Welcome to Ability Store-Chapter 107 - 106: Talent for Taking a Beating

"How did you heal her?" Xu Yuanqing couldn’t help but ask.

"Of course, with various pills and some Western potions," Chen Xuan was a bit surprised. Didn’t the Immortal Alliance have such things?

The pills naturally came from Hot Pepper Village. Besides the Blood Orange that accelerates blood clotting and healing, they also used the more effective but less available Rainbow Chrysanthemum Pill for Xuanling, which can quickly replenish energy. As for the Western potions, they were naturally alchemy products provided by a witch, such as analgesics and wakefulness powder.

"May I have a look?"

"Of course," Chen Xuan pointed at the medicines on the table, "There are still some left, all placed there."

Xu Yuanqing immediately stepped forward, picked up one pill and examined it carefully in his hand.

It was spherical, emitting a faint exotic fragrance, and when viewed from different angles, the surface glistened with colorful light.

As for the Spiritual Qi, it was even more subtly integrated within, blending seamlessly with the pill.

Even an outsider could sense that this item was extraordinary.

The Immortal Alliance did have medicine, but mostly they were decoctions made from natural spiritual herbs, requiring on-site preparation and administration, not to mention the effects could never heal someone within a two-hour period!

As for alchemy, it was even less worth mentioning. Fifty years ago, the Immortal Alliance barely reached a consensus that pills containing components such as cinnabar, realgar, and asphaltite cause more harm than good and are not suitable for regular medicinal use, let alone for healing.

Originally, Chen Xuan’s spells had seemed worth making an exception for, allowing a non-Central Plains cultivator to establish a sect, but now it seemed that decision was indeed wise!

Who wouldn’t need good healing remedies? Examples of talented cultivators meeting their demise midway due to injury are numerous, and during great demon disasters, many cultivators suffer casualties. Moreover, the Immortal Alliance’s martial arts competitions held to promote sect exchanges have been criticized for incidents of severe injury...

If there is a reliable means of healing, wouldn’t these problems that trouble the Immortal Alliance be resolved or alleviated?

"Good, good, good!" Xu Yuanqing said ’good’ three times in a row and even happily patted Chen Xuan on the shoulder. The matter of his daughter’s injury was now entirely out of his mind—after all, the other side had the confidence in healing, which allowed Xuanling to face off against the prodigies daringly; this turned a reckless disregard for disciples’ lives into a rare training opportunity, leaving him without any grievances to speak of.

"Is it difficult to make this medicine?"

By now, Chen Xuan already understood, the Immortal Alliance likely did not have similar medicine, or its pharmaceutical level had not surpassed the era by much. He did not answer directly but rather asked in return, "Does the Immortal Alliance want it?"

"Hahaha..." Xu Yuanqing laughed, "Who in the world wouldn’t want it? But I think Sect Leader Chen has misunderstood, the Immortal Alliance does not seek personal gain; it upholds the common interests of all sects. If a sect concocts something new, and we just seize it, who would trust the Immortal Alliance anymore? If your Only I am Venerable Sect is willing to provide medicines to the Immortal Alliance, then all sects that benefit from it should pay you a reward, and this is exactly the purpose of establishing the Immortal Alliance."

"Of course, the selected governor might inevitably favor their own sect a bit, but those are mostly marginal benefits. For something like healing medicine that benefits all sects greatly, even major sects like Celestial Derivation Tower and Ascension Platform would not dare to brazenly claim it as their own."

Xu Yuanqing cut straight to the point.

He believed Chen Xuan was a smart person, and for smart people, the approach was to be honest; the seeming gains from hiding behind false facades often ended up as losses once valuable trust was lost.

"Does the Governor mean, if other sects want the medicine, they’d give me Jade Coins?"

"That depends on what Sect Leader Chen needs. Although Jade Coins can buy most resources, bartering is also very common within the Immortal Alliance."

"I see..." Chen Xuan immediately had an idea, "The crafting of these pills isn’t particularly difficult; the hardest part is the ingredients, namely, the various fresh herbs. If the Immortal Alliance can provide me with the herbal materials, I can naturally return some pills to the Immortal Alliance."

"You just need herbs?" Xu Yuanqing was slightly surprised.

"Yes. Considering that the medicinal properties of herbs vary from place to place, it’d be best to provide a variety so I can determine the most suitable pill formulation."

His reasoning for this request was that the quantity and variety of herbs are far more important than the pills themselves. According to Liu Shuyue, she expended a vast amount of herbs to advance her Pill Medicine Study to the 2nd Layer, and to refine high-level pills, top-grade spiritual medicinal herbs are essential.

There are indeed many herbs in the Wanshan Wilderness, but they ultimately belong to the same natural environment, with relatively high similarity in medicinal properties; this isn’t conducive for training alchemy talent in Hot Pepper Village. Moreover, since the undeveloped mountain forests harbor numerous demon fiends, collecting herbs is a high-risk task. Using some basic pills to exchange for herbal support from the various sects of the Immortal Alliance makes the transaction evidently worthwhile.

"No problem, I’ll arrange it for you as soon as I get back," Xu Yuanqing readily agreed, "By the way, do these pills include Qi Condensing Pills that significantly enhance cultivation?"

"No, why does the Governor ask?"

"Oh... I just sensed that Xuanling’s Spiritual Qi level had significantly increased and thought it was due to some special pill. After all, what’s typically considered a Qi Condensing Pill is extracted from demon beasts and only provides a small amount of Spiritual Qi." Xu Yuanqing said with some confusion, "If it wasn’t due to medicine, then how did her progress come about?"

"For those with talent, experiencing a high-level battle might surpass a decade of hard cultivation," Chen Xuan chuckled.

"How could there be such luck... Cultivators spar mostly to better eliminate Demon Fiends. If it were truly as you say, the Immortal Alliance would never have a peaceful day," Xu Yuanqing shook his head dismissively. "Oh well, perhaps her potential is beyond my judgment."

On this point, you are quite right, Chen Xuan thought.

The other party swiftly shifted the topic, "I saw Mo Shuyun from Celestial Derivation Tower coming in earlier. Is he here for treatment too?"

Chen Xuan nodded, "He was stabbed in the chest by Xuanling’s sword, breaking a rib. The injury is rather slow to heal... bones grow slowly, after all. I only stopped the bleeding for him, it might take him a month to heal properly."

Even though his timing to step into the match was somewhat opportunistic, it did not breach the rules outwardly. Chen Xuan held no strong feeling toward him, treating him merely out of convenience.

Moreover, being a prodigy from his Sect, yet defeated by an unknown newcomer not even belonging to a Sect, this defeat was already a heavy blow for him. Even after Mo Shuyun recognized that Xuanling was the Governor’s daughter, it couldn’t alter the essence of the matter.

From today onward, Only I am Venerable Sect will inevitably become the focus of discussion following Xu Xuanling’s victory— at least in Chang’an City it shall be so.

"This is fine; thus, Celestial Derivation Tower has no grounds to fault you... After all, Mo Shuyun came forth voluntarily to challenge," Xu Yuanqing inquired further, "And those people sitting outside?"

"They were spectators affected by the match. Fortunately, they were kept at a certain distance from the ring, suffering only mild symptoms like tinnitus, temporary hearing loss, nausea, and dizziness," Chen Xuan sighed. "This was due to my lack of experience, I am responsible for ensuring their recovery."

The treatment method is also simple, he took a pile of chips and spicy snacks from the store, made the discomforted spectators sit and rest while snacking until they naturally recovered. If any were unable to recover, then Pills and Witch Potions were used for further treatment.

"Not bad, not bad... such potential in younger generations!" Xu Yuanqing exclaimed with satisfaction. This approach is nearly flawless, dispelling the onlookers’ ridicule without leaving moral gaps for attack, while significantly boosting Only I am Venerable Sect’s reputation. Truly a triple benefit.

When sending off the Immortal Alliance Governor from the main building, Xu Xuanling was still outside, accompanied by the Historian.

"I entrust this young lady to Sect Leader Chen," Xu Yuanqing clasped his hands toward Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan returned the courtesy, "This is our Sect’s responsibility."

The Historian looked at them in shock, unable to comprehend the superior’s swift change in attitude.

Finally, Hongli left the estate in a daze, only prompted by the Governor.

"Don’t be fooled by his beard-bristling eyes; my father is indeed reasonable," Xu Xuanling laughed gently, "Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been pushed forward to take on the role of Immortal Alliance Governor."

Does that mean the other elders of Ascension Platform were unwilling to take this position? Chen Xuan shrugged, "Since I have agreed for you to join our Sect, you are now officially a disciple. Your student ID is Class 1, Number 8. From tomorrow, you will live here, training alongside your fellow brothers and sisters."

"Master, won’t you set a Taoist name for me?" Xu Xuanling asked in confusion.

"Your student ID is your Taoist name, and besides, I am not your master; someone else will teach you," Chen Xuan explained the basic admission rules of Only I am Venerable Sect briefly.

Such a hands-off Sect Leader? She listened, amazed, "Then may I ask what the Sect Leader usually does?"

"Naturally, to chart your cultivation plan," Chen Xuan replied indifferently, "Teaching you Techniques is important, but pointing you toward a direction of progress is of utmost importance."

What constitutes a direction of progress?

Clearly, it is determined by ability.

For instance, Xu Xuanling here.

One of her abilities is clearly "Dying Glow" Level 5, Blue.

— "The closer you are to death, the clearer you become. The longer you persist at this stage, the richer the rewards you receive, as the saying goes, that which cannot kill you only makes you stronger. But be careful not to overdo it, for you are indeed fragile."

And another green ability happens to complement it.

"Pain Tolerance" Level 10.

— "Having an extraordinary endurance for severe pain, yet not blocking out minor pain. For the human species, the electro-pulse difference between pain and pleasure is exceedingly slight."