Translator: AnubisTL
With the deal finalized, Li Qing meticulously reviewed the spiritual contract, ensuring there were no loopholes or deceptive clauses, before signing it with True Monarch Tianbao.
"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist, you truly are a man of your word! Now that the contract is sealed, I won't linger any longer. I'll begin preparations immediately."
True Monarch Tianbao laughed heartily, clasping his hands in a fist salute, his face beaming with delight.
Li Qing returned the salute. "Then I'll leave it to you, Fellow Daoist Tianbao. Thank you for your efforts."
"Of course. But I must warn you beforehand: these spirit herbs need to be sourced from the merchant guild's headquarters, which will take considerable time. At the very least, expect a year and a half. Please be patient, Fellow Daoist."
Li Qing had no objections. Having come this far in the preparations, waiting another two or three years wouldn't matter. He understood the principle that good things often come with patience.
"I understand. Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Tianbao."
"Alright, no need to see me off. Farewell!"
With these words, True Monarch Tianbao swiftly departed, his figure vanishing into the horizon in an instant.
Watching the Nascent Soul True Monarch depart, Li Qing couldn't help but exhale in relief.
To be honest, even with the protection of a Fourth-Tier Grand Formation, interacting with a Nascent Soul True Monarch was immensely stressful, even if the other party harbored no ill intentions.
The sheer proximity between them meant that if the True Monarch had been malicious, Li Qing's fate would have been precarious indeed.
"Truly worthy of being a high-ranking member of the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild," Li Qing murmured in admiration. "Such integrity is truly trustworthy. Even with the temptation of a Millennial Dragon Blood Vine before him, he maintained his composure."
Had it been any other Nascent Soul cultivator, they likely wouldn't have bothered with polite negotiations.
The gap between their cultivation realms was simply too vast. Even though Li Qing was now only a hair's breadth away from the nascent soul realm, the difference remained as vast as heaven and earth.
In that moment, Li Qing's desire to advance to the nascent soul realm burned with renewed intensity.
Of course, he wouldn't attempt a breakthrough rashly before refining the Dragon Transformation Pill.
Only when every preparation was perfect would he dare to attempt such a momentous undertaking.
Just then, Dao Lord Bai Ling's voice echoed softly in his mind.
"Young man, would you do me another favor? In return, I'll personally refine that Dragon Transformation Pill for you."
Li Qing was momentarily stunned, then a wave of joy surged through him.
He had been pondering how to persuade this senior to refine such a crucial batch of pills. To his surprise, Dao Lord Bai Ling had taken the initiative.
"Senior Bai Ling, please don't hesitate to ask. Talking about compensation feels too formal between us," Li Qing replied, his voice brimming with delight.
Dao Lord Bai Ling remained unmoved by his flattery. "That little fellow named Cao Xiu—he's joined your sect, hasn't he?"
"Set up a few trials for him, and arrange some fortuitous encounters along the way. If he passes my tests, let him inherit my legacy."
Li Qing blinked in surprise, then readily agreed. "Is that all? This is right up my alley! Rest assured, Senior, I'll handle everything!"
Having already orchestrated trials for Xu Xia, Li Qing was now far more adept at such tasks.
After making inquiries within the sect, Li Qing confirmed that Cao Xiu had indeed joined the Lingyun Sect.
The trials arranged for Cao Xiu differed somewhat from those for Xu Xia.
The latter was being groomed for the sect leader position, so the primary focus of his trials was on his character and temperament. For Cao Xiu, however, the emphasis was on his innate talent.
Given his average spirit root aptitude, the only way for him to pass the trials was to demonstrate exceptional comprehension in various cultivation techniques.
According to Dao Lord Bai Ling's requirements, if Cao Xiu displayed sufficient aptitude in the four cultivation arts—alchemy, artifact refinement, formation mastery, and talisman crafting—he could barely pass, even with his mediocre spirit root aptitude.
In truth, Cao Xiu's achievement of foundation establishment as a rogue cultivator already proved his mastery of at least one cultivation art.
"This kid... he didn't choose artifact refinement after all. Instead, he joined the alchemy hall, even though I gave him an inheritance in artifact refinement," Li Qing remarked casually, glancing at the intelligence report on Cao Xiu.
"The alchemy hall... let me think."
Li Qing's brow soon smoothed out, and a simple plan formed in his mind.
Over the years, the Lingyun Sect had grown significantly, with a steady stream of new disciples joining its ranks.
As the number of disciples increased, so did the consumption of medicinal pills.
The sect's current reserves of basic pills were stretched thin, especially foundation establishment pills and those used by qi refining disciples, which were being depleted at an alarming rate.
Fortunately, Li Qing no longer needed to concern himself with these matters. With Xu Xia serving as Acting Sect Leader, these administrative burdens now fell squarely on his shoulders.
Under Li Qing's covert guidance, the Lingyun Sect organized its first-ever Pill Refining Grand Assembly.
Initially, many disciples were puzzled by this so-called "Grand Assembly," unsure of its purpose.
However, Acting Sect Leader Xu Xia quickly clarified the event's significance.
It was essentially a competition among the sect's pill refiners, a showcase of their skills. The rewards, however, were exceptionally enticing, stirring excitement among many disciples.
"The top ten finishers will each be allowed to select a spirit herb from the sect's medicinal treasury, valued at approximately 500 contribution points!"
"The top five will gain access to the sect treasury, allowing them to choose any treasure within!"
"The top three will receive an ancient pill formula bestowed by Ancestor Limitless himself!"
The announcement of these rewards for the Pill Refining Grand Assembly sent ripples of excitement through the sect. Not only pill refiners but even ordinary disciples and elders began breathing heavily, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
The rewards were almost frighteningly generous!
Immediately, every pill refiner in the sect began rubbing their hands together, preparing diligently for the upcoming assembly. Even disciples who usually kept their talents hidden felt compelled to register, drawn by the extraordinary prizes.
"Senior Bai Ling, the value of this ancient pill formula you've offered is truly remarkable," Li Qing remarked, sighing inwardly. An elder in the family is indeed a treasure, he thought, especially in the immortal realm, where the benefits of longevity were even more pronounced.
The ancient pill formula was for the Bone Tempering Pill, a formula long lost in the immortal realm, known only from ancient times.
As its name suggested, the Bone Tempering Pill could temper a cultivator's bones and tendons.
With long-term consumption of this pill, a cultivator's fleshly body would grow remarkably robust, even without practicing any body refinement techniques. At its peak, one could achieve a physique comparable to that of a second-tier demonic beast.
When combined with body refinement techniques, the effects would be even more pronounced.
For most cultivators with weak fleshly bodies, this pill formula was indeed exceptionally valuable.
Dao Lord Bai Ling remarked nonchalantly, "Just a second-tier body refinement pill formula. With the advancement of artifact refinement, cultivators increasingly neglect physical cultivation. It's only natural that such formulas would be lost to time."
This was indeed the current state of the immortal realm. Body cultivators were becoming increasingly rare, as even the most rigorously refined physique paled in comparison to the power of potent magical artifacts.
Everyone now prioritized cultivating daoist arts and divine abilities, further neglecting the refinement of their own fleshly bodies.
Cultivators like Li Qing, who balanced both, were becoming increasingly scarce.
Ten days later, with the rewards finalized, the Pill Refining Grand Assembly, which had captured the entire sect's attention, finally commenced.
Even disciples who knew nothing of Pill Refinement gathered to witness the spectacle.
However, only a few understood that the primary purpose of the Pill Refining Grand Assembly was to replenish the sect's stock of basic medicinal pills.
As for the true motive, only Li Qing and Dao Lord Bai Ling knew: this grand assembly was purely a test for Cao Xiu.
At the time, Li Qing couldn't have foreseen that this impromptu event would later become a tradition held every few years by the Lingyun Sect, evolving into a major event for the entire Azure Ridge Domain—its influence even surpassing the sect's ascension conference!
Of course, that was all in the future.
For now, fifty-six pill refiners from across the sect, including Cao Xiu, had registered to participate in the assembly.
Each participant was a pill refiner confident in their skills, believing they could distinguish themselves and secure a spot among the top ten to claim the rewards.
"Isn't that Elder Jiang from the alchemy hall? He looks so young!"
"Who can argue with that? Elder Jiang Han is already the most skilled pill refiner in the alchemy hall. He'll likely become a third-tier pill refiner soon!"
"Elder Jiang Han isn't just exceptional at pill refinement; his cultivation progress hasn't lagged behind either. He's already at the mid-foundation establishment stage, and the late foundation establishment realm is within reach!"
Among the fifty-six pill refiners, a strikingly handsome man in white robes stood with his hands clasped behind his back, radiating an air of exceptional refinement. He basked in the most fervent gazes of respect and admiration.
Clearly, Elder Jiang Han held considerable prestige within the Lingyun Sect, even becoming the secret object of affection for many female disciples.
Li Qing, observing from the shadows, recalled his own impressions of this alchemy elder. Watching these spirited elders and disciples, he felt the Lingyun Sect was flourishing more than ever.
Soon, the Pill Refining Grand Assembly commenced.
The assembly consisted of three rounds, with victory determined solely by pill refinement skill, devoid of any other considerations.
As the atmosphere reached its peak, Acting Sect Leader Xu Xia stepped forward with a gentle smile and announced the rules of the assembly.
"The first round of pill refinement will focus on the Foundation Nurturing Pill. Each participant may refine three furnaces. Victory will be determined by the number of pills produced and their quality!"
"If the number of pills and their quality are similar, the refinement time will be used to break the tie. This standard will apply to the subsequent two rounds as well."
"The top thirty participants from the first round will advance to the second round. Fellow sect members, please give your best effort and avoid wasting these hard-earned spirit herbs."
With these words, Xu Xia retreated to the rear, allowing the participants to begin showcasing their skills.
Soon, each of the fifty-six competitors received three sets of materials for refining the Foundation Nurturing Pill, and the grand assembly commenced!
Every pill refiner on the stage immediately retrieved their cauldrons and began preparing for the refinement.
Boom!
Flames of various colors erupted from the refiners' hands. Most foundation establishment realm elders used their innate true fire, while disciples without true fire drew upon the Earth Core Fire through the array here—both excellent flames for pill refinement.
Of course, some cultivators employed unique methods, such as taming fire-attribute demon beasts and using the flames exhaled by these creatures to aid in their refinement.
Some disciples possessed unique alchemy cauldrons capable of emitting flames comparable to innate true fire, demonstrating considerable power.
Unfortunately, Li Qing didn't detect anyone using heavenly spirit fire among the disciples. Had such a flame been present, he would have sensed it immediately.
Beyond this, the alchemy cauldrons varied greatly. The most striking was Elder Jiang Han's, a top-grade magical artifact with a deep, dark-red luster—truly extraordinary!
"Heh, I must say, this Pill Refining Grand Assembly is quite a spectacle," Li Qing mused secretly, despite his vast experience. "From the flames to the cauldrons to the refinement techniques, everything is so diverse and captivating."
However, regardless of the flashy displays, the ultimate measure remained the same: the quantity and quality of the refined pills!
Thus, every pill refiner focused intently, holding nothing back.
Throughout the process, Li Qing's attention remained primarily fixed on Cao Xiu.
Having joined the sect relatively recently and possessing a reserved demeanor, Cao Xiu had attracted little attention.
His alchemy cauldron was of ordinary quality, lacking any ostentatious features. He employed his innate true fire for refinement, and his techniques were conventional, revealing no remarkable skills.
Yet his movements were remarkably steady. He handled each spirit herb with meticulous focus, remaining completely unfazed by the surrounding commotion.
Unable to discern much, Li Qing directly asked, "Senior Bai Ling, what do you think of this Cao Xiu?"
Dao Lord Bai Ling casually replied, "His fundamentals are solid. His cauldron warming, fire control, and understanding of spirit herb properties are all quite good. Moreover, he seems to be conserving his spiritual energy, likely preparing for the next two rounds."
"By Second-Tier Alchemist standards, he's not bad."
Not bad!
Li Qing was slightly startled. This assessment came from a fifth-tier alchemist—no small praise.
This put Li Qing's mind at ease.
The most crucial aspect of the Pill Refining Grand Assembly he had arranged for Cao Xiu was for him to secure a top-three finish, thereby obtaining the Bone Tempering Pill formula provided by Dao Lord Bai Ling.
If Cao Xiu couldn't even make it into the top three, he would fail the first trial and fail to gain Dao Lord Bai Ling's approval.
Only by obtaining the pill formula for the Bone Tempering Pill could the subsequent trials and opportunities be arranged.
Time flowed leisurely, and the ripples caused by the Pill Refining Grand Assembly within the sect grew ever larger, drawing more disciples and elders to observe.
In the first round, refining the Foundation Nurturing Pill, Cao Xiu advanced to the top thirty without any major difficulties.
The second round required refining the Purple Yang Pill, with each participant receiving two sets of spirit herbs for the task.
Upon seeing the pill formula, some first-tier alchemist disciples immediately withdrew from the competition.
The Purple Yang Pill was a second-tier pill, a precious medicine used by foundation establishment cultivators to refine their mana and enhance their cultivation.
First-tier alchemists, newly acquainted with this pill formula, would find it virtually impossible to refine.
In this second round, the top fifteen alchemists from the remaining thirty would advance to the third round. Even with some withdrawals, the competition remained fierce.
As sporadic muffled explosions echoed through the hall, the crowd's tension grew palpable.
Sure enough, some less skilled pill refiners had already begun to blow up their furnaces.
This was only natural. For pill refiners unfamiliar with the Purple Yang Pill formula, such mishaps were common during their first attempt at refining it.
Cao Xiu, however, maintained his steady technique and skill. Both of his refining attempts were successful, producing finished pills!
As furnace after furnace of Purple Yang Pills were refined, the square hosting the Pill Refining Grand Assembly gradually filled with the rich aroma of medicinal pills.
Ultimately, Cao Xiu advanced to the third round!
Only fifteen pill refiners remained in this final round, representing the pillars and core members of the alchemy hall. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that these individuals were the foundation upon which the entire alchemy hall rested.
It was at this point that disciples and elders finally began to take notice of Cao Xiu.
This seemingly unassuming and unfamiliar elder had demonstrated remarkably exceptional pill refining skills.
"For the third round, each participant will have only one attempt. The pill to be refined is the foundation establishment pill!"
"The rewards for the victor should be self-evident. I urge you all to seize this opportunity!"
With these words, the third round of Pill Refinement commenced swiftly.
No cultivator was unfamiliar with the foundation establishment pill!
After establishing a close partnership with the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild, obtaining the primary spirit herbs for refining foundation establishment pills became significantly easier for the Lingyun Sect.
Moreover, the heaven and earth spiritual energy in the Azure Ridge Domain was growing increasingly dense, and sightings of second-tier demonic beasts were becoming more frequent.
Due to these combined factors, gathering a complete set of spirit herbs for a batch of foundation establishment pills was no longer as arduous as scaling the heavens.
Upon receiving the spirit herbs, the fifteen pill refiners immediately immersed themselves in this final, decisive round of refining. Each one was utterly focused, determined to avoid any mistakes that could lead to elimination.
Yet, among fifteen competitors, some were destined to fall short.
Two days passed in a flash, and the results of the third round finally surfaced.
First place went to Elder Jiang Han. His furnace had yielded eight foundation establishment pills, with not a single waste pill or substandard product among them—every pill possessed normal potency!
This outcome was astonishing. Even Li Qing, who knew nothing of pill refinement, couldn't help but feel awestruck.
Eight foundation establishment pills from a single furnace? Such a yield was simply staggering.
"Heh, that fellow must have used some special secret technique," Dao Lord Bai Ling remarked casually, showing little concern. "Achieving such a feat couldn't have been easy; he likely paid a considerable price."
The second-place result also surprised many: Cao Xiu, an elder with little renown and an unfamiliar face.
His furnace yielded seven pills: one was a waste pill, one was a low-grade pill, and the remaining five were standard-quality foundation establishment pills.
Third place went to a veteran elder from the alchemy hall, a survivor of the Lingyun Sect's destruction and now quite aged.
His furnace produced five pills with no waste pills, only one low-grade pill. However, among the remaining four pills was a high-grade foundation establishment pill, whose value slightly exceeded that of a standard-quality pill.
In truth, the scores of second and third place were nearly identical, making a tie not unreasonable.
However, since the rewards for the top three were the same, no one contested the ranking.
Thus, the Lingyun Sect's Pill Refining Grand Assembly concluded amidst much fanfare. Cao Xiu's name officially gained prominence within the sect, attracting considerable attention.
Sensing the benefits the assembly had brought to the sect, Xu Xia proposed to Li Qing that future assemblies be considered every six years.
Li Qing waved his hand decisively, approving the proposal immediately.
The Pill Refining Grand Assembly would not only replenish the sect's medicinal reserves but also enrich the cultivation lives of the disciples and inspire the sect's pill refiners.
With nothing to lose and everything to gain, there was no reason to refuse.
After the assembly concluded, the ten outstanding pill refiners were rewarded accordingly.
Soon, the contents of the ancient pill formula awarded to the top three were revealed!
The pill was called the Bone Tempering Pill, a body refinement elixir.
Upon learning the pill's name and purpose, most disciples and elders quickly lost interest, with only a handful who practiced body arts showing any enthusiasm.
However, the three recipients of the formula couldn't help but reveal their surprise and delight after reviewing its detailed description.
The second-tier pill formula required mostly common and relatively inexpensive spirit herbs, with only one exception: the rare Chicken Heart Grass spiritual herb.
This herb could be harvested in a perilous area of the Azure Ridge Domain called Chicken Crest Mountain. While considered dangerous, this was only true for cultivators in the qi refining realm. Foundation establishment cultivators could venture there safely with caution.
In essence, with this pill formula, the trio could acquire a physique comparable to a second-tier demonic beast at minimal cost!
Although body refinement was rare in the modern immortal realm, no one would refuse such a nearly free second-tier physique. After all, an extra skill meant an extra layer of security.
Cao Xiu and the others were all eager to gather Chicken Heart Grass from Chicken Crest Mountain and refine the Bone Tempering Pill.
"Heh, the setup is finally complete. With a little guidance, Cao Xiu will stumble into this cave abode soon enough."
Unbeknownst to anyone, behind a waterfall on Chicken Crest Mountain lay a natural cave hidden behind the cascading water.
Li Qing emerged effortlessly from this watery grotto, his expression radiating satisfaction with his meticulous preparations.
Within that cave lay the second trial and opportunity that Li Qing and Dao Lord Bai Ling had prepared for Cao Xiu.
Passing this trial would prove Cao Xiu's exceptional talent in both array formations and talisman crafting.
Li Qing had initially suggested that Dao Lord Bai Ling directly bestow his inheritance upon Cao Xiu and use straightforward methods to assess his aptitude in various cultivation arts.
However, Dao Lord Bai Ling argued that opportunities gained without effort are rarely cherished. He preferred this subtle approach, allowing Cao Xiu to gradually earn the complete inheritance step by step.
Li Qing could offer no further objections.
The arrangements were meticulously crafted, leaving no room for suspicion. Instead, they would reinforce Cao Xiu's belief that he was the chosen one, destined for great fortune and extraordinary opportunities.
As for Cao Xiu, who was likely to develop such notions, Li Qing silently wiped a bead of sweat from his brow and sighed:
"Every gift of fate comes with a hidden price tag."
(End of the Chapter)
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