​Elixir Formation

Huo Xuan's expression remained impassive. "Lin Jian was your cousin, but from my standpoint, that man deserved to die."

Lin Yue sighed, unable to condone Lin Jian's actions herself. "This matter originated from me. That day, I refused to marry into the Xu family in front of the entire clan. But the Lin family would never permit such defiance, so they threatened your safety. Despite my desperate negotiations, they only granted me two years. After two years, barring unforeseen circumstances, I'll still have to marry into the Xu family."

Huo Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Yue-jie, that 'unforeseen circumstance' you mentioned—it's supposed to be me, isn't it?"

Lin Yue didn't deny it, tilting her head to look at him. "Little brother, do you think I'll be disappointed?"

"Absolutely not." A faint smile finally appeared on Huo Xuan's face. "I understand your thoughts, Sister Yue. With this two-year buffer period, you want me to achieve something that will make the Lin family view me differently. It's also to give ourselves time—after all, our relationship hasn't reached that stage yet."

Lin Yue smiled bitterly. "That's why I told you that day I was gambling with my life. If I lose, I'll accept fate and marry into the Xu family. If I win, I'll have a different tomorrow."

Huo Xuan rubbed his nose, a roguish grin spreading across his face. "Sister Yue, since you think this way, shouldn't we work on building our relationship?"

Lin Yue glared at him. "You still have mood for jokes." She shook her head. "I'm still worried about the Lin Jian matter. You don't know—Second Uncle Lin Chi is mobilizing all his connections to search for his son. I fear complications."

Huo Xuan remained composed. "Countless people die every day in this world. He won't trace it back to me, even if he investigates." Internally, he knew: if the truth surfaced, Zhang Wu would immediately silence Scarface Yang and others, denying the Lin family any chance to uncover evidence.

With Lin Yue's spirits low that day, Huo Xuan escorted her home after discussing the jewelry store's opening. They decided Celestial Path Jewelry would open on the 7th of next month. He needed to send invitations in advance to gather their friends.

Over the next two days, Huo Xuan and Lin Yue finalized the invitation list. The guests were few: Zhang Wu, Shang Yang, Zhuang Wen, Feng Yulong, Professor Guo, and others—with Hua Buyi naturally receiving the first invitation.

Additionally, Lin Yue included twenty to thirty acquaintances from business and political circles.

Huo Xuan also invited Chen Fusheng, whose father was the district chief of Qinglong. He deemed it necessary to show respect—after all, while no direct conflict existed between them, mutual antipathy lingered.

Beyond Chen Fusheng, he also invited university classmates like Ma Baorui.

 Family members were naturally invited: parents, Third Uncle Lu Jianjun, and Uncle Huo Guoqiang.

After finalizing invitations, Huo Xuan called Huo Guoqiang that evening. To his surprise, Huo Guoqiang had risen from a junior clerk to deputy section-level cadre in under a year—proving his competence anywhere.

Though only half a rank separates clerk and deputy section-level, it marks the watershed between ordinary staff and leadership. Some stagnate for decades, never crossing this threshold.

Huo Guoqiang's tone turned grave. ​"Xiao Xuan, you didn't inform me about the family incident. I only learned through your father."

"Uncle, I've resolved it. Focus on your work—no need for concern."

"We'll talk tonight. Prepare for a thrashing." The line went dead with a slam.

At Golden Dragon Hotel's dinner setting, Huo Guoqiang arrived accompanied by a stylish woman—mid-tier beauty with intellectual charm and a decent figure.

"Xiao Xuan, this is Han Xiao from my department."

Grinning, Huo Xuan seized her hand. ​"Hello! Huo Guoqiang's my uncle." Turning to his uncle: ​"Since when do you have such stunning friends?"

A swat came flying. ​"Release your claws."

Dodging, Huo Xuan chuckled: ​"Embarrassing us in front of guests?" He gestured Han Xiao to sit.

Han Xiao nodded. ​"Guoqiang speaks highly of you. I wanted to meet the man himself."

After refined conversation impressed Huo Xuan, he cornered his uncle en route to restroom: ​"Huo Guoqiang! Confess—did you bag her?"

"No 'bagging' occurred," Huo Guoqiang deadpanned. ​"We've shared a kiss at most. Don't fantasize."

Huo Xuan rolled eyes. Holy shit—kissing? This is happening. ​"Do you know Han Xiao's background? She reeks of privilege."

Huo Guoqiang grimaced. ​"Her father's Qinglong District Party Committee Secretary. The pressure's crushing."

Huo Xuan gave a thumbs-up. ​"Uncle! You've bagged the district committee's princess! Legendary!"

Huo Guoqiang forced a smile. ​"Her family might object. We've kept this secret—you're the first to know."

Huo Xuan winked. ​"If your future father-in-law objects, I'll grease the wheels."

"We'll navigate step by step," Huo Guoqiang conceded, aware of his nephew's resourcefulness.

Mid-meal, Huo Xuan retrieved a velvet case from his room. ​"First meeting gift—nothing fancy." He handed it to Han Xiao.

Han Xiao's eyes widened at the pale green jade pendant—a piece worth at least tens of thousands. ​"This is too extravagant. I can't accept."

Huo Guoqiang snatched the box at Huo Xuan's cue, clumsily stuffing it into his pocket. ​"Rejecting free treasure? Only fools do that."

Han Xiao pressed lips together, suppressing laughter. The matter settled.

 Seizing the moment, Huo Xuan invited them to the grand opening. Han Xiao arched an eyebrow. ​"Launching jewelry business in Jiangzhou at your age? Impressive hustle."

"Just muddling through," Huo Xuan deflected. ​"But mark my words—my uncle's Personnel Bureau position plus my connections with their director? Political comet in the making."

Han Xiao's lips curved. ​"Afraid I'll underestimate him?"

"The woman my uncle chooses," Huo Xuan grinned, ​"would never lack vision."

Swirling her merlot, Han Xiao revealed: ​"We'll visit my parents next week. Approval equals official courtship."

"If not?" Huo Xuan prodded.

"Clandestine romance." Her smile turned conspiratorial.

Scratching his head, Huo Guoqiang vowed: ​"Xiao Xiao, give me five years. I'll climb that ladder."

Huo Xuan's heart swelled with quiet joy—her interest stemmed from sincere admiration, not political calculus.

After seeing them off, Huo Xuan immediately sought Hua Buyi. Since returning to Jiangzhou, Hua Buyi had been treating patients at Golden Dragon Hotel. Tomorrow marked Sword Immortal Situ Xing's mainland arrival—preparations were crucial.

Finding Hua Buyi meditating, Huo Xuan observed silently until his master opened his eyes. ​"Master, with your mastery of human physiology, shouldn't you have reached Elixir Force long ago? Why remain at Transformed Jin's peak?"

Hua Buyi sighed heavily. ​"Youthful arrogance led me to duel a prodigy. The dantian injury from that clash... forever barred my path to Elixir Force."

Startled by this revelation, Huo Xuan stepped closer. ​"Let me examine you, Master." His penetrative vision pierced Hua Buyi's lower abdomen.

"Your dantian's qi-blood flow appears unimpeded," Huo Xuan frowned. ​"No visible abnormalities."

Hua Buyi's eyes widened. ​"You... perceive this?"

Having absolute trust now, Huo Xuan confessed everything—the Stone Pearl's acquisition, his X-ray vision awakening.

Hua Buyi sat thunderstruck, minutes passing in silence.

"So the Buddha truly walked among us," he finally breathed in awe.

"The Buddha?" Huo Xuan blinked.

What you describe matches ancient texts—the Buddha's Left Eye Relic from Shakyamuni's nirvana," Hua Buyi murmured. ​"Rarer than finger bone relics by magnitudes. But why choose you? Karmic affinity with the Enlightened One?"

Huo Xuan's face flickered with uncertainty. ​"Do celestial beings truly exist?"

"I've long pondered this," Hua Buyi said. ​"Perhaps Buddha and Laozi attained Divine Ability Realm—or something beyond our current comprehension."

"Realms beyond Divine Ability?"Huo Xuan's voice trembled. ​"That's... godhood."

Hua Buyi shook his head. ​"Such mysteries exceed mortal knowledge."

Shaking off cosmic contemplations, Huo Xuan gripped his master's arm. ​"This relic—could it heal your old wound?"

Hua Buyi nodded. ​"Possible only during active qi circulation." His dantian surged with dragon-tiger convergence as qi-blood coalesced toward singularity.

Huo Xuan's vision pierced through—a hairline fracture in the dantian's energy matrix. This microscopic defect had shackled Hua Buyi from Elixir Force ascension for two decades.

"Master, brace yourself!" Golden light erupted from Huo Xuan's pupils, spearing precisely into the fissure.

The Buddha's Eye Relic energy cascaded relentlessly. The defect shriveled under golden baptism, dissolving into nothingness. Residual radiance infused Hua Buyi's meridians, his qi-blood emanated a faint golden hue.

Hua Buyi's body shuddered—decades of stagnation shattered. Qi-blood crystallized into a perfect golden sphere: ​Elixir Force achieved through divine intervention.