Chapter 173

The pavilion fell silent for a moment, save for the crisp sound of wine hitting the cup wall as Qin Lie poured.

"Then, Liu Fengzhu... how long will he be in a deep sleep..."

Zheng Feng asked with a worried look.

Jiang Ye's expression was also quite solemn.

Hearing Qin Lie put it this way, Luo Song's physical condition was not optimistic.

It was no wonder this old man spent all day sleeping next to the cauldron...

"How long will he sleep?"

Qin Lie shook his head slightly and said: "That's hard to say. The old man slept for over two months last time; this time it will definitely be longer."

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the pavilion became somewhat solemn.

Qin Lie suddenly grinned, the smile coming abruptly, as if to dispel the solemnity from just a moment ago in one breath.

He lifted the wine jar, filled the cup in front of Jiang Ye, and said loudly: "Brother Jiang, from now on, Tianyangfeng will have to rely on you!"

Jiang Ye looked at the swirling wine in his cup and gave a wry smile: "I am under a lot of pressure..."

This was the truth.

He had no interest in power.

He was more concerned with the growth of his own strength.

With the authority of an acting Liu Fengzhu in his hands, others might flock to it, but he only felt it hindered his cultivation speed.

Qin Lie also knew Jiang Ye's temperament and laughed heartily: "There's no help for it. Since you, Brother Jiang, are strong and have a big reputation now, there is truly no one more suitable than you."

Zheng Feng, standing to the side, gave a light cough, turned his gaze toward Qin Lie, and said with a hint of imperceptible mockery:

"Elder Qin, if you could spend a little more effort on your cultivation, perhaps this acting Liu Fengzhu would be you."

When he joined Tianyangfeng back then, Qin Lie was already at the late stage of the Embracing the Pill Realm, the one among all the elders with the best chance to break through to the Divine Qi Realm.

As it turned out, he was now almost breaking through the late stage of the Embracing the Pill Realm, while Qin Lie was still at the late stage of the Embracing the Pill Realm...

Apart from his drinking capacity, one could say he hadn't made any progress at all.

Qin Lie glared at Zheng Feng and let out a hiccup: "Kid Zheng, not bad, you even dare to lecture me now."

Afterward, he gave a light hum and said: "How can practicing martial arts be as happy as drinking? I have lived life to the fullest, do you understand?"

"Lived life to the fullest?!"

Jiang Ye and Zheng Feng were both slightly stunned.

Qin Lie set down his wine bowl, pointed a finger at his own chest, and in those eyes, slightly clouded by drunkenness, there appeared an unexpected clarity:

"I can live happily for two sixty-year cycles now. Even if I break through to the Divine Qi Realm, I won't live many more years."

"Unless I can ascend to the Primordial Realm, only then will I have three hundred years of life!"

"I know my own situation; the Primordial Realm is out of reach."

"Tossing and turning like the old man, in the end, he hasn't lived as long as me, nor has he lived as happily as me."

He lifted the wine jar and filled his bowl again. The wine spilled over the rim and ran down the side of the bowl, but he didn't care, just picked up the bowl and took another big gulp.

"So, the Embracing the Pill Realm is enough!"

Hearing this, Zheng Feng was speechless.

Jiang Ye, however, nodded slightly, lost in thought.

If one speaks only of longevity, Qin Lie's words were not without reason.

In this world, how many martial artists spend their entire lives unable to touch the threshold of the Embracing the Pill Realm? To be able to grow old peacefully at this stage is already a blessing that is out of reach for most.

Looking upward, the Divine Qi Realm is certainly glorious, but it offers no increase in lifespan.

The only thing that can truly cause a surge in longevity is stepping into the legendary Primordial Realm.

And that chasm is not easily crossed.

Liu Fengzhu Luo Song is a living example.

"I guess Luo Song failed his breakthrough to the Primordial Realm, which made him give up..."

Jiang Ye pondered inwardly.

He drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, set the cup down, nodded slightly to Qin Lie, and said only: "To each their own."

Qin Lie laughed heartily: "Brother Jiang understands me!"

Afterward, the three chatted for a while longer, then Jiang Ye and Zheng Feng rose to take their leave.

Emerging from the courtyard, the cool breeze brushed their faces, carrying away the lingering scent of alcohol.

Zheng Feng stood still on the stone steps, turned around, and looked at Jiang Ye with a serious expression.

"Elder Jiang, I am going into seclusion for a period of time."

Upon hearing this, a look of understanding flashed in Jiang Ye's eyes.

Zheng Feng had previously been just one step away from the late stage of the Embracing the Pill Realm.

After this trip to the Duanling Mountain Range, having successfully obtained the Heavenly Spirit Fruit, with his aptitude, a breakthrough was a natural progression.

He smiled faintly, cupped his hands, and said: "Then I congratulate you in advance, Disciple Zheng."

Zheng Feng stepped back half a pace, spread his sleeves, and bowed with cupped hands in a humble manner: "It is all thanks to Elder Jiang. I also wish Elder Jiang further progress!"

After watching Zheng Feng's figure disappear into the distance, Jiang Ye withdrew his gaze.

He took out the Liu Fengzhu token that Luo Song had handed him, a look of deep contemplation flashing in his eyes.

"I should also attempt the Divine Qi Realm..."

Jiang Ye murmured softly.

He did not delay any further and turned to walk toward the herb garden.

After returning to the herb garden, Jiang Ye immediately summoned Lu Ming and Chen Lili.

He did not beat around the bush and in a few words made it clear that Luo Song was in a deep sleep and that he had been ordered to act as the Liu Fengzhu.

As his voice fell, the herb garden fell into an eerie silence.

Lu Ming and Chen Lili were stunned by this news on the spot.

After a long while, the two finally came to their senses.

"Ah..."

"Elder Jiang is now... the acting Liu Fengzhu!"

Lu Ming and Chen Lili looked at each other, their eyes full of shock.

After the initial confusion, a look of undisguised ecstasy suddenly appeared on their faces.

As the saying goes, a seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister's gate; with Elder Jiang serving as the acting Liu Fengzhu, their status would naturally rise with the tide.

The two could even foresee the scene of those Embracing the Pill Realm elders speaking politely to them.

Jiang Ye looked at their appearance and shook his head helplessly.

He did not dwell on this topic, but instead composed his expression and instructed in a solemn tone:

"From now on, I will be in seclusion for a period of time."

"If other elders in the peak have important matters, you may come to report them; as for anything else, I will not see anyone."

The two suppressed the ecstasy in their hearts and replied in unison with serious expressions: "Yes, Elder Jiang!"

In the Tiankui Herb Garden, there was silence.

The last rays of the setting sun had sunk into the distant mountains, and the twilight draped down like a light veil.

"I still have three main meridians to clear before reaching the perfection of the Embracing the Pill Realm."

Jiang Ye sat cross-legged on the open ground of the herb garden, his thoughts turning rapidly.

Once he cultivated the "Tai Bai True Essence Qi Cultivation Method" to the minor success stage, he could clear one main meridian.

As for the remaining two main meridians...

He reached into his robe, his fingertips touching the warm jade box.

The Heavenly Spirit Fruit inside was emitting a faint spiritual aura, and even through the jade wall, he could vaguely sense that pure vitality.

The Heavenly Spirit Fruit helps people clear meridians and temper Divine Qi.

He took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.

This seclusion was no small matter.

The transition from Embracing the Pill to Divine Qi is a watershed on the path of martial arts.