Elder Dong's Special Treatment, the Perfect Cloud Radiance Pill

External Affairs Hall.

Wang Jianqiang approached Dong Yue, his eyes instinctively drawn to the impressive curves of her chest, as was his habit.

The Joy Union Sect was renowned for its beautiful women, but such a breathtaking scale was something he had only ever seen on Dong Yue.

"Are you here to buy or sell items?" Dong Yue asked Wang Jianqiang with her usual cold demeanor.

The next moment, her gaze sharpened.

Her previously relaxed posture suddenly straightened, causing Wang Jianqiang’s eyelids to twitch, as if afraid her assets might burst free from her robes.

Dong Yue, however, paid no attention to his stare, focusing solely on Wang Jianqiang himself.

Qi Refinement Sixth Layer!

In less than two months, his cultivation had skyrocketed from Qi Refinement Third Layer to Sixth Layer!

At this rate, he might actually reach Foundation Establishment!

If that happened…

Her eyes flickered with thought before dimming again as she slumped back into her seat.

Impossible.

Wang Jianqiang’s astonishing breakthrough speed must have been fueled by Perfect Verdant Spirit Pills.

Though remarkable, Perfect Verdant Spirit Pills were only mid-tier first-grade elixirs.

Once Wang Jianqiang’s cultivation reached Qi Refinement Seventh Layer, their efficacy would drastically diminish.

And as his cultivation continued to rise, their effects would only weaken further.

With ten layers in the Qi Refinement stage, reaching even the ninth layer solely through Perfect Verdant Spirit Pills was unrealistic—let alone Foundation Establishment.

Moreover.

Even if he somehow reached Qi Refinement Tenth Layer before his lifespan ran out, what then?

Given his innate talent, his chances of successfully breaking through to Foundation Establishment would be abysmally low.

Wang Jianqiang had no idea what Dong Yue was thinking.

Though momentarily startled by her sudden movement, he didn’t dwell on it.

"I’d like to purchase the Cloud Radiance Pill recipe."

He had already decided on this before arriving.

Among high-tier first-grade elixirs, the Cloud Radiance Pill was top-tier in efficacy, with gentle medicinal properties that suited him well.

Dong Yue’s eyes flashed at his request.

A high-tier first-grade recipe!

Had he already become a high-tier first-grade alchemist?

Hadn’t he only recently advanced to mid-tier?

She studied Wang Jianqiang deeply, suddenly realizing she couldn’t quite see through this junior sect brother anymore.

"The Cloud Radiance Pill recipe costs eight thousand spirit stones."

Wang Jianqiang’s expression froze at her words. "That expensive?!"

The Verdant Spirit Pill recipe, a mid-tier first-grade elixir, had only cost two hundred spirit stones. The Cloud Radiance Pill was just one tier higher, yet the price was absurdly steep!

Normally, Dong Yue wouldn’t bother explaining—take it or leave it.

But for some reason, she found herself treating Wang Jianqiang differently, patiently elaborating.

"Low-tier and mid-tier first-grade recipes are too basic for the sect to value, hence their low price."

"High-tier first-grade recipes, however, are considered controlled items, making them far more expensive."

After her explanation, Wang Jianqiang understood—and then flushed with embarrassment.

He had assumed the spirit stones and three Perfect Verdant Spirit Pills he carried would be more than enough to buy both the recipe and materials. Now, it seemed he couldn’t even afford the recipe alone.

Just as he resolved to first buy materials to refine more Perfect Verdant Spirit Pills and return later with enough funds, Dong Yue, sensing his predicament, spoke again.

"Short on spirit stones?"

Wang Jianqiang nodded awkwardly. "I only have five hundred spirit stones and three Perfect Verdant Spirit Pills."

His stock of Perfect Nourishment Pills had been depleted quickly. Aside from the initial batch of ten, he had refined more in his spare time, but those were long gone.

Dong Yue pondered briefly before saying, "I can authorize a loan for the Cloud Radiance Pill recipe. You’ll just need to repay it within two months."

Wang Jianqiang gaped.

The notoriously indifferent Elder Dong was giving him special treatment?

"Could she be interested in me?"

He grinned inwardly before dismissing the thought.

No point overanalyzing—it was a boon either way.

"Many thanks, Elder Dong."

Wang Jianqiang bowed respectfully.

After exchanging his three Perfect Verdant Spirit Pills for spirit stones and purchasing a large quantity of herbs, he left.

Dong Yue watched his retreating figure, her flawless features clouded with confusion.

"I already know he’ll never reach Foundation Establishment… so why do I still cling to this unrealistic hope?"

"A Qi Refinement cultivator refining the legendary Perfect Pills was already a miracle. Perhaps it’s because he achieved this small miracle that my subconscious, unwilling to accept defeat, yearns for an even greater one."

"But if miracles could be easily replicated, would they still be called miracles?"

With a resigned sigh, she slumped back into her seat.

……

Upon returning to his residence, Wang Jianqiang immediately retrieved the Cloud Radiance Pill recipe, pressing the jade slip to his forehead to absorb its contents.

Moments later, the system’s voice chimed in his mind.

"Ding. Detected substandard recipe. Upgrading to perfected version requires 30 cultivation points. Proceed?"

Compared to the mid-tier first-grade Nourishment and Verdant Spirit Pills, the cost to optimize a high-tier recipe was significantly higher.

Fortunately, he had made good use of the past two weeks. Between cultivation breaks and his… enthusiastic interactions with Chen Jiaojiao, he’d also refined plenty of pills, accumulating 50 cultivation points.

"Proceed."

With a thought, the system responded.

"Ding. Cloud Radiance Pill recipe successfully upgraded to Perfected Cloud Radiance Pill recipe."

Wang Jianqiang then allocated his remaining 20 points to the Alchemy Dao, advancing from mid-tier to high-tier first-grade alchemist.

Instead of immediately refining the Perfected Cloud Radiance Pills, he first prepared a batch of Perfected Nourishment Pills for later use, followed by some Perfected Verdant Spirit Pills to warm up.

Just as he was about to start on the Perfected Cloud Radiance Pills, Chen Jiaojiao arrived to collect her usual "supply."

Naturally, Wang Jianqiang welcomed her generously.

Within half an hour, they had completed a "project" worth over a billion.

Legs trembling, Wang Jianqiang escorted Chen Jiaojiao to the door.

"Jiaojiao, your uncle happened upon a precious pill at the External Affairs Hall the other day. I’ve been saving it—here, it’s yours."

After careful consideration, he handed her a Perfected Verdant Spirit Pill.

He had long suspected that the system’s "Karma Value" metric wasn’t just for gauging others’ attitudes.

His intuition told him that maxing out someone’s Karma Value would reveal its true purpose.

"This is… a Verdant Spirit Pill?"

Chen Jiaojiao accepted the pill, examining it closely before her delicate face lit up with shock.

"No—its medicinal potency far surpasses an ordinary Verdant Spirit Pill!"

Snapping out of her daze, she hesitated. "You’re really giving this to me?"

"Of course."

Wang Jianqiang smiled benevolently and nodded.

"Uncle Wang, you’re the best."

Touched, Chen Jiaojiao thanked him before departing.

"Ding. Karma Value +20."

Checking his status panel, her Karma Value toward him had now reached 80.

"Not far from max now."

Satisfied, Wang Jianqiang wobbled back inside for some rest before resuming his alchemy work.

As expected, after advancing his alchemy skills to the first-tier high rank, he was now capable of refining the perfect Cloud Radiance Pills.

Moreover, his success rate remained at a flawless one hundred percent.

In just half an hour, he had successfully crafted his first perfect Cloud Radiance Pill.

Afterward, he halted his pill refining to restore his spiritual energy before consuming the newly perfected pill.

Upon fully absorbing the pill's effects, he sensed that he had nearly reached the mid-to-late stage of the sixth level of Qi Refining.

Just one more pill, and he would break through to the seventh level of Qi Refining!

"Two of these pills can match the potency of a hundred perfect Verdant Spirit Pills. The effects of the perfect Cloud Radiance Pills are truly formidable," he mused.

Wang Jianqiang felt invigorated with renewed determination.

Without delay, he resumed his alchemical work.