Chapter Forty: Even When Surrounded by Darkness, Let Your Heart Seek the Light

Zhou Qi dared not linger any longer; it was best to sell the elixirs first. In the guest room of the apothecary, Li Hai examined the elixirs before him in silence. The elixirs were not lacking; their quality was simply too exceptional, yet the man before him possessed only two bottles.

On the Celestial Profound Continent, elixirs and spirit stones were hard currency, strictly controlled by the various sects, making life difficult for independent cultivators.

“Are these elixirs inadequate?” Zhou Qi asked nervously.

“They’re quite adequate,” Li Hai replied, “but may I ask if you refined them yourself, or did you acquire them elsewhere?” If the elixirs had been refined by a rogue cultivator skilled in alchemy, he could be recruited for long-term cooperation, preventing him from selling independently and disrupting the market.

“My master refined them,” Zhou Qi lied, “He’s wholly devoted to alchemy and has no time to deal with worldly affairs. If I didn’t need spirit stones for my cultivation, he wouldn’t have let me out.” If he claimed to have refined them himself, who knew if someone might seize him for their own purposes.

“I’ll take these elixirs, ten lower-grade spirit stones apiece. However, I have a request: I hope we can form a long-term partnership. If you acquire more elixirs, bring them to me exclusively. What do you say?” With such an arrangement, he could profit handsomely—buying at ten, selling at fifteen or twenty. But this must remain hidden from the Sword-Hiding Manor; if they discovered his private dealings, he’d be in serious trouble.

“Agreed. If my master refines more elixirs, I’ll sell them only to you,” Zhou Qi replied eagerly, relieved by the safety and convenience.

“Then let this matter be known only to us,” Li Hai smiled.

“You know, I know,” Zhou Qi understood the man’s intent—to evade the sect and profit privately.

Their agreement was swiftly sealed for future cooperation.

With twenty thousand lower-grade spirit stones in hand, Zhou Qi was elated. Alchemy truly yielded spirit stones quickly: the champion of the Five Sects Competition only received five thousand, and many others lost their lives on the arena floor.

Even sect disciples lived so precariously; how much harder must it be for solitary cultivators?

Yet alchemy consumed much time. Balancing cultivation and refining elixirs would surely slow his progress.

Hadn't the Sacred Medicine Palace imprisoned ten disciples from the Immortal Companion Sect? Among them might be those gifted in alchemy. Failing the first trial only meant their memory was lacking; he merely needed them to know a few formulas.

Upon reflection, he saw possibilities. Unexpectedly, at his young age, he had become a boss—without even needing to pay wages, outdoing the capitalists.

A sudden roar interrupted Zhou Qi’s musings. “Where did you come from, brat? Get lost! If I catch you stealing again, I’ll break your legs.”

“Please, sir, have mercy!” pleaded a child, four or five years old, filthy and kneeling, bowing repeatedly until his forehead broke. “Da Ya hasn’t eaten in three days; she’s starving, please give us something to eat. She’s really dying!”

“Scram!” A burly, vicious-looking man cursed and prepared to kick the child. With his strength, the child would hardly survive such a blow.

Unable to bear it, Zhou Qi darted forward, pulling the child aside as the man’s kick struck nothing. The man saw Zhou Qi’s bearded face and grew furious. “Who are you? Why meddle?”

“If you won’t help, why harm?” Zhou Qi asked. The burly man was merely a mortal; it wouldn’t do to retaliate.

“That kid keeps begging and ruins my business. Times are tough, I can barely survive myself. How can I spare anything for others?” the man explained.

“Go on, and leave him alone!” Zhou Qi said, then stamped his foot, shattering the floor.

The man, realizing Zhou Qi was not to be trifled with, quickly bowed and hurried off.

“Thank you, brother,” the boy said, about to kneel again, showing his manners and gratitude.

“A man’s knees are precious; why kneel to everyone? Tell me, what’s going on?” Zhou Qi pulled him up, refusing the gesture.

“My name is Dog Egg. I’m five. I live with Da Ya, Da Zhuang, and San Mao in a ruined temple by the city. Da Ya hasn’t eaten for three days, she’s sick and dying,” Dog Egg explained, tears streaming.

“Where are your parents?” Zhou Qi asked, wondering how such young children survived.

“We’re all orphans. Our parents are gone,” Dog Egg said, wiping his tears.

Zhou Qi’s heart sank. Such misery was unbearable. Since he’d encountered it, he had to help, or his conscience would never rest.

“Take me to see her,” Zhou Qi said, buying food at a nearby stall and exchanging spirit stones for mortal currency.

Dog Egg led Zhou Qi to the ruined temple. As Zhou Qi entered, a foul stench greeted him. In the corner, a seven or eight-year-old girl lay on straw, barely breathing—Da Ya, as described. Two boys, five or six, anxiously tended her, feeding her water from a broken bowl.

“Da Ya, Da Ya, you’re saved! A kind brother brought us food!” Dog Egg rushed to Da Ya. Da Zhuang and San Mao, hearing she was saved, hurried to kneel, but Zhou Qi stopped them, signaling them to step back.

Da Ya could not eat directly; she needed careful treatment. Zhou Qi crushed a Vitality Pill, mixed a fragment into water, and fed it to her, then channeled his spiritual energy to help her absorb the medicine.

Da Ya’s complexion gradually brightened, her breathing grew steady. Zhou Qi sighed with relief, knelt beside her, and felt her forehead—no fever. She was merely unconscious.

Soon, Da Ya awakened and saw Zhou Qi and her companions. At eight, she understood her rescue and struggled to rise in thanks, but Zhou Qi stopped her and gave the food he’d bought to the children.

He wished to help more, but his cultivation was low, and he was wanted by the Immortal Companion Sect. He couldn’t care for the children himself, and hesitated.

After the children ate their fill, Zhou Qi handed Da Ya the money he’d exchanged. “I don’t have time to look after you. This should be enough to support you as you grow. You’re the eldest—can you care for them?”

“Benefactor, you’ve already saved me. I can’t accept your money. Rest assured, I will care for them,” Da Ya replied, refusing at first.

With her promise, Zhou Qi’s heart eased. People have their own ways to survive in troubled times; helping one today, when countless millions still suffer, is all he can do.

Zhou Qi insisted on giving Da Ya the money, and handed over a few elixir pills, instructing them to crush a bit into water if anyone fell ill.

Amid the children’s endless thanks, Zhou Qi departed. He’d been out for a long time—if he didn’t return soon, his disguise technique would expire.

“You share no kinship with them, mere passersby. Why help?” the Celestial Profound True Lord asked.

“Instead of lamenting the darkness, let me carry a lantern forward. May I become a beam of light in the corner of the world where I exist,” Zhou Qi answered thoughtfully, without directly replying.

The Celestial Profound True Lord listened in silence.