Chapter 850: Trouble Comes Calling (6th of 6)

He Pingsheng had heard of the Thunder-Averting Pill before.

His 【Golden Treasury of the Cantongqi】 contained the formula for the Thunder-Averting Pill.

But the problem was, it was a seventh-rank elixir.

For him, directly refining a top-grade version was not easy.

"Hehe, friend, don't misunderstand!" said the Skyward Daoist with a smile. "I'm not asking you to make every pill top-grade—just at least two top-grade ones!"

"This… shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"I've asked around—among the alchemists on this street who refine high-rank elixirs, you're one of the top ones!"

He Pingsheng nodded. "Shouldn't be too hard. Have you prepared all the materials?"

One of the ingredients in the Thunder-Averting Pill is called 【Golden Yuan Qi】, the main component.

Because metal overcomes wood, metallic energy or essence also suppresses thunder-based power.

The Thunder-Averting Pill draws its effect from the Five Elements' mutual suppression.

In a typical peer-level clash, swallowing one pill can weaken the opponent's attack by thirty percent.

"Yes, yes, yes!" The Skyward Daoist pulled out five jade boxes.

He Pingsheng shook his head. "Not enough. Five sets of materials can only yield ordinary mid-grade pills. For top-grade, you need ten sets!"

That's the rule.

Better quality demands more input.

"This…," said the Skyward Daoist, "the materials are hard to come by—I've already exhausted myself to gather these five sets!"

"Here's my proposal: even with only five sets, I won't ask for a full batch. After refining, I'll take only two top-grade pills—the rest, regardless of quality, I won't touch. They're all yours. Deal?"

The Skyward Daoist stared at He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng said nothing.

He added, "Master Taixu, please help me. If I gain anything from this, I'll repay your great kindness!"

He Pingsheng smiled. "Great kindness? No need. Two top-grade pills—no problem."

"Wait here two days. I need to study the formula further."

"Yes, yes, yes!" The Skyward Daoist beamed with joy the moment He Pingsheng agreed.

He Pingsheng then took the five sets of materials and entered his small hut.

Inside, he secretly sent one set into the Treasure Basin for enhancement, while pulling out the 【Golden Treasury of the Cantongqi】 to study the Thunder-Averting Pill's refining method.

One day later, that one set had been enhanced into two.

He had also nearly mastered the formula.

He Pingsheng took one set and began refining.

Seventh-rank elixirs were hard to refine—this was his first time attempting one.

His first time refining a seventh-rank elixir. His first time refining a Thunder-Averting Pill.

Unsurprisingly, the first batch turned into twelve duds.

He wasn't discouraged. He tossed the twelve duds into the Treasure Basin, observing the pills' quality changes as he continued studying the formula.

One day later, the duds were enhanced—now twenty-four in total.

Two were top-grade; the other twenty-two were premium.

He Pingsheng didn't leave immediately. He took another set and refined the Thunder-Averting Pill again.

This time, it succeeded—not a dud.

But the quality was only mid-grade.

Six mid-grade, six low-grade.

Not bad.

From this perspective, even without the Treasure Basin, He Pingsheng could already refine seventh-rank elixirs.

He had achieved cross-rank refining.

And if he continued refining, as his proficiency grew, he estimated the pill quality could improve further.

He tossed the latest twelve pills into the Treasure Basin, then stepped out of his hut.

He stopped refining.

There was no need.

"Master Taixu, how did it go?" The Skyward Daoist looked expectant.

He Pingsheng pulled out a porcelain bottle. "Here—your pills are done."

The Skyward Daoist took the Thunder-Averting Pills and burst into laughter. "Perfect—two is just right: one for my body, one for my avatar. Hahaha…"

"Brother… wait and see!"

"My fortune is coming!"

"When I'm rich, I'll repay you!"

"I'm off!"

The Skyward Daoist clapped He Pingsheng on the shoulder and strode away.

He Pingsheng stared, baffled.

After the Skyward Daoist left, He Pingsheng resumed studying the 【Heavenly Talisman Dao Treasury】.

He studied while drawing talismans.

After drawing a fourth-rank talisman, he enhanced it with the Treasure Basin—its quality improved, and its quantity doubled.

He then sold them in his shop.

Yes, his alchemy shop had begun selling talismans.

…

"Are you Master Taixu?"

One day, a low-rank cultivator arrived at the shop.

He Pingsheng glanced up and instantly saw the cultivator's realm: Foundation Establishment.

Well, well.

Why is a Foundation Establishment cultivator coming to my shop?

It wasn't that he looked down on low-rank disciples—it was that his shop carried no elixirs for them at all.

Even fourth-rank elixirs for Nascent Soul cultivators were absent; the lowest he carried were fifth- and sixth-rank.

"What is it?" He Pingsheng said. "I am Master Taixu."

"Greetings, Master Taixu!" The Foundation Establishment cultivator bowed deeply and presented a jade slip. "Someone at the city gate hired me to deliver this to you."

"I don't know what it's about."

The Foundation Establishment cultivator trembled as he placed the jade slip before He Pingsheng.

Sweat streamed down his forehead.

He Pingsheng read the jade slip's contents—and his face turned icy.

Thud…

The Foundation Establishment cultivator dropped to his knees. "Master, I only took this job out of greed! I… I… please don't punish me!"

He Pingsheng waved his hand. "Go. This has nothing to do with you."

The cultivator fled immediately.

"Master, what's wrong?" Feng Wu approached.

He Pingsheng said, "Someone kidnapped Bingyao. They want me to negotiate."

"What?" Feng Wu's fury surged. "Who dares kidnap your disciple? Where? I'll go check!"

"Stay and guard the shop," He Pingsheng waved him off, then instantly teleported out of the imperial city, vanishing in a streak of light.

After flying for about two hours, he finally reached the location specified in the jade slip.

It was the peak of a desolate mountain.

In midair, three Body Integration cultivators held positions on three sides.

He Pingsheng halted in midair, his spiritual sense sweeping out. "I am Master Taixu. Where is my disciple?"

"Hmph…" Someone sneered. "A Void Refinement cultivator dares call himself 'Master'?"

"Pathetic!"

"We went to your shop—but no fighting allowed in the city, so we lured you here."

"That little bitch Luo Bingyao is your disciple, right?"

"Sorry, your little bitch disciple caused trouble and offended us."

"As her master, you're equally guilty."

"This karmic debt—you'll bear it."