The Direction of Hoa Van

That morning, Hoa Van Town woke to the sound of hammers driving wooden stakes into the ground, cart wheels rolling over sand with loads of sandstone, and workers calling to one another among half-finished construction sites. To the east, the newly established water-gathering formation continued drawing thin streams of water into the reservoir, and the soft sound of running water felt almost out of place against the surrounding dryness of the desert.

Inside the medicine area, the first sunlight of the day slipped through the doorway and fell across the low wooden table near the window.

Over the past three days, Hao Nhien and Tieu Lan had not blindly chased another supreme-grade result. Instead, they refined two more batches of Clearheart Pills and three more batches of Qi-Recovery Pills, mainly to verify the ratios, timing, differences between positions inside the cauldron, and the usage guidelines they had begun recording after the medicinal trials.

The results were good enough to satisfy them, but not enough to change Hao Nhien’s earlier judgment.

Clearheart Pills could now be produced relatively consistently at mid-grade, and most of the Qi-Recovery Pills reached the same level. Two batches made with better ingredients even produced several high-grade pills.

But supreme grade did not appear again.

There was one attempt when, near the end of condensation, spiritual qi briefly gathered around the center of the cauldron. Through Divine Sense, Hao Nhien saw a faint golden trace appear on the surface of one pill, only for it to fade a few breaths later. When the cauldron was opened, that pill had still stopped at high grade.

That did not disappoint him.

If anything, it confirmed that the first supreme-grade pill had still depended on one or more factors he did not yet truly control.

Hao Nhien still could not determine whether the decisive factor lay in the pill’s position within the cauldron, temperature, spiritual qi density, airflow guided by his Wind affinity, the exact timing of spiritual qi gathering, the stability of the cauldron, the quality of the ingredients, or some other change that neither he nor Tieu Lan had yet recognized.

Among all of those possibilities, he suspected ingredient quality the most.

The sixth refinement had used the best-prepared medicinal extracts they had available, while the later batches, despite following the same ratios, still varied in vitality, moisture, and medicinal force from one portion of raw material to another.

If he wanted to remove that variable, he needed a group of medicinal materials with a clear origin and more stable quality.

A result that could not be reproduced still could not be called a complete method.

Because of that, after every batch, the two of them spent nearly as much time recording observations as they had spent standing before the cauldron. Even minor differences in medicinal vapor color, condensation speed, timing of position changes, the reaction of each medicinal extract, or fluctuations in spiritual qi around the cauldron were written down.

The notebook on the table grew thicker with each passing day.

At the same time, the path ahead gradually became clearer.

Tieu Lan sat before a wide silk scroll, her long hair tied neatly behind her and the sleeves of her pale blue robe rolled up just enough to keep them away from the ink. Across the scroll were pill names, medicinal materials, planting cycles, projected demand, supply sources, and notes she had revised many times.

After the first supreme-grade pill had been used for verification, the fact that they had ever refined one became even more tightly guarded.

Outside, people only knew that Hoa Van’s medicine room could already refine Clearheart Pills and Qi-Recovery Pills, and that a few high-grade pills had begun to appear.

That alone was enough to make the patrol teams, hunting groups, and logistics workers pay close attention to the medicine area.

It was not yet enough, however, to make major powers immediately view Hoa Van as something worth fighting over.

Hao Nhien sat not far away.

Spread before him was a map of Hoa Van Town, now marked in red with the medicine garden, spirit fields, water stores, granary, livestock area, forge, windbreak walls, and the planned route connecting the settlement to the forward camp.

He was considering the location of a second windbreak when Tieu Lan approached with the silk scroll in hand.

“Young Master.”

Hao Nhien looked up.

“You’re finished?”

Tieu Lan nodded lightly, sat opposite him, and carefully spread the scroll across the table.

“I recalculated everything based on the medicinal materials we currently have, our present refining ability, and what Hoa Van actually needs.”

Hao Nhien set the map aside.

“Go ahead.”

Tieu Lan pointed to the first section.

“I divided the plan into two groups. The first includes things Hoa Van can begin producing relatively soon. The second contains long-term goals that will require proper pill formulas, materials, and better refining conditions later.”

Hao Nhien looked down.

“What’s in the first group?”

“Clearheart Pills and Qi-Recovery Pills are the first two.”

Tieu Lan said.

“Clearheart Pills can already be refined with reasonable stability. In the Western Wastes, people who travel for long periods beneath the sun, cultivators exposed to Fire energy, workers laboring in hot winds, or people whose minds become unstable could all have a use for them.”

Her finger moved to the next line.

“Qi-Recovery Pills are for Qi Condensation cultivators recovering true qi. Mid-grade pills can become regular supplies for patrol teams and hunters. High-grade pills should be managed according to cultivation level, degree of depletion, and meridian condition.”

“Supreme grade is not included in any production plan.”

At that point, Tieu Lan instinctively glanced toward the doorway and lowered her voice.

“Until we can reproduce it deliberately, no one outside should hear about the supreme-grade pill.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“Agreed.”

Tieu Lan continued.

“The third category does not have to be pills. Medicinal powders, hemostatic salves, burn treatments, mild antidotes, and external medicinal liquids are easier to produce, can be used by ordinary people, and are in constant demand.”

“More importantly, those tasks can be taught to others without revealing Wind-Fire Medicine Refining.”

Hao Nhien looked over the notes.

“Not everything needs to become a pill. If it works, saves people, and can be produced reliably, then it’s worth making.”

Tieu Lan smiled and pointed to the fourth line.

“Body-Strengthening Pill.”

Hao Nhien looked at her.

“You want to turn the medicinal liquid we used before into a pill?”

“Yes.”

Tieu Lan nodded.

“We’ve made the Body-Strengthening Medicinal Liquid many times already, so we’re familiar with its basic effects and reactions. If we can condense it into pill form, it will be easier to preserve, carry, and use while traveling.”

She continued,

“A low-grade Body-Strengthening Pill should still only be used by Qi Condensation cultivators or body cultivators. Its main purpose would be to replenish qi and blood, support the muscles and bones, and reduce exhaustion after prolonged labor or combat.”

“It should not directly increase cultivation.”

“Hunting teams, sandstone transport workers, wall builders, and Fire Qilin warriors could all use it.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“That one is worth testing.”

Tieu Lan moved to the second group.

“Pills for Foundation Establishment cultivators need much more caution.”

Her finger stopped at the first entry.

“The Mystic Yang Pill can be considered a spiritual-power recovery pill for Foundation Establishment cultivators, but its medicinal force is far stronger than the Qi-Recovery Pill.”

“The formula is also more complicated and usually requires demonic-beast cores as one of the main sources of medicinal force.”

Hao Nhien looked at the line.

That was one of the important differences between many Qi Condensation pills and Foundation Establishment pills.

Once cultivation reached a higher realm, ordinary spirit herbs alone often struggled to provide the necessary concentration and stability of energy.

Demonic-beast cores contained more condensed power, but also carried their own impurities and beast attributes, making the refinement process much more difficult.

Tieu Lan continued,

“The Body-Stabilizing Pill belongs in the same group. It focuses on nourishing the body, stabilizing qi and blood, and improving endurance. It would be very suitable for the Western Wastes.”

“But right now, we only know its general effects and some commonly used ingredients. If we want to refine it properly, we still need to find an authentic formula.”

Hao Nhien pointed toward the next line.

“Realm-Advancement Pill?”

“That is also a long-term goal.”

Tieu Lan replied.

“Any pill capable of helping Foundation Establishment cultivators cross a minor realm is extremely valuable. The more valuable the pill, the less we can afford to experiment from scattered notes.”

Hao Nhien agreed.

“The formula has to be reliable.”

“Otherwise, even a small error could damage someone’s foundation.”

Tieu Lan nodded lightly.

“That’s what I think too.”

Her finger finally stopped at the Foundation Establishment Pill.

This time, her voice slowed noticeably.

“And the Foundation Establishment Pill is still the most important goal.”

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Hao Nhien silently looked at the words.

He had once spent an enormous amount of mission points at Tieu Dao Sect just to exchange for a single Foundation Establishment Pill.

That alone was enough to show how much more valuable it was than the pills they were currently refining.

One pill could decide whether a Qi Condensation cultivator ever had a real chance to step into Foundation Establishment.

For a force like Hoa Van that wanted to build a lasting foundation, that value went far beyond simply selling pills for spirit stones.

Tieu Lan said,

“The difficulty of a Foundation Establishment Pill isn’t only the refining technique. The primary herbs are rare, suitable demonic-beast cores are difficult to obtain, and we don’t even have a complete formula yet.”

“So for now, it should only be placed on the list of things we need to search for.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“There’s no need to rush, but we have to find it.”

“If Hoa Van eventually wants its own people to reach Foundation Establishment, we can’t depend on outside sources forever.”

Tieu Lan answered softly,

“Yes.”

She moved on to the medicinal plants.

“The medicine garden can’t grow everything either.”

“We have limited land, water, and spiritual qi. For now, we should prioritize herbs with high demand, strong survivability, usefulness in multiple medicines, and reasonable harvest times.”

The first group included Fire Sand Grass, Clearheart Flower, Spirit Cloud Leaf, Yellow Qi Grass, and several short-cycle herbs used for wound treatments.

Tieu Lan explained,

“These aren’t only used in Clearheart Pills and Qi-Recovery Pills. They can also be used in burn treatments, qi-nourishing powders, hemostatic salves, and ordinary medicinal liquids.”

“Even if we change formulas later, they’re unlikely to become useless.”

Hao Nhien asked,

“How long until the first harvest?”

“If the soil, water, and formations remain stable, we may be able to begin harvesting part of the first crop in three to four months.”

Tieu Lan moved to the next group.

“Desert Ginseng, Sand Lingzhi, Sand Spirit Root, and Mystic Ginseng are more valuable, but they need time to accumulate medicinal force.”

“Some can provide young material after six to eight months, but if we want good quality, they’ll need at least one to several years.”

She looked at Hao Nhien.

“We can’t use formations to force them to grow too quickly. The plants may become larger, but that doesn’t mean the medicinal force inside has had enough time to accumulate.”

“So for now?”

“Only open a small test plot.”

Tieu Lan replied.

“We monitor the soil, water, climate, and the rate at which medicinal force accumulates. If the conditions are suitable, then we expand.”

Hao Nhien pointed to the line marked Ice Spirit Fruit.

“This one?”

“We should still buy it.”

Tieu Lan shook her head.

“Hoa Van’s climate is too hot. If we want to grow Ice Spirit Fruit, we would need a separate area, Cold-aligned formations, and a large amount of spirit stones.”

“It isn’t worth it right now.”

She continued,

“The same applies to the primary ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills, long-aged spirit herbs, and medicinal plants that require special environments.”

“If something is easier to buy than grow, we should buy it.”

Hao Nhien looked at her.

“You’ve planned this very practically.”

Tieu Lan lowered her head with a small smile.

“I just don’t want the medicine garden to consume all of our water and spirit stones the moment we open it.”

Hao Nhien laughed.

“That’s exactly what matters.”

Tieu Lan moved on to the supply section.

“For the first few months, we’ll still need outside sources. Tam Thành is the closest, followed by merchant caravans from the Eastern Plains and the tribes around the Western Wastes.”

“The tribes may not have many spirit stones, but they know where spirit herbs grow, where demonic beasts gather, and which roots or minerals can be used as medicine.”

“We can exchange medicines, pills, and supplies for raw materials.”

Hao Nhien looked over the table she had prepared.

The name of each medicinal material, its quality, freshness, remaining medicinal force, expected processing loss, and projected exchange value were all separated into clear columns.

He pointed to the last section.

“We shouldn’t have to negotiate every time over how many pills a single herb is worth.”

Tieu Lan looked up.

“Young Master wants to use another method?”

“For now, we can create a Hoa Van point ledger.”

Hao Nhien said.

“Materials brought in are inspected and assigned a point value. The person supplying them can keep those points and later exchange them for medicine, food, or whatever supplies Hoa Van allows.”

He added,

“At the beginning, it should only function as an internal credit ledger for exchanging supplies. It shouldn’t circulate like spirit stones.”

Tieu Lan thought for a moment and immediately added the idea to her notes.

“That will be easier to manage.”

“And we won’t need to bring out large amounts of supplies for every single exchange.”

“Exactly.”

Hao Nhien said.

“But the valuation standards need to be clear.”

“We can’t let familiarity decide whether someone’s materials are suddenly worth more or less.”

Tieu Lan nodded.

“I’ll handle medicinal inspection at first. Later, I can train several people to sort and preserve materials.”

“Have you already chosen anyone?”

“Three people.”

Tieu Lan replied.

“One young female cultivator who used to travel with herb-gathering teams, an elderly man from a nomadic tribe who knows several antidotal roots, and a young member of the Fire Qilin Tribe who is very careful with his work.”

“For now, I’ll only teach them identification, preservation, and basic processing.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“Don’t rush to teach too much.”

“Yes.”

Tieu Lan continued,

“Wind-Fire Medicine Refining can also help us make better use of some lower-grade materials.”

“With common herbs, if the necessary medicinal properties are still present, several portions of lower-grade material can sometimes be refined and concentrated into an amount of essence close to one portion of mid-grade material.”

“But that won’t work for everything.”

She pointed to several marked lines.

“Some materials depend heavily on age, spiritual nature, or unique internal components. Quantity can’t replace quality in those cases.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“That needs to be written very clearly.”

“Otherwise, someone will eventually think they can solve everything by piling up cheap herbs.”

“I’ve already written it.”

Tieu Lan moved to the final section of the plan.

“Once the eastern water-gathering area is stable, we can open a test cultivation plot.”

She looked at Hao Nhien.

“The drip-irrigation method Young Master mentioned before is very suitable here. Instead of letting water spread across the sand, delivering only the needed amount directly to each bed should reduce waste significantly.”

Hao Nhien studied the map and circled an area between the water reservoir and the planned windbreak wall.

“We’ll use this place first.”

“It doesn’t need to be large.”

“It’s close to water, easy to protect, and convenient to observe.”

Tieu Lan studied it for a moment, then nodded.

“The northern section can grow Fire Sand Grass and Yellow Qi Grass. The south can be used for Clearheart Flower, while Spirit Cloud Leaf will need shade structures.”

“If there’s enough room, we can test Desert Ginseng and Sand Spirit Root in the center.”

Hao Nhien asked,

“How much of our ordinary medicinal demand could we supply after four months?”

Tieu Lan thought for quite some time before answering,

“If everything goes well, perhaps around thirty percent.”

“Only thirty percent?”

“The first crop may fail.”

Tieu Lan replied.

“The soil, water, and climate still aren’t fully stable, and the long-aged herbs can’t be harvested early.”

“I’d rather estimate low.”

Hao Nhien looked at her and smiled.

“Very good.”

Tieu Lan sat opposite him with both hands resting on her knees. Although she was trying to remain calm, the anticipation in her eyes was obvious.

This was not merely a report.

It was a path she had chosen for herself in Hoa Van.

Hao Nhien read through the scroll once more, then set it down.

“Very good.”

“Ambitious enough to grow, but not greedy.”

Tieu Lan’s eyes immediately brightened.

Hao Nhien continued,

“The outdoor medicine garden can follow this plan. But some medicinal plants don’t need to wait until we grow them here.”

Tieu Lan tilted her head slightly.

Hao Nhien tapped a finger lightly against the table.

“I want to make use of the cultivation area inside the Cosmic Ark.”

Tieu Lan’s expression changed immediately.

Back when they were still in Thanh Van Town, the two of them had already used part of the space inside the Cosmic Ark to grow medicinal plants.

There was no desert wind or sand inside, the spiritual qi was stable and denser than outside, and Tieu Lan regularly used Wood spiritual power to support their vitality. The number of plants was not large, but most had better vitality and quality than the same species grown outside.

Tieu Lan had always treated those plants as important seed stock, harvesting only leaves, seeds, or small portions of root when absolutely necessary.

Hao Nhien looked at the list on the table.

“When we return to Thanh Van City this time, we won’t only buy medicinal materials.”

“I also want to find the best seedlings we can.”

“If a species is suitable, we can place it directly inside the Cosmic Ark instead of waiting for the outdoor medicine garden to be completed.”

Tieu Lan asked,

“Young Master wants to expand the cultivation area inside?”

“Yes.”

Hao Nhien replied.

“But before we leave, help me choose some of the medicinal plants we already have in there.”

“Don’t touch the best seed stock.”

“Choose the ones that are close to harvest, with strong medicinal force and stable quality.”

Tieu Lan paused slightly.

“Young Master wants to use them for the next trial?”

“Mm.”

Hao Nhien looked toward the records from the first supreme-grade batch.

“In the later refinements, we used ordinary medicinal materials, and the quality still varied from batch to batch.”

“If we want to understand the true limit of Wind-Fire Medicine Refining and our current condensation method, we first need to reduce the ingredient variable.”

He looked up.

“I want to use the best group of materials whose condition we can actually control, then try again.”

“Supreme grade?”

Tieu Lan asked.

“I want to see how close we can get.”

Hao Nhien replied.

“If we still can’t reproduce it, then at least we’ll be able to eliminate one possibility.”

Tieu Lan understood.

“I’ll choose plants that are close to maturity and prioritize portions we can harvest without damaging the seed stock.”

“Will that affect the cultivation area?”

“Not if we only take part of the plant.”

Tieu Lan replied.

“I can use Wood spiritual power to help stabilize them afterward.”

Hao Nhien nodded.

“Then I’ll leave that to you.”

Tieu Lan quickly rolled up the silk scroll and opened the separate notebook recording the condition of the plants inside the Cosmic Ark.

Those medicinal plants would never be enough for long-term production, but there was no better source for important experiments.

Their origin was clear, their vitality stable, they had not been harvested too early, and they had not gone through preservation methods that might have weakened their medicinal force.

If the supreme-grade phenomenon still could not be reproduced even with those materials, Hao Nhien would have more reason to shift his attention toward other variables.

He looked down at the list of things they were still missing.

Ice Spirit Fruit.

Aged Mystic Ginseng.

High-grade Sand Lingzhi.

Suitable first- and second-rank demonic-beast cores for future Foundation Establishment pill formulas.

A more stable alchemy cauldron.

Spirit metals with clear reactions to heat.

More precise measuring tools.

Proper formulas for the Mystic Yang Pill, Body-Stabilizing Pill, Realm-Advancement Pill, and, most importantly, the Foundation Establishment Pill.

According to his original plan, Hao Nhien had intended to remain in Hoa Van for several more days, continue experimenting, and further develop the test cultivation area.

But when his eyes left the list, they stopped on the eastern side of the map.

Today was already the sixth day since Quan Nha had left Tam Thành.

The three-to-five-day period she had given Lanh Huyen had already passed.

There had been no transmission.

No letter.

No one from the Quan family had come to Tam Thành with news.

That was not enough to prove that she was in danger.

Her family matters may simply have taken longer than expected, or something may have kept her there without making it convenient to send word.

But Hao Nhien no longer wanted to rely on guesses.

The Quan family was in Thanh Van City.

If he was already going back to the Eastern Plains to search for pill formulas, medicinal materials, and tools, then the first thing he wanted to do was confirm with his own eyes that Quan Nha was safe.

Tieu Lan noticed that his gaze had remained on the map for too long.

“Young Master is thinking about Sister Quan Nha?”

“Mm.”

Hao Nhien replied.

“I originally planned to stay here for a few more days, but the time she gave us has already passed.”

Tieu Lan looked slightly worried.

“Does Young Master think something happened to the Quan family?”

“I don’t know.”

Hao Nhien shook his head.

“There’s no sign that she’s in danger, so I don’t want to assume the worst.”

“But it’s already the sixth day and there’s still no news. I want to go see for myself.”

Tieu Lan nodded lightly.

“Then we should move the trip back to Thanh Van City forward.”

“We leave Hoa Van tomorrow.”

Hao Nhien said.

“First the Quan family, then the matters at Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, and after that we return to Tieu Dao Sect.”

Tieu Lan stood.

“I’ll prepare.”

She selected some mid-grade Clearheart Pills and Qi-Recovery Pills to bring with them, along with two high-grade pills as samples. All of them were sealed to contain their medicinal aura, and none were marked with the identity of the alchemist.

The important research records remained separately stored. They would only carry the portions they truly needed.

Hao Nhien also called Luu Thanh and the people responsible for the main areas of Hoa Van to the central tent so he could hand over the work.

The moment Luu Thanh entered, he asked,

“Clan Head is leaving Hoa Van?”

“I’m returning to Thanh Van City for a while.”

Hao Nhien spread the map across the table.

“While I’m gone, you’ll coordinate the overall work, but the people already responsible for each area should continue handling their own tasks.”

He pointed toward the construction zone.

“Prioritize the granary, the windbreak wall, and the water route to the test cultivation area.”

Then he looked toward the person responsible for patrols.

“Keep security as it is now. New arrivals must have their backgrounds checked. The water stores, granary, and medicine area remain restricted zones.”

Finally, Hao Nhien looked at the young female cultivator Tieu Lan had chosen as an apprentice.

“The medicine room will not refine pills while we’re away. You may only sort, preserve, and process medicinal materials, and prepare the powders Tieu Lan has already listed.”

The young woman nodded seriously.

“Understood.”

Luu Thanh asked,

“What if something major happens?”

“Report to Tam Thành immediately.”

Hao Nhien replied.

“The recipients are City Lord Lieu Thien Van or Deputy City Lord Lanh Huyen. Important messages must not be entrusted to strangers, and you should not rely on only one communication route.”

Luu Thanh cupped his hands.

“Clan Head can be at ease.”

Hao Nhien looked around at everyone.

“Hoa Van needs more people, but recruitment cannot be rushed. We’re building too many things at once. If people with unclear backgrounds gain access to critical areas, the damage could outweigh the benefit.”

“It’s better to move a little slower than spend time correcting a mistake later.”

Luu Thanh nodded.

“Understood.”

Hao Nhien said nothing more.

He trusted that Luu Thanh was capable of keeping Hoa Van running for several days.

The next morning, just as the sun rose beyond the eastern dunes, Hao Nhien and Tieu Lan stood outside the settlement.

Behind them, Hoa Van Town was still far from complete.

The earthen walls had not yet closed around the site, rows of wooden stakes had only recently been raised, the water reservoir was still small, and the medicine garden existed only as the first marked furrows in the ground.

But compared with the first time Hao Nhien had come here, the place was already different.

There were people living here.

There was water.

A granary was being built.

The first medicines and pills had already been produced.

More importantly, some of the people here had begun to think about staying for the long term.

Tieu Lan turned and looked back at Hoa Van for a while before stepping onto Tieu Dao Sword.

Hao Nhien stood in front.

The sword light slowly lifted them from the ground.

The desert wind passed around them, but this time it no longer carried the same sense of emptiness.

To the east lay Thanh Van City, home to the Quan family and Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

Farther beyond was Tieu Dao Sect, where Hao Nhien still needed to search for authentic pill formulas, a better alchemy cauldron, suitable tools, and many things Hoa Van could not yet produce for itself.

First, he wanted to know that Quan Nha was safe.

After that would come everything else.

The sword light accelerated, carrying the two of them eastward.

Hoa Van Town slowly receded behind them as their return journey to the Eastern Plains began earlier than planned.