“Senior Brother Guiya, wait!”
Qin Muqing’s voice came from behind. Qin Guiya sighed inwardly, and when he turned around, his expression was calm: “Junior Sister Qin, is something the matter?”
“Senior Brother’s Alchemy skills are truly impressive!”
Qin Muqing’s eyes sparkled with an unusual light. “Fifty bottles of perfect pills, even my uncle rarely refines so many.”
Qin Guiya humbly said: “It was just luck.”
“Senior Brother is too modest.”
Qin Muqing took a step closer, and a faint fragrance wafted from her. “Uncle wants to invite Senior Brother to his residence tomorrow for a chat, to exchange insights on the Dao of Alchemy…”
A warning bell rang loudly in Qin Guiya’s heart.
Qin Zhaoyan’s sudden enthusiastic invitation was definitely not as simple as “exchanging insights.”
Just as he was about to politely decline, he suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure not far away—Elder Lu!
This person had a deep connection with the Liu Family, where Liu Qingchan resided, and was a Guest Elder of Qin Muqing’s faction. He was watching them thoughtfully.
“Another day,” Qin Guiya said, quickly excusing himself. “I’ve been busy with Alchemy recently and truly can’t spare the time.”
When he left Thousand Eye Island, he felt as if he was being secretly watched.
It wasn’t until he arrived at Peach Forest Island that the feeling of being monitored disappeared.
Qin Guiya let out a long breath, but still dared not be careless, taking a long detour before returning to his Immortal Cave on Peach Forest Island.
In front of the Immortal Cave, Liu Qingchan was indeed obediently lying on the bed, but she was holding a copy of “A Compendium of Hundred Herbs” and reading it.
Seeing Qin Guiya return, she hastily hid the book under the covers, like a child caught stealing candy.
“Didn’t I tell you to rest?” Qin Guiya was both annoyed and amused.
Liu Qingchan whispered: “Lying down is boring…”
Seeing his displeased expression, she quickly added, “This concubine is truly resting, just casually…”
Qin Guiya shook his head and sat down by the bed: “The mission is done. I got four thousand contribution points.”
He paused, “I still need about thirty thousand Spirit Stones to exchange for Rainfall Elixir.”
Liu Qingchan’s eyes lit up: “Husband’s injury…”
“Yes, it will heal soon.”
Qin Guiya touched his chest, where a lingering ache from his failed Breakthrough remained. “At that time, I’ll teach you Alchemy.”
This promise made Liu Qingchan’s eyes sparkle with an unusual light.
She suddenly propped herself up and lightly kissed Qin Guiya’s lips, then quickly shrank back into the covers, only revealing a pair of bright, sparkling eyes.
Qin Guiya froze in place, the soft touch lingering on his lips making his heart pound.
In his Sea of Consciousness, the ancient tree’s tender sprout trembled slightly.
He suddenly felt that this path of cultivation no longer seemed so lonely.
At night, Qin Guiya’s fingertips gently tapped, and Spirit Stones were arranged in neat rows on the small table.
“One hundred sets of Materials cost fifteen thousand, contribution points convert to forty thousand, selling in the market yields ten thousand, plus the remaining Medicinal Pills…”
Qin Guiya calculated softly, “Approximately seventy-five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.”
This number made his breathing quicken slightly.
Ten days of Alchemy, a net profit of over fifty thousand!
One must know, completing a dangerous Family mission would only yield a reward of around ten thousand Spirit Stones.
And now, in just ten days… Qin Guiya’s gaze shifted to the Spirit Medicine piled on the table.
There were the three types of Medicinal Pill ingredients he had purchased from Thousand Eye Island today: one hundred sets each of Gathering Qi Pill, Nourishing Qi Pill, and Blue Sprout Pill.
These were all Pill Formulas that the Enlightenment Leaf had completely mastered, making their refinement effortless.
“Completing this batch of Medicinal Pills within twenty days and earning another fifty thousand won’t be difficult.”
He mused, “Combined with what I have now, it will be enough to exchange for the Rainfall Elixir.”
Thinking of this, Qin Guiya touched his chest.
The dull ache in his Meridians was more pronounced than a few days ago, like tiny blades moving through his flesh.
This was a sequela from forcefully attempting to Breakthrough, and if not dealt with quickly, it might affect his future potential.
“Second-Order Pills yield at least several times the profit…”
Qin Guiya recorded his future plans on a Jade Slip, “Third-Order is even ten times or more. But Third-Order Spirit Medicine…”
He frowned slightly.
The Qin Family, as a Void Refining force, indeed possessed a large number of Spirit Medicine gardens.
However, according to Family rules, Spirit Medicine was categorized by age: under a hundred years was First-Order, a hundred to five hundred years was Second-Order, and five hundred to a thousand years was Third-Order.
Among Third-Order Spirit Medicine, rare varieties were never circulated externally, and only common varieties could be bought with Spirit Stones.
“The Main Branch controls the best resources, indeed.”
Qin Guiya sighed softly.
The three Main Branches occupied the core Spiritual Veins of Thousand Eye Island, cultivating the highest grade of Spirit Medicine.
The side branches, on the other hand, resided on the outer islands and had limited resources.
Subordinate islands like Peach Forest Island mostly cultivated First and Second-Order Spirit Medicine, with very few Third-Order or above. As for Fourth and Fifth-Order, those were exclusively for Soul Transformation Elders.
A faint sound of footsteps from outside interrupted his thoughts.
Liu Qingchan walked in, carrying a cup of calming tea. Her hair was still damp from bathing, and a loose, plain white nightgown was draped over her body.
“Husband is still busy?”
She placed the teacup on the edge of the small table, careful not to disturb the arranged Spirit Stones.
Qin Guiya took the teacup and, in the same motion, grasped her wrist: “I just happen to have something to discuss with you.”
“I plan to finish refining this batch of Medicinal Pills within twenty days and exchange for the Rainfall Elixir. After that, I’ll try Second-Order Medicinal Pills…”
Liu Qingchan’s eyes lit up: “This concubine can help process more medicinal ingredients!”
Then she hesitated, “It’s just…”
“Just what?”
“This concubine worries that her abilities are limited…”
Liu Qingchan lowered her head, “Husband’s Alchemy Dao has advanced greatly now. Perhaps you should consider… taking a concubine to assist?”
Within this month, although her husband had favored her, he would come to her every other day, or even every day, which made her feel a little… Qin Guiya’s hand trembled, and the teacup almost spilled.
Take a concubine?
This suggestion came too suddenly.
He carefully observed Liu Qingchan’s expression and found that although she tried to appear calm, her eyelashes trembled violently, clearly indicating her words were not from the heart.
“Why bring this up suddenly?” he asked softly.
Liu Qingchan bit her lower lip:
“This concubine heard… Second Uncle intends to arrange another woman for Husband in a marriage alliance.”
Qin Guiya’s heart skipped a beat.
In his branch, Second Uncle was supreme. Not only was he a Late Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, but he was also the only Nascent Soul Cultivator in his faction.
He only had Four Spiritual Roots and was able to reach the Golden Core Stage by relying on his father’s pension. Most Four Spiritual Roots Cultivators in the Qin Family only had Foundation Establishment cultivation.
“I don’t need any concubines for now.”
He said decisively, pulling Liu Qingchan into his arms, “You are enough.”
Liu Qingchan’s body stiffened, then softened, her face buried in the crook of his neck.
Qin Guiya could feel warm liquid dampening his collar.
He gently stroked his wife’s back, a mix of emotions in his heart.
Indeed, from a utilitarian perspective, taking a concubine might accelerate the ancient tree’s growth.
More Dao Companions might bring more changes to the ancient tree.
But looking at the woman in his arms who had given him everything, Qin Guiya found that he couldn’t bring himself to be ruthless.
The most crucial point was that the Enlightenment Leaf was temporarily sufficient.
“Alright, let’s not talk about this.”
He changed the subject, “Starting tomorrow, I’ll begin refining a new batch of Medicinal Pills. You just help me process the medicinal ingredients.”
Liu Qingchan gently nodded in his arms, her hair brushing against his chin and making it tickle.
Qin Guiya lowered his head and kissed the top of her head. The ancient tree in his Sea of Consciousness seemed to sense something, its tender sprouts gently swaying.
