An Invitation to Hoa Van

Medicine Peak lay in the southeastern region of the Free Roaming Sect’s inner grounds. Compared with the surrounding mountains, where the sound of sword qi and cultivation practice echoed throughout the year, this place was far quieter. Terraced medicinal fields stretched along the slopes, separated by low stone ridges, with shades of deep and pale green broken by clusters of red, yellow, and light purple flowers. Some areas gave off a gentle fragrance, while others carried such a sharp, pungent scent that merely standing nearby made the nose feel warm.

Small streams were guided down from the summit, winding through each medicinal field before dividing into numerous branches. A thin layer of spiritual qi rested over the water like faint mist.

The moment Hao Nhien and Tieu Lan passed through the formation at the foot of the mountain, several alchemy students tending the medicinal fields recognized her.

“Junior Sister Tieu Lan is back?”

Several young women in Medicine Peak robes hurried over. One asked whether she had been injured, while another was already curious about the spirit herbs of the Western Wastes. Tieu Lan did not know whom to answer first, so she could only smile and tell them she was fine, while the stories from the Western Wastes were far too long and would have to wait until there was time.

One young woman standing nearby glanced toward Hao Nhien. Her gaze briefly stopped on the hands the two were holding before quickly shifting to his face.

Tieu Lan noticed and introduced him.

“This is Hao Nhien, my Young Master.”

The name Quan Hao Nhien was hardly unfamiliar within the Free Roaming Sect. He had been the champion of the outer-sect assessment, the disciple who had spent ten thousand points on a Foundation Establishment Pill before breaking through in the middle of the plaza, and the one who had left for the Western Wastes not long after entering the inner sect.

The alchemy students immediately cupped their hands.

“Greetings, Senior Brother Hao.”

Hao Nhien returned the gesture, then let Tieu Lan ask where Phong Van Tu was. After learning that her master was in the small courtyard behind the Medicine Hall, she said goodbye to everyone and continued up the mountain with him.

Past the main Medicine Hall, the two arrived at a small courtyard beside a stream. Moss covered the stone walls, while several old spirit trees grew inside, their broad crowns almost completely shading the roof. Beneath the largest tree stood a low table, two meditation cushions, and a wooden drying rack covered with freshly washed medicinal roots.

Phong Van Tu was lying sideways on a bamboo recliner, one hand resting on his stomach while the other held an alchemy text facedown over his face. Judging from his posture, he had clearly been sleeping far more than reading.

The moment Tieu Lan stepped into the courtyard, she stopped.

Looking at the familiar figure beneath the tree, her eyes reddened slightly.

“Master.”

Phong Van Tu did not move.

She called again. Only then did the book over his face tilt slightly to one side. One eye opened, followed slowly by the other.

Phong Van Tu stared at Tieu Lan for several breaths before suddenly sitting upright.

“You little girl, you finally remembered how to come back?”

Tieu Lan hurried forward and bowed.

“Disciple greets Master.”

Phong Van Tu tried to maintain a stern expression, but only a few breaths later, the corner of his mouth had already curved upward.

“Stand up. Let me take a look at you.”

His Divine Sense swept over her before quickly withdrawing.

“Qi Condensation layer five. Your meridians are steadier than before, and your foundation is not bad either. It seems that Young Master of yours did not let you starve to death in the Western Wastes.”

Tieu Lan pressed her lips together in a smile.

“Young Master took very good care of this disciple.”

Only then did Phong Van Tu turn toward Hao Nhien. His gaze lingered a little longer when he realized that Hao Nhien had already reached mid Foundation Establishment, but unlike Elder Bai in the Mission Hall, he did not press the matter. He merely raised an eyebrow.

“You had only just stepped into Foundation Establishment when you left the sect, and now you are already at layer four. It seems the Western Wastes contain more than sand.”

Hao Nhien cupped his hands helplessly.

“This junior did encounter several opportunities, though most of the time was still spent carrying out missions.”

Phong Van Tu snorted lightly and pointed toward the meditation cushions.

“Sit. Since you are back, have some tea first.”

Tieu Lan immediately went inside to retrieve the familiar tea set. Before long, the fragrance of green tea spread beneath the tree. She poured for Phong Van Tu first, then Hao Nhien, and finally herself.

Phong Van Tu took a sip, his expression relaxing slightly.

“Tieu Lan’s tea is still the easiest to drink.”

Tieu Lan laughed.

“Master is simply too picky.”

Phong Van Tu did not argue. He only asked,

“How long are you staying this time?”

Tieu Lan looked at Hao Nhien.

“Probably not very long. We still have many things to handle at Hoa Van.”

Phong Van Tu paused.

“Hoa Van?”

Hao Nhien set down his cup.

“That is also the main reason Tieu Lan and I came to see Senior.”

The smile on Phong Van Tu’s face slowly faded.

“Then speak.”

Hao Nhien briefly explained the plan to build Hoa Van Town, the fact that Heavenly Treasure Pavilion was considering establishing a supply route there, and that he had just submitted a relatively large resource exchange request to the Free Roaming Sect using his military merit.

Phong Van Tu showed no immediate reaction. He merely turned the cup slowly in his hand, his gaze lingering on Hao Nhien.

“An ambitious plan.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

Phong Van Tu continued,

“You have water, a Medicine Garden, people from the Fire Qilin Clan, and now you want to draw Heavenly Treasure Pavilion into establishing a supply route. If all you wanted was a place for a few hundred people to live, that would already be excessive. But if your goal is larger…”

He set down the teacup.

“Then what will sustain Hoa Van?”

Hao Nhien did not answer immediately.

Phong Van Tu looked at him and continued.

“Heavenly Treasure Pavilion is a merchant association. They may see opportunity, but they will also see risk. Other powers are even less likely to send people, resources, and transport routes to a place simply because you tell them its future will be promising.”

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

“You want to turn Hoa Van into a connection point between the Eastern Plains and the Western Wastes. Then you need something that convinces others the place is worth investing in before it actually matures.”

Hao Nhien slowly nodded.

“This junior thinks the same.”

He looked down at the tea in front of him.

“Hoa Van currently has location, people, some ties to Tam Thành and several tribes, but its actual capabilities are still too limited. We can build a Medicine Garden, refine several types of pills, and meet part of our immediate needs. But if we want Heavenly Treasure Pavilion or other powers to participate over the long term, potential alone is not enough.”

Phong Van Tu asked,

“Then what do you plan to use as proof?”

Hao Nhien looked at Tieu Lan.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from NovelPhoenix; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Understanding immediately, she took out a small jade box and placed it on the table.

Phong Van Tu did not open it at once. His gaze rested on the box for several breaths before he asked,

“What is this supposed to mean?”

Hao Nhien smiled faintly.

“Senior will understand after taking a look.”

Phong Van Tu removed the seals one by one and slowly opened the lid. A deep, stable medicinal fragrance spread outward. It was neither strong nor accompanied by a burst of spiritual pressure, yet the medicinal qi around the pill gathered without dispersing. Resting on a layer of Spirit-Nourishing Cotton was a dark golden Body-Stabilizing Pill, its surface translucent like jade, while a pale golden pill pattern lay deep within and slowly circulated around its body.

The calm expression on Phong Van Tu’s face immediately vanished.

He took out an appraisal lens and a medicinal testing needle and examined the pill for a long time. At first, his movements remained steady, but the more he looked, the more focused his eyes became. When he confirmed that the medicinal qi circulated on its own without dispersing, the pill pattern was continuous, impurities were nearly impossible to detect, and the medicinal power inside remained in an unusually balanced state, the hand holding the appraisal lens finally stopped.

Phong Van Tu did not speak immediately. He shifted the pill toward a different angle of light and examined it once more with Divine Sense before slowly setting the lens down.

“A supreme-grade Body-Stabilizing Pill.”

This time, it was not a question.

Tieu Lan watched her master’s expression and nodded softly.

“Yes.”

Phong Van Tu continued staring at the pill for a long time.

To an ordinary person, supreme grade might simply mean extraordinary value. But to someone who had devoted most of his life to the medicinal path, the pill before him meant far more. For a pill’s medicinal power to reach self-balance, for its impurities to nearly vanish, and for its pill pattern to form a complete circulation meant that some extremely refined state had appeared during the alchemy process, a state countless alchemists might pursue for a lifetime without ever touching.

Phong Van Tu looked up at Tieu Lan. Alongside the shock in his eyes was a joy that was difficult to conceal.

“You took part in refining this?”

Tieu Lan nodded, unable to hide the happiness in her voice.

“I was responsible for selecting and processing the ingredients, adjusting proportions, observing changes in medicinal properties, and recording every deviation. Young Master directly controlled the fire, adjusted the airflow, and used Divine Sense to observe the inside of the cauldron. We have actually produced three supreme-grade pills. Young Master personally used the first supreme-grade Qi-Recovery Pill to verify its medicinal effect, and the results were very good. Another supreme-grade Mystic Yang Pill is currently being held by Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.”

Phong Van Tu listened in silence for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“Good. Very good.”

The words were brief, but Tieu Lan could still hear the satisfaction in his voice. She turned and tightly clasped Hao Nhien’s hand.

Phong Van Tu looked toward Hao Nhien again.

“And you, after barely learning alchemy for long, already dared to reach for something like this. I do not know whether to call you bold or simply too fortunate.”

Hao Nhien answered helplessly,

“This junior still believes it was mostly because we experimented enough and kept very detailed records.”

Phong Van Tu did not argue. He looked at the pill for another moment, then slowly closed the jade box. The joy on his face also gradually faded.

“But there is something the two of you need to understand.”

Hao Nhien and Tieu Lan both looked at him.

“One supreme-grade pill is precious. Three are even more astonishing. But even if you manage to refine a few more, the strength of two people cannot sustain an entire town.”

Phong Van Tu rested a hand on the lid of the box.

“For a place like Hoa Van to survive over the long term, it needs stable medicinal supplies, stable pill production, healers, medicine refiners, storage specialists, and people responsible for quality inspection. It cannot spend every day waiting for the two of you to stand in front of a cauldron yourselves.”

He looked directly at Hao Nhien.

“If this is what you intend to use to persuade Heavenly Treasure Pavilion and other powers, then yes, it is enough to make them pay attention, but it is not enough to make them place a long-term bet.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“This junior never intended to use supreme-grade pills to sustain Hoa Van.”

Phong Van Tu raised an eyebrow.

Hao Nhien pulled a sheet of paper closer.

“Supreme grade only proves how far our method might eventually go. What Hoa Van truly needs for development is a stable supply of good-quality pills that can be produced over the long term.”

He divided the paper into several sections with his fingertip.

“If Hoa Van can consistently provide Qi-Recovery Pills, Clearheart Pills, Body-Strengthening Pills, Mystic Yang Pills, or Body-Stabilizing Pills at mid grade and high grade, while keeping the quality between batches nearly consistent, maintaining transparent prices, and avoiding irregular supply, then merchants will come.”

Phong Van Tu did not interrupt.

Hao Nhien continued.

“When merchants come, medicinal ingredients, artifacts, spirit stones, and other goods will follow. Once trade becomes stable, independent cultivators will begin staying longer. When people remain, others will open shops, rent warehouses, transport goods, grow medicinal herbs, raise yao beasts, and practice various crafts. Only then will Hoa Van stop depending entirely on Tam Thành or the Fire Qilin Clan for its survival.”

Tieu Lan now understood what he meant.

“Young Master wants pills to become the first thing that draws people toward Hoa Van.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“Exactly. Not the only industry, but perhaps the first one capable of building its reputation.”

Phong Van Tu slowly stroked his beard.

“But if you want to provide a stable supply like that, the two of you are even less sufficient.”

“That is why this junior wants to change the way the work is done.”

Hao Nhien looked down at the paper and began explaining.

“Traditional alchemy usually requires one person to handle nearly the entire process alone, from ingredient selection and preprocessing to refinement, impurity removal, fusion, and final condensation. The more complete a person’s abilities are, the higher their success rate tends to be, but that also makes such people difficult to train and makes production even harder to scale.”

He pointed to the sections he had drawn.

“This junior wants to separate the stages that can be separated. Those who understand medicinal ingredients can handle selection and preprocessing. Those with strong fire control can focus on refinement. Those with stronger Divine Sense can monitor changes inside the cauldron. Those with deeper knowledge of medicinal properties can handle proportions, fusion timing, and final quality inspection. Anything that cannot yet be separated will still be left to someone capable enough to lead the cauldron.”

Phong Van Tu studied the lines on the paper, his expression gradually becoming more serious.

“You want different people to handle different parts of the same process.”

“Correct.”

Hao Nhien replied.

“Our immediate goal is not to produce supreme-grade pills every day. If we can keep most finished pills consistently at mid grade and then gradually raise the proportion of high-grade pills, that alone would create far more value than waiting for one genius alchemist to personally refine every batch.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“A single supreme-grade pill can amaze people, but only a stable supply can make them bring money, goods, and people to Hoa Van.”

That sentence left Phong Van Tu silent for quite some time.

Tieu Lan also looked at Hao Nhien, gradually understanding why he had brought this matter to Medicine Peak.

At last, Phong Van Tu spoke.

“So what you truly want to ask for is not a few cauldrons of pills or a few batches of medicinal ingredients.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

Phong Van Tu looked at him.

“You want people.”

“Correct.”

Hao Nhien did not deny it.

“But not simply a few more pairs of hands. This junior needs people with enough experience to help determine which stages can be separated, which cannot, what standards must be unified, and what degree of variation is still acceptable. Only after that can we train more people according to their individual strengths.”

Phong Van Tu slowly stroked his beard.

“If this works as you describe, then even ordinary alchemy students may be able to find a position suited to them.”

“Exactly.”

Hao Nhien stood and cupped his hands.

“That is why this junior wants to invite Senior to visit Hoa Van and conduct a survey. If the sect permits it, I hope Senior can bring a small group of suitable people and test the method under real conditions.”

Tieu Lan also stood.

“Master, this disciple is still too inexperienced. We have recorded many things, but we may not have understood all of them correctly. If Master can come and see for yourself, many mistakes can be discovered much earlier.”

Phong Van Tu did not answer immediately. He looked at the two of them before asking,

“How much safety can Hoa Van guarantee?”

“Not absolute safety.”

Hao Nhien answered directly.

“But it lies behind the forward military camp, has Tam Thành’s backing, and already possesses an initial defensive force. Medicine Peak personnel would not participate in combat missions. The medicine-refining and treatment areas would have separate protective formations, and anyone needing to leave the settlement to gather medicinal ingredients would travel with an escort.”

Phong Van Tu nodded.

“Supplies?”

“Heavenly Treasure Pavilion is considering opening a supply route. In addition, this junior has just submitted a resource exchange request at the Mission Hall. After recalculation, it came to roughly eight hundred and thirty thousand mission points.”

Phong Van Tu stared at him.

“Eight hundred and thirty thousand?”

Tieu Lan nodded softly.

“Yes. Most of it consists of medicinal ingredients, tools, formation plates, communication talismans, and several basic cultivation manuals.”

Phong Van Tu was silent for a moment before asking,

“Is Elder Bai still alive?”

Hao Nhien remembered the white-robed figure flying straight toward the Headmaster’s hall, and the corner of his mouth curved slightly.

“When we left, he still had enough strength to fly very quickly.”

Phong Van Tu nodded.

“Then you have not angered him to death yet.”

He said nothing more about the military merit and returned to the main issue.

“I can propose a survey mission.”

Tieu Lan’s eyes immediately lit up.

“Really, Master?”

“Only a survey.”

Phong Van Tu emphasized the words.

“The first group does not need to be large. Myself, one experienced medicinal practitioner, one logistics steward, and three to five volunteer alchemy students should be enough. The initial period will be one month.”

Hao Nhien listened carefully.

“During that month, we will inspect the Medicine Garden, water supply, preservation conditions, Alchemy Room, security, and most importantly, test whether the stages you want to separate can truly be assigned to different people.”

He paused briefly.

“If the results are good, then we can discuss extending the mission to three months or increasing the number of people.”

Hao Nhien immediately cupped his hands.

“That would already be extremely valuable.”

Phong Van Tu continued.

“Pill formulas developed independently by Hoa Van remain the property of Hoa Van. Medicine Peak formulas remain the property of Medicine Peak. Anything jointly researched will belong to both sides, and neither may sell or transmit it outside without the other’s consent. All experimental records must be preserved in two copies so there will be no disputes later.”

“This junior agrees.”

Phong Van Tu turned toward Tieu Lan.

“And you are still my disciple. You may go there to study and work, but just because you see some results does not mean you may sit in front of an alchemy cauldron day and night until you collapse.”

Tieu Lan’s face reddened slightly.

“This disciple understands.”

Only then did Phong Van Tu close the jade box, restore its seals, and push it back toward Hao Nhien.

“Keep this carefully. Supreme-grade pills are not things you should carry around and display too often.”

Hao Nhien accepted the box.

“Senior does not want to keep the pill for research?”

Phong Van Tu shook his head.

“I will go to Hoa Van and watch the refining process myself.”

Hao Nhien cupped his hands.

“This junior understands.”

Phong Van Tu stood.

“But taking alchemy students away from the sect for an extended period, establishing a medicine-refining site near the frontier, and sharing research results with Hoa Van all require Van Du Tu’s approval.”

Tieu Lan stood as well.

“Master wants to see the Headmaster now?”

“Correct.”

Phong Van Tu answered.

Hao Nhien remembered the eight-hundred-and-thirty-thousand-point list that had already been carried there and immediately understood that the coming meeting would probably not be simple.

Phong Van Tu drained his tea, then casually picked up the entire teapot as well.

Tieu Lan stared.

“Master?”

“Waiting for the Headmaster to make a decision is rarely quick.”

Phong Van Tu answered calmly.

“Good tea should not be wasted.”

Tieu Lan covered her mouth and laughed.

Hao Nhien could not keep the corner of his mouth from lifting either.

The three left the courtyard together and headed toward the Headmaster’s hall hidden among the distant clouds. Elder Bai had already brought there a resource list worth eight hundred and thirty thousand mission points, while Phong Van Tu was now preparing to request permission to take members of Medicine Peak to Hoa Van for a field survey.

Hao Nhien looked toward the great hall among the clouds and suddenly had the feeling that Van Du Tu would be hearing far more about Hoa Van today than he had expected.