“Brother Liu San, there’s one more thing. Qianxun and I are currently working at the Alchemist Guild, but later we will still need to go to Heavenly Sword Mountain to Cultivate. If it’s not appropriate, please tell us. We can’t be seen as freeloading at the Alchemist Guild,” Qin Chu said, looking at Liu San.
Liu San nodded, “If anyone is dissatisfied, I will tell you. I know you are all people who value your own dignity and would not do anything that harms your reputation.”
Afterward, under Liu San’s arrangement, Qin Chu and Qianxun moved into a pavilion. The living room was in the middle, Qin Chu stayed on the left, and Qianxun on the right.
After settling in, Qin Chu and Qianxun left the Alchemist Guild again to go to Yunlai Inn and pack their belongings.
Qin Chu gave the inn waiter some gold and silver and boarded his beast carriage. Boarding a beast carriage didn’t cost much gold and silver, and Qianxun’s beast carriage itself was quite valuable, it would be a pity to sell it.
Qianxun instructed her guards and maids to return home. She could stay at the Alchemist Guild, but the guards and maids could not.
After packing up, Qin Chu and Qianxun returned to the Alchemist Guild. They drank a cup of tea, then went back to their respective rooms to begin Cultivating.
Back in his room, Qin Chu sat down cross-legged and took out the red crystal to study it.
Qin Chu felt that the energy contained within the red crystal was very abundant. He didn’t know if he could extract the energy from it to nurture the flames within his body.
Holding the red crystal in both hands, Qin Chu’s Origin Qi began to circulate as he tried to absorb the energy within it.
As Qin Chu’s Origin Qi circulated, energy flowed into his Dantian through his hands. Qin Chu’s Origin Qi absorbed a portion, and the flames absorbed another portion.
Feeling a bit strenuous, Qin Chu moved the flames out of his body. The flames floated in front of him, absorbing the energy from the crystal, while he himself also absorbed the crystal's energy for Cultivation.
Just then, a figure appeared outside Qin Chu’s pavilion, silently! Using the moonlight, he looked at Qin Chu through the window, and upon seeing the crystal and flames, his eyes were filled with shock.
After watching for a long time, the figure finally left.
Qin Chu was unaware of this and Cultivated until dawn.
After dawn, Qin Chu practiced his sword techniques in the courtyard in front of the pavilion, specifically the basic sword techniques enhanced by the Shocking Spirit Sword Art.
At this moment, a black-robed old man entered Qin Chu’s courtyard and sat down on a stone chair to the side of the courtyard.
With someone watching, Qin Chu naturally didn't continue Cultivating and sat down opposite the old man.
“Your basic sword technique has reached Great Perfection, which shows you are a determined Sword Cultivator,” the old man said, looking at Qin Chu.
“Before Senior, Junior dares not show off. May I ask Senior’s name?” Qin Chu inquired. He knew this old man was from the Alchemist Guild, but he hadn’t seen him before. It was just that the old man had a somewhat terrifying face, with a horrifying scar on his left cheek.
“My surname is Qin, and I live in that pavilion,” the old man said, pointing to a pavilion.
Seeing the pavilion the old man pointed to, Qin Chu knew who the old man in front of him was. It was Elder Qin, whom Liu San had told him about—eccentric and never meeting outsiders.
“Junior Qin Chu greets Elder Qin,” Qin Chu stood up and bowed to the old man.
Hearing Qin Chu’s words, a glint appeared in Elder Qin’s eyes, “It seems the Qin clan descendants are spread all over the world!”
“This Junior is not very knowledgeable about the general situation of the Jianghu!” Qin Chu chuckled. He only knew about the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan Qin, and other Qin clans had nothing to do with him.
“Then do you know the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan Qin?” the old man asked.
After hearing the old man’s question, Qin Chu stood up, “What Senior said, Qin Chu is not clear about. Qin Chu still needs to perform Alchemy, so I will not accompany you.”
Qin Chu had just taken a few steps when the old man’s right hand reached out towards Qin Chu with astonishing speed, leaving Qin Chu no time to dodge! His left shoulder was grabbed, and then a surge of energy entered his body, heading directly towards his heart.
Attacking the body? Origin Qi could not resist. Qin Chu controlled the energy within his body, or more precisely, the energy within his sacred bone, and sent it crashing forward.
With a collision of the two energies, the energy released by Elder Qin dissipated, and at the same time, he also took a few steps back.
“Your body Cultivation is quite good!” Elder Qin turned and left, his body trembling slightly as he departed.
Watching Elder Qin leave, Qin Chu felt that something was not right. He didn't know what was wrong, but the energy Elder Qin released was terrifying at first, but then it dissipated silently.
Elder Qin left, and Qin Chu didn't leave. His excuse about going to perform Alchemy was just that; what kind of Alchemy would one do so early in the morning?
After thinking for a while and not understanding, Qin Chu went to wash up.
Qin Chu and Qianxun tidied up and went to Chu Shan’s Pill Refining Room. The two brewed tea and chatted casually. If there was a need to refine high-grade Medicinal Pills, Liu San would come over.
Instead of Liu San, Lin Qing arrived, bringing some Materials.
“Lin Qing, your father didn’t punish you yesterday?” Qin Chu said, pouring Lin Qing a cup of tea.
“No, but he was indeed very distressed. Also, my father has something he wants me to tell you!” Lin Qing looked at Qianxun.
“It’s fine, Qianxun is my friend, he won’t betray me,” Qin Chu said.
“That crystal is called the Vermilion Bird Stone. It contains very rich fire-attribute energy and originated from the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan. It eventually fell into my father’s hands. This item cannot see the light of day, or you will be in trouble. If discovered by someone with ulterior motives, my father will also be in trouble,” Lin Qing explained the situation of the Vermilion Bird Stone.
Qin Chu’s heart churned with immense waves; he had not expected to have obtained something from the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan.
After some thought, Qin Chu shook his head, “The Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan has already retreated from the world, so they probably won’t investigate further.”
“That’s not it. To be frank with you, this item was stolen from the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan by someone else. That person died, so you should still hide it well,” Lin Qing said.
“I understand. As men, we stand tall and act righteously. If the Vermilion Bird Stone causes trouble, I, Qin Chu, will bear all responsibility and will definitely not speak carelessly,” Qin Chu promised.
Qin Chu performed Alchemy while Lin Qing and Qianxun chatted, finding each other quite compatible.
By noon, Qin Chu had transformed all the Medicinal Materials Lin Qing brought into Medicinal Pills.
“These Medicinal Pills are useless to you, so I won’t pay you with Medicinal Pills. Please take these three Spirit Stones,” Lin Qing took out three Spirit Stones.
“Haha! You are too polite. We get along well and are friends, so helping you refine some Medicinal Pills is only right. There’s no need for payment,” Qin Chu said. He liked Spirit Stones very much, but Lin Qing had already brought him the Vermilion Bird Stone, which had already helped him immensely.
“Alright, then if you ever need my help, please don’t hesitate,” Lin Qing said.
“Okay, also, in a few days, I might be going to Heavenly Sword Mountain. If you have anything, just leave a message for Liu San,” Qin Chu said to Lin Qing.