Chapter 633: Chapter 576: It’s Over, They’re After Me
"If you don’t want it, I’ll give it to someone else later."
Seeing that the atmosphere had been set just right, Han Yu pretended to put the pill away.
Quick, stop me.
Just as his palm was closing and about to retract, the old Daoist finally grabbed Han Yu’s hand.
This is professionalism.
People are just contrary by nature, and cultivators are no exception.
If you offer something for free, they may not want it.
But suddenly take it away, and they’ll become conflicted.
The old Daoist was like that now. As a strong cultivator, he didn’t really need any pill assistance.
Yet, Han Yu’s pill offered capabilities. Although the side effects were a bit daunting, the extremely fortunate outcomes were equally enticing.
Such effects are undoubtedly useful to any cultivator, but in his hands, they could be even more impactful.
Imagine if he opened up the effect while gambling, victories would naturally follow, and even tricky scenarios could be tackled with this effect, which is the key point.
Take the flat fall technique for example; if he had this ability back then, he wouldn’t have had to painfully progress by falling every thousand steps.
Maybe he’d even dare to bet on falling within ten steps, gradual cultivation is just too tough!
With this pill, achieving some effects he always wanted to cultivate might be possible.
Like disordered spiritual power within a hundred breaths!
Or missing an opponent within ten strikes!
Many high-difficulty effects aren’t easy to cultivate but could be pursued slowly with this ability’s aid.
So unconsciously, the old Daoist’s hand was already caressing Han Yu’s palm with emotion.
Let go, let go!
This time Han Yu, with a darkened face, angrily roared internally, wondering how anyone could endure an old man with chicken-skin and crane-bones tenderly touching you.
If he could beat him, he’d surely give him a kick.
"Is it really free?"
The old Daoist seemed to have made some decision and suddenly looked over with sparkling eyes.
"Truly free, this is my Dao."
To brag is to commit fully, Han Yu casually said his Dao.
The old Daoist naturally didn’t doubt because his own word-of-law required Entering the Dao through gambling.
"Can I reluctantly take one?"
The old Daoist tentatively asked.
Han Yu’s lips curled, and once he opened his hand, the old Daoist’s eyes lit up, fixedly staring at the pill.
He wasn’t one to hesitate; otherwise, he wouldn’t have reached this level of cultivation or chosen to Enter the Dao through gambling.
Once decided, he rarely overthinks.
"I owe you one, I won’t take your pill for nothing."
The old Daoist picked up the pill, looking seriously at Han Yu.
This wasn’t pretentiousness. As they advance in cultivation, people at their level not only brush against the Heavenly Dao but also perceive it from a perspective beyond ordinary people.
There’s no free meal in the world; what goes in must come out.
What you gain for free from someone, you’ll eventually repay in another form, with various uncontrollable factors mixed in.
They call this karma at the Celestial Dao Sect.
Therefore, Su Xiaoxiao wanted to repay Wang Xingzhi’s favor at that time, and even Wushang Daoist forced a Spiritual Treasure after taking the pill.
Even they understand that free stuff is the most expensive, so how could the old Daoist not comprehend this?
Similarly, this is why the old Daoist believed Han Yu’s explanation.
The rationale behind his pill aligned with this principle, so he believed Han Yu used pills as his Dao since everything had traces to follow.
The only doubt was how outlandish Han Yu’s Dao appeared.
"Your Alchemy Dao has quite a drawback, doesn’t it?"
The old Daoist asked, thinking every path is arduous, especially the stronger the path the more difficult it is to bear fruit.
His word-of-law proved the point—it’s time-consuming, exhausting, and most grueling.
Han Yu groaned inwardly, this old geezer was more annoying than Ling Wuce when it came to taking a pill, another lover of debate.
What hardship could I possibly have; you take the pill, I take the benefits, simple as that.
But of course, he couldn’t say that. Urged by the Artifact Spirit in his Sea of Consciousness, he sighed insincerely.
"Can’t say I’m struggling if I can’t eat the pills I make, right?"
"That’s definitely something."
The old Daoist confidently responded, finally revealing a relieved expression.
Now it made sense.
Otherwise, with such Alchemy Dao, Han Yu would’ve been unbelievably strong by now.
Imagining a hard-working Han Yu crafting a pill only to see it and not eat it, having to give it away.
The old Daoist couldn’t help but feel a little sympathy, truly the righteous way to go astray!
"People in the Central Continent call me the Cultivator Realm’s Timely Rain, Squandering Pill God, or a Walking Opportunity."
Coupled with Han Yu’s helpless expression, the old Daoist fully believed his version and even found it amusing.
Because those titles couldn’t be more fitting.
To this, the old Daoist still offered encouragement, considering it a bit of advice for the junior.
"Don’t feel like you’re at a loss. Karma balances actions and rewards; when the time is right, the world will surely return the favor to you in some way."
You’re such a good person!
Han Yu secretly chuckled, but then suddenly froze.
Because the old Daoist’s words seemed to have hit the mark unintentionally; wasn’t this a kind of return gift!
And it didn’t even need a specific time; it was collected right then and there.
He touched his nose with a strange look in his eyes, realizing sometimes it’s better not to bluff. These thousand-year-old freaks truly have a trick or two up their sleeves.
The old Daoist had no more doubts, pinched the pill, and slowly placed it into his mouth...
"Darn!"
Mu Zili stepped into the house from Bai Yujing, and the first thing he saw was his master pinching a pill and bringing it to his mouth.
At their realm, how could pills be of any help, unless...
He inexplicably recalled the distracted Wushang Daoist and the missing Wang Xingzhi.
But it was too late to stop it because, at this very moment, the old Daoist’s throat moved, indicating he had swallowed it.
So, even a gentleman like Mu Zili, known for his upright and steady demeanor, couldn’t help but curse aloud.
The three pairs of eyes stared at each other, and suddenly, the atmosphere became unsettlingly quiet.
"You..."
Mu Zili quickly walked over, feeling incredibly troubled as he looked at Han Yu.
Initially, his first impression of Han Yu was that he looked like a swindler conning old people out of their money saved for their coffin.
Now? He seemed even more like a rascal tricking elderly people into taking fake medicine.
And his own master, how could he eat something without even asking? At thousands of years old, can’t he control his mouth?
He couldn’t help but glare at the old Daoist, speaking helplessly, "You... Why would you eat something indiscriminately?"
The old Daoist’s rather innocent expression further filled Mu Zili with a sense of powerlessness.
A quarter of an hour later...
Mu Zili looked at Han Yu with a peculiar gaze; the old Daoist had said everything needed and unneeded on behalf of Han Yu.
Paired with the old Daoist, Han Yu’s Alchemy Dao became even more complete in his words.
Thus, Han Yu was portrayed as a foolish rich man, a spendthrift with talent, behaving strangely yet walking the Dao ethically.
The explanation of the Alchemy Dao was understandable to Mu Zili, given that Su Xiaoxiao, the old Daoist, and he were all family; a closer mindset made sense.
But...
"Have you considered the side effects?"
Mu Zili looked at the old Daoist with a helpless expression; the outcomes for Wang Xingzhi and Wushang Daoist were not pleasant.
But what the old Daoist heard was another scenario: one protected by heaven, the other invincible in the same realm.
Why think about side effects? First, pop the pills.
If Han Yu hadn’t given out those two pills, he’d probably want to take them himself.
Mu Zili was rendered absolutely speechless. Just listening to the effects, his master couldn’t imagine the side effects without witnessing them firsthand.
Fortunately, the old Daoist’s pills were quite controllable; as long as they weren’t actively used, there were practically no side effects.
With things as they were, Mu Zili shook his head helplessly, then turned to Han Yu and spoke.
"I’ll repay the favor on behalf of my old man, and I’ll smooth over your theft of two Enlightenment Towers."
Just like Su Xiaoxiao’s way, this thing really doesn’t come for free. Mu Zili also firmly believed in causality, resolving the matter on the spot without much thought.
Is the matter settled?
Not really, because Han Yu couldn’t help but mumble about how the old Daoist still owed him 250 Inquiry Stones!
"How about it, Senior? Those 250, uh..."
Mu Zili looked at him as if he’d seen a ghost, with a strangely contorted face, before breaking into a sly smile.
This guest from Central Continent was not only odd but had a darn big appetite.
Inquiry Stones!
Setting aside whether he would give them, even if he were willing, it might be impossible to produce that many.
Is he going to renege on the debt!
Is he going to renege on the debt?
This was the inner reflection of both Mu Zili and Han Yu.
For Mu Zili, reneging on the debt was impossible; it wasn’t just about him saving face, but it would also affect the old Daoist’s face. Moreover, true debt reneging might harm the old Daoist’s cultivation.
After a couple of dry coughs, Mu Zili looked over again with a sly grin, seemingly having an idea.
"In the coming days, I’ll send someone to the lower realms to find Su Xiaoxiao, and take you back by the way."
This didn’t surprise Han Yu; Su Xiaoxiao had mentioned that Mu Zili would come to fetch him on his way here.
But Mu Zili’s words weren’t finished.
"Tribulation Thunder blocks the door at the lower realms, and all of you are filled with tribulation aura; if you show yourselves, you’ll be targeted."
So, if the tribulation aura can’t be removed in this trip, even rescuing people won’t be useful.
"Are you planning to use the Celestial River?"
The old Daoist suddenly interrupted.
"Yes, only the weak water of the Celestial River can wash away the tribulation aura."
Mu Zili nodded, then his next words left Han Yu stunned.
"But the Celestial River is a supreme treasure; using it once depletes it some, and the cost is significant."
Here we go, coming for me.
Don’t ask why Han Yu knew; Mu Zili’s gaze hadn’t left him from the start, and even a fool could see what’s happening.
Indeed, as Mu Zili continued, his intentions of sharpening knives were revealed.
"The Celestial River is precious, and you’re not from the Celestial Dao Sect, so the price might be quite high."
