Volume One: The Dawn of Immortality Chapter Nine: The Wager

Zhou Yue cultivated according to the method of the Invincible Body Tempering Technique.

The incantation of the Invincible Body Tempering Technique went as follows:

Thunder rolling,
Purifying the meridians and marrow,
The sound of the Dao resounding,
Like mysterious thunder,
Supreme mysterious thunder,
Tempering my body...

At the same time, he needed to take medicinal baths. The Invincible Body Tempering Technique was too fierce, requiring gentle herbs to balance its intensity. Otherwise, excessive force would lead to breakage, and the body might not withstand it.

The medicinal bath recipe consisted of cinnamon twig, red peony root, dried ginger, wild ginger, chicken blood vine, angelica, and safflower. The whole body was soaked or steamed. This could warm and nourish the meridians, temper the body, and strengthen the flesh. One batch could be used for half a month until the medicinal power was depleted and the liquid became turbid.

Zhou Yue also refined many Body Tempering Pills. Although the Invincible Body Tempering Technique did not mention them, he discovered that taking these pills during cultivation greatly enhanced the results. His cultivation advanced considerably. Practicing the Invincible Body Tempering Technique not only tempered his body but also increased his cultivation.

After half a month of quiet cultivation, Zhou Yue, now at the third level of Qi Refinement, dared to face opponents of the fourth level. His physique rivaled that of the inner sect disciples, who could only enter the inner sect upon reaching the seventh level of Qi Refinement—meaning only those at that stage possessed the formidable body Zhou Yue now had.

Of course, disciples as gifted as Zhang He were exceptions. Zhang He's talent was considered upper-middle grade. No one in the Hundred Techniques Sect knew Zhou Yue had reached the third level of Qi Refinement before Zhang He. With Zhang He's status as an inner sect disciple, his resources were certainly not inferior to Zhou Yue's. Moreover, Zhang He was the personal disciple of a Foundation Establishment elder, his status ten times higher than Elder Chu's. Elder Chu treated the Foundation Establishment elder with utmost respect, even bowing when they met.

However, neither the Hundred Techniques Sect nor Zhou Yue himself knew why Zhou Yue's talent was rated as inferior. This was due to a restriction placed by Zhou Yue's mother. He had never met her; she divorced his father a month after his birth. No one in the Zhou family, except his grandfather, knew what kind of person his mother was. As for his father, he had died fifteen years ago, and Zhou Yue was raised by his grandfather. Even his grandfather did not know why Zhou Yue's talent was so low, but he was certain Zhou Yue possessed the aptitude for cultivation, for blood never lies.

In addition, Zhou Yue practiced alchemy. Thanks to his efforts, the pills he now refined contained only ten percent impurities, qualifying as superior-grade pills.

Yet, one problem could not be ignored: the pill toxins accumulating in his body were beginning to hinder his cultivation. If not eliminated, he might never be able to cultivate again.

Currently, Zhou Yue could only rely on his practice to clear the toxins, but the process was painfully slow. He wished he could purge them immediately, but his master advised patience—within three months, the toxins would disappear naturally. He also had to cultivate his mind; only a calm heart matched deepening cultivation, otherwise he risked losing control.

Given this, Zhou Yue could only obey.

Elder Chu, besides having Zhou Yue as a disciple, also had a son and a daughter.

His son, Chu Li, was at the eighth level of Qi Refinement and an inner sect disciple, though he did not practice alchemy.

His daughter, Chu Rou, was at the sixth level of Qi Refinement and an outer sect disciple. Her alchemical skills were temporarily superior to Zhou Yue's.

Once, while Chu Rou was refining pills, Zhou Yue asked, "Senior Sister Chu Rou, what kind of pill are you making this time?"

Though alchemists hated being disturbed during pill refinement, Zhou Yue was unconcerned—not only because he was an apprentice, but also because he and Chu Rou were close. Moreover, he was assisting Chu Rou during this session.

"Don't distract me!" Chu Rou replied.

Hearing this, Zhou Yue said nothing more. Chu Rou continued refining, instructing Zhou Yue to fetch ingredients.

"Fifteen-year-old lingzhi."

"Twenty-year-old ginkgo bark."

"Ten-year-old ginseng."

...

Chu Rou catalyzed the flame with spiritual energy, making it ten times fiercer than ordinary firewood. Only flames fueled by spiritual energy could refine higher-grade pills, far surpassing Zhou Yue's wood-fired method.

Generally, only cultivators at the fourth level of Qi Refinement could catalyze flames with spiritual energy, but Zhou Yue could do so at the third level.

It was said that the true fire within a cultivator could cleanse ailments and even purge pill toxins. Zhou Yue wondered if he could summon his inner fire to clear the toxins.

"Ha, finally finished," Chu Rou panted. Evidently, using spiritual energy to fuel the flame consumed much energy; sweat beaded on her forehead, visible to Zhou Yue's naked eye.

"Senior Sister, what kind of pill is this?" Zhou Yue asked.

"This is the Beauty Retention Pill," Chu Rou answered.

"The Beauty Retention Pill?"

"Senior Sister, how old are you? You can't be thirty yet—why use the Beauty Retention Pill so young?" Zhou Yue remarked.

In the world of cultivation, time had no meaning, and asking a cultivator's age was taboo—one of the three questions never to be asked. But Zhou Yue, unconcerned, spoke without thinking.

"You know nothing. The Beauty Retention Pill not only enhances appearance but also extends life by three to five years!" Chu Rou said.

"It extends lifespan? Is it really that powerful?" Zhou Yue was astonished. He hadn't expected the seemingly young Chu Rou, not yet thirty, to refine such a potent pill. This must be one of the most difficult second-grade pills to make. He never imagined that the slender girl before him possessed such alchemical prowess—her skills were no less than his own!

"Senior Sister, could you share the recipe with me? I'd like to try refining it," Zhou Yue asked slyly.

"You?" Chu Rou snorted.

"With your skill, you couldn't make this pill in less than five years!"

"Five years? You mean it takes five years to master this pill? Do you believe I could manage it within two?" Zhou Yue challenged.

Chu Rou, however, thought he was boasting.

"I don't believe it."

"Shall we wager?" Zhou Yue proposed. "If I can refine this pill within two years, what will you do?"

"Hmph, if you succeed, I'll grant any request you make," Chu Rou replied, certain he couldn't. She herself had taken eight years to master the pill after becoming an apprentice, so she was confident.

But Zhou Yue was a prodigy, and normal standards did not apply to him.

"Very well. If I fail to refine it in two years, I'll agree to any request you make," Zhou Yue said.

"Deal," Chu Rou responded.

With the wager set, Zhou Yue dared not slack off in his alchemical training. Although Chu Rou promised to grant any request, he knew not to go too far. Still, gaining a favor from Chu Rou was something Zhou Yue looked forward to.