The reason Xie Linlang was called the Pill King was because he had improved an ancient pill formula, creating a supreme immortal pill known as the Immortal Feather Pill.
This pill allowed Mahayana Stage cultivators to sense immortal spiritual qi ahead of time, elevating their grade upon ascending to true immortal.
“That was only after I refined the Salvation Pill and received heavenly merit golden light’s aid that I luckily produced one, which was taken by Jiuxia Mountain’s ancestor.”
Xie Linlang smiled lightly, though the smile held no mirth. “But back then, I used Jiuxia Mountain’s ten-thousand-year treasure stock. Jiuxia Mountain had protected me for many years, so I gave it away.”
Xie Linlang set aside those past vexations and hesitated slightly. “Now that I’ve converted to demonic cultivation, I’ll inevitably need to readjust the Immortal Feather Pill formula. Adjusting it and then experimenting will consume considerable materials and time. If Big Brother is willing to wait…”
Li Pinghu hurriedly said, “I’ll wait, I’m willing to wait. I’m a Soul Transformation cultivator now anyway, with a thousand years of lifespan—I can afford to wait.”
Xie Linlang smiled faintly. “Then no problem. Once I’ve adjusted the formula, I’ll definitely let Big Brother know.”
“You’re heading to Silent Night Palace?”
“Yes, Silent Night Palace has plentiful resources. Since I’ve converted to demonic cultivation, I still need to study diligently.”
Li Pinghu reminded Xie Linlang, “Silent Night Palace sent someone to buy the pills you refined in the past. Who knows what they’re up to—ignoring you while alive but collecting them after death. Be careful.”
Xie Linlang’s heart chilled. He nodded slowly. “Thanks for the reminder. I’ll be cautious.”
Xie Linlang bid Li Pinghu farewell and departed. By the time he returned to Silent Night Palace, over a month had passed since the Purple Radiance Mountain Secret Realm.
As if by fateful coincidence, when he showed the identity token Le Qingping had given him to the outer gate guarding disciple, the disciple remarked, “Eh? Senior Sister Le only returned this morning, and you’re here this afternoon—quite the coincidence. You should head to the Mission Dispatch Office inside now; you’ll probably catch Senior Sister Le.”
Xie Linlang was taken aback. Le Qingping had just returned? It had been over a month—what had she been doing?
Xie Linlang thanked the guarding disciple. Though he had come with Shen He before, on the surface it was his first time, so he pretended unfamiliarity and asked for directions.
Xie Linlang entered the Mission Dispatch Office’s grand hall. The task-assigning cultivator wasn’t Senior Brother Zheng. The guarding disciple handed over Xie Linlang’s token and spoke a few words to him. The cultivator then asked Xie Linlang.
“Greetings, fellow daoist. I see you have cultivation. Were you a loose cultivator before, or from another sect?”
“I’m a Sunset Death Gate cultivator. Hearing that Silent Night Palace widely recruits demonic sect cultivators for joint study, and by chance encountering Fellow Daoist Le, I’ve come here to cultivate.”
The cultivator glanced at Xie Linlang in surprise.
After cultivating Morning Hearing Dao and You Me He—two unique concealment secret arts of the Sunset Death Gate—Xie Linlang’s demonic qi felt even more serene and pure, with much of his demonic allure dissipated.
This cultivator didn’t detect Xie Linlang’s Crane Bone Foundation. Following procedure, he said, “But the token from Fellow Daoist Le marks sect True Transmission Disciple status. If fellow daoist is from Sunset Death Gate, it doesn’t quite fit the rules.”
Having been reminded by Li Pinghu, Xie Linlang readily said, “Whether I become True Transmission depends on heaven’s will and cultivation. I won’t insist.”
The cultivator nodded. “Then per the rules…”
Before he finished, the door diagonally opposite the dispatch office opened, and Senior Brother Zheng, Le Qingping, and Shen He filed out.
Le Qingping beamed with smiles, Shen He’s expression was somewhat subtle, and Senior Brother Zheng’s face was ashen—clearly, Le Qingping had fleeced him for a hefty sum.
Le Qingping spotted Xie Linlang at once and exclaimed delightedly, “Ah, Fellow Daoist Xie, you’ve finally come. I thought you’d changed your mind.”
Shen He’s eyes lit up too, but mindful that he shouldn’t know Xie Linlang on the surface, he didn’t speak.
Senior Brother Zheng slowed his steps, his gaze flickering.
He glanced at Le Qingping, scrutinized Xie Linlang, and asked the duty cultivator, “What’s going on?”
The duty cultivator explained, “…A Sunset Death Gate cultivator wanting to join Silent Night Palace, but holding Senior Sister Le’s True Transmission identity token…”
Le Qingping snapped open her embroidered fan, shielding half her face and revealing only a pair of captivating eyes as she closely examined Xie Linlang.
Wow, as expected of a reincarnation recultivation bigshot. A casual outing and he’s got a new identity. Impressive, impressive.
Shen He was somewhat baffled. What was Sunset Death Gate? His time as a cultivator was merely three or four months; he lacked experience and knowledge.
“What’s so difficult about that?” Senior Brother Zheng glanced at Le Qingping with ill intent. “Since it’s Fellow Daoist Le’s introduction, why not have him assist at Martial Uncle Fang’s beast garden? Martial Uncle Fang is the Palace Lord’s grand-disciple and a palace True Transmission Disciple. If he earns Martial Uncle Fang’s favor, as long as the Palace Lord sends a short message, Sunset Death Gate will gladly transfer Fellow Daoist Xie to Silent Night Palace.”
Le Qingping frowned slightly.
She knew Martial Uncle Fang; he was indeed the Silent Night Palace Lord’s grand-disciple.
But if she hadn’t misremembered, her master had once mentioned that the Silent Night Palace Lord had already been replaced unbeknownst to all.
Martial Uncle Fang was merely the previous Palace Lord’s grand-disciple.
But such a confidential matter couldn’t be used as a reason. Le Qingping quickly thought, needing a suitable excuse to transfer this Fellow Daoist Xie to her own master’s cave abode.
Shen He was thinking the same. His nominal master Lin Yu hadn’t returned, and Lin Yu’s pill room was under Hong Kui’s control.
Shen He figured he could ask Senior Brother Hong for help to transfer Master Xie to Lin Yu’s pill room.
On one hand, it would satisfy Master Xie’s need for that supreme-grade pill furnace; on the other, he could continue cultivating under Master Xie.
But before Shen He or Le Qingping could speak, Xie Linlang said mildly, “Oh? The Palace Lord’s grand-disciple? Then he must be a senior of great attainment. Many thanks for the arrangement, fellow daoist.”
A flash of surprise crossed Le Qingping’s face, and Shen He inhaled sharply.
One had seen how Xie Linlang tricked the black snake, the other how he sent Senior Brother Liu to become material in the pill furnace. Hearing Xie Linlang proactively agree to Senior Brother Zheng’s proposal, Le Qingping and Shen He both felt an inexplicable premonition simultaneously.
That Martial Uncle Fang was done for.
