Backing away

"My assigned area is Star Luo Market."

"I'll have to come here often to enjoy your Spirit Tea in the future."

"A single Profound Gold Pill has exhausted my assets accumulated over a hundred years. I am now terribly poor."

"Welcome Chief Lu, to have some tea." Su Bai changed to the best Spirit Tea from his Storage Bag and brewed a pot for Lu Ming using his Alchemy Fire.

They showed their welcome to Lu Ming with concrete actions.

Lu Ming picked up the Spirit Tea without ceremony and drank it all in one gulp.

"Third Tier Cultivation Spirit Pill pills are ridiculously expensive."

"Even the salary of the Ministry of Justice would take a long time to accumulate enough spirit medicine for a single Third-tier Spirit Pill."

"I wonder how much longer it will take before I can advance to the Mid Golden Core."

Let's take it one step at a time.

"Jiu'er, whether my cultivation can improve in the future depends on when you can refine Third-tier Spirit Pill. Hurry up and advance to the Golden Core Stage."

Lu Ming's seemingly friendly words were indeed genuine.

Throughout the entire Profound Pill Market, with so many Alchemist, none of them had any Third-tier Spirit Pill for sale.

The Spirit Pills of the three Golden Core Stage Pavilion Master are never sold to the general public.

If Golden Core Stage Alchemist wants to refine Third-tier Spirit Pill, they must first provide the Spirit Medicine Ingredients for the Third-tier Spirit Pill. In addition, they must pay a refining fee, which is non-refundable regardless of whether the pill is successfully refined or not.

Furthermore, if Spirit Pills is successfully refined, and there are a large quantity of these Spirit Pills, the Alchemist has a tacit rule that they can share a portion of the Spirit Pills.

In conclusion, the Cultivation Spirit Pill used in the Golden Core Stage become increasingly precious, and the status of Golden Core Stage Alchemist becomes even more prominent.

Previously, Su Bai had already helped purchase Profound Gold Pill from True Man He. Now, Lu Ming was also aware of his own limitations and would not let Su Bai give him special treatment again; everything would be done according to the rules.

The Heavenly Star Alliance has so many Golden Core Cultivator, yet it relies on only a handful of Golden Core Stage Alchemist to produce Spirit Pills.

Even if he and Su Bai were very close, it was impossible for him to ask True Man He to give him special treatment.

However, if Su Bai himself advances to the Golden Core, he will be able to refine Third-tier Spirit Pill.

Given their relationship, they would be much easier to talk to than with ordinary people.

Su Bai shrugged. "I've already tried my best. Didn't you notice I've already advanced to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage?"

Lu Ming had naturally noticed Su Bai's current Cultivation Realm long ago, and gave Su Bai a thumbs up.

Only Su Bai's rapid advancement would make Lu Ming feel that he had a chance to consume the Third-tier Spirit Pill refined by Su Bai.

"Recently, the Ying Family's Ying Luo sold a limited batch of Third Tier Cultivation Spirit Pill, Yingning Pill. I used my connections to snag a batch, and the effects are quite good."

"I'm planning to gather a batch of Spirit Medicine Ingredients for Yingning Pill and have Alchemist Ying Luo refine them for me." Lu Ming took out a Yingning Pill and played with it in his hand.

The Golden Core Stage is the threshold for the three Pavilion Master to receive guests, but their expertise lies in Cultivation Spirit Pill, and the Spirit Medicine Ingredients are too expensive.

During this period, Ying Luo suddenly claimed that she could refine Cultivation Spirit Pill, and in order to enhance the reputation of the Ying Family, the cost of refining them was not high.

The Spirit Medicine Ingredients for Yingning Pill are relatively cheaper, so seeking out Ying Luo to refine pills has become the primary option for Golden Core Stage Alchemist who do not have sufficient funds.

Su Bai's lips twitched as he looked at the Yingning Pill in Lu Ming's hand.

Isn't this the Cultivation Spirit Pill I prepared for Ying Luo?

"What, you recognize this pill?" Lu Ming keenly noticed the change in Su Bai's expression.

"Ahem, it's nothing. I've just been working as Special Appointed Teacher at the Starlight Academy lately, and I happened to have some exchanges with Instructor Yingluo," Su Bai said.

"I see. I happen to have some questions about procuring the spirit medicine for Yingning Pill. Could you introduce me to Alchemist Ying Luo sometime so I can ask her some questions?" Lu Ming said.

Although he was Golden Core Stage Cultivator, Lu Ming was not Alchemist, and he often needed to find substitutes for Spirit Medicine Ingredients. Third-tier Spirit Pill were extremely complex, so it was normal for Lu Ming to have some questions.

If we don't ask clearly, Ying Luo if the spirit medicine we find turns out we can't refine it? That would be a huge loss.

Su Bai thought to himself, "Yingning Pill? No problem. I've refined it myself." He was about to suggest that he try to figure out how to make it for him.

Suddenly, a clear female voice rang out. "Alchemist Lu Jiu, I heard you're back."

A gentle breeze swept by, and a stunningly beautiful cultivator appeared in the tea room—it was Ying Luo.

However, Su Bai had not attended the alchemy class at the Starlight Academy for Alchemy Lineage long time, Ying Luo was worried that Su Bai might have stopped attending classes, so she came to find him herself to see what was going on.

"Senior Ying Luo, what brings you here? Please have a seat." Su Bai stood up and took out a jade cup for Ying Luo, pouring a cup of Spirit Tea for both Ying Luo and Lu Ming.

Ying Luo, trusting Su Bai implicitly, picked up the Spirit Tea and drank it all in one gulp.

"Ah? This is Alchemist Ying Luo?" Lu Ming was slightly surprised. It seemed that the relationship between Alchemist Ying Luo Lu Jiu was closer than he had imagined.

"And this is..." Ying Luo sized up Lu Ming without making a sound.

Su Bai immediately introduced the two to each other, "Lu Xing Si, this is the head of the Ying family, the head of the alchemy department at Xinghui Academy, Senior Ying Luo!"

"Senior Ying Luo, this is Chief Lu, one of the nine divisions of the Heavenly Punishment Platform."

Upon hearing this, Ying Luo frowned slightly and looked at Su Bai: "Lu Jiu, what trouble have you gotten into?"

"This is Chief Lu, right? Lu Jiu is Special Appointed Teacher at our Starlight Academy. Even if he has done something wrong, he can bypass your Heavenly Punishment Platform and be handed over to the Academy for punishment directly."

Lu Ming, having risen through the ranks of Punishment Officer investigators, possessed exceptional observational skills. After several exchanges, he had already vaguely sensed that Ying Luo's feelings for Su Bai were not ordinary.

Staying here would be incredibly unromantic.

He immediately cupped his hands in greeting and stood up. "Ying Luo Alchemist, you misunderstand. Alchemist Lu Jiu and I have been friends since the Alchemist Lu Jiu Foundation Establishment Realm. Although I have advanced to the Golden Core stage earlier, our friendship remains unchanged, and I still come to Lu Jiu's place to enjoy Spirit Tea."

"Since you two haven't seen each other for so long and have important matters to discuss, I won't disturb you any longer."

"Lu Jiu, I won't disturb you two perfect couple any longer. I'll be leaving now."

Su Bai's breath hitched, while Ying Luo's face flushed slightly.

Lu Ming turned to leave, but then suddenly remembered something, patted his head, and turned back. "By the way, Ying Luo Alchemist, I'd like to ask you to refine the Yingning Pill, but there's a problem with the Spirit Medicine Ingredients..."

Because of Lu Ming's previous words, Ying Luo knew that Lu Ming was Su Bai's good friend. And because his last sentence had just made things more ambiguous between her and Su Bai, which was originally just business dealings, Yingluo's attitude changed drastically. She carefully pointed out the problems with the Spirit Medicine Ingredients to Lu Ming.

After hearing this clearly, Lu Ming bowed in thanks, then quickly used his Escape Light to leave through the window without looking back.

Su Bai opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Lu Ming had already disappeared out the window.

"Have you been away from home recently?" Ying Luo sat down opposite Su Bai Su Bai, resting her chin on her hands and asking softly as she looked at him.

Su Bai nodded. "I went to the Southern Sea Cultivation World to search for the Profound Dome Bamboo, and as soon as I came back, I advanced to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage thanks to your [Profound Dome Breakthrough Pill]."

Ying Luo frowned slightly upon hearing this. "The Southern Sea Cultivation World... You, an Alchemist, have traveled so far."

What if something goes wrong?

"Next time you go this far, at least let me know."

Su Bai noticed Ying Luo's resentful gaze and could only nod awkwardly.

Seeing Su Bai still avoiding the issue, Ying Luo was also a little angry. She stood up and said, "I'm leaving now. Remember to come to class. The Disciple of the Alchemy Lineage miss you very much."

"I understand, I will continue to make time to go back to class," Su Bai replied slowly.

Instead of using her convenient Escape Light, she slowly descended the stairs of the tea room and walked out the door without hearing any footsteps following her. Only then did she angrily use her Escape Light technique to leave.

Inside the tea room, Su Bai sighed; he wasn't ready to take on the responsibility.