Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion

Li Chengjie thanked her repeatedly, his heart full of anticipation and a trace of unease as he waited quietly to the side.

After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Lin Zixue finished handling her miscellaneous affairs and led Li Chengjie through Falling Cloud City's magnificent gates.

The sight within the city secretly startled Li Chengjie. Broad streets, wide enough for ten carriages to travel abreast, were paved with Lapis Lazuli and smooth as mirrors;

Pavilions and towers stood thick on either side, their upturned eaves and ornate brackets imposing beyond measure;

The cultivators passing by generally possessed stronger auras than those in Qingshi Market. Late Qi Refining stage cultivators were everywhere, and every so often, he could even sense the unfathomable, restrained Spirit Pressure of Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.

The air was thick with Spiritual Energy and faint herbal and pill fragrances, all of it proclaiming this place's prosperity and profound foundations.

Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion stood in a relatively quiet area in the west of the city. It was a grand seven-story pagoda occupying a vast expanse, built entirely of warm white Spirit Jade. Faint streams of light flickered across its body, while the four large characters, "Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion," danced like dragons and flew like phoenixes across the plaque above its entrance, subtly radiating scorching yet pure fluctuations of fire-attribute Spiritual Power.

Lin Zixue was clearly a frequent visitor here. The guarding disciples all respectfully bowed when they saw her.

Lin Zixue led Li Chengjie straight through the front hall and arrived before a secluded courtyard planted with many spiritual flowers and exotic herbs.

"If Master is not refining pills, he usually cultivates quietly here or instructs his disciples," Lin Zixue softly told Li Chengjie.

She then smoothed her robes and respectfully bowed toward the courtyard gate. "Disciple Lin Zixue requests an audience with Master."

"Come in." A gentle voice carrying an unquestionable authority came from within the courtyard.

The courtyard gate opened on its own without a breath of wind.

Lin Zixue gestured for Li Chengjie to follow, and the two entered the courtyard.

Beneath an Ancient Pine sat a middle-aged cultivator in a pale gold robe. His face was lean and refined, and faint flashes of brilliance flickered in his eyes whenever they opened and closed. He sat upon a prayer mat, idly turning a crimson-red ore in his hand.

His aura was as deep as the sea. Though he had deliberately restrained it, the Spirit Pressure belonging to a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator still made Li Chengjie's breath catch.

Almost the instant he saw this man, the notification in Li Chengjie's mind rang out uncontrollably once more, clearer and more urgent than when it had detected Zhao Qianfeng:

[Replicable Target detected: 'Jin Leiwei' (Foundation Establishment Early Stage). Replicable Items: cultivation technique Experience and Insights for True Sun Fire Art, Foundation Establishment Insight Experience, Second-tier Low-grade Alchemy (Foundation Nourishing Pill, Jade Dew Pill, and seventeen other types), identification experience from Compendium of Herbs... Estimated Replication Point cost: 500,000 points.]

Five hundred thousand points!

Li Chengjie's heart shook violently, and he nearly failed to keep his expression under control.

Both were at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, yet Jin Leiwei required five times as many Replication Points as Zhao Qianfeng!

The overwhelming majority of that vast difference clearly came from the "Second-tier Low-grade Alchemy" and the many precious pill formulas it contained—especially that "Foundation Establishment Pill (Incomplete)"!

At this moment, the value of alchemy experience and pill formulas was displayed in full!

Li Chengjie forcibly suppressed the tempestuous waves in his heart and lowered his head, not daring to let the other man notice anything unusual.

"Master,"

Lin Zixue respectfully saluted him, then turned slightly to introduce him. "This is Alchemist Li Chengjie, whom this disciple met in Qingshi Market. Alchemist Li's pill-refining skills are superb. He is especially skilled at removing impurities, and the quality of his finished pills is exceptional. Due only to the upheaval in Qingshi Market, he ended up stranded here. This disciple believes him to be a talent worth employing, which is why I have specially recommended him to Master. I hope Master can give Alchemist Li an opportunity."

Jin Leiwei's gaze fell upon Li Chengjie as tangibly as substance, inspecting him from head to toe. His tone was calm and unruffled. "Oh? Li Chengjie? Zixue rarely praises anyone so highly. Who is your master, and what rank of alchemist are you now?"

Li Chengjie hurriedly bowed and answered truthfully. "In reply to Senior Jin, this junior has no clear master. Most of what I have learned came from my own exploration and study of ancient texts. While in Qingshi Market, I was fortunate enough to become an alchemist and was considered to possess the standard of a first-tier mid-grade alchemist."

Li Chengjie did not dare overstate his abilities and truthfully stated that he was first-tier mid-grade.

"Self-taught? First-tier mid-grade?" Jin Leiwei's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Clearly, he was not particularly satisfied with that answer.

Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion was an important sect stronghold and placed considerable importance on an alchemist's lineage and foundation.

Jin Leiwei's tone remained level. "Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion has its rules. Anyone wishing to enter must undergo an assessment. Even Zixue's recommendation cannot exempt you from it. Do you understand?"

"This junior understands! I am willing to undergo Senior's assessment!" Li Chengjie answered without hesitation.

This was only to be expected, and it was also his sole path to proving himself.

Jin Leiwei nodded and said to Lin Zixue, "Zixue, bring a set of ingredients for a Harmony Qi Pill. Have him refine a batch here in the courtyard. I will personally observe his Heat Control and Pill Formation techniques."

"Yes, Master!" Lin Zixue answered and left. Before long, she returned with a high-quality set of Harmony Qi Pill ingredients.

Li Chengjie knew the critical moment had arrived.

Li Chengjie walked to an open space in the middle of the courtyard. He first saluted Jin Leiwei, then sat down cross-legged and took out the somewhat old but well-maintained dark-red pill furnace that he had luckily managed to bring with him during the evacuation.

A first-tier low-grade pill furnace, but it would barely suffice.

Li Chengjie calmed his breath and focused his mind, casting aside all distractions as he recalled his countless experiences refining Harmony Qi Pills.

He drew upon the earth fire—the courtyard clearly had an earth-fire connection—preheated the pill furnace, processed the herbs... He strove for perfection at every step, his movements practiced and steady. His removal of impurities from the medicinal herbs in particular was meticulous to the extreme, displaying control far beyond that of an ordinary first-tier mid-grade alchemist.

The calmness in Jin Leiwei's eyes gradually gave way to a trace of scrutiny and seriousness.

He could tell that Li Chengjie's fundamentals were extremely solid. His understanding of medicinal properties and his handling of impurities in particular were indeed distinctive. He did not seem like someone who had emerged from some unorthodox, self-taught path.

When Li Chengjie began Melting Herbs and forming the pill, his hands formed seals for the Basic Fire Control Art. His divine sense focused wholly on the changes inside the furnace, his adjustments to the heat smooth and natural, his grasp of timing flawless.

At last, the most crucial moment arrived.

"Pill Formation!" Li Chengjie shouted lowly, abruptly drawing his hand seals together. The furnace fire went out in an instant.

With a mixture of nervousness and anticipation, he opened the furnace lid.

A rich, pure pill fragrance immediately spread through the air. At the bottom of the furnace lay six round, plump Harmony Qi Pills with even coloration. Five were standard pills, but one possessed a restrained luster upon its surface and faint pill patterns. The Spiritual Energy it gave off was clearly a cut above that of the other five! (Li Chengjie could have produced one or two more pills, but he had not; the main reason was to keep something in reserve for himself in the future.)

"Six pills formed, five qualified, and one... close to good quality?" Lin Zixue saw it clearly from the side and could not help letting out a soft cry of surprise, delight appearing on her face.

Such a completion rate and quality absolutely placed him among the best of first-tier mid-grade alchemists!

Jin Leiwei's gaze lingered for a moment on the pill that was close to good quality. Then he looked at Li Chengjie, whose calm expression carried a trace of fatigue, and slowly said, "Your fundamentals are passable, your fire control is steady, and you clearly have some skill in handling impurities. Especially this Pill Formation rate and the appearance of a pill close to good quality—it is clear you have put in hard work on the Harmony Qi Pill. Your talent... is not bad either."

He paused, then made his decision. "Since Zixue recommends you, and you possess such skill, so be it. I will permit you to join my Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion, for now as a... Registered Apprentice. Each month, you must complete a set quota of pill-refining tasks, in return for the corresponding Contribution Points and Spirit Stones. If your performance is outstanding, you may one day be promoted to Official Apprentice, or even Guest Alchemist. Are you willing?"

Registered Apprentice!

Though it was the lowest rank, he had finally crossed the threshold into the Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion!

Li Chengjie was overjoyed. He immediately bowed and replied, "This junior is willing! Many thanks to Senior Jin for granting me this opportunity! Many thanks to Fairy Lin for your recommendation!"

Jin Leiwei waved a hand. "No need for such formality. Zixue, take him to the Hall of Affairs to handle his admission procedures, arrange lodging for him, and inform him of the Pill Pavilion's Rules and task details."

"Yes, Master!" Lin Zixue answered happily, shooting Li Chengjie a meaningful look.

Li Chengjie bowed once more to Jin Leiwei before taking his leave, then followed Lin Zixue out of the small courtyard.

The instant he stepped through the courtyard gate, he looked back at the Foundation Establishment alchemist seated beneath the ancient pine, his heart filled with longing for those five hundred thousand Replication Points.

Li Chengjie knew that if he wanted to gain a foothold here and improve quickly, whether in Cultivation level or the Dao of alchemy, replicating Elder Jin's experience would be a crucial shortcut.

But for now, Li Chengjie first needed to adapt to this place and earn Spirit Stones.

(With all your urging for updates, I'll definitely post ten thousand words a day.)