The silent mountaintop—two people stared at each other.
Ning Yuxin looked sincerely at Lu Changsheng, her eyes full of suspicion.
"What do you mean 'Are you even capable?' Young lady, have you ever heard of the Swordheart Clarity Pill?"
"Never heard of it."
Ning Yuxin shook her head without hesitation.
As the daughter of the richest family in Cangzhou, rare treasures were nothing to her—yet this so-called pill Lu Changsheng mentioned was truly foreign.
Lu Changsheng nodded:
"Good. You're not supposed to have heard of it."
"What do you mean?"
"It's a secret technique passed down only by my master. Neither of my senior brothers learned it—only me. Just one pill guarantees comprehension of swordsmanship within three days, helping one step into the first level of Sword Intent!"
"Really?"
"Genuine quality, fair price—honest trade for all. Only ten thousand spirit stones per pill!"
"I'll take one."
Ning Yuxin said directly. A cloth pouch appeared in her hand—a magical tool that could hold many things.
That action left Lu Changsheng stunned. He had prepared a whole string of convincing arguments for a long negotiation—but before he even began, she already agreed?
"You're really buying it? Not even thinking it over?"
Ning Yuxin shook her head:
"Though your reputation is bad, and people say your character isn't great—everyone warns me to stay away from you—but I think your heart isn't too bad."
Lu Changsheng was speechless.
Was that a compliment or an insult?
Ning Yuxin continued:
"Besides, it's only ten thousand spirit stones."
"Only?"
Lu Changsheng winced—he had clearly underestimated her wealth.
"Sure enough, people don't share the same joys and sorrows in this world!"
Lu Changsheng accepted the spirit stones.
"When will I get it?" Ning Yuxin asked urgently.
"Tomorrow morning."
"Deal!"
Ning Yuxin smiled again. For the sake of Zhou Qingyu, she had come all this way. He was her idol—she had to give it a try, no matter what.
As she left, Lu Changsheng looked at the pouch in his hand and walked happily toward the alchemy room, ready to make the pill.
However, as he entered the alchemy room, he saw Ye Tianyi sitting there dazedly—two alchemy furnaces were blown to pieces.
"Senior Brother, are you making... Exploding Heaven Bombs?"
"What Exploding Heaven Bombs? I'm refining Clarity Pills for Senior Brother to aid his sword cultivation!"
"Then why did the furnaces explode?"
Ye Tianyi said:
"Not sure if it was a step gone wrong or the wrong ingredients."
He was thinking hard, recalling every step.
Lu Changsheng took a look and said:
"It's both. Clarity Grass is the key—it must be added at the moment of pill formation. Otherwise, it collides with alchemical fire and boom—instant explosion. Also, your heat was too high."
"How do you know that?"
Ye Tianyi was shocked—it was as if Lu Changsheng had witnessed the entire process.
"You know alchemy too?"
"Just a little."
"Then you—"
"Oh, I used to take strolls around Danyun Peak and overheard the peak master mention it."
"You strolled around Danyun Peak?"
Ye Tianyi was stunned.
Danyun Peak specialized in alchemy. If not for the peak master being in closed-door cultivation, Ye Tianyi wouldn't have taken on the task himself.
He had once been noticed by the Danyun Peak Master for his alchemy talent, but his current master forcefully took him into Qingyun Peak.
Over the years, he'd trained into quite the skilled alchemist.
Lu Changsheng didn't say more. He walked to the wrecked furnace, smeared some ash off the inner wall with his fingers, and turned to leave.
Ye Tianyi watched, half convinced, and began preparing a new batch of materials.
Back in his room, Lu Changsheng's soot-black hands rolled out a thumb-sized pill.
"Almost done."
Satisfied, he nodded.
Then he formed a seal—sword energy surged within the room, wind howled, and a flash of sword light cut through the air.
That was his original sword intent, from which he drew a wisp and sealed it into the pill.
With that, the Swordheart Clarity Pill was complete.
The name, of course, he made up on the spot—just to sell it to Ning Yuxin for spirit stones.
But this wasn't a scam.
The pill contained a sliver of his original sword intent. Once ingested, that intent would take root and be nurtured, helping Ning Yuxin comprehend swordsmanship and reach first-level Sword Intent.
As for how far she could go after that—it depended on her own talent.
This method had been something Lu Changsheng discovered by accident. It had no side effects—though it did consume his sword intent, and it took time to restore.
But for spirit stones—he had no choice.
After finishing, he lay down satisfied.
Now with twenty thousand spirit stones, he felt richer than ever. With work done, it was time to cultivate again.
Thinking about that brought both joy and sorrow.
The next day, he again slept until noon.
Just as he opened his door, Ning Yuxin was already standing there.
"Junior Sister, you're…?"
"Didn't we agree on delivering the pill early? It's already noon!"
Ning Yuxin sounded mildly resentful. She had waited all night, full of anticipation, only for him to sleep in again.
"Apologies—I stayed up too late refining it last night!"
Lu Changsheng spoke as he took out the pill.
Ning Yuxin looked at it suspiciously.
"Is this thing safe to eat?"
"Don't worry. Guaranteed to produce sword intent."
She gulped, hesitating:
"Senior Brother, what exactly did you use to make it?"
Lu Changsheng thought for a moment:
"All extremely rare herbs. I've saved them for a long time to refine this single pill. If it weren't for our friendship, I wouldn't even be willing to take it out. Honestly, I didn't make a profit—I'm even taking a loss."
He spoke with deep regret.
Ning Yuxin was moved. She increasingly felt that this senior brother wasn't quite like the rumors said.
Lu Changsheng watched her, full of anticipation.
Ning Yuxin said:
"Thank you, Senior Brother. I'll take it right now!"
She turned and ran back to her room.
Lu Changsheng stood there dumbfounded.
"I went through all that, and she doesn't even say anything? Just runs off?"
"Sigh, girls these days are hard to trick. Spirit stones are getting harder to earn."
He sighed helplessly.
But at least he'd made good money—time to find a place to cultivate.
Just then, another loud shout came from the alchemy room.
Ye Tianyi burst out and looked toward Lu Changsheng.
"Did it work?" Lu Changsheng asked.
"It worked!"
Ye Tianyi beamed.
"Good. You go ahead, Senior Brother."
Lu Changsheng was about to leave.
But Ye Tianyi blocked his way.
"Junior Brother, I'd like to talk to you."
Lu Changsheng was stunned, frowning at his senior brother's serious expression.
"What is it?"
Ye Tianyi spoke:
"From the past few days, I see that while you may lack some discipline, you have talent. You could identify our senior brother's sword issue and memorize pill formulas after hearing them once—that's talent."
Lu Changsheng opened his mouth, about to speak.
Ye Tianyi continued:
"It's probably because Master hasn't been around these years, and Senior Brother is too focused on cultivation—that's why no one's guided you properly. From now on, I'll personally supervise your cultivation. You'll make great progress with time."
"Senior Brother, I—"
"No need to say more. I've made up my mind."
Ye Tianyi's gaze was firm.
"Soon, the Cangyun Secret Realm will open. You'll come with me."
"Senior Brother, there's really no need. I think—"
"Don't worry. Just rest for today. Tomorrow, I'll officially start supervising your cultivation!"
With that, he left with his pills to find Zhou Qingyu—leaving Lu Changsheng with no chance to argue.
"So it's already decided?"