Next, it's time to prove myself.

Inside the Pill Room, the Dwarf King Alchemist's eyes were bloodshot, his spirit listless as he looked at the basket of pills still waiting to be refined, and a look of utter despair, as if life itself had lost all meaning, spread across his face.

These days, just the daily pill refining took eight hours. The remaining four hours were far too tight—not to mention eating, drinking, and relieving himself, he also had to recover his magic power and rest. If this kept up, he didn't know if he could hold out, but his body would surely be drained.

"Lin Chang'an!" Gritting his teeth, he could only roar in his heart to vent, hoping Lin Chang'an would fail.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring Pill Workshop, Alchemist Li was sweating profusely, his eyes fixed on the medicinal herbs being boiled, but compared to before, it was truly too easy.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, how generous."

Two men, two mindsets. At this moment, Lin Chang'an obtained the Golden Marrow Pill, instructed Alchemist Li on the steps for boiling the herbs, and then chose to go into seclusion. Now, the two of them were bound together—if one prospered, both prospered; if one fell, both fell.

If he didn't do well, he didn't even know if he'd have a share in refining Bigu Pills when he returned.

And at this moment, Lin Chang'an was in his own room, cultivating, preparing to break through.

Sitting cross-legged, Lin Chang'an seemed to merge with heaven and earth. Outwardly, he appeared still, but within him flowed a thick, pure, and unbroken stream of magic power.

Lin Chang'an slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid air. His deep, dark eyes revealed a steadiness that didn't belong to his age.

"No wonder they say the early and mid stages of Qi Condensation are a watershed. This is practically another world."

Feeling the changes in his body, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but let out a sigh of emotion. After breaking through to the mid stage of Qi Condensation, his five senses were abruptly elevated to an inconceivable level.

He could see farther and clearer, and even see in the dark. His hearing was dozens of times sharper than before; he could clearly hear the sound of insects moving more than ten zhang away from his room.

"The fourth layer of Qi Condensation—this is truly stepping onto the immortal path."

At the same time, his mind cleared. The childhood memories, blurred from two lifetimes, became incredibly vivid. Even the once obscure and difficult techniques and alchemy skills now brought him a sudden sense of enlightenment.

Lin Chang'an couldn't help but smile, the smile of one who had tasted bitterness and finally found sweetness. "Sharp ears and bright eyes, marrow cleansing and wisdom opening—this is a cultivator!"

The next moment, a transparent layer of magic power formed a protective shield around him. Lin Chang'an couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

"Only at the mid stage of Qi Condensation can one release magic power externally, forming a magic power shield, and even use some basic spells. From then on, immortals and mortals are truly separate!"

With a face full of comfort and ease, Lin Chang'an stretched his arms, stood up, and walked toward the door.

"The pills should be about ready to refine."

As he opened the door, he happened to catch Zhang Qing's envious gaze.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother."

Zhang Qing, at the sixth layer of Qi Condensation, could clearly see the surging magic power within Lin Chang'an through the Heavenly Eye Technique. It was obviously not the kind of magic power a cultivator at the early Qi Condensation stage could possess.

Facing Zhang Qing's congratulations, Lin Chang'an showed a rare, genuine smile. "I can't compare to you, Senior Brother Zhang Qing."

But upon hearing this, Zhang Qing's smile stiffened slightly. A flicker of dimness passed through his eyes, and he shook his head with a sigh. Only he knew his own situation.

"Junior Brother Lin has excellent talent, and having been accepted as a disciple by Elder Lu, your future prospects are limitless..."

Lin Chang'an also noticed the dimness in Zhang Qing's eyes and couldn't help but change the subject, asking curiously, "Senior Brother, what brings you here today?"

Hearing this, Zhang Qing slapped his forehead and said with a laugh, "Look at me, I almost forgot the real matter."

"I originally came to check on how the herbs were boiling, and I happened to sense the fluctuation of spiritual energy from Junior Brother's room." Zhang Qing explained with a full smile, then pointed at his own eyes.

"Since Junior Brother has broken through, you should be able to feel the gap between the early and mid stages of Qi Condensation. Some basic spells can now be used freely."

The two of them, chatting and laughing, walked together into the pill room where the herbs were being boiled. But the pungent, fishy stench was overwhelming. From a distance, they could see Alchemist Li inside the room, his face flushed red and his eyes wide, as he continuously stirred the sticky paste in the iron pot.

"Junior Brother, this is the Blood Spirit Pill you need."

Looking at the red jade bottle Zhang Qing handed over, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but show a grave expression.

The Blood Spirit Pill was a pill from the Devil Dao Sect. It stimulated potential by draining one's body and lifespan, making it a relatively precious pill.

"But Junior Brother, how do you plan to use this Blood Spirit Pill?" Zhang Qing was also quite curious. This pill was only used by those desperate enough to gamble with their lives.

Once taken, the pill required regular doses at set intervals. If not, one would suffer the unbearable pain of tendons being drawn and marrow being sucked, a fate worse than death. Few cultivators could endure it. Even if taken on time every time, within ten years of the first dose, one would inevitably lose their life from overdrawing their lifespan.

Facing Zhang Qing's curious gaze, Lin Chang'an revealed a confident smile.

"Senior Brother Zhang Qing, you may not know this. The reason the Blood Spirit Pill causes such immense pain when stopped is because it drains the body, creating a deficit. Taking it again is like using a fierce tiger as a remedy. In this vicious cycle, naturally, most cultivators can't last ten years."

At this point, Lin Chang'an paused, then shook his head. "Of course, there are other ways to avoid it. For example, if you make up for the body's deficit before the pain strikes, the suffering will naturally be lighter, and it's easier to stop."

"But these are all trivial. What matters is the dosage of this single Blood Spirit Pill. What I'm distributing are hundreds of Ascending Dragon Pills, which are already tonics."

At this moment, Lin Chang'an smiled, looking at Alchemist Li, who was rolling pills in the pill room.

"After diluting this Blood Spirit Pill a hundred times, the side effects are reduced to almost nothing. Instead, the slight drain actually has an aphrodisiac effect in certain pleasant matters, making it easier for people to become addicted and indulge."

The Ascending Dragon Pill was a tonic; the Blood Spirit Pill was a draining pill. Combined, the harm from the drain was minimized, and the combination of the two pills made it easier for cultivators to enter a deeper state during cultivation.

Zhang Qing was an experienced man. Hearing this, a look of sudden realization dawned on his face.

"So that's how it is. Junior Brother Lin, that's a brilliant move."

Although refining this pill was a bit underhanded, he had to admit the idea was incredible. Zhang Qing couldn't help but feel admiration. This time, the sect had really stumbled upon a treasure.

Lin Chang'an's mouth twitched. Did he think he wanted this? If he could join a major sect and have backing, even a dog wouldn't take this crooked path.

"Senior Brother, you misunderstand." Lin Chang'an couldn't let anyone get the wrong idea, so he put on a serious expression. This was a perfectly proper, good pill.

"Junior Brother's pill merely allows us cultivators to enter deeper mysteries. As long as one exercises restraint, it will hardly cause any harm to the body."

Saying this, Lin Chang'an almost believed it himself, and sighed with emotion. "After all, in this kind of cultivation, if you go too far, even without Junior Brother's pill, you'll still drain your body."

"And my pill fortifies the foundation and nurtures the origin, making it easier to improve the quality of one's offspring."

At this moment, Lin Chang'an wore a composed expression, as if those who took his pill ought to thank him for it. Zhang Qing, standing nearby, watched in utter speechlessness.

"Today is just the right time to open the furnace and refine pills." Watching Alchemist Li in the pill workshop carefully and cautiously finish grinding all the pill pellets, Lin Chang'an broke into a smile.

Zhang Qing also grinned broadly and nodded. "Junior Brother Lin, you've finally broken through—this calls for a celebration. Tonight, our best pill furnace will be freed up for you to use."

"Great!" Seeing Zhang Qing offer to celebrate for him, Lin Chang'an beamed. Only a fool would turn down a freebie.

Next came the moment to prove his extraordinary talent.

Thank you, fellow cultivators, for your support.