Chapter 7: Luck, Trouble, and the Pill Path
Morning mist curled around Stormwind Peak as Lin Xuan stepped into the forest once more, spear in hand.
His body felt… different. Every movement had a fluidity that hadn't been there before the tribulation.
His qi surged effortlessly through his expanded meridians, and his senses reached farther, sharper.
"Let's see just how much stronger I've become."
---
Testing His Strength
The first beast he encountered was a Stonehide Boar, its thick hide known to turn away low-grade blades.
Before it could even charge, Lin Xuan moved—Void Phantom Steps carrying him behind the creature in a single flicker of motion.
> [Thunderpierce Void Fang – First Form: Lightning Break!]
The spear struck like a thunderclap, punching clean through the boar's stone armor and dropping it instantly.
No resistance. No effort.
His lips quirked. "Two weeks ago, that would've been a serious fight. Now…"
---
Luck Brings Trouble
He continued through the forest, cutting down a few more beasts with ease, until his steps carried him farther than planned—deeper into the sect's outer hunting grounds.
Here, the trees grew massive, and the qi was far denser.
And here… luck found him again.
Through the trees, he spotted two inner sect disciples cornered by a Crimson-Horned Panther, a peak-stage Qi Condensation spirit beast.
The disciples were battered, their weapons chipped, and the panther was circling in for the kill.
Lin Xuan hesitated. He didn't know these two, and saving them could attract attention.
But the panther's horn shimmered faintly with the same kind of energy as a lightning-attribute core—a rare and valuable forging material.
"…Fine."
He leapt from the shadows.
> [Sky-Breaking Tyrant Fist – Meteor Crash!]
His fist slammed into the panther's side, sending it sprawling. It whirled on him, snarling, but his Void Phantom Steps turned him into a blur, and his spear drove through its heart in a single thrust.
The two disciples stared at him as if he'd dropped from the heavens.
"W-We… thank you, Senior Brother!" one stammered.
Lin Xuan waved it off, already extracting the beast core. "Be more careful next time."
Then he vanished into the trees before they could ask his name.
---
Back at the Courtyard
Returning to his small courtyard, Lin Xuan settled into the spirit-gathering array in the center. The runes flared softly, pulling in the surrounding qi.
He began cultivating.
An hour passed. Then another.
The progress… was frustratingly slow.
Even with the tribulation's cleansing and the sect's array, the amount of qi needed to push his Divine Physique toward the next stage of Qi Condensation was monstrous. It was like trying to fill a lake with a teacup.
"This isn't going to work. Not at the pace I need."
His gaze fell on the Empyrean Pill Scripture lying beside him.
If he couldn't absorb enough qi naturally, he'd make the pills to supply it.
---
Studying the Pill Path
The scripture was unlike any mortal-grade alchemy manual.
It didn't simply list recipes—it began with the essence of alchemy: understanding qi resonance, the interplay of elemental attributes, the spiritual "breathing" of herbs, and the way flames carried intent.
Certain passages glowed faintly, as though written with spiritual ink:
> A true pill master does not force the herb into the flame. He entices it.
When the herb yields willingly, its essence is whole.
There were diagrams for controlling pill flames, step-by-step refinement methods, and even sections on fusion pills that combined two or more effects into a single dose.
Lin Xuan's fingers traced the pages. "If I master this, I won't just solve my cultivation speed problem… I'll have a source of wealth and influence."
He closed the scripture and looked toward the forest.
Tomorrow, he'd need herbs.
Rare ones.
And his luck?
It would make sure he found them.