wants another Condensed True Pill now is for his brother Fang Lei.

His brother Fang Lei is his only remaining kin in this world; his cultivation talent is decent but far less dazzling than Fang Yan's, being merely a superior spirit root.

Thirty years after he formed his Golden Core, Fang Lei finally advanced his cultivation to a complete Foundation Establishment, allowing him to attempt to break through the Core Formation realm.

But for a superior spirit root, achieving Core Formation is extremely difficult.

On one hand his own aptitude is insufficient; on the other, the sect cannot provide a Condensed True Pill for a mere superior spirit root.

After all, Fang Lei is already over one hundred and twenty years old when he finally completed Foundation Establishment, and Fang Yan contributed many resources; even with a Condensed True Pill, the chance of forming a Golden Core is still very low.

Even with good luck, it would at best result in a false Core.

People around him and elders of the Seven Star Sword Sect all urged Fang Yan to focus on his own cultivation and not waste too much energy and time on his brother.

Fang Yan says nothing on the surface, but secretly continues to scheme a Condensed True Pill for his brother.

Because he was raised single‑handed by his brother.

When he was still weak, it was entirely thanks to his brother's protection and selfless help that he could join the Seven Star Sword Sect and achieve his present accomplishments.

He understands that the sect does not support him aiding his brother and cannot give him an extra Condensed True Pill for his brother to break through Core Formation; he has made no requests and bears no resentment.

After all, the sect has its own rules.

He can obtain the sect's full support because his talent is sufficiently high.

If, merely because of his nepotism, the sect were to tilt resources toward his brother, would that serve the masses?

The sect has tens of thousands of disciples; how could the rules be abandoned for a single person? Even without the sect's help, if one were willing to employ some underhanded means, given Fang Yan's strength and status, obtaining an extra Condensed True Pill is still fairly hopeful.

But Fang Yan does not wish to do so.

As a sword cultivator, he would rather break than bend.

He has his own aspirations and desires, but does not allow himself a guilty conscience or a flaw in his spirit.

Otherwise, attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul True Lord in the future would truly be hopeless.

Historically, even a first‑class flawless Golden Core has less than a one‑third chance of forming a Nascent Soul.

His slightly flawed Golden Core faces great difficulty in breaking through to a Nascent Soul.

"Then I'll go ahead now. If the Dan Dao Alliance later obtains a Condensed True Pill, please inform me immediately, Baimi Zhenren. I would be immensely grateful."

"I'm sorry, I cannot see you off…"

Watching Fang Yan leave, Baimi Zhenren chuckled lightly, "Still a self‑righteous type, rare to see."

He then mused silently to himself.

Fang Yan, self‑righteous, refuses to resort to a mid‑way robbery.

Then should he do it himself?

A genuine Condensed True Pill! Even as an executive of the Dan Dao Alliance, having risked his life for the Alliance, it would take centuries to earn the right to an extra priority purchase of a genuine Condensed True Pill.

That's enough to make him a little tempted. (End of chapter)