Chapter 60

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 60: The Former Mother-in-Law

If it had been an ordinary broken Pill Furnace, missing its Lid wouldn’t have mattered. But this was now a treasure developing spiritual awareness – something priceless beyond description! How could it remain incomplete? Without its original Lid, this supreme treasure’s future growth and advancement would surely be affected!

The moment this thought struck him, Fang Lie bolted from his cave dwelling and rushed straight to Baibao Zhai in Gentle Breeze Tower.

The Young Girl behind the counter jumped when Fang Lie burst through the door. Forcing a nervous smile, she asked, "How may I assist you?" Having realized Fang Lie might be a Great Pill Master, the formerly cheeky girl now treated him with utmost respect.

Fang Lie blinked at her sudden politeness. Hadn’t she doubted his credentials just days ago? Was this some scheme? Shrugging off suspicion – his undying nature made him fearless anyway – he demanded, "The Pill Furnace I bought here last time came without its Lid. I need the original one."

"You came all this way for… that?" The Young Girl’s expression wavered between amusement and disbelief.

"Don’t waste my time," Fang Lie said firmly. "I purchased your Pill Furnace, so you must provide its matching Lid."

"Very well," she sighed. "But while I search, perhaps you could meet my master? He’s been wanting to speak with you." After ushering Fang Lie into a private chamber, she hurried off to find the Lid.

The Shopkeeper entered with an ingratiating smile. "To what do we owe this honor?"

"I need the Lid for that Pill Furnace," Fang Lie stated bluntly.

"That old ten-spirit-stones junk?" The Shopkeeper’s eyebrows shot up. "Why bother with that rusted relic? Let me gift you our finest Pill Furnace instead!"

"I want what’s mine," Fang Lie crossed his arms. "Just the Lid."

"Please, take a better one free of charge!" The Shopkeeper insisted, sweat beading his forehead.

Fang Lie narrowed his eyes. "I don’t accept unearned favors. State your true purpose."

The Shopkeeper sighed. "A dear friend lies dying from the Ghost Gate’s Ultimate Skill – Lingering Ghost Palm. Only a Flawless Yuanyang Demon-Shaking Pill can save him."

"I know this pill," Fang Lie nodded. "The recipe isn’t complex, but requires two-thousand-year-old Solarbloom Grass. Even then, achieving Flawless quality…"

"Exactly!" The Shopkeeper wrung his hands. "We obtained the herb and engaged Mo Sect’s finest alchemist, but… failure. Another attempt is impossible – the herb’s too rare. Without this pill, my friend’s family will be destroyed."

Fang Lie studied him. "Last time, your apprentice thought me a fraud. Why approach me now?"

The Shopkeeper flushed. "After you left, I Inspected your Five Elements Detoxification Pills. The residual furnace flames matched that old Pill Furnace you bought. We were blind fools – you truly crafted Flawless Pills from scrap materials! Please, help us create this spirit pill. You’d be saving an entire family, accumulating boundless merit!"

"Hehe, I didn’t expect you to figure out my background from this!" Fang Lie smiled slightly, then said generously, "Alright, since you’ve spoken, Shopkeeper, I’ll agree. But I’m running a business—no free work here."

"Understood, understood! We’d never ask you to work for free!" The Baibao Zhai Shopkeeper brightened instantly. "Five hundred thousand spirit stones, and we’ll provide the Herbs. Though they aren’t fully matured, they’re close. What do you say?"

"Deal." Fang Lie nodded. "Bring them to me tomorrow."

"Done!" the Shopkeeper replied eagerly.

Fang Lie felt a surge of excitement. A single job meant five hundred thousand spirit stones! Alchemists really earned fast—his hands might as well be turning stone to gold!

Just then, the breathless Young Girl entered, holding a warped Pill Furnace Lid. "This is the original Lid," she said helplessly. "It’s nearly shattered. Are you sure you want it?"

Fang Lie took it and channeled his Magic to inspect it. Though the Lid looked battered, its core brimmed with pure medicinal essence, as if forged from spirit pills—identical to his own Pill Furnace. This was the real deal.

Satisfied, Fang Lie grinned. "This is it!"

"Now that you have it, I’ll take my leave." He stood to depart.

The Shopkeeper and Young Girl hurried to escort him out respectfully.

After leaving Baibao Zhai, Fang Lie rushed home.

He fitted the Lid onto his Pill Furnace—a perfect match. Relieved, he resumed alchemy, channeling his Magic to nurture the treasure and deepen their bond.

Fang Lie aimed to refine the Pill Furnace into one of his treasures. While useless in combat, it would revolutionize his alchemy.

Once its consciousness fully formed, he could even teach it to brew pills autonomously. All he’d need was to prepare Herbs, letting the Pill Furnace handle the rest—saving endless effort.

To Fang Lie, this was a living money tree!

Another day and night passed in the Pill Room. He emerged at dawn to join his siblings for breakfast.

But as they gathered, a voice transmission arrived from the Baibao Zhai Shopkeeper outside his cave dwelling. Though surprised by the early visit, Fang Lie guessed desperate relatives were pushing the man.

Understanding the urgency, Fang Lie didn’t complain. He brought Ice Second Brother, Fang Huo, Poison, and Dragon to greet them.

Outside stood three people: the Shopkeeper and a striking mother-daughter pair of Cultivators.

The moment Fang Lie’s group saw the women, their smiles vanished.

"Are they here for medicine?" Fang Lie asked coldly.

"Yes… is there an issue?" The Shopkeeper frowned, sensing trouble.

"If it’s them," Fang Lie snapped, "the deal’s off. Leave now." He turned sharply.

"Wait!" The Shopkeeper cried. "Young friend, let’s discuss this! If they wronged you, I’ll apologize on their behalf. Grant them an opportunity, please!"

"You can’t apologize for this." Fang Lie sneered at the pale-faced woman. "Right, my *former* mother-in-law?"

"Mother-in-law?!" The Shopkeeper paled. "What’s happening here?!"

Ice Second Brother scoffed. "This shameless woman signed a marriage contract with our eldest brother while his father lived. But after his death, she stormed in, beat us, and stole the contract!"

Fang Huo added mockingly, "She called us toads in a mud pit, swore she’d never return. Yet here she is—offering swan meat to toads now?"

"Hahaha!" Fang Lie and his brothers roared with laughter.