I attained sainthood through alchemy on the cliff.

Chapter 49 Jade Marrow

The morning after Yang Jin left, the blacksmith shop opened half an hour later than usual.

With his back hunched, Chen Shan carried a rough pottery pot, about the size of a palm, carefully wrapped in old cotton cloth, and walked slowly but firmly to the door of the wooden house next door.

His thin fingers tapped lightly three times on the door.

The door was pulled open almost immediately, revealing Qingluan's icy face.

When she saw it was Chen Shan, a faint look of surprise flashed across her eyes, and she stepped aside.

Shen Qingyun was sitting at the only wooden table in the room, holding a yellowed parchment map in her hand, seemingly studying something.

Hearing the noise, he looked up and saw the cloth bag in Chen Shan's hand. A look of understanding flashed in his eyes, which was then covered by a deeper interest.

"Master Chen? A rare guest, please come in." Shen Qingyun put down the map, her smile as gentle as ever.

Chen Shan entered the room but did not sit down. Instead, he gently placed the pottery pot he was carrying on the table and unwrapped the old cotton cloth.

The pottery jars are rough, and some are even crooked, which are the most common inferior products in the Heishan'ao earthen kilns.

However, the spout was tightly sealed with a cork, and the gaps were carefully sealed with wax.

"This is what Yang Jin asked me to pass on to Young Master Shen before he left." Chen Shan's voice was hoarse and dry, as if each word took a lot of effort. "He said... he was grateful for the guidance he received from Young Master and Miss Qingluan these past few days, and he had no way to repay them. He happened to remember that Young Master had mentioned that Miss Qingluan's cultivation required earth vein jade marrow. He... he was lucky enough to find this little bit when he was hiding in the mine."

As Chen Shan spoke, he uncorked the cork.

Instantly, a warm and mellow aura, containing the pure vitality of the earth, spread out; though not strong, it was incomparably pure.

Inside the earthenware pot, there was a small amount of a thick, paste-like liquid with a warm, lustrous color like chalcedony.

It is indeed earth vein chalcedony!

Although the quantity is small, the quality is top-notch, and it is sufficient to serve as a medicinal guide in alchemy to assist in the refining of the "Ice Marrow Nourishing Organs Pill"!

The moment Qingluan saw the jade marrow, her pupils suddenly contracted, and her usually calm aura began to fluctuate noticeably!

This chalcedony held immense significance for her!

Shen Qingyun's smile faltered slightly, then deepened.

He extended his finger, dipped it into a trace of chalcedony, and rubbed it between his fingertips, feeling the pure and peaceful energy within. He nodded: "It is indeed earth vein chalcedony, and even the core essence. Its quality is extremely high, and it can be used as a medicinal guide."

He looked at Chen Shan, his gaze seemingly piercing through the old blacksmith's hunched back: "Yang Jin... you've put your heart into it. But why didn't he hand it to me personally, or to Qingluan? Why did he have to trouble Master Chen to pass it on?"

Chen Shan lowered his eyelids, as if looking at his shoes covered in charcoal ash, and slowly said, "That child... is awkward. He said that you and Miss Qingluan are of noble status, and he, a crude apprentice, is afraid that offering something inappropriate in person would be disrespectful to such noble people. He is also afraid... afraid that you might misunderstand him as having ulterior motives. He asked this old man to pass it on, after all... it's a token of an elder's goodwill, and perhaps you won't refuse it."

These words, half true and half false, cleverly portrayed Yang Jin's possible "guilt" and his image of "being grateful but not good at socializing".

This not only explained why he didn't deliver it in person to avoid facing Shen Qingyun's scrutiny and questioning, but also cloaked the act of giving the gift in a simple, even somewhat clumsy, guise of gratitude.

Shen Qingyun listened quietly, her fingers unconsciously tapping the table, making soft, rhythmic sounds.

He certainly didn't believe Chen Shan's explanation.

Yang Jin dared to kill even Han Li, and dared to face the swarm of insects in the mine. How could he be timid and afraid of offending a nobleman?

This is more like a statement, or... a deliberate act of distancing and drawing boundaries.

Presenting chalcedony is a tangible way of "repaying" kindness, showing that he remembers the favor and is willing to pay the price.

However, by not delivering it personally but instead having Chen Shan pass it on, a buffer was created between the two.

This means: I appreciate your guidance and am willing to provide the resources you need, but we are not in a direct, intimate subordinate or master-disciple relationship, at least not at present.

This is a cautious and distant approach to cooperation.

"This kid... he's really overthinking things." Shen Qingyun finally smiled, put the lid on the pottery pot, and pushed it to Qingluan, who was staring intently at him. "Since it's his kind intention, we'll accept it. Qingluan, keep it safe; it's one of the keys to your breakthrough."

Qingluan accepted the pottery pot with both hands, her movements unusually solemn.

She looked at Chen Shan, and for the first time, her cold eyes revealed an extremely complex emotion to anyone other than Shen Qingyun—surprise, scrutiny, and an indescribable sense of gratitude.

She nodded slightly to Chen Shan, without saying a word, but it was a huge change in attitude.

"Thank you for passing it on, Master Chen." Shen Qingyun stood up, walked to the window, and looked in the direction of the blacksmith's shop. Her tone was calm but carried a certain weight. "I have received his kindness. I will remember this 'return gift.' I wish him all the best in his trials."

Chen Shan nodded silently, said no more, turned and left the wooden house. His back was still hunched, but it seemed to straighten a little.

Inside the room, Shen Qingyun played with the warm, smooth jade pendant, her eyes sparkling.

"Young master, this jade marrow..." Qingluan held the pottery pot, her voice still clear and cold, but with less chill.

"Put it away safely. Contact Elder Yao as soon as possible and start preparations with the Snow Jade Ginseng and Cold Pool Orchid. Once the Mysterious Ice Dew arrives, start refining the pills immediately," Shen Qingyun instructed, a smile playing on her lips. "Interesting... This kid is not only a hard rock, but also a quick-witted one. He knows how to use resources to exchange for space and how to draw boundaries with favors. The more he does this, the more curious I become about what he has to offer in terms of his abilities and the origin of this jade marrow."

"That trial..."

"Just keep an eye on it. This chalcedony at least shows that he has the willingness to 'cooperate'." Shen Qingyun's gaze was distant. "Let's see how far he can go. A qualified 'iron knife' is much more useful than an unfathomable 'stubborn stone'."

Meanwhile, Yang Jin had already embarked on the dirt road leading to the Black Wind Mountains.

He walked briskly, carrying a simple bag on his back and a thick-backed woodcutter's knife, which Chen Shan had re-polished, hanging at his waist.

In his arms, Ah Huo nestled in the inner pocket, conveying a sense of gentleness and curiosity.

Atu followed closely behind, moving stealthily underground.

After leaving Heishan'ao, the mountain road gradually widened, and more and more people appeared.

After half a day, a relatively open plain appeared ahead, with neat houses, which was Qing Shi Town.

Within the town, most of the properties that originally belonged to the three major martial arts schools, such as the escort agency, martial arts arena, and shops, have been sealed off and are now deserted.

Pedestrians on the street mostly talked about the destruction of the three major martial arts schools and the ruthless methods of the Jing'an Division's Silver Knife Guards.

As Yang Jin walked past the market in the center of town, his steps involuntarily stopped.

There stood a tall flagpole, at the top of which hung a head that had been simply treated with lime, dried and shrunken, with a hideous and terrifying appearance.

His hair was dry and brittle like tangled weeds, his skin was dark yellow and taut, and his eyes were just two black holes, but one could still vaguely make out his signature expression, full of resentment and bitterness.

Liu Zhenwei!

The once powerful and cunning mastermind of the Iron Bone Martial Arts School, who nearly dragged Black Mountain Valley into hell, is now reduced to his head, which hangs here exposed to the sun and wind, serving as a warning and a testament to the authority of the Jing'an Division.

Yang Jin stared quietly at the head, feeling little pleasure but rather a complex mix of emotions.

There is emptiness after hatred dissipates, a sense of the capriciousness of fate, and a hint of warning—on the path of martial arts, the strong are respected, but too much scheming and too ruthless actions, even if one gains power for a time, will inevitably lead to the day when the towering building collapses.

Liu Zhenwei's fate is a living example.