In truth, Lu Canghai did not necessarily need Tang Yuyan’s help this time. At least, not as desperately as the other old cultivators imagined.

If Su Bai used Cold-Forging to refine the Immaculate Lotus-Heart Pill, would ordinary high-grade pills still be the limit?

The boy could take a proper pill recipe, stare at it for a while, silently make everyone nervous, then refine something that made alchemists question whether they had wasted half their lives.

Of course, Lu Canghai would not say that aloud.

Some advantages were better hidden.

So he could only inwardly blame Tang Yuyan for being too attentive to him.

Thinking of this, Lu Canghai felt very pleased.

Tang Yuyan’s second needle moved.

Lu Canghai deflected it again with a light turn of his wrist.

The violet glimmer vanished between his fingers without touching his sleeve.

Tang Yuyan withdrew her hand and stepped back half a pace.

Her expression was cold.

But her eyes were not quite as sharp as before.

There was a grudging look in them.

To everyone else, that look was strangely familiar.

Not long ago, Tang Ziyan had looked at Su Bai upstairs in almost the same way.

Unfortunately, no one dared mention that.

Yan Zhaolie saw it too.

His heart bled silently.

By now, he finally understood. He had no chance. Perhaps he had never had one.

In the past, Lu Canghai had been damaged, white-haired, and fallen from his peak. Yan Zhaolie had still been able to comfort himself with such thoughts.

But now Lu Canghai had recovered.

He could catch Tang Yuyan’s hidden needle with ease, tease her in front of everyone, and even make her step back with that kind of expression.

Yan Zhaolie felt as if someone had stuffed burning coal into his chest and told him to meditate.

Zhuge Wenqing’s abacus clicked once again.

"Then it seems the matter of pills is settled for now."

Tang Yuyan said coldly, "For now."

Several elders felt their hearts ache.

For now?

Those two words meant the price could still rise.

Lu Canghai looked completely innocent.

That made everyone want to hit him more.

Zhuge Wenqing smiled and continued, "Right, Old Lu. You arrived late, so you missed the City Lord Mansion’s formal announcement."

Lu Canghai looked at him.

"The invitation?"

Zhuge Wenqing nodded.

"Tonight, Azure Hall will host all forces participating in the Fallen-Star Sanctuary entry."

His fingers moved across the jade beads.

"City Lord Yue Cangyu is not someone who enjoys empty ceremony. If he invites everyone, it will not be merely to exchange polite greetings and drink thin wine."

Lu Canghai nodded.

"If the sanctuary pressure has changed and the miasma has become unstable, the entry rules may also change."

Tang Yuyan said, "Or the casualty rate will."

The room became heavy.

Even the comedy from before faded.

Yan Zhaolie’s expression became gloomy.

"My Scorching Sun Valley disciples cultivate Yang fire. They can endure miasma better than most."

Tang Yuyan glanced at him.

"Overconfidence corrodes faster than flesh."

Yan Zhaolie’s face darkened, but he did not argue.

Zhuge Wenqing smiled faintly.

"Miss Tang’s words are harsh, but accurate."

He moved one jade bead.

"In the sanctuary, fire can burn miasma for a while. Sword Qi can cut it for a while. Formation shields can block it for a while."

His gaze swept across the room.

"But only preparation lets one return."

The elders became silent.

Lu Canghai looked toward the stairs.

His disciple was upstairs.

For some reason, Lu Canghai suddenly felt that if the Ashen-Blood Miasma had truly grown stronger, Su Bai might be the one who benefited the most.

...

Not long after, the gathering inside Thousand Fragrance Pavilion finally began to disperse.

The old cultivators had gotten what they wanted.

Or at least, what they could get for now.

The younger cultivators on the second floor also gradually left in groups. Some looked toward Su Bai before leaving. Some looked toward Tang Ziyan. Some looked toward Yan Lie, who had recovered movement but not dignity.

Su Bai and Lu Canghai also left the pavilion.

When they stepped back onto the street, Azure-Jade City was glowing beneath the afternoon sun.

Su Bai glanced back at Thousand Fragrance Pavilion.

"Master, so this pavilion belongs to the Tang Clan?"

Lu Canghai nodded.

"Of course."

Su Bai was slightly surprised.

He had known the Tang Clan was influential, but seeing their reach inside Azure-Jade City made that influence feel more concrete.

Lu Canghai stroked his beard.

"The Tang Clan has branches in many major cities. Pill trade, poison trade, healing services, rare herbs, antidotes, hidden weapon commissions... if something can save a life or end one quietly, they probably have a hand in it."

Su Bai thought for a moment.

That sounded very reasonable.

And very profitable.

The master and disciple returned to Quiet Jade Inn.

Both looked rather energetic.

Lu Canghai looked as if he had won a battle.

Su Bai looked as if he had found several new mysteries.

In different ways, both master and disciple were satisfied.

After returning, Lu Canghai went to find Li Xuanzong first.

Before long, everyone gathered in a private room.

Li Xuanzong sat at the main seat.

Lu Canghai stood beside him.

Su Bai, Ji Ruyue, Han Yuelin, Qin Baoshan, and Liu Meng sat below.

The atmosphere was calmer than Thousand Fragrance Pavilion, but once Lu Canghai began speaking, everyone became serious.

He explained what he had learned from the old monsters.

By the time he finished, Li Xuanzong’s expression had changed.

The first practical problem had appeared.

"Normally," Li Xuanzong said slowly, "one high-grade Immaculate Lotus-Heart Pill can protect a cultivator for roughly a day inside ordinary miasma density."

The disciples listened quietly.

Li Xuanzong continued, "But if the Ashen-Blood Miasma is stronger this time, that duration may shorten."

Han Yuelin asked, "By how much?"

"No one knows," Li Xuanzong said.

That answer made the room heavier.

Unknowns were always troublesome.

Qin Baoshan frowned.

"Then stocking more pills is the safest choice."

"Correct," Li Xuanzong said.

Liu Meng raised her hand slightly.

Everyone looked at her.

"I know the Immaculate Lotus-Heart Pill recipe."

The room became quiet.

Liu Meng sat straighter, her eyes bright but serious.

"I have studied it before, but I have never refined a full batch myself. If I have enough materials and time to practice, I should be able to produce usable pills."

Li Xuanzong’s eyes moved.

Lu Canghai’s brows lifted.

Liu Meng hesitated for a moment, then looked toward Su Bai.

"But if Senior Brother Su refines it with Cold-Forging, the quality should be better."

Her voice carried clear admiration.

Su Bai shook his head.

"Quality is one matter. Yield is another."

Liu Meng blinked.

Su Bai looked at her seriously.

"Cold-Forging may produce stronger pills, but I refine slowly and consume more attention. Junior Sister Liu understands orthodox pill flow better. Your yield will be higher."

Liu Meng stared at him.

Her eyes became even brighter.

"Senior Brother is considering batch efficiency."

Su Bai nodded.

"For something meant to protect everyone, quantity matters."

Liu Meng looked as if she had been praised.

Su Bai, meanwhile, looked genuinely thoughtful.

Liu Meng admired quality.

Su Bai admired survival stockpiles.

Both admired each other for entirely different reasons.

Lu Canghai and Li Xuanzong exchanged glances.

Then both of their eyes brightened.

If Liu Meng could refine ordinary high-grade batches, and Su Bai could Cold-Forge critical batches or improve the best ones, Radiant Sky Sect might not need to bleed spirit stones to buy everything from the Tang Clan.

They might even stockpile more than expected.

Li Xuanzong tapped the table lightly.

"Good."

That single word made Liu Meng sit even straighter.

Then an unexpected voice came from the side.

"I want to try too."

Everyone turned.

Ji Ruyue sat quietly, her expression cold as usual.

The room froze for half a breath.

"I have read some pill manuals."

Silence.

Lu Canghai coughed once.

Li Xuanzong raised a hand to his mouth and coughed into his fist.

"Then... good."

His expression remained dignified.

"We will prepare additional materials."

Ji Ruyue nodded.

Li Xuanzong added, "I will list the cost for Peak Master Shen later."

Ji Ruyue nodded again.

"Master will pay."

The room became even quieter.

Su Bai lowered his gaze.

He did not know whether to laugh.

Somehow, he could already imagine Shen Youran silently receiving the bill, staring at it for a long time, and then making the air around Radiant Sky Sect colder by several degrees.

Li Xuanzong cleared his throat.

"Then we will begin preparations immediately after the banquet, depending on the final rules announced tonight."

Lu Canghai nodded.

The disciples became serious again.

"Tonight’s banquet is not merely a meal. Listen more. Speak less. Do not provoke others casually."

Li Xuanzong added, "City Lord Yue Cangyu is strict, but not petty. As long as we follow the rules, there is no need to be nervous."

Everyone cupped their hands.

"Yes, Sect Master."

The meeting ended soon after.

The disciples returned to their rooms to prepare.