95: Chapter 95 Trusted Disciple

Elder Qian Yunchang had just mentioned "four groups found toxic herbs." After the Spirit Stones were distributed, everyone turned their gaze to Xia Shaoxin.

How much should the reward be for the fifth toxic herb?

Elder Qian Yunchang didn't keep everyone waiting long. He looked directly at Xia Shaoxin with gentle eyes and said, "You were brave, fearless, clever, and quick-witted when searching for the sword poison fruit. You should be rewarded with three hundred Spirit Stones."

"Wow—"

A soft wave of exclamations rose from the crowd below.

Deacon Qin Wen brought over the three hundred Spirit Stones, stacking them into a small mountain in front of him. Xia Shaoxin thanked Elder Qian and swept them into his Storage Pouch.

"In addition, Senior Brother Shao Junwei used a Magical Artifact at the critical moment to calm everyone's minds. He deserves a reward of fifty Spirit Stones."

Senior Brother Shao Junwei was overjoyed; that little Magical Artifact wouldn't even sell for ten Spirit Stones.

Wang Xinhao worked hard tolling the bell and protected everyone, so he is rewarded with two hundred Spirit Stones.

As for Liu Tingting, her role was truly unique. Elder Qian rewarded her with five hundred Spirit Stones, and no one had any objections.

With the Elder being so clear and fair with rewards and punishments, the lingering resentment in everyone's hearts completely vanished.

Once the rewards were finished, Elder Qian Yunchang asked Xia Shaoxin, "I heard the Sect assigned you a chore. Do you like doing it? If you don't, you don't have to go."

This was an Elder, using his esteemed status, personally excusing Xia Shaoxin from his chores.

Xia Shaoxin was stunned.

He was currently planning to acquire all the Pill Formulas from the Danfang Pavilion. With the Pill Formula Token, he could easily browse the Pill Formulas and choose the order in which to learn them.

Of course, he could still learn them without holding this position, but it would require paying with one hand and receiving the Pill Formula with the other, which wouldn't be as convenient.

"For now, this Disciple would like to continue staying at the Danfang Pavilion. I'll reconsider it after some time."

Liu Tingting asked in surprise, "Do you really enjoy running back and forth?"

Elder Qian Yunchang said, "That is fine too. We can discuss this after I finish refining the Medicinal Pills and complete my most important task."

Such trivial matters were originally not worth an Elder's personal attention.

Subsequently, Elder Qian Yunchang's expression turned exceptionally grave. "I am about to perform Alchemy, and you all must act as my Protectors."

Knowing the gravity of the matter, everyone responded in unison, "We will certainly not fail your trust."

Elder Qian Yunchang leaped up from his prayer mat. "Let's go!"

Arriving in front of the Elder's residence, Wang Xinhao stopped everyone. "The Elder's Alchemy is of utmost importance. It could take as short as three days or as long as five or six. To prevent any mishaps, we must be extremely conscientious and not slacken for even a moment."

Elder Qian Yunchang pointed at Liu Tingting, Deacon Qin Wen, and Xia Shaoxin, gesturing for them to follow him inside. The others were left to Wang Xinhao to arrange and assign tasks.

Xia Shaoxin followed them to Elder Qian's courtyard.

Stepping inside, he saw that it was only slightly larger than his own courtyard, with extremely simple decor, looking no different from that of a common Inner Sect Disciple.

It was clear that Elder Qian Yunchang was entirely focused on his Cultivation, completely indifferent to external possessions.

"The three of you will guard my courtyard. I am about to perform Alchemy, and no one is to disturb me," Elder Qian Yunchang instructed.

"Yes!" Liu Tingting and Deacon Qin Wen replied readily.

Xia Shaoxin was startled. Was he treating him as a trusted Disciple?

"This Disciple is also an Alchemist. May I ask what I can do?"

Elder Qian Yunchang smiled slightly. "I still have some medicinal herbs that need processing. You can help me with that."

According to the arrangement, Deacon Qin Wen was responsible for keeping watch, while Liu Tingting took charge of the courtyard's Protective Array.

The other Disciples guarded the perimeter, making the security measures absolutely airtight.

In the west wing, there was an Alchemy Room that was much larger than Xia Shaoxin's Pill Refining Room.

Several shelves stood against the wall, fully stocked with various medicinal herbs.

Xia Shaoxin looked them over one by one. In his mind, the Taisui Evil Prescription surfaced involuntarily, matching them one by one.

None of these herbs were simple. Elder Qian had prepared them long ago rather than on a whim; going to the Zhuyun Courtyard's Forbidden Ground had been absolutely necessary.

Two of the herbs needed to be crushed to extract their juice, and three needed to be ground into powder.

Since these tasks were still undone, they were handed over to Xia Shaoxin.

Elder Qian Yunchang sat in meditation in a corner of the Alchemy Room to conserve his energy.

There was no prayer mat in the room, meaning he usually wouldn't meditate here. This also showed that Elder Qian Yunchang was highly suspicious; even though he trusted Xia Shaoxin, he was unwilling to rest in the adjacent room.

Xia Shaoxin obediently processed the medicinal herbs.

He treated it as practice, since he might also refine the taisui evil pill in the future.

There were a few herbs he hadn't sacrificed yet, and his heart felt a bit itchy, wishing he could sacrifice them right now.

Of course, he was only feeling a bit tempted; he wasn't crazy yet.

The Alchemy Room was extremely quiet, with only the sound of the pestle grinding.

After a while, Elder Qian Yunchang suddenly asked, "I heard you've learned many useless Pill Formulas?"

"Yes."

Xia Shaoxin expected Elder Qian to scoff, but to his surprise, the Elder only sighed. "There are no useless Pill Formulas in this world. It is simply that you were born at the wrong time and in the wrong place."

Xia Shaoxin's heart stirred, and he asked, "Elder, I heard there are Highland countries far away where one can Cultivate to the Golden Core stage. Why don't you go there?"

Elder Qian Yunchang sighed, "The Highland countries are extremely distant, separated by a toxic miasma mountain range. Only Mortals can pass through, whereas Cultivators cannot enter or leave at will."

"Is it because Cultivators will be corroded by the toxic miasma?"

"Yes. If you want to Cultivate in the Highlands, it is best for your parents to go to the Highlands first and then give birth to you. Now that you are already in the Qi Refining stage, even if your cultivation won't be ruined by crossing that toxic miasma mountain range, it will be very difficult to improve further."

Hearing this, Xia Shaoxin felt a heavy weight in his chest.

Isn't this just a matter of reincarnation luck?

Suddenly, a question occurred to him. "Since Mortals can enter and leave, why not organize Mortals to bring the Highlands' Medicinal Pills over here to sell?"

Elder Qian Yunchang said, "People do engage in this trade. Indeed, the very purpose of the Mortal Court's existence is for this. Otherwise, how could Spirit Stones and silver be exchanged?"

Xia Shaoxin found it even stranger. "In that case, it shouldn't be to the point where we Cultivators of the Lowlands cannot even get a foundation establishment pill and fail to make a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, right?"

"Most of the ingredients for the foundation establishment pill come from the Highlands, and even in the Highlands, they are extremely expensive! The Highland Cultivators control the distribution of these herbs and forbid selling them to our side."

Xia Shaoxin found it hard to understand. "There's no benefit for them in suppressing us Lowlands Cultivators. Since the Cultivators of both sides do not interact, what does it matter if we have a few more people in the Foundation Establishment stage?"

Elder Qian Yunchang's expression was as pained as if he were constipated. "The Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth is limited. If we have more people reaching Foundation Establishment, we will compete with them for Spiritual Qi. Although it might not seem like much, since suppressing us is an easy task for them, why wouldn't they do it?"

Xia Shaoxin couldn't help but say, "Then our bitter Cultivation while trapped here is nothing more than putting on a grand show in a snail shell—just minor squabbling."

"Indeed, but what can we do about it?"

Both of them fell into a daze, deeply feeling the injustice of the world.

Elder Qian Yunchang snapped out of it and said, "Hurry up and work—now you understand how crucial it is for me to make a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, right?"

Xia Shaoxin raised the pestle and brought it down heavily.

Suddenly, another question occurred to him. "Is there really no way at all for Lowlands Cultivators to go to the Highlands?"

"Of course there is a way. There is a Medicinal Pill that, once consumed, can resist that toxic miasma mountain range... But the ingredients are extremely expensive. With that kind of money, one might as well just refine a foundation establishment pill!" Elder Qian Yunchang said bitterly.

The Elder had always believed his talent was extremely high, yet he was trapped at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining.

Everything was constrained by resources.