Chapter 175: Selling the Pity Grass Furnace at a High Price, All Pills of Middle Grade

“Bought… bought…”

You Xiaohua’s lips trembled slightly as she urgently asked again,

“Then, Fellow Daoist, where exactly did you buy this pill furnace!? Which market? Which shop? Who sold it to you!?”

Yu Xian, however, didn’t answer—silent.

Time ticked by slowly. As Yu Xian continued to say nothing, You Xiaohua began to panic and was just about to ask again.

“Fellow Daoist, are you interrogating me?”

At that moment, a calm and slightly displeased voice rang out.

Yu Xian slowly stood, hands behind his back.

“What obligation do I have to tell you these things? What right do you have to question me?”

“You…”

You Xiaohua froze on the spot, the anxious light in her eyes now half replaced with anger.

Her sister’s life and death were unknown—she had vanished on Ascension Island seven years ago!

Now, this Pity Grass Furnace appeared right in front of her. It could very well be the first clue toward finding her sister!

But this man—this bastard—was stalling!?

Why couldn’t he just say it outright!?

Did he not see how anxious she was!?

Still, You Xiaohua forced herself to take a deep breath and pressed down her anger, bowing slightly.

“Fellow Daoist, I’m not interrogating you. I’m just worried about my sister. Please, tell me where you bought this furnace.”

“Sigh… Seeing as you care about your sister, I suppose there’s no harm in telling you.”

Yu Xian’s voice was calm.

“Before the Blood River Sect catastrophe happened, there was a rogue cultivator market at the foot of Yunyun Sect Mountain, called Black Mountain Market. I bought this Pity Grass Furnace from that market. But after the Blood River disaster and Yunyun Sect’s downfall, I don’t know if that market still exists.”

“Yunyun Sect… Black Mountain Market…”

You Xiaohua mumbled, lost in thought, then suddenly said,

“Could it be that guy… Red Elder once said only one cultivator survived the Ascension Conference back then… Could it have been him who killed my sister… and sold her furnace to a rogue market…”

Beneath his bamboo hat and veil, Yu Xian’s brows twitched slightly, but his expression quickly returned to normal.

He had deliberately given a location that likely no longer existed.

That way, You Xiaohua or Chen Manman couldn’t track it. The matter would naturally be dropped.

But unexpectedly, You Xiaohua deduced all the way back to the Yunyun Sect… and the sole survivor of the Ascension Conference—himself.

Still, it didn’t matter.

Yunyun Sect had long been destroyed. Its people scattered. Information scattered and unclear.

Even if she tried to investigate, the most she could find was that one survivor’s name.

She’d never be able to link it to him.

“Fellow Daoist.”

After a moment, Yu Xian spoke again, voice calm.

“Though this furnace has some ties to you, it now belongs to me. Please refrain from touching it repeatedly. It’s quite rude.”

You Xiaohua’s hand paused on the furnace.

She inhaled deeply, pressing down the tears in her eyes. She looked at Yu Xian and bowed.

“First, thank you for telling me where it came from. That gives me a clue. Second… I would like to purchase this furnace. It once belonged to my sister. Besides, it’s just a third-grade furnace—not suitable for your use anymore. You may as well upgrade. Name your price.”

Yu Xian frowned slightly.

Sell the Pity Grass Furnace…?

It had accompanied him for years. He had used it to refine thousands of pills—it held deep sentimental value.

And now this You Xiaohua wanted to buy it…

“…Very well.”

After a moment of thought, Yu Xian softly said,

“Since this furnace was once your sister’s and I bought it by chance… If seeing it reminds you of her, then I’ll be generous. Eight hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. It’s yours.”

“Eight hundred thousand?”

You Xiaohua looked stunned.

“You dare name that price!?”

Chen Manman’s brows furrowed as she said coldly,

“For a mere third-grade furnace? That’s ten times its value! Are you taking advantage of Xiaohua’s emotions?”

Yu Xian replied calmly,

“This furnace has been with me for years. Were it not for her longing for her sister, I wouldn’t part with it. If you think the price is too high, then forget it.”

“Hmph! Smooth-talking bastard.”

Chen Manman’s eyes were full of displeasure.

“Eight hundred thousand could buy ten of these. You’re clearly exploiting her!”

“My sister, I disagree.”

Li Shuxian finally spoke, her tone cool.

“This furnace is his. He has the right to set any price. If it’s too expensive, we can refuse. But accusing him of extortion is inappropriate.”

Chen Manman flinched, turned to Li Shuxian with anger in her eyes—but said nothing.

“It’s fine, Master.”

You Xiaohua exhaled and said quietly,

“Eight hundred thousand is fine. I’ll buy it.”

She reached into her sleeve, took out a storage pouch, and handed it to Yu Xian.

“Fellow Daoist, eight hundred thousand spirit stones. Please check.”

Yu Xian accepted it and scanned it briefly—8,000 mid-grade spirit stones, neatly stacked.

A fortune. For most late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, this was their life savings.

Even with Chen Manman as her master, and her own skill in alchemy, this was still a huge sum.

It showed her resolve.

Yu Xian sighed silently and transferred the stones to his own storage pouch.

Then tossed her pouch back.

“I will use the furnace for one final batch. After that, it’s yours.”

This furnace, once You Xiaocao’s, had served him for seven years.

And now… it was returning to its original owner.

He didn’t feel guilty for killing her.

The Ascension Conference had been a death match—a trial of survival.

But returning the Pity Grass Furnace… let him put down a lingering regret.

As for why it was a return?

Because for anyone else, even for eight hundred thousand, he would never have sold it.

This furnace, like his Cobalt Spirit Sword and Spirit Shield, would have been upgraded in the future with precious materials.

Even if it cost more than making a fifth-grade treasure from scratch.

And the high price he set ensured You Xiaohua and Chen Manman would dismiss him as greedy and unworthy.

They’d stop overanalyzing his story.

After all, if he said it was bought—then it was bought.

“…Very well.”

You Xiaohua put the pouch away and looked at Yu Xian.

“Our pill duel hasn’t started yet. Let’s begin.”

At this point, whether because of his greed…

Or his long possession of her sister’s furnace…

You Xiaohua’s heart was burning with both anger and determination.

If before her goal was to surpass herself…

Now, her goal was to win.

Decisively. Without mercy. Without doubt.

She stepped back to her own pill furnace, took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and began preparing.

Yu Xian did the same, summoning a pile of Dragonrock Charcoal to his Pity Grass Furnace.

This would be the last time he used it.

The furnace that had served him for seven years… would no longer be his.

Of course—it was never truly his to begin with.