Chapter 169: Acquiring Pills

Chapter 169: Acquiring Pills

Xiao Yuansi tapped the alchemy furnace in front of him and the final batch of Snake Essence Pills flew out instantly, glowing brightly as they circled in the air, before each landed neatly in the jade bottle in his hand.

"Alright... from these seven Snake Dragon Fruit, we've managed to produce forty-five pills. According to the usual rules we've established, I'll take nine, and the remaining thirty-six are for your family," Xiao Yuansi suggested.

Li Tongya shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this, having grown far beyond the young man he once was when he first stepped onto the path of immortality by the lake.

After three or four decades of cultivation by the lake, he was well aware of the usual shares in alchemy and insisted, "Senior! You're being far too generous to my family... In the realm of alchemy, if one provides their own materials and the success rate exceeds fifty percent, the remainder belongs entirely to the alchemist. There's no precedent for taking only after achieving a seventy percent yield! You've assisted my family greatly, how can we take advantage of you..."

Xiao Yuansi paused before a gentle smile crossed his face.

"I have already broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm; these Snake Essence Pills are of no use to me. Taking these nine is merely an effort to not break tradition. Your family has many younger members who need these pills far more than I do. There's no need for such formalities with me!"

"Absolutely not!" Li Tongya refuted immediately. He understood that it was Xiao Yuansi's sense of obligation because of what had happened at Chejing, and was simply wishing to make amends to the Li Family. He then continued graciously, "But you're right... we do indeed urgently need these pills. I shall accept your goodwill then!"

After saying this, he took out fifty Spirit Stones from his storage pouch and placed them on the table, respectfully saying, "Since these pills are of no use to Senior, these are the Spirit Stones you rightfully deserve... Please accept them!"

Xiao Yuansi calculated quickly and realized that Li Tongya was still valuing them based on a fifty percent share, and the fifty Spirit Stones were actually more than sufficient.

With a wave of his sleeve, he accepted them, not wanting to argue with him.

"Well, I won't make it difficult for you then... I'll accept them."

As he stood up preparing to take his leave, Xiao Yuansi suddenly remembered something and said warmly, "The Lixia Prefecture has been devastated with hardly any population left... My Xiao Family will need to migrate some people over from the various families along the Guli Road. A junior will come by later to discuss the details."

"Understood, Senior. Safe travels!" Li Tongya quickly replied, watching as Xiao Yuansi rode his flying shuttle away, disappearing into the horizon.

It was only then did Li Xuanxuan dared to come into the courtyard. Seeing the table filled with jade bottles, his face lit up with joy. "With these pills, the cultivation of our family members can advance further!" he exclaimed gleefully.

Li Tongya nodded, collecting the pills on the table with a wave of his sleeve.

"The Snake Essence Pill is known for its mild nature, suitable for those at the Embryonic Breathing Realm and Qi Cultivation Realm. They're just what our family needs right now," he remarked with an approving nod.

Li Xuanxuan estimated the timing and smiled, "I've been at the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm for two years now... With these Snake Essence Pills, plus a talisman pill of each major realm, I have great confidence in breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Realm!"

Li Tongya handed him the pills, asking softly, "Have you decided on which cultivation method to pursue?"

"Though the Purple Thunder Secret Origin Technique is powerful, the required Profound Yin Thunder Liquid can only be collected during specific thunderstorms... and I can't wait that long. So, I'm choosing between the River One Qi Technique and the Cave Spring Clear Spirit Technique. Both are unique in their own way, but I'm leaning toward the latter," Li Xuanxuan explained his decision in one breath, clearly having thought through this a long time ago.

Li Tongya simply waved his hand in response to this.

Li Yuanxiu entered the courtyard with a smile. Li Yuanjiao, who had just finished his cultivation, was practicing with his sword in the courtyard.

Seeing Li Yuanxiu, he quickly greeted him with a bright smile.

"Big brother!"

"Come here, Yuanjiao."

Li Yuanxiu ruffled up his hair and handed him a jade bottle. "This is the medicinal pill that your fourth granduncle sent back. Take good care of it and use it when you're about to break through," he said warmly, his gaze tender.

In order to keep Li Chejing's death a secret, Li Tongya and Li Xuanxuan claimed the items Xiao Yuansi brought back as sent by Li Chejing. Li Yuanxiu and the others, not knowing the truth, naturally accepted them happily.

Li Yuanjiao, having received a talisman seed and rapidly breaking through the Profound Scenery stage with the help of moonlight, was privy to the family's secret. He had taken the spiritual oath and had been cultivating on the mountain since then.

Seeing Li Yuanjiao obediently nodding and accepting it, Li Yuanxiu felt relieved that he had personally delivered the medicinal pills as instructed by Li Xuanxuan before his seclusion.

"After all, the Snake Essence Pills are precious... It's better to deliver them personally to avoid any unsightly incidents and unnecessary trouble."

Li Yuanxiu's lips curled into a small smile.

Although the cultivators in the branch family had been obedient with no unsightly incidents occurring so far, he still did not trust them fully. Hence, he preferred to handle such important matters personally.

"Chief!"

While Li Yuanxiu was still deep in his thoughts, Li Pingyi and the others entered the courtyard hurriedly, coming up to him with several town managers following closely behind. Their heads were all bowed, and none of them dared to speak.

Since Li Yuanxiu was managing affairs in the Clan Affairs Courtyard, Li Pingyi naturally addressed him as the clan leader.

Hearing Li Pingyi calling him 'chief' instead of 'young clan head' with town managers behind him, Li Yuanxiu knew something had happened to the clan disciples.

"What's the trouble?"

I've just praised our disciples, and now there's trouble... How truly laughable!

Li Pingyi did not dare to beat around the bush, looking somewhat troubled as he responded hastily, "Clan Uncle Qiuyang has returned from the mines... He has already broken through to the Jade Capital stage and possesses a spiritual sense now! When he returned to town, he took a stroll on the street and...unexpectedly, with a sweep of his spiritual sense, caught several clan disciples in the courtyard... They... in the courtyard..."

"What were they doing?" Li Yuanxiu asked sternly, only to hear Li Pingyi grit his teeth and say, "Gambling on dog fights... Some were stripped naked and fooling around with women in the courtyard..."

"How dare they!" Li Yuanjiao exclaimed in disbelief and shock. His expression darkened as he listened and watched Li Yuanxiu's expression contort with shame and indignation.