Life's Path Heads Straight for Abstraction

Bai Xuanling had taken over Chu Xingchen’s original spot by the window—the best seat in the room.

She lounged lazily in the chair, her legs stretched out the window, lightly tapping the table as she hummed an unfamiliar tune.

She seemed to be in an excellent mood.

Chu Xingchen, who had been driven from his spot, was also in high spirits—after all, he’d just sold the seat to Bai Xuanling for a hundred spirit stones.

The rich truly were different. For them, spending wasn’t about the spirit stones but about mood and style.

Thinking this, Chu Xingchen waved his hand again, slowing down his alchemy speed even further.

He was still refining pills a bit too quickly. Slowing it down would lay the groundwork for future price hikes.

He wondered when he’d ever be wealthy enough to adopt Bai Xuanling’s carefree mindset.

Then again, Chu Xingchen mused, perhaps that mindset wasn’t tied to spirit stones at all—maybe it was linked to cultivation level.

If he had Tribulation-level power…

With everyone back, tasks had to be reassigned.

As the saying went, the sect didn’t tolerate idlers—except for Bai Qing.

The job of bottling pills had now been handed to Li Yingling. However, since the pills only finished refining occasionally, she spent most of her time writing a reflective summary of the process.

She documented what she could have done better and the reasons she hadn’t.

Cui Hao was doing the same, scribbling furiously with a serious expression.

The more he wrote, the more satisfied he looked, nodding to himself now and then.

The expression made Chu Xingchen raise an eyebrow—was this kid writing a summary or a story?

As for Lin Luoyu, who had previously handled the bottling, Chu Xingchen sent her to a corner to "emo"—apparently, it would help her "get in the right mood."

Bai Xuanling suddenly seemed to remember something and cast a leisurely glance at Chu Xingchen.

"Kid, you’ve got a decent head for business, but your teaching skills could use some work."

Chu Xingchen replied offhandedly, "Oh? Sounds like you’ve taught plenty yourself."

Bai Xuanling sighed. "Well, I’ve seen enough to know. Yingling’s still young—her decisions are a bit green. Not wrong, just overly cautious, afraid of making mistakes. Probably lacks experience and confidence."

"That’s on you. You don’t have to step in, but at least talk to your disciple about her thought process. If she’s wrong, guide her. If she’s right, affirm her."

"Teach like this, and you might turn a promising seedling into someone who just plays it safe."

Chu Xingchen had initially assumed Bai Xuanling was just teasing him, but his expression turned serious at her words.

After a moment’s thought, he had to admit her advice was fair. When it came to teaching disciples, he was still a novice.

His usual approach was to let them stumble into pitfalls and learn through reflection.

But now that he considered it, that method was a bit rough.

After all, Li Yingling wasn’t Li Xingtian.

Chu Xingchen nodded sincerely. "You’re right. Thanks for the reminder."

Bai Xuanling looked surprised. She’d expected him to argue back, but he seemed genuinely receptive.

Though she couldn’t tell if he was just humoring her or actually agreed.

Still, one mention was enough.

After studying him for a moment, Bai Xuanling frowned.

"Wait a minute—is your alchemy speed off? Back at your sect, you were at least three times faster."

Chu Xingchen immediately put on a stern face.

"Senior, that’s completely untrue! This isn’t slow at all. Maybe you’re just too casual with your own alchemy, not putting in enough effort?"

"Every pill I refine demands my full concentration—how else would they have such exceptional potency?"

"Besides, the more I refine, the more I earn. There’s no reason for me to slack off."

Bai Xuanling narrowed her eyes. Her instincts told her he was up to something, but his argument made sense.

Li Yingling paused her writing and glanced at her master.

Yep, she’d definitely learned this from him. That tone—she knew it well.

Cui Hao, who had been scribbling away, also looked up, first at his senior sister, then at his master, who wore an expression of utmost sincerity.

Yeah… he recognized that too.

Noticing their stares, Chu Xingchen glared back with full confidence—What are you two looking at, you brats?

Central Continent.

In a small, ordinary tavern, the usual clamor had died into complete silence.

Every eye was fixed on a disheveled middle-aged Daoist, who sat drinking between coughs.

"Disheveled" might have been an understatement—"terrifying" was more accurate.

His blue Daoist robes were almost entirely stained with dried blood, now more of a crimson shroud. At first glance, one might mistake him for a demonic cultivator here for a meal.

But after watching him for a while, the fear of him killing you would shift to the fear of him dropping dead on the spot.

The tavern patrons watched as he picked up a peanut, swallowed it, then vomited a mouthful of blood, dyeing the remaining peanuts and wine a gruesome red.

Li Xingtian sat across from him. Even with the experience of a second life, he couldn’t help feeling like his first lifetime had been wasted.

Somehow, ever since meeting his master…

His life had taken a sharp turn—veering off the path of ruthless struggle and onto another road entirely. As his master would say: "Abstract!"

The man often used strange, unheard-of words, but they always perfectly encapsulated the indescribable.

The middle-aged Daoist—Zhang Yuanshan—wiped his bloodied mouth with his already crusted sleeve.

He pulled out a bottle of blood-replenishing pills from his spatial ring and downed the entire thing without hesitation.

After swallowing the last pill, he grabbed the blood-tinged wine and took a long swig.

"Annoying," he rasped. "Every time I eat or drink, I end up consuming more blood-replenishing pills than actual food."

"Next time, I’ll just use the pills as a snack. Screw the peanuts."

Even Li Xingtian, tempered by his master’s eccentricities, nearly lost his composure at that.

If given another chance, Li Xingtian would never have crossed paths with this man—or at least, not gotten involved with him.

But life rarely offered choices. Most of the time, you just had to roll with it.

Zhang Yuanshan was afflicted with a strange poison. For a Golden Core Master like him, it wasn’t fatal—just a nuisance.

The toxin attacked the blood first, infecting the entire bloodstream within moments before corroding the body from within.

But a Golden Core Master wasn’t so easily dealt with.

While a Foundation Establishment cultivator might succumb in mere breaths, a Golden Core Master could hold out for at least three days.

When first poisoned, Zhang Yuanshan had panicked, seeking out numerous healers—even spending a fortune to consult a Nascent Soul-level medical cultivator.

The poison wasn’t particularly potent, only effective against those below Nascent Soul.

However, this poison was extraordinarily peculiar—peculiar in how deeply concealed and stubborn it was.

But no matter how peculiar, there’s nothing in this world that money can’t solve—unless you’re broke.

The price demanded by the Nascent Soul cultivator was far beyond what Zhang Yuanshan could afford.

Still, since he had paid the basic consultation fee, the Nascent Soul physician, out of a healer’s benevolence, recommended a method that wouldn’t cost much.

Though it was a bit… life-threatening.

The Nascent Soul healer’s solution?—Just keep the poison confined to the bloodstream!

Once Zhang Yuanshan broke through to the Nascent Soul realm, the poison would dissipate on its own!

Zhang Yuanshan immediately clasped his fists and praised the man fervently—"A saintly doctor, truly saving the common folk!"

After hearing the whole story, Li Xingtian was also deeply impressed by these two.

Indeed, the world is vast, and wonders never cease.