The Imperial Alchemy Hall burned bright as day.
Seven massive black iron furnaces stood in perfect formation, ancient inscriptions glowing faintly along their rims. Beneath each furnace, controlled flames roared steadily as dense spiritual energy gathered into visible mist, coiling through the hall like clouds caught in a cage.
The air itself trembled.
Xiao Xuanyin stood at the center.
His robes whipped violently in the turbulent currents, yet his posture was immovable. His expression remained cold and composed, eyes sharp as blades. Every movement of his hands was precise, every command measured to the breath.
This was his first attempt at large-scale alchemy.
Not for personal cultivation.
But for the empire.
"Furnace Seven," he said calmly, his voice carrying effortlessly across the hall,"stabilize the flame for three more breaths."
The imperial alchemists were drenched in sweat. Their backs were soaked, hands trembling from strain, yet none dared hesitate.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
To the side, Su Wan sat casually on a jade bench, legs crossed, phone resting in her hand.
No takeout orders this time.
Instead, lines of modern data glowed faintly on the screen.
[High-Calorie Supply][Stamina Recovery][Endurance Enhancement][Long-Term Consumption Safety: High]
She looked up.
"For soldiers," she said, "the pill doesn't need to be high-grade."
"Stable effects, no side effects, low cost.""That's what matters on the battlefield."
Xiao Xuanyin nodded once.
"I know."
His fingers shifted.
The flames beneath all seven furnaces receded simultaneously, obedient as trained hounds.
"Open the furnaces."
Seven heavy lids lifted at the same time.
A wave of fragrance surged upward—dense, warm, overwhelming.
One by one, pills rolled out.
Smooth.Warm.Faintly glowing.
Body-Strengthening Pills.
Safe for mortals.No side effects.One pill could replace three days of meals and a month of brutal training.
Xiao Xuanyin picked one up, rolling it between his fingers.
"…Enough."
That single word decided the fate of millions.
That same day, the first batch was sent to the border armies.
Three Days Later
A military report stormed into the capital.
The messenger knelt in the grand hall, armor still dusted with road grime, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Reporting to Your Majesty!"
"Border troops marched a hundred miles without fatigue!"
"Training intensity doubled—no casualties!"
"Morale—" He swallowed hard. "Morale is unprecedented!"
The court fell into dead silence.
Then—
An uproar.
"This… this is divine medicine!"
"His Majesty truly possesses immortal fortune!"
"Our dynasty—will rise!"
Xiao Xuanyin raised one hand.
Silence returned instantly.
"This pill," he said evenly,"will continue to be refined."
A pause.
"But it will not be distributed freely."
Every official's heart skipped.
"For the army," he continued, "it will be allocated by the state."
"As for civilians, nobles, and great clans—"
His gaze swept across the hall, calm and merciless.
"They will buy it."
A ripple went through the court.
Before anyone could react, Su Wan spoke softly from the side—
"And quantities will be limited."
The impact was immediate.
Limited supply.
Guaranteed demand.
Complete monopoly.
Some officials paled.
Some swallowed hard.
Some—very few—smiled in realization.
That day, the capital exploded.
Outside the Imperial Alchemy Hall, crowds packed the streets. Nobles queued in full ceremonial dress. Great clans sent stacks of invitation cards thicker than account books.
Even elderly ministers who prided themselves on restraint whispered urgently—
"Your Majesty… could this old servant reserve just two pills?"
Xiao Xuanyin smiled faintly.
"All proceeds," he said,"go directly to the national treasury."
He paused, then added—
"Prices will be tiered."
"Commoners may purchase a limited amount.""Nobles pay triple.""Great clans pay tenfold."
No one objected.
Not a single one.
Because refusal meant exclusion.
By nightfall—
The treasury ledgers could no longer keep up.
Silver flowed in faster than scribes could record.
The Minister of Revenue collapsed onto the floor, face pale as death.
"Y-Your Majesty…"
"There's nowhere left to store the silver."
"…It won't fit."
Xiao Xuanyin: "..."
Su Wan peeked inside the treasury.
Silver ingots piled like hills. Gold bricks reflected cold, blinding light.
She clicked her tongue.
"You're making money faster than bandits."
Xiao Xuanyin replied calmly,
"This is voluntary trade."
"And frankly," he added,"they're the ones benefiting."
That night, Xiao Xuanyin returned to the alchemy hall.
This time—
Not for the empire.
But for himself.
The furnaces burned lower, purer.
Su Wan leaned against the doorway, watching his back.
"Have you ever thought," she asked suddenly,"what happens to them if you ascend one day?"
Xiao Xuanyin did not pause his movements.
"I will arrange everything."
Then he looked up—toward the unseen heavens.
"And besides," he said quietly,"I may not leave so soon."
At that moment—
Su Wan's phone lit up.
Not takeout.Not novels.
A strange notification appeared.
[Abnormal Energy Fluctuation Detected][Analyzing Imperial Fortune…][Result: Massive Convergence]
Her heart tightened.
Almost simultaneously—
A pillar of clear light erupted from the furnace, piercing straight through the roof and into the sky.
The heavens trembled.
Xiao Xuanyin's body shook.
Within his mind, a low, ancient voice echoed—
Mortal fortune has converged.The path of cultivation is open.
He opened his eyes.
For the first time—
His gaze pierced beyond the mortal world.
Su Wan stared at her screen.
A new line had appeared.
[Main Quest Activated][Ascension Preparation in Progress][Estimated Difficulty: Extreme]
They looked at each other.
Neither spoke.
But both understood—
This empire was no longer just a stepping stone.
It was fuel.
And the real game—
Had only just begun.