"Young Mistress, is Senior Uncle Jiang Ye truly alright?"
Under the veil of night.
Chen Nan followed Nangong Wan towards the back mountain.
The hazy moonlight cast a serene glow upon the mountain forest.
Nangong Wan said, "Jiang Ye's cultivation is decent; it can counteract the poison of the Blood Toad Pill. Fortunately, it wasn't the Oblivion Pill. If he had consumed a bottle of that, he probably would have forgotten who he was!"
A wave of regret washed over Chen Nan.
If I had known, I should have found the Oblivion Pill and fed it to Jiang Ye.
Upon returning to the bamboo hut, Nangong Wan said, "It's getting late, you should cultivate," and went into the inner bedroom.
Despite being a single bamboo hut, it had several rooms.
Chen Nan went to an empty room and sat down cross-legged.
He then consumed all the Qi Refining Pills Nangong Wan had given him.
He was already at the early stage of the fifth level of Qi Refining. Even with these pills, it wasn't enough for him to break through.
But he wouldn't have to suppress his cultivation anymore. He wouldn't have to pretend to be a weakling in the Grandmaster realm!
Of course.
Revealing his fifth-level Qi Refining cultivation directly would be too terrifying.
He absolutely could not do that.
Boom, boom, boom!
Deep in the night.
Nangong Wan, who was cultivating, sensed a powerful aura.
She suddenly opened her eyes.
An unbelievable light flickered in her beautiful eyes.
Without a second thought, she rushed to Chen Nan's room.
She saw Chen Nan with a contorted face, his internal True Qi surging madly.
"You actually consumed all the Qi Refining Pills? Are you tired of living?"
Seeing the empty bottles, Nangong Wan's pretty face remained expressionless.
She had merely given Chen Nan a bottle of Qi Refining Pills out of good spirits, never expecting him to consume them all.
Chen Nan grinned sheepishly, "I want to improve my cultivation as quickly as possible. Only then can I serve you wholeheartedly, Young Mistress."
His words left Nangong Wan speechless; she hadn't expected Chen Nan to do this for her.
Nangong Wan's gaze was complex, "But doing this could lead to Qi Deviation at best, or severed meridians and death at worst!"
"I believe I can do it!"
"I definitely can!"
Chen Nan's eyes suddenly became resolute as he controlled the boiling True Qi within him, forcibly suppressing it into his Dantian.
This was a long and arduous process!
Nangong Wan could feel the pain Chen Nan was enduring; even she couldn't bear to watch.
As dawn broke.
The True Qi within Chen Nan gradually subsided.
He was covered in sweat.
He truly wanted to exclaim, acting is not easy!
Let alone doing it for so long without a mistake.
Frankly speaking, at this moment, he could be an award-winning actor.
"Peak of the third level of Qi Refining? You've reached the peak of the third level of Qi Refining?"
Upon sensing Chen Nan's cultivation, Nangong Wan was instantly flustered.
Ordinary disciples might not break through even after consuming dozens of Qi Refining Pills, yet Chen Nan had transformed from the Grandmaster realm to the peak of the third level of Qi Refining.
How could she not be shocked?
Chen Nan revealed a weak smile, "It's all thanks to the pills refined by you, Young Mistress. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to leap to the peak of the third level of Qi Refining!"
Nangong Wan looked embarrassed.
Although she was the sole alchemist of the Fire Cloud Cave, she knew the quality of her refined pills was barely passable for low-grade pills.
Their medicinal effects were nowhere near that miraculous.
"Ye Ce, although you've reached the peak of the third level of Qi Refining, this is not a good thing."
"Cultivation emphasizes gradual progress. Rapidly increasing your cultivation will make your foundation unstable, and you might even be unable to establish your Foundation." Nangong Wan's expression was solemn.
Chen Nan appeared slightly uneasy, "Then what should be done?"
Nangong Wan said, "I remember there's a pill called the Body Tempering Pill. If successfully refined, it can solidify the foundation and prevent other issues!"
"Refining this pill requires a lot of expensive medicinal ingredients, doesn't it?" Chen Nan asked cautiously.
In truth, he was aware of the Body Tempering Pill.
He even knew some of the ingredients required to refine it.
The reason he had raised his cultivation to the peak of the third level of Qi Refining.
Ultimately, it was to use this opportunity to obtain the Body Tempering Pill.
After all, he had previously advanced from the middle stage of the second level of Qi Refining to the fifth level.
The rapid increase in his realm made him uneasy.
Therefore, he deliberately pushed his cultivation to the peak of the third level of Qi Refining.
The purpose was to use Nangong Wan to help him refine the Body Tempering Pill.
Although doing so was somewhat unethical!
But!
If one doesn't look out for oneself, heaven and earth will destroy them!
Nangong Wan said, "Refining the Body Tempering Pill does indeed require many expensive medicinal ingredients, but it's not a major problem. My Fire Cloud Cave still has some ingredients."
"Don't worry, I will definitely refine the Body Tempering Pill for you, no matter what."
Chen Nan was overwhelmed with gratitude, "Thank you, Young Mistress. I have nothing to repay you with, except to serve you wholeheartedly."
Nangong Wan revealed a charming smile, "That is enough!"
A moment later.
A disciple from the mountain delivered breakfast.
Compared to dinner, breakfast was relatively light.
Stir-fried winter bamboo shoots.
Steamed buns.
And a plate of pickles.
What truly astonished Chen Nan was the presence of two bowls of Hundred Flower Dew.
Hundred Flower Dew refers to the dew that forms on flowers before dawn.
It needs to be collected before daylight.
Regular consumption can improve one's physique.
It could be considered a rare item.
In the past, only Nangong Wan had the privilege of consuming it within the vast Fire Cloud Cave.
But now.
It fell into Chen Nan's lap!
He could definitely be considered a freeloading success!
After the meal, Nangong Wan said, "Today is the monthly pill distribution day. You should distribute the pills later. It's also a chance for you to show your face and for the disciples on the mountain to recognize you."
This was a good assignment.
Chen Nan naturally couldn't refuse.
He then left the back mountain with the pills prepared by Nangong Wan.
The disciples of the Fire Cloud Cave were already waiting ahead.
Upon seeing Chen Nan appear, many looked surprised and whispered amongst themselves.
But without exception, everyone's eyes held envy, even jealousy.
They had heard that Elder Wu had arranged for this person to go to the back mountain.
They had also heard that Chen Nan had gained the Young Mistress's favor.
"Ye Ce, you've reached the peak of the third level of Qi Refining?"
Elder Wu sensed Chen Nan's cultivation and couldn't help but gasp.
Chen Nan bowed respectfully to Elder Wu, "Last night, the Young Mistress bestowed upon me a bottle of Qi Refining Pills. Fortunately, I did not fail in my mission and reached the third level of Qi Refining."
???
???
The disciples of the Fire Cloud Cave were all stunned!
A bottle of Qi Refining Pills as a bestowal?
Is there any justice in this world!
We only get one Qi Refining Pill each month, and you, having just joined the Fire Cloud Cave, received a whole bottle...
Comparing oneself to others is infuriating!
"I knew you were talented, my boy. You truly haven't disappointed me." Elder Wu let out a hearty laugh. He had heard that the Young Mistress had stood up for Chen Nan, even reprimanding the Grand Elder.
If nothing unexpected happened.
This young man was very likely to become the son-in-law of the Fire Cloud Cave in the future!
If that were to happen, his status would undoubtedly rise.
"You are Ye Ce?"
Accompanied by a cold voice, a burly and imposing young man stepped forward.
He made no attempt to hide his killing intent, "I advise you to stay away from Junior Sister. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Chen Nan bowed and politely asked, "Senior Brother, who are you?"