Wu Bufan held onto Chao Chen’s wrist as he led him out of the tavern. Chao Chen lowered his head, staring at the hand that was firmly clasped around his own. His lips pressed together tightly, an unfamiliar unease flickering across his face.
He had never been protected by someone like this before. His parents had treated him well in the past, true but their affection had always been distant, limited to indulging his requests rather than genuine care or warmth.
Wu Bufan stopped walking and released his hand. “Forgive me. That was rude of me.”
Chao Chen quickly hid his hand behind his back. “It’s fine,” he murmured.
Then he asked softly, “Why did you help me?”
Wu Bufan’s gaze rested on the bright robe Chao Chen wore. “Because I thought we shared the same enemy.”
The robe looked fine at first glance but the style was from last year. Once, the young master of the Chao family would never have appeared in outdated clothing.
Whenever he went out, a cluster of servants followed him; the grand display always turned heads. Anything good that appeared in Xichuan Town would be sent to the Chao residence immediately for his enjoyment.
But now, the once splendid young master walked alone, wearing clothes that were no longer new. The difference was striking.
Chao Chen blinked in surprise. “So you were just pretending back there?”
Wu Bufan merely smiled without answering.
Chao Chen’s eyes lit up with a mischievous glint. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell Chao Lingyue and let your little group tear itself apart?”
Wu Bufan gave a faint chuckle. “Then go ahead. I won’t stop you.”
The earring was already in his possession. Whether Chao Lingyue discovered the truth or not no longer mattered.
Chao Chen pursed his lips. “Longyu Sect will be coming to recruit disciples in a month. Do you want to join? I can help you.”
Longyu Sect, one of the great sects of the Northern Continent. To qualify, one had to be under thirty and at least at the fifth level of Qi Refining.
Wu Bufan paused mid step. “And how exactly would you help me?”
Chao Chen grinned proudly. “Each family has one quota. My father told me long ago that ours was mine. I can give it to you.”
Wu Bufan’s tone carried a faint, knowing edge. “Then you’d better go ask your father if that quota still belongs to you.”
The smile faded from Chao Chen’s face. “What do you mean by that?”
Wu Bufan looked at him calmly. “If he truly loved and favored you, would he have let you end up like this?”
In his dream, he had seen the secret realm where Chao Chen was crippled and Chao Shiyi, his father, had been there too.
Chao Chen froze, his eyes reddening.
Wu Bufan sighed softly. “Perhaps I spoke unfairly. Maybe I’m judging others by my own small heart.”
“No,” Chao Chen muttered, biting down on his lip. “You’re right.” His voice trembled slightly. “Everyone says my parents treat me well but I… I can’t feel it.”
Sometimes, when his cultivation improved too quickly, he could sense his father’s displeasure, even as the man smiled and praised him for his talent.
Because of that, Chao Chen had stopped cultivating altogether, even suppressing his own progress in secret. Yet no matter what he did, that true affection never came.
His eyes were filled with confusion and pain. “Why?”
Wu Bufan said quietly, “If you want to know, then find out for yourself. Stop believing everything others tell you.”
With Chao Chen’s cultivation level, he shouldn’t have been so gravely injured in the Xichuan Secret Realm. Someone must have interfered. And as far as Wu Bufan knew, everyone who had entered the secret realm with him had been members of the Chao family.
Chao Chen’s voice was low. “I understand. If anyone ever bullies you, come find me at the Chao residence.”
Wu Bufan smiled faintly. “Alright.”
After Chao Chen left, Wu Bufan returned to his small, run down courtyard.
He drew out the earring from his storage space. The small glowing wisp darted into it eagerly and the earring instantly turned into a streak of light that sank into his forehead.
He closed his eyes and saw it floating in his spiritual sea. When he reached out to touch it, the earring released a powerful suction. His body felt weightless and when he opened his eyes again, he froze.
Before him stretched a field of spirit herbs, bordered by a clear spring. The air itself was thick with spiritual energy, each breath filled his body with clarity and warmth.
The glowing wisp bobbed up and down before him, sounding unusually pleased. “You actually did something right for once.”
When Wu Bufan had faced Chao Lingyue in the street earlier, the wisp had noticed the earring she wore and emitted a sharp, furious cry.
Chao Lingyue and Wu Xutian had been startled because they saw Wu Bufan alive. Wu Bufan himself, however, had been frightened by the wisp’s reaction.
He had long wondered, why was it Chao Lingyue who received the inheritance so easily, while he had struggled so much?
Now he finally understood. It was because of the earring. The wisp’s true form was sealed within it.
The wisp had sensed its vessel and tried to pull Chao Lingyue inside to pass on the inheritance.
Wu Bufan laughed quietly, the sound tinged with sorrow.
But the earring had belonged to him all along.
The wisp, now brimming with excitement, flitted across the spiritual field. Wu Bufan noticed that wherever it passed, something like tiny seeds fell into the soil.
He crouched down and examined them closely. “Are these… seeds?”
“Of course,” the wisp replied proudly. “I’ve been collecting them for ages. Too bad this land of yours is so barren. I could only find seeds for some low grade yellow tier herbs.”
Wu Bufan smiled gratefully. “Thank you for your trouble.”
The wisp twitched, flustered by the praise. “Go soak yourself in the spirit spring. You’re far too weak.”
Wu Bufan turned toward the spring in surprise. “That’s… a spirit spring?”
Spirit energy condensed into liquid formed spiritual water and when that accumulated, it became a spring.
Each drop of spiritual water was a priceless treasure.
If even a single drop appeared in Xichuan Town, the Chao, Ning and Wu families would tear each other apart fighting over it.
The wisp scoffed at his ignorance. “Don’t act so shocked. This spring is low grade for now. As your cultivation grows, the entire space will evolve. The spring will grow purer with time.”
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Wu Bufan rubbed his nose, then removed his clothes and stepped into the spring.
The instant the water touched his skin, warmth spread through him. Spiritual energy flowed into his meridians, nourishing them like gentle hands smoothing away every knot of tension.
His inner energy surged, his breathing slowed and when he opened his eyes again, he realized he had already broken through to the sixth level of Qi Refining.
He quickly got out of the water, afraid of advancing too quickly.
The wisp floated after him. “What are you afraid of? I can conceal your cultivation. No one below the Golden Core stage will be able to see through it.”
Wu Bufan shook his head. “I want to stabilize it first.”
Rising too fast would only leave his foundation hollow.
The wisp sounded a little surprised. “You’re calmer than I thought.”
Wu Bufan asked, “Do you have seeds for the Po’e Grass?”
“Of course. I planted some just now. They’ll be ready in half a month. If you’re in a hurry, you can use the spirit spring to accelerate their growth, though that would be wasteful.”
The wisp floated closer, squinting at him. “You’re planning to make Po’e Pills for that pretty boy, aren’t you?”
Wu Bufan turned his face away. “He’s not a pretty boy.”
He had sensed the hidden injury in Chao Chen’s body when he grabbed his wrist earlier. It must have been left behind when Madam Chao self destructed and injured him. The Chao family clearly hadn’t bothered to heal him properly.
The wisp drifted in front of his face again, its tone suspicious. “You have ulterior motives.”
Wu Bufan brushed it aside, his lips pressed into a thin line.
The wisp snorted and vanished into his forehead again, someone was approaching.
“Wu Bufan! Come out!” a sharp voice shouted from outside.
Wu Bufan stepped out of the small house. Four men crowded into the cramped courtyard, the one in front dressed in embroidered finery, his expression full of arrogance and disdain.
Wu Bufan frowned slightly. “What’s going on?”
The man, Wu Youfeng, was the grandson of the Wu family’s elder. A high level alchemy apprentice, said to be only a step away from becoming a yellow grade alchemist, his standing among the younger generation was second only to Wu Xutian.
“I heard you found three stalks of Qi Supplement Grass in the Xichuan Secret Realm,” Wu Youfeng said coldly. “Don’t you know that everything a clan member gains during training belongs to the family? Hand them over.”
Wu Bufan’s eyes darkened. He shook his head.
The Wu family had no such rule. Wu Youfeng simply wanted to rob him.
Wu Youfeng’s tone turned vicious. “You refuse? Do you have a death wish?”
Wu Bufan sighed helplessly. “It’s not that I won’t give them to you. It’s just… they were stolen from me.”
He let his expression fill with regret. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have bragged in the teahouse. As soon as I stepped outside, a few people surrounded me. Their cultivation was much higher than mine, so I had no choice but to hand them over.”
Wu Youfeng’s eyes widened in fury. “Are you useless? Someone asked and you just gave them away?”
Wu Bufan lowered his head, shoulders drooping. His whole posture carried a sense of defeat and helplessness. Seeing him like this, Wu Youfeng felt his temper flare instantly.
His face darkened with displeasure and with a sharp flick of his sleeve, he turned on his heel and stalked away, his expression icy.
As soon as their young master left, one of the servants beside him sneered maliciously. “Young Master Wu, I just can’t shake the feeling that this useless thing isn’t telling the truth. What if he lied to you on purpose?”
Wu Youfeng dismissed the thought without even considering it. “He wouldn’t dare. Wu Bufan doesn’t have the guts for that.”
Just then, another servant came rushing in, panting slightly. “Young Master, the Grand Elder is asking for you. He wants you to go over immediately.”
Wu Youfeng frowned slightly, his tone clipped. “Understood.”
He went straight to find the Grand Elder, Wu Yu. The old man was waiting for him in the study, his gaze sharp as a blade. The moment Wu Youfeng entered, Wu Yu asked bluntly, “Did the pill form?”
Wu Youfeng lowered his head, his tone carrying a faint trace of frustration. “If I can just have a few more stalks of Qi Supplementing Grass, I’ll be able to refine it successfully.”
All of his stock had already been used up. That was the real reason he had been so desperate to find more.
Wu Yu’s expression darkened. “You have already used up nearly a hundred stalks of Qi Supplementing Grass. You’ve drained nearly the entire supply in Xichuan Town. And now you still think that giving you a few more will change anything?” His tone grew heavier.
“Your cultivation is only at the fourth layer of Qi Refining. You are nowhere near the entry threshold of the Dragonfish Sect. The only chance you have of entering that sect is to become a Yellow Grade Alchemist.”
Wu Youfeng’s face turned gloomy, his teeth grinding together. “This time, I’ll definitely succeed.”
Wu Yu’s eyes remained calm but sharp as he looked at him. “You said the same thing half a year ago.”
Shame and anger flushed through Wu Youfeng’s face. His ears burned red.
Wu Yu flicked his wrist, tossing a storage pouch toward him. “There are a hundred stalks of Fasting Grass inside. You will spend the next period refining Fasting Pills.”
Wu Youfeng’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Grandfather, I have never refined a Fasting Pill before.”
Up until now, he had focused entirely on the Qi Supplementing Pill. He had failed every attempt but through constant practice, he had developed a certain level of familiarity. If he wanted to reach the level of a Yellow Grade Alchemist, the Qi Supplementing Pill was his best path forward.
And now his grandfather wanted him to switch to the Fasting Pill? That was absurd.
“I do not need you to succeed in forming a pill.” Wu Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly, his voice low but filled with meaning. “Have you ever heard about the Fasting Pills of the highest grade?”
Wu Youfeng’s breath caught. Of course he had heard. A month ago, a mysterious person had sold thirteen top grade Fasting Pills at the Ning Family Trading House before vanishing without a trace.
That incident had shaken the entire region.
Most believed that person must have been a top grade Yellow Grade Alchemist.
Alchemists were ranked in four levels, Heaven, Earth, Profound and Yellow and within each level, there were four tiers: inferior, medium, superior and top grade.
An inferior alchemist could only refine inferior grade pills, while a top grade alchemist was one who had once successfully refined a top grade pill.
But top grade pills were exceedingly rare. Even a top grade alchemist could not produce them consistently.
Yet that mysterious figure had managed to sell thirteen top grade Fasting Pills at once. Only a true top grade alchemist would have such skill and such confidence to part with so many at once.
The three great families of Xichuan Town had immediately begun offering lavish rewards, publicly declaring that they would recruit this alchemist at any cost. But months had passed and the mysterious person had not reappeared.
Rumor spread that the alchemist was either a hidden member of one of the three families or a traveler merely passing through, who had sold the pills and left.
Wu Youfeng’s pupils contracted sharply. “Grandfather, do you mean… you want me to impersonate that person?”
Wu Yu’s voice grew solemn. “Youfeng, only by entering the Dragonfish Sect can you truly go further. Once you are there, what will the Wu Family matter? What will the Ning Family matter? Nothing at all.”
He sighed softly. “Xichuan Town is too small.”
He had made up his mind. For Wu Youfeng to rise, he would spare no cost.
Wu Youfeng’s gaze flickered with hesitation. “Can’t we just ask the clan head for the quota instead? Wu Xutian is already at the seventh layer of Qi Refining. He can earn his own entry through the competition. Why must he fight with me for the family’s reserved spot?”
“Taking the quota is the safest path. Wu Tianyang will never allow his own son to take unnecessary risks.”
Wu Yu reached into his sleeve and produced a small jade bottle. He opened it and inside lay a single lustrous pill, glowing faintly gold. “This is a top grade Fasting Pill I bought from the Ning Family Trading House. Whether you use it or not, that is up to you.”
Wu Youfeng’s fists clenched tightly. His jaw trembled with suppressed emotion. After a long, tense silence, he finally reached out his hand, fingers trembling slightly and took the pill from his grandfather’s palm.
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Dream to RealityChapter 2 · Those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortuneChapter 3 · Retrieve the tokenChapter 4 · Top-tier alchemistChapter 5 · A cooperative treasure hunt?Chapter 6 · Thousand mile Thundercloud LeopardChapter 7 · Chaotic Strange EntityChapter 8 · Back to Xichuan TownChapter 9 · How could Wu Bufan be stronger than him!Chapter 10 · Wu Bufan possess so many top-grade pills?Chapter 11 · This time, she will not let anyone take what is hers away againChapter 12 · Seize the luckChapter 13 · Mutant Purple Thunder BeastChapter 14 · I’m afraid he’ll get angryChapter 15 · PumiceChapter 16 · Enemies meet on a narrow roadChapter 17 · Becoming Daoist CouplesChapter 18 · Top-grade Calamity-Breaking PillChapter 19 · The amazing effects of top-grade pillsChapter 20 · Basic Body ForgingChapter 21 · One world cannot contain two chosen ones.Chapter 22 · PuppetChapter 23 · AuctionChapter 24 · Space FoundationChapter 25 · Top-grade Foundation Building PillChapter 26 · Increased space areaChapter 27 · The competition BeginChapter 28 · RobbedChapter 29 · Turn Defeat into Victory!Chapter 30 · The Death of Wu KeyuanChapter 31 · BetChapter 32 · Even the way Chao Chen talks is so cuteChapter 33 · Avenge Wu KeyuanChapter 34 · Finding Bodhi Wood at a BargainChapter 35 · Little PuppetChapter 36 · Explosive PillsChapter 37 · I’ll concedeChapter 38 · You are a genius, so your Daoist partner must also be a genius.Chapter 39 · The Third Elder was refused a disciple.Chapter 40 · Has the floating marrow stone secret been exposed?Chapter 41 · How Could There Be Such a Sinister Human!Chapter 42 · The Mutated Mugwort FoxChapter 43 · Wandering the JianghuChapter 44 · Ancient ElixirChapter 45 · I feel like I’m about to be struck by lightning!Chapter 46 · Earth-level Secret RealmChapter 47 · The spot is practically yours.Chapter 48 · His Daoist partner is truly amazing!Chapter 49 · The legacy in the libraryChapter 50 · Dual cultivation techniquesChapter 51 · First genius Ji Pu RanChapter 52 · Shifting the blame eastwardChapter 53 · The little puppet went to run errandsChapter 54 · The Explosive Pill once again demonstrated its power.Chapter 55 · Chao Lingyue’s cultivation levelChapter 56 · Little Money-GrubberChapter 57 · What a venomous mouth!Chapter 58 · Enter the secret realmChapter 59 · A huge windfall fell from the sky.Chapter 60 · The birth of a rare treasureChapter 61 · This alchemy furnace is quite uniqueChapter 62 · The alchemy furnace that walked right into the trapChapter 63 · Xiao Zi’s Self-Rescue GuideChapter 64 · Spirit Field Micro RealmChapter 65 · Someone Planning to Reap the Benefits?Chapter 66 · Are You Lost?Chapter 67 · Chao Chen, Corrupted by the Big Handsome PotChapter 68 · Is Your phoenix Fish Sect Collecting Trash?Chapter 69 · The Death of Hui SipingChapter 70 · No, Junior Brother Chao, Where’s Your Backbone…Chapter 71 · Has His Identity Been Exposed?Chapter 72 · This Child Is Far Too ShrewdChapter 73 · Young people are wonderful. They fall asleep the moment they lie downChapter 74 · Sparrow Alchemist Chao Lingyue?Chapter 75 · The Silver Tongued Chao ChenChapter 76 · What’s the rush? I have moreChapter 77 · Leave the sectChapter 78 · Showing Off on a Grand ScaleChapter 79 · The Sparrow Alchemist Returns to the Martial WorldChapter 80 · Does Junior Brother Chao know about this?Chapter 81 · The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole BehindChapter 82 · So FierceChapter 83 · They’ve been targeted by the local bulliesChapter 84 · The Kid Is Missing?Chapter 85 · A Thing from the Void: SilkChapter 86 · Chao Chen became famousChapter 87 · The Devil MentorChapter 88 · The four little ones went out to gain experienceChapter 89 · The Students Who Were Truly ConvincedChapter 90 · What a Bountiful Harvest!Chapter 91 · No Random KissingChapter 92 · Detoxification PillChapter 93 · Master Wu, your Daoist partner has disappearedChapter 94 · The Demonic ThiefChapter 95 · Fellow Daoist, are you selling this sparrow?Chapter 96 · Unexpected disaster, nothing moreChapter 97 · My Daoist partner was born in the Year of the PigChapter 98 · The Undying Devil ChildChapter 99 · Exotic Treasure! Buddha Flame Glazed Light!Chapter 100 · We stole the Beast Taming Sect’s treasure vaultChapter 101 · Waaaaah… Why is this strange fire so gay?Chapter 102 · The Mysterious Pill – Flower in the MirrorChapter 103 Part 1 · As Expected, You Can’t Produce Different Dreams from the Same Bed…Chapter 103 Part 2 · As Expected, You Can’t Produce Different Dreams from the Same Bed…Chapter 104 Part 1 · Separation and ReunionChapter 104 Part 2 · Separation and ReunionChapter 105 Part 1 · Renowned throughout the continent!Chapter 105 Part 2 · Renowned throughout the continent!Chapter 106 · Chao Chen’s RevengeChapter 107 · The Death of Chao LingyueChapter 108 · A Narcissistic Man or a Great Beauty?Chapter 109 · This Person Has No MannersChapter 110 · The Ancient Spirit Botanical GardenChapter 111 · Thousand-Thread Poison WomanChapter 112 · I am not kindChapter 113 · Are you the most handsome man here?Chapter 114 Part 1 · ReunionChapter 114 Part 2 · ReunionChapter 115 Part 1 · Diandian said that you got it into someone’s stomach yourselfChapter 115 Part 2 · Diandian said that you got it into someone’s stomach yourselfChapter 116 · Central ContinentChapter 116 Part 1 · Central ContinentChapter 117 Part 1 · The Ancient Dao Companion ContractChapter 117 Part 2 · The Ancient Dao Companion ContractChapter 118 · Heaven Above, Dust BelowChapter 118 Part 1 · Heaven Above, Dust BelowChapter 119 · Xiao Chen will also be embarrassedChapter 120 · The moon is so bright tonightChapter 121 Part 1 · Treasure ArrayChapter 121 Part 2 · Treasure ArrayChapter 122 Part 1 · Poisonous MushroomChapter 122 Part 2 · Poisonous MushroomChapter 123 Part 1 · Turmoil at the AuctionChapter 123 Part 2 · Turmoil at the AuctionChapter 124 Part 1 · Advancement! A Nascent Soul Cultivator Reaches the Divine Transformation Realm!…Chapter 124 Part 2 · Advancement! A Nascent Soul Cultivator Reaches the Divine Transformation Realm!…Chapter 125 Part 1 · Xiao Chen Displays His Great Divine Might: Wu Bufan…Chapter 125 Part 2 · Xiao Chen Displays His Great Divine Might: Wu Bufan…Chapter 126 · Ice spirit tower has explodedChapter 127 Part 1 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 127 Part 2 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 127 Part 3 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 128 Part 1 · Being Followed?Chapter 128 Part 2 · Being Followed?Chapter 129 · Magical ArtifactChapter 131 · A Declaration of WarChapter 132 · A chaotic war of words: Friend or foe indistinguishable…Chapter 133 Part 1 · The Royal Grand CompetitionChapter 133 Part 2 · The Royal Grand CompetitionChapter 134 Part 1 · Adults Don’t Make Choices, I’ll Take Them All…Chapter 134 Part 2 · Adults Don’t Make Choices, I’ll Take Them All…Chapter 135 Part 1 · Little Daddy Takes a Bite, Big Daddy’s Form…Chapter 135 Part 2 · Little Daddy Takes a Bite, Big Daddy’s Form…Chapter 136 Part 1 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left BehindChapter 136 Part 2 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left BehindChapter 136 Part 3 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left Behind