Chapter Sixty: An Unexpected Delight

On Jiang Yan’s forehead, the azure jade talisman suddenly burst forth with a brilliant blue light. In the next instant, the light flickered and vanished, swiftly sinking into his brow.

“Ah…” Jiang Yan cried out in agony, feeling a sharp pain pierce his head as a strange surge invaded his mind.

The pain vanished as suddenly as it had come, and as his cry faded, so too did the ache. Yet Jiang Yan sensed something new within his mind, as if foreign knowledge had been etched there.

He closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, seeking to discern what had entered his mind. No sooner had he shut his eyes than countless characters floated before him…

“The merging of nine meridians, the circulation of energy, forming the foundation of spiritual power…” Unending streams of information suddenly appeared before his tightly shut eyes.

Startled, Jiang Yan opened his eyes wide and glanced around. The spiritual grains in the field were thriving, swaying gently in the breeze that drifted from the mountain forests. It was a scene promising a rich harvest.

In the distance, wooden golems were felled trees. In the short time that had passed, they had cleared enough land to lay the foundation for a pill refinement chamber. Four wooden golems were now gathering broad slabs of blue stone from the nearby slope.

Jiang Yan shook his head and resumed his seat, drawing a deep breath and slowly closing his eyes again. The messages that had appeared behind his eyelids were too astonishing to ignore; he needed to confirm what had entered his mind from the azure jade talisman.

“Cultivators refine their energy, open nine meridians, and when the nine merge in perfection, the foundation stone is set, awaiting completion…”

Familiar phrases flowed through Jiang Yan’s mind. He found them so familiar, he wondered if he had intentionally memorized them before. Yet reason told him he had never known this information prior.

His gaze fell upon the jade talisman in his hand, and he suddenly thought—could it be the talisman itself? Perhaps the talisman had been enhanced by the Sect Master’s system, and when he placed it atop his head, he’d triggered its function, thus acquiring its knowledge.

His spiritual sense extended outward, seeking to verify whether the information within the talisman matched what now resided in his mind.

“Cultivators refine their energy, open nine meridians…”

Identical characters streamed into his spiritual consciousness, though his spiritual strength was barely sufficient to decipher some of them. Yet, combined with what was already in his mind, he could determine that the information had indeed come from the azure jade talisman.

“Senior Brother Sect Master,” Tang Wan approached lightly. Old Chen, who usually tended the spiritual fields, had returned home and entrusted Tang Wan with their care. She had come to check on the fields and found Jiang Yan seated in meditation nearby, calling to him with delight.

After taking the Bone Transformation Pill, Tang Wan’s roots had transformed dramatically, and her cultivation advanced swiftly. Before Jiang Yan descended the mountain, she was only at the third level of Qi Refinement; now, she was at the fourth, and thanks to the Qi Gathering Pill he had bestowed, her spiritual energy brimmed within, making a breakthrough to the fifth level possible at any moment.

Since advancing to the fourth level, the proportion of wood attribute spiritual energy she absorbed during cultivation had increased markedly. On Mount Hua, the area richest in wood essence was near the spiritual fields on the rear slopes. Thus, Tang Wan now chose to cultivate there rather than in the training grounds.

“Senior Brother Sect Master, what building are you constructing?” Tang Wan’s curiosity was piqued by the busy wooden golems. He must have obtained them from the talisman master, and with their help, he’d built several special-purpose structures on Mount Hua. She wondered what he was building now.

“A pill refinement chamber,” Jiang Yan replied succinctly.

“Sister, place this talisman on your forehead and see if you can acquire its knowledge.” Jiang Yan handed her the jade talisman, curious whether Tang Wan could learn its incantations as he had.

Half skeptical, Tang Wan placed the azure jade talisman on her fair forehead. Though uncertain, she did not question him, simply following his instructions.

Jiang Yan watched her intently, waiting to see if the blue light would appear again.

“Nothing happened, Senior Brother.” Tang Wan held the talisman to her brow for a long while but felt nothing, sticking out her tongue playfully. “Senior Brother, do you mean you can learn the incantations just by placing it on your forehead?”

“Ah…” Jiang Yan’s brow was soon damp with sweat. Learning the talisman’s incantations in such a manner was hardly something anyone could achieve—no wonder his junior sister teased him.

Through Tang Wan’s attempt, Jiang Yan concluded that only he, thanks to the Sect Master’s system, could learn the talisman’s incantations this way—without even needing to memorize them.

“Ding! Pill refinement chamber construction task complete. Reward: ten spirit stones, one scroll of runes for refining workshop.” The Sect Master’s system notified Jiang Yan of his accomplishment.

Beside the spiritual fields, a spacious compound had been completed. Its walls were built of blue stone, towering several yards high, topped by a ring of peculiar azure gemstones. These stones emitted a gentle blue glow, all converging at the center of the compound, tightly concealing everything within the pill refinement chamber.

The gate was shut, and above it hung a plaque with black background and yellow characters, boldly inscribed: Pill Refinement Chamber.

Tang Wan suddenly stepped forward to the threshold where the chamber met the fields, closed her eyes, and spread her arms, tilting her face skyward to quietly savor the wood essence emanating from the pill chamber. Her face radiated heartfelt joy.

“Senior Brother, I truly love the atmosphere here—the wood essence is soaring and boundless, its waves gentle and endless. It feels as if I am deep within a vast forest. I truly love this place.” She opened her eyes, her smile blooming like a flower, gazing tenderly at Jiang Yan, who was still lost in thought.

Awakened from the delight of discovering his unique ability to quickly absorb the talisman’s incantations, Jiang Yan saw Tang Wan’s radiant smile. Something soft within him was gently stirred, and a broad smile spread across his face. “If you love it so much, why not become the pill refinement chamber’s alchemist and manage it?”

Tang Wan’s expression grew hesitant. “I’m not sure that’s wise, Senior Brother. I know nothing of alchemy; if I fail you, my guilt would be immense.”

Jiang Yan stepped forward to the compound’s gate, gently stroking the azure warding spell at the entrance. His tone was warm: “Who do you think, among us on Mount Hua, would be more suitable than you?”

Tang Wan frowned and pondered carefully. “Junior Brother Mu loves amusement and has been clamoring to pursue commerce lately—he’s hardly suitable. Junior Brother Nan is wholly devoted to cultivation, and recently broke through to the fifth Qi Refinement level. Now he spends his days immersed in the Golden Flame Sutra, so he’s not a fit either. Ying’er… perhaps when she’s older.”

“Among the second-generation disciples, Ning Qian has just begun the path of Qi Refinement, reaching the third level only recently. Sun Yang’s temperament is much like Mu’s. As for Zisu and the other girls, their hearts are set on vengeance, leaving little room for alchemy.” Jiang Yan finished Tang Wan’s thoughts, his gaze bright as he smiled at her furrowed brow.

Silent, Tang Wan pondered for a long while before finally murmuring, “I’ll obey your command, Senior Brother, and become an alchemist.”

With a flick of his wrist, Jiang Yan produced two manuals and handed them to Tang Wan, explaining, “These are essential for an alchemist: the Fire Condensation Secret and the Pill Division Technique. Practice them first, and when you’ve mastered them, I’ll seek out other methods for you.”

The last time he completed a sect mainline task, the Sect Master’s system had rewarded him with many items, including these two manuals. Now that Tang Wan had been chosen as the sect’s alchemist, Jiang Yan was determined to fully support her in that role.

Last night, Fei Yu generously tipped; Hong Yan bows in gratitude. Yi Biao Qingcheng’s tip early this morning was considerable, leaving Hong Yan both flattered and grateful. Though Hong Yan’s work improves steadily, such substantial support is truly humbling—he bows deeply in thanks. Lihua Yu Liang has tipped again, and Hong Yan is deeply thankful. A second tip surely signals recognition, does it not?