Chapter 30: All in One Battle

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: All in One Battle

"Alchemy Ghost?"

Li Lie was taken aback. He shook his head. "What is that? An Alchemy Master who became a ghost after death?"

"You could put it that way."

Gu Bei nodded, a flicker of an inscrutable light in his eyes. "Those three dead Alchemy Masters? We fed them to the Alchemy Ghost. We want to control it completely, to make it tirelessly refine Elixirs for us—even Netherworld Pills.

"However, we ran into a small problem. The Alchemy Ghost isn’t fully tamed yet, so it needs an Alchemy Master with Cultivation to serve as a blood sacrifice to complete the final step of control."

Gu Bei paused, watching the subtle change in Li Lie’s expression, and continued, "When the time comes, we’ll need to capture Chen Yue alive. We’ll skin him and flay him, then prepare him with a Secret Technique to incite the maximum amount of his resentment and obsession with the Alchemy Dao. Only then can we succeed."

After hearing this, Li Lie’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably, and a chill inexplicably shot up his spine.

’Refining a ghost? And controlling it?’

Dealing with ghosts had always been perilous. The slightest mistake could result in a backlash that would destroy you.

"You people have some nerve, targeting a ghost and trying to control it for your own use!"

But Gu Bei just laughed, his smile tinged with fanaticism and paranoia. "In this world, the bold are stuffed to death while the timid starve. It’s just like you, Li. If you weren’t bold, how would you have broken through to the Bone Forging Realm?

"Gaining greater power has always required paying a price and taking risks. Whether you’re fighting against heaven, against men, or against ghosts... it’s all the same."

Li Lie fell silent. He thought for a moment before speaking slowly, "What’s your plan? Making a move inside the city is too risky. The Chen Family is keeping a close watch on the shop these days."

Gu Bei said, "Is there a way to lure Chen Yue out of the city? As long as he’s outside the walls, everything will be easy."

Li Lie shook his head. "Difficult. Right now, Lin Quan and Chen Yue are the only two Pill Masters left at Huichun Hall. The task of refining Blood Circulation Pills has fallen almost entirely on Chen Yue. The shop will never let him leave the city easily."

Gu Bei mulled it over. "I heard that Chen Yue is on good terms with an apprentice named Liu Jing. If we were to kill Liu Jing, or arrange some sort of ’accident,’ do you think Chen Yue would leave the city to investigate, or to retrieve the body?"

Li Lie thought for a moment and shook his head again. "That plan won’t work. Chen Yue has a cautious personality, even a bit paranoid. If something suddenly happened to Liu Jing right now, not only would he not rush out of the city, he’d become even more vigilant."

Gu Bei nodded, seemingly agreeing with Li Lie’s assessment. "We can’t delay things with the Alchemy Ghost. It’s extremely unstable right now and could lash out at any moment. We have to complete the final step before the next full moon.

"It seems our only option is to kidnap Chen Yue directly from the shop. It’s just that doing so will inevitably cause a bigger commotion."

Li Lie sneered, "A bigger commotion? That’s an understatement."

"A direct assault is out of the question, of course."

Gu Bei looked at Li Lie and changed the subject. "That’s why we need your cooperation, Li. Can you find a suitable excuse to leave the shop for a while? It doesn’t have to be for long, just one or two hours."

"Leave for one or two hours?"

Li Lie’s eyes flickered as if he were weighing the options. "I could use the excuse of going to the Chen Family’s main estate to report on some matters, but..."

He looked up, staring intently at Gu Bei. "Last time, you lost three Skin Refining Realm experts at Chen Yue’s hands. If you send ordinary subordinates, I’m afraid you’ll just lose more men."

Hearing this, Gu Bei nodded slowly. "I had originally wanted a Bone Forging Realm expert to handle it personally, but they are all occupied with important matters and can’t get away. So, to be safe, I plan to send two skilled experts at the Refining Flesh Realm. Even if Chen Yue is a bit strange, I doubt there will be any surprises."

"Two at the Refining Flesh Realm?"

Li Lie shook his head, his tone laced with a ruthless edge. "Gu Bei, if we’re going to do this, we need to ensure it’s a decisive blow! If the Bone Forging Realm experts are unavailable, then just send three from the Refining Flesh Realm! No matter what heaven-defying abilities he has, he’ll have no chance of survival!"

Gu Bei’s brow twitched. Li Lie had a point; there was indeed something strange about Chen Yue. This operation was about gaining final control over the Alchemy Ghost. There could be no mistakes.

Gu Bei nodded slowly. "What you say makes sense, Li. Three skilled experts from the Refining Flesh Realm it is. So, when can you arrange to be away from the shop for one or two hours?"

Li Lie thought for a moment. "The day after tomorrow, after noon. I’m scheduled to go to the Chen Family’s main estate then. The time it takes for the round trip plus reporting will be more than enough for you to make your move."

"The day after tomorrow, after noon..."

Gu Bei quickly ran through the scenario in his mind and nodded. "That’s enough time. Alright, it’s settled for the day after tomorrow. I’ll be counting on you, Li."

Li Lie said no more. He gave Gu Bei a slight nod, then rose and vaulted silently over the wall, just as he had arrived. He melted into the deep night and returned to Huichun Hall.

...

In the Alchemy Courtyard of Huichun Hall, the night was deep, and the furnace fire in the Alchemy Room flickered alone.

Chen Yue had already returned. He didn’t rest immediately, but instead began to carefully study the Tianya Travel Secret Manual by the light of the lamp in his room.

The Secret Manual began with a general outline, followed by detailed records of a unique breathing Technique to complement the Body Technique, skills for using the terrain during long-distance travel, and several specific combinations of footwork for travel or escape.

Chen Yue read very slowly, mentally comparing and deconstructing every key point of Tianya Travel against the Wind Chasing Technique he had already brought to Perfection.

’If I can take the essence of its long-lasting stamina and combine it with the explosive speed of the Wind Chasing Technique...’ Chen Yue’s eyes glinted as he mentally simulated the possibilities of a fusion.

An hour later, Chen Yue carefully put away the Secret Manual and took out the Antitoxic Pill’s Pill Formula, which he had just purchased for two taels of silver.

As the hour slid toward midnight, the familiar ripples appeared right on schedule.

[Daily Settlement]

[You diligently attempted to fuse Body Techniques. Fusion successful. You have obtained the new Body Technique: Floating Light and Shadow Technique.]

[You diligently studied the Antitoxic Pill Formula. Antitoxic Pill experience +1.]

...

[Skill: Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield (Entry Level 1585/2965)]

[Skill: Floating Light and Shadow Technique (Great Success 12/2533)]

[Skill: Antitoxic Pill (Entry Level 1/600)]

...

A massive influx of insights flooded Chen Yue’s mind, and he absorbed them one by one.

The Floating Light and Shadow Technique!

"Floating Light" meant instantaneous, as fast as a flash of light. "Shadow" meant unpredictable and continuous.

This was a truly versatile Body Technique that balanced short-range combat evasion with long-distance travel and escape.

Because this new Body Technique was created by fusing a Perfection Realm Wind Chasing Technique, it reached the Great Success Realm right from its inception.

As for why the experience requirement was a specific 2533 instead of a round number, it was the result of Chen Yue’s continuous consumption of Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills, which steadily improved his innate talent. Even newly cultivated Cultivation Techniques benefited from this enhanced aptitude right from the start!

With a flicker, Chen Yue’s figure appeared in the courtyard. Without deliberately channeling his energy, but with just a slight thought, his body seemed to transform into a wisp of invisible smoke, drifting unpredictably around the small courtyard.