[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-book-of-strange-tales":3,"chapter-the-book-of-strange-tales-the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-547":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Book of Strange Tales",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2317827,4532,"Chapter 547: Junior Sister Refines Pills","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-547",547,"\u003Cp>In the mountains, no calendar marks the days; only the passing of spring and autumn, the maple peaks turning crimson, then dusted with frost and snow, before returning once more to green—this cycle had repeated thrice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue opened his eyes in the pavilion, exhaling a long breath filled with infinite mystery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox beside him immediately opened its eyes to look at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue remained seated in deep contemplation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The insights he gained from the Old Heavenly Weng ’s “One Gaze, Ten Thousand Years” regarding the three arts—“Severed Yet Reconnected,” “Scattered Yet Reassembled,” and “Stealing Life to Grant Longevity”—were nearly all true; after minor verification, reflection, and consolidation, they became his genuine understanding of these three arts, saving him at least eight or nine tenths of the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But “Undying and Immortal” was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue first contemplated the three arts, then “Undying and Immortal,” and the later the insight, the less clear, less real, the more blurred the memory, the more hazy the experience within the illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this was the reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps “Undying and Immortal,” as a supreme divine art, involved cosmic principles beyond the Old Heavenly Weng ’s “One Gaze, Ten Thousand Years,” and thus was inherently obscure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, only about half of the insights on “Undying and Immortal” were truly applicable to the outside world, and much of even that was Lin Jue’s own reasoning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, within the illusion, Lin Jue had not fully and completely realized “Undying and Immortal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet within the illusion, whether due to increasing perceptual blurriness toward the end or because the Dao within the illusion was incomplete and different from the outside world, Lin Jue himself could not detect his misinterpretations—only upon returning to the real world, when he clearly perceived true Dao, could he verify them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overall, he could save roughly three or four tenths of the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calculated thus, it amounted to a hundred years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I truly owe the Old Heavenly Weng  thanks…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue murmured to himself, when a white fox drew near, its beautiful head and curious eyes filling his vision almost entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately embraced it and began rubbing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What of a hundred years from now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Undying and Immortal” may be a divine art usable in combat, but it is purely defensive—not offensive. If the Floating Pool Divine Lord truly came, could a version of “Undying and Immortal” different from his own truly stand against him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At best, he might remain invincible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue stroked the fox as he pondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he grew tired of it, he flipped it over, placed it on his lap, and with a thought, retrieved the ancient book, opening it upon its belly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shhh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last three pages of the ancient book remained blank, glowing with golden light, waiting for him to write.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the result of his journey to Yuanqiu Immortal Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It showed that during his time in Yuanqiu Immortal Realm, the Old Heavenly Weng  had used three divine arts merely by being sensed by the ancient book—but clearly no one could have written them down, and even Lin Jue could not determine which three arts he had seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shhh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue turned back a page and began recording the complete “Scattered Yet Reassembled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days later, he rose and looked downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, the foolish female rabbit was still below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am not afraid of you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue gazed into the distance, murmuring to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the Maple Mountain Pavilion, his junior sister had come again as a guest; Xu Yi, Pu Mei, and Zi Yun sat below in order, and Wan Gong and others all appeared as they had in their youth, none missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rabbit knelt trembling in the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must understand: I took you as my disciple not because you knelt for three years below, but because you once listened to my Dao teachings and truly absorbed them, repaying my transmission with steadfast devotion. From now on, you must uphold this character and resolve…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue spoke thus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet both he and his junior sister wore expressions of faint haziness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words felt so familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue looked down at the rabbit spirit’s face: “You have no name, do you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rabbit spirit said nothing, only shook its head vigorously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see your lips are bright red and moist, as if holding a red pill—I shall name you ‘Xian Zhu.’ Perfect, since you are a female rabbit, the name suits you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rabbit spirit still said nothing, only nodded vigorously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue scanned the surroundings; this scene was nearly identical to the illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you transform?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Peng…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rabbit transformed into a girl of seventeen or eighteen, not very tall, with a round face and large eyes, quite beautiful, yet still hunched and standing meekly, daring not to look around or speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Call me Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xian Zhu’s voice was thin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus he gained his third disciple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He vaguely remembered: in the illusion, this third disciple appeared dull and foolish, yet was actually the most gifted—but being a spirit, before achieving true enlightenment, she had carelessly ventured out and been seized by the Nine Heavens’ deities on some pretext. Whether she was truly imprisoned, the later parts were too blurred; the Old Heavenly Weng  skipped much, and he could no longer recall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your talent lies in the Five Elements—I shall teach you the Five Elements Spirit Art and the Five Elements Spells.” Lin Jue said, then glanced around, “All of you who wish to listen may attend my teachings, but remember: greed leads to indigestion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this point onward, it differed greatly from the illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether Xu Yi, Pu Mei, Wan Xinrong, Tao Daochang, or others, all were startled upon hearing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even from the back of the hall came a timid voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother! May I come listen too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue’s gaze swept over them—Zi Yun had raised her hand, a habit she’d clearly learned from someone, and she looked rather unintelligent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue nodded calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, most dispersed, leaving only the rabbit spirit, who, whether too excited or too fearful, remained crouched in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox, having experienced the illusion, had already accompanied the rabbit spirit in another way for many years, having been called “Fuyao Senior Sister” countless times, and thus pitied her, going to comfort her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rabbit grew even more frightened, trembling violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be afraid! From now on, call me Fuyao Senior Sister—I’ll teach you a great divine art: ‘Severed Yet Reconnected!’ This is perfect for spirits to learn!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fuyao Senior Sister…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She still can’t speak well; the few words she knows she learned from Xu Yi, Pu Mei, and Wan Gong and others. Since you are her senior sister, you must teach her to speak and read.” Lin Jue said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Sister will!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Xian Zhu had awakened and transformed, it was purely due to Lin Jue’s immortal aura and his Dao teachings—her cultivation was still shallow. Lin Jue had her reside first in the wooden hut once occupied by Pu Mei below the mountain; he assigned her the tasks of chopping wood and fetching water, previously handled by Pu Mei and Xu Yi, to help her settle and calm her mind, while teaching her spirit arts and spells, and when her abilities improved, she could build her own pavilion on the cliffside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of it was nearly identical to the illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as it had been with Xu Yi and Pu Mei in their youth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lin Jue was far more at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Xu Yi and Pu Mei had grown up, matured, and could now help him train the younger disciples—just as he and his junior sister had once been guided by their senior brother, and Lin Jue’s arts had been passed down in rotation by his senior brothers, so now he could delegate most mundane tasks to his two older disciples, letting them shoulder the master’s duties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another difference was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the illusion, Lin Jue knew Xian Zhu’s talent leaned toward the Five Elements, but since he himself cultivated Yin-Yang Spirit Art, and most spirits refined themselves by absorbing the essence of sun and moon—suited to Yin-Yang Spirit Art—he still chose to teach her Yin-Yang Spirit Art. And fearing Zi Di’s views, worried she might cause chaos if she left, he taught her mostly strange transformation arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he taught her the Five Elements Spirit Art and Five Elements Spells—most suited to her and best for combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, during his teachings in the pavilion, Wan Xinrong, Tao Daochang, and others seized every opportunity, always coming to sit below and listen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, while teachings were being delivered from the pavilion, Wan Xinrong, Tao Daochang, and others never missed this opportunity, coming every time to sit below and listen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Xian Zhu’s talent and insight were strong, she had only just awakened and could barely understand Lin Jue’s words; she knew few characters. Previously, she had to constantly ask Lin Jue for help—now she could ask Wan Gong and others in the same class, or even read their notes directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Xian Zhu had strong innate talent, she had only recently opened her mind and gained awareness; Lin Jue’s words were difficult for her to grasp, and she knew few characters, so she had previously needed to constantly ask Lin Jue for help—now she could ask Wan Gong and the others in the same class, or even directly study their notes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scholars from the south began traveling to the capital for the imperial examinations; rumors said the Red-Robed Officials nodded approvingly at their essays, praising them as masterpieces of literary brilliance—whether true or fabricated, no one knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some time, Dazu began raiding the borders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything matched the Old Heavenly Weng ’s projections closely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His junior sister had fully gathered the materials for her Golden Core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two siblings returned once more to the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The senior and junior siblings returned to Jingcheng once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His junior sister pushed open the gate of the courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene before her was clean, not desolate; apart from a few fallen leaves on the ground, the lake water slightly murky, and a touch of loneliness, it was nearly identical to his memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Fan Tian’s old servant, who had once guarded the place, his age was far too advanced—he was no immortal or Daoist—so Luo Gongceng gave him a sum of money and sent him back to his hometown to spend his final years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Fan Tian Shi’s old servant, he had originally been stationed here, but his age was far too great; he was no immortal or Daoist, so Luo Gong gave him a sum of money and sent him back to his hometown to spend his final years in peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His junior sister held a long sword in one hand, a fly whisk in the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind her, the disciple stood expressionless, hunched over, carrying a large alchemical furnace, gazing ahead at his master and senior brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve never refined pills before—why say ‘still’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you have.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like you can’t be tricked anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Brother, please guard me, and help me watch—my alchemical skill is still shallow; I need your guidance on the steps.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, guard me while I cultivate, and also watch over me—I’m still shallow in my alchemy skills and need your guidance on the steps.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No problem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jue smiled and agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>",1910,"2026-06-20T14:45:37.804Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","300e7e355e9dcd38cd654b0b9f84c02351a3790df6c9b4f03449ca053d3635e1","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-548","the-book-of-strange-tales-chapter-546",608,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-book-of-strange-tales-cover.jpg"]