Chapter 10

It was two days later when Ye Qiao finished copying all the books. This matter had little to do with Xue Yu and Ming Xuan, so Manager Yu didn’t make things difficult for them and let them go with a wave of his hand.

Only Ye Qiao, the person involved, was left behind.

“All done copying?”

“All done.” She drooped her head, feeling completely drained.

Manager Yu opened the book and glanced at it, his mouth twitching. He had to admit, Ye Qiao’s handwriting could only be described as uniquely atrocious.

But there was no other choice. He would have to find a few disciples with good handwriting to recopy it later.

He glanced at Ye Qiao, “Come with me.”

Ye Qiao followed him obediently. Manager Yu led her up the long spiral staircase to the third floor, where the previously disordered talisman books were now neatly arranged. He placed the missing books back on the shelves, then crouched down and pulled out a few scrolls from somewhere.

The yellowed pages looked fragile and thin. Elder Yu carefully picked up a scroll and spoke in a deep voice, “How about doing me a favor, little girl?”

Ye Qiao, shrewdly, did not agree immediately, “What kind of favor?” This kind of task didn’t look like something just anyone could help with. She didn’t want to take on unnecessary trouble; she’d rather sleep.

Elder Yu was speechless for a moment at her cautious attitude.

He finally understood that this little brat didn’t play by the rules. Other disciples would have agreed immediately upon hearing this, without asking so many questions.

“These scrolls were left by the founder of the Changming Sect for future generations to learn from,” he explained. “They contain many ancient pill recipes.”

Ye Qiao listened as he reminisced about the glorious days of the Changming Sect, and had to interrupt him, “So, Elder, what do you want me to do? At this hour, I would usually be asleep.”

Elder Yu, once again interrupted, glared at her, “Our founder was one of the few in the cultivation world who could dual cultivate in sword and pill.”

“These ancient books, if released, would cause all sorts of cultivators to scramble for them.”

Ye Qiao: “Oh.”

Elder Yu continued, “Since you can memorize the books from the memory stone, these ancient books should be no problem, right?”

Ye Qiao, feeling the pressure, reminded him, “Elder, I am human, not a deity.”

Reading all these ancient books would exhaust her sea of consciousness.

Manager Yu pondered for a moment, “So what do you suggest?”

“I can read the books, but it will cost extra,” she said seriously, “My sleep time is very valuable.”

Talking about money made Elder Yu’s face darken. Didn’t she know how poor the Changming Sect was? They couldn’t even afford food, and she wanted money?

“I can give you a bottle of pills,” he offered, worried that she might refuse, considering her rebellious nature.

As the manager of both the library and the pill pavilion, he had the authority to allocate some sect pills.

Ye Qiao’s smile disappeared, and she waved her hand, “Forget it, I choose to relax.”

She hated studying. Of course, if money was involved, that was different.

No money, so what good were pills to her?

“I’m going to sleep,” she said and started to walk away.

“Wait.” Seeing her about to leave, Manager Yu panicked and hastily added, “Two more bottles.”

Ye Qiao yawned, looking lazy, “Forget it, I’d rather sleep.”

Manager Yu gritted his teeth, “Come back.”

He realized that without offering something valuable, this little rascal wouldn’t easily agree.

“If you copy these ancient books word for word, you can choose any pills you want from the pill pavilion.”

This was already the biggest concession the tight-fisted members of the Changming Sect would make.

Ye Qiao promptly halted her steps, flashing a brilliant smile, “Deal.”

Manager Yu: “…” He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had been tricked.

No one dared to easily open these ancient scrolls; they were extremely fragile and would turn to ashes within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea once opened.

Ye Qiao had no such worries. She extended her divine sense, and as the world spun, she opened her eyes again to an unfamiliar scene. The surroundings resembled the library but were far less luxurious.

She walked closer and saw an old man refining pills, muttering constantly.

“Wormwood, Ningyou flower… Alas. The sect’s dogs are starving, yet here I am refining pills,” he scoffed, hands on his hips. “When I get money, I’ll go home and raise pigs.”

Ye Qiao: “…” Who knew the founder of Changming Sect had such thoughts?

To be honest, if conditions allowed, she would also want to go home and raise pigs.

Despite his grumbling, the old man’s hands never stopped moving—condensing pills, controlling fire, selecting spiritual plants—all in one seamless flow.

Finally, he formed complex seals with his hands, a golden pill seal floating into the furnace. After about a cup of tea’s time, the furnace lid opened, releasing white steam, revealing round, lustrous pills inside.

Ye Qiao sat nearby, observing every step of his process, memorizing the hand movements for the seals, before stepping away.

After reading this scroll, her head buzzed, feeling slightly nauseous.

Regaining her senses, she found herself with a nosebleed again, which she wiped away quietly. After a moment’s thought, she began to transcribe the pill recipe. It wasn’t difficult to remember, especially with the visual demonstration—like watching TV, much easier than rote memorization.

Before long, she announced, “Finished.”

“Key.”

Ye Qiao extended her hand for the key to the Pill Pavilion. Though her face was slightly pale, she remained in high spirits. Manager Yu tossed her the key, worried she might collapse, and kindly suggested, “After browsing, you should get some sleep.”

Ye Qiao took a divine restoration pill given by Xue Yu and slowly walked out of the library.

Sleep? No, she planned to reap some rewards.

The Pill Peak was dazzling with a vast array of pills. Though Ye Qiao had read many ancient scrolls, she was still somewhat clueless about pills.

No matter; she didn’t understand, but Xue Yu did. Ye Qiao excitedly ran to Xue Yu’s residence and knocked on the door.

“Third senior brother. Let’s go to Pill Peak.”

The girl, with her slightly pale face and blood still on her nose, wiped it off nonchalantly.

Slacking off didn’t mean she wouldn’t improve.

Falling behind meant getting beaten—this wise saying from the great leader applied at all times.

Xue Yu, looking at her ghostly appearance, twitched his lips.

What was this? Acting as a female ghost?

“What are we doing at Pill Peak at this hour?”

Ye Qiao blinked a bit sheepishly, “Manager Yu gave me the key to the Pill Pavilion. To thank me for transcribing the ancient scrolls, he said I could take any pills I wanted from the pavilion.”

Xue Yu raised his eyebrows high—seeing a miser like Manager Yu give away something valuable was a rare sight indeed, “No problem. I’ll take you to pick. Let’s take him for all he’s worth.” Alchemy was a lucrative profession, and Manager Yu surely had many valuable items.

With the Pill Pavilion key in hand, the senior and junior brother-sister duo quickly arrived and picked the most valuable items.

“This one replenishes spiritual energy.”

“This one heals wounds.”

“And this one…”

They looted like bandits, taking all the valuable items.

This was already the biggest concession the tight-fisted members of the Changming Sect would make.

Ye Qiao promptly halted her steps, flashing a brilliant smile, “Deal.”

Manager Yu: “…” He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had been tricked.

No one dared to easily open these ancient scrolls; they were extremely fragile and would turn to ashes within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea once opened.

Ye Qiao had no such worries. She extended her divine sense, and as the world spun, she opened her eyes again to an unfamiliar scene. The surroundings resembled the library but were far less luxurious.

She walked closer and saw an old man refining pills, muttering constantly.

“Wormwood, Ningyou flower… Alas. The sect’s dogs are starving, yet here I am refining pills,” he scoffed, hands on his hips. “When I get money, I’ll go home and raise pigs.”

Ye Qiao: “…” Who knew the founder of Changming Sect had such thoughts?

To be honest, if conditions allowed, she would also want to go home and raise pigs.

Despite his grumbling, the old man’s hands never stopped moving—condensing pills, controlling fire, selecting spiritual plants—all in one seamless flow.

Finally, he formed complex seals with his hands, a golden pill seal floating into the furnace. After about a cup of tea’s time, the furnace lid opened, releasing white steam, revealing round, lustrous pills inside.

Ye Qiao sat nearby, observing every step of his process, memorizing the hand movements for the seals, before stepping away.

After reading this scroll, her head buzzed, feeling slightly nauseous.

Regaining her senses, she found herself with a nosebleed again, which she wiped away quietly. After a moment’s thought, she began to transcribe the pill recipe. It wasn’t difficult to remember, especially with the visual demonstration—like watching TV, much easier than rote memorization.

Before long, she announced, “Finished.”

“Key.”

Ye Qiao extended her hand for the key to the Pill Pavilion. Though her face was slightly pale, she remained in high spirits. Manager Yu tossed her the key, worried she might collapse, and kindly suggested, “After browsing, you should get some sleep.”

Ye Qiao took a divine restoration pill given by Xue Yu and slowly walked out of the library.

Sleep? No, she planned to reap some rewards.

The Pill Peak was dazzling with a vast array of pills. Though Ye Qiao had read many ancient scrolls, she was still somewhat clueless about pills.

No matter; she didn’t understand, but Xue Yu did. Ye Qiao excitedly ran to Xue Yu’s residence and knocked on the door.

“Third senior brother. Let’s go to Pill Peak.”

The girl, with her slightly pale face and blood still on her nose, wiped it off nonchalantly.

Slacking off didn’t mean she wouldn’t improve.

Falling behind meant getting beaten—this wise saying from the great leader applied at all times.

Xue Yu, looking at her ghostly appearance, twitched his lips.

What was this? Acting as a female ghost?

“What are we doing at Pill Peak at this hour?”

Ye Qiao blinked a bit sheepishly, “Manager Yu gave me the key to the Pill Pavilion. To thank me for transcribing the ancient scrolls, he said I could take any pills I wanted from the pavilion.”

Xue Yu raised his eyebrows high—seeing a miser like Manager Yu give away something valuable was a rare sight indeed, “No problem. I’ll take you to pick. Let’s take him for all he’s worth.” Alchemy was a lucrative profession, and Manager Yu surely had many valuable items.

With the Pill Pavilion key in hand, the senior and junior brother-sister duo quickly arrived and picked the most valuable items.

“This one replenishes spiritual energy.”

“This one heals wounds.”

“And this one…”

The two men were like the Japanese invaders who entered the village and specifically picked up valuable things and swept them away.