Chapter 499: The Source Dao Pill Scripture

Time passed slowly.

Su Yuqing examined the jade slip Qin Ming had handed him, his expression constantly shifting, his face a study in vivid emotion.

He became so absorbed in the content of the jade slip that he forgot he was even sipping tea with Qin Ming.

Qin Ming waited quietly beside him, not interrupting his study.

Thus, more than an hour passed.

Only then did Su Yuqing snap out of his trance and look at Qin Ming in disbelief.

"Brother Qin."

"Tell me honestly—where did you get this Nascent Soul Elixir formula?"

"If I'm not mistaken, this Nascent Soul Elixir formula should be held exclusively by the major Nascent Soul sects as their orthodox standard."

"Only a handful of Nascent Soul elders would possess it. How could such a top-secret formula end up in your hands?"

Qin Ming hadn't realized this formula was one of the sects' most closely guarded secrets.

But he certainly couldn't tell Su Yuqing it had been refreshed from his own fields. So Qin Ming said solemnly: "Brother Su, rest assured—this formula's origin is utterly secret. Only you and I know of it."

Seeing Qin Ming's seriousness, Su Yuqing dropped the matter and nodded gravely.

For if this formula had been obtained through any other channel, and word reached a power like the Flame Palace, it would mean certain death.

At the same time, Su Yuqing's face lit up with excitement.

"The Nascent Soul Elixir formula—longed for by countless cultivators—has simply fallen into our hands!"

It gave him a glimmer of hope for breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm.

After all, the families under the Flame Palace remained under their control precisely because they lacked any path to Nascent Soul advancement.

"How is it? Brother Su—can you fully understand this formula?"

Qin Ming, seeing Su Yuqing so elated, asked.

"Naturally. Give me a few months to study it, and I'll fully unravel it."

"Then I'll give you my notes on refining the Nascent Soul Elixir, along with the substitutes from the Divine Wood Elixir formula," Su Yuqing said with a smile.

Qin Ming was instantly delighted. "That's excellent!"

"Come! Let me toast you!"

"By the way, Brother Su."

"I have some spiritual materials gathered from ghostly creatures during the ghost disaster in the Southern Wastes—do you think they can be refined into pills?"

Then Qin Ming handed Su Yuqing the two soul pills he had taken from the Golden Toad Ancestor and the White Bone True Person.

"This—this—"

"Brother Qin, you really have no shortage of treasures! These should be soul pills from a late-stage Golden Core ghost king, right?" Su Yuqing held the two soul pills, examining them with delight, and eyed Qin Ming suspiciously.

"Haha! Just lucky!" Qin Ming replied vaguely.

"These two soul pills can be refined into a third-rank spiritual pill called the Soul-Stabilizing Pill, which aids Golden Core cultivation. Its greatest effect is helping cultivators break through the late-stage Golden Core bottleneck."

"I have all the other auxiliary materials needed to refine the Soul-Stabilizing Pill. Why not let me handle the refining? I'll take only two pills for myself."

"I'll deliver the rest to you afterward—what do you say?" Su Yuqing's eyes gleamed.

Qin Ming nodded. "Then I'll leave it to your judgment, Brother Su."

The two then raised their cups and drank heartily, chatting merrily.

After three rounds of wine, Su Yuqing pulled another jade slip from his robes and handed it to Qin Ming. "Brother Qin, your visit has brought me far more surprises than I could have imagined."

"I can't accept your formula without giving something in return. Here are all my insights and experiences in pill refining, accumulated over my entire cultivation journey."

"I've continuously refined and improved the original Yin-Yang Separation and Union Spirit Control True Scripture, blending it with my clan's fourth-rank pill heritage to create this new text—the Source Dao Pill Scripture. I believe it will aid your pill refining path. But this contains my life's work and my clan's deepest secrets—promise me you won't reveal it."

Qin Ming looked at the jade slip in his hand, fully aware of its weight. He didn't pretend modesty—he accepted Su Yuqing's gift outright. "Thank you, Brother Su."

"Haha, no need for thanks. You've already learned everything I had to offer—this last bit doesn't matter."

"I never imagined you'd bring your pill refining to this level."

"You're nearly catching up to me."

Next,

Qin Ming and Su Yuqing talked deeply for two days, then, feeling the time was right, Qin Ming rose to take his leave.

"Brother Su, I must return to tend my spirit fields—I won't stay longer. If you ever have time, come visit the Five Elements Mountain—I'll always keep a bed ready for you."

"If you need any spirit plants grown, just say the word—haha!"

"Brother Qin, you said it—now that you're in Great Jin, I'll be sure to trouble you often."

As Qin Ming left, he took a thousand jin of third-rank Jade Emperor Spirit Rice from his storage pouch and gave it to Su Yuqing.

Since Su Yuqing had so generously shared his lifetime's knowledge and his clan's fourth-rank pill heritage, Qin Ming couldn't be stingy.

Then,

Su Yuqing quietly escorted Qin Ming out.

"Brother Su, no need to see me off. If you ever need to send me news, give it to Hua Tianxiong of the Qianji Trading Society—he'll deliver it for you," Qin Ming said.

"Oh? So you're connected with him?"

Su Yuqing said, surprised.

"Heh! Brother Su, you can trust him completely."

Hearing this, Su Yuqing nodded in agreement.

"By the way, I've heard about your Five Elements Mountain territory—it borders the demon clans and is near the southern frontier of the Divine Dao Mountain. Be careful." Su Yuqing remembered something and offered a kind warning.

"From what I know, the Divine Dao Mountain dared to challenge the Flame Palace because it's secretly backed and funded by the Great Li Yin Demon Sect."

"Who knows what moves they might make next."

At that moment, Qin Ming also recalled something. He rummaged through his storage pouch and pulled out several jade slips, handing them to Su Yuqing.

"You're right, Brother Su."

"A few days ago, I happened upon some Yin Demon Sect members and eliminated them. These are the letters between them and the Divine Dao Mountain—they're clearly colluding, plotting something."

"But the rank of that Tian Laomo was too low—these letters contain only trivial details."

"The core intelligence is surely held by higher-ups."

"Brother Su, be cautious. You're part of a family under the Flame Palace—if you get dragged into these great sect conflicts, you'll be powerless to escape, doomed to ruin."

"I don't mind—I can just abandon my spirit fields and retreat back to the Southern Wastes."

Su Yuqing examined the jade slips, his expression grave, lost in thought.

"I never imagined Tian Laomo of the Yin Demon Sect was killed by you, Brother Qin."

"This intelligence is crucial to us."

"Just luck. If so, Brother Su, take care."

"Yes, Brother Qin, you too."

Then, under Su Yuqing's watchful gaze, Qin Ming transformed into a green streak of light and vanished from Dragon Court Lake.

……

(End of Chapter)