Chapter 618
As she shouted softly, the golden light on the sea surface suddenly flickered violently. A vague human figure gradually took shape, first the bones, then the meridians, and finally the flesh and blood. The fire of creation wove every inch of skin, and the blood of the Azure Dragon reshaped every bone.
Suddenly, huge waves rose on the sea. Nangong Wan opened his eyes suddenly and found that the body that had just condensed was shaking violently. The fire of creation became unstable, and cracks began to appear on the body.
"Not good!" Fu Shaoping said anxiously, "It lacks the traction of the soul!"
Nangong Wan bit her finger, and a drop of blood fell into the sea. The blood drop drew an arc in the air and landed precisely on the forehead of the body. At the same time, she threw the dragon soul jade pendant into the air.
"Fu Shaoping, go home."
The jade pendant shattered, and a green dragon shadow roared out and rushed into the new body. A clear dragon roar suddenly sounded between the sea and the sky, and the sea water within a hundred miles trembled.
When the light faded, a familiar figure stood on the shallows. The water was above his ankles, and the moonlight outlined his tall figure. He slowly opened his eyes, and his eyes were as clear as when he first saw me, but his pupils had become the vertical pupils unique to the dragon race.
"Awan." His voice was a little hoarse, but with an unconcealable smile, "I'm back."
Nangong Wan stood there, and suddenly felt her legs go weak. The energy consumption of the Creation Technique was too great, and her vision began to blur. Just as she was about to fall, a pair of strong arms caught her.
Fu Shaoping held her horizontally, and the power of the Azure Dragon continuously flowed into her body. He looked down at the pale woman in his arms and said softly, "Next, it's my turn to protect you."
Amid the sound of the sea tide, Nangong Wan closed his eyes peacefully.
**Tracing the Market**
After leaving the coast, Fu Shaoping and Nangong Wan headed eastward. They needed a safe place to recuperate and also to find a suitable market to settle down.
"I heard that monks frequently come and go in the 'Qinglingfang' in Dongzhou, and the demand for elixirs is huge." Fu Shaoping unfolded a yellowed map and pointed his finger at a mark surrounded by mountains.
Nangong Wan nodded slightly: "It's just right, we can open a medicine shop."
Fu Shaoping looked at her sideways, his lips slightly raised: "You make pills, and I sell medicine?"
Nangong Wan snorted: "You are lazy."
Fu Shaoping laughed softly: "I will be responsible for purchasing the spiritual medicine, and by the way, I will help you to avoid those troubles that are not careful enough."
Nangong Wan glanced at him and said nothing more, but a hint of tenderness flashed across his eyes.
-
Qinglingfang is built on the mountain, with crisscrossing streets, numerous shops, and numerous monks. In the center of the market there is a thousand-year-old spiritual tree, with lush branches and leaves, and full of spiritual energy. Monks often set up stalls under the tree to trade.
Fu Shaoping and Nangong Wan rented a small shop on the edge of the market town. It was a two-story wooden building with a simple wooden plaque hung in front of the door. On it were the four characters "Qingxuan Dan Pavilion" written in sharp strokes, with a hint of sword intent.
"Nice handwriting." Nangong Wan stood in front of the door and commented lightly.
Fu Shaoping stood with his hands behind his back and said with a smile: "After all, I was once a disciple of the Four Symbols Sect, so I can't be too shabby."
-
Nangong Wan set up an alchemy room on the second floor, set up a spirit gathering array, and used the power of heavenly fire to warm the alchemy furnace. Her alchemy technique was unique, the flame moved as she wished, and the quality of the elixir was excellent. She soon became famous in the market.
Fu Shaoping was in charge of receiving guests. He was handsome and spoke calmly. Many female cultivators who came to buy elixirs always liked to look at him a few more times. Nangong Wan occasionally went downstairs and saw him chatting and laughing with guests. He snorted coldly and turned back to the alchemy room. When refining elixirs, the flames were three times more intense than usual.
One day, a casual cultivator in the foundation-building stage came to buy the "Ningyuan Pill". Seeing Nangong Wan coming out in person, he said arrogantly: "Don't let your pill be a defective one."
Before Fu Shaoping could speak, Nangong Wan had already glanced at the man coldly: "Buy it if you want."
The casual cultivator's face darkened, and he was about to explode, but Fu Shaoping stepped in between them with a smile, "Don't worry, my elixir is of top quality. If you don't believe me, you can try one first."
As he spoke, he took out a pill and handed it over. The casual cultivator took it half-believingly, and his face suddenly changed. The spiritual power in his body instantly condensed a little.
"This...this pill..." He looked at Nangong Wan in shock.
Nangong Wan didn't bother to pay attention to him and turned away. Fu Shaoping smiled and stretched out his hand: "Thank you, fifty spirit stones."
-
At night, Dan Pavilion closed its doors.
Nangong Wan sat in front of the alchemy furnace, with flames dancing on his fingertips, refining a new batch of elixirs. Fu Shaoping pushed the door open and came in, holding a bowl of spiritual rice porridge in his hand.
"Take a break?" he asked.
Nangong Wan didn't even raise his head: "Wait a moment."
Fu Shaoping did not urge her, but just leaned against the door and watched her make the elixir quietly. The firelight reflected on her cold face, making her look particularly gentle.
When the elixir was ready, Nangong Wan put out the fire, then took the porridge he handed over and sipped it.
"We made a lot of spiritual stones today." Fu Shaoping said with a smile, "It seems that we will be able to move to a bigger shop soon."
Nangong Wan said calmly: "It's enough."
Fu Shaoping looked at her and suddenly said, "Actually, this is not bad."
Nangong Wan raised his eyes: "Hmm?"
Fu Shaoping smiled and said, "I make pills, sell medicine, and live a simple life."
Nangong Wan was silent for a moment, then whispered, “…Yes.”
Outside the window, the lights in the market town gradually went out, except for the fire on the second floor of Dan Pavilion, which was still warm.
On this day, the streets of Qinglingfang were drizzling and misty. Fu Shaoping was leaning against the counter looking through the account books when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside the door.
Looking up, I saw a middle-aged monk in a gray robe standing at the door. He looked anxious, with some blood on his robe.
"Fellow Daoist, do you want to buy some pills?" Fu Shaoping closed the account book and asked in a gentle voice.
The monk clasped his fists and saluted, saying in a hoarse voice: "My name is Chen Yue. I heard that your alchemist is very skilled, so I came here to ask for a pill!"
Fu Shaoping raised his eyebrows slightly, but before he could answer, Nangong Wan's cold voice came from the second floor: "What pill?"
Chen Yue looked up and saw a woman in plain clothes slowly walking down the stairs. Her eyebrows and eyes were beautiful, but she exuded a fierce aura. He bowed quickly and said, "Fellow Daoist, I urgently need a 'Nine Transformations Life-Sustaining Pill' to save my junior brother's life!"
Nangong Wan's eyes flickered slightly: "Nine-turn life-extending pill?"
This pill is ranked as a fourth grade pill and is extremely difficult to refine. Ordinary alchemists would not dare to even attempt it.
Fu Shaoping glanced at Nangong Wan, and seeing that she looked calm, he smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Chen, this pill is not cheap."
Chen Yue gritted his teeth and said, "As long as fellow Daoist is willing to help, I am willing to give you my entire fortune!" As he said that, he took out a storage ring from his arms and presented it with both hands.
Nangong Wan did not answer, but simply asked: "Have you prepared all the materials?"
Chen Yue looked troubled: "We are still missing one more ingredient, 'Millennium Blood Ganoderma'..."
Fu Shaoping shook his head: "A good cook cannot cook without rice. How can I make an elixir without the main ingredient?"
Chen Yue said anxiously: "Although the blood ganoderma is missing, my junior brother's life is at stake and he can't wait any longer! If you are willing to help, I am willing to use the ancestral 'Xuanbing Yucui' as compensation!"
Nangong Wan's eyes flashed: "Mysterious Ice Jade Marrow?"
This thing is a spiritual material bred in extremely cold places. It is very effective for practicing ice-based skills or suppressing fire poison.
Fu Shaoping saw her expression and knew that she was thinking, so he smiled and said, "Awan, what do you think?"
Nangong Wan was silent for a moment, and finally spoke: "The materials are incomplete, and the success rate of the pill is less than 50%."
Chen Yue was overjoyed: "Fifty percent is enough! It's better than just sitting there and waiting to die!"
Nangong Wan nodded: "Lead the way."
-
Chen Yue's junior brother was lying in a simple wooden house outside the market town. His face was blue and purple, his breath was weak, and there was a hideous wound on his chest, emitting a strange black aura.
"Poison injury?" Nangong Wan frowned.
Chen Yue smiled bitterly: "The day before yesterday, we were hunting monsters in the 'Black Mist Swamp' and were accidentally injured by a poisonous dragon..."
Nangong Wan said no more, took out the alchemy furnace, ignited the heavenly fire at his fingertips, and began to refine the elixir.
Fu Shaoping stood aside, his eyes swept across the room, and suddenly asked: "Fellow Daoist Chen, are you independent cultivators?"
Chen Yue nodded: "Yes, my two brothers have no sect or school, and we usually rely on hunting monsters in exchange for resources." Fu Shaoping thought for a moment: "No wonder..."
The alchemy process was extremely tense. Nangong Wan was fully focused, the flames swirling in her palms, and the herbs were put into the furnace one by one. Chen Yue was watching from the side, terrified, afraid of making any mistakes.
Suddenly, the alchemy furnace shook violently, the lid was slightly lifted, and a violent spiritual power leaked out!
"Not good!" Chen Yue exclaimed.
Fu Shaoping's expression remained unchanged, he just looked at Nangong Wan quietly.
There was a flash of cold light in her eyes, and she pressed down hard with her fingertips. The sky fire suddenly surged, forcibly suppressing the turbulent spiritual power!
The furnace gradually became stable, and finally, a wisp of elixir fragrance wafted out.
Nangong Wan put out the fire and opened the furnace lid. Three blood-red pills lay quietly inside.
"It's done!" Chen Yue's voice trembled with excitement.
Nangong Wan took out a pill and handed it to Chen Yue: "Give it to him quickly."
Chen Yue hurriedly did as he was told. Soon after his junior brother took the pill, his face gradually regained its color and his breathing became steady.
"Thank you for saving my life!" Chen Yue bowed deeply, took out the black ice jade and presented it with both hands.
Nangong Wan took it and said calmly: "It's just a transaction, no need to thank me."
Fu Shaoping smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Chen, if you need anything in the future, feel free to come to Qingxuan Dan Pavilion."
Chen Yue said solemnly: "Definitely!"
-
After leaving the cabin, the drizzle had stopped and it was getting dark.
Fu Shaoping and Nangong Wan walked side by side on the stone road of the market town. The lights around them gradually lit up, illuminating their figures.
"That black ice jade marrow will help you suppress the backlash of the heavenly fire, right?" Fu Shaoping suddenly asked.
Nangong Wan said “hmm”.
Fu Shaoping chuckled: "It seems that this trip was not in vain."
Nangong Wan glanced at him and said, "Have you figured out that Chen Yue can come up with something good?"
Fu Shaoping blinked: "Intuition."
Nangong Wan snorted and didn't bother to pay attention to him.
Fu Shaoping suddenly reached out and gently held her wrist.
Nangong Wan was startled: "What?"
Fu Shaoping probed her wrist with his fingertips and frowned, "You've consumed too much spiritual energy, and you're still trying to be brave?"
Nangong Wan pulled his hand back: "It's okay."
Fu Shaoping sighed, took out a jade bottle from his arms, poured out a green pill and handed it to her: "Eat it, it's a spiritual tonic."
Nangong Wan glanced at him and finally took it and swallowed it.
Fu Shaoping then smiled with satisfaction: "Let's go home."
In the night, the figures of the two people gradually walked away, and the lanterns of Qingxuan Dan Pavilion swayed gently in the wind, as warm as ever.
The mornings at Qinglingfang are always busy, but today it is even more noisy than usual.
Fu Shaoping pushed open the door of Qingxuan Dan Pavilion and was about to hang up the wooden sign for business when he suddenly noticed something strange across the street. He squinted and saw that the shop that was originally vacant had been hung with a brand new plaque - "Xuan Dan Pavilion" without knowing when.
"Oh?" He raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at the newly opened store with interest.
The decoration was much more gorgeous than that of Qingxuan Dan Pavilion. The lintel was carved with intricate cloud patterns, and a few strings of copper bells were hung under the eaves, jingling in the wind. Several shop assistants in uniform were busy placing goods on the shelves, while behind the counter, a man in brocade clothes was chatting with the monks passing by with a smile.
"Awan." Fu Shaoping turned around and called, "We have neighbors now."
Nangong Wan walked down from the second floor, holding a newly sorted spiritual herb in her hand. She followed Fu Shaoping's gaze, her expression still cold: "What does it have to do with me?"
Fu Shaoping laughed and said, "People in the same industry are enemies. They are obviously coming for us."
Nangong Wan snorted and turned back to the house: "Boring."
Within a few days, the influence of Xuandan Pavilion surpassed that of Qingxuandan Pavilion.
The man in brocade clothes was named Zhao, and he claimed to be the descendant of a certain alchemy family. Not only did he have a wide variety of elixirs, but the prices were also 30% lower than those of Qingxuan Dan Pavilion. What was even more surprising was that he could refine several rare fifth-grade elixirs, which attracted many cultivators to patronize him.
"I heard that Master Zhao Dan has a strong background, and even the manager of Qinglingfang is polite to him..."
"Yes, it is said that the Concentrated Mind Pill he made is very effective, even better than the one made by Qingxuan Dan Pavilion!"
The sounds of monks' discussions on the street could be heard faintly. Fu Shaoping leaned against the door, listening with a smile on his face.
At this time, a cultivator who had bought pills from Qingxuan Dan Pavilion came over hesitantly and whispered, "Fellow Daoist Fu, I'm really sorry, the pills from Xuandan Pavilion are cheaper, I..."
Fu Shaoping waved his hand, not caring at all: "Trading is free, fellow Taoist, don't worry about it."
The man breathed a sigh of relief and left in a hurry.
Nangong Wan walked out of the inner room and asked calmly, "Another one left?"
Fu Shaoping shrugged: "The seventh one."
Nangong Wan glanced at the Xuandan Pavilion opposite. Master Zhao Dan was looking at them proudly with a bit of contempt in his eyes.
"Do you want to take action?" Fu Shaoping asked.
Nangong Wan retracted his gaze and turned to walk towards the alchemy room: "No need."
However, things did not end there.
A few days later, a rumor suddenly spread among the people - there was something wrong with the elixirs of Qingxuan Dan Pavilion. After taking them, the spiritual power would be sluggish, and some people might even go insane!
“Nonsense!” A casual cultivator who had been treated by Nangong Wan slammed the table and said, “I have been taking the elixirs from Qingxuan Dan Pavilion for many years and have never had any problems!”
But the rumors became more and more intense, and some people even blocked the entrance of Qingxuan Dan Pavilion and shouted and cursed.
Fu Shaoping still responded with a smile, but there was a coldness in his eyes.
At night, Nangong Wan sat in front of the alchemy furnace, the flames reflecting her profile, flickering.
Fu Shaoping pushed the door open and walked in, holding a pill in his hand: "I found it."
Nangong Wan raised his eyes.
"This is the Concentrated Spirit Pill sold by Xuandan Pavilion." Fu Shaoping applied a little force with his fingertips, and the pill cracked, revealing a trace of dark red impurities inside. "Adding the Erosion Spirit Grass will improve the efficacy in the short term, but it will erode the meridians in the long term."
Nangong Wan's eyes turned cold: "Despicable."
(End of this chapter)