Chapter 25

The paths for Sanjiao to resolve the crisis of his lifespan have already been blocked in two ways.

Now, he can only try to see if there is a pill in the alchemy path that can increase his lifespan.

"If there really is no way within seven days, then, I will disperse the sword qi."

After all, life is important.

On the morning of the second day, after practicing sword techniques for a while in the small courtyard, Han Muye came out.

"Sixth Brother, I'm going to the Alchemy Hall."

Hearing that he was going to the Alchemy Hall, Huang Lao Liu smiled and said, "Alright, go ahead. I'll take care of things here."

Watching Han Muye's departing figure, Huang Lao Liu's face was full of smiles. "It seems this kid has finally figured it out."

Then, he shook his head, his face full of bitterness. "Alas, with my current appearance, Pingmei probably wouldn't recognize me."

...

At the Alchemy Hall, when Mu Wan saw Han Muye, she exclaimed, "Han, Han Senior Brother, you, you—"

Her gaze fell on Han Muye's temples.

In just one day, Han Muye's temples had turned white.

If it weren't for his still youthful face, he would look like a man in his fifties.

"Have you heard any news about a pill that can increase lifespan?" Han Muye didn't exchange pleasantries but got straight to the point.

Mu Wan looked around, nodded, and whispered, "Senior Brother, follow me."

Leading Han Muye to a secluded spot, she whispered, "I asked the alchemists in the Alchemy Hall last night. In our Jiu Xuan Sword Sect, only Elder Su Liang can refine a pill that increases lifespan."

Han Muye nodded.

As long as there is one.

"Senior Brother, you need to be prepared. The pill that increases lifespan is extremely expensive," Mu Wan looked up at Han Muye.

"How expensive?" Han Muye asked softly.

No matter how expensive it is, he has to get it.

"Allegedly, a pill that can increase one year of lifespan requires thirty thousand spirit stones," Mu Wan whispered.

Thirty thousand spirit stones, a number that is out of reach for most inner and outer sect disciples.

Thirty thousand?

One year of lifespan, thirty thousand spirit stones, expensive, but not too expensive.

Han Muye narrowed his eyes, calculated in his mind, and said in a deep voice, "Junior Sister, wait here for a moment, then take me to find Elder Su Liang, okay?"

Mu Wan nodded.

Han Muye turned and left.

He headed towards the outer sect market of the Jiu Xuan Sword Sect.

When he entered the Su Zhen Building, the shop owner, dressed in a pink dress, eyes lit up.

"Looks like you've made up your mind?" Bai Suzhen approached, smiling.

Han Muye walked straight to the counter and placed a small jade bottle on the table.

Bai Suzhen was taken aback, frowned slightly, reached out to pick up the jade bottle, and then opened it.

"Ah—"

She gasped, sealed the jade bottle, and looked at Han Muye with a tense expression.

"Top-grade..."

Inside the jade bottle were ten top-grade Cloud Qi Pills, each one bright and round.

"Refuse?" Han Muye said indifferently.

"Accept!" Bai Suzhen quickly replied.

Putting away the jade bottle, she touched the jade ring on her finger, and a small wooden box appeared.

Opening the wooden box, it revealed a brilliant light.

"These are high-grade spirit stones, one of which is equivalent to ten thousand low-grade spirit stones." She placed three translucent spirit stones in front of Han Muye and whispered.

A storage ring, high-grade spirit stones, something that ordinary people have never even seen.

Han Muye glanced at Bai Suzhen.

This woman who runs a shop in the outer sect probably has a complicated background.

Seeing Han Muye looking at her, Bai Suzhen smiled lightly. "Senior Brother, a pill master who can refine ten top-grade Cloud Qi Pills at once is unheard of in the Jiu Xuan Sword Sect."

Her words implied, you discovered my secret, and I discovered yours.

Han Muye grabbed the three high-grade spirit stones and turned to leave.

Just as he reached the door, he suddenly turned around. "In the Jiu Xuan Sword Sect, is it Elder Su Liang who can refine the pill that increases lifespan?"

Bai Suzhen was taken aback.

Han Muye turned and left.

He had already gotten his answer.

"Top-grade Cloud Qi Pills."

"Observer of the Sword Pavilion."

"How can these two things be put together?"

Bai Suzhen looked outside, her eyes bright.

"Compared to sect missions, this person is more interesting."

——————

Elder Su Liang's residence, the Riverside Cottage, was not close to the Alchemy Hall. It took Han Muye and Mu Wan over an hour to get there.

A series of thatched cottages, situated by the water.

The name Riverside Cottage was quite fitting.

A faint medicinal fragrance wafted through the air, invigorating the body and mind.

Taking a deep breath, Han Muye strode forward.

Just a few steps across the stream, Mu Wan suddenly called out, "Senior Sister Jin Yuan—"

Jin Yuan?

Han Muye was taken aback. The female cultivator washing herbs in the river not far ahead was the one he had met at the Su Zhen Building that day.

It was also this female cultivator named Jin Yuan who told him he had only seven days left to live.

The female cultivator looked up, saw Mu Wan, and smiled. "It's Junior Sister Mu Wan."

Her gaze swept to Han Muye beside her, and she was slightly taken aback.

"Senior Sister Jin Yuan, Senior Brother Han wants to seek a pill that increases lifespan. Could you please introduce us to Elder Su Liang?" Mu Wan stepped forward and whispered to Jin Yuan.

Jin Yuan glanced at Han Muye and then whispered, "Are you close?"

Are they close?

Mu Wan wasn't sure if she and Han Muye were close, but she didn't want him to die from his lifespan running out.

She nodded.

Seeing her nod, Jin Yuan turned to the thatched cottage behind her. "Let's go, I'll take you to see Master."

It turned out that Elder Su Liang was Jin Yuan's master.

Han Muye followed the two, seeing many people refining pills in the thatched cottage, with furnaces and fragrances filling the air.

After walking through several corridors, Jin Yuan stopped in front of a wooden pavilion and bowed to the middle-aged female cultivator sitting inside. "Master, this Jiu Xuan Sword Sect disciple wants to purchase a pill that increases lifespan."

Hearing her words, the middle-aged female cultivator, who had been reading a book, looked up.

This is Elder Su Liang, who can refine the pill that increases lifespan?

As Han Muye looked up, the middle-aged female cultivator also looked at him.

"Sword qi entered the heart and chest, lifespan exhausted?"

"Why are you in such a state?"

The female cultivator frowned and asked softly.

"Reporting to Elder, I am the observer of the Sword Pavilion," Han Muye bowed.

"Observer of the Sword Pavilion?" Elder Su Liang murmured and then nodded. "No wonder."

A look of regret flashed across her face, and then she shook her head. "You're too late. The pill that can increase one year of lifespan has already been bought by someone else."

Bought by someone else?

Han Muye's whole body trembled.

Mu Wan also showed a look of anxiety.

Han Muye needed that pill to save his life.

"Then, may I ask Elder if you can refine another one for me?" Han Muye raised his hand, showing three translucent high-grade spirit stones in his palm.

Elder Su Liang shook her head and waved her hand. "Not that I don't want to help you, but the ingredients needed to refine a pill that increases lifespan are rare and hard to come by."

"I am missing the Ming Yuan Bone and the Zuan Sui Fruit, so I cannot refine the pill."

"Recently, these two ingredients have not been available in the surrounding markets."

Cannot refine!

Han Muye felt his heart sink to the bottom.

Is this the will of heaven?

Taking a deep breath, he said in a reluctant voice, "May I ask, Elder, who bought the pill?"

Hearing his words, Jin Yuan and Mu Wan's faces changed.

Inquiring about the identity of the pill buyer is a major taboo.

At the head of the table, Elder Su Liang pondered for a long time before finally uttering two words.

"Mo Yuan."