17: The wife's small treasury

Seeing Senior Brother Ming Shan eyeing Li Yan’s Ebony Sword, Second Apprentice-sister held down his shoulder.

“Brother, it’s almost dawn. We should return to our rooms to recuperate and heal our injuries as soon as possible.”

“My sister is right.” Senior Brother cupped his fists towards Li Yan and said, “We still owe it to Junior Brother for using this sword to Seal Master’s Wife.”

“Just a fluke! Just a fluke!”

Li Yan cupped his fists in return, watching Senior Brother and Second Apprentice-sister depart.

Walking out of the Stone Workshop, Ming Yue looked at Ming Shan with a reproachful expression.

“Brother, do not let greed ruin our plans.”

Ming Shan waved his hand, “I didn’t intend to snatch his treasure; I was just curious and wanted to borrow it for a look.”

Second Apprentice-sister, however, was pondering something at this moment: “What Medicinal Pill did Master feed Junior Brother? Upon closer inspection, Junior Brother’s Cultivation is actually at the sixth level of the Blood Condensation Realm.”

“It is indeed very strange; Junior Brother just arrived a few days ago and already possesses such Cultivation!”

The two siblings were very confused; Li Yan, a new Disciple who had just joined the Jingxu Sect, already had a Cultivation of the sixth level of the Blood Condensation Realm.

One must know that they both started to Cultivate when they were around ten years old and had followed Master for ten years, yet they were only at the ninth and eighth levels of the Blood Condensation Realm.

Li Yan had only been here for two or three days and already possessed such strength, which was unusual.

Second Apprentice-sister Ming Yue speculated, “Perhaps… he is a flesh pill cultivated by Master.”

“That’s the only possibility! I’m afraid he won’t live long.”

The conversation between the two fell entirely into Li Yan’s ears.

He stood by the window, watching the two walk away, and sneered inwardly.

“Senior Brother and Second Apprentice-sister are clearly saying this deliberately for me to hear.”

It was impossible for them not to know that with Li Yan’s current Cultivation, he couldn’t hear their conversation.

Flesh pill.

As the name suggests, it means inflated Cultivation.

From the memories Li Yan read, so-called flesh pill Cultivators would be fed a large amount of Heaven And Earth Treasure in a short period, causing their Cultivation to temporarily advance by leaps and bounds.

Because their strength increased extremely quickly in a short time, the Cultivation of flesh pill Cultivators was not long-lasting, had extremely strong side effects, and severe after-effects; over time, their Cultivation would even regress.

A very apt description for flesh pill Cultivators was “watered-down chickens.”

Their ultimate fate was to be thrown into a mortar by Old Daoist Xuanwang and crushed, turning into Alchemy Materials.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes, looking at the backs of Senior Brother and Second Apprentice-sister.

“Are they deliberately reminding me, implying something?”

“Could it be that they want to establish their own sect, unwilling to be subservient to Old Ghost Xuanwang?”

This was merely a guess for now, and Li Yan did not want to get involved in their schemes unless absolutely necessary.

Watching Senior Brother and the other disappear around the corner of the courtyard, the dim sun gradually rose, signifying the end of this eventful but safe night.

“With my current strength, conspiring with them against Old Ghost Xuanwang would likely lead to a worse death; it’s better not to get involved…”

Just as he spoke these words, the Ebony Sword in Li Yan’s hand suddenly began to vibrate.

“Hmm?”

He looked down and saw the Ebony Sword trembling continuously, the Master’s Wife sealed within it restless.

“Master’s Wife, do you have something to say?”

Li Yan slowly loosened his grip, and saw the Ebony Sword floating in mid-air.

Black blood seeped from the sword body, drawing a forward arrow ↑ on the ground.

Master’s Wife seemed to be hinting at something, but Li Yan was inherently suspicious and had paranoid delusions, fearing that Master’s Wife would lead him into trouble.

However, his gaze fell upon the Ebony Sword, and information appeared.

【Nine-Foot Immortal-Slaying · Ebony Sword】

【Status: Sealed】

【Master-Curbing Side Effect Reversed — Obedient.】

Obedient?

The Ebony Sword had a Master-curbing attribute, but with the side effect reversed, Master’s Wife had indeed become obedient.

Since that was the case, Li Yan loosened his grip and let the Ebony Sword float on its own.

It was just dawn, evil spirits had retreated, and other Disciples of the Jingxu Sect hadn't left their rooms yet.

He followed the Ebony Sword to a back mountain area within the Jingxu Sect.

“This is?”

Li Yan discovered that although this place was within the Jingxu Sect, very few people came here on normal days; it was extremely secluded.

The Ebony Sword, which sealed Master’s Wife, led him into a crack in the cliff face.

In front of Li Yan, the Ebony Sword pressed a Formation mechanism, and a hidden door slowly opened.

Looking through the hidden door, Li Yan discovered that this place was an extremely concealed stone wall Immortal Cave.

Inside, there was not only a Pill Furnace but also some Medicinal Materials.

He immediately used his Minds Eye to scan the surroundings, confirming that no one was following him, and only then did Li Yan enter the Immortal Cave and press the mechanism to close the stone door.

“There’s a hidden Formation outside the door, and inside there’s a Pill Furnace and Medicinal Materials…”

“This place should be Master’s Wife’s secret stash, right?”

Li Yan realized something; after the Ebony Sword’s Master-curbing characteristic was reversed, Master’s Wife also became reversed.

Master’s Wife was helping him!

Li Yan excitedly walked into the Immortal Cave and glanced at the Medicinal Materials hidden in the cabinet.

“Ten-year Blood Ginseng, Blood Condensation Grass, Turtle Spirit Fat.”

“These are all Materials for refining Blood Condensation Pills!”

Amidst his excitement, Li Yan slowly calmed down.

The faster his Cultivation improved, the more likely he would be targeted by Old Daoist Xuanwang.

What he needed more were life-saving Medicinal Pills and Cultivation Technique.

Speaking of life-saving Medicinal Pills…

Li Yan suddenly had an idea and asked, “Master’s Wife, do you have any poison? The more poisonous, the better!”

Although he didn't know what Li Yan wanted those poisons for, Master’s Wife, sealed within the sword body, manipulated the Ebony Sword to float towards a corner.

He saw black hair growing from the Ebony Sword’s body; the eerie black strands curled up several bottles of Medicinal Pills and placed them on the table.

【Poison Numbing Powder】【Corrupting Blood Pill】【Bone-Eroding Pill】

Just by hearing the names of these three bottles of Medicinal Pills, one knew what their effects were.

However, when Li Yan saw these types of Medicinal Pills, he beamed with joy.

“Not bad, not bad. The latter two bottles are great supplements for me!”

Li Yan looked at these bottles of highly poisonous Medicinal Pills as if he had found life-saving medicine.

This made Master’s Wife, who had been dead for many years and only had a trace of residual thought left, feel very puzzled.

The hair of the Ebony Sword even scratched the hilt, as if scratching its head.

How could there be someone in this world who treated poison as a great supplement?

But only Li Yan himself knew that for things like Corrupting Blood Pill and Bone-Eroding Pill, the stronger the side effects, the greater the potency, the better.

If others took these poisons, they would be afflicted with corrupting poison, eroding their bones.

If he took these Medicinal Pills, they would absolutely strengthen his body and make him more energetic the more he took.

Just then, a deep voice came from outside the door.

“Disciples of the Jingxu Sect, heed my command! I have located the Broken Sword Valley. Follow me there!”

Hearing this voice, Li Yan realized that Old Ghost Xuanwang had returned!

And it seemed something major had happened; Old Ghost Xuanwang was actually summoning all Disciples of the Jingxu Sect to mobilize.

“Going to Broken Sword Valley? I’m afraid something big is about to happen again…”

Thinking that he still had Old Ghost Xuanwang’s tracking Restriction on him, Li Yan dared not stay in the Immortal Cave for too long.

He quickly grabbed these bottles of ‘great tonics’ and rushed to the Jingxu Sect plaza to assemble.