Qin Zhou had long been confident about the outcome of the Immortal Pill Gathering. When it came to refining higher-quality pills of the same tier, no one understood the process better than him.

He hadn’t originally intended to drive the Zhang family out of Ping City. But if they didn’t provoke him, he wouldn’t provoke them. Since the Zhang family had issued the challenge, he had no choice but to accept it.

Having lost the pill today, those immortal sect disciples probably wouldn’t let it rest.

Though hesitant, Qin Zhou was a decisive man.

Thus, he skipped the Immortal Pill Gathering, instead holing up alone in the small mountain village to channel qi into his body.

Before nightfall, Qin Zhou had successfully transformed from a ‘mortal’ to a ‘Qi Condensation Stage 1’ cultivator.

If there was one difference between Qin Zhou’s cultivation and others’, it was his ability to directly visualize all information as data.

The experience bar for advancing to Qi Condensation Stage 2 had a few more bars to go, requiring him to consume several more Spiritual Pills.

Once his experience was maxed out, he would need to take a Stage 2 Spiritual Pill to break through.

It was hardcore, but the process was simple.

Fortunately, consuming these pills felt like snacking on energy-boosting chocolate beans, not enduring the torturous agony of a Marrow Cleansing Pill that leaves one feeling even worse.

Qin Zhou rose to his feet, stretching his legs after sitting too long.

If there was one difference between a Qi Condensation Stage 1 practitioner and an ordinary mortal, it was the remarkable lightness in his body.

Of course, there was another change.

Silently, the previously locked backpack button on his interface vanished. In its place, a silk pouch embroidered with a purple-gold Cosmos Bag landed precisely before him.

Qin Zhou gathered a speck of spiritual energy at his fingertip, pricking his skin. The blood seeped onto the pouch, instantly loosening its knots.

Within the Cosmos Bag lay a universe.

Inside were all of Qin Zhou’s possessions from eight years of gaming. Well, not quite all—before quitting the game, he’d stored every top-tier item and material in the warehouse, leaving little in his backpack.

After rummaging through the Cosmos Bag, Qin Zhou found nothing that could enhance his current abilities.

His level was still far too low.

Instead, he discovered a strange yet familiar booklet within the bag. Shaped like a modern flip-book photo album, it bore only a few large characters:

Catalogue of Characters in the Small Village of Zhutian.

Page One—

Villager: Lu Yi

Below was a large portrait illustration.

A 2D character art portrait.

The Lu Yi depicted in the roster appeared somewhere between youth and adolescence. He wore the black-and-white robes of the Sword Sect, symbolizing the yin-yang duality of the Dao. Sword in hand, he radiated youthful vigor. His long hair was bound in a crown adorned with a Bright Moon Reflecting Snow ornament, gleaming like snow under moonlight.

His features were nothing short of extraordinary.

His appearance would stand out even across the entire cultivation world. Naturally blessed with striking good looks, his almond-shaped eyes held a hint of mischief, and his brow radiated youthful vigor.

Seeing this face made Qin Zhou’s liver ache.

Frankly, the introduction of the Face Washing Pill was one of the game’s tactics to attract more players. Who wouldn’t love a character they nurtured to be breathtakingly beautiful?

Logically, male players wouldn’t have much demand for this. But Qin Zhou was different. Firstly, he preferred handsome men. Secondly, he was also a pill master.

So, when the Face Washing Pill formula first appeared, Qin Zhou went out to gather the ingredients.

Finally, after grinding for three whole months and referencing countless facial comparison images, he sculpted Lu Yi’s face into his most ideal form.

Tall with long legs, a lean physique, thin lips, and almond-shaped eyes. Calling him androgynous might be an overstatement—at the very least, he was undeniably beautiful without a hint of effeminacy, instead radiating a touch of mischief.

Seductive yet not overly flirtatious—exactly the kind of face Qin Zhou would adore.

Unfortunately, the 2D character art couldn’t fully capture it.

He recalled receiving a letter from Lu Yi before quitting the game.

Due to his exceptional talent, the sect elders had made an exception and accepted him as a disciple of the Cangyun Sword Sect.

At the time, the Cangyun Sword Sect was the strongest sect in the entire game.

So the robe depicted in the character art was likely that of the Cangyun Sword Sect, and the image captured Lu Yi as he was before he quit the game. Even after the save file had been preserved for ten thousand years, when he looked back, he still saw Lu Yi as he had been back then.

It was truly nostalgic.

Of course, Qin Zhou was one to spread his blessings evenly.

From villager level one to one hundred, he’d given each one at least one or two Face Washing Pills—

But manually adjusting each face was too tedious, so he simply let them develop freely.

After all, characters with good cultivation talent wouldn’t end up looking too bad once their cultivation levels rose.

Though, of course, none could compare to Lu Yi.

Qin Zhou, fair to all, yet partial.

His gaze drifted downward to a small summoning button beneath the character portrait.

Much like in the game, opening the roster allowed summoning characters to one’s side. They could then be dispatched, assigned tasks, and more.

Lu Yi’s summoning button, however, was grayed out.

Qin Zhou hadn’t expected the roster to function as it did in the game, but seeing the words ‘This character cannot be summoned’ inscribed upon it, he fell silent.

Ten thousand years—no wonder he’d vanished.

Out of nowhere, Qin Zhou thought of Wen Jue.

If Wen Jue were Lu Yi’s descendant, perhaps they’d share some resemblance.

Too bad all he’d seen so far was a blurred mosaic.

Ten thousand years had passed since the last save. With Lu Yi dead, Qin Zhou felt no urge to flip through the roster again.

He rose and headed toward the alchemy chamber.

His backpack unlocked, and naturally, the alchemy furnace inside unlocked too. With a single infusion of spiritual energy, this top-tier furnace would once again serve him.

Though his cultivation would have to restart from Qi Condensation, alchemy seemed exempt.

Indeed, experience and memory were etched into the soul.

The urgent task now was to strengthen himself swiftly.

Second-tier Spiritual Pill… how were they refined again?

Qin Zhou plunged headfirst into the alchemy chamber, completely oblivious to the numerous new achievements and unattainable titles that had appeared on his own interface.

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Meanwhile, the Zhang household descended into utter chaos.

Zhang Hesheng, overcome by rage, lay unconscious on his bed. Zhang Heming fared no better. He had expected today to be his chance to crush the Qin family and make Qin Zhou suffer, only to find himself the one defeated. Not only was his face lost, but the Zhang family could no longer remain in Ping City.

As for those cultivators, Zhang Heming still had to cater to them.

He needed these cultivators to enter an immortal sect.

His father had said that embarking on the Immortal Path was the only way to rise above others. But today’s Immortal Pill Gathering had embarrassed those cultivators, too, and Zhang Heming had no idea how to appease them now.

Just as Zhang Heming was brooding in despair, the green-robed cultivators unexpectedly came knocking on his door.

“I ask you, who forged the pill for the Qin family?” It was Jin Ming who arrived. “That person absolutely could not be from the Yaoyue Sect. The Yaoyue Sect doesn’t have someone that skilled.”

Even though it was merely an initial-stage Spiritual Pill, refining it to the quality of a precious treasure demanded a master-level alchemist.

“This… Honorable Immortal, we truly have no knowledge of it. Had we known, we would have prepared earlier, and today’s events…” Zhang Heming answered truthfully, though his mind was already plotting.

Rather than letting these cultivators pin today’s humiliation on him, it was better to divert their attention toward the Qin family.

“Judging by today’s events, the Qin family must have gained a powerful patron. I simply cannot fathom why that patron would aid the Qin family against us… and cause such embarrassment to several of you esteemed Immortal Lords.”

First, they were forced to swear an oath, then they lost the pill competition. If not for deliberate interference by that noble patron from the immortal sect, the Zhang family wouldn’t have failed to win a single pill today.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, the expression of the green-robed cultivator before him shifted.

“Though I don’t know who the Qin family’s noble patron is, I suspect this patron must be connected to the Qin family’s young master.” Seeing Jin Ming didn’t interrupt, Zhang Heming continued, “The Qin family’s young master has been frequenting a dilapidated village in the southwest mountains outside Ping City lately. That place is clearly a godforsaken backwater, yet the young master goes there every other day. I sent a servant to follow him, but he ended up getting lost in a ghostly maze…”

Zhang Heming didn’t believe the Qin family truly possessed an esteemed alchemist. His father had investigated earlier—the Qin family’s alchemist came from the Yaoyue Sect, and that alchemist only visited Ping City once every six months. The time hadn’t even come yet.

Believe the Qins had some noble patron? He’d rather believe that Qin Zhou’s dilapidated village held some strange secret. Winning today must have involved some dark magic! Better to send this cultivator to scout the place out!

“I imagine if there were a noble patron, they’d certainly be there. Whether that patron has any grievances with the Immortal Lords, however, I cannot say.”

Zhang Heming replied with a submissive tone.

“Regardless of any grudges, I must see who he is.” Jin Ming couldn’t tell if Zhang Heming intended to use him as a pawn. That was unlikely. Jin Ming was arrogant, but not foolish. He understood such petty tricks of mortals.

Still, losing the pill gathering left him unsatisfied.

If that pill was truly forged by that influential figure, he would witness its creation with his own eyes.

“Find someone who knows the way and lead us there.” Jin Ming flung his sleeves and stormed off.

Zhang Heming hurriedly offered, “I will personally guide you.”

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

“Junior Brother, we came to protect you behind Senior Brother’s back. Don’t forget the Spiritual Pill we agreed on!”

“Rest assured.”

Though Jin Ming possessed remarkable talent in alchemy, his cultivation lagged significantly behind his senior brothers. Thus, he had promised them benefits to secure their agreement to serve as his bodyguards.

Jin Ming followed Zhang Heming and the servant, accompanied by two green-robed cultivators. Soon, they reached the village entrance.

Meanwhile, Qin Zhou remained in the village refining pills.

“Young Master, honored guests, this is the place.” The servant spoke of the village with an air of mystery. “It was near here that we encountered the ghostly maze earlier. You must be cautious, honored guests.”

“Let me take a look.” One of the senior disciples behind Jin Ming stepped forward first.

Rather than leaping directly into the barrier, he paused at the courtyard entrance. After careful observation, he concluded, “There are faint traces of spiritual energy left behind. Someone has cast a spell here.” 

“Can it be broken?” Jin Ming asked.

“Ning He, you specialize in the Thousand Machinations technique. Take a look?”

The junior disciple named Ning He frowned. “Senior Brother, breaking down the door isn’t quite right. “

In the cultivation world, recklessly breaking someone else’s barrier could easily make enemies.

”I can use my spiritual energy to penetrate the barrier and send a message to its owner.“

”What do you think, Jin Ming?“

”Mhm.” Jin Ming nodded. If the person in the alchemy room was truly a master alchemist, it wouldn’t hurt to be humble and polite.

Ning He raised his hand, tracing a circle as softened spiritual energy struck the barrier. The moment it touched the barrier, it vanished like water merging into the sea.

At that instant, Ning He stood frozen, his pupils tightening slightly in shock—

because the spiritual energy he had just sent out had revealed the barrier. Though only for a split second, he had seen it clearly.

Intricate strands of spiritual energy intertwined to form the barrier, originating from beneath their feet and enveloping the entire village and mountain peak. As dense as a spider’s web, not even a mosquito could slip through.

His master had told him that the finer the barrier, the greater the test of a cultivator’s control over their spiritual energy. Specializing in the Thousand Machinery Arts, he had seen spider-web-like barriers before—those woven by his great-grandmaster, barely the size of a palm.

Yet the one before him now encompassed the entire mountain peak.

What immense, meticulous spiritual energy must be required to weave such a terrifying net?

Ning He took a step back, a wave of dread washing over him.

Thankfully…

Thankfully, he hadn’t chosen to force his way in with spiritual energy. Otherwise, the moment their energy struck the barrier, all of them would likely have met their end.

After the initial shock, Ning He suddenly remembered something.

This wasn’t a place they could just visit.

At least, with their current cultivation and strength, they were unworthy of meeting the person within this courtyard.

Just as Ning He was about to speak up and warnhis senior and junior brothers, a voice already rang out.

“At least you know to knock first. I’ll give you credit for having some manners. But alas, I remain displeased. This place does not welcome outsiders.”

Wen Jue’s voice arrived as expected.

All eyes lifted simultaneously.

The white-robed youth stood like a deity, his face indistinct yet radiating an aura that instilled fear.