10: Is it a profit or a loss? Holy crap, why isn't there a moon?

"The pills are out! The pills are out!"

In the afternoon, inside the Pill Room, a group of Disciples cheered.

"How many?" a Disciple asked.

The counting Disciple shouted, "One hundred and twenty-seven!"

Hearing such a large number of Medicinal Pills, the Disciples cheered once again.

Zhu Gan nudged Jiang Yan and whispered, "You're in luck today."

"How so?" Jiang Yan asked, somewhat puzzled.

He couldn't understand what the production of pills had to do with him.

Zhu Gan quickly explained, "Today, they were refining qi yuan pills. Every Outer Sect Disciple involved in the refining will receive one, while Menial Servants like us will each get one small spirit pill."

Upon hearing this, he finally understood what Zhu Gan meant by being in luck.

"Come, come, one for each person. Line up!" Yan Jun stood before the Pill Furnace, distributing the Medicinal Pills.

As the Outer Sect Disciples formed a long queue, Zhu Gan hurriedly pulled Jiang Yan to follow behind the other Menial Servants.

Just after the Outer Sect Disciples finished receiving their pills, Yan Jun deliberately glanced toward Jiang Yan's position.

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for the reward."

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for the pill."

...The words of gratitude from the Menial Servants poured out endlessly.

"Hold onto it; this is your pill." Yan Jun handed a green pill into Jiang Yan's hand.

Seeing this pill, Jiang Yan's eyelid twitched.

'Good grief, why did he give me a qi yuan pill?'

Sensing something was wrong, he quickly spoke up, "Thank you, Senior Brother, for the reward of a qi yuan pill!"

As soon as Jiang Yan's voice fell, the surrounding Disciples all cast their gazes over.

Even Zhu Gan, who had just left, quickly ran back.

A stunned Yan Jun clenched his fists. He had originally intended to orchestrate a 'lost pill' scene, but he never expected that Jiang Yan would actually recognize the pill and even intentionally shout out that he had bestowed a qi yuan pill, which immediately made it impossible for him to back down.

"Brother Jiang, you're amazing!" Zhu Gan gave a thumbs up in envy.

"Ahem." Yan Jun coughed lightly, putting on a stern front. "Junior Brother was helpful in watching the fire at noon, which counts as a contribution. This is well-deserved."

Hearing this, Jiang Yan bowed in gratitude again. "Thank you, Senior Brother, for bestowing the qi yuan pill upon me."

He emphasized the words 'qi yuan pill' particularly heavily.

To Yan Jun's ears, however, it sounded incredibly grating.

It was as if Jiang Yan were holding a copper gong and banging it incessantly next to his ear.

Watching the other's departing back, Yan Jun gritted his teeth but still gave a meaningful look to a Disciple beside him.

As the afternoon Alchemy session ended, some Outer Sect Disciples left the Pill Refining Room.

While Jiang Yan and Zhu Gan were chatting about the pills, an Outer Sect Disciple walked up to Jiang Yan.

"Junior Brother, my name is Geng Ye. Do you wish to trade that qi yuan pill?"

Looking at Geng Ye, Jiang Yan frowned slightly but still asked respectfully, "I wonder what Senior Brother Geng would like to trade for it?"

"Five small spirit pills." As Geng Ye spoke, he took out five white pills.

Hearing that five small spirit pills were being offered for one qi yuan pill, Zhu Gan hurriedly nudged Jiang Yan, signaling that this trade was unfair.

Jiang Yan naturally understood the value of a qi yuan pill, but some things weren't about whether they were fair or not. This was clearly a scheme targeted at him, so even if he took a loss, he had to accept it!

"Alright, then this qi yuan pill belongs to you, Senior Brother." Jiang Yan took out the green qi yuan pill and handed it to Geng Ye.

"Junior Brother is straightforward. If you need anything in the future, you can look for me." Geng Ye exchanged the pills with Jiang Yan.

As for the latter half of the sentence, Jiang Yan didn't believe a single word of it.

Watching Geng Ye leave, Zhu Gan hurriedly asked, "I nudged you just now, why did you still trade? Isn't this a losing deal?"

"Is it really a loss?" Jiang Yan revealed a meaningful smile. "That qi yuan pill didn't belong to me in the first place. Now that it's been changed into five small spirit pills, do you think I lost or gained?"

Zhu Gan was no fool; he could hear the subtext in Jiang Yan's words and was instantly startled.

"Are you saying that when the pills were being distributed..."

Jiang Yan waved his hand to interrupt, "Alright, it's getting late. We should head back to the Zayou Place."

Zhu Gan nodded hurriedly and followed Jiang Yan with quick steps.

No one knew what the two talked about on the way, but from that moment on, Zhu Gan truly admired Jiang Yan.

Back at the Zayou Place, Jiang Yan didn't go directly to his room to rest but instead went to Steward Pang's room.

"What is the meaning of this?" Steward Pang asked, looking at the three small spirit pills on the table.

"Brother Pang, let's be open and honest with each other." Jiang Yan pushed the three small spirit pills toward Steward Pang. "I know you were also acting out of necessity, but have you considered that if I enter the Outer Sect one day, would they... because you failed to handle things effectively..."

Jiang Yan didn't finish his sentence but made a throat-slitting gesture.

Upon hearing this, Steward Pang dismissively pushed the small spirit pills back, a contemptuous smile appearing on his face. "It's good for young people to have dreams, but you are just a Menial Servant, not even considered a Disciple. Furthermore..."

Before Steward Pang could finish, Jiang Yan extended his right hand and lightly swiped his fingertip across the table. A finger mark instantly appeared on the hard marble tabletop.

"I wonder if my dream is sincere enough." Jiang Yan looked at Steward Pang with a silent smile.

"Qi Refining First Layer..." Steward Pang was utterly astonished.

Jiang Yan pushed the small spirit pills toward Steward Pang once more. "I am just a Menial Servant. During my time at the Zayou Place, I have been under your care, Steward Pang. I hope you can understand!"

His words were both a temptation and a threat.

He had thought it through clearly; if he continued working in the Pill Refining Room, he would surely face more schemes in the future. Therefore, he had to take this step.

Steward Pang was somewhat hesitant now. To be honest, he didn't dare to gamble, but he also feared becoming a discarded piece in the future.

Once Jiang Yan entered the Outer Sect, they would no longer be on the same level. At that time, Li Chunsheng would definitely abandon him to win over Jiang Yan; such was human nature.

"What do you want me to do?" Steward Pang asked as he pocketed the small spirit pills.

"Find a reason to send me back to Spirit Beast Peak," Jiang Yan said truthfully.

"It's that simple?" Steward Pang was puzzled. "Don't you have any other requests?"

Jiang Yan stood up and looked Steward Pang over carefully. "If you can enter the Outer Sect, why would you ever need to bow your head to others?"

Steward Pang was stunned where he stood, not even realizing when Jiang Yan had left.

Looking at the night sky outside the door, Steward Pang gave a self-deprecating laugh. "As if I don't want to enter the Outer Sect..."

In the dead of night.

Jiang Yan sat cross-legged on his bed. Tonight, he intended to step into Qi Refining Level Three.

Since returning from the Scripture Pavilion, he had tried to step into Qi Refining Level Two. The results proved that aside from a feeling of total refreshment, there were no adverse reactions at all.

'First, put three hundred years of life span into the Cultivation Technique, then another hundred years of life span into the Realm.'

As his consciousness flowed, the status panel changed instantly. Immediately afterward, the Qi currents swirling around him vanished.

*Boom!*

It felt as if something had broken open at his Dantian. Strands of Qi currents, like lively sprites, continuously widened his meridians.

"Phew."

Exhaling a mouthful of turbid breath, Jiang Yan opened his eyes in excitement.

【Host: Jiang Yan】

【Talent: Heaven Rewards the Diligent, Life Span Plunder】

【Rank: 9】

【Experience: 14.23%】

【life span: 20/889 years】

【life span: 2723 years (Can be used to strengthen the proficiency of Cultivation Techniques, Spells, and Martial Skills)】

【Essence: 14.3】

【Spirit: 6】

【Realm: Qi Refining Level Three (Can freely summon the Spiritual Qi within fifty meters of his body)】

【Dao: 0】

【Cultivation Technique: Qi Refining Technique Introductory Chapter (scratching the surface)】

【Spell: Spring Breeze Turns to Rain Beginner (Uninitiated), Breath Concealment Technique (mastery)】

【Martial Skill: Swallow Flow Sword Technique (mastery)】

... 'It seems resistance is only met during the first time.'

At this moment, he felt very refreshed. That feeling of transcending the mundane was becoming more and more apparent.

Just as he was sensing the flow of Spiritual Qi around him, a short figure suddenly appeared not far away.

As the short figure approached, the door was lightly knocked.

"Are you asleep?" Steward Pang's voice sounded from outside the door.

Jiang Yan quickly got up and opened the door. "Is something the matter, Brother Pang?"

Steward Pang said, "I just went to Spirit Beast Peak and explained things to Steward Qian and Deacon Liu. You won't have to go to the Pill Refining Room tomorrow. As for what comes after, I will go and speak of it personally."

"Thank you, Steward Pang." Jiang Yan bowed in gratitude and then took out the last two small spirit pills. "I hope you can step into the Qi Refining Realm soon, Steward."

"You're making me feel quite embarrassed." Steward Pang smiled as he took the pills.

As a modern person, he understood the principle that gifts are never unwelcome.

Moreover, he had inquired and found that although Steward Pang was a Menial Servant steward, his private savings weren't much; in a year, he only had enough to exchange for three or four Spirit Stones. As for rare items like small spirit pills, he might not even get to eat one in a year.

Take Zhu Gan for example; working as a laborer in the Pill Refining Room, he only received two small spirit pills a year.

If Yan Jun hadn't plotted against Jiang Yan today, he probably would have had to wait until the second half of the year to receive a single small spirit pill.

One could see just how precious cultivation resources were.

As for Li Chunsheng's approach of wanting the horse to run without letting it eat grass, it was completely pushing Steward Pang to his side.

Watching Steward Pang leave, Jiang Yan looked at the night sky with a smile.

'Holy crap, why is there no moon tonight?'