The moon had cycled thrice since that night by the pond. In those passing moons, the sect's prestige rose steadily, and the Alchemy Pavilion bloomed like never before, its furnaces never cold, its smoke drifting into the sky like a dragon's breath. The Pavilion that invested in Arthur with costly Origin Tempering Elixirs now made a fortune for the sect.
The resources that a normal alchemist of Arthur's cultivation level required to refine pills, brew elixirs, and concoct potions had been reduced by nearly half. Arthur had a higher efficiency in alchemical refinement and brewing. What was more shocking was that Arthur was the one who made almost all the high-grade alchemy products below the Solar Ascendance Realm.
Yet beneath the Pavilion's thriving surface, two factions had quietly formed: one eagerly awaited the changes once Arthur broke through into the higher realms. At the same time, the other feared that the boy was burning himself away in exchange for the sect's rising prestige.
Though bound by schemes to hand seven-tenths of his share to his uncle, Arthur walked a steady path. He should have been in trouble, unable to contribute four-tenths of his earnings to his household. Still, somehow, he managed to survive the crisis. He did so by secretly selling nearly all the resources his father gave him to counter the Origin Tempering Elixirs. He sold herbs, rare ores, and beast cores and converted them into spirit stones. The only thing he never parted with was the Origin Tempering Elixir itself. That would have raised suspicion.
To his father, Arthur appeared dutiful, upholding the family's burdens without complaint. He seemed even more admirable to his two guards. A sacrificing son who willingly shouldered a heavy load. They believed Arthur sold his precious elixirs in the market through them, refusing to use them for himself.
They never questioned it. Why would they?
Each time Arthur had them sell the elixirs, the price they brought back was higher than what his father had paid. Arthur even rewarded them generously, cementing their loyalty further.
Meanwhile, Zi Xuan's pouch of spirit stones grew fatter. Arthur had already given him the promised sum four times, each delivery made in person, each with increased stones, each time ensuring Zi Xuan himself opened the pouch.
The venom was subtle, invisible. Zi Xuan had no idea that the Venom Thread Seal was weaving its way deeper into his veins.
Zi Xuan felt elated for having struck a deal with his nephew earlier. Now, even with the matter of the Inscription Pavilion, Arthur and his father could not be dragged down. Zi Xuan believed he had made his move at the right time. He had no complaints as long as his nephew continued to bring him his share of the Spirit Stones.
But it was on the fourth dose that Arthur finally felt content with his plan. Zi Xuan's temper, once sharp as a sword, grew edged with frustration. His body seemed slightly weaker. The poison had begun to gnaw at him, thread by thread.
Arthur was not the one to stand beneath another's schemes, not when patience and planning could make others kneel.
As for Arthur's own cultivation, the results spoke clearly. Within those three moons, he broke through again, stepping into the Third Luminary, Early Amber Radiance Realm. His rise placed him on par with Ming Hao, whose progress was similar.
Zi Xuan, however, only sneered inwardly. To him, Arthur's progress reeked of pills, potions, and elixirs. A reckless path that inevitably demanded backlash.
Let him soar higher, Zi Xuan thought coldly. The higher one climbs on borrowed wings, the sharper the fall when they burn away.
Zi Xuan was not dismayed. Quite the opposite, he was eager. When Arthur reached the peak of the Amber Radiance Realm, his talent would allow him to refine the Whiteflare Bloom Breakthrough Pills. When that time came, Zi Xuan would not lament Arthur's swiftness. Instead, he would be the first to reap its fruits.
The Heavenly Oath of Tianyu had borne witness.
It was evening in Qingmiao City.
Arthur let out a long breath. He bowed toward the cauldron, then turned to leave. It was time to go home.
Outside the Alchemy Pavilion, his two guards approached at once and stepped beside him. As they escorted him, they noticed a change in his routine.
"Young master, you're not going to the tavern today?" one asked.
Arthur offered a faint smile and shook his head. "Not today. Refining the Amber Radiance Realm Pills… it took more out of me than I thought. I'll rest early tonight after dinner."
The guards exchanged glances but said no more. They followed in silence, their steps steady as shadows.
When they reached the great house, the guards took their places at the entrance while Arthur slipped quietly inside. He made his way to his chamber, slid the heavy doors shut, and let the world fall away behind him.
No sooner had he lain down on the bed than a knock sounded against the door.
"I'll be going soon for dinner, Zi Yan. Let me rest," he called.
A deep voice answered back, rougher, heavier. "Brat, it is your father."
Arthur sighed, shook his head, rose to his feet, and opened the door.
Arthur stepped back as his father entered. He instinctively moved to fetch a chair, but Liang Zheng waved him off and sat down on the edge of the bed instead.
"How is everything going on?" Liang Zheng asked, his voice quieter than usual.
Arthur clasped his hands and lowered his gaze. "Steady, Father. I've managed to refine a few batches of Solar Ascendance Realm Pills without failure. My cultivation has also advanced to the third luminary, early Amber Radiance."
Liang Zheng's lips curved faintly, but his eyes betrayed the storm inside him. "Good. Very good. But cultivation isn't only about speed, Xiao Tian… It's about balance."
Arthur nodded, offering a dutiful smile, though within he knew his path was carefully staged, not the reckless rush his father imagined.
Liang Zheng reached into his robe and drew a small wooden box, placing it between them. "Here. Longevity-Defying Marrow Pill. This should repair the damage of the elixirs."
Arthur stiffened, his eyes narrowing despite his best effort to hide it. Father… this again…
He accepted the box with both hands, bowing his head, but his heart twisted with frustration. Liang Zheng was burdening himself with sacrifices for a son who hadn't consumed even one of the Origin Tempering Elixirs.
Liang Zheng exhaled heavily, his shoulders sagging like years had suddenly settled upon them. "Qing Tian… I have failed you as a father."
Arthur's head shot up. "Father, please, don't say that. I— " He didn't understand where this was coming from.
Liang Zheng raised his hand, silencing him. His eyes burned with rare determination.
"From now on, stop taking the Origin Tempering Elixirs."
Arthur blinked. "Huh? But Father, you said—"
"Forget what I said before," Liang Zheng cut in sharply. "Listen to what I say now. For the next three moons, continue going to the Alchemy Pavilion as usual, but do not consume the elixirs. Not a single one."
Arthur's brows furrowed. "Three moons? Why, Father? What has happened?"
Liang Zheng's gaze darkened, and he spoke slowly. "In three moons, every problem we face will come to an end."
Arthur's mind raced. Three moons? Then a realization struck, and his eyes widened. "Father… isn't the sect master's position vacating then?"
"Yes," Liang Zheng said, his voice firm. "He will be preparing for the Starfall Abyss Mirage. When he leaves, the sect must be entrusted to one of his disciples."
Arthur felt his chest tighten. "Father… are you going to be the sect master? But… isn't Uncle going to contest as well?"
Liang Zheng's eyes gleamed with unshakable resolve. "Whether it be your uncle or the other candidates, they can do little now."
Arthur leaned forward, whispering almost breathlessly, "Why, Father? What happened?"
Liang Zheng met his gaze, and for the first time, Arthur saw it, his father's aura, restrained but vast, pressing against the very air of the chamber. "Because within this sect, I am now second only to the sect master."
Arthur's heart pounded. Shock rippled through him, but soon it twisted into delight. He knew without doubt: he was now sitting in the presence of a Whiteflare Bloom Realm Cultivator.
Liang Zheng noticed the shift in his son's eyes and shook his head. "It is nothing, Xiao Tian. You don't understand. Solving this was only one step. Many burdens remain."
He exhaled, "From now on, cease all unnecessary cultivation. If the Pavilion asks you to prepare a recipe, do so. But anything that demands you to push your realm further, any pill or potion requiring more than what you already hold, refuse. Ignore such requests."
Arthur frowned. "But Father, why?"
"I am not telling you to abandon cultivation altogether," Liang Zheng said firmly. "Only to wait. Wait for three moons. When I stand as sect master, I will finally be at ease. And then, only then, will I entrust you with a secret beyond anything this sect, or even all of Tianyu, could offer."
Arthur caught his breath. His father's words carried the weight of a destiny greater. But deep inside, he thought, I am the one who entrusted you with those secret father.