Devouring Soul Emperor

Concocting the Spiritual Longevity Pill was far more complex than the One Yang Pill.

It required over twenty types of Spiritual Medicine alone. Combined with its unique fusion sequence and demanding requirements for one’s Martial Soul Fire, the process was incredibly complex.

A Spirit Level Alchemist wouldn’t dare attempt to concoct such an elixir without decades of experience. Otherwise, it would be a complete waste of Spiritual Medicine!

But Chu Qingyun wasn’t concerned. He could practice to his heart’s content in the Illusion Realm.

Thanks to his experience from concocting the One Yang Pill, he ruined far fewer Spiritual Medicines this time. After all, though the elixirs were different, many of the principles were the same.

After practicing every detail of concocting the Spiritual Longevity Pill to perfection in the Illusion Realm, Chu Qingyun returned to the real world and began his work.

This time, he was truly in the zone.

From three sets of materials for the Spiritual Longevity Pill, he ran the cauldron three times. Each attempt was a success, and in addition to two Middle Grade Spiritual Longevity Pills, he even produced one Upper Grade Spiritual Longevity Pill!

Two One Yang Pills and three Spiritual Longevity Pills.

Looking at the five elixirs laid out on the table, a smile of pride and satisfaction spread across Chu Qingyun’s face.

His first day of real alchemy: from six sets of materials, he had produced five elixirs—a success rate of over 80%! Not a single one was below Middle Grade, and he’d even managed to create an Upper Grade one!

’Who else but me could possibly achieve this!?’

Looking up, Chu Qingyun realized that without him noticing, the sky outside had turned completely dark. It was already the dead of night.

Only after he finished concocting the elixirs did Chu Qingyun feel a bit dizzy.

He could practice alchemy for ages in the Illusion Realm without tiring, as it would constantly replenish his consumed Soul Power.

But in the real world, concocting six batches of elixirs in a row was indeed mentally exhausting.

After putting away the Pill Cauldron, the elixirs, and the remaining Spiritual Medicine, Chu Qingyun flopped onto his bed, too tired to even take off his clothes, and immediately fell asleep.

The next day, Chu Qingyun wasn’t woken until the sun was high in the sky, its piercing rays rousing him from his sleep.

He got up, washed his face, and found a place to eat before leaving the Great Xia Dragon Guard encampment.

He first went to the Ye Family estate and found someone to pass a message to Ye Qi, asking her to come out.

He hadn’t seen her in a few days, and Ye Qi looked as if she had grown even thinner. Her complexion was pale, and her eyelids were slightly swollen, as if she had been crying recently.

Still, upon seeing Chu Qingyun, she did her best to appear cheerful and managed a faint smile.

Seeing her in this state, Chu Qingyun couldn’t help but feel his heart ache for her.

She had once been such a bright and cheerful girl, but her father’s poisoning had left her looking this haggard.

"Chu Qingyun, what brings you here?" Ye Qi said with a forced smile, but she couldn’t hide the exhaustion and sorrow in her eyes.

"How is City Lord Ye’s cold poison?" Chu Qingyun asked.

Ye Qi shook her head, her voice low and forlorn. "It’s gotten worse. He probably won’t last much longer..." As she spoke, her eyes began to redden again.

What she didn’t tell Chu Qingyun was that two days prior, she had gone to beg Ye Tianyao to concoct a One Yang Pill for her.

However, he had viciously berated her, knowing that she was a good friend of Chu Qingyun’s.

Chu Qingyun smiled. "Don’t worry. Remember how I told you I’d find a way to get a One Yang Pill? Well, here you go."

As he spoke, Chu Qingyun handed two small jade boxes, each containing an elixir, to Ye Qi.

When she opened the boxes, a wave of heat, mingled with a medicinal fragrance, wafted out.

Seeing the two dark-red elixirs, Ye Qi’s face instantly lit up with surprised delight.

"Is... is this the One Yang Pill?" Ye Qi looked up at Chu Qingyun, hardly daring to believe her eyes.

"The Spirit Level One Yang Pill. That’s right," Chu Qingyun said with a confident smile. "Two Middle Grade pills will be more than enough to cure City Lord Ye’s cold poison."

"Thank you, Chu Qingyun! You’re amazing!"

Overcome with excitement, Ye Qi suddenly stood on her tiptoes and planted a quick kiss on Chu Qingyun’s cheek.

Chu Qingyun was stunned.

As for Ye Qi, the moment she realized what she’d done, her face flushed beet red. "I-I have to go give this medicine to my father!"

With that, Ye Qi turned and ran off without a backward glance.

Chu Qingyun touched the spot on his cheek where she had kissed him. Watching her retreating figure, he couldn’t help but wonder, ’When I deliver the Spiritual Longevity Pill to Elder Qin, will Qin Ya give me a kiss too...?’

’Ugh, what am I even thinking...?’

Chu Qingyun shook his head, clearing the random thoughts from his mind, and headed toward the Qin Family estate.

He arrived at the Qin Mansion.

Seeing Chu Qingyun again after only a day, Qin Ya was clearly puzzled. "Little man, shouldn’t you be focused on your alchemy? What are you doing back here already?"

In response to Qin Ya’s teasing, Chu Qingyun grinned. "What, not happy to see me? I can always leave, you know."

"Hmph. Your legs are attached to you. Leave if you want."

Qin Ya snorted softly and smiled. ’Trying to play these games with me? You’re still a little wet behind the ears...’

"Alright, I’m really leaving then. I guess you don’t want the Spiritual Longevity Pill after all," Chu Qingyun said with a sigh, shaking his head and turning to go.

The moment she heard "Spiritual Longevity Pill," Qin Ya shot up as if her seat were on fire and darted in front of Chu Qingyun, blocking his path.

"Chu Qingyun, did you... did you really concoct the Spiritual Longevity Pill? It’s only been one day!" Qin Ya’s face was a mask of astonishment, her eyes filled with thick suspicion.

Yesterday, after Chu Qingyun had left, Elder Qin had told her a few things about the Spiritual Longevity Pill.

She remembered that Elder Qin had stressed, above all else, how difficult the Spiritual Longevity Pill was to concoct. He had told her not to get her hopes up and not to blame Chu Qingyun if he failed.

She never imagined that after only a single day, Chu Qingyun would have actually succeeded!

Even though she wasn’t an Alchemist and didn’t know much about elixirs, Qin Ya could tell that this speed was completely abnormal!

In response to Qin Ya’s doubt, Chu Qingyun simply smiled, took a jade box from his Storage Ring, and opened it to reveal a smooth, milky-white elixir.

A rich medicinal fragrance filled the air. Shrouded in a dense Pill Mist, the elixir itself looked almost ethereal.

"My luck was pretty good. I managed to concoct an Upper Grade Spiritual Longevity Pill."

The reason he’d brought out the Upper Grade pill was that if he wanted to participate in the massive upcoming auction, he would need to sell some elixirs to raise funds for Primordial Spirit Liquid.

If he gave Elder Qin a Middle Grade elixir now, only to sell an Upper Grade one later, it would be rather difficult to explain.

Besides, Chu Qingyun had a very good impression of Elder Qin, so he wanted to grant him a few extra years of life.

"This is wonderful! Chu Qingyun, come with me to see my grandfather, quickly!"