“Really? That’s great!”
A look of delight and excitent appeared on Li An’s face.
“Yes. I pleaded with my master three tis before he finally agreed…”
“You’ve worked hard, Brother Luo!”
“Brother Wei, my master’s ti is very limited. Have you prepared all the materials? If so, we can begin refining soon.”
Luo Yong asked promptly.
Li An, however, hesitated. “About that… I might need to ask Master Zhang to wait a little longer—I think I’m still missing a few ingredients.”
Luo Yong said, “The rest are easy to find. The key ones are Purple Soul Grass and Fire Spirit Fruit, or any suitable substitutes. Do you have those?”
“Well… I’m not entirely sure. You know, the ingredients aren’t with —I’ll need to ask my friend. But don’t worry, I’ll check right away.”
A chill flashed through Luo Yong’s heart—this Wei Ming was truly as sly as a fox, never giving away anything solid...
“No problem, Brother Wei. I also have so good news—there’s an auction at the Treasure Pavilion in half a month. If you’re missing ingredients, you might be able to get them there.”
The information matched exactly what Manman had told him.
But Luo Yong deliberately left out one key detail—soone was actively seeking Purple Soul Grass.
After a few more pleasantries, Luo Yong took his leave.
Li An gave him two more sheets of parchnt as parting gifts.
Luo Yong still accepted them, but Li An noticed that he no longer looked as eager or excited as before.
…
After sending him off, Li An sank into deep thought.
Luo Yong was acting very strangely today.
In the past, their discussions had always revolved around alchemy. Luo Yong’s desire was clearly focused on the Second-Rank alchemy legacy.
But today, he asked very little about that and instead showed more interest in Li An’s ingredient preparations.
And when he received the parchnts, he reacted far too indifferently!
For soone who had been craving Second-Rank alchemy teachings, to suddenly lose interest… there were only two possibilities:
First, he had already acquired it, so he no longer cared.
Second, he had realized that Li An couldn’t give him what he wanted—that he had already seen through Li An’s cards.
After all, though Li An had been stringing him along, the truth was that the legacy he held was incomplete.
Li An felt it was unlikely that Luo Yong had suddenly obtained a full Second-Rank legacy elsewhere.
Which left only the second possibility.
The only explanation was—Luo Yong had shown everything Li An gave him to Zhang Deyi. And Zhang Deyi had seen through the ruse.
Li An frowned slightly.
This wasn’t sothing he hadn’t considered before.
However, based on his past-life experience, unless one was a Third-Rank Alchemist, it should be impossible to detect the flaws in the limited content he’d shared…
From what he knew, Zhang Deyi had studied under Gu Songxi. So Li An had always judged him to be just a Second-Rank Alchemist.
But it seed this man had so unknown fortuitous encounter.
No wonder Gu Hong and Gu Songxi had both fared so poorly in comparison.
Li An couldn’t help but sigh.
As the saying went—man proposes, Heaven disposes. Who would’ve thought Zhang Deyi had vision beyond that of a Second-Rank Alchemist?
But what worried him more than the legacy being seen through…
Was Luo Yong’s sudden interest in his ingredients.
Coupled with Manman’s warning—
“Luo Yong and his master are not trustworthy.”
He reached a clear conclusion.
If Zhang Deyi truly had the discernnt of a Third-Rank Alchemist, then Li An could no longer risk dealing with him.
“If my guess is right… then their target is the Purple Soul Grass in my possession.”
Deep in thought, Li An slipped out under cover of night.
Making sure no one was following him, he climbed a small mountain near his residence.
This forested peak had been his chosen hiding place for the past few years. He had long since secured a hidden stash here.
He placed a Storage Pouch into a well-concealed tree hollow.
What he kept on himself were a Soulbeast Core and an extra Thousand-Spirit Vine.
The Soulbeast Core could serve as a substitute for Purple Soul Grass in Foundation Establishnt Pills, and the Thousand-Spirit Vine was an auxiliary ingredient.
Li An knew he had already been exposed. Luo Yong would surely guess he had Foundation Establishnt ingredients. So these two were what he deliberately “revealed.”
Even if stolen, it wouldn’t compromise his plans.
…
anwhile—
In Luo Yong’s residence:
“Damn it. Giving scraps of a broken legacy and thinking you can fool …”
Luo Yong tossed the parchnts Li An had given him onto the desk, his eyes cold.
A few days earlier, he had finally gone to see his master Zhang Deyi, bringing a gift and casually ntioning the Foundation Establishnt Pill request.
Zhang Deyi had taken one glance at the gift—a top-grade First-Rank Body-Nourishing Pill—and directly asked if he had co across a Second-Rank alchemy legacy.
Caught off guard, Luo Yong had no choice but to tell the whole story.
Zhang Deyi had rely sneered and told him bluntly—the so-called legacy was incomplete. In fact, most Second-Rank legacies floating around in the world were just fragnts.
Only then did Luo Yong realize the truth.
At first, he had been furious, thinking he’d been duped. But Zhang Deyi didn’t believe Li An had done it intentionally.
Given how poor Li An’s alchemy skills were, it was likely he couldn’t even tell if the legacy was complete or not. He probably just thought it was a rare treasure and used it to manipulate Luo Yong.
Thinking it over, Luo Yong had to agree.
With Li An’s limited alchemy talent and understanding, it would’ve been a miracle for him to fool anyone.
In reality, even if they had refined the Foundation Establishnt Pills and only then realized the legacy was incomplete, there wouldn’t be much he could do—at most, demand so extra spirit stones.
“Heh… after keeping busy for years, it’s about ti you gave sothing in return.”
Luo Yong narrowed his eyes and snapped his fingers. Wang Yue entered the room.
“Prepare the carriage. We’re paying a visit to the Xu residence.”
…
The next morning—
Having passed a peaceful night, Li An felt slightly more at ease. He left his residence and headed toward Jingyang Avenue.
After confirming he wasn’t being followed, he found a secluded spot and changed his appearance—clothes, features, posture—until he looked like a weathered, middle-aged man.
Beyond changing his appearance, he also employed basic disguise techniques: a human-skin mask, raised soles, and broader shoulders.
Before long, he stepped into a pill shop—Songxi Spirit Pill Shop.
This shop was run by Gu Hong and her master Gu Songxi.
Over the past four years, Li An had visited casually many tis, even interacted with Gu Hong—but never once revealed his identity.
With the lesson from last ti etched in his mory, he exercised the utmost patience, observing from all angles.
First, the Demon Sect didn’t know of his connection to Gu Hong, so it was unlikely they’d use her to get to him.
Second, though both Gu Hong and her master were Second-Rank Alchemists, Gu Hong’s alchemy was still inconsistent, and Gu Songxi no longer refined pills. Add to that their conflict with Zhang Deyi and the resulting suppression—they clearly weren’t receiving secret support from the Demon Sect.
Third, Gu Hong herself had once been imprisoned by the Demon Sect and bore deep hatred toward them. It was impossible for her to collude with them.
So, a year or two ago, Li An had concluded that her side was safe and unaffiliated with the Demon Sect.
His only concern had been that approaching her might provoke Zhang Deyi.
But now that he could no longer work with Zhang Deyi, and since other alchemists were likely also helping White Tiger Mountain gather soul-nourishing items, turning to soone else would be just as risky.
After all, he might end up losing the Purple Soul Grass he’d fought to protect.
Gu Hong and her master were now his only option.
Originally, he had planned to give her the Soulbeast Core after his Foundation Establishnt. But circumstances forced him to act sooner.
Inside the pill shop, he browsed for a mont, then said to a young woman at the counter, “Please fetch Alchemist Gu. I have an important matter to discuss with her.”
The girl glanced at him with so confusion but still went inside.
Soon after, a mature and elegant woman strolled out—it was none other than Gu Hong.
Thanks to her Foundation Establishnt cultivation and frequent use of Beauty-Nourishing Pills, she looked as youthful and beautiful as ever, despite the passage of over a decade.
“Esteed custor, what can I help you with?”
Gu Hong asked with a puzzled look.
“I would like a Beauty-Nourishing Pill. May I ask if Alchemist Gu can refine one?”
The Beauty-Nourishing Pill was a Second-Rank pill that helped low-level cultivators maintain their youthful appearance.
Gu Hong was surprised but responded, “Of course.”
“However, a deposit of five hundred spirit stones is required.”
Li An nodded and handed her a Storage Pouch. “Please take a look.”
Gu Hong took it, scanned it briefly—and her beautiful eyes imdiately flashed with shock. Just as she was about to speak, Li An said:
“I’ll co to pick up the Beauty-Nourishing Pill in half a month. It can be done by then, right?”
Gu Hong quickly returned to composure. “Yes.”
Li An turned and walked away.
Gu Hong also returned to the inner hall.
Once inside her private room with the door shut, her face instantly lit up with joy!
She reached into the Storage Pouch and pulled out a Soulbeast Core… and a letter!
…
(End of Chapter)
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