Complete one practice method every day

Gu Bei took in Li Lie's changing expression and changed the subject, saying, "Chief Li, regarding the incident where we discussed ambushing the Chen family's shipment of Snow Ginseng Jade Marrow Paste, do you think it would be feasible to wait until things calm down a bit?"

Upon hearing this, Li Lie immediately pulled his attention away from Chen Yue. He remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Do you have a way to deal with that old man from the Chen family?"

That old bastard Chen Xuanli is a genuine peak Bone Forging Realm expert, practically on the verge of the Marrow Refining Realm! With him in charge, ambushing the convoy is like pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth!

Chen Xuanli was the pillar of the Chen family in Youlin County and their greatest asset in standing strong for so many years.

Gu Bei's gentle smile returned, and he nodded slightly: "Leader Li, rest assured, since we dare to take action, we must have some confidence. We're not the only ones eyeing that Snow Ginseng Jade Marrow Paste."

As for Chen Xuanli… someone will take care of him then. What we need from Chief Li is to provide accurate information on the convoy's departure time, route, and escort arrangements, and, in critical moments, to offer assistance.”

Li Lie stared at Gu Bei for a long time, and finally, the gloom on his face gradually melted away, and he also revealed a smile.

"As long as you keep everything you promised me, everything... will be fine."

Upon hearing this, Gu Bei's smile deepened. He picked up his teacup again and raised it towards Li Lie, offering tea in lieu of wine. "Then, I, Gu, would like to wish Brother Li a speedy breakthrough in Bone Forging and abundant martial fortune!"

"Thank you for your kind words!" Li Lie laughed heartily, and the gloom in his heart dissipated considerably.

He picked up the cup of coarse tea in front of him, sniffed it lightly to confirm it was just ordinary old tea, and then tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. The lukewarm tea went down his throat, with a rough and astringent taste.

After putting down his teacup, Li Lie said no more. He nodded slightly to Gu Bei, and with a flash, he left the house, nimbly vaulting out as he had come.

With a few leaps, it quietly slipped back into the window of its own room in the pharmacy, gently closing the window as if it had never left.

Back inside, Li Lie did not rest immediately.

He took out the ebony box from his pocket again, opened it under the lamp, and picked up the six dark gold pills one by one, examining, rubbing, and smelling them more carefully.

Having spent over twenty years in the martial arts world, he worked his way up from the bottom. He had seen many elixirs and suffered losses, so he had his own rudimentary method for distinguishing genuine from fake.

After a long while, he repeatedly confirmed that it was indeed a Spirit Nourishing Pill that could help martial artists in the Body Refining Realm break through their bottlenecks, and that its quality was quite good.

Li Lie let out a long sigh of relief, and a smile finally appeared on his face. He carefully put away the pills, his eyes gleaming.

Loyalty and morality were nothing but laughable ropes binding the weak in Li Lie's eyes. Only real power was the foundation for survival in chaotic times.

What does it matter if they collude with outsiders to scheme against their master in order to obtain more precious cultivation resources?

This world is a dog-eat-dog world!

Once he achieves the Bone Forging Technique, then who in the entire Youlin County, besides those few old guys, will pose a real threat to him?

Even if he were no match for Chen Xuanli, he would still have the means to escape! Status, power, wealth... all would follow!

The next morning, the sky was overcast.

The apprentices, exhausted, continued cleaning up the mess left by last night.

The air was still thick with the stench of blood and burning, making it nearly impossible for anyone to sleep. Even if they managed to close their eyes, they would be awakened by nightmares of flashing swords.

Suddenly, a slightly hurried call came from the front hall from Steward Chen Lin. Everyone tensed up and forced themselves to gather around.

Chen Jing, the head of the Chen family, strode into the front hall, surrounded by a group of guards.

Chen Jingnian was about fifty years old, with a thin face and small eyes that exuded the majesty of someone who had long held a high position.

The pharmacy was attacked last night, resulting in heavy losses, especially the kidnapping of three alchemists, which is a major blow to the Chen family. He must come and check on the situation in person.

Chen Yue stood in the crowd, scanning Chen Jing and the people behind him.

When Chen Yue's gaze swept past the old man behind Chen Jing, whose eyes were always slightly closed, his heart involuntarily clenched slightly.

The old man looked to be over sixty years old, thin and frail, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, making him inconspicuous in the crowd.

But the moment Chen Yue's gaze met his, an indescribable sense of threat suddenly welled up from the bottom of his heart. It wasn't murderous intent, nor was it hostility; it was just a sudden impulse.

Chen Yue immediately recalled Lin Quan's mention of Chen Xuanli, the old elder of the Chen family who had reached the peak of the Bone Forging Realm.

Could it be him?

Chen Yue quickly looked away, his eyebrows lowered, perfectly concealing the slight unease beneath his calm expression.

Chen Jing walked around the front hall and back courtyard, looking at the ransacked storeroom and the messy alchemy courtyard. His face grew increasingly grim, but he managed to suppress his anger and said a few words of encouragement to the people who remained at the pharmacy.

Then, he hurriedly left with his men, clearly to return and discuss countermeasures and track down the murderer.

As the crowd dispersed, Chen Yue prepared to return to his courtyard to continue his alchemy tasks for the day. Just as he reached the corner of the corridor connecting the front and back courtyards, a figure blocked his way.

It's Li Lie.

His chest was wrapped in new bandages, and his face was still somewhat pale, but his eyes had regained their former sharpness, even carrying a hint of inscrutable meaning, as he looked at Chen Yue.

"I heard from Steward Chen Lin that you were the one who repelled the thieves who broke into Master Lin's courtyard last night and saved him?"

Chen Yue stopped and nodded calmly: "Just lucky."

Li Lie twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile that was hard to decipher as either approval or something else.

"Whether it was luck or not, protecting Master Lin is a merit in itself. Just for that..."

He paused, looking directly at Chen Yue, "Didn't you want to learn the Mountain-Crossing Technique before? Now that the pharmacy has suffered such a great calamity, it is precisely the time when we urgently need to strengthen our power. If you still want to learn, I will do my best to teach you."

These words were spoken with great magnanimity, even carrying a sense of not holding grudges and prioritizing the overall situation.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yue smiled regretfully and shook his head: "Thank you for your kindness, Master Li, but I am already overwhelmed by refining Blood-Activating Pills every day, and I really can't spare the time to focus on martial arts training. I appreciate your kindness, Master Li."

"Chen Yue is right. Now the pharmacy is only supported by him and Master Lin, two alchemists. The alchemy business really cannot be delayed."

Chen Lin, who had walked over unnoticed, overheard their conversation and quickly smoothed things over, "Li Lie, are your injuries alright now?"

Li Lie's gaze swept over Chen Yue's calm face, and the smile on his face deepened.

"It was my oversight."

Li Lie nodded, readily agreeing, "It is only natural that a master alchemist should prioritize alchemy. Whenever Master Chen has free time and is still interested in the Flipping Mountain Technique, he can come to me at any time."

After saying that, he nodded to Chen Lin, glanced at Chen Yue, and turned to leave.