Daoist Competition
Chapter 117 - 23 Gifting Elixirs in Exchange for a Name, South Palace Provokes Trouble

Chapter 117: Chapter 23 Gifting Elixirs in Exchange for a Name, South Palace Provokes Trouble

Ren Cai stood there like a wooden statue, staring at Zhang Yan. He had encountered countless notable figures in the past, yet none had ever shown such absolute confidence in discerning which pill was a True Elixir and which a Poison Pill—let alone being able to thoroughly analyze their medicinal properties.

In truth, the toxicity in those two elixir pills belonged to Yin and Yang categories. When consumed, they needed to be ground down and then neutralized by the medicinal properties of the final elixir pill before they could be safely ingested.

The missing portion of the ancient recipe back then detailed precisely how to unify the three attributes within the pill furnace.

After obtaining this incomplete recipe, Ren Cai made his own amendments and modifications, producing something neither elegant nor authentic, with only a third of the original efficacy. As for claims that the neutralizing pill could extend longevity—that was mere self-aggrandizement. Now that Zhang Yan had exposed the intricacies in one piercing remark, Ren Cai couldn’t help but feel his old face flush red with embarrassment, awkwardly at a loss for words.

Zhang Yan noticed his discomfort but smiled lightly and said, "Rest assured, today’s matter will not be spread by me in the slightest. However, I have an immodest request to make."

Ren Cai secretly let out a sigh of relief and hastily replied, "Fellow Daoist, there’s no harm in saying it."

Zhang Yan pointed to the three so-called "Life Extending Pills" and said, "I am willing to trade an exceptional elixir pill with Fellow Daoist Ren in exchange for this recipe. What do you think?"

"Oh?" Ren Cai was momentarily stunned. Though these pills were named "Life Extending Pills," they only extended life by fifteen or twenty years. The herbs used weren’t rare, but they weren’t exactly common either. For a cultivator, their value was somewhat marginal. Hesitating for a moment, Ren Cai cautiously asked, "May I inquire...what your intention is, Fellow Daoist?"

Whenever an elixir pill involved toxicity, one couldn’t be too careful. Utmost caution was essential, not only to uphold the pill master’s reputation but also to avoid the risk of Zhang Yan refining pills that might harm others. If someone later discovered these pills were part of his exclusive technique, wouldn’t they come storming to settle accounts?

To Ren Cai’s surprise, Zhang Yan answered straightforwardly, "There’s nothing about this matter that cannot be shared. In recent years, my master has often remarked that the elixirs recorded in the old Refining Elixir Manual were too sparse, with many famous Upper Elixirs left out. Therefore, he intends to compile a new edition and is keen to collect rare recipes from across the land. I merely acted on a moment of interest upon seeing this one."

"Ah, so that’s it." Ren Cai was enlightened but still didn’t fully relent. He asked again, "May I ask who your respected master is?"

Zhang Yan stood upright and cupped his hands toward the direction of the Mingcang Sect, saying, "My honored teacher is Zhou Chongju."

"Oh?" Ren Cai was startled. He too stood up and, with an expression of solemn respect, said, "So you are a disciple of Master Zhou. Please accept a salute from me."

Zhang Yan quickly stepped back, surprised, and said, "Fellow Daoist, there’s no need for this."

Ren Cai replied earnestly, "This gesture is not directed toward you, Fellow Daoist, but is an expression of my respect toward Master Zhou. Master Zhou, although born as the direct lineage of the Dingyang Zhou Family’s main branch, resolutely abandoned the easier path of cultivating Mysterious Skills and devoted himself to the Alchemy Dao. He pledged to create a single elixir of immortality for the world. Truly, he’s an exemplar for all of us, deserving of the title Pill Sage. Now that he intends to compile a new Elixir Manual, how could I dare not lend my support to such an endeavor?"

Hearing this, Zhang Yan was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected that Zhou Chongju’s forced departure from the Zhou Sect back then would, to the outside world, instead be interpreted in such a light. It was truly unexpected. However, it was highly likely the Zhou Family had acted covertly to protect their reputation, not only concealing the truth but also perfectly rationalizing Zhou Chongju’s exit from the sect.

Ren Cai walked over to his desk, picked up brush and ink, and quickly wrote down an elixir recipe. After some consideration, he took out another sheet of paper and wrote something unknown on it. He then handed both sheets, along with the brocade box containing the elixirs, to Zhang Yan and said, "These two recipes—one is the ancient incomplete version, and the other incorporates my personal amendments—along with the three pills, are all given to Fellow Daoist. I hope you won’t mind."

Zhang Yan seriously accepted them and was about to retrieve an elixir pill from his sleeve for the exchange when Ren Cai reached out to stop him and said, "Since Master Zhou intends to compile a new Elixir Manual, it is only right for us to contribute in some small measure. Consider these recipes and pills a gift to the Master." Pausing, he added, "At the Elixir Conference, many different sects and schools gather, and they carry numerous rare recipes. I shall persuade my peers to jointly contribute to this endeavor. Fellow Daoist, what do you think?"

With that, Ren Cai stared expectantly at Zhang Yan.

Zhang Yan couldn’t help but perceive his true intentions and chuckled, saying, "Since these recipes and pills are a gift from Fellow Daoist, your name will surely be recorded in the upcoming Elixir Manual."

Hearing this, Ren Cai was overjoyed. Pill masters, often unable to achieve much in the cultivation path and with limited lifespans, only sought reputation as their ultimate pursuit. With Zhou Chongju’s standing among pill masters, once the Elixir Manual was compiled, Ren Cai’s name would also live on for eternity.

Indeed, over the past decades, Zhou Chongju had been collecting elixir recipes and compiling a new manual, and he had specifically instructed Zhang Yan before his departure to seize any opportunity to gather more recipes. Yet, Zhang Yan’s presentation of "refining the Elixir Manual" was merely a pretext to acquire those three pills. Unexpectedly, he gained an unexpected reward instead. If Ren Cai were to spread the word, Zhang Yan’s reputation would soon resound across Dang Domain and Water Country, accomplishing half of his anticipated objectives already.