Chapter 17: The Porcelain Bottle Becomes a Jade Bottle

After dinner!

He Pingsheng lit the oil lamp!

Then he began reading!

A knock came at the door outside the room.

He Pingsheng walked over, first removed the wooden bar across the door, then unlocked the bolted door.

“Hey…” Outside, Hao Yun’s face was as dark as a soot-covered pot: “What are you doing in there? Why’d you lock the door so tight?”

“Took forever to open?”

With that, Hao Yun's gaze sharpened and moved downward, settling on He Pingsheng's philtrum.

He Pingsheng suddenly covered his crotch with his hand, “Don’t misunderstand—I’m not doing what you think!”

“I’m only fourteen—I don’t know anything!”

“Enough!” Hao Yun lifted his gaze again and tossed a book onto He Pingsheng’s desk: “Take a look at this.”

He Pingsheng and Hao Yun sat down across the table, their eyes fixed on the book.

On the cover were written a few characters: Thirty-Six Formulas for Alchemy!

What does that mean?

I don’t understand!

“These are the thirty-six common elixir formulas in the cultivation world!” Hao Yun said: “In their immortal realm, they’re not secrets at all—just basic knowledge, nearly everyone owns one!”

“It records the methods for crafting these elixirs: Golden Bone Elixir, Qi Gathering Elixir, Nourishing Primordial Elixir, Marrow Cleansing Elixir, Spirit Gathering Elixir, Foundation Establishment Elixir… and more!”

“You may be just a laborer, but you still serve in the Alchemy Chamber!”

“You don’t need to memorize the exact steps or purification methods—but you must memorize the fire control precisely!”

“Go study it well—don’t end up like me, half-dead from being beaten!”

“Read through it once first—if you have questions, ask me!”

“Oh!” He Pingsheng picked up the book and opened it.

The first formula in the Thirty-Six Formulas was the Qi Gathering Elixir.

Very thorough!

It covered every aspect: ingredient types, ingredient selection, order of addition, fire control, duration, precautions…

Just this one formula filled ten pages.

But for He Pingsheng, he didn’t need to remember anything else—only the fire control for the Qi Gathering Elixir.

After all, he was just a laborer, assigned to tend the fire.

“Alright!” Hao Yun stood up: “Study it for now—no rush. When you’ve memorized it, return it to me.”

“Hmm…”

He Pingsheng nodded.

As soon as Hao Yun stepped out of He Pingsheng’s room, he spotted a disciple in blue robes entering the alchemy yard.

The man had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, his expression friendly.

“You’re Hao Yun?” the man fixed his gaze on Hao Yun.

Hao Yun said: “That’s me…”

“Good!” the man said: “I’m a disciple of True Person Jade Virtue, and Ling’s junior brother… What happened before was my junior sister’s fault. My master said that since you were injured, he couldn’t ignore it!”

“Come with me to Hongde Courtyard to pay respects to my master!”

Hao Yun said: “No need—my injury’s already healed!”

The disciple smiled: “Hao Yun, this is a direct invitation from my master, True Person Jade Virtue. Whether you go or not is your choice. If you truly refuse, I’ll report back exactly as you say: you don’t wish to go.”

Hao Yun’s face darkened instantly: refusing was no longer an option.

“Fine!” he nodded, then looked at He Pingsheng: “Take care of things here—I’m going to True Person Jade Virtue’s quarters to receive instruction!”

He Pingsheng, confused and clueless, could only nod and watch his senior follow the Jade Virtue disciple away.

After the two left, He Pingsheng saw nightfall approaching and firmly locked his door again.

He ignored the Thirty-Six Formulas for Alchemy and pulled out the Basic Breathing and Qi Absorption Method, beginning his practice.

He could now sense spiritual energy from outside—but drawing it into his body to refine and condense was another threshold.

He didn’t know how long it would take.

Thus, He Pingsheng began trying again and again and again.

After two full hours of effort, he still failed.

In fact, he made no progress at all.

But he wasn’t discouraged—Hao Yun had said even those with single-element roots took days to see results.

“Oh…” He Pingsheng yawned: “So sleepy!”

Before sleeping, he still had one thing to do.

He Pingsheng took out his axe, pried up two stone slabs beneath the bed, and dug away layer after layer of soil—until the elixirs he’d buried emerged.

A strange fragrance filled the entire room.

He Pingsheng didn’t delay—he quickly took two pills and dropped them into the porcelain bottle Hao Yun had given him.

He’d feared Hao Yun had given him the bottle as a trap, to spy on his secret.

Now that Hao Yun had been called away and the alchemy chamber was empty, He Pingsheng had no such worries.

Plop…

He sealed the lid.

He had assumed the porcelain bottle could fully contain the fragrance of the supreme elixirs.

In reality!

It could not!

It only blocked most of the scent—about two-tenths still leaked out.

He Pingsheng looked disappointed, then reburied the elixirs underground.

He covered them with soil, then replaced the two stone slabs.

Finally, he pulled out a black clay pot from the corner beneath the bed, lifted the wooden lid, and dropped the porcelain bottle inside.

Since this clay pot could strengthen anything, surely it could strengthen the bottle too?

Even if it couldn’t, at least one bottle would become two.

After finishing, He Pingsheng climbed onto the bed and drifted into drowsy sleep.

…

The next morning, as dawn broke!

He Pingsheng leapt from bed and eagerly dragged out the black clay pot, lifted the wooden lid—and his face lit up with joy.

There it was!

Two porcelain bottles lay quietly inside the pot.

No…

These weren’t porcelain bottles!

He Pingsheng picked up one.

It felt cool and smooth to the touch; upon closer inspection, it resembled pure lamb-fat jade.

This… was a jade bottle?

It seemed the porcelain bottle, placed in the Treasure Pot, not only multiplied—but its quality was enhanced.

But would it now conceal the elixir’s fragrance?

He Pingsheng didn’t rush to dig up the elixirs—he stepped outside and called out at Hao’s door.

No need to call!

Hao’s door wasn’t even closed!

Inside, the room was empty.

No one there.

Exactly as it had been yesterday.

Meaning Hao had stayed out all night?

He Pingsheng scanned the entire alchemy chamber, shouted again—still no reply.

Only echoes rang through the silent courtyard.

His brow twitched sharply—a deep unease rose in his chest: Could Hao have met with misfortune?

What urgent matter could True Person Jade Virtue have that kept him overnight?