The soul pill is no ordinary object, not to be discussed casually over wine, nor refined in a pill-making chamber, nor stored carelessly in the pill halls of any Sect. In truth, there are only two of its kind in the world.
One is said to be hidden within the belly of the Azure Dragon, where it has slumbered since ancient times, never to be seen.
The other had once been bestowed upon humankind by the heavens themselves. Since that time, it had remained in the custody of the Li Clan, passed down through generations, guarded as a divine relic, revered but untouched.
The purpose of the Soul Pill, as whispered in ancient, fragmented texts, was not for the weak of spirit, but for those whose souls burned with power. It could transform the mortal soul into one eternal. It could forge the spirit into something indestructible. It could lead one to the path of immortality, even to the edge of the great Dao.
But all of this…. was rumor.
No one has ever truly consumed it, nor understood its true purpose. People merely guard it, hide it, and revere it like a divine entity, observing from a distance without daring to approach.
So then… why would his poor ears now play tricks upon him, making him hear words about the Soul Pill from nothing more than a stone turned spirit dumpling?
"Those herbs I used to make soup yesterday," he murmured to himself. "Perhaps I picked the wrong one."
He shook his head, smiling bitterly. This was all too absurd.
He chose to ignore what he had seen or heard. He tied up his bruised fingers and had the broth as though nothing had happened.
His hands were already full with the burdens of the world, what use did he have for fantasies carved by a dumpling stone?
He returned to the pot of sacred water to cover it, muttering, "Looks like I'll have to go fetch water again. At least for the use of tonight and tomorrow."
Just as he lifted the cloth to cover the pot, he suddenly saw a small cylindrical bamboo slip slowly floating up from the water. There was a red symbol on it.
"Hm?" He frowned and reached in, fishing the bamboo out of the water. It was never there before. Or was it?
It was a bamboo token or tally, often used as a receipt or proof of transaction.
In all these years, he had never seen someone give him one of these. And the symbol on it… though unfamiliar, he could read, and he was clever enough to know who it belonged to.
"...Li Clan?"
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Meanwhile, in the village area outside the mountain, within the family residence of the Li clan, several servants were busy attending to their duties. Suddenly, the wooden doors marked Alchemical Hall and MedicinePavilion were pushed open, startling the few guardians who were working inside.
An elderly elder hurried in, panting and out of breath, clearly having rushed there.
"Master!" The guardians immediately stood up and bowed respectfully.
The elder was Li Qu Zhi, the Li clan's Alchemical Patriarch. He nodded slightly, his expression grave, and said, "I've come to inform you all of a major event - the Soul Pill has been sold!"
"What?!" The guardians looked at each other, shocked.
The Soul Pill was a rare and extraordinary item, never sold to outsiders, and had been guarded by the Li family for generations. It was said that only when the heavenly mandate was revealed could its true purpose be known.
Li Qu Zhi shook his head, his voice heavy with concern. "I just received the news. The buyer used 'Infinite Merit Points' to exchange for it, which is unprecedented. The name they left behind is 'Jin Pi Gu'."
"Golden Butt?" The guardians repeated the name in hushed tones.
Li Qu Zhi nodded. "The Golden Butt will come to retrieve the pill personally. I'm here to warn you - do not offend him! He may be a soul entity, a spiritual entity, or a divine messenger... Regardless of what he is, as long as he holds the Li family's token, he is the true master."
The guardians understood that anyone who could exchange Infinite Merit Points for the Soul Pill was no ordinary person.
The Li family didn't need wealth and had never intended to sell the pill. If they had wanted to sell it, they would have exchanged it for countless resources long ago. But now, the sudden sale could only mean that the buyer was someone they couldn't afford to offend - perhaps a person of heavenly mandate, a divine being.
Li Qu Zhi's brow furrowed, his unease growing. The other guardians also realized this, but none of them knew what the buyer looked like. If they offended him, the consequences would be unimaginable.
After a moment of contemplation, Li Qu Zhi said, "Let's hope he comes to retrieve the pill soon, so we can see this Golden Butt for ourselves."
The news spread quickly, and everyone in the Li family, whether close or distant relatives, heard about the Golden Butt and the purchase of the Soul Pill using InfiniteMeritPoints.
Meanwhile, Pi Guang up in the mountain temple was still pondering in his hut.
"Should I throw away this bamboo token? No, if I get rid of it, I might regret throwing it away when I need to start a fire later. I'll just let it dry for now and decide what to do with it tomorrow." He muttered to himself, deciding not to worry about it further.
As time passed, Pi Guang prepared his bed and got ready to rest. He was still unsure how he would recruit at least one student for the trial or try to control nature's Qi at least. If he needed a wooden house to live and steamed buns to eat, he would have to find a way.
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Meanwhile, in a more luxurious room, a couple lay quietly in the main bedroom. Li Tang and Lan Suoya lay side by side.
Suddenly, a bird landed on the windowsill, and Li Tang got up to retrieve a silk thread tied to the bird's leg. It was a message from the Li Clan House. He unfolded it and read it, his brow furrowing slightly.
"The Li family is about to lose its glory and status. The Soul Pill has been purchased by a 'Jin Pi Gu' using 'Infinite Merit Points,' which is unprecedented. This person's identity is extraordinary, and they should not be offended. Perhaps they are a divine being who has descended into the mortal world."
Li Tang's expression grew serious. "Pi Gu?"