45: Chapter 45 The Controversy Over the Elixir Formula and the First Signs of a Hidden Hand

The next morning, a dark "whisper" began to circulate quietly through the busiest taverns and teahouses in Liuyun Market.

"Have you heard? That 'Lin Family Pill and Talisman Pavilion' on the South Street—don't be fooled by the potency of their pills; their methods are incredibly sinister!"

"What do you mean?"

"My third uncle's neighbor's cousin is a Loose Cultivator who gathers herbs. He said that a while back, deep in the Black Wind Ridge, he saw some shifty characters using living beasts for Alchemy. The technique was terrifyingly dark! Someone recognized one of the figures as looking a bit like someone close to the shopkeeper of the Lin Family Pill and Talisman Pavilion!"

The rumor was fabricated with vivid detail, yet it deliberately blurred the key human evidence and physical proof, leaving behind only horrifying images that sparked wild speculation.

Soon, the rumor evolved into a new version.

"What living beasts? I heard they use the refined blood of Cultivators as a medicinal catalyst! That's why the medicinal power of those pills is so overbearing—the effects are amazing in the short term, but if you take them for a long time, it will damage your Foundation and shorten your Lifespan!"

This claim precisely struck the most sensitive nerve of the low-level Loose Cultivators.

Their path to Cultivate was already difficult, and they valued every bit of cultivation and every inch of Lifespan more than their own lives.

If a Medicinal Pill traded the future for immediate strength, it was the most vicious trap.

For a time, the entrance to the Lin Family Pill and Talisman Pavilion became even more desolate.

Occasionally, some Loose Cultivators who had been interested before would pass by, only to cast a glance mixed with fear and contempt from afar, then walk away quickly as if avoiding a plague.

In the back courtyard of the shop, Qin Ruowei listened to the latest rumors brought back by Old Qian from the outside, and her usually cool face was covered in a layer of frost.

"Li Mao... quite the scheme." She whispered to herself, pressing her fingertips hard against her lips until a clear white mark appeared.

She did not waste time arguing or explaining.

In the world of cultivation, explanations without the support of strength would only become a laughingstock.

She took a deep breath, took out a transmission Jade Slip from her Storage Pouch, briefly imprinted the changes in the market and her countermeasure into it, and then crushed it.

After finishing all this, she walked to the front hall, took out a brand-new piece of beast-skin paper, ground the ink herself, and wrote with bold, sweeping strokes.

Soon, a notice was posted at the entrance of the shop. The black ink stood out prominently against the pale yellow beast-skin paper, the words striking and powerful:

"The Medicinal Pills sold by the Lin Family Pill and Talisman Pavilion are all based on ancient methods, follow the proper path, and are completely clean. However, rumors are fearsome. To prove our innocence and put minds at ease, at noon three days from now, this shop will open the Pill Furnace in the back courtyard and publicly refine a batch of guyuan pill. At that time, we welcome all Fellow Daoists in the market to come and supervise. After the pills are formed, three will be taken and gifted to the three Fellow Daoists present with the highest cultivation, the sharpest eyes, and the greatest reputation to test the medicine on the spot! The truth will be known at a single test!"

Once this notice was posted, the entire Liuyun Market exploded.

Public Alchemy?

This was much more interesting than simple price cuts and promotions!

The art of Alchemy is mysterious and profound, rarely seen by ordinary Cultivators.

Moreover, this was a public performance concerning reputation and the future of the entire shop.

"The owner of this Lin Family shop is either truly fearless or a complete madman!"

"Let's go, let's see in three days! It's a free show, might as well watch it!"

For a time, various emotions—anticipation, skepticism, and the desire to watch the chaos—focused everyone's eyes on this little-known Pill and Talisman Pavilion.

Three days later, at noon.

The back courtyard of the Lin Family Pill and Talisman Pavilion was packed with people, and even daring Loose Cultivators were sitting on the walls.

Qin Ruowei, dressed in a sharp cyan martial outfit with her long hair tied up high, stood in the center of the courtyard with a solemn expression.

In front of her, a half-person-high bronze Pill Furnace stood quietly. The body of the furnace was primitive, carved with some simple fire-gathering runes.

On a long table beside it, more than twenty kinds of medicinal herbs needed to refine the guyuan pill, such as Qingling Grass Core, Condensing Dew Flower, and hundred-year-old stalactites, were neatly arranged.

Every herb had been carefully processed, full of Spiritual Qi and of excellent quality, causing some knowledgeable Cultivators in the crowd to nod secretly.

Li Mao had also sent people, specifically the two henchmen best at picking faults and stirring up trouble. At this moment, they were squeezing to the front of the crowd, ready to cause trouble at the first opportunity.

Qin Ruowei ignored the noisy discussions around her.

She slowly closed her eyes, her Divine Sense sinking into a warm Jade Slip that she had been holding in her palm.

Inside the Jade Slip was Su Qingyao's elegant handwriting, clearly marking every step of refining the guyuan pill, the order of adding every herb, and the change in heat for every breath, all described in the most precise language.

Even possible unexpected situations and corresponding solutions were detailed in a contingency plan.

This was the result of two days and two nights of Su Qingyao's painstaking effort, combining her own insights into Alchemy from her Earthly Spiritual Root, customized for Qin Ruowei as a "foolproof" operation manual.

Qin Ruowei took a deep breath, and when she opened her eyes again, her gaze was clear.

With a wave of her fair hand, a fire talisman was slapped into the bottom of the Pill Furnace.

With a boom, a ball of orange-red flame roared to life.

Her Alchemy technique was indeed unfamiliar, even a bit clumsy, far from the smooth and flowing movements of a true Alchemist.

But she did every step extremely steadily and slowly, as if she were showing the textbook process to everyone.

Purifying the juice of the Qingling Grass Core, crushing the petals of the Condensing Dew Flower, controlling the temperature of the Earth Fire to roast the stalactites... every action strictly followed the "ancient method and proper path" marked in the Jade Slip, clearly displayed before everyone's eyes.

There was not the slightest sign of anything sinister, nor any shortcuts or tricks.

That openness and composure caused the mockery on the faces of those who had originally intended to watch a joke to gradually fade away.

The two henchmen sent by Li Mao tried to find fault several times, but found that every step of the opponent was upright and impeccable, and they could only turn red in the face, stifled.

An hour later, when the last auxiliary medicine was put into the Pill Furnace, Qin Ruowei pinched the seal with both hands, slapped the furnace body fiercely, and shouted in a low voice: "Condense!"

Hum—

The Pill Furnace let out a slight hum, and a pure and rich medicinal fragrance, like mist that wouldn't disperse, rose from the air vents at the top of the furnace, instantly permeating the entire courtyard.

Smelling this medicinal fragrance, all the Cultivators present were invigorated.

"Such pure medicinal fragrance! Not a trace of impurity!" An elderly Loose Cultivator couldn't help but exclaim.

Fine beads of sweat had seeped out of Qin Ruowei's forehead; she pinched the magic seal and opened the furnace lid.

At the bottom of the furnace, nine pale green, dragon-eye-sized Medicinal Pills were lying quietly, the pill bodies round and full, with Spiritual Qi contained within.

Nine pills formed—it was already High Grade!

The crowd completely boiled over.

Qin Ruowei followed her word, took three of them, and under the notarization of everyone, gifted them to an Eighth Level of Qi Refining Cultivator present with the highest cultivation, a middle-aged Loose Cultivator known in the market for his sharp eyes, and a highly respected elder.

The three took the Medicinal Pills and swallowed them on the spot without hesitation.

A moment later, expressions of surprise and joy appeared on their faces simultaneously.

"The medicinal power is gentle and pure. After entering the body, it quickly turns into pure spiritual power, without any sense of stagnation! Good pill! Absolutely a good pill!"

"I dare to swear on my Dao Heart that there is absolutely no problem with this Medicinal Pill! The efficacy is at least twenty percent stronger than the premium guyuan pill from Huichun Hall!"

With the notarization of the three, all rumors about "Evil Pills" collapsed in the face of iron-clad facts.

Just as the commotion of the public Alchemy subsided, a cold figure stepped into the Lin Family Pill and Talisman Pavilion once again.

It was the same black clothes, cold face, and chilling aura.

It was that Ninth Level of Qi Refining Cultivator in black.

He ignored the other customers in the shop, walked straight to the counter, and his gaze passed over Old Qian and landed on Qin Ruowei, who had just returned to the front hall.

"You are quite good." He spoke hoarsely, which counted as an evaluation of the Alchemy just now.

Then, his tone changed: "I need a batch of healing Medicinal Pills, and the effect must be stronger than your Huichun Powder. The quantity, the more the better. The price is not an issue."

His eyes were extremely aggressive, as if he wanted to pierce through Qin Ruowei and see the real person behind her.

"I hope to meet the Alchemist behind you."

Qin Ruowei felt a chill in her heart, but she remained calm on the surface. Following the explanation Lin Chen had already given her, she bowed slightly and said: "I am sorry, Senior. Our shop's Alchemist travels abroad all year round, and this Junior only sells on their behalf. Stronger healing Medicinal Pills are not unavailable, but they are difficult to refine and can only be decided after the Alchemist returns."

The black-clothed Cultivator looked at her deeply and did not ask any further questions.

He took out a heavy Storage Pouch from his bosom and threw it on the counter, the Spirit Stone colliding with a crisp sound.

"This is the deposit. Tell that Alchemist that our Tower Master has always been very interested in things with good effects." His voice was pressed extremely low, full of an irresistible meaning, "I hope your shop... knows what's good for you."

After speaking, he turned and left, leaving the room full of coldness and that surprisingly heavy Storage Pouch.

Qin Ruowei's fingertips instantly went cold.

She felt a strong sense of unease, as if being stared at by a venomous snake.

She did not touch the Storage Pouch, immediately had Old Qian close the shop, and she herself took the Storage Pouch and quickly headed to the agreed location with Lin Chen through the secret passage in the back courtyard.

In the cave, the campfire crackled.

Lin Chen took the Storage Pouch and poured all the Spirit Stones inside onto the ground.

Liu Yuan, who was beside him, just glanced at it and frowned.

He picked up one of the Spirit Stones, sensed it carefully with his fingertips, and a moment later, his expression became extremely grave.

"Owner, look." He handed the Spirit Stone to Lin Chen, "The surface of this Spirit Stone looks ordinary, but the core is contaminated with a trace of extremely faint, yet incredibly pure Evil Qi of blood."

Lin Chen took it, his Divine Sense probed in, and sure enough, he felt a subtle, heart-palpitating, cold fluctuation.

Liu Yuan said in a deep voice: "This kind of aura can never be formed by a natural mineral vein. It usually only appears in Cultivators who practice blood-path Cultivation Techniques, or in special Spirit Stone mines occupied by such forces for a long time. Combined with the 'Tower Master' mentioned by that person, as well as his Ninth Level of Qi Refining cultivation and unscrupulous style of doing things... in this region of the Eastern Territory, nine times out of ten, it is someone from the 'Blood Crow Tower'."

"Blood Crow Tower?" Lin Chen felt unfamiliar with this name.

"A notorious killer organization. It is said that its core members all practice a kind of overbearing blood-path Cultivation Technique. Their strength improves very quickly, but the damage to themselves is also huge, so they need a large amount of healing Medicinal Pills all year round to maintain it." Liu Yuan explained, "They are purchasing such a large amount of healing medicine; either their internal Cultivation Technique backlash has reached a critical point, or... there is going to be a large-scale action soon."

Lin Chen's right fingertips rubbed heavily against the stone ring on his thumb.

The cold and hard touch made him make a decision instantly.

Blood Crow Tower, this was a behemoth he definitely did not want to provoke at the moment.

The Family's Foundation was still shallow, and any disturbance could lead to a devastating disaster.

"We cannot do this business." He said decisively.

He looked at Qin Ruowei: "First, from today on, the shop will stop selling any sensitive Pill and Talisman that might be used for combat and healing. Only sell basic cultivation aids like the guyuan pill to minimize the risk."

"Second, you will return this Storage Pouch intact. Just tell that person that the Alchemist has not returned from traveling, and we cannot accept such a large order; we are unworthy of their favor."

"Third," his gaze turned to Liu Yuan, "the alert level for Luoxia Valley and Shiyuan Valley is raised to the highest level. Senior Liu, the restoration of the ancient Formation in Shiyuan Valley must speed up."

Liuyun Market, Huichun Hall.

When Li Mao learned that the Lin Family Pill and Talisman Pavilion not only dared not accept the deposit but also turned away the people from the Blood Crow Tower, he was stunned at first, and then burst into a hearty sneer.

"Idiots! Truly the number one idiots in the world!" He held his teacup, full of mockery, "Refusing the backer that came to their door, and instead offending the Blood Crow Tower. I want to see how many days their little broken shop can last!"

In his opinion, the Lin Family's move was either cowardice, scared out of their wits by the name of the Blood Crow Tower; or they really had some so-called "Alchemy Grandmaster" as a backer behind them, and were acting high and mighty.

No matter which one it was, it proved one thing: the Lin Family was not with the Blood Crow Tower.

That was enough.

An opportunity, an excellent opportunity to borrow a knife to kill, emerged in his eyes.

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes, and he immediately called his henchman and gave a few low orders.

That night, the henchman quietly contacted the black-clothed Cultivator, not only presenting a generous gift but also "sincerely" expressing that "Huichun Hall" was willing to provide all healing Medicinal Pills to the Blood Crow Tower at a price far lower than the market price, and was willing to "assist" the Blood Crow Tower in finding out the real background of that ignorant "Lin Family Pill and Talisman Pavilion."

The black-clothed Cultivator listened expressionlessly, neither agreeing nor refusing, just accepted the generous gift and left behind an ambiguous "I know."

A dark web, temporarily connected by the jealousy of business rivals and the greed of underground organizations, began to quietly close in on Lin Chen's Family in a corner that no one noticed.

Late at night, everything was silent.

Luoxia Valley, shrouded in thin mist, appeared exceptionally quiet.

Lin Chen had just finished a night of meditation and was in his Immortal Cave, feeling every tiny bit of growth in his spiritual power after Foundation Establishment.

Suddenly, his heart jumped without warning.

Immediately after, at the entrance of the Immortal Cave, a piece of induction Jade wall laid by Liu Yuan, which was connected to the early warning Formation of the entire valley, lit up with a faint yet urgent red light without warning.