Chapter 4: Spirit-Avoiding Pill

"Only Li Shijie can dig it up herself."

Chen Zhao had already devised a plan.

Indeed, the other party could not possibly believe his word alone.

Unless we find the exact location of the Spirit-Avoiding Taisui!

The next day, on the field ridges.

"Since Li Shijie couldn't detect it at all, it must evade spiritual sense inspection."

Chen Zhao pondered silently:

"I only need to observe the Spirit Rain droplets and find where they suddenly vanish."

If this method works, I'll have her replicate it later—she'll believe it herself.

He acted at once.

Chen Zhao formed the hand seals and chanted the incantation.

The patches of Ling Tian were bathed in Spirit Rain.

He forcibly split his focus, concentrating solely on the raindrops.

One drop, two drops...

The raindrops seeped into the soil, absorbed by the Ling Tian.

"Five drops—that's my absolute limit for tracking."

Chen Zhao's knuckles turned white; he breathed heavily.

"Good thing I don't need to sustain it long—fire once, then move to another spot."

The Spirit Rain slowly shifted.

Until...

In the southeastern corner's patch of Ling Tian.

The Spirit Rain droplet seeped three feet underground, then vanished completely from his tracking.

Found it!

Fortunately, his Mental Power was extraordinary, allowing him to endure such drain!

Chen Zhao, dizzy and reeling, stumbled to knock on the wooden door.

"Brother Chen, what's the rush?"

Li Zhiwei's voice remained cool and clear.

"Respected Shijie, this Ling Tian demands excessive Spirit Qi—I suspect something extraordinary lies three feet beneath the southeastern corner, absorbing surrounding Spirit Qi."

Chen Zhao bowed:

"When I performed the Spirit Rain Technique, the droplets vanished abruptly upon entering that spot—this must be its doing."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhiwei replicated the method.

Indeed, it was true!

As an Inner Sect Disciple with broad experience, she immediately formed a hypothesis.

Seeing Spirit Medicine still growing above the field, she led Chen Zhao to dig from the side, reaching five feet down—where they touched a jelly-like transparent object.

With spiritual sense, the area appeared empty; even direct observation blurred its form, as if seeing through haze.

So large!

"I've only seen Spirit-Avoiding Taisui a few times—this one is as big as a millstone!"

Li Zhiwei's pink lips parted.

Her gaze at Chen Zhao held unmistakable surprise.

Many Registered Disciples came here to work, quit after three months—she'd assumed it was due to insufficient strength.

Yet Chen Zhao, just one day in, not only sensed the anomaly but used Spirit Rain to pinpoint its source.

Anyone else would've preferred the easiest path—why use such a taxing method?

This young man truly has dedication.

"This thing is rare—it steals Spirit Qi from the soil, yet leaves just enough for low-grade Spirit Medicine to grow, like a vassal state. From outside, it showed no obvious signs, so I ignored it..."

Li Zhiwei's lips curled slightly—she was clearly pleased:

"I'll credit you for this achievement. When I refine this Taisui into pills, I'll give you one furnace's share."

The Spirit-Avoiding Taisui could yield at least five furnaces—giving away one wouldn't hurt.

She had a Level Two proficiency in Alchemy.

Refining a first-rank pill was virtually guaranteed.

Chen Zhao secretly rejoiced.

The object wasn't his own fortune, yet he still earned a share of the pills.

He'd also greatly boosted her favor toward him.

All his careful coaxing was worth it.

An entire month later.

Chen Zhao finished his work, stepped out of the Ling Tian wrapped in twilight.

In his arms, he carried a brocade pouch.

"For a whole month, nothing happened—peace and quiet has been welcome."

Chen Zhao gazed at the ink painting in his hand.

【Today's Divination: Neutral】

Since the Spirit-Avoiding Taisui was excavated, his workload had dropped dramatically.

He could now have more time to cultivate, his cultivation firmly settled at Qi Refining Second Layer.

"But without Spirit Stones, cultivation slowed down—luckily, Sister Li kept her promise."

Chen Zhao squeezed the silk pouch.

Four "Spirit-Avoiding Pills" in total.

According to Sister Li.

This is a First-grade Mid-tier pill.

Besides the effect of the Concealment Technique, anyone who takes this pill will have their features obscured and their spiritual sense blocked for one hour, effective against those below Qi Refining Late Stage.

Truly a marvelous treasure for murder, robbery, framing, and framing others.

The key is, it can also be exchanged for Spirit Stones.

"A pill of this grade is worth ten Low-grade Spirit Stones each—now I'm rich."

Chen Zhao hummed a tune on the dock, in good spirits.

Sell one at Wan Bao Lou, keep the other three as backup.

With both cultivation and combat power increased, isn't that perfect?

At this moment.

A gray-robed disciple walked toward him and waved:

"Chen Zhao, Brother Chen?"

"Zhao Dehai—the one who went on missions with your two roommates."

Seeing him stunned, Zhao Dehai patted his shoulder, speaking lightly:

"Brother, do you still need Spirit Stones? Want to join us for another job?"

Chen Zhao waved his hand and asked in return:

"Brother, you have my roommates to help you—why add another person to split the profits?"

It had been a month since he'd seen Liu and Zheng—likely dead.

Zhao Dehai's eyes darted away; after repeated pressing, he finally said:

"To be honest, both of them were injured—Brother Zheng even lost a leg and was carried off by a Blazing Feather Sparrow to its nest. He won't survive."

"But we discovered an ancient Cave Abode, left behind by a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator. Brother, the bigger the storm, the bigger the fish—wait until I retrieve the medicine, then join us to explore the cave again?"

"But the bigger the fish, the bigger the storm—I only seek steady gains. Brother, please find someone else."

Chen Zhao bowed and declined, feeling no great sorrow.

This was good news.

Zheng Daocai wouldn't return—he no longer needed to guard against him day and night.

Besides, selling pills couldn't draw attention—perfect chance to use Zheng Daocai's name!

After bidding farewell to Zhao Dehai.

Chen Zhao, clad in black robes and limping, arrived before Wan Bao Lou.

The building had five floors; Registered Disciples could only trade on the first floor.

Chen Zhao pulled out a Spirit-Avoiding Pill and mimicked Zheng Daocai's voice:

"Brother, please give me a price."

"Who are you? Why are you dressed so strangely?"

"I'm Zheng Daocai—I just returned to the sect."

The counter disciple took the Spirit-Avoiding Pill and examined it for a moment.

"Spirit-Avoiding Pill, First-grade Mid-tier, superior refining technique—worth fifteen Low-grade Spirit Stones."

The man before him was low in strength.

But someone who could produce such a pill must not be ordinary—he dared not probe further.

Chen Zhao took the Spirit Stones and chuckled.

This pill was valuable—he couldn't let others know he still had more; a pseudonym was necessary.

"Brother, please help me get two bottles of Qi Gathering Powder."

He pointed to the pills on the shelf.

This pill is First-grade Low-tier—it increases cultivation speed for Qi Refining Early Stage, slightly helps Mid-stage cultivators, one bottle costs five Low-grade Spirit Stones.

After purchasing the pills.

He circled the mountain, confirmed no one followed, then shed the black robe and headed for the Cave Abode.

"Pills really are valuable."

Chen Zhao stroked his chin, beaming.

Including his monthly stipend and wages.

He now had ten Low-grade Spirit Stones in hand!

Not counting the three Spirit-Avoiding Pills.

"If I could enter Dan Tang, the speed of wealth accumulation would be unimaginable."

One Spirit-Avoiding Taisui could likely refine twenty to thirty pills, worth at least two to three hundred Spirit Stones.

What an outrageous profit margin!

No wonder they say that among the hundred arts of cultivation, only pills, talismans, artifacts, and arrays bring the greatest wealth.

Chen Zhao, heart surging, stepped into the Cave Abode.

Three meditation cushions—two had been vacated.

"No one's competing for Spirit Qi—this is good."

Chen Zhao flipped over and sat up, pouring the Qi Gathering Powder into his mouth.