Time trickled by. No matter how resentful Li Zongrui felt, it seemed he was stuck with the role of a manual laborer. Fortunately, frequent encounters with mountain bandits gave him an opportunity to vent his frustration. Otherwise, he felt that if this continued, he would go mad sooner or later.
The group continued to advance. Ye Qingchen’s speed at finding medicinal herbs grew ever faster, with astonishing accuracy each time. This made Pavilion Master Zhang take notice. No wonder Vice Pavilion Master Liu often praises him as an Alchemy Dao genius. Even some of the growth environments and precautions for certain herbs were unclear to Pavilion Master Zhang himself, yet Ye Qingchen could discuss them with great authority.
Of course, Pavilion Master Zhang did not know that Ye Qingchen possessed the Pill Emperor’s Heart Sutra—the lifetime culmination of a Pill Emperor’s work. With the Heart Sutra and Pavilion Master Zhang’s continuous guidance, it would have been strange if Ye Qingchen hadn’t improved.
As the group was on the move, Pavilion Master Zhang called out to Ye Qingchen.
"Qingchen, we’ve been in the Great Wilderness Mountain Range for half a month now. I’ve noticed your Realm seems to have improved again?"
Facing the inquiry, Ye Qingchen didn’t hide anything and replied directly, "Pavilion Master Zhang has a keen eye. In the past half a month, my Cultivation has reached the peak of the Ninth Layer of the Martial Master Realm. I could break through to the Great Martial Master Realm at any moment."
Pavilion Master Zhang nodded in satisfaction. Not only was Ye Qingchen’s progress in the Alchemy Dao rapid, but his talent in Cultivation was also exceptional.
Nearby, Elder Wuji overheard their conversation and couldn’t help but interject, "To break through to the Great Martial Master Realm, I’m afraid you’ll need a third-grade Breakthrough Pill. Otherwise, a successful breakthrough will be very difficult."
Elder Wuji’s words puzzled Ye Qingchen. He had used Breakthrough Pills for his previous advancements, but they were only second-grade. Now the Elder was speaking of a *third-grade* Breakthrough Pill.
Normally, after taking a Breakthrough Pill once, subsequent advancements should occur naturally as one’s Cultivation progressed, without the need for more elixirs.
However, it seemed Elder Wuji still held some prejudice against Ye Qingchen. He had only offered the reminder out of respect for Pavilion Master Zhang, so naturally, he wouldn’t elaborate.
Ye Qingchen knew that Elder Wuji was a powerhouse in the Martial Spirit Realm and the First Elder of the Qingyun Sect. Given his status, he would never make irresponsible remarks. There must be a deeper meaning. With this thought, he cast an inquiring glance at Pavilion Master Zhang.
Pavilion Master Zhang nodded and began to explain, "Elder Wuji is exceptionally powerful. His insights and experiences on the path of Cultivation are far beyond mine. So, if he says you need a third-grade Breakthrough Pill, there is certainly a deeper meaning to it."
Ye Qingchen nodded, understanding that Pavilion Master Zhang was just being courteous, so he didn’t respond.
Sure enough, after nodding to Elder Wuji, Pavilion Master Zhang spoke again. "That said, I have also heard that one needs a Breakthrough Pill to advance to the Great Martial Master Realm. If you try to break through on your own, the success rate is only fifty percent. With a Breakthrough Pill, however, that rate can reach eighty percent or even higher!"
Ye Qingchen asked with confusion, "Then, Pavilion Master, did you also rely on a Breakthrough Pill when you broke through to the Great Martial Master Realm?"
Pavilion Master Zhang smiled slightly. "I did, naturally. However, I used a third-grade Breakthrough Pill that I concocted myself, which raised my success rate to over ninety percent! Qingchen, you are on the verge of breaking through to the Great Martial Master Realm, so you must not grow complacent."
"If you can use a third-grade Breakthrough Pill that you’ve concocted yourself, I estimate your success rate will be at least ninety-five percent!"
Ye Qingchen nodded. Since both Pavilion Master Zhang and Elder Wuji have said so, it seems I really do need to prepare a third-grade Breakthrough Pill.
Pavilion Master Zhang continued, "The Breakthrough Pill is one of the most difficult third-grade Spirit Pills to refine. However, with your current skill in Alchemy, you should have a chance of success. Only a Breakthrough Pill that one has personally concocted is the most suitable. The herbs required for the third-grade Breakthrough Pill, however, are extremely precious. For the rest of our journey, let’s focus on finding the herbs for it."
After speaking, Pavilion Master Zhang gave Ye Qingchen the formula for the third-grade Breakthrough Pill.
After reviewing the formula, Ye Qingchen compared it with the Pill Emperor’s Heart Sutra in his mind and quickly devised a search plan for the required herbs.
For the remainder of their journey, just as Pavilion Master Zhang had said, their focus shifted to finding the herbs for the Breakthrough Pill. Naturally, Li Zongrui continued his duties as a bodyguard.
Time passed. The Great Wilderness Mountain Range was rich in medicinal herbs. However, the herbs required for the third-grade Breakthrough Pill had exceedingly strict requirements for both rarity and age. Despite this, through relentless effort, Ye Qingchen managed to find most of them.
Yet there was one herb that remained elusive: the Thousand-Year Peony Heart Grass.
Peony Heart Grass was already a rare sight. A specimen over a thousand years old was something that could only be found by chance, not sought out.
They were now close to leaving the Great Wilderness Mountain Range. In fact, their destination, the capital, was only a three-day journey away. Ye Qingchen couldn’t help but feel anxious.
Pavilion Master Zhang sighed and said comfortingly, "Qingchen, don’t be anxious. Finding all the other herbs is already commendable. Now that only the Thousand-Year Peony Heart Grass is missing, we can try to purchase it in the capital. Although the Thousand-Year Peony Heart Grass is very rare, the capital is the most prosperous city in our Northern Desolate Country. I believe we’ll find some news of it there."
Ye Qingchen nodded. For now, that’s our only option.
Since they had decided to stop searching, Pavilion Master Zhang ordered the group to pick up the pace.
The happiest person about this decision was none other than Li Zongrui. Once we enter the capital, I can finally stop being a bodyguard! Although he hadn’t complained during the journey, he had been quite frustrated deep down.
Li Zongrui didn’t actually mind being a bodyguard. Protecting the Qingyun Sect’s alchemy elites was a responsibility he felt obligated to fulfill as the Young Sect Master. What really bothered him was being Ye Qingchen’s bodyguard.
The woman I loved most, Li Susu, died at his hands, and I saw it with my own eyes. Even though my father made me reflect in seclusion and my hatred for Ye Qingchen isn’t as intense as it once was, how can I possibly be willing to protect him now?
The group traveled for another hour when they suddenly heard the sounds of fighting, accompanied by a woman’s cries for help.
The group stopped. As the cries for help grew closer, they all clearly saw a beautiful woman fleeing in a panic, pursued by a group of burly men who were shouting curses as they ran.