Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)-Chapter 295: How Rumors Are Born

The imperial city was home to many oddly shaped buildings and structures. Some were the whimsical creations of formidable cultivators, others lacked artistic flair, and some served as symbols.

A bronze cauldron stood in a corner of the imperial city, towering like a small mountain. Its surface was as smooth as a mirror and adorned with intricate details. Even from a distance, one could sense its archaic beauty.

This was the most prosperous area of the imperial city, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold. To place such a bronze cauldron here would cost an astronomical amount of spirit stones. Apart from a few major factions like the Luodi Merchant Guild, no one could afford such an expense.

Many elderly men with white hair and robes, emitting the fragrance of pills, strode into the bronze cauldron with their hands behind their backs. Nothing could seem to enter the eyes of these aloof men.

When passers-by saw them, their eyes would glimmer with reverence and envy. These elderly men were renowned masters in Pill Dao, many of whom had pioneered their own methods of pill concoction.

This was the Pill Concoction Alliance, representing the prestige and pinnacle of the Pill Dao. Every year, countless pill formulas were released to the public, showcasing their remarkable achievements. It was a sacred place for all pill-concocting masters, second only to the Pill Cauldron Peak of the Dao-Seeking Sect.

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Inside the bronze cauldron, reticent pill-concocting masters set around an exquisite stone table, their faces completely devoid of emotions.

A figure arrived late, signaling the commencement of the meeting. freeweɓnøvel.com

He was the Clear Clouds[1] Doyen,[2] the chief pill-concocting master of the Pill Concoction Alliance. With his superlative skills, he was fully deserving of being the top pill-concocting master.

Everyone seated here was a veteran in the pill-concocting community, each possessing unique abilities, but all acknowledged the Clear Clouds Doyen’s status. Even the proud Seventh Elder admitted that the Clear Clouds Doyen was second only to him in pill concoction.

The Clear Clouds Doyen smiled faintly and addressed the audience at a measured pace. “As usual, this meeting is for the exchange of pill-concocting insights. Please feel free to speak your mind.”

“Can we really say anything?” A pill-concocting master raised his hand and asked.

“Yes.”

The pill-concocting master’s expression instantly changed, and he slammed the table in rage. “Clear Clouds Doyen, you’re late! Who are you putting on an act for? We’ve been sitting here waiting for you all day!”

Clearly, acknowledging the Clear Clouds Doyen's status in the pill concoction world didn’t signify that they could tolerate his tardiness.

“Apologies, apologies. I was studying a pill formula and made a major breakthrough. I got so excited that I lost track of time.

“What pill were you studying that got you so engrossed?”

The Clear Clouds Doyen smiled mysteriously. “An ancient pill formula—the Child-Gifting Pill.”

“You successfully concocted it?!” The crowd was astonished. They had the formula for the Child-Gifting Pill, but no matter how they tried to concoct it, the resultant product could only enhance their Dao partners’ beauty and complexion.

Recently, many beauty-enhancing pills had been circulating on the black market—these were the failed pills they had produced, which had no use other than improving the appearance of those who ingested them.

“Not yet, but I already have a general idea. According to my research, the owner of the Child-Gifting Pill is Qing He, and she seems to have a close connection with a certain immortal. Perhaps the Child-Gifting Pill is also related to this immortal!”

“To think it’s related to an immortal! That does make sense.” Despite the crowd’s initial surprise, they soon internalized it—one of the ingredients was an immortal fruit, which explained why they couldn’t replicate it.

“Hmph, and here I thought it was some major breakthrough. Is that all?” Seventh Elder snorted disdainfully at the Clear Cloud Doyen’s so-called research.

“I was wondering who it is. So, it’s Wuji Doyen[3] of Pill Cauldron Peak. What brilliant insights do you have?” When the Clear Clouds Doyen saw that it was Seventh Elder, his unruffled countenance vanished, his tone laced with belligerent sarcasm.

The Clear Clouds Doyen and Seventh Elder locked eyes, the tension in the air palpable. The others didn’t know what to say; everyone knew the history between the two.

In their younger days, both had fallen for the same girl. After a fight, which mainly involved Seventh Elder pinning the Clear Clouds Doyen to the ground and beating him, the girl ultimately chose the talented Seventh Elder.

And thus, their feud began.

Since Seventh Elder often concocted strange pills, it was hard for others to judge his true pill-concocting skills. But one thing was certain—when it came to combat, none of those present were a match for Seventh Elder.

Seventh Elder slowly said, “According to my research, the key to the pill formula isn’t the pill itself but the consumption method. Have you noticed? The pill formula begins with the instructions for consumption: ‘When taken with river water, it can induce pregnancy.’

“Why specifically mention ‘river water?’ Why not just state ‘water?’

“With this question in mind, I scoured ancient texts and consulted young scholars knowledgeable about the ancient era. Finally, I found the answer.

“The ‘river water’ mentioned in this pill formula isn’t ordinary river water but the water of the Mother-Child River, created by an immortal during ancient times!

“Drinking the water of the Mother-Child River can induce pregnancy!”

The atmosphere crackled with shock.

“What?!”

“Mother-Child Water?”

“There’s such a mystical river?!”

Although Seventh Elder often refines strange pills, he never joked about something like this!

“Which immortal was it?” the Clear Clouds Doyen asked eagerly, forgetting his enmity with Seventh Elder.

He had searched through ancient texts and even borrowed rare books from the imperial palace, but he couldn’t find the name of that immortal. It was as if it had been deliberately concealed!

Seventh Elder nodded solemnly. “It was the Heaven Mandate Immortal.”

The Clear Clouds Doyen suddenly understood. “So it was him? That explains everything.”

“How so?” Everyone was baffled. We haven’t heard anything about the Heaven-Mandate Immortal refining the Mother-Child River though?

The Clear Clouds Doyen spoke with an air of mystery. “I found an ancient text called the Comprehensive Culinary Compendium in a ruin. Although I have yet to fully decipher it, I can be certain of one thing—this book may appear to teach cooking, but there is more than meets the eye.”

The crowd was bewildered. The title sounds like an ancient cookbook. Is it not?

“At first, I was like all of you and thought it was an ancient cookbook. But when I casually prepared a few dishes, I discovered that anyone who ate them would at least fall into a coma.

“This is not a cookbook—it’s a poison codex!”

Everyone gasped. An ancient poison codex? That sounds terrifying.

“And the author of this poison codex was none other than the Heaven Mandate Immortal!

“Pills and poison are two sides of the same coin. If the Heaven Mandate Immortal could write this poison codex, he must have also been well-versed in pill concoction!

“I have heard of an ancient saying: the greatest pill-concocting master doesn’t search for medicinal ingredients but invents them! The Mother-Child River must have been a medicinal ingredient the Heaven Mandate Immortal created!

“Wait, no, perhaps the Mother-River Child’s water was not a medicinal ingredient but poison!“

The Clear Clouds Doyen’s eyes lit up. “If you use water from the Mother-Child River as poison during battles, wouldn’t the opponent become pregnant and rendered unable to fight?” He felt that his analysis was logical and seamlessly interlinked, as if he had unraveled yet another veil of mystery from the ancient era.

“How many women must have become pregnant due to the Heaven Mandate Immortal refining the water of the Mother-Child River?” The crowd marveled at the Heaven Mandate Immortal’s power.

As expected of an immortal to be capable of crafting something as mystical as this.

After the servant boy poured water for everyone, he quietly left. With the room filled with pill-concocting masters and their discussions revolving around immortals, he was too frightened to stay.

As soon as he stepped outside, he was surrounded by his companions.

“So, how did it go? What did they say inside?”

This was the most elite summit of pill-concocting masters, representing the forefront of knowledge in the pill-concocting world. Hearing even a modicum of their meeting would be enough for them to boast about.

The servant boy was in a tough spot; he had been too scared earlier and hadn’t listened carefully. He tried hard to recall the conversation of the pill-concocting masters and hesitantly replied, “I think they said that the ancient immortal, the Heaven Mandate Immortal, made countless women pregnant?”

His companions inhaled sharply.

This is truly an ancient secret.

1. Although it can refer to the clouds high up in the sky, it is often used as a metaphor for high rank and status as well as lofty morals. ☜

2. His name is Qingyun-zi in Chinese. There will be a short note on “子” or “zi” in Chinese below. ☜

3. Wuji is a concept in Chinese philosophy that is often said to be the origin of Taiji and Qigong. ☜