Zhou Shan let out a sigh.
His right hand absently rubbed the armrest of the wooden chair, his voice carrying a note of helplessness:
"Junior Brother Chen, you may not be aware — this demon beast rampage was far greater in scale and destructive force than anything in previous years. Those frenzied demon beasts made no distinction between spirit herbs and common weeds. Many of the herb plots near the back mountains were trampled and devoured, left in complete ruin. The losses were severe."
Chen Yang furrowed his brow slightly at this and raised a question:
"Senior Brother Zhou, even if the recently cultivated herb plots were damaged, a medicine hall that has been operating for so many years like yours should still have some stockpiled medicinal materials from previous years, shouldn't it? Using those to refine Pills and hold things together for a while shouldn't be a problem."
Zhou Shan nodded and admitted:
"There is indeed some stock. If we're careful and frugal, it might just barely be enough to sustain the disciples of Crimson Glow Peak internally for a period of time."
"Then why…"
Chen Yang was even more puzzled.
His gaze swept over the empty medicine hall and the deserted mountain path outside the door.
"Why is it that throughout Crimson Glow Peak, there are no disciples coming to purchase Pills? I remember this place used to be bustling with people, a constant stream of visitors."
He couldn't help but recall the time when he was still a laborer.
Whenever he came to Crimson Glow Peak to deliver medicine, he could see from a distance that disciples from every peak and valley were lined up in long queues, waiting outside the various pill halls and medicine shops.
The air had always been filled with the faint fragrance of medicine and the din of voices.
But today, walking all this way…
Aside from a few Crimson Glow Peak disciples hurrying past, he had seen almost no outsiders at all.
Senior Sister Zhuxiu picked up the thread of conversation and asked in return:
"Junior Brother Chen, you've seen it yourself, haven't you? Along the way here, you didn't spot any disciples from other peaks."
Chen Yang nodded affirmatively:
"Indeed, I didn't see many at all."
A complex expression crossed Senior Sister Zhuxiu's face — something like resignation, yet also as if she had long expected this. She said slowly:
"It's not that there are few — there are simply none at all. Never mind the medicine shops at the foot of our mountain; even the Pill Pavilions higher up on Crimson Glow Peak, the ones exclusively open to inner disciples and Elders, have no disciples from other peaks or valleys coming to purchase Pills anymore."
"No one at all?"
Chen Yang was taken aback:
"Why would no one come to buy? Could it be…"
A flash of insight struck him, and he suddenly connected it to what he had witnessed at the market today.
That Pure Origin Pill that had sold for the exorbitant price of one hundred and fifty spirit stones.
"Could it be that Crimson Glow Peak… is no longer selling Pills to outsiders?"
Senior Sister Zhuxiu looked at him and gave a firm nod, her tone carrying a barely perceptible undercurrent of suppressed emotion:
"That's right. They've stopped selling."
Chen Yang was stunned and instinctively pressed further:
"Why have they stopped? There… there must be a reason for this, surely? Is there something hidden behind it?"
He truly couldn't make sense of it.
Crimson Glow Peak was the sect's primary source of Pills. Halting the external supply of Pills was something that would shake the very foundations of the sect.
Senior Sister Zhuxiu's expression grew grave.
She first glanced at Chen Yang, her eyes carrying a look of scrutiny.
Then she walked briskly to the entrance of the medicine shop and poked her head out, looking left and right.
After confirming that there was no one outside, she carefully closed the door.
She even casually laid down a simple sound-dampening restriction.
Only after doing all of this did she walk back to stand before Chen Yang, lower her voice, and say with utmost gravity:
"Junior Brother Chen, this matter is of great importance. What I am about to tell you — listen and let it end there. Do not breathe a word of it to anyone, or it may bring trouble."
Seeing how solemn she was about it, Chen Yang knew this was no simple affair. He quickly nodded and promised:
"Senior Sister Zhuxiu, rest assured. I am not one to gossip. These words leave your mouth and enter my ears alone — no third person will ever know."
Only then did Senior Sister Zhuxiu relax slightly and begin to speak:
"Do you know what lies at the root of this demon beast rampage in the back mountains?"
Chen Yang recalled the various scattered pieces of news he had heard recently and said:
"I know a little. I heard it was because a Demon Dragon emerged in the back mountains, triggering the beast tide."
Zhou Shan chimed in from the side:
"That's right. That thirty-meter crocodile was ferocious, but before a Seventh Rank Golden Sun Demon Dragon, it was nothing more than a slightly stronger ant. That Demon Dragon was the true source of this chaos."
For some reason, every time Chen Yang heard the words "Golden Sun Demon Dragon," his heart would give an inexplicable little lurch.
As if something within him were faintly resonating.
And yet it also carried an indescribable sense of repulsion that made him deeply uncomfortable.
He forcibly suppressed this strange feeling and continued listening to Senior Sister Zhuxiu.
Senior Sister Zhuxiu nodded, then shifted her tone, a glimmer of something unusual flashing in her eyes:
"Yes, that Demon Dragon is the source of the calamity — but to us cultivators, it is also an immense stroke of fortune! Junior Brother Chen, do you know what a Seventh Rank demon beast's demon core is worth?"
Chen Yang thought back to what he knew about demon beast demon cores and said hesitantly:
"Demon beast demon cores… aren't they generally considered to have more impurities and to be less pure than Pills?"
Senior Sister Zhuxiu shook her head and explained:
"More impurities — that's true for ordinary low-ranked disciples who don't know how to refine them efficiently and can only absorb them crudely, which naturally carries many hidden dangers. But for those of profound cultivation — such as Elders at the Foundation Establishment Stage — they have both the means and the time. With the guidance of other spirit medicines to channel and refine the demonic energy away and extract the essence, a Seventh Rank demon beast's demon core contains pure energy and primal laws sufficient to rival the finest Seventh Rank spirit pills. It is a supreme treasure capable of helping a cultivator at the Perfected Foundation Establishment Stage to form her golden core!"
Chen Yang was stunned.
His heart was shaken to its core.
The Golden Core stage!
That was a realm he currently didn't even dare to dream of!
A single demon beast demon core could have such a miraculous effect?
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
He felt as though his understanding of the Cultivation World had been refreshed yet again.
Senior Sister Zhuxiu watched his shocked expression and continued:
"Here is where the crux of the problem lies. Reportedly, that Golden Sun Demon Dragon's attribute is of the most extreme yang and rigid nature, making it extraordinarily compatible with the Crimson Yang True Art cultivated by our Crimson Glow Peak's peak master, Elder Zhu Dayou! This should have been a heaven-sent opportunity for Elder Zhu, and that Demon Dragon's demon core should by rights have belonged to him. Elder Zhu had been preparing for this for a long time and was determined to obtain it."
She paused, her tone becoming somewhat ambiguous:
"However, things went awry afterward. The Golden Sun Demon Dragon somehow managed to break free from the initial encirclement by the Elders and fled deep into the back mountains. By the time the Elders exhausted themselves tracking it down again… it was already a corpse."
"Dead?"
Chen Yang was startled:
"But that was a Seventh Rank demon beast! Who could have killed it without a sound?"
He couldn't imagine what level of power it would take to accomplish such a thing.
Senior Sister Zhuxiu spread her hands, her face also full of confusion and helplessness:
"No one knows. No one knows who did it. When they found it, the Demon Dragon was already dead, and the most crucial piece — the demon core — had already been dug out and had vanished without a trace. When Elder Zhu learned of this, he flew into a towering rage…"
She lowered her voice until she was almost whispering:
"Elder Zhu suspects… that the Sect Master secretly made a move, striking first to kill the Demon Dragon and intending to keep that priceless demon core all to himself!"
Chen Yang drew a sharp breath.
The Sect Master?
The implications of this were enormous!
"And so the trouble began from there."
Senior Sister Zhuxiu sighed:
"Elder Zhu is furious inside, yet he cannot go directly to the Sect Master to confront him. So, starting a few days ago, he issued an order: all those under Crimson Glow Peak are forbidden from selling any Pills to outsiders! Unless they are core disciples of his own peak, not a single Pill is to leave! He is using this method to express his displeasure — and perhaps… to apply pressure on the Sect Master as well."
Zhou Shan beside her also let out a heavy sigh, his face full of bitterness:
"Alas, these disputes between Elders — in the end, it is always us disciples at the bottom who suffer, along with the fellow sect members on every peak who depend on Pills for their cultivation. Who knows how many disciples are at a critical juncture of breaking through a bottleneck right now? Without Pills to support them, their path ahead will likely be… difficult."
Chen Yang nodded in deep agreement, his heart also heavy with sympathy.
But then he suddenly slapped his forehead and blurted out:
"Then… then won't the prices of Pills in the market skyrocket?"
Senior Sister Zhuxiu confirmed:
"Exactly! With demand outstripping supply, prices will naturally soar. What's circulating in the market now is old stock from before, or a little that someone has quietly leaked out on the side — the prices have already been tumbling upward."
Chen Yang felt a sharp pang in his chest, his expression instantly turning rather ugly as he murmured:
"Then… then what about demon beast demon cores? Have their prices gone up too?"
He thought back to his remarkably smooth selling experience today.
Those buyers with their feigned expressions of reluctance…
Senior Sister Zhuxiu thought for a moment and said:
"Demon beast demon cores aren't as good as Pills, but they can indeed substitute for part of what's needed in cultivation — especially now that Pills have been cut off. Demand for them will certainly surge, and prices will naturally rise along with it. What's the matter, Junior Brother Chen…"
At this moment, Chen Yang felt as though the world had gone dark before his eyes, as if his heart were bleeding.
He had lost out!
He had lost out enormously!
He had been congratulating himself on a smooth transaction, when in reality he had been completely behind on information and had been taken for a fool!
Those six hundred-odd spirit stones — at today's going rate, they might have fetched eight or nine hundred, or even over a thousand!
The thought of having sold off so many demon cores at such a cheap price made him ache all over, his face cycling between pale and green.
Zhou Shan noticed his strange state and asked with concern:
"Junior Brother Chen, you… you don't look well. Are you alright?"
Chen Yang forced out a smile that looked worse than crying, waved his hand, and said weakly:
"I'm… I'm fine. Maybe I had a slight qi stagnation during meditation yesterday. I just need a moment to recover, just a moment…"
His mood at this moment could only be described as utterly despondent.
At this point.
The sky outside the window had gradually begun to darken.
Dusk was settling in.
Seeing this, Zhou Shan warmly extended an invitation:
"Junior Brother Chen, it's getting late. Why not stay and have a couple of drinks? Let your Senior Sister Zhuxiu cook a few dishes."
Chen Yang was in no mood to eat at all, his mind entirely occupied by the spirit stones he had lost out on.
He quickly declined:
"No, no, thank you for the kind offer, Senior Brother Zhou, Senior Sister Zhuxiu. I actually came today partly to… purchase a certain Pill."
Zhou Shan asked:
"Which Pill? Speak freely, Junior Brother Chen — as long as we have it, we won't hold anything back."
Chen Yang described it:
"It's the Pill that Senior Brother Zhou took last time, when you were gravely injured and on the verge of death. Its effect was extraordinary — it actually managed to keep you clinging to life. I'd like to obtain one or two, to keep on hand for emergencies."
Senior Sister Zhuxiu's expression became troubled upon hearing this:
"You're talking about the Meridian-Sealing Life-Prolonging Pill. Ah, under normal circumstances, while this Pill is difficult to refine and its materials are precious, one might still manage to obtain it with some effort. But given the current situation… Crimson Glow Peak's internal controls are extremely strict, and there's simply no way to get one. This Pill isn't the most top-tier, but because of its unique life-sustaining effect, the success rate in refining it is extremely low. I was only lucky enough to obtain one for Zhou Shan to keep on him — there are no more to spare."
Zhou Shan also said helplessly:
"That's right, Junior Brother Chen. Under normal circumstances, if there were extras, I'd give them to you without a second thought. But right now… I truly wish I could help but cannot."
Chen Yang was disappointed, but he understood their situation and said:
"It's alright, it's alright. I'll find another way. Since that's the case, I won't impose any further — I'll be heading back now."
He glanced at the sky.
Without realizing it, he had been out for nearly a full day. It was time to head back.
But then he thought of Xiaochunhua's expectant eyes before he had left, and the promise he had made to bring her back fun and tasty things from the market.
Yet the market had nothing but Magical Artifacts, materials, and Pills for cultivators…
There wasn't a single novelty item in the ordinary, worldly sense of the word.
This was going to be hard to explain when he got back.
Senior Sister Zhuxiu rose to see him off, and the two of them walked into the small courtyard attached to the medicine hall.
A faint, elusive fragrance suddenly drifted into Chen Yang's nostrils.
He followed the scent and looked over, spotting an unassuming tree in the corner of the courtyard. It was blooming with clusters of small, milky-white flowers — their petals delicate and fine, gathered together in bunches, releasing a clear and lasting fragrance.
"Senior Sister Zhuxiu, what flower is this? The scent is quite distinctive." Chen Yang asked curiously.
Senior Sister Zhuxiu followed his gaze, a faint smile appearing on her face:
"This is a Moonlight Orchid. It's not really a spirit plant — it's just that its fragrance is clear and lingering, lasting for months without fading. The female disciples of our Crimson Glow Peak sometimes pick some to place in their rooms. If you like it, Junior Brother Chen, feel free to pick a cluster and take it with you."
Chen Yang felt a little embarrassed:
"This… isn't it too precious?"
Zhou Shan beside him also laughed, pointing to several other rows of trees nearby that were also budding with flowers:
"No need to stand on ceremony, Junior Brother Chen. Moonlight Orchids are found everywhere in the back mountains of our Crimson Glow Peak. They're hardy and not at all precious — they're only valued for their scent, and the ladies tend to like them. Go ahead and pick freely; there are plenty."
Only then did Chen Yang nod.
He walked to the tree and carefully channeled his spiritual energy, plucking the most abundantly blooming cluster of Moonlight Orchids from a distance, holding it in his hand.
The cool, clear fragrance became even more pronounced, refreshing the heart and mind.
Senior Sister Zhuxiu watched him handle the flowers so carefully, a teasing glimmer flashing in her eyes as she smiled:
"My, my — Junior Brother Chen, who is it you're planning to give these to?"
Chen Yang answered honestly:
"I'm bringing them back for two friends who live in my courtyard."
Senior Sister Zhuxiu let out a drawn-out "Oh," stretching the syllable, but didn't press further. Instead she said:
"Junior Brother Chen has just been promoted to inner disciple — your future is bright and limitless. I imagine you haven't yet found a cultivation partner? If you're interested, I could introduce you to a few female disciples I'm acquainted with. Whether inner disciples or outer disciples, I even know quite a few Junior Sisters up on Jade Bamboo Peak…"
Chen Yang was immediately flustered upon hearing this and quickly waved his hands:
"Many thanks for your kind offer, Senior Sister Zhuxiu! But… but I only wish to focus on my cultivation for now. I have no such intentions at the moment, none at all."
Seeing him so flustered, Senior Sister Zhuxiu didn't press the matter further, only smiling and saying:
"Very well, cultivation comes first. But Junior Brother Chen, whenever you do feel like finding a cultivation partner, you're welcome to come to me at any time — I'll certainly help you find someone suitable."
Chen Yang thanked her repeatedly.
He glanced once more at the cluster of fragrant Moonlight Orchids in his hand.
His heart finally found a small measure of comfort — at least he had something to bring back and appease that little girl Xiaochunhua with.
He bid farewell to Senior Sister Zhuxiu and Zhou Shan once more, then turned and departed from Crimson Glow Peak.
* * *
At dusk.
The last rays of the setting sun painted the small courtyard in a warm golden hue.
Liu Yiyi had just carried the last carefully prepared dish to the stone table in the courtyard.
Three sets of bowls and chopsticks were laid out on the table.
She looked at the spread of dishes — quite a decent meal — a gentle and expectant smile on her face.
"Brother Chen went to the market today and must be tired from all the running around. Coming home to a hot meal should make him happy."
She had also quietly warmed a pot of wine.
The wine was something she had secretly brewed from wild fruits picked in the courtyard. It was light in flavor, carrying a fruity fragrance. She had tasted a little and thought it was quite decent.
She planned to give Chen Yang a pleasant surprise.
Xiaochunhua, meanwhile, was restless, running to the courtyard gate every now and then to peer outside, muttering to herself:
"Why isn't Senior Brother Chen back yet… The market must have so many fun and tasty things. He promised to bring me something back…"
Liu Yiyi found her eagerness amusing and said gently:
"Xiaochun, don't be impatient. Brother Chen will come back once he's finished his business. Come sit down."
Just then.
A clear knock at the courtyard gate suddenly rang out from outside.
"He's here, he's here!"
Xiaochunhua's eyes lit up. Like a cheerful little rabbit, she bounded toward the gate, calling out impatiently as she ran:
"Senior Brother Chen! You're finally back! Did you bring me anything good…"
Liu Yiyi also smiled and followed behind her, walking toward the gate.
However.
Xiaochunhua's jubilant words died halfway, as if someone had seized her by the throat, cutting off abruptly.
She froze at the gate, the smile on her face turning rigid.
Liu Yiyi walked up behind her and followed her gaze out through the gate, her own expression shifting slightly.
For standing outside the gate was not the Chen Yang they had been eagerly awaiting.
It was a stranger — a young woman.
A young woman dressed in the water-blue long skirt distinctive of Jade Bamboo Peak's disciples.
Her figure was graceful, her features beautiful.
But the eyes with which she now gazed into the courtyard were like frost-dipped ice — cold, without a trace of warmth.