Chapter 119: Two Women

The two remained outside, the situation slightly awkward.

Xu Chen led Lan You to sit on the worn-out meditation cushions in front of the stone slab where he usually ate, then laughed dryly: "The Taiyuan Sect is very poor, and I don't pay much attention to my daily life. The conditions here are far too crude; please do not take offense at my lack of hospitality, Daoist Friend Lan."

Lan You turned her head to look at the spring scenery surrounding the small hut, and upon hearing this, she shook her head gently: "How could I dare? We who cultivate the Dao and seek immortality, why should we be obsessed with luxury and enjoyment? The place where I live in Yuqing Hall is indeed better than yours, Daoist Friend Xu, but I have never concerned myself with it. On the contrary, your place here, with its mountains and waters intertwined and scenery like a painting, full of wild charm and natural harmony, is truly a place beyond the mundane world. After seeing your dwelling, I feel that Yuqing Hall is actually inferior."

Xu Chen said with a wry smile: "Daoist Friend Lan, you are too kind. I would also like to live a bit better, but I am too lazy in my daily life and prefer the quiet of being alone. By the way, I observe that your aura is thick and your Soul fluctuations are intense; you must have reached the mid-stage of the Zhenyuan Realm, right? This speed of progress is likely unprecedented even in the Great Song Immortal World."

Lan You's body trembled slightly, and she nodded softly: "Lan You has indeed reached the mid-stage of the Zhenyuan Realm, but this is all thanks to Daoist Friend Xu. Only because of you did I have such a heaven-sent opportunity. The three Supreme Elders all say that my future Golden Core and Spirit Transformation will be smooth sailing, yet I do not know how to repay your great kindness and virtue."

Xu Chen shook his head: "Let us not mention this matter again. Last time, it was a matter of mutual benefit; if you hadn't helped share part of the pressure, I wouldn't have survived either. But I hope Daoist Friend Lan can help me keep this a secret. You know my current cultivation level; if it were to leak out, I fear it would be a matter of life and death."

Lan You hurriedly said: "Daoist Friend Xu, rest assured. Lan You swears on her life that she will never leak a single word. If I break this oath, may I be struck by lightning and..."

"Alright, alright, I believe Daoist Friend Lan can do it; you don't need to make such a poisonous oath!"

Xu Chen released his internal energy to suppress the rest of Lan You's words, then continued: "Cultivating the Dao depends on one's own ability. That you have today's cultivation is also your own destiny; I am merely a thread of causality in the path of your destiny, how could I dare to claim credit? I congratulate you in advance for your smooth path ahead, and for your future Golden Core and Nascent Soul journey. Perhaps before long, the first female Great Cultivator will be born in our Great Song Immortal World; it is truly a joyous and congratulatory occasion."

Lan You blushed instantly, lowered her head, and bit her lip: "Thank you for your auspicious words, Daoist Friend Xu. Lan You came to visit you today because I am to follow my sect elders back to the mountain tomorrow, and I do not know when we shall meet again. Furthermore, as you are on the verge of Foundation Establishment, and I have nothing else to repay you with, I have specially brought two Guiyuan Pills, hoping they will be of use to you."

As she spoke, Lan You's fair hand brushed lightly over the Storage Bag at her waist, and two small Jade Bottles appeared in her hand, though her cheeks turned even redder in an instant.

This was because the contents of her Storage Bag had been seen clearly by Xu Chen last time.

Every time she thought of this, she felt her Soul unsettled, her heart racing, and she could not calm her mind at all.

"Based on your strength, Daoist Friend Xu, you might not need these, but Lan You cannot produce anything better. This is just a small token of my heart; please do not decline." Lan You placed the two Jade Bottles gently in front of Xu Chen.

At this moment, Zhao Xuan happened to pass by while cleaning the teapot and cups. She heard their conversation and, seeing the two Jade Bottles, felt a surge of joy in her heart, yet also a bit of bitterness and loss.

Both she and Xu Chen had reached the stage where they could attempt Foundation Establishment, but they lacked the auxiliary Spirit Pills to break through the barrier, which was why they had been waiting for an opportunity.

The two Guiyuan Pills before them had indeed arrived at the perfect time.

Moreover, Lan You presenting two at once seemed to imply something else.

After all, for a breakthrough pill like the Guiyuan Pill, if one does not succeed with the first, taking more is futile.

However, she did not have much affection for Lan You, so she couldn't help but say: "I have heard that the best Foundation Establishment pill in Yuqing Hall is the Heqi Pill. Since Fairy Lan has come to thank him for saving her life, not bringing the best one seems hardly the way to show gratitude!"

Lan You was extremely ashamed and at a loss: "Fairy Xu, you do not know, but because Yuqing Hall lacks one of the main ingredients for the Heqi Pill, we have not been able to successfully refine it for decades. This Guiyuan Pill is indeed much inferior, but it is the best Foundation Establishment Spirit Pill in our Yuqing Hall. Its medicinal properties are much better than ordinary Guiyuan Pills; taking it gives at least a thirty percent chance of Foundation Establishment..."

"Oh? There is actually such a potent Guiyuan Pill?"

Xu Chen was instantly full of surprise upon hearing this, and even Zhao Xuan was slightly stunned.

"Yes, one of the main ingredients in refining the Heqi Pill is called Seven-Star Golden Toad Slough, but Yuqing Hall has not been able to raise a fully mature Seven-Star Golden Toad for decades, so we have been unable to refine the Heqi Pill. However, these two Guiyuan Pills do contain some Seven-Star Golden Toad Slough, albeit not of the most potent quality, which has increased their efficacy significantly. Although they are not as good as the Heqi Pill, this is the only Spirit Pill I can provide, and I hope Daoist Friend Xu and Fairy Xu will not mind."

Seeing Lan You's nervous, ashamed, and helpless appearance, Xu Chen could not bear it.

Compared to the cold elegance and aura she had when he first saw her in Jingshi, descending upon the Imperial Palace with her Master Yulong Zhenren, her Senior Brother Liang Feng, and others riding the Seven-Colored Spirit Sparrow, in these few short months, she was like a completely different person.

However, Xu Chen also understood that she only acted this way in front of him; in front of other cultivators, she remained that cold and aloof figure.

But the more this was the case, the more mixed Xu Chen's feelings became.

Therefore, he could only quickly comfort her: "Daoist Friend Lan, there is no need to blame yourself. I have indeed been looking for breakthrough Spirit Pills to prepare for Foundation Establishment recently. These two Guiyuan Pills are so effective that they are exactly what I need. This generous gift has come at just the right time, and I will accept it without declining. When I succeed in Foundation Establishment, I will certainly not forget your kindness, Daoist Friend Lan!"

As he spoke, Xu Chen put away the two Jade Bottles. Lan You breathed a slight sigh of relief, blushed, and bowed: "Thank you, Daoist Friend Xu, for not minding!"

Xu Chen laughed heartily: "Any Kaiyuan Realm cultivator would be afraid to refuse such a gift. This thank-you gift from you, Daoist Friend Lan, is worth treating you well. Senior Sister, don't dawdle, go and boil the tea quickly; use that Pill Furnace to boil the water, it's very fast."

Zhao Xuan couldn't help but roll her eyes at Xu Chen, then turned and went into the hut.

However, the sour feeling she had toward Lan You in her heart diminished quite a bit.

As the saying goes, one is soft-mouthed after eating and short-handed after taking.

These two pills, which offered a thirty percent chance of Foundation Establishment, were likely precious beyond measure across the entire Great Song Immortal World.

One must know that even an ordinary Guiyuan Pill with only a ten percent chance of success now cost at least fifty Spirit Stones, and there was nowhere to buy them.

The value of these two pills was likely immeasurable; they were worth at least two hundred Spirit Stones, truly a generous gift.

As Zhao Xuan entered the hut, Lan You's embarrassment seemed to lessen slightly. She looked around, and her eyes landed on the stone Xu Chen had been sitting on just moments ago. Her eyes lit up, and she stood up and walked straight to the stone. Looking at the messy pile of things laid out on it, she said: "So Daoist Friend Xu also knows how to refine artifacts; this truly surprises Lan You!"

Xu Chen could only stand up and walk to her side, laughing dryly: "Don't laugh at me, Daoist Friend Lan. I just tinker with it in my spare time; I haven't even entered the threshold yet!"

Lan You stared at Xu Chen's debut work, the Qingxue Sword, and asked: "May I take a look at this sword?"

"Naturally, please feel free, Daoist Friend Lan!" Xu Chen nodded with a smile.

Lan You gently picked up the Qingxue Sword, looked at the inscription on the scabbard, and a trace of an inexplicable smile appeared on her face, then she gently drew the sword.

Zhao Xuan came out with the tea she had brewed, saying: "This sword could only kill a mouse; what is there to look at? Some people even hide it away like a treasure."

Xu Chen turned and bared his teeth, while Lan You suppressed a laugh and lowered her head: "Although the grade of this sword is very low, Qingxue Wood is rare in the south, and it is crafted with great care. Lan You actually likes it very much; I wonder if Daoist Friend Xu would be willing to sell it?"

Xu Chen's face turned red, and he waved his hands with an awkward smile: "What is there to sell or not sell? If you like it, Daoist Friend Lan, just take it. Let's go, let's go drink tea!"

Thus, the two returned to the stone slab and sat down. Lan You examined the Qingxue Sword carefully from top to bottom, and finally, unable to put it down, she slid it into the scabbard. After thinking for a moment, she took a five-inch-tall green Jade Bottle from her Storage Bag and placed it in front of Xu Chen:

"Lan You has nothing else suitable to exchange at the moment; let this bottle of Spirit Liquid be a compensation for you, Daoist Friend Xu!"

Xu Chen looked at the Jade Bottle, his throat itching, and he swallowed hard, laughing dryly: "This Spirit Liquid is too precious; why must you do this, Daoist Friend Lan?"

After Lan You put the Qingxue Sword into her Storage Bag, she said softly: "Lan You just likes it very much. Only when an object is worth its price can it not be considered taking what one loves."

Well, that is a very strong reason.

Regardless of whether this woman truly liked it or was just using this method to compensate and repay his life-saving grace, facing a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure of the highest order like Spirit Liquid, he had absolutely no reason to refuse. Therefore, he smiled and accepted the Spirit Liquid, picked up his teacup, and said:

"Since that is the case, I will not decline. Such a life-saving item can only be produced by Yuqing Hall. Today, I use tea instead of wine to thank you for this generous gift."

"Fairy Lan, my Junior Brother also knows how to refine pills; the quality is also quite good. Would you like to trade for some more?"

Zhao Xuan, who was helping pour the tea nearby, reminded her with a full face of smiles.

"Pfft~~"

Xu Chen sprayed out the mouthful of scalding tea he had just taken, which turned into a rainbow as it met the sunlight.

Lan You blushed instantly, holding the teacup with both hands, not knowing how to respond. After hurriedly finishing the cup of tea, she stood up and bowed: "I have intruded rashly today. If Daoist Friend Xu has time to visit Yuqing Hall in the future, Lan You will certainly sweep the bed and wait for you. Farewell!"

Xu Chen could only stand up awkwardly to return the bow. Lan You did not dare to linger any longer, flew into the air on her sword, and headed toward Black Wind Ridge in an instant.

"Senior Sister, did you take the wrong medicine today!" Xu Chen turned to look at Zhao Xuan with a strange expression.

Zhao Xuan pouted: "Since she is so generous, what is wrong with trading for more? This Spirit Liquid is a life-saving item; I am doing this for your own good!"

Xu Chen said with a wry smile, "But this way of eating is a bit too unsightly."

Zhao Xuan huffed, "What of it? Yuqing Hall isn't lacking in this bit of Spirit Liquid, but the Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill you refined is a great treasure. A mere bottle of Spirit Liquid, how can it be compared to a Spirit Pill that can strengthen the Soul, fortify the meridians and dantian, and temper the physical body? If she missed out on it today, I'm afraid she won't have time to regret it later!"

Xu Chen rubbed his chin and thought for a moment, saying, "Senior Sister, what you say does have some merit. In the long run, the Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill is indeed more valuable than Spirit Liquid. However, they cannot be compared this way; after all, a life-saving item like Spirit Liquid has immeasurable value in a crisis, while we can refine Soul-Entering Pills batch by batch—if there are too many, they might not be worth as much."

Zhao Xuan couldn't help but roll her eyes at him and said, "Why refine so many? Isn't it better to have fewer? It's enough as long as we have enough for ourselves. You've been hiding here for the past few days ignoring everything; do you know that the Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill is currently being scrambled for by all the Immortal Sects? Third Elder is selling them for two hundred Spirit Stones each and still can't keep up with the demand!"

Xu Chen had just sat back down and picked up his teacup to drink when his hand shook at these words, spilling boiling tea all over his lap. He stared blankly and said, "This... isn't this just robbery?"

Zhao Xuan nodded triumphantly, "Exactly, why, do you think it's not worth it?"

Xu Chen was left speechless for a long time, finally smiling bitterly as he shook the tea off his clothes, "I don't know if it's worth it, but Third Elder is certainly ruthless."

"Fine, since you dare to speak ill of Third Elder behind his back, I'm going to go tell him right now!" Zhao Xuan pinched his arm.

Xu Chen hurriedly grabbed Zhao Xuan's hand, flipped his palm to take out a Guiyuan Pill, and stuffed it into her hand, saying, "Senior Sister, stop messing around. Won't this bribe satisfy you? This Guiyuan Pill is for you!"

Zhao Xuan's face instantly lit up with a smile. After putting the Guiyuan Pill into her Storage Bag, she glared at him and said, "That's more like it. I won't tell Third Elder what you said, but what about the promise you made last time to pay me back double if you got Spirit Liquid?"

Xu Chen nodded quickly, "It counts, of course it counts. But I haven't used the bottle you gave me yet." As he spoke, Xu Chen took out a three-inch-tall green Jade Bottle.

Zhao Xuan was stunned for a moment, her face full of surprise, "Why did you keep it? Don't tell me you didn't use it even when you were trapped in Black Wind Ridge for a month?"

Xu Chen shook his head, "The situation was special at the time; there wasn't much difference between using it and not using it. Besides, when things were at their most dangerous, Lan You still had a bottle, so naturally, we used hers first. Since it was a gift from you, Senior Sister, I naturally wanted to keep it on me as a last resort to save my life, so as not to waste your good intentions."

Zhao Xuan turned her worry into joy, "At least you still have a conscience. Never mind then, I don't want the Spirit Liquid anymore. I still have to go back to help exchange for Soul Beads. By the way, don't be lazy here; come with me to get to work, otherwise, if a few more 'Fairy Meis' or 'Fairy Huas' come along later, they'll hook your soul away!"

Xu Chen had no choice but to ride his sword together with Zhao Xuan toward the bustling Zhaoyang Peak.

Xiao Huli was anxious, yelping and whining at the edge of the cliff, but there was nothing it could do.

Xiao Huli had grown up now and could no longer fit in his arms, and Xu Chen couldn't carry it around all day long, so it could only stay on the mountainside to guard the house.

Therefore, Xu Chen had also been considering where to get a pet bag.

(End of chapter)