Chapter 953: Chapter 953

"Jialan Celestial Mountain," Nanli said, pausing briefly to gather her thoughts. "Prepare an alchemy cauldron and some herbs—you’ll need to bring them. You alone won’t be enough; make sure to bring a few skilled alchemists with you." Her voice was steady, carrying the weight of someone accustomed to giving instructions in critical moments.

"Understood. We’ll arrive before dawn," Shi Miaomiao replied crisply through the Telestone. As soon as she finished, the faint glow of the communication device flickered out, leaving the room in silence.

The group around Nanli stared, jaws practically on the floor. Bai Hao, in particular, was dumbfounded. He’d crossed paths with Shi Miaomiao a handful of times before, and her usual demeanor was anything but accommodating—she carried herself with an air of aloof superiority, as if everyone else were beneath her notice. Yet here she was, speaking to Nanli with a softness that bordered on reverence.

He squinted, perplexed. "She normally looks down her nose at people. Why’s she so gentle with you?"

Nanli shrugged casually. "Probably because I helped her out once."

Bai Hao scoffed, ready to dismiss it as a fluke, but then a memory sparked. His nephew had mentioned something about Shi Miaomiao—how she’d refined the legendary Heaven-Earth Spirit Pill, earning the support of the Shi family elders and securing her position as family head. He did some quick mental math, his suspicion growing.

Leaning in cautiously, he asked, "You didn’t... help her refine the Heaven-Earth Spirit Pill, did you?"

Nanli nodded, unfazed. "Yeah, I did."

A collective gasp sucked the air out of the room. The ten monks present—known collectively as the "Ten Virtues"—drew sharp breaths, their eyes wide with shock. Bai Hao’s lips trembled, his words stumbling out in a stutter. "W-What?! The Heaven-Earth Spirit Pill?! You mean... you’re not secretly the Shi family’s ancient ancestor, are you?!" His voice boomed, loud enough to echo off the walls.

Even Shan Yang, who’d been quietly observing from the sidelines, poked his head out, his face a mask of astonishment. "Master Nanli, just how many identities do you have?" he asked, half in awe, half in disbelief.

Nanli sighed, waving a hand dismissively. "I just figured out how to refine the Heaven-Earth Spirit Pill. That doesn’t make me the Shi family’s ancestor. Your imagination’s running wild."

"Just figured it out? You say ’just’ like it’s nothing!" Bai Hao huffed, flicking his sleeve in indignation.

"Do you have any idea how powerful that pill is? Back when the Shi family still had the recipe, they never lacked for elixirs. They were a dominant force in the Immortal World—untouchable! It was only after the Heaven-Earth Spirit Pill ran dry, combined with the decline of spiritual energy, that their influence waned and the Chi family overtook them."

He paused, his mind racing through the implications. The Chi family had recently suffered a devastating blow, leaving them a shadow of their former selves.

The Bai family, meanwhile, had preserved its strength and could’ve challenged the Shi family on equal footing. But now, with the Heaven-Earth Spirit Pill back in Shi hands, it wouldn’t take a decade—maybe just a year or two—for them to leave the Bai family in the dust.

Sure, the Bai and Shi families maintained a cordial alliance, but between massive clans, competition was inevitable.

The thought of the Bai family being trampled underfoot made Bai Hao’s teeth itch with frustration.

He glared at Nanli, exasperation bubbling over. "You’ve really got too much time on your hands!"

Her lips twitched into a wry grin, amused by his outburst. "You’re such a petty old man."

"Petty? This is about the Bai family’s future!" Bai Hao clenched his fists, his voice rising. "The Shi family’s going to be overflowing with talent, while my Bai family... our prospects are grim!"

Nanli watched him, half-expecting him to start pounding his chest in despair. She rolled her eyes.

"If it bothers you that much, why doesn’t the Bai family step up? The Shi family has the Heaven-Earth Spirit Pill, sure, but your clan’s alchemists could research other pills. Even without elixirs, your younger generation’s got plenty of talent, right? Healthy competition drives progress—when one family dominates, stagnation sets in. Instead of whining here, why not create or improve some techniques to benefit your descendants? A clan or sect’s legacy depends on the effort of every generation."

Bai Hao froze, her words sinking in. He was an elder, respected and deferred to by most, and no one had ever spoken to him so bluntly. Yet Nanli’s lecture hit him like a splash of cold water, clearing the fog from his mind.

His own talents had peaked at the Deity Forming stage—he’d accepted long ago that ascension to immortality was beyond him. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t pave the way for others. Even if his children, Xiangyu and Xiuyou, couldn’t reach the heavens, their children might.

As long as each generation of the Bai family strove forward, someday, one of them would brush the threshold of immortality.

Straightening up, he clasped his hands and bowed slightly, his tone earnest. "Divine Sovereign Nanli, your lesson is well-taken. From now on, I’ll muster every ounce of my energy—learning and growing until my last breath!"

This wasn’t just for himself, but for every Bai family member counting on a brighter future.

Nanli caught the glint in his eye and smirked. "You sly old fox. Planning to steal some tricks later, huh?"

Bai Hao didn’t bother denying it. He chuckled, rubbing his hands together. "Why not? You told me to work harder, so here I am, working hard! Divine Sovereign wouldn’t turn me down, right?"

He’d already pieced it together—Nanli had called Shi Miaomiao and her team for a reason, likely to refine some new elixir.

"Just call me Nanli," she said, exasperated. "You know how to refine pills?"

"I’ve dabbled a bit," he replied with a sly grin.

"I’m having Shi Miaomiao and her crew refine..." Nanli paused, improvising a name on the spot, "Beast Food Pills. Yeah, that’s it—Beast Food Pills. They’re not for humans. You can watch if you want; it’s not some secret formula."

"Beast Food Pills?" Bai Hao repeated, testing the words. "Not for humans, so they’re for..."

"Mythical beasts," Nanli finished.

"..." Bai Hao fell silent, momentarily stumped. What kind of idle nonsense was this? Learn to refine pet food?

She added, "Spirit beasts could probably eat them too."

He muttered under his breath, "You’d be hard-pressed to find a single spirit beast in the Immortal World these days."

Nanli shot him a look. "You’re so short-sighted. The Mu Nation’s spiritual energy is thriving now—it’s only a matter of time before spirit creatures emerge. Who knows when these pills might come in handy?"

"Right, right! Divine Sovereign’s got a point!" Bai Hao’s eyes lit up as the realization dawned. No spirit beasts today didn’t mean none tomorrow. Learning this could be a precaution—a stroke of foresight! Imagine using a Beast Food Pill to bond with a spirit beast someday.

The thought sent a thrill through him. He resolved then and there to study diligently when the time came.

Dawn broke soon after. Inside the house, Siheng remained locked in his healing trance, far from finished. Nanli, though she stepped outside, stayed within a meter of the door, keeping close watch.

True to her word, Shi Miaomiao arrived just before the first rays of sunlight kissed Jialan Celestial Mountain, leading ten alchemists in tow.

On the journey over, she’d rehearsed her approach: a polite greeting, maybe a warm embrace to show their closeness. The more familiar she appeared with Nanli, the firmer her grip on the Shi family leadership would become. After all, who in the Immortal World didn’t know that Jifeng Celestial Sovereign had slain the traitor Qingwu and returned to Jialan Celestial Mountain? Nanli was the Celestial Sovereign’s wife—a figure of immense influence.

Spotting a slender silhouette outside the house, Shi Miaomiao’s heart leaped. "Master!" she called, rushing forward, ready to bow in respect.

Nanli turned, her face as striking as ever—delicate features framed by an ethereal glow. But as she faced Shi Miaomiao, her pregnant belly came into full view, round and prominent against her otherwise lithe frame. Shi Miaomiao stopped dead, her mouth falling open. "You... your belly’s huge! Did a giant bug grow in there?!"

Nanli had been eager to catch up with her old apprentice, but that single, tactless outburst lodged a lump in her throat, silencing her warm intentions.