[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-treasure-immortal-basin":3,"chapter-the-treasure-immortal-basin-the-treasure-immortal-basin-chapter-13":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Treasure Immortal Basin",{"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},2355196,4608,"Chapter 13: Strengthening Failed Pills","the-treasure-immortal-basin-chapter-13",13,"\u003Cp>“Ow, ow, ow…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Watch what you’re doing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My… ribs… cough cough cough…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid Hao Yun’s constant yelling, He Pingsheng carried him to his bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need to rest for a while!” Hao Yun said: “Uh… Xiao He, right now the priority is to clean the alchemy room, then come back—I’ll teach you how to control the flame in pill refining!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t move for now—this alchemy room is all yours!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!” He Pingsheng hurried out and began cleaning the alchemy room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, ventilate!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then scrub the pot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he lifted the lid of the alchemy furnace, He Pingsheng saw the state of this batch of failed pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the previous explosion when Jade Xuan Shibo refined pills, this batch was just a hair’s breadth from success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t turn to ash—it became twelve dull, grayish failed pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each one was black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A burnt, acrid smell wafted from the pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng swept his hand—using a broom—and swept all twelve failed pills out, then hurled them into the trash basket!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scrub the furnace clean!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then clean out the furnace ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After clearing the ash, he swept the floor, then carried the trash basket toward the dump behind the mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as he was about to dump it, a flash of insight struck him—he reached out and stopped the twelve failed pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though they’re useless, what if I put them in my Treasure Basin overnight—what would happen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could they be strengthened?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s try!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if it works?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now there’s nothing else worth putting in there—leaving the basin empty all day is a waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this thought, He Pingsheng slipped the twelve black pills into his robe and returned to the alchemy room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Hao Yun—the man was already asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng returned to his bedroom, locked the door, and barred it from inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed all the windows too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did he pull out the jet-black Treasure Basin from under his bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tossed the twelve black pills into the basin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it would work or not—now it was fate’s call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splash…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After covering the earthen basin with a wooden board, He Pingsheng shoved it back under the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, fumbling around, he pulled another pill from the other end of the bed: Golden Bone Pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This pill had been given to him earlier by a certain green-robed senior sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were two in total!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Da took one; the remaining one was accidentally placed by He Pingsheng into the earthen basin and refined into two top-grade Golden Bone Pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng ate one—this one remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having consumed it before, he knew its miraculous power—it could instantly heal all bodily injuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only one remains now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he give it to Senior Hao?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng was torn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that he was unwilling to give it—he was afraid that if he gave it, Hao would ask questions, and how would he answer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t just spill the whole truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he didn’t give it, his conscience wouldn’t let him—he owed Hao his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better come up with a perfect excuse first, then give it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night fell!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating with Hao Yun, He Pingsheng returned to his room, opened the window, and let the moonlight stream in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dappled moonlight gathered toward the Treasure Basin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng noticed the basin absorbed moonlight regardless of whether it was covered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a thick wooden board couldn’t block the moonlight from entering the basin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After watching for a while, He Pingsheng propped his chin and began crafting the perfect excuse to give the Golden Bone Pill to Senior Hao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he thought, he fell asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he woke the next morning, He Pingsheng suddenly smelled a rich, potent medicinal fragrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh no…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng leapt from bed like a leaping carp, yanked the earthen basin from under the bed, and lifted the wooden lid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiss hiss hiss…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pills inside came into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One, two, three, four…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng slowly counted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exactly twenty-four pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each the size of a silkworm bean, pure white as jade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And each bore four engraved patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Top-grade?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good heavens!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But He Pingsheng had no time to admire them—the fragrance was overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And growing stronger by the second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What to do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hide them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But… where?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t understand—Golden Bone Pills had a faint scent, so why was this Qi-accumulating Pill’s fragrance so intense?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng first shut the window, then rummaged through his belongings, testing several hiding spots—all failed to mask the scent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clothes couldn’t cover it. Blankets couldn’t cover it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wooden boards and the Treasure Basin couldn’t hide it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What to do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat beaded on He Pingsheng’s forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anyone came to refine pills now and smelled this fragrance—what then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to abandon the pills than expose the Treasure Basin’s secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng gritted his teeth, pried up several floor tiles, grabbed the axe, and smashed a hole beneath the bed. He tossed all twenty-four top-grade Qi-accumulating Pills into the pit, covered them with dirt, then replaced the tiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pill fragrance vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly opened the window, letting the wind blow the lingering scent clean away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once done, He Pingsheng took two iron bowls to the laborers’ mess hall, fetched their meals, and brought them to Hao Yun’s room. They ate together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was that smell? So fragrant!” Hao Yun asked after taking a bite. “Like the scent of Qi-accumulating Pills… but Qi-accumulating Pills aren’t this strong… unless they’re top-grade!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at He Pingsheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng’s heart pounded, but he kept his face calm. “I smelled it too… I was just about to ask you, Senior!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Weird,” Hao Yun shook his head. “But I don’t smell it now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Never mind—eat, eat, eat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng exhaled in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way!” Hao Yun, who had just been eating, suddenly stopped. “Is the alchemy room cleaned thoroughly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are all the fuels ready?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has anyone said they’re coming to refine pills?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here we go again…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng answered each question carefully again. Only then did they resume eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had they finished than He Pingsheng took a deep breath, ready to pull out his Golden Bone Pill to heal Hao Yun’s injuries—but before he could, a stern voice rang from outside: “Where’s Hao Yun?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need to refine pills—where have you run off to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This brat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hurry up!\" Hao Yun panicked, slapping He Pingsheng: \"Go see what's happening... or we'll get beaten again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng burst out of Hao Yun's room at once and saw before him a tall old Daoist, his hair and beard entirely white, standing before the elixir chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His features radiated an ethereal aura, as if he were a celestial immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Pingsheng was so startled he moved to kneel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man said: \"Don't kneel... I despise nothing more than disciples bowing and scraping!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too much kneeling shortens my lifespan!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1142,"2026-06-21T04:08:57.694Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5a00b9e855e75ddf85994e609ef9bcd58414a2a14311da6ce1de1e71521cbbd3","the-treasure-immortal-basin-chapter-14","the-treasure-immortal-basin-chapter-12",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-treasure-immortal-basin-cover.jpg"]