Chen Qiaozhen’s Return

Midday, three days later.

Chen Jinshu left Ink Plum Courtyard and made her way toward the Pill King Hall. This time, she intended to directly pass the exam for High-Grade First-Tier Alchemist.

After three months of secluded cultivation under her master Shui Huanmeng, not only had her cultivation improved, she had also taken the opportunity to seek advice on alchemy from her master and several senior brothers.

These senior disciples were already accomplished alchemists, and under their guidance, Chen Jinshu had grasped many new techniques.

Later, in her own cave dwelling, she had successfully refined high-grade first-tier pills. The Purple Ginseng Pill she now consumed was a top-tier among first-tier pills—it could grant her over a dozen wisps of spiritual energy per dose.

Of course, since it replenished her spiritual energy, it also helped her progress her cultivation slightly each time. When she arrived at the Pill King Hall, it was bustling with disciples coming to take the alchemy exam—many from other peaks.

However, since only Herb King Peak could host certification exams for alchemists, all the other disciples had to come here. After about half an hour in line, it was her turn.

"Elder, I want to take the exam for High-Grade First-Tier Alchemist!"

"Hmm, not bad! You only passed the mid-grade test last year. Seems like your alchemy has improved along with your cultivation. Here's your token—go ahead."

The registrar elder smiled after checking her identity token. Chen Jinshu had made quite an impression during the last outer sect competition, and he remembered her well. Token in hand, she proceeded to Room 36 of Hall B.

Inside, five or six alchemists were already undergoing assessment. Without delay, Chen Jinshu handed her token to the supervising Golden Core elder. She then drew a "random herb box" and chose Furnace #13 to begin.

"They say the high-grade exam includes over 500 herbs. Not sure if that's true…"

As she opened the box, over 600 herbs flew out.

"Whoa—an extra 100? This just got harder!"

She immediately began sorting them by quality, tier, and attributes. After two busy quarters of an hour, the herbs were separated into neat piles.

"Enough for two furnaces of Condensing Essence Pills… three furnaces of Spirit Ginseng Pills… one furnace of Barrier-Breaking Pills…"

She could make ten batches of pills with these herbs. Spirit Ginseng Pills were the easiest to refine—but they wouldn't reflect her true level.

She wasn't the cautious mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator she used to be. Now, she needed a tougher challenge to truly assess her skills. She chose the Condensing Essence Pill, which aided spiritual awareness and cleared the mind.

"Three Ethereal Grasses… one Cloudstripe Thunderwood… one Blood Ginseng Root…"

She quickly arranged the necessary herbs and began igniting the flame beneath her furnace. Several practiced hand seals later, the fire roared to life. Half an hour passed. She had reached the condensation phase of the process.

"Nine pills is pushing it. Six is doable," she muttered, her face slightly pale from spiritual energy consumption.

The Cloudstripe Thunderwood was particularly difficult—it required extreme heat to melt. She realized then that her biggest flaw was still control over alchemy fire—a valuable lesson.

From there, the process was smoother. She executed a few more seals, guiding the golden droplets of refined essence to condense, detoxify, and shrink. Another half hour later, she cast her final seals. The six pills absorbed the ambient pill mist, locking in their potency.

"Six pills—not bad. At least two are high-quality."

Fifteen minutes later, the fire was quenched and she stored the pills in a jade bottle.

"Three high-grade, three mid-grade… Unexpectedly good!"

She had expected one to be of low-grade quality. She quickly collected her certificate and left the examination room. Just outside, she bumped into a familiar face—Chen Qiaozhen.

"Eighth layer of Qi Refining!" Chen Jinshu wasn't surprised to see her here, but she was startled by her progress. She remembered Chen Qiaozhen only had the third layer before—and with a four-element spiritual root, at that. Her rate of advancement now nearly rivaled Chen Jinshu's. And Chen Jinshu had relied on numerous spiritual items to reach her current level.

"If you're not busy, could you wait two hours for me? I have something to discuss," said Chen Qiaozhen after a pause, a flicker of surprise in her gaze too.

"Alright. Come find me at Ink Plum Courtyard when you're done. Here's my message talisman." Chen Jinshu considered it, then agreed.

They had no major grudge—just some snide words exchanged in the past. Seeing her now grown and improved, Chen Jinshu no longer cared to keep score. After all, cultivators must cultivate their state of mind.

Two hours later, Chen Qiaozhen arrived at Ink Plum Courtyard.

Chen Jinshu welcomed her inside.

"It's been years. Your cultivation's grown impressively! Why didn't you compete in the outer sect trials?" she asked.

"I wasn't in the sect at the time and missed it," Qiaozhen replied regretfully.

She might have made the top twenty and earned a few Foundation Building Pills if she had participated.

"So why did you come find me?" Chen Jinshu asked directly.

"To apologize. I was young and foolish and said some harsh things."

"Just childish bickering. I never took it seriously."

"Still, it was my fault. If you ever run into trouble, you can come to me."

Chen Jinshu looked at her. She saw sincerity in her eyes—but how could she be so sure she could help?

"So you came because of the clan?"

"Not only that. The Chen Clan is thriving right now. But the Lin Clan has allied with the Wangs, trying to destroy us and seize our spiritual mines and lands," Qiaozhen said gravely.

"So what? You know how your clan treated me. And now you come asking?" Jinshu sneered, finding it ironic.

"I'm not here to ask you to intervene. Just to trade for any Foundation Building Pills you might have. You're talented and had a chance encounter in the Moon Cleansing Pool. But for me, the sect's pills require too many contribution points. I want to help the Chen Clan—but I'm running out of time." Qiaozhen's voice held a hint of desperation.

"You ran away from a forced marriage. Now you want to get involved with the Chen Clan again? You finally escaped that prison, and you want to go back?" Jinshu countered.

"I escaped thanks to my father. I can't just leave him or my uncles to die. I had a dream once—a nightmare, really. I saw myself being killed by the Lin Clan. That's why I fled. But since then, I've found many fortuitous encounters… And the dream—it's becoming reality…"

Her voice trembled. The fear of that prophetic dream still haunted her.

Chen Jinshu was stunned.

Qiaozhen did not lie. And yes—she did have extra Foundation Building Pills. But that wasn't enough reason to help the Chen Clan.