Chapter One Hundred and Ten: The Liu Siblings Devise a Devious Scheme

“Fellow cultivator Chu, please check the items carefully to confirm there are no mistakes.”

In the past, I had delivered elixirs for Uncle Zhao before, but never with such precious care. Could the miraculous pills inside be of an extraordinary grade?

The young woman in the green robe, puzzled and hesitant to open the box herself, saw Chu Xing’er about to put away the jade box and unexpectedly spoke up.

“Well... it’s better not. I trust Senior Zhao.”

Zhao Zhiyun had once said that if he succeeded in refining a mid-grade foundational pill this time, he would not hesitate to reward her with one. Now that he needed to cover the jade box with talismans to prevent others from peeking, could it be that there truly was a mid-grade foundational pill inside?

Ordinary foundational pills are already exceptionally rare and valuable; mid-grade ones attract even more envy. Chu Xing’er had no intention of tearing off the talisman to inspect it now—not because she doubted the female cultivator before her, but because many outsiders roamed the reception hall area. If news leaked, it would bring serious trouble.

Therefore, upon hearing the young woman’s suggestion, Chu Xing’er hesitated briefly before responding with composed grace.

“Very well, fellow cultivator, please proceed. I must return to report to my uncle now.”

Seeing Chu Xing’er tuck the jade box away without further ado, the young woman grew even more suspicious, though she concealed it with a polite smile and turned to leave. However, as soon as she stepped out of the pavilion cluster, her expression darkened.

She had heard that Uncle Zhao Zhiyun had recently succeeded in refining a mid-grade foundational pill, and today he seemed overjoyed when asking her to deliver the pills. Could it be that the trade he made with that Chu woman was indeed for a mid-grade pill?

Foundational pills are precious and scarce in every sect. Though disciples of the Spirit Herb Sect find it easier to obtain such pills compared to minor sects like the Green Leaf or Falling Feather Sects, the young woman’s aptitude was limited. Relying solely on sect missions, acquiring even one foundational pill was difficult, let alone a mid-grade one that could boost breakthrough success rates by thirty percent.

Lost in thought, the young woman in green quickened her pace toward the area where the male disciples of the Spirit Herb Sect lived...

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Back inside the reception hall, Chu Xing’er used formation talismans to deactivate all the restrictions in the pavilion before carefully removing the talisman covering the jade box.

With a soft click, the jade box opened to reveal three pristine white pill bottles. She reached out and took one, uncorking it to inhale a faint, refreshing fragrance.

There was no need to pour out the pills. Her divine sense delved inside and thoroughly examined the several flawless miraculous pills within. Indeed, these were foundational pills, exactly as described in the scriptures.

There were as many as five pills. Recalling the scenes in Feiyun Market a few months ago, where one foundational pill cost two hundred thousand spirit stones, Chu Xing’er felt a surge of excitement at the immense value of the pills in this jade bottle.

Generally, a single batch of elixirs yields at most twenty pills, but foundational pills are exceptional, rarely exceeding twelve per batch, and most alchemists cannot even reach that standard.

Zhao Zhiyun’s success in refining ten pills reflected his considerable skill in alchemy, which explained why those seeking pills were so delighted when he chose them.

Chu Xing’er, sharp-witted, connected the dots from recent events and realized her visit to Lingyun Sect had truly been a stroke of luck.

With five foundational pills, even with her aptitude, she could not guarantee a hundred percent breakthrough, but she had at least seventy to eighty percent confidence. Joy welled up within her, difficult to contain.

However, there were still two more jade bottles to check, which might contain the mid-grade foundational pills.

Suppressing her excitement, Chu Xing’er carefully stored the bottle with five mid-grade pills and gently opened the other two bottles.

The second bottle emitted an even richer medicinal aroma, invigorating the spirit.

Without pouring out the pills, she hurriedly resealed the bottle. Although it contained only one mid-grade foundational pill, if other cultivators noticed even the slightest clue, endless trouble would follow.

The third bottle also contained five foundational pills, identical in quality to those in the first bottle. It seemed Zhao Zhiyun had successfully refined all three batches of materials.

After storing the pills, Chu Xing’er longed to leave Lingyun Sect immediately and find a safe place to meditate and break through the bottleneck. Yet reason told her leaving so soon was unwise.

Word of her transaction with Zhao Zhiyun and her being alone had already spread among the dozens of incoming Qi Refining cultivators. Leaving too hastily would only arouse suspicion, leading to ambushes and plundering along the way.

Fortunately, the fees she paid last time allowed her to stay in the reception hall for another seven or eight days. Leaving calmly after a few days was no problem.

Unbeknownst to Chu Xing’er, her decision to stay temporarily caught the young woman in green and her brother off guard.

“What’s going on, Xiuqian? Didn’t you say that fat sheep cultivator might leave today?”

As night fell, a burly man lying in wait outside the Spirit Herb Sect’s mountain gate asked the green-robed girl beside him.

“Well... I’m not sure why she’s still lingering in the reception hall after receiving the foundational pills. Could she have sensed something unusual?”

Faced with her brother’s questioning, Liu Xiuqian felt helpless. She had expected Chu Xing’er to flee quickly, which was why she had urged her brother to ambush and rob her. But what had transpired?

“Sense something unusual? Impossible. Didn’t you say she showed no sign of suspicion?

No matter how clever she is, she wouldn’t suspect that we siblings set the trap in advance. Maybe something delayed her. Let’s wait a bit longer.”

Hearing her sister’s words, Liu Kui calmed down considerably. For the chance at a mid-grade foundational pill, waiting a little longer was no big deal.

His comforting words, however, became a prophecy. Over the next four or five days, they saw no sign of Chu Xing’er, though other cultivators seeking pills left one after another.

Trailing and attacking pill seekers was strictly forbidden by the Spirit Herb Sect. They only dared risk it because they suspected Chu Xing’er had a mid-grade foundational pill and was traveling alone.

After waiting so long, Liu Kui and Liu Xiuqian grew frustrated but felt trapped, unwilling to give up now.

Fortunately, fortune favored the diligent. Finally, a streak of light dashed toward them from the Spirit Herb Sect’s direction.

As it passed through the dense forest where they hid, the figure inside became clear: it was Chu Xing’er, who had just left after several days of recuperation.

“Huh? What’s this? Is the Spirit Herb Sect turning on its own?”

Chu Xing’er flew swiftly, planning first to return to Danxia City to purchase talismans and formations, then seek a safe place to establish a cave abode for cultivation.

After all, breaking through the foundational realm bottleneck was no trivial matter and could not tolerate external interference. The breakthrough would inevitably cause celestial phenomena, detectable even in remote mountains.

Using formations to conceal spiritual fluctuations and stocking up on high-grade talismans was prudent. Chu Xing’er’s plan was sound, but shortly after leaving the mountain gate, an inexplicable sense of danger crept over her.

She expanded her divine sense fully to scan the surroundings but found nothing, causing her to furrow her brows in concern.