Chapter 25 ·An Old Acquaintance Meets Disaster!

Gu ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Yan was stunned for a moment, then laughed helplessly: “Senior Sister must be joking. This is your spoils of victory—how could I accept it?”

“I ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍am serious.” Lin Wei’s tone was firm.

“That ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍day at the Teaching Hall, I saw that Junior Brother seemed quite interested in those three displayed ancient swords.

That ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is why I participated in the True Martial Assembly… I had intended from the start to obtain a sword for you.”

Her ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍eyelashes lowered slightly, her voice growing softer: “If Junior Brother does not accept it… then all my efforts these past days would truly have no one to be for…”

With ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍her words reaching this point, what more could Gu Yan say?

He sighed inwardly and reached out to take the sword: “Then… many thanks for Senior Sister’s generous gift.”

The scabbard felt cool to the touch.

Gu Yan was already thinking about what kind of pills he should refine in return so as not to waste this goodwill.

Seeing him accept it, Lin Wei’s eyes filled with joy.

In this way, the bond between her and Junior Brother had deepened another layer.

She seemed one step closer to the goal in her heart.

Her cheeks warmed slightly as she gathered some courage and looked up at Gu Yan: “Junior Brother, I…”

Gu Yan seemed to have anticipated it and gently interrupted: “Senior Sister has only just entered Third Revolution. This is precisely the time to focus wholeheartedly on cultivation.

When you break through to Sixth Revolution in the future, with a long lifespan ahead, then we can speak of other matters.”

Lin Wei’s face reddened further, yet she was not embarrassed or annoyed. Instead, she smiled softly: “Junior Brother has such confidence in me?”

“Of course.” Gu Yan nodded calmly.

Naturally, he had confidence—because he could refine pills.

With pills refined using spiritual power to temper medicinal ingredients, combined with martial cultivation, helping Lin Wei reach Sixth Revolution was no difficult matter.

The pills he had previously given her were all deliberately controlled in spiritual energy content, to prevent her progress from being too rapid and drawing attention.

If Gu Yan wished, even without pills, he could guide her with his own spiritual power to break through.

It was simply that the time had not yet come.

Lin Wei was unaware of these considerations.

Hearing his confident tone, she nodded seriously: “Since Junior Brother says so, I will certainly work hard in cultivation and break through as soon as possible.”

After speaking, she took her leave.

Yet in her heart she thought: ‘Once I break through to Sixth Revolution, Junior Brother should have no more excuses to refuse, right?’

‘He wouldn’t… expect me to reach Ninth Revolution Martial Venerable before getting close?’

‘Junior Brother should… not be that demanding.’

‘Mm, definitely not.’

If Gu Yan knew her thoughts, he would probably say:

‘Senior Sister, you are mistaken. That is exactly what I am thinking.’

‘A Sixth Revolution Martial Immortal only has five hundred years of lifespan, but a Ninth Revolution Martial Venerable has three thousand years.’

‘At that time, I can find a way to guide you into cultivation. Even without spiritual roots, perhaps pills can lay the foundation for you to step onto the immortal path.’

‘After Foundation Establishment, there is still Golden Core, Nascent Soul… the road ahead is long. Why rush?’

……

After seeing Lin Wei off, Gu Yan drew the sword from its sheath.

The black blade reflected the daylight, calm and ancient, its edge concealed yet sharp.

It was indeed a fine sword, though to him, its practical use might not match its decorative value.

“Since you have no name, I will call you Flowing Shadow.” Gu Yan gently stroked the blade and murmured.

The name was derived from Flowing Light Splitting Shadow Sword.

Back in the outer sect, Lin Wei had given him the sword manual and directly expressed her desire to become Dao companions.

That bold act had once placed considerable pressure on him.

Now, recalling it only brought a faint smile.

He hung the Flowing Shadow Sword on the wall, then headed to Evergreen Market.

This time, he purchased quite a large quantity of medicinal herbs.

Aside from those needed to refine Scarlet Blood Warm Sun Pills and Meridian-Connecting Pills to aid martial cultivation, he also bought a batch of materials for refining Longevity Pills.

Longevity Pills were also recorded in Complete Explanation of Taiyi Basic Pills.

If refined carefully with his wood-attributed spiritual power, their effects would surpass ordinary ones.

After purchasing, he returned to the courtyard.

Gu Yan took out the small alchemy furnace. With a thought, the furnace fire ignited.

He deliberately circulated the wood-attributed spiritual power within his body, slowly infusing it into the herbs to harmonize their properties.

On his first attempt at refining Longevity Pills, the heat was slightly excessive, and the batch turned into charred residue.

Gu Yan was not discouraged. Adjusting the output of his spiritual power, he succeeded on the second attempt.

Three pills formed, their color a moist green with a faint glow, their fragrance restrained.

Gu Yan took one and observed the changes in his personal panel.

His lifespan limit did not increase, likely because the pill had little effect at his Foundation Establishment cultivation.

Or perhaps due to the uniqueness of his Five Elements Spiritual Body.

However, the faint vitality released by the pill still circulated within his body, nourishing his organs, so it was not entirely useless.

Afterward, Gu Yan refined dozens more Scarlet Blood Warm Sun Pills and Meridian-Connecting Pills, all nurtured with wood-attributed spiritual power.

……

Half a month later, Lin Wei visited again.

Gu Yan handed her ten prepared jade bottles: “Each contains five Scarlet Blood Warm Sun Pills. There are also two bottles of Longevity Pills, three in each.

Senior Sister, please do not refuse. Cultivation requires resources as support.”

Lin Wei accepted them, knowing these were not the standard pills of the sect.

The Scarlet Blood Warm Sun Pills Gu Yan provided had powerful effects, greatly aiding her breakthroughs.

Not to mention the precious Longevity Pills.

“This… is too valuable.”

“Just accept them. Break through soon, and do not disappoint Junior Brother’s intentions.”

Lin Wei said no more, nodding heavily as she carefully stored the jade bottles: “I will not fail Junior Brother’s expectations.”

After chatting briefly, she took her leave.

She said she would enter seclusion for a period to focus on breaking through to the mid-stage of Third Revolution.

After seeing her off, Gu Yan went to the outer sect again to visit Chen Chu.

Chen Chu’s vitality was now abundant, his cultivation already at the late stage of Second Revolution, not far from Third Revolution.

Seeing Gu Yan, he was overjoyed and insisted on brewing fine tea to entertain him.

Gu Yan declined, simply placing five bottles of Scarlet Blood Warm Sun Pills and five bottles of Longevity Pills on the table.

Chen Chu waved his hands repeatedly: “This won’t do! Little Gu Yan, you’ve already helped me greatly. These pills are far too precious—I cannot accept them!”

“Old Chen, no need to be so formal.” Gu Yan pressed his hand gently and said warmly, “These pills are not difficult for me to refine.

Just keep them and cultivate in peace. Break through to Third Revolution, or even higher.

Just… do not speak of this to others.”

Hearing this, Chen Chu understood his determination. Both moved and emotional, he finally accepted them solemnly.

“Don’t worry. What is said here stays here—no third person will know.”

As they chatted, Gu Yan asked about the condition of the herbal garden.

Chen Chu stroked his beard and smiled: “Thanks to you, this C-Grade Herb Garden is now under my management.”

Gu Yan’s heart stirred: “Then the previous caretaker, Daoist Xuanqing…”

Chen Chu’s smile faded slightly as he sighed: “Daoist Xuanqing went out a month ago to carry out a sect mission. On the way, he was ambushed by members of the Extreme Yin Demon Sect… and unfortunately perished.”

Gu Yan fell silent.

Though he had not been close to Daoist Xuanqing, whenever he visited the herb garden in the past, that old man—

who often squatted in the fields observing seedlings—

would always greet him warmly, and patiently answer any questions.

This time, Gu Yan had also prepared a portion of pills for him…

After a moment of silence, Gu Yan took out the remaining bottles of pills from his robe and placed them before Chen Chu.

“Old Chen, these were originally prepared for Daoist Xuanqing… now they will be left to you.”

These pills were enough for Chen Chu to slowly refine over time. Reaching even Sixth Revolution in the future would not be beyond hope.

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