Chapter 368 - 48: Life-Taking Spirit Pill

Within the grand hall.

The Dao Foundation Cultivators of the Bright Void Sect were gathered.

Pei Jingque, who had hurried back from the Seeking Immortal Sect, sat at the head, while a group of disciples, returned from the Void Secret Realm, knelt in the center.

"More than twenty years ago, I entered the Secret Realm and was carelessly dragged underground by an Earth Dragon Demon Beast."

Xi Chen said:

"I never imagined there would be a whole other world beneath the Secret Realm. Although it was dangerous, it also held many Treasures. I was trapped and couldn’t escape. By the time I made it back to the surface, it was too late to leave the Secret Realm."

"So..." Pei Jingque asked,

"You’ve been living in the Secret Realm for these past twenty-plus years?"

"Yes." Xi Chen gave a wry smile.

"Fortunately, I grew up fending for myself in the mountains. The Secret Realm was perilous, but I managed to survive."

He spoke of it lightly, but no one knew the hardships he had truly endured.

For over twenty years, Xi Chen had marked the passing of each day, calculating the time and hoping for the Secret Realm to open again.

Countless days and nights passed in this state of anticipation.

Loneliness!

Despair!

...

If not for his firm will and his upbringing in the mountains, he would have long since been driven mad by such an existence.

Fortunately,

he waited until the day the Secret Realm opened once more, and even encountered Xi Youyue, who had entered the Secret Realm in search of him.

"Good!"

Although she hadn’t experienced it herself, she could imagine how arduous Xi Chen’s past twenty-plus years must have been.

Pei Jingque’s voice was filled with emotion:

"It’s good that you’re back."

"Sect Leader." Zhu Ju took out two storage bags.

"This is what Xi Chen harvested in the Secret Realm."

"Oh!"

Pei Jingque raised an eyebrow. After taking the storage bags, she swept her Divine Thought inside, and her expression immediately changed.

"This..."

"This is truly unexpected!"

She didn’t say what was inside, and in the hall, only Zhu Ju and Xi Chen knew, both tacitly remaining silent.

Core Formation Spiritual Objects!

And three of them at that!

These were treasures that couldn’t be bought even with Spirit Stones.

There were also Thousand-Year Spirit Elixirs, a pile of Hundred-Year Spiritual Plants, and rare Spiritual Materials. The value was astonishing.

"Senior Sister."

Liuu Huang’er gave a sweet smile.

"We have Nephew Xi to thank this time. He led our people to several places to gather Spiritual Medicine, and the harvest was bountiful."

"At least we won’t have to worry about next year’s Immortal Tax."

She was already aware of the Immortal Tax matter. Although she was unwilling, there was nothing she could do.

"Sect Leader."

Xi Chen said:

"I have carved a map of the places I visited over the past twenty-plus years, with special markings for the passages leading underground in the Secret Realm. This will make it easier for our people to explore when the Secret Realm opens next."

"Good!" Pei Jingque nodded repeatedly.

"You’ve done very well. My junior brother has taken on a good disciple."

With the map, they could plan the next expedition in advance, and the rewards would surely be greater.

This was a long-term benefit.

"Guards!"

Pei Jingque raised her voice.

"Prepare a banquet!"

"Today is a rare occasion where the Sect’s Dao Foundation Cultivators are all gathered, and the disciples from the Secret Realm have returned safely."

"We should drink until we’re drunk!"

"Junior Brother."

Her beautiful eyes shifted as Pei Jingque spoke in a low voice:

"After the banquet, don’t be in a hurry to leave."

...

PITTER-PATTER...

A fine rain fell like a curtain.

The rainwater landed on the green flagstones, making a subtle sound, like unique musical notes dancing by one’s ear.

Pei Jingque stood under the eaves, gazing at the curtain of rain before her, a complex expression in her beautiful eyes.

"Junior Brother..."

"We’ve both grown old."

"Yes, we have." Zhu Ju slowly approached to stand shoulder to shoulder with her, sighing.

"Time passes so quickly. In the blink of an eye, more than two sixty-year cycles have passed. We’re no longer young."

The fine rain fell, as if descending into one’s Divine Soul, causing ripples in the Sea of Consciousness and giving rise to countless stray thoughts in the mind.

"Fortunately..." Pei Jingque turned her head.

"We are not alone."

Listening to the rain in a lonely room in one’s old age—that is true desolation. But now, the two of them could appreciate the rain together.

"Why the long face?"

An inexplicable feeling of melancholy lingered in his heart, but Zhu Ju couldn’t help but smile.

"We are Dao Foundation Cultivators. Even without taking Life-Extending Elixirs, we have a lifespan of three hundred years. There’s still a long road ahead of us."

"Besides, Senior Sister, your Talent is extraordinary. It’s not impossible that you could advance to the Golden Core Realm one day and truly step onto the path of the Dao."

"Yes!" A smile bloomed on Pei Jingque’s face.

"You’re right, Junior Brother."

"People always say that sweetness follows bitterness. The Bright Void Sect has endured so many hardships; I think it’s time for a change."

"Ever since you returned, Junior Brother, more and more good things have been happening. You truly are the Sect’s lucky star."

She pursed her lips and took out a Jade Box.

"This time, I helped the Seeking Immortal Sect resist the Demonic Demon People and was fortunate enough to kill a Mid-Stage Dao Foundation Demon Cultivator. Afterwards, I obtained this from Fellow Daoist Xu of the Seeking Immortal Sect."

"Oh!" Zhu Ju took the Jade Box and opened it.

"What is it?"

Inside the Jade Box was a single, dark-yellow Pill.

The moment he laid eyes on the Pill, a dense wave of Spiritual Qi washed over him, but his brows furrowed immediately after.

Although he didn’t know what it was, his body instinctively recoiled from it. It was clearly not a good thing.

"A Life-Taking Spirit Pill."

Pei Jingque spoke slowly.

"If you consume this, you can exchange one hundred years of your lifespan for eighty years of Cultivation."

Hmm?

Zhu Ju’s expression darkened.

He had once encountered someone in the East Sea who had taken a similar Elixir, and that person had died by his hand.

However, the Elixir that person took was of a lower grade, exchanging one hundred years of lifespan for only sixty years of Cultivation.

"What is the Seeking Immortal Sect’s meaning in this?"

Zhu Ju’s voice was stern.

"Do they think we have too long to live?"

We fought tooth and nail to protect their Sect for them, and after it’s all done, not only do they show no gratitude, but they give us this poison.

"No!" Pei Jingque shook her head and said slowly,

"I specifically asked for this to take it myself."

"Eighty years of Cultivation is extremely important for a Dao Foundation Cultivator. If you offered it to others, there would be plenty of people willing to take it."

"Senior Sister!" Zhu Ju frowned.

"You possess the Profound Void Dao Body and have an entire Sect supporting you. You should be able to advance to the Late-Stage Dao Foundation soon."

"Why would you resort to taking this Pill?"

"’Soon?’" Pei Jingque shook her head gently.

"The Demon Dao’s invasion is imminent. Will we even have time?"

"If we can’t handle this demonic catastrophe, what good is having another two hundred years of life?"

"It will all be for nothing, won’t it?"

"We have the Sect Array, and the Immortal Alliance has already gathered its forces. We might not be in danger this time," Zhu Ju said.

"Senior Sister, you can sell this Pill. You must not take it!"

Zhu Ju and Pei Jingque were of a similar age, but Pei Jingque was a few years older than him, currently over one hundred and thirty.

Approaching one hundred and forty.

If she took the Life-Taking Spirit Pill, she would directly consume one hundred years of her lifespan, making her equivalent to two hundred and forty years old.

Even with the long lifespan of a Dao Foundation Cultivator, one’s body would already be in decline at two hundred and forty, and the chances of achieving the Golden Core would be slim.

Besides.

Even if she took the Elixir, it would be impossible for her to reach the Dao Foundation Perfection Realm.

"My mind is made up." Pei Jingque’s expression was grave.

"Junior Brother, don’t try to persuade me."

"..." Zhu Ju looked at her. After a long moment, he slowly retracted his gaze and looked out at the curtain of rain.

"Fine!"

"So be it!"

He valued the path of the Dao and feared nothing in its pursuit; Pei Jingque valued the Sect and would give her life for it.

In the end, they were not walking the same path.

"Junior Brother."

Pei Jingque bit her lip and said in a low voice,

"Don’t leave tonight."

Zhu Ju turned, his expression complex.

*

*

*

Having not seen each other for more than twenty years, Xi Chen and Xi Youyue naturally had far too much to say to each other.

"Brother."

After they finished reminiscing, Xi Youyue’s beautiful eyes blinked as she asked:

"You collected so many good things in the Secret Realm over the past twenty-plus years and gave them all to Master. Does it really not hurt?"

"Heh..." Xi Chen shook his head.

"How could it not hurt?"

"But Master treats you and me very well. Besides, we’re living under someone else’s roof right now. Even if I wanted to keep the items, it would be impossible. It’s better to hand them over to gain the Sect’s trust and some benefits."

"Mmm." Xi Youyue nodded.

"Although Master has a cold personality, he is indeed very good to us."

"Brother."

"What are your plans now?"

Back then, Xi Chen had a mutual love interest in the Sect. But after his accident in the Secret Realm, that female disciple found a new love and has now become Dao partners with another Inner Sect Disciple.

Regarding this,

Xi Chen had nothing to say.

He couldn’t have expected her to wait for him for over twenty years, especially when everyone thought he had died.

Except for his own sister!

"Foundation Establishment!"

Xi Chen took a deep breath, his eyes focused.

"I’ve already reached Nine Acupoints Perfection. I just need to stabilize my Realm, and then I can try to build my Dao Foundation."

’After bringing out so many Treasures from the Secret Realm, it shouldn’t be a problem to ask Master for a Foundation Establishment Pill, right?’

"Mmm." Xi Youyue was lost in thought.

"Foundation Establishment Pills are priceless and have no market right now. Sect Disciples who want one need to exchange merit for it. Since you haven’t been in the Sect all these years, you haven’t earned any merit. You can only ask Master for one."

"I wonder if Master has any on hand?"

Xi Chen pursed his lips.

’The things he handed over included three Core Formation Spiritual Objects. Who knows how many Foundation Establishment Pills he could trade for with that.’

’Not to mention all the other priceless Spiritual Medicines.’

’After making such a huge contribution, if they wouldn’t even give me a single Foundation Establishment Pill, then I might as well not stay in this Sect.’

...

「The next day.」

"Master!"

"Sit."

Inside the Cave Mansion, Zhu Ju gestured with his hand.

"Thank you, Master."

Xi Chen cupped his fist in his hand and sat upright on the stone stool.

"These past years, you were trapped in the Void Secret Realm, and I was unable to guide you," Zhu Ju began slowly.

"Fortunately!"

"You did not neglect your Cultivation. You’ve reached Nine Acupoints Perfection, and your foundation is solid and profound."

His perception was sharp, especially his Physical Body’s sensitivity to Qi Blood, which far surpassed that of an ordinary Dao Foundation Cultivator.

Therefore, he had noticed something was unusual the moment he saw Xi Chen.

In his twenty-odd years in the Secret Realm, Xi Chen must have had other fortuitous encounters. The strength of his Physical Body was comparable to a Cultivator who had just entered Dao Foundation. Even though it was concealed with a Secret Technique, his abundant Qi Blood was still astonishing.

Furthermore,

even his Divine Soul and True Qi were stronger than that of a typical Nine Acupoints Innate cultivator.

’He must have consumed some kind of Bone Marrow Cleansing Spiritual Medicine that directly changed his fundamental Talent and constitution.’

One had to admit,

Xi Chen’s luck was truly remarkable.

"Here."

Zhu Ju waved his sleeve, and two porcelain vials appeared on the table.

"This is a cleansing Spiritual Medicine and Foundation Establishment Pills. The first will help you refine the medicinal power in your body, and the second will help you break through in your Cultivation."

Seeing that he had indeed been given Foundation Establishment Pills, Xi Chen felt a wave of relief. He hastily picked up a vial and opened it to check, then a look of confusion crossed his face.

"Two of them?"

"Yes."

Zhu Ju nodded.

"Taking two Foundation Establishment Pills consecutively is slightly more effective than taking just one. Although the increase is limited, it can still raise your chances of achieving a Dao Foundation."

"When the medicinal power in your body is exhausted, you can try with one Foundation Establishment Pill first. If you show signs of faltering, take the second one. If you don’t need the second one, you can keep it or sell it."

A flicker of understanding crossed Xi Chen’s eyes.

He understood the meaning behind Zhu Ju’s words: the second Foundation Establishment Pill was his, whether he used it or not.

’In other words,’

’he could give it to Xi Youyue.’

’And the Sect would also prepare a Foundation Establishment Pill for Xi Youyue, who was a Core Disciple, so it wouldn’t count against her share.’

DRING-DRING...

Just as he was lost in thought, the Copper Bell vibrated, and Liuu Huang’er’s voice came through.

"Senior Brother Zhu, have you seen Senior Sister?"

"Senior Sister Pei has entered seclusion," Zhu Ju said.

"While she is in seclusion, I will be responsible for Sect affairs."