Chapter 7: Radiant Snow-Clear Ointment
After returning to the residence, Qin Xingchen entered his room and sat cross-legged. He then took out all the spirit stones from the Ma Wen Spatial Ring and laid them on the floor. With a focused mind, he controlled the Chaos Divine Cauldron to begin absorbing the stones...
Before long—
Boom!
A mighty surge of spiritual power erupted within his body.
Tenfold Refinement of the Physical Body!
Feeling the overwhelming energy coursing through him, Qin Xingchen exclaimed with joy, “Finally, I’ve broken through to the tenth level of Physical Refinement! With my current physical strength, I can contend with fighters at the third level of the Blood Condensation Realm. And if I employ other methods, I’ll only become stronger!”
The next day, a dignified figure suddenly appeared at Yunyin Peak.
It was Yu Xiong.
“Greetings, foster father!”
“Greetings, sect leader!”
In the courtyard of Yunyin Peak, Yu Yumeng and Qin Xingchen bowed respectfully to Yu Xiong.
“Hm.”
Yu Xiong sat on a wooden chair, sipping the coarse tea freshly brewed by Yu Yumeng.
He glanced at both Qin Xingchen and Yu Yumeng before sighing softly, “Xingchen, Yumeng, I’m sorry for the hardships you’ve endured...”
Qin Xingchen was taken aback. “Sect leader, why do you say that?”
Yu Xiong replied, “Xingchen, I know that on that day in the main hall you agreed to let Yumeng marry on behalf of Shanshan because you didn’t want to put me in a difficult position. But even so, I failed to fulfill my promise to you, my foster son, to see Shanshan wed to you. Because of my failure, Yumeng became a sacrifice as a substitute bride. So no matter how you see it, this is my fault. I owe you both an apology...”
Hearing this, Qin Xingchen felt that Yu Xiong was a decent man, at least one who felt guilt and admitted his mistakes.
Yet Qin Xingchen said, “Sect leader, there’s no need to blame yourself; you are worrying unnecessarily. Yumeng and I truly care for each other, so we don’t feel wronged. Instead, we’re grateful for your blessing.”
As he spoke, he took Yu Yumeng’s hand, their fingers entwining tightly, and smiled warmly. “Isn’t that right, Yumeng?”
Yu Yumeng’s delicate frame trembled slightly.
At that moment, she saw nothing but sincerity in Qin Xingchen’s eyes—no disdain or pretense.
Thus, she nodded confidently toward Yu Xiong.
Yu Xiong was momentarily stunned.
He hadn’t expected Qin Xingchen to genuinely care for his unattractive foster daughter.
This realization eased the burden of guilt in his heart somewhat.
“Very well, it seems you truly like each other. I was indeed overthinking.”
He then shifted the conversation, “By the way, I came to tell you that the patriarch has emerged from his seclusion today. The day after tomorrow is his birthday, and he will hold a grand birthday banquet. Yumeng, since you’re like a half-daughter to me, both you and Xingchen must attend to pay your respects.”
The patriarch of the Moon-Viewing Sect was none other than the previous sect leader, Yu Tianba—Yu Xiong’s father.
It was well known that ten years ago, Yu Tianba had reached the peak of the Mortal Martial Realm.
To break through to the Earth Martial Realm, he chose to enter seclusion and passed the sect leader’s position to his son, Yu Xiong.
That seclusion lasted a full decade.
Yu Xiong continued, “Also, the patriarch especially enjoys young people giving him gifts at his birthday banquets. So, you two should prepare some small tokens to please the old man.”
Yu Yumeng paused and asked, “Foster father, do you know what kind of gifts the patriarch likes? If we know, we can prepare in advance.”
Yu Xiong shook his head slightly, “No need to prepare anything expensive, just a simple token of sincerity. The old man holds these banquets for the joy of it and won’t mind what gifts you bring. Besides, his time is limited, so no matter how fine the gifts, he may not have any use for them.”
Yu Yumeng looked puzzled. “What happened to the patriarch?”
Qin Xingchen’s expression was also curious.
Yu Xiong pondered for a moment and then sighed, “During his ten years of seclusion, the patriarch suffered multiple setbacks due to internal energy disorder. His body was severely damaged. As a result, he not only failed to break through but also suffered a great decline in his cultivation. This birthday banquet is likely to be his last.”
“How could this happen?”
Yu Yumeng gasped, covering her mouth.
Qin Xingchen remained calm.
“Alright, just remember what I said and do as I advised. I’ll be leaving now,” Yu Xiong said, rising and departing from Yunyin Peak.
After Yu Xiong left, Yu Yumeng turned to Qin Xingchen. “Xingchen, what do you think we should give the patriarch as a gift?”
Qin Xingchen smiled faintly. “The sect leader just said it—just a token of sincerity. So really, anything will do as long as it carries your heartfelt intention.”
“Oh, okay.” Yu Yumeng didn’t dwell further on the matter.
Then Qin Xingchen added, “Yumeng, I’m going out for a while.”
Yu Yumeng was startled. “Where are you going?”
“To find a cure for your facial scars.”
“Really... can it be healed?”
Yu Yumeng was half in doubt.
Qin Xingchen was confident. “Don’t worry. A master who helped me restore my cultivation before taught me some methods. With these, I guarantee that within a month, I can heal your face. Trust me.”
Yu Yumeng felt warmth in her heart. “Xingchen, why are you so good to me?”
Qin Xingchen smiled gently. “Yumeng, I’ve told you before. A year ago, when I was lost and desperate, you were like a ray of hope, lighting my way out of the darkness of despair. You saved me, so I’m willing to do anything for you.”
Moved, tears welled in Yu Yumeng’s eyes.
Seeing this, Qin Xingchen embraced her gently to comfort her. “Don’t cry. Stay well here at Yunyin Peak and wait for my return.”
“Alright, be careful.”
“I will.”
With that, Qin Xingchen turned and left Yunyin Peak.
...
Long ago, Qin Xingchen had learned that Yu Yumeng’s facial scars were caused by burns suffered in her childhood.
To heal such scars, he needed to concoct an ointment called “Radiant Snow Renewal Salve.”
This ointment had been invented by him in a previous life.
In that past existence, one of the Upper Realm’s Ten Great Saints, the Crimson Lotus Saint, had also been disfigured.
The Crimson Lotus Saint had requested Qin Xingchen to create a remedy to restore her original beauty.
After agreeing, he spent half a month inventing this ointment, naming it “Radiant Snow Renewal Salve.”
After using it, the Crimson Lotus Saint regained a flawless new visage.
This same ointment would be suitable for Yu Yumeng’s condition.
However, to craft the Radiant Snow Renewal Salve, five specific medicinal ingredients were required:
Millennium Earth-Core Spirit Milk, Century Flame Spirit Herb, Red-Patterned Blood Vine, Mysterious Spirit Red Marrow, and Azure Silk Lotus Heart.
After leaving Yunyin Peak, Qin Xingchen went to the Moon-Viewing Sect’s Medicine Hall.
Upon entering, he approached a counter.
“Qin Xingchen! A rare visitor. This is your first time here. How can I help you?”
The man behind the counter was a middle-aged figure dressed in black robes.
His name was Lu Wenfeng, the steward of the Medicine Hall.
Qin Xingchen asked, “Steward Lu, do you have Millennium Ice-Snow Spirit Milk, Century Flame Spirit Herb, Red-Patterned Blood Vine, Mysterious Spirit Red Marrow, and Azure Silk Lotus Heart in stock?”
Lu Wenfeng was momentarily stunned.
The quality of heavenly materials and treasures ranks from Grade One to Nine.
Among the five ingredients Qin Xingchen mentioned, Lu Wenfeng had only heard of Century Flame Spirit Herb and Azure Silk Lotus Heart.
Yet these two were Grade Four treasures—exceedingly valuable—and his hall did not carry them.
As for the other three, he had never even heard of them.
He was curious about what Qin Xingchen wanted with such rare herbs.
“Qin Xingchen, these five ingredients are extremely rare. Even our Medicine Hall does not have them...” Lu Wenfeng hesitated, then added, “However, the Luoyin Mountain Range might have these herbs. Perhaps you should consider searching there yourself?”
Qin Xingchen paused, then cupped his fists in thanks. “Alright, thank you for the information.”
With that, he turned and left the Medicine Hall.
All five ingredients were Grade Four to Five heavenly treasures.
To the Lower Realm, they were indeed precious.
It was normal for a small sect like the Moon-Viewing Sect not to have them.
Moreover, the Luoyin Mountain Range mentioned by Lu Wenfeng lay fifty miles east of the Moon-Viewing Sect.
The mountains were teeming with beasts and perilous, deterring most from venturing inside.
Yet, determined to heal Yu Yumeng’s face, Qin Xingchen resolved to take the risk.
He decided to leave the Moon-Viewing Sect and head for the Luoyin Mountain Range.
But as he left the Medicine Hall, Lu Wenfeng’s expression darkened instantly, and he too departed from the hall.
...
At Black Eagle Peak, one of the five great peaks of the Moon-Viewing Sect.
Inside a mansion—
“You can’t even defeat a mere ninth-level Physical Refinement waste? You two brothers are truly useless!”
A young man was angrily berating the Ma brothers, Ma Hu and Ma Jie.
The brothers stood silently like two scolded children, not daring to utter a word.
This young man was Luo Shan, the top-ranked genius of the inner sect.
He was also the mastermind behind multiple attempts to kill Qin Xingchen.
After the Ma brothers’ failure against Qin Xingchen, Luo Shan was furious and had been scolding them for a long time without relief.
At that moment, an inner sect disciple approached Luo Shan, cupping his fists in respect. “Senior Brother Luo, Steward Lu is here to see you.”
Luo Shan was momentarily surprised, then said, “Let him in.”
“Yes!”
The disciple left, and soon a middle-aged man entered—the very same Lu Wenfeng.