Shen Tangyuan’s hint was obvious—if Nan Sinning were willing, she had a high chance of becoming the Medicine King’s final disciple.
With Shen Tangyuan’s weight in the sect, his words carried seven or eight parts credibility.
Before Nan Sinning could reply, Hua Shengqing bristled, almost gnashing her teeth: “Senior Brother Shen, isn’t it against your gentlemanly conduct to dig at another sect’s wall like this?”
Shen Tangyuan’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. Such faintly mocking words didn’t faze him; his gaze stayed fixed on Nan Sinning, waiting for her answer.
Nan Sinning politely declined: “I thank Senior Brother Shen for his regard, but all that I have today is thanks to my master and my senior brothers and sisters, who never abandoned me in these ten-plus years. My sect’s kindness is as heavy as rebirth. I will not leave Sword Peak to join another. Please understand.”
Shen Tangyuan thought about it and realized he had been impulsive. If it were another disciple, they would have jumped at the chance. But Nan Sinning had been carried by her sect through years of foolishness—her refusal only proved her character.
“My mistake.” Shen Tangyuan admitted quickly.
Nan Sinning softened it: “You only spoke out of appreciation.”
When he left, Hua Shengqing finally let out a long sigh of relief. “Little Junior Sister, don’t you dare go to Medicine King City. Their disciples have it rough.”
Nan Sinning tilted her head. “Why?”
She had found the pill cultivators she’d met so far quite simple—easy to trick into losing piles of spirit stones.
Hua Shengqing explained: “Ever since Senior Brother Shen advanced to fourth-rank pill master, the Medicine King gave him half the authority of the sect. Outside, his word is the King’s word. He’s talented, yes, but also merciless in discipline. He designed the new assessment system himself: a minor exam every month, a major one every three months. Fail, and you’ll be punished harshly.”
Nan Sinning shuddered. Isn’t this like the cram school hell of exam years? Shen Tangyuan really is a grind-king!
No wonder even the Medicine King’s grandson, Xiao Jingwen, feared him.
Seeing Nan Sinning pale, Hua Shengqing finally relaxed. Good, she won’t be lured away.
After such a full day, Nan Sinning retreated to rest. Her 《Heaven and Earth Five Elements Art》 cultivated itself even in sleep, so she could laze while others sat cross-legged sweating.
Just before drifting off, she thought of something. “System, why didn’t Senior Brother Shen ask me where my pill recipes came from?”
The system, busy digesting information, answered: “In the cultivation world, asking about someone’s opportunity is a grave disrespect.”
Nan Sinning sighed in relief. Good. If he had pressed, my lies would never fool a pill grandmaster.
The following days were peaceful. Shen Tangyuan occasionally stopped by to discuss alchemy, but without Luo Qingyao around, life was blissfully quiet.
Word spread that Liang Xiao had tried to visit Luo Qingyao, only to be shut out—she refused to see anyone. Hua Shengqing fumed, but Nan Sinning laughed it off, even comforting her sister.
On the fifth day, restless, she asked to walk the deck. Qin Sangyue agreed, sending Hua Shengqing to accompany her.
The night sky glittered above them, vast and dazzling. The starry rivers, the smooth sailing airship without cold or turbulence—Nan Sinning marveled. The cultivation world is so much better than modern air travel!
Her awe was cut short by a sudden commotion.
Hua Shengqing instantly stepped in front of her. “What do you want?!”
Peeking out, Nan Sinning saw disciples clutching shards of her broken furnace.
Oh no. Are they here for refunds? She winced, torn—return the spirit stones and lose money, or refuse and risk trouble on their turf?
Before she could decide, a female disciple cried out, voice trembling with excitement: “Sister, you misunderstand—we came to thank Junior Sister!”
Nan Sinning: ?
Since when am I everyone’s “Junior Sister”?
Still, the words eased her.
Hua Shengqing narrowed her eyes. “Thank her? For what?”
The tall female disciple bowed deeply. “A few days ago, Junior Sister gifted me a shard of her broken furnace. I studied it carefully, recalling her duel with Fifth Senior Brother… and I gained insight! I broke through into enlightenment!”
Nan Sinning stepped out, startled. “You… had enlightenment?”
The woman’s eyes glowed with pride. “Yes! My affinity with spirit plants deepened, and my three-years-stagnant realm finally loosened!”
Nan Sinning blinked. Wait, how is this connected? My own enlightenment from pill elevation wasn’t like this… could it be linked to her triple root?
Upon asking, the woman revealed, “I have earth, wood, and fire roots.”
That explained much.
Hua Shengqing finally relaxed her guard. “Congratulations!”
The woman, moved, said fervently: “Junior Sister, words cannot express my gratitude. If ever you need me, just say the word.”
Nan Sinning smiled warmly. “You’ve already paid spirit stones. This enlightenment was your fate, not my merit. But yes, in future, let us help each other.”
Her humility made the disciples even more admiring. No wonder Senior Brother Shen holds her in such esteem.
The woman introduced herself: “Li Yufei, inner disciple of Medicine King City. Call my name, and you’ll find me.”
One after another, others stepped up to thank her. Some had minor insights from their shards, though none as dramatic as Li Yufei.
“Probably because Li Senior Sister got the largest piece.”
“Exactly! Mine’s palm-sized at best.”
“Next time, I’ll grab faster!”
…
Nan Sinning nearly rolled her eyes. Really? You’re attributing enlightenment to furnace shards?
For the next two days, everywhere she went disciples greeted her warmly, secretly hoping she’d “accidentally” blow up another furnace for them.
Nan Sinning: … Don’t ask for the impossible, please.
Finally, the airship neared Medicine King City. From above, she gasped.
The so-called “city” spanned mountain ranges and a great river, dotted with lakes like jewels. Grand, yet beautiful—like a paradise.
Descending, she saw endless fields of flowers and spirit plants, terraced gardens crawling up mountains, tended by countless cultivators.
She understood at once. No wonder this sect can supply half the continent’s pills—this is industrial-scale production!
When the airship breached the protective barrier, two disciples awaited ahead.
Seeing Shen Tangyuan, they bowed deeply: “Senior Brother!”
He nodded calmly in return.
The two figures landed on the deck with their flying tools. The female cultivator in a red robe cheerfully greeted Qin Sangyue:
“Senior Sister Qin!”
Qin Sangyue nodded with a smile. “Junior Sister Qin.”
Turning to Nan Sinning, she introduced: “This is Qin Xueyang, the Medicine King’s third disciple. She’s already a third-rank pill master.”
Nan Sinning politely bowed. “Greetings, Senior Sister.”
Qin Xueyang’s eyes brightened when she saw her. “So Junior Sister Nan has regained her intelligence? That’s wonderful! Here—these snow-lotus candies are for you!”
Nan Sinning hesitated until Qin Sangyue chuckled: “She often gave you candy before. Take them.”
“Thank you, Senior Sister.” Nan Sinning accepted the storage pouch, swept it with her divine sense, and nearly staggered—inside was a mountain of candy, easily a ton’s worth!
Qin Xueyang greeted the rest warmly. Soon after, Nan Sinning was introduced to Hu Yan, the Medicine King’s second disciple.
As they exchanged pleasantries on the deck, Medicine King disciples poured out of the cabins to greet their seniors. In the crowd, Nan Sinning easily spotted Xiao Jingwen.
Not because he shone—quite the opposite. Surrounded by glowing, excited pill cultivators, he looked haggard, weak, swaying on his feet, a striking contrast.
Qin Xueyang frowned. “Senior Brother, did you wear out Fifth Brother again?”
Shen Tangyuan only gave him a glance. “Not my doing. He learned his own lesson.”
Nan Sinning’s attention drifted elsewhere, searching for Luo Qingyao. She didn’t appear until the very end, when the ship docked at Medicine King City.
Seven days ago’s events hadn’t left a mark on her. She emerged as gentle as ever, gliding straight to Shen Tangyuan to offer thanks—an act Nan Sinning suspected carried hidden meaning.
When disembarking, Hu Yan said: “Senior Brother, you must report to Master. Third Junior Sister should host our Sword Peak guests. As for Luo Junior Sister, let me handle her.”
Nan Sinning expected Shen Tangyuan to refuse, remembering Xiao Jingwen’s fiasco. But without hesitation, Shen Tangyuan nodded. “Fine. She’s yours to host.”
Nan Sinning was dumbfounded. That’s it? No warnings, no reminders?
Hu Yan left with Luo Qingyao. Nan Sinning fretted, until Yuan Qing’an patted her head gently. “Don’t dwell on others’ affairs.”
“I’m just curious,” she muttered.
He chuckled knowingly. “Hu Senior Brother is nearly fifty. He needs no babysitter.”
Nan Sinning blinked, then realized—Hu Yan was old enough to be Xiao Jingwen’s father. Shen Tangyuan’s silence was trust in his experienced second brother.
Soon, Qin Xueyang took charge of hosting them. As they chatted about the Luo River secret realm, a medicine boy came to summon them—Medicine King wished to see Sword Peak.
Inside the great hall, Nan Sinning was surprised. The Medicine King was not a white-bearded sage but a handsome middle-aged man, refined and youthful.
Sword Peak bowed respectfully. He waved them off with a laugh, warmth breaking through his calm. “No need for ceremony! Nephews, nieces, sit, sit!”
Nan Sinning blinked. Is he always this enthusiastic with poor relations like us?
They sat, and he asked after their journey. Qin Sangyue, at ease, finally revealed the secret of Nan Sinning’s great return-to-life pill in the secret realm.
Hua Shengqing and Liang Xiao gasped—they hadn’t known. Medicine King’s disciples, too, were stunned.
Nan Sinning had already shocked them by refining a first-rank spirit-replenishing pill and even elevating a pill’s grade to super-rank. But her first pill had been a sixth-rank return-to-life pill? And an excellent-grade one?
Even Medicine King and Shen Tangyuan were shaken speechless.
At last, Medicine King sighed. “In my centuries of alchemy, I’ve seen many prodigies. But never has a mere Qi-refiner produced a sixth-rank pill. To call you a heaven-blessed genius… is an understatement.”
Nan Sinning, remembering her system’s teachings, modestly said: “It must be thanks to the modified 《Heaven and Earth Five Elements Art》 my master left me. It continually draws spiritual energy, so I never run dry while refining.”
Medicine King frowned thoughtfully. “If it were that powerful, your sect would guard it as a treasure. No—it must be a personal fit. Perhaps your master tailored it to you alone. Even Tangyuan looks like he’s only just learned of your feat.”
Qin Sangyue admitted, “I hid it to protect her. She’s newly restored, innocent and unaware of dangers.”
Shen Tangyuan nodded generously. “You did right. I’d have done the same.”
Medicine King then probed deeply into her return-to-life pill—ingredients, ratios, reasoning—his questions sharper than Shen Tangyuan’s. Nan Sinning stumbled more than once, but each query enlightened her, revealing blind spots.
She became absorbed, lost in thought and discussion. Her seniors watched, pride swelling. Even the young medicine boy was awestruck—he’d only ever seen her foolish and dull. Now she was debating as an equal with his master, keeping even Shen Tangyuan engaged.
Only after an hour did Shen Tangyuan interject. “Master, our guests have traveled far. Let them rest. There will be time later to discuss.”
Medicine King shot him a slightly disgruntled look. Nan Sinning could have sworn—did the great Medicine King just seem… cowed?
When they finally left, she still brimmed with excitement. No wonder he commands so many disciples. A single conversation with him is worth years of study.
Sidling up to Hua Shengqing, she whispered curiously, “Seventh Sister, why is the Medicine King so warm to us Sword Peak?”
Hua Shengqing smirked, lowering her voice: “Simple. Because Medicine King fancies our master.”
Nan Sinning almost choked. “W-what?! Really?”
Hua Shengqing gave her a look. “Why not? Our master is a peerless sword genius. Back then, she single-handedly stormed the evil cultivators’ nest to rescue him. If he wanted to repay her with his heart, that’s hardly strange.”