A lazy sigh suddenly echoed in the Sea of Consciousness.
Lu Qiancha didn’t need to guess who it was. She curled the corner of her mouth and said, “Senior Canxin, why the long sighs?”
“Bored to death!” Canxin’s voice carried heavy grievance, like a sword blade covered in dust.
“Your life is like that of a reclusive monk—either meditating or flirting and playing around with the Demon King and your little shimei!”
The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she became.
“Poor me, this Demonic Sword Remnant Heart! Ever since following you, the blade thirsts for blood, and the sword soul is humiliated! The scent of blood it’s touched surpasses that of a kitchen chicken slaughter! Such a curse!”
Lu Qiancha’s mouth twitched as she forced down her urge to argue.
Unwilling to give up, Canxin continued egging her on: “Can’t you go to your so-called Task Hall and pick up some blood-spilling assignments? Good or evil, it doesn’t matter! My soul is starving to pieces!”
“Senior, our Tianyuan Sect is a reputable righteous sect. We can’t do those killing, looting, and banditry jobs. Even if I take tasks, it’s mostly about gathering herbs, capturing criminals, or suppressing demons.”
Lu Qiancha puckered her lips.
“Killing demons counts too. I’m not picky.”
Canxin sighed deeply. She truly hadn’t expected Lu Qiancha to live such a leisurely life.
“Stop hoping, senior. My Shifu is about to undergo her Heavenly Tribulation. Until she completes it, I won’t be taking any missions.”
Lu Qiancha shook her head. When the Heavenly Tribulation begins, life and death hang in the balance; with Shifu in such danger, how could she have the heart to go slaying demons alongside Canxin?
“Fine, fine, can’t persuade you.”
Canxin shook her head and leisurely lay back down. Running into a master who disliked killing—she was just out of luck.
Days passed quietly as they waited for the Danlu.
By day, Lu Qiancha sat cross-legged meditating in the grass hut, surrounded by a mist of spiritual energy.
By night, she became Xun Xue’s exclusive “large plush pillow” — surrendering to sleep in that familiar, warmly fragrant embrace.
In these dozen days, the disciples of Tiangong Peak had shown astonishing efficiency!
Bricks, tiles, earth, and stone seemed guided by invisible giant hands to be stacked and built, and a delicate fourfold courtyard had risen from the clearing on the back mountain.
The main hall was a two-story small building, with carved eaves and painted beams, exuding a faint aura of restrictive formations—clearly entrusted with the important task of serving as a refining furnace.
The other four wings—east, west, south, and north—encircled the courtyard, perfectly accommodating the four people on the peak.
The south wing faced the courtyard gate, where a small isolation formation quietly hummed.
Between rooms, soundproof and anti-spiritual small arrays were engraved to ensure no disturbance between occupants.
Seeing the newly formed pavilion full of spiritual energy, even Lu Qiancha, who had been in this world for over sixty years, couldn’t help but praise in admiration, “No wonder the builders in this cultivation world are so fast at construction.”
With the small courtyard completed, everyone moved into their new residences: Lu Qiancha settled in the south wing, Xun Xue took the east wing, and Gantang happily moved into the west wing.
The north wing—the best-lit main house overlooking the entire Tianquanfeng—was naturally reserved for their still-closed-off Shifu, Xuanya Daoist.
Only a few days after moving in, a familiar light boat once again tore through the sky.
“Li—ttle—Qian—cha—! Your Danlu, Shigu has brought it! Arrived!”
Xuanmo’s voice came before she did, accompanied by a bright laugh descending from the clouds.
With a gentle sweep of her robe sleeves, a flash of mysterious light—
Boom!
A massive figure suddenly stood tall in the courtyard clearing!
The Danlu was entirely gilded, reaching three zhang high. The furnace walls were embossed with several blooming pink-white lotuses, their treasures glimmering and flowing with light.
Most peculiar were the three rock-solid legs, each coiled tightly by a small, bright red-gold dragon with wide-open eyes.
“Thank you, Shigu, for finding this treasure!”
Lu Qiancha respectfully saluted, eyes unable to hide her joy, then asked, “I wonder… what’s the price for this furnace?”
“Money? Nonsense! No need to mention payment!”
Xuanmo waved her hand, but a mischievous gleam flashed in her eyes.
Lowering her voice, she leaned closer and said, “How about… letting Shigu properly ‘rua’ your true form a few times? Consider that the cost of this furnace, how about it?”
She rubbed her hands together, her face full of expectation.
Lu Qiancha’s body stiffened instantly, forcing out a dry smile: “Shigu, your disciple thinks… paying with Ling Stones is better.”
“Pfft! Look how scared you are! Just joking!”
Xuanmo couldn’t help but laugh, waving her hand with a smile, though her mind was already scheming—Little Qiancha’s furry hands were a long-missed delight.
She needed to find an unrefusable excuse to have a proper feel.
Lu Qiancha silently tugged the corner of her mouth and brought the conversation back on track: “Shigu, the thirty bottles of Chengxin Yulu Wine ordered by the Kuanlan Sect have already been prepared.”
She took out a Storage Bag and handed it to Xuanmo.
“So fast?!”
Xuanmo was surprised as she took it, her divine sense probing inside to confirm the bottle count was correct.
Her eyes glimmered even brighter. “Little Qiancha,” she leaned in with an excited tone, “be honest, how much can this treasure produce?”
Hearing this, Lu Qiancha pondered for a moment and said, “Brewing this wine requires over ten days of careful preparation for the ingredients in the early stage.”
“Once the materials are ready, one batch takes about an hour in the furnace, yielding… ten to twelve bottles of original brew.”
“An hour for ten bottles?!”
Xuanmo’s eyes instantly widened.
Thinking about how she sold them to the Kuanlan Sect at the sky-high price of ten top-grade spirit stones per bottle…
Even she felt a sharp pang in her conscience.
“Yes, if you want to mass produce, the time can be further shortened, but the yield won’t be as guaranteed.”
Lu Qiancha nodded and continued to explain.
Xuanmo’s eyeballs rolled around several times, then her face suddenly lit up with a warm smile. She grabbed Lu Qiancha’s hand and patted it: “Little Qiancha, Shigu has an idea…”
“Please, Shigu, say it.”
Lu Qiancha responded politely.
“You see, this Chengxin Yulu Wine is good, but even good things get boring, right? Didn’t you say last time… there are other Secret Brews?”
Xuanmo’s eyes sparkled with the greed of a cunning merchant.
“We should rotate sales! This round we promote the Chengxin Yulu, and next round switch to a new label! Scarcity makes value! Make some, then pause, keep them wanting more!”
Hearing this, Lu Qiancha glanced at Xuanmo twice, thinking her Shigu really understood hunger marketing—she’d be wasted as anything other than a Master of Commerce.
“Then it’s settled as Shigu says.”
Lu Qiancha agreed, then shifted the topic. “But besides Chengxin Yulu, the other varieties are mostly improved mortal-world brews.”
“At best, their flavor is unique, but they don’t benefit cultivation much and probably won’t sell for high prices.”
“I understand, I understand. This time, they definitely won’t be so expensive.”
Xuanmo nodded knowingly and then prepared to pilot her little boat away.
“Shigu, wait!”
Lu Qiancha suddenly called out.
“Oh? Little Qiancha, what is it?”
Xuanmo turned back, her eyes full of curiosity.
Lu Qiancha’s expression grew serious:
“One month later, I plan to open the furnace to refine a rather tricky pill. I hope to ask Shigu to make time to be present, to protect and assist me with the Guardian Ritual.”
“Nonsense! A simple matter! Leave it to Shigu!”
Xuanmo agreed enthusiastically, her moon-white robe fluttering with ripples.
Lu Qiancha’s lips curved slightly.
“If this pill is successfully made by chance, the entire profit from the current batch of Chengxin Yulu Wine sold to the Kuanlan Sect will be… presented to Shigu as a token of thanks.”
“Deal—!!!”
Xuanmo’s voice instantly shot up eight notes! She excitedly extended her right hand, clenching it into a fist, suspended midair.
Lu Qiancha understood and also clenched her small paw, gently bumping it against hers.
“It’s settled then! One month later, Shigu will definitely come!”
Xuanmo smiled brightly, lightly tapping her feet as the Flowing Cloud Boat sliced through the sky.
In the wind, only Lu Qiancha’s clear voice remained: “Shigu, take care!”
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