Peak of the Spirit Mountain, Second Floor — Danling Pavilion
After finishing his class, Bai Tian climbed the towering mountain peak that resembled a palace of the gods. The Danling Pavilion stood majestically amidst spiritual mist, each floor filled with calming streams of energy.
On the second floor, the bustling voices of cultivators echoed. The fragrance of herbs and pills mixed with spiritual qi filled the air. This was the place where transactions of low to mid-grade pills were conducted.
"Welcome to Danling Pavilion," greeted a staff member respectfully. "We provide Healing Pills, Minor Spirit Pills, Mind-Clearing Pills, Detoxification Pills, and Body-Strengthening Pills. All are available from grade one to four. Should you wish for higher-grade pills, please proceed to the third floor."
Bai Tian's gaze swept over the shelves filled with gleaming jade bottles. He was slightly stunned by the variety of medicines available. "How much is a mid-quality, grade two Healing Pill?" he asked flatly.
"One bottle contains twenty pills. These pills can replace daily nutritional needs while also healing minor internal injuries. For surface wounds, the effect is nearly instantaneous." The staff member spoke with confidence.
Bai Tian gave a faint smile. "Coincidentally, I have just refined a batch of mid-quality, grade two Healing Pills. Would Danling Pavilion be willing to purchase them?"
The staff member's eyes lit up, his demeanor growing even more respectful. "Of course. Please follow me." Bowing low, he guided Bai Tian to a private room. After serving fragrant tea, he left.
Not long after, a middle-aged man dressed plainly entered with calm steps. A thin smile tugged at his lips. "Does Fellow Daoist intend to sell Healing Pills?"
Without many words, Bai Tian produced five jade bottles and placed them on the table. A dense spiritual aroma immediately spread, filling the room.
The middle-aged man opened one bottle, his eyes shining with reverence. "Rich fragrance, abundant spiritual glow… clearly freshly refined. They're nearly of high-quality grade."
"How many Spirit Stones will your Pavilion offer?" Bai Tian asked calmly.
"There is no need to rush the matter of price," the man replied softly. "We must first verify their efficacy."
With a single call, five disciples of the Spiritual Sea Realm entered. Each was given a pill, which they swallowed in front of Bai Tian.
The results were immediate. Three youths with minor wounds recovered at an astonishing speed. The other two, whose internal organs had been damaged, felt the pill's qi concentrate on their injuries. The energy blended with their bodies, slowly repairing the damage.
The middle-aged man nodded in deep satisfaction. These pills can even act as a catalyst for the reconstruction of vital organs… he thought. He then dismissed the disciples.
Bai Tian sighed inwardly. Just to sell some pills, must it be this troublesome?
Calmly, he took out several more bottles.
"The remedies that are popular this month, I'd like to sell those as well."
The man looked at him more intently.
"Fellow Daoist, how about becoming a contracted alchemist for Danling Pavilion?"
"What benefits will I receive?" Bai Tian asked directly.
"Ten percent discount on all spiritual ingredients. The purchase price of your pills will be raised by a quarter grade. Furthermore, you'll have access to rare ingredients and pill formulas unavailable elsewhere."
Bai Tian thought briefly.
"Very well. I agree. However, my identity must remain a secret, and the contract will last only half a year at first."
The man smiled with satisfaction.
"That is already our rule. Each contracted alchemist is given an alias—real identities are never revealed."
A staff member entered again, carrying a jade mirror-shaped artifact.
"This artifact can be used to receive alchemy tasks, purchase ingredients, and submit refined pills. After a drop of blood, you may begin using it."
Bai Tian infused a strand of spiritual qi. A glowing interface appeared, displaying task lists, communication areas, and an ingredient catalog. He only nodded lightly to indicate his understanding.
After concluding matters, Bai Tian purchased a few basic formulas and popular spiritual ingredients among disciples. The contract was signed. Payment received. Then, he walked out of Danling Pavilion calmly.
His next destination: the sect's library. There, he borrowed several ancient alchemy manuals before finally returning to his residence.
At his residence,
Bai Tian opened the jade mirror and examined the tasks provided by Danling Pavilion. He filtered them and accepted several. An hour later, someone arrived delivering a few sets of the required materials.
Bai Tian inspected the materials with satisfaction and gave a good evaluation.For a week, he focused on completing the available tasks, especially those related to purification that he was capable of handling.
On the peak of Moonlight Hill, beneath the clear glow of the moon, a woman in a jade-green robe sat cross-legged, her fingers gently plucking the strings of a guqin. The faint melody echoed, blending with the soft night breeze. Behind her stood two loyal attendants, silently guarding.
For seven nights straight, she had come to this place. Her hope was simple—to catch the petty thief who dared disturb her sect's territory. Yet night after night passed, and still, nothing was achieved.
The repeated failure darkened her mood. She had brought attendants skilled in preparing meals, yet their roasting skills fell utterly short of her expectations—the meat was bland, the seasoning failed to penetrate, and the aroma that should have enticed was hollow.
With a sour expression, she waved her hand.
"Bring me the finest wine I usually enjoy," she ordered softly.
Soon, a purple wine jar was presented. Without bothering with a cup, she drank directly from the mouth of the bottle. Her fair cheeks flushed, her eyes blurred as she gazed at the cold, distant moon. Unknowingly, tear after tear fell, dampening her robe.
Seeing their young mistress—the Sect Master's niece—drowning in sorrow and drunkenness, the two attendants merely exchanged glances. They sighed, choosing not to disturb her, guarding silently instead. They knew well how stubborn yet fragile her heart was.
After a while, Xuan Ying'er's frail body lost all strength and collapsed. The two attendants carefully supported her, then carried her back to the Dream Pavilion, where she usually rested.
Three months passed swiftly.
During that time, Bai Tian diligently pursued his studies. Each week, he made sure to visit the library to borrow and return books. At night, he spent his time at Danling Pavilion, refining ingredients and studying the art of pill-making.
Over time, his skills improved rapidly. He had already mastered the refinement of high-quality Grade Two Pills. However, the number of tasks from Danling Pavilion drastically dwindled. Gradually, missions for grade two alchemists became exceedingly rare, almost nonexistent.
That morning, Bai Tian left his residence. Just as he was about to enter his alchemy room, heavy footsteps approached. A man with a rough aura, wild like a ferocious beast, entered the courtyard.
"Have you been hiding in the tiger's den for the past month?" Bai Tian asked in confusion. He quickly handed over a Healing Pill. In an instant, Luo Chen's wounds healed.
Luo Chen let out a long sigh.
"I went hunting in the Riverside Forest. I've just returned today. I killed eight ferocious beasts equal to my level. Though their intelligence wasn't fully developed, they were still troublesome."
"The last two sect missions were too dangerous. So, I chose to return home and rest." He spoke as he sat on the wooden chair in the courtyard. The wary look in his eyes gradually softened.
"It seems this month has been truly harsh on you," Bai Tian commented, examining the scars left on his friend's body.
Luo Chen gave a bitter laugh. "Hmph, I've brushed against life and death several times. Nearly couldn't make it back."
"I can see that. So, what brings you here?" Bai Tian asked.
"Nothing major. I just wanted to visit. Besides, you rarely leave your house." Luo Chen said, placing several cuts of fresh deer meat on the table.
Bai Tian gave a faint smile, accepted the gift, and cooked it. Soon, the two of them ate and drank together, relieving their fatigue in brotherly companionship.
By noon, after the sun had risen high above, Luo Chen bid farewell. Bai Tian then headed to the Mission Hall to check for new tasks he could undertake.