"A Life-Shortening Pill Comes at a Heavy Price"
"A single life-shortening, mortal-transcending pill demands a sacrifice of thirty years of life—and can only be consumed before one reaches the Golden Core stage. That cost is by no means trivial. In this light, if I take one pill, then Du Man'er – though she will only transform her spiritual root from a three-element to a four-element type – will be just right for her destiny."
Fang Jin Yu couldn't help but feel a surge of surprise. Though having three-element spiritual roots gave one a higher chance of successfully breaking through in the Foundation Establishment stage, survival until that moment was equally essential. To lose thirty years of life in one fell swoop would inflict grievous harm on the body. Moreover, if it meant sacrificing an entire Jia‑Zi cycle of one's lifespan… For the sixteen‑year‑old Du Man'er, consuming even two such pills would, at best, leave her with only ten more years to live—and transform her overnight from a blossoming maiden into an ancient crone with white hair.
Yet when it came to his own decision, Fang Jin Yu found himself hesitating. This pill was utterly contrary to natural law—its effects so extreme that it cost a steep thirty years of lifespan! Even cultivators at the Golden Core stage would lament the loss. And Fang Jin Yu was not one devoid of precious opportunities; nor was he merely a desperate soul with no other choice. After much contemplation, however, he finally resolved to take the pill.
For deep within the recesses of his previous life's memories lay a complete superior manual—the revered "Ten Directions Xun Zhen Jing." His previous life's parents, by some twist of fate, had once miraculously acquired it. They had intended to submit it to the sect, but for reasons lost to time, the young past-self ended up memorizing it—and then, inexplicably, the book was destroyed. Only those who possessed dual attributes of wind and thunder could possibly hope to cultivate such a manual. In a fortunate coincidence, among the elements in his own spiritual root, Fang Jin Yu's wind and thunder were both of the Yi‑lower rank; only his fire element lagged slightly at the Bing‑lower level. In these recent days of cultivation, he had sensed that the "fire" in his elemental makeup was weighing him down. Spiritual roots are graded into four classes—from A to D—with each class divided into an upper and lower part. His Bing‑lower, although not outstanding, was tolerable. Otherwise, his past self wouldn't have broken through to the ninth level of Qi Condensation in his twenties. But the superior quality of his other two elemental roots gave him confidence that the long, arduous process of switching cultivation methods—despite the temporary setbacks or even brief drops in cultivation—would, in the long run, reward him more than it harmed him.
For in the desolate expanse of the Nine Desolations, there existed a ranking of superior manuals. While Tian Ling Sect's Wind and Thunder Technique barely scraped into the top hundred, the Ten Directions Xun Zhen Jing proudly held the ninety‑third rank. Although many who cultivated its secrets had not recorded every detail once they reached the Yuan Ying realm, the number of Golden Core cultivators who had achieved spectacular breakthroughs using this manual was legion—and many had carved out illustrious reputations in the Nine Desolations.
Thus, with his resolve steeled, Fang Jin Yu entered a period of seclusion—a closed-door retreat that would last two months. Within that time, his "external cheat" (an uncanny ability he carried quietly within him) worked wonders: he experienced nine instances of "perception 1," six moments of divine skill understanding, and five increments labeled "Fali 1" (a small gain in his spiritual power). Rather than causing his cultivation to falter, these rapid breakthroughs even nudged his overall strength higher. "Even though I'm sacrificing thirty years of life, after these few surges the toll on my appearance seems minimal… an unexpected delight," he mused, marveling at the feeling of thick, potent qi coursing through him—even glimpsing faint sparks of electricity dancing across his skin.
"That is the caliber of a superior cultivation technique, one that can breach the top hundred in the Nine Desolations!" he thought. "But now, I must press on—to capture every chance for progress. I shall strive to climb each level of the Foundation Establishment, and within thirty years, push myself to the ninth layer."
With that determined spirit, Fang Jin Yu set off once more, heading for L‑Zhao Spirit Medicine Peak. Though he no longer needed to hoard merit value merely to exchange for the Wind and Thunder manual from the Foundation stage, his alchemical craft remained essential. Without prodigious alchemy skills, he would lack the confidence or the means to achieve the rapid breakthroughs needed to ascend to the ninth layer of Foundation within his limited years. His "external cheat" only activated once a day, after all—so gambling on luck with his small "Fali 1" chances was no substitute for the savings achieved by refining exceptional spirit pills. One high‑quality pill at his current stage might save him several years of grueling toil; indeed, it is because of such miraculous efficiencies that the esteemed status of alchemists in the cultivation world has always been paramount.
Arriving at L‑Zhao Spirit Medicine Peak, Fang Jin Yu prepared to resume his trials in the alchemy chamber. He no longer needed to purchase fresh medicinal herbs—merely renting an established alchemical room would suffice. This time, at last, he achieved success.
"Yi Qi Bu Yuan Dan." He produced the elixir that was ubiquitous among Qi Condensation cultivators. Its versatility was well known: high‑tier cultivators could use it to restore spiritual power in times of depletion, while lower‑tier practitioners often found it useful to bolster their qi. In moments when breakthroughs threatened to inflict grievous injuries, these pills might even mitigate the damage. For a whole month he labored, pouring one hundred portions of medicinal herbs into his refining furnace. Though his initial success rate had been a meager ten percent, through dogged effort he eventually harvested eighty‑five Yi Qi Bu Yuan Dan.
These pills, while not outrageously expensive, still commanded a steep price. In earlier times, it would have taken him an entire month of hard work just to purchase one such pill. Here, however, after he set aside five pills for his own use, selling the remainder to the sect netted him 1,600 spirit stones. Tian Ling Sect—ever keen to encourage its disciples to refine their alchemy skills—charged no handling fees for these exchanges. Each sale, recorded meticulously with his name, both eased the financial burden for poorer Qi Condensation cultivators and bolstered the prospects of those eager to improve their alchemy.
"Alchemists really must be wealthy," Fang Jin Yu sighed to himself. Only when the success rates for all ten categories of pills could be maintained steadily at thirty percent would one truly earn the title of alchemist. One might imagine that such masters amassed fortunes beyond measure.
Yet, a bitter thought gnawed at him: "It's a pity that the dark market scam turned out to be nothing but a fraud. Had it not been so, I could have profited even more." With a slight shake of his head at the injustice of it all, he resolved to purchase another hundred portions of medicinal herbs. Enhancing alchemy skills depended not only on self‑perception and rigorous introspection but also on endless practice—a process that, needless to say, rained heavily upon one's treasury.
No sooner had Fang Jin Yu stepped out from the chamber than he noticed Du Man'er waiting for him. "Uncle," she greeted him with a bright smile. At that moment, Fang Jin Yu couldn't help but study her appearance. The transformation was unmistakable: once she bore the delicate features of a sixteen‑year‑old girl, now she had matured into the graceful bearing of a married woman. Clearly, she had attained her destined opportunity—and had even consumed the life‑shortening, mortal-transcending pill. In the two months of their separation, her cultivation had advanced to the second layer of Qi Condensation.
This confirmation solidified Fang Jin Yu's suspicions: she was indeed the newly born female protagonist—the "child of fate" whose destiny was as notorious as that of Su Yi'er. With soft, encouraging words, he said, "Congratulations—your shackles of natural talent have been shattered. It seems you've taken a life‑shortening, mortal-transcending pill. That pill is miraculous, but its price is immense. Last time when you ran errands for me, I rewarded you. Here, take this bottle of Yi Qi Bu Yuan Dan; it should help you break through three levels." Feigning a tone of resigned sighing, Fang Jin Yu intended no malice—merely a desire to secure a good relationship with her. He sought no repayment, only that she not cause any further complications for him. Perhaps someday, if she chanced upon an unused magical treasure, she might hand it over to him—thus severing the tangled karma between them. After all, as a cultivator nearing the precipice of the Pill-Smashing to Form an Infant (a stage that could very well bring even a once-wealthy "wall-hugger" into dire danger), Fang Jin Yu knew better than to be trifled with.
Though he held private speculations regarding the fates of both his female protégés, for now he chose only to apply the upgrade template he once used for Su Yi'er onto Du Man'er.
"The Battle Between Price and Potential"
In a later reflection, Fang Jin Yu mused aloud, "One life‑shortening, mortal-transcending pill costs thirty years of one's lifespan. And it can only be taken before reaching the Golden Core. That price is far from small. In that light, if I take one, then Du Man'er—though she will only transform into a cultivator with four‑attribute spiritual roots—will be just right for her destiny."
He couldn't help but feel a pang of cautious wonder. Although three‑attribute roots statistically offer a better chance at breaking through in the Foundation stage, it requires one to live long enough to get there. Losing thirty years of life in one massive stroke might prove disastrous. Moreover, if a mere sixteen-year-old Du Man'er were to take two such pills, she might, at most, gain another ten years—transforming not from a blossoming maiden into a woman, but rather into an old, white‑haired crone overnight.
Yet as for his own predicament, Fang Jin Yu found himself reluctant. This pill, while astonishingly potent, demanded an almost unthinkable sacrifice of thirty years of his life. Even for a Golden Core practitioner, such a cost was heart‑wrenching. And he was not one who lacked alternative opportunities—nor was he the sort of desperate soul who would have no other options.
After long deliberation, however, he chose to consume the pill. For within his past life's memories lay the complete blueprint of the superior manual—the "Ten Directions Xun Zhen Jing"—that his previous parents had once unexpectedly acquired. Originally intended to be submitted to the sect, that manual had been secretly committed to memory and then lost. The technique within it could only be cultivated by those with wind‑thunder dual‑attribute spiritual roots. Fortuitously, among his elemental roots, both his wind and thunder belonged to the Yi‑lower rank, while his fire element was only Bing‑lower. In these recent days of cultivation, Fang Jin Yu had come to acutely feel that his "fire" element was holding him back. Although switching cultivation methods would be time‑consuming and might even cause a temporary dip in strength, the eventual rewards were clear—benefits that far outweighed the interim costs.
For in the vast records of the Nine Desolations, superior manuals were ranked. While the Wind and Thunder Technique of Tian Ling Sect barely scraped the top hundred, the Ten Directions Xun Zhen Jing was ranked ninety‑third. Although cultivators who reached the Yuan Ying realm via that manual left no written records, many Golden Core practitioners had achieved myriad breakthroughs, many of whom had carved legendary renown in the desolate lands.
Thus, Fang Jin Yu entered another period of seclusion—this time lasting two full months. During that period, his "external cheat" took effect, and he recorded nine moments of new alchemical insight, six flashes of divine skill comprehension, and five increments to his spiritual power. Instead of causing his cultivation to falter, these gains buoyed his strength even higher.
"Even though I've sacrificed thirty years of life, these few surges in my cultivation have left me looking as fresh as ever. An unexpected blessing!" he remarked as he felt deep within a dense flow of qi, even perceiving flickering sparks of electricity on his skin. "Truly, this must be the power of one of the top hundred superior cultivation techniques in the Nine Desolations! But I must not tarry—I will hone my skills further to break through to the ninth layer of Foundation within thirty years."
With ambitions burning fiercely, Fang Jin Yu again ascended to L‑Zhao Spirit Medicine Peak. Though he now no longer needed to hoard merit points merely to exchange for the Wind and Thunder manual of the Foundation stage, his mastery of alchemy remained his essential tool. Without it, he would lack the self‑confidence to ascend to the ninth layer of Foundation before the passing of thirty years. His "external cheat" activated only once per day; the chance for a direct increment in spiritual power was far less than the leap offered by an excellent alchemical breakthrough. One high‑quality spirit pill at his current level could, in fact, save him several years of grueling cultivation. It is precisely for this reason that alchemists hold such high status in the cultivation world.
At L‑Zhao Spirit Medicine Peak, Fang Jin Yu once more set to work at the alchemy station. No longer did he need to buy medicinal herbs—he simply rented an alchemy room and began to refine his craft. This time, his efforts bore fruit.
"Yi Qi Bu Yuan Dan!" he announced as he produced the familiar elixir. This pill was a staple among Qi Condensation cultivators. For advanced disciples, it restored lost spiritual energy; for novices, it bolstered the accumulation of qi; and in times of breakthrough, it mitigated injury from failed attempts. Fang Jin Yu, having pooled together one hundred portions of medicinal herbs earlier, managed to refine his craft. Although his initial success rate was a scant ten percent, persistence led him to eventually yield eighty‑five pills.
They were not inexpensive—and indeed, the price was steep. Previously, a full month's effort might only secure a single Yi Qi Bu Yuan Dan. In this transaction, after reserving five for his own continued progress, Fang Jin Yu sold the rest to Tian Ling Sect for a total of 1,600 spirit stones. Tian Ling Sect's policies encouraged alchemical cultivation by not deducting any middleman fees for such exchanges, ensuring both an ample supply for Qi Condensation cultivators and a generous boost for those advancing their alchemy.
"Alchemists certainly end up rich," Fang Jin Yu mused, contemplating that only when the success rate for all ten elixir formulas reached around thirty percent would one truly be considered an accomplished alchemist. One could only imagine the personal fortunes of those masters.
Yet, the sting of the dark market scam—a fraud, no doubt—remained bitter in his mind. Had that ruse not been exposed, perhaps he might have reaped even greater profits. Shaking his head in quiet resignation, he prepared to buy another one hundred portions of medicinal herbs. Improving his alchemy technique required not only introspection and self‑growth but also extensive practice—and this process, without question, was excruciatingly expensive.
No sooner had Fang Jin Yu stepped outside to make arrangements than he discovered that Du Man'er had been waiting for some time. "Uncle," she called out, her voice light and familiar.
At that moment, Fang Jin Yu took a careful glance at her. What he saw struck him: Du Man'er's appearance had matured considerably. Where once the girl looked every bit the sixteen‑year‑old, she now bore the refined grace of a married woman. Clearly, she had seized her opportunity—and taken the life‑shortening, mortal-transcending pill for herself. Two months had passed in which Du Man'er advanced to the second layer of Qi Condensation.
That confirmation made Fang Jin Yu's heart swell. Here was, unmistakably, the newborn female protagonist—a "child of fate" with world‑class bearings, equivalent in destiny to Su Yi'er. In cultivation parlance, she was what they jokingly called a "child of fortune."
"Congratulations—you've broken free of the shackles of innate talent. Judging by your progress, you must have taken a life‑shortening, mortal-transcending pill. Such a pill is of great worth, though its price is steep. Last time, when you ran errands for me, I rewarded you generously. Here's this bottle of Yi Qi Bu Yuan Dan; take it. I believe it will help you break through another three levels." Fang Jin Yu projected a look of feigned sorrow. Now that he was certain of her transformation, he sought to establish cordial relations—expecting nothing in return except that she not trouble him further. And perhaps, if in time she were to come into possession of an unused magical treasure, she might offer it to him as a means of settling past karmic debts. After all, as a cultivator who risked everything in the desperate pursuit of success (one who soon faced the perilous Pill-Smashing to Form an Infant stage), Fang Jin Yu was not someone to cross.
Although his thoughts about the destinies of his two female protégés were only speculative, he chose, for now, simply to apply the same upgrade "template" he once fashioned for Su Yi'er onto Du Man'er.
Epilogue: A New Chapter in the Tapestry of Fate
Later that day, as his voice softened and the bustling sounds of the market receded into a thoughtful quiet, Fang Jin Yu reflected on the profound costs interlaced in every step of a cultivator's journey. "One life-shortening, mortal-transcending pill costs thirty years of life—and it can only be taken before the Golden Core stage. For that reason, if I take one for myself, Du Man'er will only be allowed to adjust her spiritual root to four attributes. Though that is a setback compared with three-attribute roots, it is precisely the right adjustment for her fate."
He knew well that three-attribute roots, while statistically improving one's odds for Foundation breakthrough, depended equally on living long enough to reach that stage. To lose three decades in one go imposed severe damage—and in some cases, it would mean losing an entire Jia‑Zi cycle! For sixteen-year-old Du Man'er, if she consumed even two such pills, her remaining lifespan might be reduced to a mere ten years, leaving her not as the radiant maiden she once was but transformed into an aged crone overnight.
Fang Jin Yu hesitated when considering whether he should take the pill himself. That pill was almost utterly defiant of nature—it exacted a price of thirty years of life! Even among Golden Core cultivators, one would feel a profound sting at such a cost. And he, possessing ample opportunities and not a desperate cultivator left with no alternatives, could afford to ponder the choice. Ultimately, after weighing the costs against the profound benefits it might unlock—especially in the memory of his previous life, when his parents had once secretly memorized the priceless "Ten Directions Xun Zhen Jing"—he decided to take it.
In that superior manual lay the promise of transformation—one that only wind‑thunder type spiritual roots could embrace. Fortuitously, his own wind and thunder attributes were both of the prized Yi‑lower rank, though his fire was only Bing‑lower. In recent practice, he had keenly felt that his fire element weighed him down. The classification of spiritual roots—divided into A, B, C, and D as four distinct tiers, each further split into upper and lower—meant that while his Bing‑lower was acceptable, his superior wind and thunder endowed him with the confidence to pursue a change in cultivation method. Though the process would take years and might even cause temporary setbacks, the eventual rewards far outweighed the costs.
There was also the matter of ranking among superior manuals in the Nine Desolations. Whereas the Tian Ling Sect's Wind and Thunder Technique barely managed to enter the top hundred, the "Ten Directions Xun Zhen Jing" proudly ranked ninety‑third. Legends spoke of Golden Core cultivators, with countless names etched in memory, whose achievements were forged by this very manual.
Determined, Fang Jin Yu then entered a two‑month long seclusion. During this time, his "external cheat" wrought wonders—nine flashes of newfound alchemical insight, six revelatory moments in divine skill, and five increments to his overall spiritual power. Rather than causing his cultivation to falter, these breakthroughs advanced him further. "Although I've lost thirty years of life, these enhancements have left my appearance essentially unchanged—an unexpected gift," he mused as he sensed a deep, tonally rich qi flowing through him, even catching sight of spark-like flashes of electricity along his skin.
Feeling emboldened by the power of his superior cultivation technique—which was said to rank among the top hundred in the Nine Desolations—he knew that the next stage of his journey was to aggressively press forward. "I must seize every moment. I aim to reach the ninth layer of Foundation in less than thirty years," he vowed.
With such resolute ambition, he set out again for L‑Zhao Spirit Medicine Peak. While he no longer required the collection of merit merely to swap for the Wind and Thunder Technique, his mastery of alchemy remained essential. Without exceptional alchemical skills, he would never possess the confidence or the speed needed to reach a higher level of Foundation cultivation within his finite lifetime; after all, his "external cheat" only activated once per day. One instance of a spiritual power increment might save him a month of arduous training, but one high‑quality spirit pill could reduce years of suffering—an advantage that underscored why alchemists always enjoyed such esteemed status.
Arriving at L‑Zhao Spirit Medicine Peak renewed his focus. This time, he only needed to rent an alchemy chamber to continue refining his craft. And at last, his perseverance paid off.
"Yi Qi Bu Yuan Dan," he announced proudly as he produced the restorative elixir—a pill so common among Qi Condensation cultivators, yet valued for its versatility. High‑level disciples could use it to restore dwindling spiritual power; lower‑level disciples could use it to boost their growth; and even during critical breakthrough periods, its use was indispensable to mitigate the damage of failure.
After a relentless month of refining using one hundred portions of medicinal herbs—even though his initial success rate had been a mere ten percent—Fang Jin Yu eventually reaped eighty‑five Yi Qi Bu Yuan Dan. Though these pills were not exorbitantly priced, they were by no means cheap. In the past, after a month's hard work, he might have procured only a single pill. Reserving five for himself and selling the remainder to Tian Ling Sect netted him 1,600 spirit stones. Tian Ling Sect's policy of encouraging its disciples' alchemy by waiving intermediary fees meant that the process was as beneficial to cultivating Qi Condensation talents as it was to budding alchemists like himself.
"Alchemists must truly be rich," he sighed. Clearly, only when the success rates for all ten elixir formulas stabilized at about thirty percent could one earn the title of "alchemist." One could only imagine the vast fortunes amassed by masters of this craft.
Yet even as he reveled in his progress, the bitter sting of recent losses remained. The dark market scam—a sham that had injured his reputation and provoked the ire of powerful parties—meant that he was forced into an unsavory choice. When he went to claim his reward, the sect leader had informed him that the thunder‑attribute spirit tools had already been claimed by the grandson of a Golden Core cultivator three days earlier. Faced with the offer of waiting for the sect to collect another pair or accepting a paltry compensation of 2,000 spirit stones, Fang Jin Yu had no choice but to settle for the latter. "Two thousand spirit stones for thunder‑attribute tools?" he muttered bitterly. "Not even five thousand on the open market could reliably buy them!" Yet he had to accept, for he knew that his actions in exposing the scam had already dented the privileges of too many influential stakeholders.
Realizing that the dark market scam was merely the tip of an even larger iceberg, he resolved to remain within the safe confines of L‑Zhao Spirit Medicine Peak until the Lingdu Secret Realm reopened. Compared with Xiahe Peak, the spiritual energy at L‑Zhao was far denser—a crucial factor in rapid growth. Many Foundation cultivators had long since migrated to peaks with richer qi; as a newly promoted Foundation cultivator, Fang Jin Yu was determined not to return to Xiahe unless absolutely forced.
Later that day, amid the ethnically mixed streets outside Tian Ling Sect, Du Man'er's gratitude and curiosity mingled with his own reflections on the heavy costs of cultivation. "A life-shortening pill demands thirty years of sacrifice," he explained gently when she once again inquired about regaining her former beauty. "Its benefits are astounding, but the price is enormous. Even if you cannot completely restore your looks, your lifespan of two hundred years as a Foundation cultivator will ensure you remain youthful for a long time."
At that, Du Man'er recalled the Qi Condensation disciple she had seen practicing with a pair of thunder‑attribute lower‑grade spirit tools. Fang Jin Yu's eyes darkened at that news: it confirmed his worst suspicions that the promised tools—so long his reward for exposing the dark market scam—had been snatched away by someone far more connected. Determined to set the matter right, he resolved immediately to seek an audience with the sect leader on Tian Ling Peak. However, after a long wait and a disappointing meeting in which he was given only the option of 2,000 spirit stones in lieu of the treasured tools, Fang Jin Yu's face grew grim. Bitterly, he recorded this "debt" in his mind.
In a further cascade of events that day, fate offered another sign. While lingering outside the sect, his Fate Calculation Technique sent him a small arrow-like pulse pointing beyond the secure border of Tian Ling Sect—toward the epicenter of Yuan City, a bustling realm where mortals and cultivators mingled. After long internal hesitation, he decided to exploit this opportunity. With decisive resolve, he approached Du Man'er once more and offered her five Yi Qi Bu Yuan Dan, asking, "Please accompany me as we wander around Yuan City beyond our sect's boundaries."
His reasoning was pragmatic: with her unique elemental aptitude and the latent spark of fortune that seemed perennially to hover around her, she ought to be able to transmute any lurking danger into a blessing. Yuan City—a sprawling, self-governed metropolis originally founded by ex‑disciples of Tian Ling Sect who had married and established families outside the rigid control of imperial courts—was a place brimming with both opportunity and risk.
For Du Man'er, who had lived in Yuan City long before joining the sect, the tour was a welcome chance to revisit her roots. And so, with no fixed destination but only the gentle guidance of his inner senses, Fang Jin Yu led her along the winding, bustling streets until they came upon a stall run by a modest Qi Condensation cultivator. Fang Jin Yu couldn't help but murmur inwardly, "This routine is so old…" as he mentally anticipated every familiar step of the exchange—a tired script played out countless times before.
A New Bond, a New Destiny
Days later, the tapestry of fate wound tightly around these events. Du Man'er's grateful "Thank you, Uncle" was the refrain that now marked their every meeting. Fang Jin Yu, ever watchful, noted that her appearance had transformed dramatically from that of a youthful sixteen‑year‑old maiden to a woman with the graceful maturity of someone who had embraced her destiny. Clearly, she had seized her fortuitous opportunity by taking the life-shortening, mortal-transcending pill. In the two months since their last meeting, her cultivation had advanced to the second layer of Qi Condensation. This confirmed beyond doubt what he had long suspected—she was the new, fated female protagonist, endowed with a potent destiny akin to that of Su Yi'er. In the parlance of their world, she was a "child of fortune" guaranteed to have a significant impact on the future.
"Congratulations," Fang Jin Yu said, his tone warm but measured. "You've broken free from the constraints of natural gift. Judging by your progress, you must have taken one of those life-shortening pills. Although such pills work wonders, their price is exorbitant. Last time you ran errands for me, I rewarded you. Now, please take this bottle of Yi Qi Bu Yuan Dan—it should help you break through another three levels." His words were both a congratulation and a subtle reinforcement of their bond. Fang Jin Yu was not asking anything in return—simply hoping that she would continue on her path without causing him further trouble. Perhaps one day, if she happened to gain possession of an extra magical treasure, she might even offer it to him as a means of settling old karmic debts. After all, for a cultivator like him—one facing the dangerous prospect of the Pill-Smashing to Form an Infant stage—the balance of power was not to be trifled with.
Although his speculations regarding the destinies of the two promising female protagonists were based on nothing more than conjecture, Fang Jin Yu simply resolved to apply the same upgrade "template" he once used for Su Yi'er to Du Man'er. It was a calculated plan—one that would bind their fates together in ways that might one day yield mutual benefit.
Epilogue: Onward, Toward a Greater Destiny
As the day drew to a close and the vibrant chatter of Yuan City faded into the quiet hum of twilight, Fang Jin Yu's mind was abuzz with reflections on the steep cost of advancement. A single life-shortening, mortal-transcending pill could indeed halve one's lifespan, but if such a sacrifice meant unlocking the potential of a superior manual—and thus seizing the rare chance to elevate his own cultivation—then the price, however dear, might be worth it.
Every shock from Su Yi'er's legendary pond—the memory of that "old fish," which was really the visage of a revered Yuan Ying ancestor who had once fervently warned her about the perils of Pill-Smashing—served as both a caution and a beacon. Even if failure in that dangerous process meant a soul was granted three additional cycles of reincarnation, the fact remained: to brush against that level of power was to bear a heavy price.
Having taken the pill himself, Fang Jin Yu now felt both the weight of thirty fewer years in his lifespan and, paradoxically, a surge of latent energy that promised rapid progress. His cultivation had advanced during his two months of seclusion—not only had he honed his alchemical skills to a point where he could refine Yi Qi Bu Yuan Dan with astonishing efficiency, but he had also absorbed new insights and subtle increments in his spiritual power.
True to his nature, he returned to L‑Zhao Spirit Medicine Peak with a bold plan: to continue refining his alchemy, for without it he would never muster the assurance to ascend to the ninth layer of Foundation within just thirty years. His special "external cheat" allowed him only one breakthrough per day—and while a single increment in spiritual power might save him a month of strenuous training, one excellent pill at this stage could equate to several years' worth of progress. It was this advantage that solidified the esteemed status of alchemists in the cultivation world.
And so, with renewed determination and a keen eye for opportunity, Fang Jin Yu set out to further his craft. He rented an alchemy chamber at L‑Zhao, began his trials, and finally succeeded in crafting his Yi Qi Bu Yuan Dan. The market for such an elixir was robust: high-level cultivators used it to recover, lower-level ones to build strength, and even mid-level breakthroughs benefited greatly from its soothing effects. When he sold a portion of his successful batches—keeping a measured reserve for himself—the reputation of his alchemical talent spread like wildfire throughout L‑Zhao Spirit Medicine Peak.
But fate, ever capricious, had another turn in store. As if guided by a subtle arrow from his Fate Calculation Technique, one sign pointed away from Tian Ling Sect's familiar boundaries and beckoned him outward. After much deliberation, Fang Jin Yu resolved to "ride the chance" once more. He approached Du Man'er, now visibly matured not only in appearance but in cultivation, and offered her five Yi Qi Bu Yuan Dan. "Come with me," he said softly, "let us venture beyond the sect into Yuan City." He reasoned that with her rare five‑element spiritual root—and the high probability that any danger would transform into fortune—she would be well equipped to navigate the mixed fortunes of a city where mortals and cultivators mingled freely. Yuan City was a realm born from the very remnants of the sect, built by disciples who had gone on to forge families and communities independent of imperial rule. For Du Man'er, who had lived there long before joining Tian Ling Sect, this invitation was like a homecoming.
Without hesitation, Du Man'er agreed, and together they journeyed outward. Their path led them, as if by design, to a stall manned by a minor Qi Condensation cultivator. Fang Jin Yu cast a wry glance at the stall, silently remarking to himself, "This routine is so old…" He had witnessed this scenario so many times that he could already predict every next move—the same tired, predictable script unfolding before him.
As their stroll carried them deeper into the bustling streets of Yuan City, every step was laden with possibility, every mundane interaction a thread in the vast tapestry of fate. Fang Jin Yu's heart, though heavy with the cost of his deliberate sacrifices, beat with unyielding optimism. He knew that his own destiny—and that of Du Man'er, now clearly the destined "child of fortune"—was inexorably entwined with these intricate currents of power. And though challenges remained, every setback and every triumph was but a stepping stone on the unending path toward legendary greatness.
"May fate honor those who dare," Fang Jin Yu whispered to himself, a quiet promise echoing in his mind as he prepared to continue his journey. With every refined elixir, every new glimpsed opportunity, and every hard-won transaction in the ever-changing marketplace of mortal and mystic realms, he knew that destiny itself was being rewritten—one sacrificial pill, one brilliant breakthrough at a time.