Chapter Twenty-Two: Shards of the Bright Moon

This Nourishing Essence Pill was one of several ancient alchemical recipes that Daoist Songhe discovered by chance during his explorations of secluded places. At the same time, he also acquired a jade-inscribed alchemical tome, within which were recorded several sets of pill-refining techniques so intricate and profound as to be nearly incomprehensible.

After more than a decade of painstaking study, Daoist Songhe finally managed to decipher one of those recipes. Having simplified it, he named the result the Nourishing Essence Pill.

The human body possesses three essential elements known as essence, energy, and spirit—these are the very roots of one’s being, the key to the length of one’s life. This pill not only repairs these roots swiftly but also strengthens a warrior’s innate talents, enhances their martial potential, and extends their lifespan.

More importantly, even for a Grandmaster, this pill offers significant benefits. It can even heal the spiritual injuries suffered when breaking through to the Grandmaster realm. Back in his days in Jingzhou, it was precisely this advantage that enabled Daoist Songhe to outshine the previous Lord of the Medicine King Pavilion and become the foremost healer of his era.

Lin You gazed at the emerald-green pill in his hand, satisfaction lighting his face. Though this was merely a simplified version, its formula had its origins in an immortal-grade elixir. It was useful even for Grandmasters—how much more so for the minor spiritual wound he had sustained?

Moreover, with these few pills in hand, he would finally have something worthy to present at the upcoming Songyuan Festival—a gathering of peers that would take place in a few days’ time.

He put the pills away, preparing to return to his room to refine them internally. But he noticed Daoist Yuyin still standing nearby, repeatedly mimicking the hand seals he had just performed, utterly absorbed in the process.

Lin You had heard over the past few days of his senior brother’s well-deserved reputation as an “alchemical fanatic.” Seeing it firsthand today, he found it true beyond doubt.

Unable to help himself, Lin You chuckled and shook his head. He fetched some paper and a brush from the side and copied down the secret pill-refining technique left by Daoist Songhe. Then, gently rousing Daoist Yuyin from his reverie, he pressed the paper into his senior brother’s hand and said, “Senior Brother Yuyin, this is a part of my master’s secret alchemical teaching. Today, I gift it to you for your study.”

Daoist Yuyin came back to himself, wanting to refuse, but the words caught in his throat. To him, this secret was like a peerless martial manual—impossible to resist. He hesitated a long while, then suddenly slapped his forehead and called out to Lin You, who was about to leave.

He dashed next door, fetched an exquisite little wooden box, and set it before Lin You, speaking with embarrassment: “Junior Brother Yuchen, the pill-refining technique your master left was meant for you; as your elder, I should not claim it. But in my whole life, my only loves are raising and refining medicines—I truly cannot refuse such a treasure.”

He paused, gesturing at the box. “How about this: this box contains my life’s collection. It may not compare to your master’s secret, but shamelessly, I offer it to you in exchange!”

Lin You shook his head. “There’s no need, Senior Brother. Before my master passed away, he felt some guilt toward the sect. He sent me back to restore my ties with our lineage, intending to leave his teachings behind for the sect. There’s no cause for concern.”

“No! You have wandered outside for years and have only just returned. How could we, your senior brothers, take advantage of you? If you don’t accept this box, then I cannot accept the secret technique!”

As he spoke, Daoist Yuyin, though clearly reluctant, resolutely tried to return the paper to Lin You.

Lin You was taken aback, then smiled gently. He pushed the paper back to Daoist Yuyin and picked up the box from the floor, smiling as he said, “A single sheet of light paper for a box of treasures—Senior Brother, you’ve made a poor bargain!”

“Haha! Not at all! I have profited greatly!” Daoist Yuyin, seeing him accept the box, was instantly all smiles. He gathered up the secret technique as if it were a rare treasure, settled cross-legged on the floor, and was immediately lost in study.

Lin You smiled, left him undisturbed, and turned to leave the alchemy room.

Just outside, he found Qingsong crouching by the main entrance. Curious, he asked, “Qingsong, what are you doing here?”

At the sound of his voice, Qingsong immediately looked up. On seeing Lin You, he exclaimed with delight, “Granduncle! I was waiting for you!”

“Waiting for me? Has the Abbot sent for me?” Lin You asked.

At this, Qingsong looked a little embarrassed. Earlier, Bai Yi had brought Liu Xiyue to him, explained the situation, and personally apologized. Only then did he realize that Liu Xiyue truly hadn’t known what was going on. After apologizing, Liu Xiyue, feeling ashamed to face the elders of the Daoist Hall, had left behind some rare martial techniques she had gathered, entrusting them to Qingsong to pass on to the Abbot, intending to leave the mountain.

Moved by sympathy, Qingsong found an excuse to delay her departure and hurried to find Lin You, hoping his granduncle might have a way to cure her illness.

Lin You listened to his account without comment. To him, whether it was Zhang Niankang or Liu Xiyue, they were merely passing strangers. Right and wrong, love and hate—all such things were as dust before the path of immortality he pursued.

Thus, he acted as he pleased, guided by fate and his own heart. Now, since Qingsong had come to plead so earnestly, and Lin You had just succeeded in refining his pills and was in good spirits, he saw no reason not to take a look. Whether he could cure her would depend on fate.

He followed Qingsong to the guest room, where Bai Yi was conversing with Liu Xiyue. Judging by their demeanor, they appeared to be getting along quite well.

At Lin You’s entrance, Bai Yi immediately rose to greet him with respect. Liu Xiyue, a little flustered, stood and bowed to him as well.

Through their conversations, she had just learned that this young Daoist before her was indeed the personal disciple of Grandmaster Songhe, making him the granduncle of all the disciples in the Daoist Hall. Though he had only recently arrived, his reputation had already surpassed that of several elders. Even Bai Yi, possessed of strange powers, held him in great esteem.

It was hard to imagine how a youth of sixteen or seventeen could possess such composure. Could it be that there truly existed those born with innate knowledge?

While her thoughts drifted, Lin You had already approached her.

“May I take your pulse?” he asked.

Liu Xiyue blushed and promptly extended her fair arm.

Lin You placed two fingers on her wrist, preparing to diagnose her condition. But the instant his skin touched hers, the little jade tree in his spiritual sea began to stir.

A root, invisible to the eye, swiftly extended, probing into Liu Xiyue’s dantian as if searching for something.

Just as Lin You was puzzling over this, a vision rose before his eyes—a luminous white moon ascending, its cool, pure light bathing the world. But before he could look closer, the moon suddenly shattered into countless fragments, scattering down upon the earth.

The next moment, the vision vanished, and Lin You’s consciousness returned to reality.

Before him, Liu Xiyue’s eyes were tightly shut, her face as pale as paper—she had already fainted. From within her dantian, a crystal-clear stone no larger than a fingernail, shining with spiritual light, had been ensnared by the jade tree’s root and drawn into Lin You’s spiritual sea.

Bereft of this stone, Liu Xiyue seemed to have lost all her essence, energy, and spirit in an instant, her breath growing faint as gossamer.

Seeing this, Lin You dared not delay. He immediately took out a freshly refined Nourishing Essence Pill, placed it in Liu Xiyue’s mouth, and guided her to swallow it with his own true energy.

When he saw a touch of color return to her cheeks, he finally relaxed.

All of this had transpired in the blink of an eye. Bai Yi and Qingsong, witnessing the sudden turn of events, were dumbstruck. How could a simple pulse-taking lead to Liu Xiyue collapsing unconscious?