Chapter 43: A Visit from Qianxue!

After the battlefield was cleared, the two women returned to the Hidden Sword Pavilion.

"Did they come looking for you?" An Miaoqing asked.

Bai Xiaoru nodded. "These people chased me all the way from the Central Province. It’s a relief to finally be done with them."

"I see," An Miaoqing replied, asking no further questions, as everyone has their own secrets.

Bai Xiaoru then told An Miaoqing about Qin Tian’s departure for the Central Province. Upon hearing this, An Miaoqing grew concerned and considered setting off for the Central Province herself to find him. She attempted to reach out to Qin Tian via voice transmission, but the distance was too great, and the message failed to go through. After pondering for a while, she decided to depart in two days and try to contact him once she reached the borders of the Central Province.

In Qingyun City, at the Qingmu Trading Firm, Qing Yu was nestled in the arms of an elderly man. Her slender, jade-like hand brushed gently across his cheek as she murmured with a breath as fragrant as orchids, "Master Gu, our firm is counting on you this time."

The old man tightened his grip on the beauty and smiled. "As long as you keep me satisfied, everything will be taken care of. The pills I refine will surely sell exceptionally well in a place like Qingyun City."

Qing Yu said coquettishly, "I will certainly make sure you are satisfied."

"Good, good, good!" Overjoyed, the old man pulled Qing Yu down beneath him.

While Qing Yu wore a mask of shyness, her heart was filled with endless resentment. This old man, Gu He, was an alchemist she had pulled strings to bring in from Cloud Emperor City to save her business. If it weren't for Qin Tian, she would never have had to debase herself before such an old man, even having to indulge his peculiar fetishes to keep him happy. She had once been the most distinguished person in Qingyun City; why should she have to endure this?

When the old man finally went limp, Qing Yu glanced at him with utter contempt. She desperately wanted to sneer, "Is that it? That’s all you’ve got?" But instead, she had to shower him with praise for his prowess. Such is the cruel law of the world of cultivators.

The next day, the Qingmu Trading Firm released three new types of Earth-tier pills at affordable prices: the Three-Pattern Spirit Gathering Pill, the Three-Pattern Gale Pill, and the Three-Pattern Golden Recovery Pill. The Spirit Gathering Pill was for increasing cultivation speed; the Gale Pill boosted movement speed, typically used for escaping danger; and the Golden Recovery Pill was for healing wounds.

The "three-pattern" designation indicated the grade and medicinal efficacy. The more patterns, the better the effect, and the higher the requirements for the alchemist's skill. Once released, many warriors lined up at the Qingmu Trading Firm to purchase them. Although these three-pattern pills were only twenty percent more expensive than the previous two-pattern versions, their efficacy was fifty percent higher.

Furthermore, there had been anomalies in the Qingyun Mountain Range recently; the spiritual energy had become more dense, and the demonic beasts had grown more active, with some even migrating from other regions. This meant more beasts and greater danger. Since Qingyun City was the closest settlement to the mountain range, and most of its residents relied on hunting in those mountains for a living, they were in urgent need of these pills.

Pills were the primary and most profitable sector for any trading firm. For the next few days, most cultivators queued at the Qingmu Trading Firm. Because the output of a single master was limited, the firm sold only a small quantity at a time, restricting purchases. Those who couldn't wait often ended up buying other pills from the Qingmu firm as well. As a result, the number of people visiting the Lin Family Trading Firm for medicinal supplies dwindled significantly.

The Lin firm also attempted to contact alchemists from larger cities, but none were willing to come. Lin Wan arrived at Qin Tian’s shop to pick up *The Legend of the White Snake*, looking listless. Qin Tian had heard about the situation and knew that as long as the alchemist at the Qingmu Trading Firm remained, the Lin family would have no hope of recovering. He began to consider bringing the Lin Family Trading Firm under his wing. If he helped them grow, they could provide him with intelligence and resources. Most importantly, he wanted the Lin firm to help him acquire Emperor-grade medicinal herbs, which would allow him to refine pills in bulk to boost his own cultivation.

After Lin Wan left, Qin Tian summoned Zong Yan, the grandson of Zong Wu. Knowing that Zong Yan had studied alchemy and possessed the aptitude for it, he wanted to mentor him. Zong Yan had learned the basics back in his family, and after his grandfather took him on the run, he had studied even harder upon learning of his grandfather's injuries. He had even tried to hunt a Bright Tiger just to obtain its essence blood for alchemy.

Qin Tian explained his intentions. Zong Yan, knowing that Qin Tian was a peerless expert, felt it was a great honor to learn from him and immediately knelt to pay his respects as a disciple. Qin Tian accepted him as an honorary student, teaching him only alchemy. He began to impart his "True Understanding of the Alchemical Path" bit by bit and personally guided Zong Yan. With his solid foundation and ability to refine Earth-tier pills, it wouldn't be long before Zong Yan could refine pills with three patterns or more.

That night, after practicing for a while, Qin Tian lay on his bed reading.

*Knock, knock, knock!*

A flurry of urgent knocking sounded at the door. Zong Yan, who was practicing alchemy downstairs, opened the door to find two beautiful women: the sisters Qian Xue and Qian Wei.

"Is Mr. Qin here?" Qian Xue asked anxiously.

"Yes, let me go inform him," Zong Yan said, turning to call for Qin Tian. But Qin Tian had already heard them and was walking down the stairs with a faint smile; he had known that Qian Xue would come back sooner or later.

Seeing Qin Tian, Qian Xue exclaimed with surprise, "Young Master Qin!"

Qin Tian smiled. "Why have you come to find me so late? Is something the matter?"

At his question, Qian Xue’s expression dimmed. Behind her, Qian Wei urged impatiently, "If you’re going to say goodbye, hurry up. Don’t drag me down with you."

Qian Xue trembled slightly and said, "I came to bid you farewell, Young Master. I don’t know if I’ll ever have the chance to repay your kindness." With that, she bowed to Qin Tian and turned to leave.

"Wait." Qin Tian stopped her. "Have you encountered some trouble? Perhaps I can help."

Before Qian Xue could reply, Qian Wei scoffed impatiently, "Stop acting so high and mighty. You’re just a mortal—how could you possibly help me?"

Zong Yan flared up at this. "How dare you speak to my master that way!"

"Master?" The two women looked at Zong Yan, disbelieving, as Zong Yan’s strength was roughly on par with their own.

"Do you trust me?" Qin Tian asked Qian Xue.

Qian Xue thought of the cultivation technique he had given her, then glanced at Zong Yan, and nodded. "I trust you."

"Become my servant and stay by my side. No one will dare lay a hand on you," Qin Tian said directly.

Qian Wei interjected, "You’re like a toad wishing to eat swan meat!" She pulled at Qian Xue. "Let’s go."

But Qian Xue didn't move. Qian Wei’s face darkened. "Are you sure you aren't coming with me?"

Qian Xue hesitated. In truth, she didn't like her sister, who was incredibly snobbish and had bullied her since childhood. If it weren't for the fact that their family had been destroyed and Qian Wei was her only remaining relative, she would have cut ties long ago.

Seeing Qian Xue remain silent, Qian Wei sneered, "From now on, consider yourself no sister of mine." She turned and stormed out.

Just then, a voice echoed.