Solving Zhu Zhanggui, smoothly reaching the third level of Qi cultivation, Gao Xian entered the dreamland with a happy heart to meet Lan Jie.
In the following days, Gao Xian also stopped refining pills, focusing his daily energy on cultivation.
Breaking through to the third level of Qi cultivation, each day his mana, strength, speed, and other aspects were improving, entering a period of rapid advancement.
On the third evening after the incident, Gao Xian was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard when Zhu Qiniang arrived.
Zhu Qiniang was dressed in a deep blue Daoist robe, with a soft and glossy layer of enamel-like luster on it, looking very beautiful.
Under the backdrop of the Daoist robe, Zhu Qiniang appeared more elegant and dignified.
There was a softness in her eyebrows, no longer as cold and stern as before.
This version of Zhu Qiniang clearly exuded more femininity, appearing much more charming.
Seeing Zhu Qiniang's state, Gao Xian knew that she had resolved her inner conflicts, her whole being had improved, even radiating a glow.
Without Zhu Qiniang saying a word, he knew that things had gone smoothly.
Zhu Qiniang also noticed the changes in Gao Xian, his vitality and blood energy significantly stronger, his body more upright and powerful.
Bones form the framework of the human body, containing the internal organs, muscles, and skin.
The noticeable changes in Gao Xian's physique were evidently due to stronger and more robust bones.
"You've reached the third level of Qi cultivation?" Zhu Qiniang asked.
"Yes, I broke through when I returned that day," Gao Xian said with a smile. "It's mainly due to clear thoughts, no more obstacles. This allows the Qi to flow through all the bones, connecting everything in one go."
"Clear thoughts, that's right, that's the idea," Zhu Qiniang pondered for a moment, finding the phrase 'clear thoughts' quite apt.
By resolving Zhu Hong'an, the deep-seated resentment in her heart for many years dissipated in an instant.
She felt relaxed and content, as if she were about to ascend to the heavens.
She said, "Zhu Hong'an's body has been transported back to Lianyun City. No one in the Zhu family said anything. They are all arguing over control of the pharmacy, and no one cares about Zhu Hong'an's death..."
At this point, Zhu Qiniang became more serious, "Thanks to you, everything was handled very well, with meticulous planning, making it impossible for the Zhu family to find fault."
Seeing the Zhu family's reaction, Zhu Qiniang also admired Gao Xian's strategy.
If she had directly killed Zhu Hong'an as she suggested, it would have definitely raised suspicions within the Zhu family.
Now that Zhu Hong'an was killed by evil spirits, even if someone in the Zhu family felt something was amiss, they couldn't pinpoint anything.
The Zhu family was unaware of Gao Xian's existence.
They would never have thought that she would join forces with an outsider to deal with Zhu Hong'an.
Moreover, Zhu Hong'an was stingy and greedy, and no one in the Zhu family liked him.
Knowing that Zhu Hong'an had died, there should be quite a few people who were happy about it.
At this point, everything could be said to have been resolved perfectly.
Gao Xian was also relieved.
As long as the Zhu family didn't suspect anything, they had passed the test.
He smiled and said, "It's not that I'm amazing, it's that we are amazing."
Zhu Qiniang's expression softened noticeably.
Gao Xian was good with words, and a single sentence brought them closer.
She said, "The flying ship makes a round trip once a month. Even if someone from the Zhu family comes, it will be a month later. During this period, stock up on medicinal herbs. I'll help you tear up the contract for the pharmacy..."
With Gao Xian's alchemy skills, working for the pharmacy was a loss.
With Zhu Hong'an's death and no one in the Zhu family aware of Gao Xian's existence, it was a good opportunity to tear up the contract with the pharmacy.
Gao Xian couldn't help but feel happy.
The contract with the pharmacy was like selling himself.
Zhu Zhanggui targeted his Tian Gui Pill and Lu Jiao San because of this contract.
This matter was hard to explain because he used the pharmacy's alchemy furnace and medicinal herbs.
It wasn't entirely unreasonable for Zhu Zhanggui to share the profits.
Gao Xian exclaimed, "That's great, thank you, Qiniang. Without the contract, there's no need to worry."
"With Old Zhu gone, these are all minor matters," Zhu Qiniang dismissed.
They conspired to kill Old Zhu together, so she naturally wanted to help Gao Xian resolve this trouble.
However, the fact that Old Zhu hired Gao Xian as an alchemist was not a secret, and it also involved Gao Xian's teacher, Xu Mingyuan.
This matter might come up again in the future.
Seeing Gao Xian so happy, Zhu Qiniang didn't bring up this dampening issue.
She changed the subject and said, "Entering the third level of Qi cultivation is commonly referred to as the Blood Refining stage. In fact, this terminology is not accurate. Strictly speaking, the third level involves tempering the Qi and blood, condensing the third Qi aperture.
"The Qi aperture you cultivate in the Five Elements technique is located at the Huiyin point.
Opening this point can connect the Dantian and Lingtai Qi apertures..."
Zhu Qiniang explained the key points of the third level cultivation to Gao Xian in a simple and clear manner. She concluded, "The fundamental aspect of the third level is guiding spiritual energy to cleanse the marrow and blood, strengthening the body's Qi and blood to the extreme before condensing the Huiyin point.
"At this stage, the best pill is the Tiger Blood Pill. I'll help you get it."
The Flying Horse City was mostly made up of wandering cultivators who couldn't afford low-level pills like the Foundation Building Pill, let alone specialized body-refining pills like the Dragon Bone Pill or Tiger Blood Pill.
Changsheng Hall sold various common low-level medicines, and ordering Dragon Bone Pills or Tiger Blood Pills required special arrangements.
Fortunately, this was what the Zhu family specialized in, making it convenient for Zhu Qiniang, who temporarily managed the pharmacy after Zhu Hong'an's death.
"Thank you, Qiniang." Gao Xian was very happy.
With Qiniang guiding his cultivation, he saved himself a lot of trouble.
The original owner's master had truly neglected him, giving him a set of Five Elements techniques and leaving him to cultivate on his own.
His innate talent was average, but he was able to advance to the third level of Qi cultivation so quickly mainly because of Lan Jie's guidance in cultivation, which increased his efficiency tenfold.
With Zhu Qiniang's guidance, a large number of Dragon Bone Pills to enhance his physical strength, and the external practice of the Iron Dragon Hand technique, along with abundant resources, he made rapid progress.
Gao Xian didn't mention money to Zhu Qiniang.
Dragon Bone Pills and Tiger Blood Pills were only low-level body-refining pills, so even if they were expensive, the prices wouldn't be exorbitant.
It wouldn't be good to bring up money with Zhu Qiniang for such a trivial matter.
Not mentioning money was a matter of goodwill and could deepen his relationship with her.
The main reason was that he didn't have the pill recipes; otherwise, he could have made them himself.
"You should continue practicing the Iron Dragon Hand technique. This body-refining technique is enough for you to practice until the Foundation Building stage."
Gao Xian nodded repeatedly.
He was a novice in cultivation, so whatever Zhu Qiniang said, he followed.
After discussing cultivation matters, Zhu Qiniang handed Gao Xian a palm-sized gray leather bag, "This is Old Zhu's spare storage bag, with a spatial dimension. It's enough to hold personal items."
Gao Xian received the storage bag with a face full of surprise.
Every time he saw Qiniang using the storage bag to store pills, he was envious.
Creating an independent space within a small bag like this was quite advanced in terms of its own magic.
The gray storage bag given by Qiniang was made of an unknown material, feeling like some kind of leather, smooth and flexible, light in his hand.
Under Qiniang's guidance, Gao Xian used his divine sense to refine the storage bag, untying the sealed opening.
He felt that there was almost a cubic space inside the bag, equivalent to a large storage cabinet.
Gao Xian tried using his divine sense to store and retrieve items, finding it quite convenient.
Storing and retrieving items with the storage bag seemed like conjuring items out of thin air to others.
Gao Xian played around with it for a while.
This simple act of storage might seem childish to children but was just right for adults.
Seeing Gao Xian so happy, Zhu Qiniang was also in a very good mood.
She said, "This storage bag and the Qingmu Armor were Old Zhu's personal items. He hid them very well, and no one else knows about them. You can use them with confidence..."
(End of Chapter)