In this world, it is often said that children born late in life are a great joy and affirmation of one's abilities. Zhen Hu never expected he would encounter even greater joy than this.
A father in his old age!
And not just a father to him alone, but a father to the entire Starry Sky Pill Sect!
Half a supreme medicinal pill, worth at least 150,000 Spirit Stones - the YinYang LiHuo Pill - casually gifted away.
This could only mean Chen Xia truly did not care about that half pill.
Having witnessed Chen Xia's casual pill refining methods, it was difficult to believe he would care.
With just a stir, a flip, and a snap of his fingers.
The only relation to pill refining was in the medicinal ingredients.
But there was one puzzling point Zhen Hu just could not understand: the medicinal ingredients, although sufficient to refine a high-grade pill, were not enough to support a supreme-grade YinYang LiHuo Pill.
It lacked some amount and key ingredients.
Yet Chen Xia refined it nonetheless, leaving Zhen Hu rather baffled.
It should not have been possible!
He carefully recalled Chen Xia's pill refining process, and suddenly it all seemed reasonable.
It was just lacking some ingredients and amounts. Chen Xia did not even use a pill furnace. With the lacking ingredients, so what?
Could a pill not form without enough ingredients?
Zhen Hu felt he could not judge Chen Xia's skills with an orthodox mindset. His thinking needed opening up.
He neatly arranged the half supreme pill in hand, tidied his robes, his expression shifting from initially somewhat arrogant to solemn, and even somewhat prudent.
He faced Chen Xia with clasped fists. His mouth opened and closed, his gaze seeming confused, but soon steadied. Bowing at the waist, he spoke in a deep voice.
"Brother!"
This was the highest form of respect a cultivator of this realm could show Chen Xia.
"Father!"
Suddenly another voice cried out as Bai Jie hurried over, shouting loudly:
"Father, after working hard all day, you must be tired. Let your son massage your shoulders for you."
Speaking thus, Bai Jie moved to massage Chen Xia's shoulders, his expression extremely attentive and enthusiastic.
Chen Xia declined with a shake of his head: "No need for a shoulder massage. Since matters are settled, just send me home. I'm rushing to have dinner."
"Father, it would be too courteous of you to refuse. Let me make dinner for you. Even if you want ancient beast meat, I will hunt and serve it to you tonight!"
Bai Jie was very attentive, thumping his chest as he called out.
"Aren't you an ancient beast yourself?" Chen Xia curiously asked.
Bai Jie was startled. After thinking for a bit, he whispered to Chen Xia: "I'm a white colt. Not very tasty. How about I find you some flying ancient beast meat instead? Their meat is more tender."
"Forget it. I don't have such tastes. Just eating some beasts whose wisdom has not awakened will do. Eating you who can transform into humans still feels a bit unacceptable." Chen Xia shook his head.
"You truly have insight!" Bai Jie hurriedly gave a thumbs up, laughing loudly in praise.
Chen Xia yawned slightly, feeling somewhat bored. He waved his hand. "Just send me home."
"Alright." Bai Jie hurriedly nodded. Just as he was about to speak, his head was suddenly grabbed by a hand. Glancing over, he saw it was Zhen Hu. Not daring to move, he puzzledly asked:
"Lord Sect Master?"
"Get lost." Zhen Hu coldly snorted. With a single hand he flung Bai Jie aside, then neatly turned, his sleeves swirling as his face instantly switched to a warm smile. He extended his hand:
"Sir, allow me to send you home. Bai Jie is still too young and lacks manners."
"It's fine, whoever does it." Chen Xia was indifferent. He was quite satisfied with the customs of this realm.
Zhen Hu raised his hand high and forcefully beckoned: "Move out!"
Within Starry Sky Pill Sect, over ten thousand-meter flying shuttles abruptly rose up, suspended in the air. This was the battle formation Starry Sky Pill Sect would deploy when fighting other sects.
Yet now it was only to send Chen Xia home.
Today, the mighty fleet of Starry Sky Pill Sect set out, over ten thousand-meter flying shuttles majestically departing, giving a sensation of blotting out the sun.
The surrounding smaller sects were extremely panic-stricken, feeling that Starry Sky Pill Sect intended to annihilate them all!
Fortunately that was not the case.
The ten-plus flying shuttles of Starry Sky Pill Sect all went to the lower levels of the realm.
The surrounding cultivators who witnessed this were confused.
Could it be that some lower sect had offended Starry Sky Pill Sect? Was it necessary to deploy such forces?
How was this different than using a cannon to hit a mosquito?
Not only were the mid-level cultivators of the realm confused, the lower levels were even more so. That morning when he left, there was only one shuttle!
Yet returning that afternoon, there were over ten!
Did Chen Xia kill their Sect Master?
Judging by these forces, it seemed they intended to raze the lower realms!
But the Realm Master would definitely not allow it! By acting thus, was Starry Sky Pill Sect not afraid of incurring the Realm Master's wrath?
The lower level cultivators were very puzzled. Those near Chen Xia's home were even more panicked, worried they would be the first to perish.
Zhang DaoMing sat at his door, jug of wine in hand. Staring blankly at the ten-plus shuttles hovering overhead, he froze, then set down his jug. With a sniff, he raised both hands high and shouted loudly:
"I surrender!"
"What the hell are you surrendering for?" Came Chen Xia's voice. Then in Zhang DaoMing's bewildered gaze, he walked out from the lead shuttle, adding:
"I'm just home for dinner."
"Oh, I see..." Zhang DaoMing opened and closed his mouth, unable to get the words out.
The reversal was just too huge. He was temporarily unable to process it.
Chen Xia slowly approached and behind him followed the Sect Masters of Starry Sky Pill Sect and Bai Jie. They came before Zhang DaoMing.
"Hello, hello!" Zhen Hu warmly greeted Zhang DaoMing.
"Hello." Zhang DaoMing also responded enthusiastically, then puzzledly asked: "And you are?"
"Just call him Little Hu." Chen Xia said from the side.
Zhang DaoMing nodded, feeling this Little Hu was probably a pill refiner in Starry Sky Pill Sect, though he did not know exactly who. He was not very familiar with Starry Sky Pill Sect, only recognizing the middle-aged cultivator at the Transporting Mountain Realm he had met previously as the highest status person.
Thus he smiled and boldly addressed: "Then I shall make so bold as to call you Little Hu."
"Excellent, excellent." Zhen Hu nodded. Towards someone introduced by Chen Xia, he did not dare put on airs. After all, the half pill in his pocket was so very heavy.
He further asked: "How may I address you?"
"Zhang DaoMing. Just call me Old Zhang. I have no great skills, just an alchemist, probably can't be considered a top-grade one - just middle-grade at best."
"No matter, no matter." Zhen Hu smiled and nodded. As long as a monster like Chen Xia existed, no matter Zhang DaoMing's status, he had to treat him respectfully.
Even if he were a dog, he would have to happily bark in dialogue.
Such was Zhen Hu's determination.
And very soon -
The door opened.
Out limped a big yellow dog leaning on a cane.
Dead silence.
The scene was likely rendered speechless.
close your eyes and open them again, only to find yourself transmigrated into the role of a villainous male supporting character. Readers familiar with urban wish-fulfillment novels know that it is only through the relentless antics of the villainous male supporting character that the plot between the male and female leads can progress. As the villainous male supporting character, Long Aotian not only has to bully the female lead, harass the second female lead, and flirt with the third female lead, but he also has to go all out to antagonize the male lead. In the end, when his body is discovered, he is still clutching half a moldy fried dough stick in his hand. Fully aware of the plot, Long Aotian is determined to change his fate, starting with the female lead! In the beginning, the female lead lacks confidence: "Big brother, I hope I didn't scare you?" In the middle, the female lead treads carefully: "Brother Long, please don't hit me, okay?" Later on, the female lead becomes coquettishly clingy: "Aotian, it's time to pay the 'public grain' tonight." Long Aotian's legs go weak, and he feels like crying: "I taught you to be thick-skinned, not shameless!"
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
iaobai: "Councilor Dad, front me some funds. I want to hire ten thousand professional miners for a project!" [Five-Star Mission Issued: Capture the leader of the Blood Heaven Pirate Gang, who is on the run in the Radiant Star Sector. It is said the gang has over a hundred members. Proceed with caution.] Lu Xiaobai: "Councilor Dad, lend me the family's hundred-thousand-strong Lu Army!" [Seven-Star Mission Issued: Subdue a juvenile Void Dragon Beast.] Lu Xiaobai: "Councilor Dad, I'm taking your tamed Void Dragon Beast King out for a family reunion!" I said, System, don't you have any slightly more challenging missions? You're just not up to par! [Nine-Star Mission Issued: Become the Human Councilor.] Lu Xiaobai: "Dad, there's a small matter I'd like to discuss with you..."
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
