“Nothing important; I was just reminiscing about the past,” replied Lou Cheng before motioning for her to sit in his lap. Lan Ling blushed in embarrassment before shaking his head.
“There is no need to be embarrassed; we are married, and there is no one else around,” persuaded Lou Cheng with a smile. He liked she was so reserved and easily embarrassed even after so many years; he also liked to challenge her out of her comfort zone.
Lan Ling looked around and checked to see if any servants were nearby. Finally, after hesitating for a few seconds, she sat on his lap and laid her head on his firm chest.
“How was your attempt this time around?” she asked.
“Another failure,” replied Lou Cheng with a sigh.
“I wish I could help you,” she muttered with some sadness. Lan Ling wanted to help her husband, but her alchemy talent barely allowed her to be an assistant.
“Don’t say that. Remember: you are the driving force. Without you, I would have long given up on this pill.” Lou Cheng was not lying. After figuring out he might be someone’s else pawn, he often contemplated abandoning this recipe and not refining it. After all, he never had any Emperor’s dreams or ambitions. So, besides the alchemy achievement of refining this pill, he did not care that much.
However, everything changed after an assassination attempt injured Lan Ling. Lou Cheng realized the importance of strength, brewing a desire for power. He swore to gain the power to protect his loved ones and ensure they could live a long and eternal life.
And the pill is the answer. If he proves the Dao, he can follow in the footsteps of the Yin-Yang Companion Emperor and cultivate the flower into a Yin-Yang Love Flower. If the legends are true, Lou Cheng can allow his wife to also become an Emperor.
Lan Ling smiled as she liked to hear these reassuring words from him. Nevertheless, she still hoped she could directly aid him.
“Don’t think about these unnecessary things. Was the news about the Eternal Seed true?” asked Lou Cheng.
“Yes, but by the time our people arrived, someone already took it away.”
Lou Cheng groaned. He encountered many problems in preparation for this Proving Dao Pill, one of which was the materials: they were all rare and difficult to find. The Eternal Seed was one of the core materials that he’s been searching for for the last 20,000 years.
“Do you know who got their hands on it?”
“Our information is unclear, but there is a high chance it’s the Association of Commerce.”
“The Eternal Seed is mainly used to extend life, so if it’s in their hands, they probably want to have their alchemist refine some potent Life Extending Pill,” commented Lou Cheng. “Maybe I can negotiate with them.”
He’s currently one of the best alchemists in the world. So, the Association might be willing to owe them a debt.
“Huh?” muttered Lou Cheng as he sensed something from his wife. “If you have something to tell me, don’t hesitate.”
Lan Ling opened her mouth before closing it. She hesitated for a while before saying, “I think it’s time you began to rely on the sect’s manpower more.”
“Absolutely not,” he answered immediately and decisively.
“If we had more people looking for the material, we would not be in the situation we are,” convinced Lan Ling after biting her lips for determination. She does not like contradicting her husband, but sometimes, she must be tough.
“You should understand the difficulty of gathering these rare and possibly extinct materials. You’ll never succeed If you only use your personal power to search; you need the sect’s influence and connection to have a remote chance.”
“And you should understand my worries,” countered Lou Cheng. “That guy impersonated me and infiltrated the sect. I know for a fact he has numerous spies in the sect, watching my every move.”
Lan Ling looked at his determined face before looking at the few strings of white hair on the side of his head; she knew they existed not due to lack of lifespan. After all, they were still young and full of vitality.
These white hairs were the result of immense stress and worries. In the past few years, she saw how her husband became increasingly paranoid that he did not even tell their masters about the pill.
“Have you considered coming to an agreement with him?”
“Are you serious?” he asked, wondering what’s got into her today.
“Have you thought about the situation properly?”
“What do you mean?”
“That’s impossible. I doubt we could gather even one-eighth of the material,” replied Lou Cheng with a wry smile.
“Then, what will you do after he proves the Dao? Do you think you’ll be able to hide from him then?”
Lou Cheng did not answer; he did not know how to respond.
“Once he finds it, he can just take the pill away from you,” she continued. “The only opportunity we will have is if the Flame Emperor appears to help. But even then, will that really be a good thing?”
None of them completely trusted the Flame Emperor since they did not know his primary objective and plan. There is a possibility that the day Lou Cheng refines the pill is also the day he dies at the hands of the Flame Emperor. So, of the evil, Lan Ling preferred the lesser evil of Wang Wei. Maybe, allying with him might protect them from the Flame Emperor.
“I believe in the Flame Emperor,” argued Lou Cheng; he can only convince himself that such an entity who reached beyond the realm of the Great Emperor does not need to plot someone as lowly as him.
“Okay, let’s say you’re correct, and the Flame Emperor does not plan to harm you. What will you do if Wang Wei comes to ask you for the formula? Even if you succeed and become an Emperor, do you think you will be more powerful than him?”
Lou Cheng groaned as he caressed his temple.
“If you make a transaction with him now, you will have the support of the entire Dao Opening Sect to help gather the material. Secondly, you can have Yan Liling’s help to ensure success.”
Lou Cheng pondered for a moment, “Your analysis is only right if he’s the one who proves the Dao.”
“Our situation would be even worse if other people were the final winners,” said Lan Ling with a frown. “He knows us and has some karmic connection. So, he might spare us and even allow us to keep a copy of the pill formula.
“But other Heaven Chosen will not have such compassion or scruples. Most will not hesitate to raise the sect to the ground for that formula.”
Lou Chen was aware of this, so he only told his wife about the pill; he did not even tell his master, Ye Lao. And he would not have told her if she did not sleep every day next to him,
He could imagine how many people would do anything to get their hands on this pill formula–including wiping out the Origin Pill Dao Sect.
If such a day ever arrived, Lou Cheng knew he would be the greatest sinner of the sect since they would not survive. Countless Emperor Lineage would band together to wipe out the Origin Pill Dao Sect.
“I will think about your suggestions,” he said, ending this conversation. Lan Ling secretly sighed. Her husband was kind and gentle about most things. But when it came to that Pill Formula or Wang Wei, he was more stubborn than a mule.
“Can you at least tell the master? He’s trustworthy and can help us in many ways.”
Lou Cheng wanted to refuse immediately, but he realized he needed to do something different if he wanted to have a chance to refine this pill. His current method has proven unsatisfactory, as shown by the slow progress after thousands of years.
So, telling his master the truth might be a good move. Although his teacher is not powerful strength-wise, he has years of experience and extensive connections.
‘Maybe the teacher can find a way to help me.’ Although Lou Cheng felt this was a good idea, he was still worried about the news leaking. He trusted his master, but if the latter made a mistake, it would be a catastrophic result.
“You have to trust everything will go alright with the master–just like it did with me,” reassured Lan Ling as she held his hand. Lou Cheng looked at his wife’s brilliant smile and felt relieved.
“You’re right,” he nodded. “Let’s tell the teacher the truth.” Just by saying these words, he felt a heavy burden lifted from his shoulder. The two walked out of the room, heading to Ye Lao’s mountain.
Lou Cheng did not go far before a disciple arrived with important news.
‘The Dao Burial Ground disappear? That’s not important for now,’ he thought after dismissing the disciple. Then, he met with his master and told him the entire truth.