Chapter 68: The Spirit-Extinguishing Pill
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
The cave was located on a smaller mountain adjacent to the towering Central Celestial Mountain. Ji You and Yuan Chen stealthily infiltrated the area, traversing deep into the mountain’s interior. As they ventured further, they arrived at a chamber that had been intentionally excavated. It was a specialized alchemy room, at the center of which stood a colossal Copper Furnace.
This furnace was reminiscent of the one said to have refined Sun Wukong under the gaze of the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord. However, unlike the legends, this furnace was no longer in operation. Its lid lay askew, seemingly hurled aside during some violent occurrence, and it had crushed a person beneath it. The body beneath was mangled beyond recognition, surrounded by the chilling remnants of blood and flesh.
Ji You activated his spiritual qi, propelling himself upward to land atop the furnace with a metallic thud. Much to his surprise, the interior of the furnace was entirely empty save for scorched markings. He narrowed his eyes, which gleamed with golden light, and took a deep breath. His heightened senses discerned nothing but the herbal fragrance of burnt plants; no trace of blood lingered within the furnace.
[No infants…]
Ji You’s expression darkened as he steadied himself atop the furnace, resting his long sword vertically to brace his posture. From the moment the Mystic Origin Immortal Palace event unfolded, he had known of the vile practice of refining pills from human beings. Reports of missing infants and the abduction of an alchemist led him to expect the worst. Yet, the lack of blood or remains puzzled him.
According to the testimony of Luo You’s wife, infants had been crying nightly within the mountains for three years. Where had they all gone?
His gaze shifted downward. Behind the furnace lay the motionless form of a young woman with delicate features. Her hair spilled across the ground, blood trickled from her mouth, and her complexion had turned an ominous shade of gray. Deathly energy enveloped her.
Yuan Chen saw this too, and he paled as he stumbled to the woman’s side.
Ji You’s heart sank. He prepared to console Yuan Chen with solemn words about mortality, but the younger man interrupted him urgently.
“Brother-in-law, hurry! Take my sister and let’s leave this place!”
“?”
“She’s not dead! She took a Spirit-Extinguishing Pill!”
Ji You was briefly dumbfounded. [Another new term I’ve never heard of.]
Nevertheless, Yuan Chen’s determined expression convinced him to act. Ji You sheathed his sword, loosened his waistbelt, and leaned down toward the unconscious woman.
Yuan Chen froze, then widened his eyes in alarm. “Brother-in-law! Even though I’ve already promised my sister to you, isn’t this a bit too hasty?”
“Move aside,” Ji You barked.
“I’ll wait outside,” Yuan Chen muttered, retreating hastily.
Ji You cursed under his breath, dismissing Yuan Chen’s misunderstanding. Securing the woman on his back, he bound her securely with his belt. They had entered the mountain without significant obstacles, but exiting might not be as simple. With both hands likely occupied by his sword, Ji You couldn’t afford any risk.
After ensuring the woman was securely fastened, Ji You shifted her weight to test the fit. A soft, supple sensation pressed against his back. [Focus, Ji You, focus.]
“Let’s go!” he ordered.
Realizing his mistake, Yuan Chen followed closely, abandoning any further comments. Ji You carried the unconscious alchemist swiftly, muttering to himself, “Deal closed, deal closed…” This simple mantra had been his sole motivation since entering the Red Mountain Mine, then the Qiling Ruins, and finally the so-called Central Celestial Mountain. Deliver the person, fulfill the mission, and get paid. Simple enough.
Above the ruins, celestial radiance erupted. Several powerful cultivators of the Fifth Realm descended, covering vast distances with a single step. Their imposing qi surged toward the mountain peak. Ji You kept his distance, observing a flash of blade intent so fierce it seemed to split the heavens and earth. The aftermath of the strike obliterated the surrounding terrain, followed by wild laughter echoing from the peak.
Mountain and Sea Pavilion. Spirit Sword Mountain…
Numerous figures landed atop the mountain, their auras shifting unpredictably. One particular presence doubled in strength within moments. Ji You, unable to sense the Heavenly Dao, frowned deeply and tightened his hold on the unconscious woman’s waist before continuing toward the outer edges of the mountain.
As the trio skirted along the mountain ridge, Yuan Chen suddenly called out.
“Brother-in-law, we need to undo the pill’s effects!”
“Can’t it wait until we’re outside?”
Ji You’s spiritual senses were fully expanded, his golden eyes brimming with vigilance. The ominous aura in the mountain was growing denser, having started as a faint presence but now permeating the entire area. He wanted to leave as soon as possible to avoid unforeseen dangers.
Yuan Chen persisted. “The Spirit-Extinguishing Pill can’t stay active for too long, or she will truly die! Brother-in-law, don’t you want a wife?”
“Don’t jinx it, or I’ll kick you,” Ji You retorted, reluctantly laying the young woman on a crumbling wall fragment. He secured his belt and finally got a clear look at her face. Yuan Chen hadn’t exaggerated; she was a beauty with delicate features and a pure, refined air. She appeared older than the young master appraiser from Spirit Sword Mountain, but still in the prime of youth. Despite this, Ji You found himself thinking of Yan Shu Yi, whose mischievous kicks now stirred a tinge of worry in his heart.
[Where is she now?] Ji You’s thoughts drifted. He had encountered numerous disciples of Spirit Sword Mountain since entering the mountain but hadn’t seen her among them. He couldn’t help but fear for her safety.
Meanwhile, Yuan Chen channeled his alchemical qi into his sister, slowly dispelling the dark energy on her face. Her skin regained its luster, and her breathing stabilized. The Spirit-Extinguishing Pill, a secret creation of the Pill Sect, induced a death-like state to preserve its user. It was one of many techniques devised by the sect to ensure survival after enduring an era of enslavement. The Sensing Jade Plate, used earlier, was another such invention.
After a long interval, Yuan Cai Wei’s eyelids fluttered open. Her vision was blurry but gradually sharpened as she recognized her brother. Her pale face grew even paler.
“Little Brother… How are you here?”
Yuan Chen fed her a Qi-Replenishing Pill. “Elder Sister, the sect sent search parties but found no leads. I couldn’t stand waiting, so I came on my own. What happened? How were you captured?”
Yuan Cai Wei’s memory was fragmented due to the pill’s side effects, leaving her mind blank. She vaguely recalled escorting a batch of high-grade spirit pills to the Heavenly Script Academy, only to be ambushed by a horde of Malignant Beings.
Her eyes widened in horror. “The alchemical arts! Someone stole the alchemical arts from me!”
“What?” Ji You interjected sharply. “Did you carry the sect’s manuals with you?”
His face darkened at the implications. Only a cultivator at the Boundless Martial Stage or higher could forcibly extract memories. [What am I doing here, meddling in affairs far beyond my level?]
Gripping his sword, Ji You turned to leave immediately.
“Brother-in-law! Don’t abandon my sister!” Yuan Chen pleaded, chasing after him.
Yuan Cai Wei’s fear subsided, replaced by confusion. She turned to her brother, her gaze sharp. “What did you call him?”
“Elder Sister, I forgot to mention… He’s Ji You. Without him, I wouldn’t have found you,” Yuan Chen explained earnestly.
Yuan Cai Wei’s gaze landed on Ji You’s retreating figure. She sighed. [This reckless boy followed someone so far beneath his level into such a perilous place. What was he thinking?]
Yuan Chen continued obliviously, “On the way here, I promised your hand to him.”
“?”