The completion of the Simple Qi Disturbance Array brought a fragile sense of security to the Azurewood Lin Clan, like a paper shield against a storm. Yet the dwindling spirit stone reserves—reduced to a mere twenty—remained an ever-present burden, weighing heavily on every decision. Every ounce of energy spent, every pill consumed, had to be justified. The looming threat of the Stone Tiger Li Clan, who had already dared to spy on them, dispelled any hope of slow, quiet recovery.
Lu Chenyuan knew the path forward required immediate progress—both in his cultivation and in the quality of their medicinal pills. Now that he had the final missing component—the rare Grade Two Middle Three-Leaf Ginseng—he could attempt a refined version of the Qi Nourishing Pill. With it, the clan's future might gain a little more breathing room.
He didn't wait. The morning after his and Shen Yue's usual cultivation session, he returned to the humble woodshed that doubled as his alchemy hut. This time, however, he walked with the calm purpose of a craftsman, not the nervous eagerness of a novice. The lessons of his previous failures—and the one minor success—had matured him.
Uncle Liu and Shen Yue watched him go, their expressions unreadable blends of quiet hope and cautious dread. With so few spirit stones remaining, failure could no longer be tolerated.
Inside, Lu Chenyuan laid out the ingredients with reverence. The Three-Leaf Ginseng, fresh and pulsing with harmonized Qi, took center stage. Alongside it were the crisp, potent leaves of the Green Dew Grass—painstakingly cultivated and dried by Shen Yue—and the rugged, grounding Earth Spirit Root.
He began.
The battered bronze furnace groaned softly as it heated, but Lu Chenyuan had come to know its quirks and needs. His spiritual sense attuned itself to the gentle fluctuations of temperature, airflow, and Qi currents. First went the Earth Spirit Root—sturdy, grounding, but temperamental. He broke it down slowly, maintaining a delicate balance of fire and Qi. Next came the ginseng, its thin, fragrant slices releasing a complex, earthy-sweet aroma as they met the furnace's warmth. This time, instead of clashing violently, the ginseng's harmonizing properties soothed the root's volatility, creating a stable medicinal foundation.
Lu Chenyuan's focus was absolute. Sweat beaded along his brow, but he paid it no mind. When the time was right, he added the Green Dew Grass. The wood-aligned essence wove effortlessly into the mix, merging with the stabilized base like threads pulled into a tighter weave.
There was no sharp hiss. No smoke. Just a slow rise of clean, white steam that smelled... right. Promising.
Then came the critical stage: pill condensation.
With steadier hands and a clear heart, Lu Chenyuan executed the rapid temperature shifts, pulsing his Azurewood Qi through the furnace with practiced rhythm. A familiar clicking echoed from within—earlier, clearer, more confident.
When the furnace finally cooled, he removed the lid and stared.
Five pills lay within. Not three—five. Their color was a deeper green, almost glowing with vibrancy. Each was nearly perfect: smooth, lustrous, with only the faintest natural imperfections. They radiated a clean medicinal aura that soothed the senses and carried none of the sharpness of previous batches.
[System Notification: Host has successfully concocted Qi Nourishing Pills (Standard Grade, Minimal Impurities) x5.Alchemy Skill Experience +25.Understanding of 'Qi Nourishing Pill Formula' +15%.][Item Created: Qi Nourishing Pill (Standard Grade) x5][Effect: Effectively replenishes Qi for cultivators below Foundation Establishment.Significantly aids in stabilizing cultivation. Minimal impurities result in negligible side effects.]
Lu Chenyuan exhaled slowly, a grin breaking across his face. Standard grade. Minimal impurities. Five pills. It wasn't just a success—it was a breakthrough.
He collected the pills gently, their cool, smooth surfaces a quiet reassurance. Then he stepped out of the hut.
Uncle Liu's eyes widened instantly. "Five of them?" he gasped. "And look at that color—Young Master, they're beautiful!"
Shen Yue stepped forward, eyes fixed on the pills, then looked at Lu Chenyuan with a small, heartfelt smile. "You truly did it, Chenyuan."
The name hit him like a soft breeze to the heart.
Chenyuan. Not "Patriarch Lu." Not even "Young Master." It was the first time she'd addressed him so intimately in front of someone else. The shift was subtle, but it carried weight. Trust. Affection. A sliver of something deeper.
He returned her smile, gentler now. "Seems like the ginseng made all the difference," he said, then glanced at her meaningfully. "And the care behind the Green Dew Grass."
They tested the pill immediately. Lu Chenyuan consumed one, letting the warm, rich Qi flow through his meridians. It was smooth, nourishing, and without any backlash. No abdominal tightness. No mental fog. Just a clean surge of energy that strengthened his core and stabilized his cultivation.
"These are excellent," he said, nodding with satisfaction. "They'll help us all advance, faster and safer."
The remaining four pills were sealed and stored. He would use them judiciously to push himself toward the Fifth Layer of Qi Refinement.
Shen Yue's progress had been steady too. Her affinity with Wood Qi had grown stronger by the day. She was now firmly rooted in the First Layer, and her ability to absorb ambient Wood Qi during morning meditations had matured. Under Lu Chenyuan's guidance, she began learning to circulate it throughout her entire body—not just her hands—strengthening her meridians and physique.
One sunny afternoon, as she tended the Green Dew Grass garden, Shen Yue noticed a small tear on one of the largest leaves. Instead of sadness, she felt a pull—an instinct. She crouched beside the plant, closed her eyes, and extended her hand.
A gentle green light glowed at her fingertips. She reached out and touched the wounded leaf. Slowly, she guided her Wood Qi outward. She visualized the plant healing, the edges of the cut drawing closer, the veins reconnecting.
When she opened her eyes, the damage wasn't completely gone—but it had lessened. The leaf was visibly healthier. Brighter.
[System Notification: Wife Shen Yue has successfully performed a minor Wood Spirit Qi healing on a spiritual plant.Control over Wood Spirit Qi +5.Spiritual Root (Variant - Wood) Awakening Progress: 15%.Clan Vitality +1.Host receives minor insight into life-force manipulation.]
From a short distance away, Lu Chenyuan felt the familiar flicker of system feedback. He walked over, his eyes warm with pride.
"That was beautiful," he said gently. "You're not just cultivating now. You're healing."
Shen Yue blinked at her hand, then at the leaf. "I just... wanted to help it," she whispered. "It felt right. Chenyuan… do you think I could one day help people too? Not just plants?"
Her voice trembled slightly, full of hope.
"With time and effort? Absolutely," Lu Chenyuan replied. "The Wood element is the essence of life. It can grow, protect… and heal."
The days passed in a quiet rhythm. Their meals remained simple: steamed spiritual millet, foraged greens, and whatever Uncle Liu managed to trap. The courtyard's new defensive array offered a small but comforting shield. And though their spirit stones were still critically low, the successful pills and Shen Yue's steady progress gave them a fragile but precious sense of momentum.
But danger remained near.
A few days after the alchemy breakthrough, Uncle Liu returned from gathering firewood at the edge of the Serpent's Coil Hills with a grim report.
"I spotted Li Clan cultivators," he said. "Well-armed. Heading deeper into the hills. Looked like a hunt—but not for beasts."
Lu Chenyuan's expression hardened. "They're after a spirit beast core. For Li Hu."
A powerful core, combined with medicinal support, could easily push Li Hu to the Fifth Layer. If that happened, the threat to their clan would increase tenfold.
"We must keep growing stronger," Lu Chenyuan said firmly, his gaze falling on the remaining pills.
They were still outnumbered. Still out-resourced. But they weren't helpless anymore.
They had skill. They had discipline. They had each other.
Shen Yue was blossoming. He was refining. And together, they were building something—stone by stone, breath by breath.
Their coffers might be dwindling, but so long as trust bloomed and spirit burned bright, the future of the Azurewood Lin Clan would not be so easily extinguished