River Spirit Grass was an extremely common material, even inside of Cloud City. It was a grass that grew anywhere with a source of water. If you found a lake or a river, you can be sure you can find lots of the stuff. The only problem with River Spirit Grass was that the elixir made from it was not very potent. It was useless to anyone at the Third Level of the Elementary Realm, so it was only useful for pushing the first two levels. After that, a better elixir was needed.

“I’m going to see Cai Meili,” said Cai Yun.

“Don’t forget to flirt with her a bit to get something good,” said Cai Yan.

“It’s not like that!” Cai Yun shouted as he stormed out of the house.

Everyone Cai Yun knew that he harbored secret feelings for his cousin. They spent a lot of time together when they were young. Even Cai Bingwen, Cai Meili’s own grandfather, knew that the two of them liked each other and tried to get them together. Even after Cai Rong announced his intentions to Cai Bingwen, Cai Bingwen ignored Cai Rong and tried to push the two of them together. Few people would dare oppose Cai Hong,

Cai Bingwen was a very large man despite his age. He was only in the Martial Artist Realm, but he was extremely intimidating. When he was standing up, I did not even reach his shoulder. He was also extremely muscular and had a large white beard. Whenever he saw me, he would always pick me up and lift me way up like I was still a child. But then again, to Cai Bingwen, almost everyone was a child.

The alchemist stores were usually located near the Main Hall. The reason was that Cai Hong wanted to keep a tight control on all the cultivation resources so that they could best be distributed among the most talented in the clan. Lower grade elixirs could be purchased and sold by anyone. The higher grade elixirs could only be sold with permission. Most of the time, the resources were provided by the clan and then made for the sole purpose to give to someone. It did not stop Cai Bingwen from going into the Badlands by himself to hunt those monsters by himself though.

Cai Yun took care to avoid the Main Hall or being spotted by anyone who might be heading to the Main Hall. Over the years, they did not like the fact that he was able to sneak in and out without being caught. In a way, he was showing them how incompetent they were as trained cultivators who had reached the Fortified Body Realm. Yet, they were incapable of catching someone without cultivation. Part of it was due to the fact that Cai Jun had taught Cai Yun the ins and outs of the Main Hall and their patterns.

Cai Bingwen’s place was within view of the Main Hall. The reason was that Cai Hong wanted to keep the family under watch due to their extreme talent in alchemy. At the age of fifteen, Cai Meili was already showing extreme talent, able to make high quality and high grade elixirs.

Cai Yun waited for the guards heading to the Main Hall to pass by before slipping into the store. It was mostly empty. There were only a few elixirs on display behind a locked case behind tempered glass. Since there were not many elixirs, it was possible to see everything available. At the top of the case was the high grade elixirs that drew people’s attention. The one that was the most expensive was the Scarlet Lotus Pill. It was made by grinding down a Scarlet Lotus and infused with the blood of one of the monsters. The stronger the monster, the more potent the pill would be. This one pill had no visible impurities, meaning it was of the highest quality.

At that moment, Cai Bingwen walked in. He had to bend over to fit through the door. “Boy!” he shouted as he saw Cai Yun.

Cai Bingwen immediately ran towards Cai Yun and picked him up by his sides, lifting him into the air like a baby. “Hello, uncle,” said Cai Yun.

“Your cultivation!” said Cai Bingwen in shock.

Cai Bingwen had sensed his cultivation. When you touch someone, it is easier to read the amount of soul force in their body. “I knew your veins just took a little longer to mature,” said Cai Bingwen.

“I’m here because I need some River Spirit Pills,” said Cai Yun.

Every alchemist had River Spirit Pills. They were often given to children like a candy because it contained a tiny amount of soul force. But it was so tiny, it was useless at the Third Level. It was not even good enough to be considered a First Grade Elixir. That right was reserved for elixirs that could at least help people push through the Elementary Realm and into the Fortified Body Realm.

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“Well that’s easy,” said Cai Bingwen.

Cai Bingwen put Cai Yun down and turned around. “Your friend is here!” he shouted.

Cai Yun felt his heart skip a beat as he braced himself. After a few beats, Cai Meili stepped through. She was wearing a red sleeveless dress that hugged the contours of her body. Even though she was only at the First Level of the Fortified Body Realm, she was already considered a gifted genius at her level and second only to Cai Rong among their generation. The problem was that Cai Hong had no intention of helping Cai Meili make advancements otherwise she would have left Cai Rong behind long ago.

Cai Meili saw that it was Cai Yun and immediately began brushing off any dust she thought might have been on her clothes. She even turned around to straighten her hair before turning back around. “Hello, Little Yun!” said Cai Meili happily.

This was the main reason everyone wanted Cai Yun and Cai Meili to be together. The two of them just brought out the best in each other. The only reason it could not happen was because no one could stand up to Cai Rong at the moment. Even Cai Meili was still two levels below Cai Rong and unable to compete. The main reason for that was Cai Rong received personal training from Cai Hong, giving him access to superior techniques that further increased the gap between them.

“Our boy here is a cultivator now!” said Cai Bingwen happily.

Cai Meili was surprised. “Really?”

“Yeah,” Cai Yun answered.

“How long?” Cai Meili asked.

“About two weeks now,” said Cai Yun. “I need some River Grass Pills.”

“I’ll make a fresh batch for you right now!” said Cai Meili as she ran to the back.

Cai Bingwen followed and pulled the curtain aside, allowing Cai Yun to enter. Normally, others are forbidden to enter because someone might steal their techniques. Cai Yun was trusted though and they did not care.

Cai Meili took a bunch of River Grass. She put it all in a mortar and ground it by hand. It turned into a paste that was then heated. The heated grass let out some liquid which was then filtered out. The resulting liquid was chilled and thickened before being put into a mold and heated. The final product was a pill as green as the River Grass itself. A dozen fresh pieces made by Cai Meili herself. The entire process took less than five minutes.

“Wow,” said Cai Yun. It was his first time seeing it made.

“The girl or the pills?” Cai Bingwen asked.

Cai Yun was too nervous to answer. He wanted to say Cai Meili, but the words could not come out of his mouth. This was another reason why Cai Bingwen, Cai Yan, and Cai Jun enjoyed seeing them together. They were just too innocent for this cruel world.

“I’ll just take that silence for an answer!” Cai Bingwen laughed.

“Grandpa!” Cai Meili laughed.

Cai Bingwen sat down. “Go on, try one,” he said as he handed the pouch of pills to Cai Yun.

Cai Yun took the bag with both hands from Cai Bingwen. “Thank you, uncle.”

Cai Yun took out the bright green pill. It was made with fresh River Spirit Grass. One made from old grass would be a dull green, almost grey color and was less effective. This was made with fresh River Spirit Grass, plucked less than an hour ago.

Cai Yun took the pill into his mouth and cracked it. He then swallowed it and focused on the soul force within his body. The soul force within the pill released as it dissolved within his body, allowing him to integrate every drop of it, allowing his soul force to grow just a tiny bit. “It feels strange,” said Cai Yun.

“It’s because it’s your first elixir,” said Cai Bingwen as he hit Cai Yun in the back.

“How much do I owe?” Cai Yun asked.

Cai Bingwen looked at Cai Yun with a strong stare. “One win against Cai Rong at the annual tournament.”

If Cai Rong was defeated, then Cai Meili would not have to marry Cai Rong. He would no longer be seen as a prodigy if someone younger was able to defeat him. The problem was that there was an entire Realm and two levels between them. This was basically an insurmountable gap, especially if Cai Yun only had six months to overcome this gap. The reason it was six months was because Cai Meili would turn fifteen in the next few months and would be considered of age. At that point, a marriage was usually arranged with the exception of extraordinary circumstances. Cai Rong was already eighteen though.

But, this was what drove Cai Yun the most. He wanted to stop Cai Rong. Cai Rong was a horrible person, abusing those that were weaker than him and using his power to push people around. There was one time where they literally walked into a store and just took what they want without paying. Yet, as the grandson of Cai Hong, there was not much they could do. The Enforcement Elders always sided with Cai Rong and in the worst case scenario, their family would be the one that was punished.

A lot of people secretly had a wish, to make Cai Hong suffer defeat at least once. But since Cai Yan was injured, there was no one that could stand up to Cai Hong. Cai Jun was his nephew and listened to his uncle. Standing up to one’s ancestor was also considered disrespectful, enough to get expelled from the clan in some instances, which further discouraged rebellion.

“I will do everything I can,” said Cai Yun. “But, I cannot promise with such a short time until then.”

“I will do what I can as well,” said Cai Bingwen as he got up. “I’m going to go hunting with your dad.”

Cai Bingwen intended to collect resources to help Cai Yun with his cultivation. Cai Hong could not complain if they collected some medium grade materials on their own. Only high grade materials had to be recorded.

“Let me come with!” said Cai Yun. He wanted to go outside the walls of Cloud City. Only those that were considered strong enough were let through alone. But in a group, as long as one of them was strong enough and there was no good reason, they could go together.