Chapter 156: Chapter 149: Danger, Divine Soul
Chen Che nodded to the gray-robed old servant and followed him.
The Meng Family was powerful, but as a Tributor of Jinyun Valley, even Meng Changtu wouldn’t dare to act recklessly in the open. Besides, he was still "helping" the Primordial Sect complete a Pill Formula. That was a faction backed by a Golden Core Major Cultivator.
...
"Tributor Chen, a pleasure, a true pleasure!"
In a private room of the teahouse, Meng Changtu—dressed in a black robe, his temples graying, and carrying a scholarly air—sized up Chen Che with a smile in his eyes.
He had first heard of Chen Che a year ago but hadn’t paid it any mind at the time.
But over the past year, the young man’s reputation had grown. Coupled with the fact that Meng Qingxuan often lingered at Jinyun Valley, how could he, as a father, not know what was on his daughter’s mind?
"Senior, you summoned me. I was wondering..."
"No rush, no rush. Have a cup of Spirit Tea first."
Meng Changtu gestured with a smile, and the gray-robed old servant personally poured the tea.
The aroma was rich, brimming with spiritual rhyme.
As a Pill Master, Chen Che was extremely sensitive to scents. Without a second thought, he drank it down in one go. He instantly felt the pores all over his body relax as an indescribable sense of refreshment flowed through him. It even seemed to quicken the circulation of his True Essence.
"Excellent tea!"
Chen Che praised.
Meng Changtu nodded slightly and began to explain:
"This tea is called ’Cyan Bamboo.’ Its young buds are so similar to bamboo leaves that even Cultivators find them hard to distinguish. Only the Spiritual Monkeys raised by my Meng Family can identify and pick them. The effects of this one pot of tea are no less than that of a Tier One High Grade Elixir!"
Chen Che nodded to himself.
’A Cultivation Clan is truly on another level.’
The Meng Family had accumulated its foundation over four hundred years and had several Foundation Establishment Major Cultivators. Their resources far surpassed those of Jinyun Valley.
Afterward, the conversation turned to Meng Changtu questioning Chen Che about his situation at Jinyun Valley and the Pill Shop.
However, Chen Che remained subtly on guard.
The man’s words seemed aimed at sounding him out. He repeatedly asked if Chen Che had any living relatives, what his relationship with them was like, and what his future plans were.
’He’s here because of Meng Qingxuan!’
The daughters of great clans were not free to choose their marriage partners. Most were married off in alliances between two clans to maximize the family’s interests. After all, if one enjoyed the clan’s resources, one had to make a corresponding contribution. If a relationship didn’t align with those interests, the clan would intervene.
’He’s probably going to tell me to stay away from his daughter.’
Chen Che grumbled inwardly.
This was also why he had always kept a respectful distance from Meng Qingxuan. Marrying into a Cultivation Clan was no easy feat; it was as treacherous as the inner courts of a palace. Even with Jinyun Valley’s backing, the Meng Family wouldn’t necessarily see him as worthy.
After a few more pleasantries, Meng Changtu suddenly changed the subject:
"I see that Tributor Chen is both handsome and well-spoken. Forgive my forwardness, but is there a young woman who has captured your heart?"
Chen Che’s heart tightened. ’Here it comes!’ he thought, and slowly replied:
"This junior is devoted to the Immortal Dao and does not wish to indulge in worldly romance. Therefore, I have yet to fall for anyone."
"Really?"
Meng Changtu narrowed his eyes, seemingly unconvinced.
"It’s true!" Chen Che said righteously.
"And yet, I hear my daughter has grown quite close to you, Tributor Chen!"
"Senior, rest assured, I will definitely stay away..."
Before Chen Che could finish, Meng Changtu let out a soft chuckle. He took out a Jade Box, opened it, and pushed it across the table.
Inside the Jade Box was a Jade Bottle with a label on it:
Foundation Establishment Pill!
Chen Che was inwardly shocked. Meng Changtu’s gesture was incredibly generous!
Although the Foundation Establishment Pill was only a Tier Two Middle-grade Elixir, like the Dragon Fish Pill, it was made with precious Materials. Its price was far higher than other elixirs of the same grade. Whenever one appeared on the market, it would be instantly snapped up, becoming a priceless commodity with no supply.
After all, a single pill could potentially produce a Foundation Establishment Major Cultivator.
"A man must marry and a woman must wed. You, Tributor Chen, are in the prime of your life, and my daughter is in the bloom of her youth. In my eyes, you two are a match made in heaven..."
Meng Changtu smiled leisurely, his eyes filled with confidence.
No Cultivator could resist the temptation of a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Moreover, Foundation Establishment Pills were rare. Even the Meng Family had spent over twenty years to obtain this one.
An ordinary Cultivator with no backing or background wouldn’t even know where to acquire one. Just gathering the Materials for a single Foundation Establishment Pill could take several years.
!?
Chen Che was stunned. This was not what he had expected.
If the offer had been to stay away from Meng Qingxuan, he would have accepted the Foundation Establishment Pill without hesitation. But accepting it now meant he had to marry her.
"If Senior needs any alchemy done, this junior would be more than willing to help. But as for this matter... I am unworthy of Senior’s high regard."
Chen Che averted his gaze.
The smile on Meng Changtu’s face froze. He also hadn’t expected that such a price would fail to move Chen Che.
The gray-robed old man’s eyes sharpened.
However, before he could react, Meng Changtu gave a slight nod:
"Even if the marriage doesn’t work out, our goodwill remains. Since Tributor Chen is devoted to the Dao, I will not force the issue."
After a few more moments of pleasantries, Chen Che rose to take his leave.
Only after he had left did the gray-robed old servant say indignantly:
"That boy doesn’t know what’s good for him! The Patriarch came in person and even offered a Foundation Establishment Pill, yet he dared to refuse."
"Excellent!"
Meng Changtu nodded slightly, expressing his approval:
"Unswayed by might, uncorrupted by riches, firm in his convictions, and devoted to the Dao... he’s an excellent son-in-law!"
"Huh?"
The gray-robed old man was taken aback. Not only was the Patriarch not angry, but he was actually praising the young man. However, being quick-witted, he soon figured it out.
"He..."
"Let’s go back. There’s no need to mention this to the Young Miss. Let’s act as if we were never here. Whether it works out or not, at least we know this person isn’t plotting against our Meng Family..."
Meng Changtu slowly rose to his feet.
...
Leaving the teahouse, Chen Che let out a long, turbid breath.
This was the Cultivation World.
The risks were great, but so were the temptations.
Any other Cultivator would have likely agreed on the spot without a moment’s hesitation. But marrying into another family had many hidden dangers. He was already at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, and the Dragon Fish Pill was in the process of being refined. It was only a matter of time before he reached Foundation Establishment.
Selling himself for a single Foundation Establishment Pill wasn’t worth it.
After all, accepting a gift puts you in the giver’s debt.
After a night’s rest, Chen Che, full of energy, returned to his Cave Mansion the next day.
He rested quietly for a moment, the experiences from his previous failed alchemy attempts surfacing in his mind. After confirming everything was in order, he began.
His eyes were like cold lightning as he held his breath and focused his mind.
With a wave of his hand, the lid of the furnace flew open. The Materials transformed into streaks of Escape Light, falling into the Chixia Tripod as smoothly as flowing water. The moment he poured in his True Essence, the furnace fire ignited. The entire process was completed in a single, fluid motion.
CHIRP~
The Little Chick stood at the entrance of the Cave Mansion, watching eagerly. It was waiting to eat the pill dregs.
The initial steps weren’t difficult.
The real challenge was the moment of Pill Formation.
Ordinary pills could be baked over a low flame or roasted over a high one. But the Dragon Fish Pill was different. It had too much gel, requiring an instantaneous switch from a low flame to a high one, with the temperature being controlled entirely by the Pill Master.
If the temperature was too low, it would turn into Pill Mud.
If it was too high, it would turn to charcoal.
’It’s starting!’
Hearing the GURGLING, boiling sound from within the Pill Furnace, Chen Che’s expression immediately turned serious. He enveloped the Chixia Tripod with his Divine Sense, closely monitoring every change.
At the same time, he frantically poured his True Essence into it.
After a full hour, the inside of the Chixia Tripod grew quiet. At the same time, a burst of Metal Qi pushed open the Furnace Cauldron and dispersed in all directions.
"Success!"
Chen Che was overjoyed and lifted the furnace lid.
Sure enough, he saw a golden Pill at the bottom of the furnace. Its surface was pitted and uneven, not at all round or smooth. Picking it up and taking a sniff, he could smell a faint fishy aroma.
"Hmm, this one is for Xiao Chan... With the remaining Materials, I have enough for six or seven more attempts."
Smiling, Chen Che placed the Dragon Fish Pill into a Jade Bottle.
Unfortunately, pills like the Dragon Fish Pill, which helped cross a Grand Realm, were different from others. They focused on condensing medicinal power, so only one could be produced per batch.
After successfully forming the Pill, Chen Che was in high spirits and turned his attention back to the piece of wood. He even broke off a thumb-sized piece and tried burning it with a mundane flame. Unexpectedly, it wasn’t fire-resistant at all. It ignited quickly, releasing a wisp of green smoke.
There was no scent, nothing unusual.
’Burning it doesn’t work either...’
Chen Che felt this was a tricky problem. Researching the specific properties of an unknown material could often take thousands of attempts, sometimes even decades or centuries.
The moment that thought arose, he felt his temples throb wildly. His body seemed to freeze, unable to move an inch. At the same time, he felt light and floaty, as if he were about to turn into a puff of smoke and drift up from the ground.
If another Cultivator had been present, they would have seen an illusory figure struggling to break free from Chen Che’s body.
’This is Divine Soul Separation!’
Chen Che was alarmed.
He knew from his lessons that the physical body was like a precious raft for crossing the sea of bitterness. A Divine Soul Separation was like a person who couldn’t swim being thrown directly into the ocean.
WHOOSH!
The instant his Divine Soul separated, a cold wind suddenly gusted through the Cave Mansion, which was usually as mild as spring. As the wind entered his soul-body, Chen Che felt as if he were naked in a frigid, snowy wasteland, on the verge of freezing to death at any moment.
At the same time, it felt like plunging into a boundless ocean, about to be submerged at any second.
’This is bad! I have to get back into my body, quickly!’
At that moment, Chen Che had only one thought: get his Divine Soul back into his body immediately.
But no matter what he tried, it was useless. The pulling force from the void was too strong. Chen Che could only watch helplessly as he floated higher and higher. Not only had his Divine Soul left his body, but it had even drifted out of the Cave Mansion.
"SCREECH!"
Just then, a sharp, eagle-like cry rang out.
In that instant, Chen Che’s eyes shot open. He was still in the same spot. The Little Chick tilted its head, its beady eyes fixed on him. The Divine Soul Separation felt like a mere illusion, but the weakness was very real. His clothes, front and back, were soaked with cold sweat.
"Why would my Divine Soul suddenly leave my body for no reason?"
Chen Che was baffled.
He knew that essence, qi, and spirit were a unified whole and wouldn’t separate on their own. Usually, only those on the brink of death would experience their soul leaving their body. But he was a Qi Refining Eighth Layer Cultivator, at the peak of his condition. This shouldn’t be happening to him.
"I didn’t do anything. The past few days have been normal. Wait... I just burned that thing!"
Chen Che’s gaze shifted, landing on the pile of wood that had been burned to charcoal.
Instantly, his expression turned to one of profound fear.
Who could have imagined that simply burning a thumb-sized piece of wood would have nearly caused his soul to scatter to the winds?
The level of danger far, far surpassed anything he had ever experienced in Yunzhou.
"I have to bury this thing deep underground immediately."
He didn’t dare to rashly destroy such a dangerous item; burying it deep underground was the best option.
Just as Chen Che was rushing out of the Cave Mansion, his peripheral vision caught sight of the Micro Crystal Brain. He couldn’t help but stop in his tracks and let out a surprised gasp.
"Something like this can happen?"
