Chapter 10: I Once Asked, Today We Fight Ten

Zeng Wen, a ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator and a long-time resident of the inner city.

He had once held hopes of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, but unfortunately, a conflict years ago damaged his foundation, leaving him with no hope of ever reaching that realm in this lifetime.

Though his foundation was damaged, his combat prowess remained intact. Being in the prime of his life, he rarely lacked for spending money.

Even if he ran out of spirit stones, a single trip into the Million Mountains—provided he stayed out of the inner regions and merely circled the periphery to slay one or two first-tier demonic beasts—was enough to earn him plenty.

As for what he spent his earnings on?

Why, on food, drink, and women, of course! On enjoying fine cuisine, vintage wine, and beautiful companions!

Feeling a bit strapped for cash lately, he had planned a trip into the mountains.

That was why he was at a roadside stall, picking up a few talismans, buying a few bottles of medicinal pills, and purchasing one or two handy magical artifacts.

It had to be said, while a trip into the mountains offered a high chance of profit, the wear and tear each time was significant.

Those demonic beasts were exceptionally crude, thick-skinned, and fleshy; they always found a way to damage his artifacts.

They were nothing like the beauties at the Tianxiang Pavilion, who could always polish his "artifacts" until they shone with a lustrous glow.

However, his luck was good today. He had bought a Qi-Concealing Talisman, and while he usually looked down on the Bigu pills sold by the kid next to Old Daoist Chen, this time he felt the quality was no worse than those from the Spirit Medicine Pavilion.

Thus, he bought five bottles, intending to test their efficacy.

Just as he was about to leave, however, he was called back by the kid.

"Fellow Daoist, are you interested in learning about the Zhongmiao Pill?"

"Zhongmiao Pill? What is that?"

Luo Chen said in an extremely low voice: "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth; the named is the mother of all things."

The fat cultivator Zeng Wen was a bit dazed. What was this supposed to mean?

Are you playing word games with me?

Luo Chen took a deep breath and spoke in a tone suggesting that the Dharma should not be imparted lightly: "Therefore, one who is constantly without desire can observe its wonders; one who is constantly with desire can observe its boundaries. These two emerge from the same source but have different names; both are called mysterious. Mysterious and even more mysterious, the gateway to all wonders."

After finishing, he stared at Zeng Wen. "Fellow Daoist, do you understand the meaning of these words?"

Zeng Wen nodded hesitantly, then shook his head. "I don't understand, but it sounds very profound."

Luo Chen couldn't help but give him a thumbs up!

"As expected of a great ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator whose realm far exceeds my own; you grasped the profundity of it the very first time you heard it."

Zeng Wen blinked. Is that so?

Well, that made sense. This kid was only at the third layer of Qi Refining; how could he possibly understand words that sounded so impressive?

"But what does this have to do with the Zhongmiao Pill you mentioned?"

Luo Chen pursed his lips and continued in a soft voice: "Fellow Daoist, are you familiar with the story of the legendary master of the Joyous Union Sect, Master Yun Zhonghe?"

"Oh, you mean Master Yunhe, right!"

"No, Yun Zhonghe!"

"Hm?"

"A master's name should not be spoken directly or treated with disrespect. You and I can just call him Yun Zhonghe."

"Understood, go on!"

"Surely you are well aware of the story of how he cultivated the core techniques of the Joyous Union Sect to the supreme level, and then, while only at the early Golden Core stage, suppressed a fourth-tier Beast Emperor!"

Zeng Wen nodded. Who didn't know that?

Especially a frequent visitor to the Tianxiang Pavilion like himself. When chatting with the girls, there were always two or three times he would experience the following conversation

"Where are you from?"

"The outer sect of the Joyous Union Sect?"

"I know that place. Your sect has a Master Yunhe, right? He's incredibly badass, known as the number one person beneath the Nascent Soul stage!"

"It's a pity that while he is powerful, the Joyous Union Sect is not a kind place. Since you are trapped in this sea of bitterness, why not leave it sooner?"

Things like that. When the mood was right, he couldn't help but hold his head and weep, lamenting the hardships of immortal cultivation.

Luo Chen didn't know this senior had such a rich inner life and continued his sales pitch.

"To suppress a fourth-tier Beast Emperor with a Golden Core body—what a glorious achievement! It shows what earth-shattering divine abilities he must have realized from the Joyous Union Sect's core techniques!"

"Indeed. I, Zeng Wen, have always wanted to witness such grace, but alas, I was born two hundred years too late." Zeng Wen shook his head and sighed, his tone desolate.

"Although you cannot witness the grace of Master Yun Zhonghe from back then, you can still perceive a glimpse of it."

"Oh? How so?"

"The profound and mysterious words I spoke earlier are rumored to be one of Master Yun Zhonghe's insights."

"Really?"

"This junior does not know if it is true or false, but many years ago, I collected a fragmented pill recipe from the marketplace, said to have come from Heavenly Blade Peak!"

Zeng Wen's eyes widened, his lips trembling as he said, "Could it be the location of that fourth-tier demonic crane emperor's nest from back then?"

"Perhaps! It is just a pity that the recipe was too fragmented; it crumbled to dust after I read it once. In my haste, I only managed to memorize a small portion, and from that, I researched this first-tier pill." Luo Chen looked somewhat dejected, his face unable to hide his regret.

Zeng Wen was excited. "If it is true, even if it is just a fragment, it must be extraordinary. What are the effects of this Zhongmiao Pill?"

Luo Chen lowered his head slightly, his expression shy.

"It is shameful to say, but the Zhongmiao Pill has no great use. It only has a slight effect of invigorating the yang, aiding in pleasure, and consolidating one's foundation."

It aids in pleasure and consolidates the foundation!

Could such a miraculous pill exist in this world?

Lately, he had been feeling a bit inadequate during his bouts of "combat."

Zeng Wen felt he had encountered a treasure of a lifetime. With no hope for Foundation Establishment, perhaps the Zhongmiao Pill was where he should pin his hopes for the rest of his life.

"Is it this one?"

Zeng Wen pointed to the most exquisite jade bottle at the back of the stall, which looked distinct from the rest.

Luo Chen nodded. "This junior is dull-witted; I exhausted everything I learned just to refine this one bottle. If you, Senior, wish to experience a glimpse of Master Yun Zhonghe's Great Dao, I am willing to sell it to you at a low price. Eight low-grade spirit stones—no, since we hit it off so well, let's make it five!"

Zeng Wen didn't hesitate. He picked up the jade bottle and pulled out the soft stopper.

A refreshing, intoxicating fragrance wafted out. At the first whiff, he felt a stirring in his lower abdomen.

A second whiff brought a rush of pure spiritual energy, and faintly, it felt as if he were facing the crashing waves of the sea, standing proud against the scorching sun.

Looking closely with his ninth-layer Qi Refining vision, the deep red pill, the size of a dragon's eye, rolled around like meat jelly.

"Yin and Yang in harmony, water and fire balanced. It truly has a hint of what Miss Yu Xiang of the Tianxiang Pavilion described—the charm of the Joyous Union Sect's core techniques reaching the Golden Core stage, where dragon and tiger converge."

"Fine, brother, we hit it off, so I'll take this bottle!"

"Five spirit stones, right? Here you go!"

Luo Chen was flattered and stuffed the spirit stones tightly into his robes.

"Safe travels, Senior. I'll be here next month. If you need anything, feel free to come find me. If there is anything unsatisfactory about the Zhongmiao Pill, please tell me directly, and I will certainly do my best to improve it for you!"

With a gaze full of affection, he watched the great ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator Zeng Wen walk further and further away until he could no longer be seen.

Luo Chen couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

The first sale of the new product had finally been pushed through.

Practice makes perfect; the next sale definitely wouldn't be far off.

He twisted his neck, feeling his shoulders a bit stiff. Glancing sideways, he saw Old Daoist Chen Xiu-ping staring at him, dumbfounded.

His beard trembled, his lips twitched, and finally, he gritted his teeth and shouted

"I have never seen such a shameless person!"

Heh heh!

Luo Chen cupped his hands, pulled another exquisite jade bottle from his robes, and placed it among the remaining fifteen bottles of Bigu pills.

Old Daoist Chen hissed as if his teeth were leaking air: "Didn't you say you only refined one bottle?"

"It is one bottle! One bottle of ten pills, I split them into ten bottles to sell. This is called small profits but quick turnover!"

It was hard!

His fist was hard!

Old Daoist Chen felt he had met an opponent the likes of which he had never seen in his life!

That noon, Zeng Wen cast the Wind-Riding Art, transformed into a streak of green light, and charged straight into the Tianxiang Pavilion.

A Foundation Establishment female cultivator blocked his path, stating that the girls were resting and not receiving guests for the time being.

Zeng Wen, with the might of a peak ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator, stared directly at the Foundation Establishment master and roared: "I am Zeng Wen, and today I intend to take on ten!"

(End of chapter)