Chapter 45: A Debate

Originally, he had wanted to choose the first option.

Not only was the Hunyuan Heaven Restoration Pill worth 100,000 each, but there were no more of them left in the Koi Pond. That was a perk given by the game developers, and the prompt for option three also indicated that the price of the Hunyuan Heaven Restoration Pill was definitely not just at the 100,000 level.

Moreover, this was just the Hunyuan Heaven Restoration Pill, not the Celestial Grade version!

If he chose the first option, what if the entire Qingyun Sect went berserk?

Although a Nascent Soul Transformation cultivator could beat these late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators to a pulp, he couldn't protect Li Qingran!

And the strength displayed by such a cultivation sect was only part of their true power. Who knew if there were some hidden sacred grounds with a few old monsters in seclusion? If he messed with the younger generation, the older ones would come after him, and he wouldn't be able to handle that…

Chen Huaian's left hand, which had been petting the cat's head, started rubbing it repeatedly as his thoughts raced.

He didn't think his concerns were unnecessary.

In these kinds of nurturing games, once the plot options were involved, they would affect the direction of the game. A single misstep could lead to a Bad End.

What good would it do if the game restarted and gave him a new electronic girlfriend?

That wouldn't be his Li Qingran.

After a moment of hesitation, his finger pressed down on option two.

**[Let's not discuss this for now. After Qingran's matter is settled, we'll find a place to talk in detail.]**​

The ethereal voice was steady and authoritative, convincing.

Wu Duantian also cursed himself for being too hasty and quickly cupped his hands in apology. "You're right, you're right. Qingran's matter is more important… This old man lost focus."

He didn't expect an immediate answer.

In his view, a great cultivator capable of refining the Hunyuan Heaven Restoration Pill wouldn't stoop to playing games. At most, they would discuss compensation later. But as long as Zhao Lingtian's dantian could be restored, even if it drained his entire fortune, it would be worth it.

Li Qingran wanted to remind Senior but didn't get a chance to speak.

A voice then rang in her ear:

**[Stay calm. I have my own plans.]**​

So Senior had always been clear about everything. She had been worrying for nothing.

Li Qingran took a deep breath, feeling at ease, but also a bit foolish.

Someone like Senior, who only looked young but had likely lived for countless years, had walked paths longer than the rice she had eaten. Did she really need to worry so much? Instead, Senior had to comfort her.

It really shouldn't be this way…

With these thoughts, her ears grew slightly warm again. She quickly pushed those chaotic ideas aside and raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over Xiao Yifeng, the second disciple of Chixiao Peak.

Xiao Yifeng, who had been comforting Mu Baishuang, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

He turned his head and met Li Qingran's indifferent gaze.

His scalp tingled, and fragments of memories flashed through his mind.

In his memories, Li Qingran had always been submissive. When had she ever looked at him like this? Even when she was in excruciating pain during pill trials, she would pretend not to care. Even when she was beaten black and blue by spirit-stealing sparrow demons while protecting the spirit fields and tending to the herbs, she would always laugh it off.

Li Qingran had always admired his alchemy talent.

No, he had thought Li Qingran always admired his alchemy talent.

So much so that, at some point, when he asked Li Qingran to test pills or help tend the spirit fields, his requests had turned from polite to arrogant demands. He thought it was only natural. After all, he would give her unused pills, even if they were of no use to her.

But he thought that was enough…

But was it really enough?

"Senior Brother, what's wrong?"

Xiao Yifeng snapped out of his thoughts, feeling a cold, delicate hand in his. Mu Baishuang's pitiful eyes met his gaze. The little girl was terrified, having been crying ever since she heard Yun Zimo's screams, her face pale.

But even though she was so scared, she was still trying to comfort him.

How could he still be afraid? What was there to fear?

Xiao Yifeng didn't notice the faint red mist swirling in the depths of Mu Baishuang's eyes.

Daoist Qingxuan, who had been meditating beside Wu Duantian, suddenly opened his eyes and glanced toward Xiao Yifeng, a trace of doubt flickering across his brow.

That aura just now…

No, impossible!

How could there be something wrong with his Chixiao Peak disciples? They had all been rigorously screened. At most, their temperaments might have warped a bit.

Even so, Daoist Qingxuan kept this in mind, silently noting the fleeting aura.

"Li Qingran, why are you looking at me? What have I done to wrong you? Don't forget how many pills I've given you!" Encouraged by his junior sister, Xiao Yifeng regained his composure, stepping down from the platform and standing tall, facing Li Qingran head-on.

"Then I should thank you for the Fasting Pills, Insect Repellent Pills, Laxative Pills…" Li Qingran counted them off on her fingers, causing the surrounding Qingyun Sect disciples to burst into laughter. Xiao Yifeng's face turned as red as a monkey's bottom.

She paused, her eyes icy as frost, and added:

"Oh, and let's not forget the defective pill you gave me, disguised as a normal Great Restoration Pill. The fire poison burned inside me for ninety-three days, keeping me awake at night and unable to eat during the day. At its worst, I could barely walk! You're truly a great second disciple of Chixiao Peak, my dear second senior brother!"

Xiao Yifeng's expression changed. He had known Li Qingran would bring this up.

After the grand competition ended, Mu Baishuang was injured, and Li Qingran was struck by Lu Changtian, vomiting blood. At the time, he was the only one who visited her cave. On the surface, he gave her a Great Restoration Pill to heal her, but in reality, it was a defective pill disguised as one.

He watched as Li Qingran gratefully swallowed it, only for the fire poison to erupt within half an hour.

At the time, he had said he wanted Li Qingran to fully experience the pain his junior sister had endured.

But did Li Qingran have any evidence?

Would she swear another Heavenly Dao Oath? Was she not afraid of losing her life?

Didn't she fear her luck would run out, her fate would be damaged, and she'd become a short-lived ghost?

Besides…

"Junior Sister, I'm only a seventh-grade alchemist. Although I have some talent, I can't guarantee that all the pill toxins can be completely removed. How can you prove I deliberately harmed you?"

Xiao Yifeng crossed his arms, tilting his chin up arrogantly:

"You often come to me to test pills. Your body is very sensitive to pills, almost like an alchemist yourself. Couldn't you tell if a pill contained fire poison? I think you're just an ungrateful wretch, driven mad, treating all the kindness we've shown you as nothing!"

Li Qingran looked at the overbearing Xiao Yifeng, suddenly feeling nauseous. Even when she was expelled from the Qingyun Sect, even when she was waiting to die in that broken hut, she had never imagined that the second senior brother she once admired would become such a disgusting person.

But she really didn't have direct evidence.

The words Xiao Yifeng had spoken were only known to the two of them.

Just as Li Qingran was at a loss, a cold snort came from the void behind her:

**[Interesting!]**​

**[Xiao Yifeng, I ask you this: As an alchemist, can you always tell if a pill contains fire poison?]**​

Xiao Yifeng was stunned. Detecting fire poison in pills was a basic skill for any alchemist. If he couldn't even do that, what kind of alchemist was he?

So he immediately nodded: "Of course!"

**[In that case, you'd better debate this properly!]**​

As the voice fell, ten brocade boxes flew out from the void behind Li Qingran.

Inside were all the most basic Great Restoration Pills.

These were the most fundamental pills, with the most thoroughly researched formulas, and the lower the grade, the simpler they were.

Xiao Yifeng looked at these pills in confusion, feeling they were all normal Great Restoration Pills, nothing special, and even from the same batch.

So what was this Senior's intention?