Chapter 605: Going Too Far Is No Better Than Not Enough

Another two months passed.

Yan Buji walked out of the Alchemy Hall, handed over the pills he had refined to the people of Paolong Sacred Land, and then began to wander around.

"Yan Elder Brother?"

"Isn't this Ma Brother? Congratulations, congratulations, you've broken through to Golden Core!" Yan Buji said with a smile.

"I still have to thank Elder Brother Yan for helping me refine the pills." Ma Liu said, smiling and clasping his hands.

"No problem. By the way, how's An Brother?"

"He... he left the sect."

"What?" Yan Buji frowned: "How could this happen?"

"He wasn't able to break through then, after nursing his injuries he asked to go out and gain experience, so he was sent out." Ma Liu sighed.

"Oh, I see." Yan Buji sighed.

Yan Buji clicked his tongue, his plan had somewhat failed.

The pill he gave An Hua at that time had medicinal potency just slightly lacking, so he was certain An Hua couldn't break through; he originally intended to bestow another favor on him to control this guy and help him gather information, but he didn't expect him to run away.

However, it doesn't matter; Ma Liu also broke through and achieved Golden Core stage, so I suppose I've gained some reputation in the Outer Gate as well.

"It just so happens that Elder Brother Yan is out today; why don't we go have a drink together?"

"Sounds good."

Yan Buji glanced at the two Core Formation Cultivators following behind him: "Will you come?"

"Um... if Senior Brother Ma doesn't mind?" The two Core Formation Cultivators were still rather respectful, after all Ma Liu and they are no longer on the same level now.

Barring any surprises, Ma Liu will either prepare to enter the Inner Gate, or take up a steward position in the Outer Gate, his status will see a significant rise.

"Of course it's fine, let's both junior brothers come together." Ma Liu said with a smile.

Soon, several people arrived at Ma Liu's residence.

Ma Liu took out some spiritual fruits and spiritual wine from his storage bag, and couldn't help but say: "Elder Brother, your gentleman's wine...."

"Hmph, you ask me to drink but still want me to bring my own wine?" Yan Buji said with a laugh.

"Hehe, it's just that your spiritual wine is better than anything on the market; after my months of seclusion, my mouth has grown bland."

"Hahaha."

Yan Buji didn't mind either; he took off the wine gourd from his waist, placed it on the table, pointed his sword finger at the gourd, drew out the wine from its mouth, and poured it into the cups.

The two Core Formation Cultivators' eyes lit up: "What a rich, mellow aroma!"

"This is spiritual wine personally brewed by Elder Brother Yan; ordinary people can't even get a taste of it." Ma Liu said with a smile.

"Then today we can consider ourselves blessed." The two Core Formation Cultivators smiled.

"Come, come, come, raise your cups and drink together!" Yan Buji raised his cup.

Everyone took a sip, instantly feeling the fragrance linger on their lips and teeth, with pure spiritual energy circulating, making their limbs feel clear and refreshed; it was truly delicious.

Yan Buji poured wine for everyone and asked: "What exactly is An Hua Brother thinking? Logically, your savings are also sufficient; breaking through shouldn't be difficult, right?"

"Alas, who in this world can guarantee a hundred percent breakthrough? An Hua lacks fortune, and after suffering another injury he's become somewhat disheartened." Ma Liu sighed.

Back then he also spent a night discussing with An Hua, but still couldn't keep him.

Moreover, even if he could be retained, his recovery from injuries couldn't possibly be completed in a year; next year he would still be sent out.

Yan Buji raised his eyebrows, that could only mean An Hua is a good-for-nothing!

I clearly gave him the pills, only the medicinal potency was a bit off and he still couldn't break through; although I sensed his thoughts were heavy and he couldn't break through, I didn't expect him to be unable to withstand the blow.

On the surface, Yan Buji still wore a face of regret and said: "An Hua Brother, are you putting too much pressure on yourself? Cultivation cannot be forced, otherwise you'll end up inferior."

"Who says otherwise?" Ma Liu sighed: "An Hua has a childhood sweetheart who already entered the Inner Gate; last time it was because he wanted to break through quickly to get into the Inner Gate due to his impatience for quick results. I thought he had adjusted, but I didn't expect he still fell short."

One of the Core Formation Cultivators beside them exclaimed in surprise: "Could it be that famed Senior Sister Lan Nuo?"

"You know?" Ma Liu said in surprise.

"I've heard about it these past two days; reportedly Senior Sister Lan Nuo has already broken through to Nascent Soul stage, been taken as a fourth disciple by the Inner Gate's Nangong Elder, and is now in the limelight!"

"What?!" Ma Liu widened his eyes, also somewhat incredulous: "How could it happen so fast?"

Yan Buji didn't actually know that whatever Lan Nuo, but upon reflection, if someone he knows well and has a good relationship with keeps moving ahead of him, getting farther and farther away, that sense of disparity is indeed not something ordinary people can bear.

"It seems An Hua Brother, even if he entered the Inner Gate, would probably still suffer a blow." Yan Buji sighed.

Ma Liu opened his mouth to say something, but recalling An Hua's expression when he left, he couldn't help but sigh: "Yeah, if one strives to be at the forefront on the path of cultivation, it's inevitable to encounter those astonishing top-tier geniuses."

"Going with the flow and being content is actually the best." Yan Buji said with a smile.

Ma Liu shook his head, smiled: "Forget it, let's not talk about that today. Still, I must thank Elder Brother for helping us refine the pills; otherwise I'd find it hard to break through to Golden Core."

The two Core Formation Cultivators' eyes shifted, they asked: "Senior Brother Ma, the pill you used for your breakthrough was really refined by Senior Yan, right?"

"Of course, there's no need to lie to you." Ma Liu said with a smile.

"Then... Senior Yan... we..."

Yan Buji fell silent, set down his cup, sighed: "Alas, I don't intend to refine those breakthrough-assisting pills anymore."

"Ah?"

"But we need compensation; we will naturally..."

"Not so." Yan Buji waved his hand, poured a cup of wine and began to drink.

Beside them, Ma Liu looked at Yan Buji's complex expression and said: "Two junior brothers, Elder Brother Yan worries that you'll end up like An Hua, if you're impatient for quick results you'll only fail despite effort; even if I got lucky and succeeded, breaking through this kind of thing certainly requires proper preparation."

"We naturally know that. But speaking of which, Senior Yan, the pills you refined aren't the main cause of An Hua Brother's breakthrough failure; besides, taking pills to break through isn't a hundred percent successful either—we know these things."

Yan Buji hesitated: "After all, I'm not actually a member of Paolong Sacred Land; this time I was merely invited over to help with alchemy. If everyone came to me for pill refining, my own tasks would also be hard to complete."

"That's really too regrettable."

The two Core Formation Cultivators' expressions fell into gloom; after all, there are hardly any alchemists in the Outer Gate nowadays, and if they went to Long Qi Cheng to find someone it would be the same—why not choose something closer?

But the two of them didn't think much more about it, after all what Yan Buji said was all true.

Ma Liu and Yan Buji chatted for a long time; afterwards Yan Buji didn't ask anything more, just telling Ma Liu not to forget his previous request.

Ma Liu looked puzzled: "I don't know what you want, big brother."

"Nothing." Yan Buji smiled, sending a voice transmission.

"And you?"

"Let's talk about it later."