Supreme Emperor of Mist

"I'll be there soon. Dismiss for now," said Qin Lan as he told the soldier to leave his Private Refining Hall. That's because no matter how nice he is, getting disturbed while refining a pill is taboo to all alchemists.

"Let us continue with the refining process. While we're waiting, how about sharing our insight about this Marrow Cleansing Pill?" Qin Lan suggested. His palm was pointed at one of the two Sun Wu Jian's alchemists to starts first.

"Then, do let this surname Situ start first." the alchemist cupped his hands together and decided to give it a try. Such a mentality is what all the alchemist needs to have for the sake of producing high-quality pills.

"As the name suggests, Cleansing Marrow Pill belongs to the category of body tempering pill. And the main reason the cultivator took this pill while cultivating was to expel the impurities that seep into our bone and marrow."

"Once a cultivator entered the threshold of Bone Reconstruction, the way of cultivation will have to change slightly too. It was said that Flesh Refining renew our frame, Bone Reconstruction stabilize our base, and Spiritual Roots created a foundation."

"But here comes the question. If a framework takes years to renew, won't stabilizing the base takes ten or more? And if that's the case, is there hope to reach the Spiritual Roots, which equals constructing a foundation?"

"And the Marrow Cleansing Pill is the answer to this theory." Alchemist Situ said. Although the introduction part of his was information everyone knew about, it wasn't bothersome to listen again because everyone had their own opinion and belief on cultivation.

"In the Bone Reconstruction Layer, stabilizing the base means strengthening the bones and purifying the marrows. Although the concept is similar, the process was different."

"What the Marrow Cleansing Pill could do to our body is to remove the impurities in the marrows little by little, from inside out. At the same time, it will also introduce our skeletal frame to Spiritual Qi, making it sturdier and comparable to the density of the metal."

"The lesser the impurities in our marrows is equaled to a base without blemishes. And the fewer blemishes our base have, the sturdier it will be after it was strengthened and bathed with Spiritual Qi."

"If there's anything this surname Situ mentioned wrong, please feel free to correct my mistake." the alchemist said.

"Brother Situ's insight was explained clearer than how our teacher taught us when we're younger. Even this junior might be unable to share the insight as detailed as yours." the other alchemist said.

"What about the senior sister? Do you have your own inside you'll like to add?" Qin Lan asked. What he was most curious is about how the current generation deciphers the teachings.

Listening to what Alchemist Situ said was also interesting in his opinion.

'Who would have thought that an Inner Marrow Pill I created in the past will have such a reputation?' Qin Lan chuckled. His memory then brought him back to an incident that happened in the past.

...

...

"Venerable Sect Master, please save my entire family from this disease... I beg you to help the 151 people of my household to overcome this bone disease." the patriarch of a cultivating family begged for Qin Lan's compassion.

During that time, there was no such thing as a concept of tempering the body, consolidate your cultivation, or growing your Spiritual Root. It was an era where people's life was much more worthless compared to a farming tool.

At that time, Yao Beast was running amok. Not even Qin Lan himself can promise that he could protect everyone he came across. There's been a few occasions where the people who received his grace were slain by the Yao Beast the next day.

But his heart thinks otherwise at this moment.

Perhaps it was due to a young little girl standing by the side of the patriarch. From the similarity between the two, she's likely the daughter of this patriarch. She was too young at that time, merely ten or eleven.

It was unfortunate because, in Qin Lan's opinion, this girl could grow up into a proper lady in the future. Not only her gaze revealed a hint of maturity others couldn't have, but she's also compassionate.

Even her father couldn't notice the fact she was tortured by the so-called bone disease too. If he knew, would her father still brought her out to beg before Qin Lan?

"Lass. Can you fetch a chair for this elder to have a rest?" Qin Lan said. It was at this moment his heart softened. By telling himself that this will contribute to his good karma, he taught this girl a recipe that was created on a whim.

"Listen well, lass. Your family's future will be depending on how much you can understand what I will say." Qin Lan gave her head a pat as he sat down on the chair she brought. In his heart, he was smiling because his eyes did not misjudge the character of this girl.

"Bitter Heart Lotus... Bone Marrow from two Bone Reconstruction Realm Beast... Spiritual Calming Grass, Screaming Root, Corpse Extract..."

"Collect them together and make it this way... Using their strength, you'll adjust the way on how this medicine is to be cooked. Then..." Qin Lan transferred the knowledge on the initial creation of the Inner Marrow Pill to her.

Also, at the same time, a surge of transparent Qi above the Precelestial Realm protected the lass from getting tortured further by the illness she had.

Although it won't be enough for her to suddenly have a growth in her cultivation, it wouldn't be a problem for her to live past 500 years old from a hint of Qin Lan's protective Qi.

Her father could only remain in the kowtow position as their family was given another chance to keep on living. Be it working or not, there will be no other regrets in his heart.

But to think that after so many millennia, this pill was still here made Qin Lan somewhat smiled.

'I wonder... Did the girl managed to live well after I left?' Qin Lan retracts the Yang Properties Flame back as the Marrow Cleansing Pill is finally completed. A medicinal fragrant explodes out of the cauldron as it is accompanied by Qin Lan's smile.

"It's a success!" the other three smiled as they looked at one another.

...

...

"What is the meaning of this?" one of the two elders beside Peng Yan came out and questioned Expert Yi's decision to stop them from entering the Demon Mountain Fort. It was akin to a pile of wet mud smeared on their face.

"Please forgive this surname Yi for temporarily blocking your carriage. May I ask you to provide your documentation that state your reason for this visit?" one of his hand was on the sword's handle as Expert Yi speaks.

The way he handled this was considered proper, but at the same time, overly formal. And it was easy to be misunderstood due to the differences in people's mentality.

Feeling that expert Yi was purposely holding them here for no reason, one of the elders gave a harumph at Expert Yi as a reply. This reaction might be seen as a dissatisfied response back where he came, but right now, this is not their land.

This is the land that belongs to the Wu and not Wei.

**Zing!**

Expert Yi pulled half of his sword out. As the one overseeing the operation of this entrance, he has the right to draw his sword right here!

"You! Tell us your intention for visiting this Demon Mountain Fort uninvited!" another officer repeated what Expert Yi was doing in front of Qin Fan. This made Qin Fan felt confused out of a sudden.

'W - W - What did I do wrong? I was just nibbling on a branch, for heaven's sake!' Qin Fan was nervous. He was worried that if something gets wrong here, he might not meet Luo Yunxi today!

His action made the others felt suspicious as he searched his pocket for something to represent his identity.

"I want to see your superior. The envoy from the Country of Wei is here for an audience with the ninth prince." suddenly, Peng Yan made her appearance from the carriage. Her beauty strikes the lust of the men, the jealousy from the women, and the fear in Sun Wu Jian's soldiers.

"That... That's the demon commander of the right. The one that disturbs our commander Qin before leaving." one of the soldiers blocking the carriage said. Coincidently, he was standing close to Zhou Mei's carriage, and everything he said was heard by her.

'The one that pestered Qin Lan?' Zhou Mei opened the door of her carriage and came out to take a look. For the first time, she's looking straight at Peng Yan's appearance.

'What a fox!' even she felt a hint of jealousy looking at Peng Yan's devilish figure and sluttiness.

'The passenger of that carriage came out. She... Is she the one from the Zhou Family? That brooch on her hair... To think that she's one of those fake virgins from the Ice Maiden Temple!" Peng Yan revealed an irritated expression as she steals a glance at Zhou Mei.

It seems that the two are fated to be as incompatible as oil and water even before Qin Lan appeared in between them.

"Commander Huang has arrived!"

"Commander Shan has arrived!"

At this moment, two commanders made their appearance here at the entrance.