Chapter 42: Taking the Spirit-Connecting Elixir

Hu Chen's expression was stiff, his voice dry: "Master Daoist, is there truly no other way? Your Daoist arts are profound—could you guide me toward a clear path to avoid this calamity or see me through it safely?"

"If I am fortunate enough to escape disaster, I will spare no effort to serve all your needs!"

"Ancestral Master, have mercy! Have compassion!" Xiao Yu echoed.

Daoist Qingsong the Daoist acolyte said coolly: "The She Ling talisman in my hands is the most upright and legitimate path."

"Ancestral Master, I cannot lose my righteous father—please, show great mercy, use a bit of immortal art to save him from calamity! I shall forever remember your boundless grace, set up your tablet at home, and offer worship to you day and night!"

Xiao Yu actively seized the initiative, interrupting Hu Chen with urgent cries.

Even Hu Chen was moved; he turned his head to glance at her, lips parting softly to whisper, "Yu'er."

Then he resumed kowtowing and pleading: "Master Daoist, have mercy! I vow to erect a Longevity Tablet for you, offer worship yearly, and pray for you daily!"

Daoist Qingsong the Daoist acolyte remained expressionless, his tone utterly flat: "General General Guan, do not look down upon the land god post of Xisha Region."

Theoretically, some villages beyond Hengsha Pass also fall under the jurisdiction of the Heart Demon Land God."

Zou Qing is from Dongshu; he has no connections whatsoever in Xishu."

The local She Ling of Hengsha Pass has even encroached upon much of his authority to the north."

No deity in Xishu speaks up for him; instead, they deliberately oppress the 'foreign deity.'"

But you are different."

You come from a renowned family, hold high rank in the Xishu court—if you become the Land God of Xisha Region, your future achievements may not fall short of your ancestor's."

Hu Chen paused, a thoughtful expression flickering across his face.

He was not convinced by Daoist Qingsong's words.

Living was certainly better than dying—he still had a "great future" ahead!

But Daoist Qingsong's remarks triggered a profound shift in his beliefs.

Previously, he had regarded the Heart Demon Land God talisman as trash.

When Daoist Qingsong suggested he trade the talisman for the Ninefold Bone Transformation Elixir, he had burned with rage, feeling deeply humiliated.

Now, reminded by Qing Song, he suddenly realized that to the local powers of Xishu, the Heart Demon Land God talisman might truly be of great value.

Even now, he still refused to become the Heart Demon Land God—but the General Guan family was not just him, and not every General Guan family member had his "great future."

For instance, his elder brother General Guan General Guan Wenlong had average cultivation talent, disliked martial training, hadn't even practiced the family's supreme immortal martial art, Tiger Soul Seven Kill, and had only learned a few elegant but superficial sword techniques.

With the Heart Demon Land God post now vacant, perhaps the General Guan family could scheme to claim it.

Uh—Hu Chen wasn't considering trading the Ninefold Bone Transformation Elixir for the She Ling talisman; he wanted both… no, all three: the Bone Transformation Elixir, the She Ling talisman, and his own life.

"Master Daoist, please guide me—where is my calamity? What exactly is it?"

Daoist Qingsong's expression turned cold.

—Ungrateful dog!

"I only know the basics of Qi-watching—I cannot discern the nature of your calamity."

Xiao Yu opened her mouth, eager to speak for Hu Chen: Ancestral Master, forget the elixir and the talisman—we give them both to you! Please just show us a clear path!

—Life is nearly gone; who cares about elixirs or talismans!

Xiao Yu truly believed this… because neither talisman nor elixir belonged to her; giving them away caused her no pain.

Daoist Qingsong lifted his teacup but did not bring it to his lips: "General General Guan, you must wait a few more days for the Ninefold Bone Transformation Elixir."

You know well—I did not brew this elixir for you."

If Master Ge does not deliver the elixir, I cannot conjure one out of thin air."

Hu Chen hesitated, then asked: "When will Master Ge finish brewing the Bone Transformation Elixir?"

"Perhaps tomorrow, perhaps the day after—no need to rush…" Daoist Qingsong's lips curled in mockery. "Rushing won't help—you're fundamentally unworthy of it."

Hu Chen's face darkened.

Xiao Yu grew anxious and interrupted again: "Ancestral Master, are you saying my father will—"

"Even if his third eye is black with ill omen, this is too fast!"

Daoist Qingsong sneered: "Faster is better! Otherwise, he swallows the divine elixir, hasn't even absorbed its spiritual essence, and dies instantly—elixir gone with him."

Hu Chen was barely holding back.

"Master Daoist, if I meet misfortune, please return the Ninefold Bone Transformation Elixir to Yingxiang General Guan." His tone was stiff, though he did not explode.

Daoist Qingsong said coolly: "My mission in the west is nearly complete; I will not go to Luodu, nor pass through Yingxiang Prefecture."

Though your third eye is black and your fortune is about to vanish, those around you are unharmed."

I will travel a stretch of road with Marquis Lord Lieyang."

When Master Ge delivers the elixir, I will pass it to your family."

"You mean Xiao Yu?" Hu Chen's thick brows furrowed.

Daoist Qingsong shook his head: "Not specifically her. You may choose whomever you trust most—your old servant, or a comrade in your Iron Cavalry unit."

Hu Chen immediately said: "Give it to Xiao Yu!"

Had Daoist Qingsong not mentioned "the one you trust most," he would have entrusted the divine elixir to his old servant, General Guan Zhong.

But now, with "Little Lady Li" present, saying "most trusted," he had no choice.

Who receives the elixir matters less—the key is "trust."

"Father, it's not that dire yet!"

Xiao Yu still didn't grasp the value of the Ninefold Bone Transformation Elixir; she cared only about Hu Chen's calamity.

She hurriedly said: "Compared to my father's life, even a divine elixir is worthless."

The crucial point is where the calamity lies and how to avoid it—don't fixate on the divine elixir!"

Hu Chen felt warmth in his heart—this was true devotion!

Daoist Qingsong said coldly: "The Ninefold Bone Transformation Elixir is my concern—I must clarify matters."

General General Guan's calamity is the General Guan family's affair—I am powerless and have no interest in it."

"Clang!" He set the teacup down lightly but audibly: You western barbarians, you desert brats—do you even know manners? I've held this tea for ages; are you all blind? Get out now!

Xiao Yu was a desert brat, but she understood tea as a dismissal.

Hu Chen, a nobleman's son, certainly understood too.

"Master Daoist, I brought Xiao Yu here for another matter."

Hu Chen had risen to take his leave, but seeing Xiao Yu, he remembered his other purpose.

Lately, I've noticed Xiao Yu's martial cultivation advancing at an extraordinary pace—perhaps she possesses some innate talent or an undiscovered heavenly body.

Qing Song frowned: "You want a Spirit-Connecting Elixir?"

On the dunes, he had already observed Xiao Yu's fortune and physical form—she was no cultivation genius.

As for martial arts…

What trash is martial arts? A proper Daoist would never care about martial talent.

If one merely cultivates martial arts quickly or has high comprehension, that's not talent—it doesn't count as "immortal talent."

Because martial arts are not the true path.

Even at its peak, martial cultivation remains the lowest of the heretical paths.

The Three Thousand Great Daos, countless Dao methods—only one true path exists.

"I merely hoped you would re-examine Xiao Yu," Hu Chen said. "If you have a Spirit-Connecting Elixir, of course, that would be better—I'm willing to pay full price!"

"Re-examining her again—hmm!"

Daoist Qingsong activated his Qi-watching technique and glanced casually at Xiao Yu—his expression instantly changed.

"Last time on the dunes, General Guan Miss's head bore only a scattered gray-white aura; now, it has a five-colored canopy."

Hu Chen secretly rejoiced: My Yu'er has the bearing of an imperial consort—now that her Shadow Divine Map is complete, her great future is clearly approaching; of course her aura must show nobility.

Hu Chen was pleased, but Xiao Yu was puzzled: Can one's fate really be seen so easily?

Or is Daoist Qingsong Daoist's cultivation too profound?

"Have you recently practiced the General Guan family's Tiger Soul Seven Kill? Has your realm advanced slightly?" Daoist Qingsong stared at Xiao Yu and asked.

Xiao Yu avoided his gaze, which seemed to pierce through flesh and penetrate her soul, lowering her head and speaking humbly: "Ancestral Master's cultivation is indeed profound, his insight piercing! Recently, with my father's devoted guidance, I've finally entered the gate."

Daoist Qingsong nodded slightly: "That explains it—when strength increases, spirit and qi naturally flourish."

Xiao Yu exclaimed: "Can martial cultivation change one's fortune?"

"Martial cultivation enhances your strength—why wouldn't it change your fortune?" Daoist Qingsong replied.

Xiao Yu said: "I thought fortune was already destined—martial cultivation was merely a preordained chapter in fate."

Daoist Qingsong glanced at her with mild surprise: "You're wrong—but you have a touch of insight."

'Fortune' is one word, but must be split into 'qi' and 'yun' to be understood."

Existing strength reveals 'qi' visible to sorcerers."

Strength isn't limited to martial power—authority and wealth are also strength."

In short, 'qi' is your current state."

If you have money and power, your qi will be stronger than others'."

If you appear ordinary but possess an unawakened innate spiritual talent, the color and thickness of your qi will still reveal anomalies."

'Yun' is fate—your future state."

Future fate influences your present, leaving hidden traces within your 'qi.'"

But few sorcerers can truly perceive 'yun' within 'qi'—much less 'ming' qi."

Xiao Yu understood, deeply.

Xiao Yu seemed to understand.

Previously, the Daoist Qingsong acolyte judged her to have no talent because the qi she displayed was weak and scattered.

Then, can he easily identify countless "world-class geniuses" because their talent manifests as powerful and varied qi?

"Can qi observation determine talent with one hundred percent accuracy?" she asked.

Daoist Qingsong flipped his right hand and pulled out a small blue-and-white porcelain bottle from his sleeve.

It was the same small porcelain bottle he had held in the "Juncail Yuan."

"Demon beasts can awaken divine abilities through bloodline inheritance, but human innate abilities mostly come from heavenly bestowal.

Those granted by heaven are surely blessed by heaven.

Those blessed by heaven naturally conceal their true nature from those with ill intent.

Even with my meager cultivation and holding the Emperor's Mandate for Heavenly Patrol, I can only select two or three out of ten."

As Daoist Qingsong spoke, he uncorked the bottle, and a tiny red pill, no larger than a grain of rice, rolled out.

The small red pill was tiny, yet emitted a rich, sweet fragrance that made one's mouth water instantly, compelling a taste.

This is the Divine Awakening Pill—it stimulates the awakening of spiritual potential; whoever takes it will surely awaken their divine ability, provided their body truly harbors innate talent.

Seeing the red pill offered by Daoist Qingsong, Xiao Yu glanced at Xiang General Guan Huchen's expression, then took it and slipped it into her mouth.

Hmm, Xiang General Guan Huchen's face glowed with delight—he hadn't expected to obtain the Divine Awakening Pill so easily.

Meeting Xiao Yu's gaze, he kept signaling urgently, urging her to swallow the divine pill at once.

The Divine Awakening Pill dissolved instantly upon entering her mouth, splitting into two streams: one hot, flowing down her throat into her veins, then converging at her heart; one cold, surging upward like carving a spring of ice and snow into the land of her spiritual sea.

—Huh? Not only her body, but her Purple Palace also reacted—could her Purple Palace be a divine ability?

Xiao Yu's blood boiled with surprise and doubt.