Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 433 – Grand Authority Ning

Four Seasons City. At the eastern end of the city, there was a region filled with luxurious mansions. Most of the city’s respected families and renowned characters lived here. At this time, within a mansion that could be ranked in the top three of the area, Chu Taidou emerged from his alchemy room. His silver hair and his wide white robes only served to contrast his extraordinary celestial manner, making him seem like an ethereal being untouched by the common world.

“What is the situation with the Ning Family?” He wiped his face with a hot towel and casually tossed it to a nearby serving maid. Then, he glanced at a disciple standing to the side.

Qi Cheng respectfully bowed. “Reporting to teacher, the Ning Family doesn’t seem willing to agree. Right now, they are still in the city searching for Condensed Incense Balls. But because teacher has spoken up, no one has dared to trade them anything.”

Chu Taidou had a light expression, not surprised by what he heard. “And how has the Ning Family responded?”

Qi Cheng said, “According to our spy, the Ning Family’s old master would like to exchange the treasure for the formula of the Condensed Incense Ball, but the high level figures of the Ning Family mostly oppose this. The matter still hasn’t come to a conclusion.”

Chu Taidou frowned a little. “Continue to investigate. Moreover, pass down an order to have the Chu Family place more pressure on them. We will use a two-pronged method to force them to agree as soon as possible.”

After he had inadvertently learned about the Ning Family’s treasure, his heart had already started to burn with fire. The Ning Family had such a precious treasure and they didn’t even know about it. If he hadn’t been worried about bringing this to the attention of others if he used more severed methods, he would have already done everything in his power to seize it!

“Yes, this disciple will instantly go!” Qi Cheng bowed and left in a hurry.

Ning Liang that girl, she was Ning Yunhai’s daughter…Chu Taidou’s pupils shrank. If it weren’t for that incident so many years ago, Ning Yunhai would have already been a great figure hovering above the highest heavens. Naturally, he wouldn’t have any thoughts of doing anything to his family.

Ning Yunhai was crippled but his bloodline flowed within his daughter Ning Liang. Because she was highly regarded by the Ning Family’s old master, she was regarded as the future hope of the Ning Family.

Due to this, Chu Taidou started moving from the aspect of Ning Liang’s body. As long as the Ning Family’s old master was willing to save her, he just needed to spend a bit more time to achieve his goal.

Thus, Ning Liang was the key point of this matter.

Of course, Chu Taidou never thought of curing Ning Liang. When it came to a bloodline that the Demonic Path valued so much, he couldn’t underestimate it at all. Only by killing her could he rid himself of any future troubles. Because of this, he had delivered Condensed Incense Balls to the Ning Family on his own initiative. Now, with so much cold poison having precipitated in that girl’s body, she would last at most two to three more years.

…

Ning Yuntao’s eyes widened and an excited expression crossed his face. “Fellow daoist Ning, do you really have a way to dispel this cold poison?”

Everyone else also had a pleasantly surprised expression, but they still muttered with doubt in their hearts.

They were all aware of Ning Liang’s situation. During these years, countless alchemy grandmasters had tried to help her to no avail, and they were all skilled individuals. To save her was easier said than done.

Qin Yu calmly said, “Although it will be a little troublesome, and the treatment may require some time, if no accidents occur there shouldn’t be a problem.”

Everyone could hear the confidence contained in his serene voice. It wasn’t intense, but it was exactly this faint indifferent and tranquility that made one trust him even more.

“Wonderful! This is too wonderful!” Ning Yuntao’s face flushed red with joy. “Liangliang, you can be saved, you can be saved! I knew you wouldn’t die!”

Ning Liang’s thoughts surged and an unprecedented radiance burst out from her exhausted eyes. Although she had already accepted her inevitable death, even ants struggled to survive. So, how could she not look forward to her own future?

At this moment, it was like the thick black clouds above her had been torn open, and bright and warm sunlight sprinkled down, allowing her to feel an unprecedented state of warmth.

Tears flowed unconsciously. Ning Liang wiped them away. She was helped up from her bed by a maid and she knelt to the ground and bowed. “I will leave everything to grandmaster!”

Qin Yu tried to stop her but was blocked. Ning Yuntao’s eyes were red. “Fellow daoist Ning, this bow is one you can afford, and also one that Liangliang should give you! As long as you can cure her, you will be my Ning Family’s benefactor. If you have any need in the future, I will go through fire or water to help you!”

Tears dripped down Ning Liang’s face. “Uncle!”

Qin Yu was a little moved. This sort of sincere affection was something he had always yearned for, but it was also something he could no longer feel. However, after cultivating for so many years, his will had been tempered to a formidable degree where he didn’t reveal anything. “That’s enough. If you want to thank me, thank me after you are healed. Miss Ning’s body is extremely weak right now so it’s best if there aren’t any great changes in her mood.” After a brief pause, Qin Yu passed back the Condensed Incense Ball. “Although this thing has a downside, it can still temporarily suppress the cold energy in your body, allowing you a moment of respite. Miss Ning, take this pill and rest well. Once you have recovered we will carry on the treatment.”

Ning Liang obediently received the pill. But as she thought about how this pill had been in Qin Yu’s hand the entire time, she couldn’t help but blush a little as she ate it.

“Enough. Let’s leave and let Miss Ning rest.” Qin Yu turned and walked out. Ning Yuntao ordered the several maids to carefully look after the young miss and then followed hurriedly behind.

As they walked alone, Ning Yuntao began to speak but hesitated each time. As for Qin Yu, he didn’t speak at all. He was currently in deep thought about a treatment plan. As he returned to the main hall he directly said, “Fellow daoist Ning, Miss Ning’s body is very weak right now and it will be difficult for her to resist the destructive force of the medicinal efficacy as it dispels the cold poison within her. So, I will need to refine some accompanying pills to have Miss Ning recover her origin energy first. The step after that would be to melt away the cold poison.”

He turned his hand and took out a jade slip. With his divine sense, he marked down the necessary information. “The items listed here are the materials I need to refine the pill which can dispel the cold poison. You begin collecting them right now, and I will return in three days!”

With that, Qin Yu didn’t stay longer. He turned and quickly left.

The cold poison in Ning Liang’s body was very troublesome. He would need to use a pill called the Blazing Sun Integration Pill in conjunction with several other kinds of supportive pills to slowly melt it away.

Refining pills wasn’t a problem for Qin Yu. But, helping Ning Liang cure her cold poison would take over a month. Every day she would have to take pills and have him personally stimulate the movement of the medicinal efficacy in order to ensure she was absolutely safe.

This wouldn’t leave much time for Qin Yu to gather the 36 soul treasures he needed. Several days had already passed, and saving Ning Liang would delay him for over a month.

In other words, even if everything went smoothly, Qin Yu would only have a bit more than two months to gather all the materials.

To collect 36 kinds of rare soul treasures in this period of time? The possibility of that was almost zero.

Qin Yu sighed inwardly. Although he wasn’t too willing, he had no other choice. Ning Liang had to be saved.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

The training chamber opened and Qin Yu walked out. He stretched his waist and his bones cracked and popped as weariness filled his eyes. During these three days he had been constantly refining pills. Ning Liang had an extremely weak body and she couldn’t withstand formidable medicine efficacy. Even a replenishing medicine might topple the fragile balance in her body and cause the cold poison to erupt ahead of time.

Thus, the choice of pills was extremely important. Qin Yu sifted through Grandmaster Yao’s memories and finally found a pill called the Minor Marrow Nourishing Pill. This pill didn’t directly improve a cultivator’s physique. After taking it, the medicinal efficacy would immerse into the body and strengthen the activity of the marrow so that a cultivator’s body would voluntarily restore itself. It was just that this restoring speed would be relatively slow. Her estimated treatment and recovery time would be even longer than before. action

Qin Yu sighed. He decided to no longer think about it. He passed through the trail and with a flick of his sleeves opened the courtyard doors.

“Greetings, Grandmaster Ning!” An attendant said with a respectful expression, his face full of gratitude and anticipation.

Qin Yu’s eyes flashed. It seemed that this was one of Ning Liang’s admirers. All gentlemen desired beautiful women; this was normal and there wasn’t anything to say about it.

“Let’s go.” He nodded to the attendant and walked ahead first.

The attendant hurriedly sent out a message as he caught up to Qin Yu.

The Ning Family’s courtyard doors had already been opened. Several Ning Family juniors welcomed Qin Yu with respectful expressions.

“Mm, Ning Yuntao isn’t here?” Qin Yu furrowed his eyebrows.

The attendant quickly explained, “Reporting to grandmaster, the Second Old Master left this morning in a hurry, saying he needed to search for one more precious material. I have already informed him that you have arrived; the Second Old Master will soon return.”

Qin Yu nodded. He flipped his hand and took out two jade bottles. “There are ten pills in each of these jade bottles. Give them to your family’s miss and tell her to swallow one of each, twice a day, in the morning and night. After using them she will be tired, but this is normal behavior. Do not disturb her and allow her to rest.”

The Minor Marrow Nourishing Pill had a common name but it was in reality a genuine seventh-grade pill. Even though Qin Yu had the little blue lamp and the Ninth Province furnace, the refinement process was still considerably difficult. Luckily, he was able to collect the materials he needed from the massive amount of spirit plants he purchased at the Black Demon Sect, otherwise he would have required even more time.

The others weren’t ordinary pills either. Sixth-grade Water Mist Spirit Pills – they were incomparably mild and temperate pills, most suited for serving to supplement the bodies of weak individuals. Moreover, their medicinal efficacy complemented the Minor Marrow Nourishing Pill so their effects were even better when used together.

A young maid received the pills and bowed in gratitude. “Thank you, Grandmaster Ning. Allow this servant to bow to you in place of my young miss.”

As she spoke she knelt down.

Qin Yu flicked his sleeves and stopped her. He rubbed the point between his eyebrows and said, “If you really want to thank me, pour me a cup of tea. My mind is a bit tired.”

“Yes. Grandmaster Ning, please wait a moment!”

Soon, steaming hot tea and several kinds of small deserts were brought into the main hall.

Qin Yu took a sip. Tea fragrance rose in his mouth and faint traces of spiritual strength radiated outwards, revitalizing his spirit.

This was actually a rare good tea!

At this time, there was the sound of footsteps from outside. Ning Yuntao hurried in. Without cupping his hands yet, he first apologized, “I really am embarrassed. I made Grandmaster Ning wait for such a long time.”

Qin Yu laid down the teacup. “It’s fine. But, the materials I need shouldn’t be too difficult to purchase. Fellow daoist Ning should have them prepared by now, right?”

Ning Yuntao revealed an awed expression. “May I ask if Grandmaster Ning is planning to refine the long lost Blazing Sun Integration Pill?”

Qin Yu nodded, “Yes.” He had passed down a list of the majority of the materials so it wasn’t strange that the Ning Family knew this.

Ning Yuntao hesitated for a moment. “I am not skilled in alchemy, but in these past two days I have heard people talk about the Blazing Sun Integration Pill. This pill is divided into a major pill and minor pill. The two kinds of pills use almost the same materials with only several differences in the main ones needed. But among this, the most important material is the Deva Soul. Because of it, I have been running around Four Seasons City for the last two days, even asking for help from the family, but I simply haven’t heard any news related to a Deva Soul. This is also the reason why I went out today…”

Ning Yuntao hesitated for a moment. When he first learned about the Blazing Sun Integration Pill, his spirits had been roused. But soon his happiness faded away. With the Blazing Sun Integration Pill, the major pill was known to be like the great sun floating up above; it could melt away all cold poisons in the world and could even cure Ning Liang’s condition. But the minor pill’s effects could only be considered average. Ning Liang had taken many of them in the past without any effect. If Ning Qin wanted to depend on the minor Blazing Sun Integration Pill, he feared he had rejoiced without reason.

And what worried him more was that there was no Deva Soul on the list of materials that Qin Yu had given him, and neither were there several other precious treasures needed for the major pill!

Qin Yu’s eyes flashed. He knew what Ning Yuntao was worrying about. “Fellow daoist Ning, rest assured that I will be refining the major pill.”

Ning Yuntao was pleasantly surprised, but that expression soon vanished. “For the other materials, my Ning Family can actually obtain them. But the Deva Soul…” He bitterly smiled. The Deva Soul was said to be able to instantly create a genuine Divine Soul cultivator; no matter what influence it was, they would consider it extremely precious. But, unless there was some great lucky chance, it was just impossible to purchase with spirit stones!

Qin Yu lightly said, “I have already prepared the Deva Soul and other materials. Fellow daoist Ning, you only need to give me the materials you’ve collected.”

“What!?” Ning Yuntao shouted out loud, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. Following that, he seemed to have lost his soul for the rest of the conversation. It was only a long time after Qin Yu left that he was barely able to regain his composure.

His eyes moved and he glanced at the other people in the room. “Grandmaster Ning, he said that he had prepared the Deva Soul, right?”

The attendant gulped, but his throat felt dry and parched. “That was indeed what Grandmaster Ning said.”

“How is that possible, this is the Deva Soul, the priceless Deva Soul…” Ning Yuntao mumbled to himself, his eyes uncertain. Although he didn’t believe that Qin Yu would lie to him with his status, he still couldn’t believe this.

A stranger had appeared out of nowhere to treat the illness of someone and even said they would provide an incomparably precious treasure like the Deva Soul on their own initiative. No matter who looked at this, it was strange!

The maid hesitated, “Second Old Master, Grandmaster Ning left some pills for the young miss just now and told me the method for taking them.”

Ning Yuntao’s eyes brightened. “Where are the pills? Bring them out!”

The maid hurriedly passed them over.

Ning Yuntao opened the first jade bottle. As he saw the pills, he sucked in a deep breath.

Qin Yu had said that Ning Liang’s body was too weak and she needed to rest and gather her strength before she could drive out the cold poison. Because of this, for these past two days he had also paid attention to any body replenishing pills and had thus seen the type of pill in this jade bottle.

Water Mist Spirit Pill!

Amongst sixth-grade spirit pills, it was the highest grade replenishing pill. It was especially suited for those with weak bodies and was incredibly expensive.

But this jade bottle contained a full ten Water Mist Spirit Pills. Moreover, whether it was in looks, luster, or pill fragrance, all of it indicated that the quality of these pills was far higher than what he had seen before!

Just these ten top quality Water Mist Spirit Pills were enough to purchase ten sets of the materials that the Ning Family provided.

Ning Yuntao’s face turned red. He felt shame towards his previous guess.

He carefully put the jade bottle away and held up the second one. After opening it, he discovered that he didn’t know what sort of pills these were. They were clear and their fragrance was fresh. Since Ning Qin had given them such extraordinary Water Mist Spirit Pills, the chances of him having some ill intent was nearly impossible. But, to prevent anything unexpected from happening, Ning Yuntao took out his handphone and took several pictures of the pill. Then, he sent the images to several alchemists he knew in Four Seasons City.

Soon, Ning Yuntao obtained a response. This person was an alchemist whose job was to appraise pills for one of the large auction houses. Not only was he skilled in alchemy but he had an extremely high level of vision. Yesterday, when Ning Yuntao was going through his connections, this alchemist had displayed a cold attitude towards him. In the end he could only give up.

But now this alchemist revealed excitement in every single word, as if he had been stimulated. “Minor Marrow Nourishing Pill? That’s right, this must be the Minor Marrow Nourishing Pill! I never thought that someone would actually refine this pill, the one known as being the most temperate and gentle of all seventh-grade pills! Fellow daoist Ning, did you want to sell it? You must come to my auction house; we will definitely give you the best possible price! Moreover, I have no idea if fellow daoist Ning is free right now? I wish to personally come and observe the pill and appreciate it. Of course, if you want to collect a fee I will also pay that.”

Following that, several more replies came. All of them were similar except with a few minor differences. Although some people had said that they couldn’t truly determine what pill it was through a picture alone, with the example of the Water Mist Spirit Pill, Ning Yuntao already believed in his heart that this was the Minor Marrow Nourishing Pill!

His brain seemed to be mixed up in a daze. All he could hear was the echoing ‘seventh-grade’ in his mind.

Seventh-grade pill…seventh-grade pill…It had to be known that throughout the entire Land of Divinity and Demons, anyone that could refine a seventh-grade pill had the qualifications to be called a Grand Authority.

The so-called Grand Authority, that was the title informally given to someone when they reached the peak of a certain domain. For instance, Chu Taidou was only called Grand Authority Chu because he could refine seventh-grade pills. This was the only reason he had his current celebrated status today and could use his status as an alchemist to suppress the entire Ning Family, even making countless influences fear trading with the Ning Family.

This was the prestige of a ‘Grand Authority’. But now, Ning Yuntao suddenly discovered that Ning Qin was also someone who could refine seventh-grade pills, a formidable existence that was politely called ‘Grand Authority’…the surprise had come too soon; he simply wasn’t able to accept it!