"Junior Sister Xu, your foundation is very solid. You’ll definitely become a Pill Master in the future. After you’ve identified herbs for a while longer, you can start refining some simple Qi Blood Powder."
Xu Qing listened to the senior sister who was teaching her about herbs and quickly cupped her hands. "It’s all thanks to your excellent teaching, Senior Sister."
She had been studying *Basic Refining* for nearly a year and a half and knew the entire book by heart. The only thing she lacked was practical experience.
By combining this with the knowledge already in her head, she was picking up how to identify medicinal ingredients very quickly.
"Stop with the flattery. I’m telling the truth. Alright, that’s enough for today. Head down the mountain, and come find me again tomorrow."
Xu Qing bowed, then took her leave.
’I will definitely become a Pill Master!’
Her big brother, Xu Yang, had always hoped she would become a Pill Master so she wouldn’t have to live a life of constant fighting. For that reason, she *had* to succeed.
’That jerk Xu Yang. He’s been back for days, so why hasn’t he come to see me?’
Her thoughts quickly shifted from her senior sister’s praise about becoming a Pill Master to Xu Yang. The moment she remembered he had been back at the Purple Sun Sect for days without visiting her, she started to feel a little upset.
Hm?
Suddenly, she saw a tall, slender figure standing firm as a mountain at the foot of Medicine King Peak. A smile as gentle as a spring breeze graced his handsome face, and his soft gaze was fixed on her.
Who else could it be but Xu Yang!
"Brother?"
Overjoyed, Xu Qing released a burst of Gang Qi from her feet. Like a nimble swallow, she floated down from Medicine King Peak and leaped toward him.
Xu Yang let her cling to him for a moment before speaking. "Alright now. If anyone sees this, they’ll laugh at you for acting like a child."
Xu Qing reluctantly let go and said excitedly, "Brother, I have great news! I’ve started learning alchemy! My senior sister said my foundation is very solid and that I’ll definitely become a Pill Master one day."
Xu Yang’s face lit up. He had sent Xu Qing to Medicine King Peak precisely so she could learn alchemy and avoid becoming a reckless fighter who did nothing but risk her life.
"That’s amazing! Our Xu family is going to have a prestigious Pill Master."
Anyone who’s played the part of a father knows that when a child achieves something, you must offer them affirmation and praise.
Hearing this, Xu Qing’s face lit up with a smile. She felt that all the frustration she had endured on Medicine King Peak had been worth it.
"Weren’t you denied permission to study several times before? Why the sudden change?" Xu Yang asked curiously.
Xu Qing excitedly lifted her long, fair neck. "It’s all because you suddenly revealed your cultivation! Senior Brother Sun Jian told Elder Chang Chun about our relationship, and then he agreed to let me study alchemy."
’Sun Jian?’
Xu Yang mentally noted the favor. So, it turned out Xu Qing had only gotten the opportunity to learn alchemy because of him.
’To think that Elder Chang Chun, the one who rejected me, also understood how the world works.’
Having noted both favors, Xu Yang said, "Remember, alchemy is just a supplementary skill. Don’t let your cultivation fall behind."
Xu Qing nodded. "Don’t worry. My cultivation is constantly improving. I’m confident I can reach the Gang Qi Great Success realm within half a year."
Reaching Gang Qi Great Success within half a year was considered quite fast among the Outer Disciples.
Most Outer Disciples took at least two years for their cultivation to break through to the Gang Qi Great Success Realm.
Xu Yang nodded in satisfaction and handed Xu Qing the elixirs he had brought for her.
"Why so many?"
Xu Qing opened the medicine bottle and was shocked to see five Guiyuan Pills inside. She immediately tried to give them back to Xu Yang.
She knew that Xu Yang also needed to cultivate, and if he gave her too many elixirs, it would slow his own progress.
"Just take them," Xu Yang said with a smile. "At my current level of cultivation, elixirs like the Guiyuan Pill have little effect on me. Besides, I have plenty more."
These were all gifts he had received over the past few days. He still had plenty of Profound Yuan Qi Transformation Pills back in his courtyard, along with the main ingredients to refine two cauldrons’ worth of Gathering Essence Pills, so he gave a few extra to Xu Qing.
Once he received his mission rewards and exchanged them for the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill Formula, he likely wouldn’t be using low-level elixirs like the Guiyuan Pill anymore anyway.
Only then did Xu Qing smile and accept the elixirs.
"I know what happened with Zhang Juan," Xu Yang said suddenly.
Xu Qing lowered her head, not daring to look at Xu Yang.
"Look up," Xu Yang said gently.
Xu Qing lifted her head, her eyes rimmed with red. In front of Xu Yang, she would always be a vulnerable child. Now that he knew she had been bullied, she couldn’t quite hold back her tears of grievance.
Xu Yang said, "I taught you to be patient and to keep a low profile, but that doesn’t mean you should get bullied and not even tell me. It’s not because I’m afraid you’ll cause trouble for me."
"For me, the biggest trouble is you being unhappy and getting bullied."
"I sent you to Medicine King Peak to learn, not to get pushed around. More than any skill, I just want you to be happy."
He knew Xu Qing had only tolerated Zhang Juan’s abuse because she was afraid of being kicked out of Medicine King Peak and losing her chance to learn alchemy.
"If you ever run into someone like that again, don’t put up with it. So what if you have to leave Medicine King Peak? And don’t you ever be afraid of causing trouble for me. If someone bullies you and you can win the fight, just slap them right back. If you can’t win, then hold back, come find me, and I’ll take care of it for you."
"You’re the best, Brother."
The tears welling in Xu Qing’s eyes receded.
"Right, that guy, Wang Jianxing. Was he involved in bullying you?" Xu Yang got down to business.
Xu Qing shook her head. "No, I’ve never even met him. I’ve only heard other people mention his name."
Xu Yang nodded, realizing it was likely just Zhang Juan throwing someone else’s name around to intimidate people.
He planned to wait a bit, have a word with Sun Ke, and then have Zhang Juan expelled from the Sect and dealt with permanently.
"Don’t you worry about this. I’ll handle Zhang Juan. Come on, let me see how your Martial Techniques have progressed."
"Okay!"
The brother and sister went to the Peach Grove. Xu Yang gave Xu Qing pointers on all her Martial Techniques and found she had basically reached the Great Success realm in all of them.
"From now on, don’t exchange your contribution points for elixirs. Save them up for Martial Techniques. I’ll provide you with the Cultivation Resources you need."