Chapter 14: The Way of Heaven Takes from the Surplus to Make Up for the Deficiency

As a mid-phase Foundation Establishment cultivator, Ye Caixuan could sense everything happening within the Herb Pavilion from afar. She naturally noticed Cao Xuan’s transaction involving medicinal pills, though the thought of any quality issues never crossed her mind. She merely considered that for an outer sect disciple, one she’d never seen on the Alchemy Peak, to be able to independently experiment and successfully refine pills, he must possess remarkable aptitude.

As the senior disciple of the Alchemy Peak, her perspective was naturally broader. While lower-level cultivators only thought about how to strengthen themselves, her concerns lay in how to enhance the overall strength of the Azure Cloud Sect. Those at the top, as beneficiaries of the sect’s prosperity, enjoyed better welfare and privileges the stronger the sect became. Thus, whether consciously or not, their thoughts revolved around ways to improve the sect.

Steward Bai was always forthcoming with Ye Caixuan, never withholding any information. When he had previously discussed the cooperation with Cao Xuan, he had already learned the basic details about him.

“Successor Ye, I don’t know everything in detail—you understand, the Herb Pavilion has regulations. We’re obliged to keep the information of our partners confidential; otherwise, no one would dare to work with us.”

“But I do know a bit about this person. His name is Cao Xuan, an outer sect disciple of your Azure Cloud Sect, living in…”

After listening, Ye Caixuan nodded. Outer sect disciples all lived on several outer peaks within Azure Cloud Mountain; with Steward Bai’s description, she could roughly place his residence. As the personal disciple of Alchemy Peak, she would naturally not go seek out Cao Xuan herself; she simply made a mental note of him, planning to offer him guidance should their paths cross in the future.

…

Cao Xuan returned to the sect and began planning for his upcoming cultivation.

“The issue of spirit stone supply can be resolved as long as I successfully refine medicinal pills.”

“This way, I can help Lin Miaoxuan and Chen Qianru train and gain resources. Compared to others, who are bogged down by sect tasks and trivial matters, I’ll have more time for cultivation.”

Cao Xuan understood that, as a Qi Refining cultivator, one was practically immune to illness or calamity, yet still mortal, with a natural lifespan of a hundred years at most. Those with abundant spirit, energy, and vigor might, according to records, live an extra ten years, reaching a lifespan of a hundred and ten years.

Foundation Establishment cultivators, however, were a different story. Not only were they vastly more powerful and transcendent, but their lifespan could reach two centuries. With the aid of certain longevity techniques, it wasn’t impossible to live up to three hundred years.

The allure of longevity hardly needed to be stated for someone who had lived in a previous world dominated by birth, aging, sickness, and death.

Cao Xuan himself had experienced the fragility of human life firsthand—after all, he had been swept into the cultivation world after an accident with a dump truck, his previous life lasting barely more than twenty years. Therefore, more than anyone else in this world, he yearned for immortality.

Moreover, in his previous life, an age of information explosion, thoughts were active and unrestrained, unbound by the mental shackles that restricted the ancients.

In the cultivation world, one’s spiritual root determined one’s ceiling. The body Cao Xuan now inhabited had a fourfold-tempered spiritual root. In his predecessor’s eyes, perhaps he could reach the fourth layer of Qi Refining and remain in the outer sect; that alone would suffice to answer to the Cao family.

Lin Miaoxuan and Chen Qianru, on the other hand, each possessed sixfold-tempered spiritual roots. Though they “aspired” to reach Foundation Establishment, deep down, they believed that if they could reach the seventh layer of Qi Refining and become inner sect disciples, their lives would be considered complete.

If anyone discovered that Cao Xuan, with a mere fourfold-tempered spiritual root, not only wished to reach Foundation Establishment but even higher realms, they would likely ridicule his overreaching ambition and foolish dreams.

According to the records of the cultivation world, only those with at least a sixfold-tempered spiritual root—fortunate enough to encounter many opportunities—could hope to reach Foundation Establishment. Whether a fourfold-tempered spiritual root could even withstand the rigors of Foundation Establishment was another matter entirely.

Cao Xuan knew nothing of this, nor did he care. He believed only one thing:
The way of heaven deprives the surplus and replenishes the deficient!
If his spiritual root was lacking, he would make up for it with resources.

“The most urgent task now is to successfully refine Gathering Qi Pills and Condensing Qi Powder!”

As for the half-year agreement with Fang Baiyu, it was the last thing on Cao Xuan’s mind. With his mastery of the Heavenly Gang Movement Technique, Azure Sky Dao Sword, and Golden Body Gang Shield, even a cultivator at the sixth layer of Qi Refining would be no match for him now. If someone at the seventh layer underestimated him, relying on nothing but their deep reserves of true essence, they too would likely fall in the face of his explosive power.

This was only because, as a cultivator at the early fourth layer of Qi Refining, his true essence was still too shallow—like lacking ammunition, unable to fully unleash the power of his three techniques.

Ultimately, everything still came down to cultivation level!

“Pill refining requires alchemical fire and a cauldron. Aside from Golden Core cultivators who possess innate alchemical fire, and Foundation Establishment cultivators who can use techniques to control fire, Qi Refining cultivators can only rely on earth fire or use cauldron arrays that consume spirit stones to refine pills.”

“And within the Azure Cloud Sect, only the Alchemy Peak allows for pill refining.”

“But only inner sect disciples can choose to apprentice to the various peak guardians and enter for cultivation!”

Cao Xuan frowned. The Azure Cloud Sect had five great peaks: Azure Cloud Peak, Exorcism Peak, Alchemy Peak, Artifact Forging Peak, and Talisman Peak.

The latter three were self-explanatory, focusing on alchemy, artifact forging, and talisman crafting.

Azure Cloud Peak was the main peak and residence of the sect master; personal disciples there were all top candidates for the sect leader’s position. In the sect’s history, only during particular crises had disciples from other peaks inherited the sect master’s seat.

The guardian elders of Azure Cloud Peak mainly managed the sect’s internal affairs and oversaw the transmission and coordination of teachings.

Exorcism Peak was the stronghold for external combat. From the peak master down to the inner disciples, all were battle fanatics, responsible for fighting demons and maintaining law and order within the sect.

Cao Xuan had no interest in power struggles; compared to that, the pursuit of immortality and freedom was far more important.

But now, if he wanted to refine pills, he had to join the Alchemy Peak among the five.

“In the short term, I won’t reach the seventh layer of Qi Refining and can’t become an inner sect disciple.”

“It seems I’ll have to check out the sect’s Mission Hall!”

Indeed, though he was reluctant to undertake sect tasks, there was no escaping them in the end.

With that thought, Cao Xuan set out at once and soon arrived at the Mission Hall.

Clad in a cloud-patterned azure robe, he drew envious glances from many probationary outer disciples upon his arrival. As a full outer sect disciple, his status and standing were already markedly different.

At the mission counter, the disciple who once barely bothered to respond now greeted him differently. What used to be, “Pick a task yourself and let me know which one you want,” had become, “Senior brother, is there any particular task you’re looking for?”

Cao Xuan nodded. Compared to searching by himself, those stationed at the Mission Hall were naturally more familiar with the options.

“No need to stand on ceremony, junior brother. I’m looking for tasks related to the Alchemy Peak.”

Cao Xuan knew that those who secured positions in the Mission Hall generally had connections; the tasks were light, left ample time for cultivation, and most managed to become full outer sect disciples.

Cultivation wasn’t just about fighting; it was about navigating relationships.

Hearing Cao Xuan’s gentle and unassuming tone, the probationary disciple immediately became much more enthusiastic.

“Please wait a moment, senior brother. Let me take a look for you!”

“Wait, I’m also looking for tasks related to the Alchemy Peak,” came a soft voice from beside Cao Xuan.