Chapter 56: Refining the Soul Return Pill

With a soft click, Li Meng pushed the door open and entered his alchemy chamber, the heavy wood closing firmly behind him. He settled onto his meditation mat, crossing his legs with practiced ease. With a wave of his hand, several jade vials containing the medicinal liquids required for the Soul Return Pill flew from his Storage Bag, arranging themselves in a neat semicircle on the floor.

The Soul Return Pill was a highly specialized medicine. For a cultivator to require such a thing usually meant their Dao Foundation was already beyond salvage. Using it on a mortal was, by any objective measure, a staggering waste. A mortal’s lifespan was a mere century; reviving them would only grant a few additional decades. Yet, the ingredients for this pill were all over a thousand years old. It wasn’t just a poor trade—it was a catastrophic loss of resources.

But Li Meng knew that some things could not be measured by Spirit Stones alone.

He decided to use only a portion of his prepared liquids. Refining three to five pills would be enough: one for the royal sisters, and the rest to be kept in reserve for future contingencies.

“Senior Brother! Senior Brother!”

Roughly three hours later, Sheng Shui’er’s voice rang out from the courtyard. Li Meng rose and opened the door to find both sisters waiting anxiously.

“Junior Sisters, did you manage to obtain the Seven Star Grass?”

Sheng Shui’er nodded quickly, presenting his sect token alongside a spirit plant boasting seven distinct, shimmering leaves. Li Meng accepted them both. “You may leave for now. Return in three days.”

“Senior Brother, please focus on your alchemy. My sister and I will not disturb you,” Sheng Shui’er said, performing a respectful bow. Zi’er followed suit, her eyes lingering on the old man for a moment.

Li Meng chuckled softly, stroking his beard. “Go on.”

He watched the alluring sway of their waists as they retreated. Once they had exited the courtyard, he closed the door and returned to his furnace.

“Let’s begin,” Li Meng murmured, a surge of confidence emanating from him as he faced the imposing bronze vessel. “System, it’s all up to you now.”

Settling into a lotus position, he formed a series of hand seals. The Seven Star Grass floated into the furnace’s maw, and roaring flames ignited instantly. Under the intense heat of his Mana-fueled true fire, the plant began to liquefy, and a multicolored radiance shimmered around Li Meng’s body.

Outside, the sisters had not actually left. They sat at the small tea table, staring at the closed door.

“Sister, do you think he can succeed?” Sheng Zi’er asked softly.

Sheng Shui’er looked at the dilapidated building. “I don’t know. We have no choice but to trust him.”

This was a third-grade pill. Normally, only Golden Core alchemists attempted such a feat. Li Meng was merely at Qi Condensation. Sheng Shui’er harbored deep doubts, but she clung to that one-in-ten-thousand possibility because he was their only hope.

Time flowed on as the sun dipped below the horizon, and Little Bamboo Peak was swallowed by the night. A full moon hung high, illuminating the silent courtyard where the sisters sat cross-legged, immersed in meditation.

Inside the chamber, Li Meng was drenched in sweat. He popped Spirit Recovery Pills into his mouth like candy, his hand seals blurring as he maintained control. He summoned a golden talisman from his pouch—a Divine Firmament Spirit Gathering Talisman. It adhered to his back, and instantly, the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth began surging toward the peak in rolling waves.

The sisters were jolted from their meditation. “Sister, what is this?” Sheng Zi’er whispered, staring at the house. The spiritual energy was converging so intensely it had formed a localized spiritual tide.

Sheng Shui’er watched with wide eyes. “It must be an anomaly from the pill refinement. Senior Brother Li’s talent is truly… astonishing!”

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The sudden system notifications nearly shattered Li Meng’s focus. Inside the furnace, the flames flared violently. His face turned deathly pale as he poured every ounce of his Spiritual Power into stabilizing the raging energy.

“Hah…” He let out a ragged breath as the furnace settled. Refining a third-grade pill was pushing him far beyond his limits. Fusing the volatile liquids required a microscopic level of control; the slightest tremor would result in a lethal explosion.

He shoved several more Flawless second-grade Spirit Recovery Pills into his mouth. If this was to be a battle of attrition, he would see it through to the end.

Day one passed. Then day two. The spiritual energy around Little Bamboo Peak grew increasingly dense. On the third day, a sharp, heavenly medicinal aroma enveloped the summit.

“Sister! It smells wonderful! It’s forming!” The sisters stood up, their hearts racing. The fragrance was so potent that merely inhaling it cleared their minds.

Suddenly, the scent vanished. It didn’t disappear—it began to fade rapidly, indicating the process had concluded.

Click.

The door opened. Li Meng emerged, looking utterly spent. His face was ghostly pale, and deep shadows underlined his eyes, marking a severe depletion of his vitality.

“Senior Brother!” The sisters rushed to meet him.

Li Meng managed a weak smile and flicked his sleeve. A jade bottle flew into Sheng Shui’er’s hands. “My duty is fulfilled,” he said hoarsely. “Take it to your mother at once.”

Sheng Shui’er uncorked the bottle. An overwhelming fragrance assailed them.

“Superior-grade… Soul Return Pills?”

The sisters stared in disbelief. For a Qi Condensation ninth layer cultivator to refine a Superior-quality third-grade pill was unheard of. It was a feat that defied the logic of the cultivation world.

Sheng Shui’er bowed deeply, her hands clasped tightly. “Senior Brother… wait for my return.” No further words were needed; the gratitude in her eyes said everything.

Beside her, Sheng Zi’er blushed a deep crimson, stealing a glance at the old man. He really is incredible.

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“Little sister, let’s go.”

Sheng Shui’er mounted her sword and streaked across the sky. Sheng Zi’er, her face still flushed, blinked playfully at Li Meng. “Mister Li… see you later!”

She followed her sister, her graceful figure disappearing into the clouds as the sun dipped low, painting the world in hues of gold and crimson. Side by side, the sisters flew toward the horizon, leaving behind the mortal ground to save their mother, bound by a promise and a debt that would never be forgotten.