194: Chapter 192 Late Stage of Golden Core

The sunlight was pleasant, and people bustled to and fro on the street.

He didn't walk fast, but his steps were steady.

Tucked in his robe were three sets of Materials for Xuan Ying Pills, a Fourth-Rank Pill Formula, and a bag full of Spirit Stones.

These were the rewards Yun Ming deserved, as well as a gesture of the Third Prince's sincerity.

He couldn't delay any longer; he had to settle the accounts today and speak clearly. He couldn't let Yun Ming feel slighted, and above all, he had to ensure no rift formed between them.

He entered the familiar alleyway, turned the corner, and saw the gate to Yun Ming's small courtyard in the distance.

The gate was open, and figures were faintly visible in the yard.

When Zhou Qian walked into the courtyard,

Yun Ming was lying on a bamboo chair as usual, eyes closed, with a teacup by his side.

On the stone table sat a pot of tea and a small dish of melon seeds.

A faint tea fragrance drifted through the courtyard.

Zhou Qian didn't make a sound. He sat down by the stone table and waited.

He waited for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Yun Ming didn't wake up quickly like last time; instead, he kept his eyes closed, remaining motionless.

Zhou Qian wasn't in a hurry either, sitting there quietly.

Suddenly, he sensed something was wrong.

The Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth was flowing—not in the natural way of wind and clouds, but as if something was attracting and pulling it.

Spiritual Qi surged from all directions—from every corner of Qingyao City, from the forests and fields outside the city, and from even further away—converging toward a single point.

That point was Yun Ming's small courtyard.

The Spiritual Qi gathered in increasing amounts and density, forming an invisible vortex above Yun Ming's head.

The vortex wasn't large, but its suction was incredibly strong. Spiritual Qi from a hundred-mile radius was drawn in, and the entire Qingyao City could feel the Spiritual Qi surging this way.

Pedestrians on the street stopped in their tracks and looked up at the sky, wondering what was happening.

Cultivators in the Market paused their business and extended their Divine Sense to search for the source of the Spiritual Qi.

In the City Lord's Manor, Feng Boyong was reviewing official documents. Sensing the unusual movement of Spiritual Qi, he walked to the window and looked toward the south of the city.

He frowned slightly but did not move.

With his experience, he could naturally tell someone was having a Breakthrough, but such a grand commotion was still rare.

The vortex lasted only a short time, just a few breaths.

Yet the massive amount of gathered Spiritual Qi was significant; the density of Spiritual Qi in the small courtyard far exceeded that of the City Lord's Manor.

Then, the Spiritual Qi began to descend, pouring into Yun Ming's body from the center of the vortex.

His body was like a parched sponge, greedily absorbing the Spiritual Qi.

The Spiritual Qi entered his body, flowed into his Dantian, and was absorbed by five Golden Cores.

The Golden Cores rotated faster and faster, their light growing increasingly bright.

A five-colored radiance shone through him, dyeing his robes in vibrant hues.

Then, with him as the center, a current of air suddenly erupted.

The current wasn't violent but was very pure, like a breath welling up from deep within his body, sweeping the fallen leaves and dust in the courtyard clean.

The bamboo chair swayed, and the teacup on the stone table vibrated slightly, spilling a few drops of tea.

Yun Ming slowly opened his eyes.

Late Golden Core Stage.

There was no Bottleneck, no obstacle; it was natural and as inevitable as water flowing into a channel.

Zhou Qian sat there, watching Yun Ming.

He had seen many people reach the Late Golden Core Stage—some went into seclusion for months, some cultivated bitterly for years, some took countless Medicinal Pills, and some used external forces to force a Breakthrough.

He had never seen anyone like Yun Ming, who just lay on a bamboo chair, drank tea, and closed his eyes as if sleeping, and then simply achieved a Breakthrough.

The Spiritual Qi within a hundred-mile radius had been drained, and the entire Qingyao City was watching, yet he remained calm and indifferent, as if nothing had happened.

Yun Ming adjusted to his new Realm, took a sip of tea, and then looked at Zhou Qian, narrowing his eyes.

"Mr. Zhou, is there something? You're not here to get something for free again, are you?"

Zhou Qian was stunned for a moment, then an embarrassed smile appeared on his face.

He quickly stood up and cupped his hands toward Yun Ming, bowing his waist much lower than usual.

"Mr. Yun, you misunderstand. Last time, I left in too much of a hurry and forgot to settle the payment. The Third Prince is under great pressure, dealing with the Second Prince on one hand and staying wary of the Imperial Court on the other. I was in a rush to report back and was momentarily negligent. I am truly sorry."

As he spoke, he took several Storage Pouches from his sleeve and placed them respectfully on the stone table.

"This is the payment for the zifu true essence pill and Xuan Ying Pills, rewards from His Highness the Third Prince, and a bit of personal compensation from me as a small apology. Please check them, Mr. Yun."

Yun Ming didn't check them.

He picked up the Storage Pouches and casually tossed them into the map of mountains and rivers.

Then he took another sip of tea, set the cup down, and looked at Zhou Qian, his tone flat but serious.

"Mr. Zhou, ours is a transactional relationship. Payment upon delivery is only natural. I don't care about the Third Prince's situation. Whether the Imperial Court attacks or the Second Prince attacks, that's your business. If there's a next time, the deal is off."

Zhou Qian sighed inwardly.

This person was not easy to deal with.

If anyone else had dared to speak of the Third Prince this way, he would have taken offense long ago.

But the person before him was different.

He was a Fourth-Rank Alchemist, the talent the Third Prince needed most right now.

Not to mention just being impolite; even if he pointed at the Third Prince's nose and cursed, the Third Prince wouldn't do anything to him.

Zhou Qian maintained a smile, but in his heart, he had already categorized Yun Ming as the "arrogant due to talent" type.

He had seen many such people—defiant in speech, yet more submissive than anyone when they truly met a powerful figure.

"Mr. Yun is right."

Zhou Qian nodded, neither arguing nor apologizing further.

He knew that continuing would only make Yun Ming more impatient, so it was better to get straight to business.

He took a Jade Slip from his sleeve and placed it on the stone table.

"This is the Fourth-Rank Pill Formula bestowed upon Mr. Yun by the Third Highness, the Heavenly Dew Spirit Nourishing Pill."

Yun Ming picked up the Jade Slip and extended his Divine Sense into it.

Information from the Pill Formula flooded into his Sea of Consciousness—Heavenly Dew Spirit Nourishing Pill, Fourth-Rank Low Grade. The main ingredients were Heavenly Spirit Fruit and Jade Marrow Liquid, supplemented by over ten auxiliary herbs.

Its effect was to rapidly restore Spiritual Qi.

Xuan Ying Pills were used for Breakthroughs; a person might only need one or two in their entire life.

The Heavenly Dew Spirit Nourishing Pill was a life-saving pill on the battlefield; taking one when Spiritual power was exhausted could quickly restore combat strength.

Such a Spirit Pill was naturally prepared for important generals.

"The Third Highness hopes Mr. Yun can try this Pill Formula," Zhou Qian said. "Similarly, with ten sets of Materials, succeeding with two batches would suffice. The success rate for Fourth-Rank Pills cannot be compared to third-rank ones; two out of ten is already considered very good."

Yun Ming put away the Jade Slip and nodded.

"I'll try."

Zhou Qian took out three more Storage Pouches and placed them on the table.

"These are the last three sets of Xuan Ying Pill Materials from the City Lord's Manor's stock. The Third Highness hopes that all future Xuan Ying Pills will be refined by Mr. Yun. The Materials and rewards will remain the same as before."

Yun Ming also put away those three Storage Pouches, took a sip of tea, and looked at Zhou Qian.

"As long as the money is right, everything is negotiable."

Zhou Qian was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

He laughed naturally—not a polite laugh, but because he genuinely found it amusing.

"Rest assured, Mr. Yun, the money will not be lacking." He stood up and cupped his hands. "Then I shall not disturb Mr. Yun any longer. Farewell."

Yun Ming nodded and did not stand up to see him out.

He leaned back in the bamboo chair and picked up his teacup again.

Zhou Qian turned and walked out of the courtyard gate, his footsteps gradually fading into the distance.

The courtyard fell silent, leaving only the rustle of wind through the leaves and the sound of tea sloshing in the cup.

Yun Ming finished the tea in his cup, poured another, leaned against the back of the chair, and closed his eyes, feeling the new power within his body.

Late Golden Core Stage.

After a moment's thought, Yun Ming stood up and put two locks on the gate.