7. Plotting Against Qi Fan

Outside the Calm Pill Pavilion

Zheng Xie stood tall with his hands clasped behind his back, exuding an effortless grace as he approached the grand gates of the Calm Pill Pavilion. The guards stationed outside stiffened slightly upon seeing him, their postures immediately straightening before offering him respectful bows.

He responded with a light nod, exchanging a few polite formalities before walking past them into the grand hall of the pavilion.

Inside, the scent of crushed herbs and alchemical ash lingered in the air. The interior was decorated with rich wooden panels, lacquered with spiritual patterns, and shelves lined with elegant ceramic pots labeled with golden calligraphy.

The scent wasn't unpleasant—it was the kind of medicinal aroma that made cultivators feel strangely at peace.

Near the entrance, a young girl was stationed behind a counter, tasked with the responsibility of welcoming new guests. Hearing footsteps, she bowed deeply without looking up, her voice soft and well-trained.

"Welcome, fellow pursuer of the Dao. How may the Calm Pill Pavilion serve you today?"

Zheng Xie offered a small smile, amused by the overly formal greeting. His voice was calm but carried authority.

"I seek a meeting with Elder Lian Zhen. Tell him Zheng Xie has arrived. He won't reject me."

Her expression froze. At first, she blinked, confused at the bold request. But when the name registered—Zheng Xie—her entire demeanor shifted in an instant.

'Zheng Xie?! The second heir of the Zheng clan?!'

She slowly lifted her head to get a better look at the speaker. And what she saw left her stunned for a heartbeat.

He was beautiful.

There was no other word for it. With his long, jet-black hair flowing like strands of night itself and sharp crimson eyes that exuded both threat and serenity, his aura was dangerous, elegant, and magnetic.

A cold prince standing in the middle of a medicinal hall. Even if he lacked talent in cultivation, Heaven had clearly not denied him looks.

Her cheeks warmed slightly as she stole a few glances before scurrying off to fetch Elder Lian Zhen, her steps light and hurried.

Meanwhile, Zheng Xie wandered further inside, casually examining the rows of labeled pill containers, each sealed within intricate jars.

One of the shelves caught his eye.

Labeled in stylized golden characters was a pot containing Sky Assimilation Pills.

He let out a low chuckle.

Despite the grandiose title, the pills were hardly what they claimed to be. Sky Assimilation Pills—a name fit for something that devoured heavenly essence. In reality, these were diluted substitutes, barely reaching Spirit Grade, let alone the Celestial tier they pretended to belong to.

Zheng Xie already knew the truth behind it. The Pavilion's patriarch, Qi Fan, had insisted on lowering the prices in a bid to make cultivation more accessible to the common masses.

Altruistic, perhaps. But his generosity had not earned him love among his elders. They grumbled behind closed doors, calling it naive and ruinous.

The result?

They cut corners. The pills were weaker. Inconsistent. Far from what they should've been. A pity.

Zheng Xie's eyes scanned the next shelf. Rejuvenation Pills—those were second in demand. And rightly so. Without those, his skin-tempering sessions would've been nightmares far beyond bearable.

Below them were Mind Calming Pills, used to stabilize heart demons and internal rage, especially during breakthroughs.

His observations were interrupted by a deep, familiar voice behind him.

"Ah, Mister Zheng Xie. What an unexpected visit. Had you desired pills, we would've been more than happy to send them directly to the Zheng estate."

Zheng Xie turned, a lazy smile curling on his lips.

A white-haired man stood behind him, his beard full and long, combed neatly and currently being stroked in practiced rhythm.

Elder Lian Zhen, a senior figure in the pavilion, radiated calmness like all high-level alchemists, but Zheng Xie could see the faint ripple of surprise in his eyes.

"I'm not here for pills, Elder Zhen," Zheng Xie replied, voice light. "I'm here to talk. Something that requires privacy—no idle ears around."

Lian Zhen narrowed his eyes slightly, though his smile remained. He stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"I see. Do you wish for just us two to speak? Or should we bring in a few disciples or guards for formality's sake?"

Zheng Xie raised a hand and tapped a finger on his chin, as if in thought. "No need for that. I would prefer a conversation with the Elders. There's no need to involve others and create unnecessary tension."

The gentle rhythm of Lian Zhen's beard stroking paused ever so briefly.

'Elders? Not just me?' the thought surfaced sharply in the old man's mind. 'He didn't come for a casual talk. This boy has something bigger in mind. Something planned.'

Still, outwardly, Lian Zhen remained serene. He nodded. "Very well. As your heart desires. Please, come with me. We'll use the private council chamber."

As Zheng Xie followed him deeper into the pavilion, he couldn't help the faint smile tugging at the edge of his lips.

'It begins.'

…

Inner Chambers of the Pavilion

Inside the private council chamber of the Calm Pill Pavilion, the atmosphere was thick with silent tension.

Eight elders, each with their own ambitions and weary patience, sat around a circular stone table carved with alchemical runes and talismanic borders that faintly pulsed with spiritual light. At the center of the circle—symbolically and quite literally—sat Zheng Xie.

He was flanked by four elders on each side.

To his right sat Elder Lian Zhen, face as placid as ever, long beard brushing against his lap. On his left, Elder Jheng Li, eyes narrowed in habitual scrutiny, fingers casually stroking his beard as if deep in philosophical thought—though anyone who knew him well would know he was more interested in profits than principles.

Lian Zhen was the first to speak, his voice calm, but carrying weight.

"Zheng Xie, I believe this is the first time all eight of us have gathered like this on behalf of someone outside the Pavilion Council. What reason do you have for summoning us together like this? Is something… amiss?"

Zheng Xie folded his hands neatly on the table, posture relaxed but deliberate.

"There's nothing currently happening," he said slowly, "but something will happen. And when it does, I'll need all of you to help me… at the right moment."

His tone wasn't pleading, nor threatening. Simply matter-of-fact.

The elders exchanged subtle glances.

Jheng Li arched a brow, the motion slight but not missed. He tapped his fingers against the table.

"Mister Zheng, should I take that to mean this matter will affect the Pavilion's reputation? Will it invite repercussions from our consumers?"

Zheng Xie tilted his head, his expression thoughtful, borderline amused.

"There will be consequences, yes," he admitted. "But how severe they become… well, that depends entirely on how you choose to respond when the time comes."

The room fell into brief silence, heavy but not uncomfortable. The elders were seasoned men—used to navigating politics beneath a mask of serenity. Only fools flinched at vague threats.

Elder Lian Zhen played his fingers.

"If you can clarify the situation, we are naturally more inclined to cooperate," he said. "As long as what you propose does not jeopardize our foundations, we would act in the Pavilion's best interests."

Zheng Xie smiled faintly.

"You all dislike Qi Fan, don't you?" he asked, voice like a soft knife. "You resent his self-righteous attitude—how he forces the Pavilion to play saint while your resources dwindle. You tolerated it at first. But then you began adjusting the recipes, lowering pill quality just enough to nudge buyers toward higher grades."

A few elders raised their brows slightly, while others remained still. No one refuted his claim.

Zheng Xie continued.

"Your methods were crude, but effective… until Qi Fan found out. And in his great benevolence, what did he do? He banned the sale of Immortal Grade pills entirely under the guise of 'ethical alchemy.' He called it purification of intent."

Their expressions hardened just a little. No one liked being called out, but they disliked Qi Fan even more.

"You're not angry because you were caught," Zheng Xie added. "You're angry because you're starving. No extra resources for research, for breakthroughs. Just public praise and private resentment. I'm simply here… to offer a solution."

Jheng Li let out a low, dry chuckle, fingers still moving across his beard.

"So, what solution do you bring, young heir? Let me guess—you want to replace the Pavilion Lord?"

Zheng Xie didn't flinch. "Yes. I want to remove Qi Fan from his position. Peacefully, if possible. Forcefully, if necessary."

The statement dropped like a stone into water.

None of the elders said anything immediately. But Zheng Xie saw it—those slight smirks at the corners of their lips, the glint in their eyes. They were far too experienced to display overt approval, but their silence was a clear signal.

He pressed on.

"I'm not helping for free. I expect something in return. When the Zheng Family purchases pills, I want a 70% discount—no restrictions, no backdoors. And 90% when I make a purchase."

Jheng Li narrowed his eyes slightly. "A rather bold demand," he said. "Is this part of some… official task given to you by your clan? Swindling an entire Pill Pavilion?"

Zheng Xie laughed. But it was the kind of laugh that lacked warmth.

"You jest, elder. Of course not. My family does not care how something is done. As long as it's useful to them, they treat it as an accomplishment. Depending on its value, I can claim any reward I want."

Lian Zhen finally let out a boisterous laugh, beard bouncing with each chuckle.

"Ah… so that's it. You want to ask for that girl's hand. Ling Xue, wasn't it? That charming little flower from the Ling family."

Zheng Xie's lips twitched. A red tint crept up his ears, betraying him.

The other elders chuckled as well. The tense atmosphere began to loosen. Zheng Xie cleared his throat, composing himself.

"Ahem. That may or may not be the reason," he said, voice slightly hoarse. "But regardless, to achieve that end, I need to meet Qi Fan face-to-face. And for that, I need an official reason. I can't request an audience with the Pavilion Lord just to say hello."

He leaned back slightly, eyes glinting with quiet cunning.

"That's why I will use the Spirit Seizing Pills as my entry point. Under a guise of a different pill which I would proclaim I have created myself"

Lian Zhen was the first to react, nearly jumping out of his seat.

"What?! How? And why would you even consider such a thing? That pill is forbidden! You know the consequences—if the patriarch finds out, he won't hesitate to punish you, Zheng Xie!"

His voice, normally calm and collected, cracked with the weight of alarm.

But Zheng Xie remained unshaken. His expression was calm, almost too calm, as he gave a small nod and responded in a sincere tone.

"I'm fully aware of that, Elder Lian. That's why I've taken… precautions. I've made several adjustments to the formulation. Please… take a look for yourselves. Besides, he is a gentle person. Surely he wouldn't want his friend's son to accidentally do something wrong."

With a flick of his hand, eight small cloth pouches emerged from his spatial ring and floated gently across the table, landing before each elder.

He continued, tone steady and slightly self-assured, "These are your pills, Elder Lian. The original base you developed for the Spirit Seizing Pill. I only made a few changes here and there… just enough that they no longer qualify as the original. At least not under the current definitions."

Curiosity piqued, the elders didn't waste time. One by one, they opened their respective pouches, revealing the pills inside. Smooth, perfectly round, slightly translucent, the pills looked no different than high-quality Rejuvenation or even mid-tier Celestial Grade pills at a glance.

One of the elders, inspecting it under a magnifying spiritual lens, hummed in approval.

"No soul path residue… not even a lingering trace of spirit tampering. This is… this is genuinely impressive," he said, then glanced at Zheng Xie. "You might have talent in alchemy, young man."

Zheng Xie smiled humbly but didn't reply. He knew he didn't have an ounce of talent for alchemy. But it wasn't something they should know or care about.

However, not everyone was quick to praise. Another elder, more skeptical by nature, rolled the pill between his fingers before speaking.

"Visual inspection isn't enough. The patriarch won't rely on surface-level readings. We need to be sure. I suggest we test them internally. If the Qi pathways feel natural after ingestion, then it'll pass scrutiny."

The remaining elders shared a glance. One by one, they silently nodded and placed the pills in their mouths. Lian Zhen and Jheng Li were the last to move, their expressions conflicted. Lian Zhen, before swallowing, gave Zheng Xie a subtle look—half apologetic, half resigned.

Zheng Xie only lowered his head slightly.

Then came the effect.

At first, everything was fine. A moment of silence, a flicker of Qi circulation, and then—

A jolt.

Every elder's expression twisted.

The pill hadn't released its effects immediately. It had waited—waited until the energy seeped deep into their meridians and Qi Sea. And then, a tidal surge of soul path energy exploded outward, crashing through their dantian and spiritual channels.

It wasn't painful, but it was unmistakable. Immense. Volatile. And deeply taboo.

One of the elders gasped, "What… this—this is pure soul energy!"

Another immediately clamped his mouth shut, entering meditation posture in full panic. "Suppress it, suppress it! If anyone sees us like this, we'll be marked as soul path cultivators!"

The room descended into chaos.

Each elder tried different methods—Qi dispersal, spiritual vents, re-circulation. But the soul path energy wasn't dispersing. It clung to them like a parasite, dancing through their bodies like ethereal fire. With no options left, they all resorted to the last viable solution—assimilation.

They had to absorb the soul energy and let their spiritual cores consume it.

Half an hour passed.

Sweat trickled from their brows, their robes dampened at the collar. Their faces paled and flushed in cycles as they carefully refined the chaotic energy, fearful of any external detection.

Eventually, their breathing slowed, and their auras stabilized. The final tendrils of soul path energy dissipated from the chamber. Silence reigned once more.

But no one looked triumphant.

Each elder was visibly shaken, their brows furrowed, lips dry, eyes slightly bloodshot. It had taken all their cultivation mastery to handle the pill.

And then, there was Zheng Xie.

Sitting there innocently, rubbing his fingers together, eyes darting around the room like a guilty student trying not to get caught cheating. He looked like the most terrified one in the room.

Which, oddly enough, gave the impression that he was the one who had been fooled.

Seeing him like that, Lian Zhen let out a strained chuckle, rubbing his temples. His voice, though soft, was laced with suppressed exhaustion.

"Alchemy is… difficult," he said. "You tried, Zheng Xie. You just made a miscalculation. No need to blame yourself. We'll still arrange your meeting with the patriarch… no pill required."

His tone was meant to soothe, but the slight tremor in his voice betrayed the mental strain he was under. The other elders looked just as worn out. Their posture stiffened, breaths shallow, expressions tight.

And yet, beneath it all, Zheng Xie was smiling. Not outwardly, no—but in the corners of his mind, a crooked smile bloomed.

'First step… complete.'

…

He stood up, brushing down his robes with unnecessary care. The elders accompanied him back to the entrance of the pavilion, their expressions forcibly polite.

Lian Zhen patted his shoulder lightly, stroking his beard with a hollow laugh.

"May your day be wonderful, Mister Zheng Xie. You must visit again. I… look forward to more enlightening conversations."

Zheng Xie clasped his hands behind his back, and replied with a slight bow, though his voice carried a very different tone than earlier—less confident, more reserved.

"I… I would like that as well. Spending time with all of you has broadened my understanding. Truly, I'm grateful. Let's meet again soon."

They exchanged one last set of hollow smiles before Zheng Xie turned and left the Calm Pill Pavilion.

He made his way through the city, passed the busy markets and glowing lanterns, until he arrived at the Zheng clan estate. He walked directly into the inner hall and shut himself in the meditation chamber, finally exhaling.

He sat down, cross-legged, adjusting his posture into a perfect lotus stance. In the silence of the room, only his breathing echoed softly.

Inside his mind, thoughts churned.

He began diving into the vast sea of Wu Zhu's memories. Pages upon pages of cultivation novels flipped through his mind like windblown scrolls. He read each one not for entertainment, but for pattern.

From the protagonist's perspective. From the villain's. From the wandering bystander. From the beggar on the street who got one line of dialogue.

And through this obsessive breakdown, he began to see the shape of something hidden. Something artificial.

A pattern.

'Clichés,' he thought to himself, eyes closed, fingers twitching.