The morning meal was simple but warm — rice porridge with wild greens and leftover roasted meat from yesterday. The four of them sat around the low wooden table inside the house. Liu Qinglan moved more easily now, her wounds healing faster than expected thanks to Zhang Wei's treatment.
While eating, Liu Qinglan took out a small porcelain bottle from her storage pouch. She shook it gently; only one pill remained. Without thinking much, she was about to swallow it when Zhang Wei suddenly spoke up.
"Wait a moment, Sister Qinglan."
Liu Qinglan paused, pill halfway to her mouth. "Why?"
"How many of these pills do you have left?" Zhang Wei asked calmly.
"At first there were quite a few… but now only this one remains."
Zhang Wei extended his hand. "Can I take a look?"
Liu Qinglan hesitated for a second, then placed the small, dark-green pill in his palm. Zhang Wei brought it close to his nose and sniffed carefully. The scent was complex — faint bitterness mixed with the earthy aroma of several spiritual herbs. He then lightly touched the pill with the tip of his tongue, tasting it.
Liu Qinglan's eyes widened. "Hey, that's—"
She was about to stop him, but then waved her hand. "Never mind… it's already in your mouth anyway."
The moment the taste registered, a flood of information surged into Zhang Wei's mind thanks to his million-point Herbal Knowledge. The formula unfolded clearly, like reading an ancient recipe book:
Qi Condensing Pill (Basic Formula) Main ingredients:
3 parts Spirit Ginseng Root (for qi foundation)
2 parts Cloud Grass Leaves (to stabilize qi flow)
1.5 parts Moonflower Petals (to enhance absorption)
1 part Bitter Bone Vine (to strengthen meridians)
0.5 part Scarlet Flame Fruit (as catalyst)
Secondary supporting herbs: Wild Licorice Root for harmonizing, Pine Resin for binding, and a trace of Ground Pearl Powder to prevent qi leakage during refinement.
Refining method: Simmer at low heat for 4–5 shichen in a proper pill furnace while maintaining steady spiritual flame. The finished pill should be smooth, dark green with a faint spiritual glow, classified as High-grade Qi Condensing Pill.
Zhang Wei's eyes brightened. He looked up with a small smile.
"This… this is our source of money, Uncle Li."
Uncle Li nearly choked on his porridge. "What? Money?"
Liu Qinglan stared at the boy, clearly thinking he was boasting too much. She crossed her arms and said with a slightly mocking tone, "Little brother, this is not something anyone can make. Even if you know the herbs, you still need a proper pill furnace, controlled spiritual fire, and years of experience. It's not child's play."
Zhang Wei tilted his head, a playful glint in his eyes. "Then… how about a small bet, Sister Qinglan? If I can successfully refine this pill, you have to teach us basic cultivation techniques. Deal?"
Liu Qinglan raised an eyebrow. "And if you lose?"
Zhang Wei grinned mischievously. "Then I'll make the most delicious meal you've ever eaten and… become your boyfriend!"
Liu Qinglan's face instantly turned red. She reached over and lightly knocked her knuckles on Zhang Wei's forehead with a loud thunk.
"Little brat! You dare take advantage of your elder sister? Hah!"
Mei, who had been listening quietly, puffed her cheeks in anger and glared at Zhang Wei. "You… you idiot!"
Zhang Wei quickly turned to Mei and patted her head gently. "I'm just joking, Mei. Don't be mad, okay? You're still my favorite little sister."
Mei turned her head away with a huff, but her ears were slightly pink.
Uncle Li watched the whole scene with a warm, contented smile. He thought to himself, This kind of lively noise… I've lived long enough. Even if I die tomorrow, I can close my eyes with a smile.
After breakfast, Zhang Wei asked the others to stay at the house. "I'm going into the forest to gather the herbs I need. Please don't disturb me when I start refining later."
He spent the morning deep in the woods, using his vast knowledge to carefully collect every ingredient in the exact proportions. By noon he returned with a full basket.
In the afternoon, he went alone to the village market. He walked from stall to stall until he found a medicine shop. Inside, a proper pill furnace sat proudly on display — small but made of high-quality bronze. The price made his eyes widen. It was far too expensive for their current savings.
Zhang Wei returned home with a slightly dejected face.
"What happened?" Uncle Li asked. "You look disappointed."
"The pill furnace is really expensive…" Zhang Wei sighed. "We can't afford it right now."
Liu Qinglan nodded knowingly. "Of course it is. A decent furnace isn't cheap."
Then Zhang Wei's eyes suddenly lit up. "Wait… what if we use a simple clay pot instead?"
He rushed back to the market, used the small amount of money Uncle Li had given him, and bought the cheapest large clay pot he could find. Back at the clinic, he told everyone, "I'm going to start refining now. Please don't disturb me. Sister Qinglan, can you guard the door so no one comes in?"
Uncle Li went to water the vegetables. Mei stayed near the clinic, waiting excitedly. Liu Qinglan stood by the door with her arms crossed, half-curious, half-doubting.
Inside the small clinic, Zhang Wei closed the door and began working.
He lit a fire with dry firewood, placed the clay pot over it, and carefully added water along with the prepared herbs in the exact order from the formula. He maintained a steady, low flame — not too strong, not too weak — and slowly simmered everything for five full shichen (ten hours). Sweat rolled down his face from the heat and concentration. The air inside the room gradually filled with a faint medicinal fragrance.
After a long wait, the liquid inside the pot thickened and formed small, round pills as it cooled. Zhang Wei carefully collected them.
He had succeeded.
The pills were smooth and dark green, though without the faint spiritual glow of high-grade ones. They were Middle-grade Qi Condensing Pills — good enough for beginners, though not as potent as the original high-grade version due to the crude clay pot and ordinary fire.
Zhang Wei picked up the first pill, examined it for a moment, then swallowed it.
A warm current spread through his stomach, similar to drinking a strong energy tonic, but nothing dramatic happened. No sudden qi surge, no glowing body, nothing like the stories.
He walked out of the clinic, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Liu Qinglan looked at him. "Did you succeed?"
"Of course I did," Zhang Wei replied simply.
Liu Qinglan snorted. "I shouldn't have even asked. I saw you swallow one already."
Zhang Wei scratched his head. "But… why don't I feel anything special?"
Liu Qinglan sighed, as if explaining something obvious to a child. "Of course you won't feel much yet. You haven't learned the proper breathing technique and qi circulation method. Without that, the pill is almost useless."
Zhang Wei's eyes brightened. "Then… can you teach me, big sister?"
Liu Qinglan was silent for a moment. Inside her heart, she clenched her fist tightly. This little demon… he actually refined the pill with just a clay pot. He must be brought into the sect no matter what.
She put on a calm face and said, "If you want to learn, you'll need to be officially accepted by the sect first. That breathing technique isn't something ordinary people can learn freely."
Zhang Wei shrugged with a small smile. "That's a pity. I still don't want to go anywhere for now."
Liu Qinglan didn't push further, but a determined glint appeared in her eyes.
Later that evening, after a simple dinner, Zhang Wei picked up his knife and looked at Liu Qinglan. "Sister Qinglan, want to come hunting with me? We can talk more while we walk."
Liu Qinglan nodded, a faint smile on her lips. "Alright. Let's go."
The two of them headed into the darkening forest together — one young boy with a broken but powerful system, and one wounded inner disciple carrying heavy grudges.
The quiet village life was slowly but surely becoming much more interesting.