Chapter Sixteen: The Agony of Happiness

  Ling Xiao is also quite worried.

  Refining the elixir was a worrisome task, as anyone who refined it could only be extremely cautious, fearing that even the slightest mistake would lead to failure and loss. However, for Ling Xiao, it wasn't about worrying that there wouldn't be enough elixirs produced, but rather the opposite - too many were being produced...

  Seventeen materials, refined into 8 low-grade pills, 6 mid-grade pills, and 3 high-grade pills...

  The result of this alchemy, if taken out, would surely scare everyone's teeth off - of course, he didn't dare to take them all out either.

  How many grains should be taken out?

  Ling Xiao was secretly calculating in his heart. He couldn't afford to lose money, but he also couldn't make too much; especially the three top-grade Pei Yuan Dan, don't even think about it, they would definitely be hidden away. He didn't want to show off like this.

  After weighing the pros and cons for a while, I decided to take out four low-grade pills. One medium-grade pill, well, this should be decent enough. With seventeen portions, five of them succeeded, which also fits my identity as a novice alchemist. After all, it would be too embarrassing if they were too bad. As for myself and Fengyi, each of us can get 150 contribution points, which we can use to exchange for materials next time we refine pills.

  Of course, privately, some of Fengyi's dan medicine can be divided again.

  The plan was set, and all other elixirs were hidden away. Only four inferior Pilgrim's Elixir, one medium-grade Pilgrim's Elixir were taken out of the sleeve to end the closed-door meditation.

  After leaving the customs, Ling Xiao handed over four low-grade and one mid-grade Pei Yuan Dan to the sect, exchanging them for 300 contribution points. He and Feng Yi each received 150 contribution points.

  According to the sect's rules, this was originally not allowed. After all, it was considered a breach of discipline. However, since Duan Fengyi had completed 150 points of sect contribution, it was somewhat excusable. The success rate of alchemy was low, so borrowing some contribution points and materials in advance was normal, and they would naturally be returned afterwards. Therefore, private transactions became frequent, and the sect gradually turned a blind eye to this practice.

  At this time, Ling Xiao's face was saved by the master of the inner door, who naturally wouldn't make things difficult for him. He gave 150 contribution points to both him and Fengyi.

  The result of Ling Xiao's alchemy also spread quickly through various channels; the few pellets of Pei Yuan Dan he handed over were taken away by Huang Jian and given to Fuling Elder.

  According to Ling Xiao's calculations, his alchemy achievements were not excellent and should not have attracted anyone's attention. However, he did not expect that this alchemy would cause such a huge stir, far beyond his expectations!

  Of course, at this moment Ling Xiao was still unaware of it.

  After coming out, he found that Fengyi had been waiting for him outside in the mountain wind all day because of worry.

  Ling Xiao's heart ached and was moved, as if he had returned to his childhood. His parents had passed away early, and at that time, he struggled to survive on his own. From a very young age, he was forced to go deep into the mountains to find herbs, mountain fruits, firewood; hunt for foxes, rabbits, hares... He was even forced to fight against several wild wolves!

  At a young age, I was forced to do everything and dare to do anything.

  At that time, Fengyi, who had known him since childhood, was always wrapped in a thick robe, waiting anxiously at the village entrance. The snow-white collar made her small face look somewhat pale...

  It's been a while since I've had to worry about food and drink every day at the Qiyun Sect, and it's already much better than those days. But thinking back, there's still some heartache, and in that heartache, there's always a hint of warmth.

  He reached out and pulled Fengyi back, laughing: "What's wrong, are you still afraid I'll waste your contribution points?"

  Feng Yi pouted, "It's not like that. I'm...I'm worried about you..."

  Ling Xiao smiled at her, "Don't worry, I'm confident, that's why I'll go to refine the elixir! I won't take risks."

  "Uh-huh!" Fengyi nodded heavily, a happy smile spreading across her face. She then looked down, slightly embarrassed, her eyes glancing at the hands that were holding each other's. It felt like when she was very young... a very familiar feeling, as if nothing needed to be worried about anymore. She also lifted her head, smiling lightly with pursed lips, being led by Ling Xiao as they walked.

  "I just saw Huang Jian Shixiong and he even greeted me!"

  "Oh." Ling Xiao didn't think much of it either.

  Also saw Qi Ming, humph, his mouth was almost curled up to the sky! Just looking at him is annoying.

  "Hmm—"

  Neither of them was very good at talking, and they chatted intermittently as they walked back to their residence together. Ling Xiao didn't rush back to his own room, but instead made an excuse to go to Feng Yi's place.

  Fengyi's bamboo house was right next to his, with a similar simple and cold interior. However, being a girl's home, it had many things that showed a youthful feminine touch: on the bamboo window hung a string of wind chimes she had made herself, which rang out softly in the breeze; on the grass mat inside, she had woven two small bird-like toys from grass, looking like mandarin ducks flying together, quite delightful...

  She closed the door and window, then sat down casually on the grass mat. She took out three red pills from her bosom and handed them to Feng Yi, "Here, take them."

  Feng Yi was stunned, "This is——"

  Ling Xiao smiled faintly and said, "I've kept a few grains of the refined elixir, you can take them."

  Fengyi's small mouth was agape in shock, staring at Ling Xiao incredulously. There were actually a few grains left? So that meant, out of the seventeen sets of materials, he had successfully refined eight of them?

  Subconsciously took the elixir from Ling Xiao's hand, and upon closer inspection, he was even more shocked, suddenly standing up, "Top... top grade!"

  Only one of them was seen, with a round and smooth body, the fragrance and color were significantly better than the other two. It was indeed the top-grade Pei Yuan Dan that had been seen only once at the Sect's Grand Lecture!

  "I don't want to show off too much..." Ling Xiao explained, then said: "The few pellets of Dan medicine we handed over should be enough for us to exchange for Pei Yuan Dan next month. You can keep these Dan medicines and take them yourself. Try to break through to the third layer of Qi training as soon as possible."

  He gave Fengyi a top-grade, a mid-grade and a low-grade pill. He also wanted to let Fengyi rely on the power of the elixir to strive for another breakthrough.

  "No, no, so much, I don't want it, I won't be able to use so much—" Fengyi subconsciously pushed outward.

  Ling Xiao feigned annoyance, "You've got it! Otherwise, how can I still have the face to borrow materials from you in the future? Don't you want to support my alchemy anymore?"

  "No, of course not!" Fengyi jumped in fright and hastily clarified.

  Ling Xiao had already taken the opportunity to stuff all three elixirs into her hand, and smiled: "That's right, so now we should set the rules, divide the refined elixir equally five-five."

  Feng Yi looked at Ling Xiao and hesitated: "Th-then how did you buy the flying claw?"

  She also knew that a low-grade flying claw would cost at least 200 to 300 contribution points. Ling Xiao had given these elixirs to himself, what else could he have left?

  Ling Xiao just smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have a plan. If all else fails, we can always go refine another elixir."

  Feng Yi then put it away and said with some delight: "Ling Xiao is so formidable!"

  She didn't quite understand why Ling Xiao, with such a talent for alchemy, was unwilling to reveal it. After all, Fuling Elder seemed to have placed great importance on him from the start. If he could show off his alchemical prowess once more, wouldn't it be highly likely that he would make an exception and take him in as an inner disciple?

  That's insider information...

  To cultivate the six layers of Qi Refining and accumulate 30,000 contribution points is the only way to enter the inner sect!

  However, although she didn't quite understand, since Ling Xiao didn't want to show off, she would of course help him keep this secret. Moreover, deep down, she was also a little happy - if Ling Xiao really entered the inner circle, he would naturally move out from here, right? At that time, it wouldn't be easy for her to see him again either.

  It's still good this way, it's just her little selfishness.

  Ling Xiao was also very relieved in his heart, the two of them had known each other since childhood, and the trust between them was far greater than that of others. When he refined another top-grade Pei Yuan Dan, Feng Yi didn't have any suspicions at all, only thinking that Ling Xiao's talent for refining pills was exceptional, and she was just happy for him.

  Hmmm, of course, being seen as a genius at alchemy feels pretty good...

  However, Ling Xiao knew his own strengths and weaknesses. The fact that he was a genius had nothing to do with him. This time, the reason why alchemy took a whole day's work was because he could only succeed once every four or five times... If not for the help of the strange flame in his body, he might have been able to refine only four or five grains at most.

  After giving Fengyi 3 pellets, he still had 3 inferior, 4 medium and 2 superior quality Peiyuan Dan left in his hand.

  These elixirs naturally cannot be sold in the sect, fortunately he had planned ahead. Dozens of miles east of Qiyun Peak, there is a transaction market where cultivators can sell or buy the necessary celestial artifacts.

  There, they sell elixirs and buy talismans, although not as cheaply as within the sect. However, there are more people and a greater variety of individuals, so as long as one is careful to conceal their identity, they can secretly exchange the elixirs in their hands for the talismans they need, making it his first choice of place to do business.

  However, Ling Xiao was cautious and did not immediately go. Instead, he returned to his own room and began to meditate in seclusion.

  In the following days, Ling Xiao did not have a protective talisman, and he simply did not leave the sect. Every day, he either wandered around the sect to gather various news or stayed in his own room, diligently cultivating without taking a single step out.

  Although Fengyi had the elixir given by him, she still followed Ma Ruzi and her brother to go out and hunt down demonic beasts together.

  Ling Xiao understood that this was also Fengyi's persistence, the path of cultivation was difficult and could only rely on oneself. Others might be able to help for a while, but could they help for a lifetime? So he didn't try to stop her, just reminded her to be careful.

  The cultivation of both of them is advancing by leaps and bounds.

  Feng Yi had taken the middle and lower grade Pei Yuan Dan, but was reluctant to take the remaining high-grade Pei Yuan Dan. Although it was still early for a breakthrough, there was great improvement.

  As for Ling Xiao, with the flame by his side, he no longer needs to worry about contributing to the sect or worrying about insufficient elixirs; and with these few days of almost full-day cultivation, his cultivation progress is even faster.

  It's just that after barely breaking through to the second layer of Qi training, the amount of true energy required to accumulate from the second layer to the third layer is even more. So wanting to break through is still a very distant thing.

  The days go by one after another.