"There is no need to stand on ceremony."
Great Master Pharmacist Ning's voice was as gentle as jade.
"I have already learned about your situation from Miss Li," he said, his gaze steady and his tone patient. "That Lin Fan is a good-for-nothing, and he has already divorced you. For a stranger—for a good-for-nothing who has been abandoned by the three great families in succession—is it worth it?"
Every word felt like a needle to Su Xiaoqing's heart. The air seemed to solidify; even Li Ruoyun, standing outside the door, could not help but feel curious.
Su Xiaoqing shook her head abruptly, her eyes unwavering. "In my heart, for a day as husband, Lin Fan is husband for a lifetime."
Lin Fan’s teacup trembled slightly.
"What has this good-for-nothing given you? Glory? Wealth?"
After a moment of contemplation, tears welled up in the corners of Su Xiaoqing's eyes. "Every time I return home, he is there standing, waiting for me. When I was being punished in the rain, he was the one holding the umbrella, keeping me company. When I dozed off in the middle of the night, he was the one who draped a garment over my shoulders. When I was too busy to eat, he was the one who warmed my meals and brewed my tea. I do not want great wealth or status; I only want his companionship."
Memories surged like a tide; the small, everyday moments made her cry with a smile—a smile so innocent.
Lin Fan’s gaze grew distant, as if recalling some long-lost past.
"Silly girl, you are the greatest fool of all."
Deeply moved, Li Ruoyun bowed to Lin Fan with a pleading look. "Senior, Xiaoqing will surely study alchemy with all her heart."
Lin Fan stood up and walked toward the pharmacy. "Study diligently. I will refine a batch of King-grade Qi Refining Liquid for Lin Fan to help him cleanse his marrow and achieve Foundation Establishment."
Su Xiaoqing’s lips parted, and tears streamed down her face.
"Quick, thank the Senior!" Li Ruoyun was so envious she couldn't keep her mouth shut. "I never expected the Senior to help you. Silly girl, don't worry anymore."
Li Ruoyun withdrew her gaze, squeezed Su Xiaoqing’s hand, and let out a sigh of relief. She suddenly complained, "Lin Fan must have burned high incense in his past life to have someone as devoted to him as you."
"He is the man I have chosen. He is my man, and I will protect him," Su Xiaoqing said, her gaze resolute.
Su Family.
"Congratulations, Brother Su."
"Miss Su has become a personal disciple of the Great Master Pharmacist; her future is boundless."
Guests had nearly worn down the threshold of the Su household. People arrived in an endless stream to deliver gifts, pay respects, and curry favor. Once, the Su family had been so deserted that birds could be caught in the courtyard.
"This girl has finally amounted to something." Even Zhao Yingrong was in an exceptionally good mood, having received so many gifts.
"Little slut."
In the hallway, Su Xi’s expression was grim; her maid dared not even approach her.
"Since we were children, everyone praised you for being diligent, sensible, and beautiful. I was inferior to you in every way. It was hard enough just to get Mother to back me, and even after awakening a Profound-grade Spiritual Root, I am still not as good as you now. Why? In what way am I inferior to you?"
Su Xi was filled with rage and indignation. She took it out on a potted plant, shearing the branches until it was bald.
The maid brought over some peeled fruit pulp and took the opportunity to say, "Once Lin Fan dies on the Life-and-Death Stage and the Third Young Miss marries into the Yang family, everything will be fine. The Yang family has set their heart on her. I heard that people are already going to the Yang family to offer congratulations; they certainly won't let her go. The Yang family also wants to use her to build a relationship with Great Master Pharmacist Ning."
*Slap!*
The moment she finished speaking, the maid received an unexplained slap.
"Shut your mouth." Su Xi bared her teeth and glared at the maid.
The maid hurriedly knelt; she understood that having been slapped, the matter was now over.
...
Three days passed.
The world was abuzz, discussing Chen Tiange’s Heaven-grade Spiritual Root and Great Master Pharmacist Ning. Everyone even believed that the alignment of the nine stars was caused by Chen Tiange. Possessing a Heavenly Spiritual Body, he was undoubtedly the Heaven-chosen true dragon.
During this time, Lin Fan spent his days as Great Master Pharmacist Ning, refining three batches of premium Qi Refining Liquid each day and keeping two for himself. At night, he would lie low at the Su residence, practicing the Book of Burials.
After consuming six batches in a row, his cultivation speed had noticeably slowed down. Lin Fan understood that the premium Qi Refining Liquid no longer provided him much benefit; only the King-grade Qi Refining Liquid could help him advance.
Early in the morning, the Su residence was already bustling. Su Xiaoqing came to see Lin Fan, intending to take him to the market auction to relax, fearing that staying indoors every day would drive him mad.
Lin Fan agreed with the sentiment. As a son-in-law living in his wife's house, he usually followed her lead, but today he had to pretend to be "Ning Wuchen" and truly could not go out and play. He had to make up an excuse to brush it off.
Xuanji Pavilion.
Backstage, thousands of auction items were neatly arranged. These were items that people had entrusted to the Xuanji Pavilion to secure a good price at the auction.
"Senior, which piece has caught your eye?" As the person in charge, Li Ruoyun was the only one allowed to see the items first—also, of course, to facilitate the refinement of the King-grade Qi Refining Liquid by "Ning Wuchen."
Comparing items against the illustrations in the *Little Golden Man* internal codex, Lin Fan found quite a few rare spiritual items, which he packed away.
"This is..."
When they reached the last few items in the corner, Lin Fan’s face lit up.
Li Ruoyun hurried over and discovered it was a three-leaf clover only an inch tall. It was exquisite and translucent, with natural patterns on its surface, resembling tree rings.
"Senior, what is this?" She had never seen such a substance.
With a cold look, Lin Fan collected the clover without explanation and then inquired about its origin. Li Ruoyun dared not ask further, though she secretly made a note of the clover.
After pondering for a moment, Lin Fan took up a brush and wrote a secret letter. "For Xiaoqing’s sake, I have decided to take Lin Fan out to cultivate. Have someone send this letter to the Su residence immediately."
"Thank you, Senior." Li Ruoyun was genuinely grateful. She guessed that this Great Master Pharmacist must have a way to help Lin Fan. She immediately ordered someone to deliver the letter to the Su residence.
Su Family.
Lin Fan waited for the messenger from the Xuanji Pavilion, then packed his bags, prepared some dry rations, and left the city immediately.
...
Luoxia Mountain Range.
Located one hundred miles east of Lingyin City, the mountains were teeming with demonic beasts and countless treasures.
Dressed in black, Lin Fan arrived at the foot of the mountain at nightfall.
He had learned from Li Ruoyun that the clover had been accidentally found by an old hunter in a mountain within the Luoxia Range called "Baoji Mountain."
Entering the mountain at night was too dangerous, so Lin Fan found a cave, began practicing the Book of Burials, and waited for dawn.
"Nether Spirit Grass. With you, refining 'Peiyuan Liquid' to break through to the 2nd Layer of Qi Refining will be a piece of cake."
Lin Fan took out the clover. It was recorded in the *Little Golden Man* as "Nether Spirit Grass." It was a special spiritual item formed from the body of a spiritual beast after it died, making it one of the best materials for high-grade wonder-drugs.
However, refining medicine required a furnace, which only the Xuanji Pavilion had. Another method was to use the natural spiritual energy of the earth to refine it.
The next morning, Lin Fan entered the mountain with caution.
Along the way, he encountered some hunters. Seeing how young he was, they warned him not to go further. Recently, a giant beast had gone berserk, and several hunters had died gruesome deaths.
Lin Fan humbly asked them about the specific location of the "Mist Pool."
The Mist Pool contained geothermal fire ponds; the temperature was extremely high, making it a natural furnace for refining medicine.
"I will go to the Mist Pool first to refine the Nether Spirit Grass into Peiyuan Liquid. After the breakthrough, I will go to Baoji Mountain to hunt for treasures."
As dusk approached, the sky gradually darkened. When Lin Fan reached the depths of the sea of mist, he was suddenly captivated by the colorful forest ahead.