Qi Refining Level 6, an Old Acquaintance's Astonishment

After Wang Zhen's provocation that day and Lin Zixue's defense, Li Chengjie had thoroughly "made a name for himself" among the registered apprentices of Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion—as Lin Zixue's man.

Yet this reputation brought mostly covert scrutiny, jealousy, and isolation.

Li Chengjie did not care in the slightest; he was even glad for the peace and quiet.

His foremost purpose in coming here was to earn Spirit Stones and accumulate Replication Points. Any unnecessary socializing was a waste of time and energy.

Li Chengjie devoted all his attention to two matters: completing his assigned quota and processing herbs in exchange for Spirit Stones.

It was not that Li Chengjie had never considered working alone and keeping all the profits for himself. But after Qingshi Market, he understood just how many twists and turns were involved. One mishandled step, and he could be sucked into a whirlpool of danger.

The basic pill-refining tasks issued by the Hall of Affairs, thanks to Wang Zhen's arrangements, mostly involved refining low-grade first-tier pills with the highest demand, such as Qi Condensation Pills and Spirit Replenishing Pills—time-consuming, labor-intensive work.

For Li Chengjie, who possessed Su Yuchen's experience as a Mid-grade Alchemist, refining such pills was as easy as driving a familiar carriage down a well-known road.

Li Chengjie deliberately controlled both the pill formation rate and quality, keeping the number of finished pills between five and six. After handing over eighty percent, he could still keep one or two acceptable pills for himself, along with the occasional one or two low-grade pills—though in truth, those were caused by his deliberate control of the heat.

He did not rush to sell these withheld pills, instead storing them away carefully.

More importantly, amid the continuous, intense cycle of exhausting and recovering his Spiritual Sense and spiritual power, he could clearly feel his control over spiritual power becoming increasingly precise. The circulation of the Mysterious Flame Art also became smoother and more complete, while the bottleneck at the peak of Qi Refining Level 5 had already begun to loosen.

Time quietly slipped by in this tedious yet fulfilling cycle, and in the blink of an eye, two months had passed.

That night, moonlight poured down like water.

Li Chengjie sat cross-legged on a crude prayer mat. He was neither refining pills nor processing herbs.

Two small bottles sat before him. One held the acceptable Qi Condensation Pills he had accumulated during this time; the other held the Harmony Qi Pills he had "refined."

Low-grade pills contained many impurities and had unstable medicinal power. They usually sold for very little, and few shops were even willing to purchase them.

Yet as Li Chengjie looked at this bottle of pills, a trace of resolve flashed through his eyes.

"Fire Element Cultivation Methods emphasize refining all things—taking the essence and casting away the dregs... Perhaps I can try forcibly refining them, using their incomplete medicinal power to break through the bottleneck!"

Li Chengjie took out a darkly lustrous Harmony Qi Pill and swallowed it.

Once the pill entered his stomach, it did not melt into a gentle stream of medicinal power like a proper pill. Instead, it was like a spark falling into a vat of oil, violently exploding into a wild, chaotic burst of spiritual power that rampaged in every direction!

Li Chengjie let out a muffled groan. His face instantly flushed red as waves of stabbing pain surged through his meridians.

He did not dare delay. Immediately, he circulated the Mysterious Flame Art with all his strength. Within his dantian qi sea, that strand of Pure Mysterious Flame Spiritual Power lunged at the violent medicinal power like a starving cheetah, using his body as a furnace to forcibly envelop, tear apart, and refine it!

The process was several times more agonizing than taking acceptable pills. The chaotic Spiritual Energy battered against the walls of his meridians, and the sensation of being torn apart was incomparably clear.

Sweat rapidly soaked through his clothes, and wisps of white vapor even rose from above his head.

But Li Chengjie's will was resolute. He guarded his Clear Spiritual Platform, guiding the spiritual power that had been initially refined to strike again and again against the tough barrier separating Qi Refining Level 5 from Level 6.

Once, twice...

Who knew how much time passed? Just as the medicinal power of that low-grade pill was about to run out while the barrier remained stubbornly intact, a fierce glint flashed through Li Chengjie's eyes. Without hesitation, he swallowed another Harmony Qi Pill!

Even more violent medicinal power exploded once again!

"Boom!"

It was as though a clap of thunder exploded within his Sea of Consciousness!

Under that nearly tyrannical impact, the bottleneck already riddled with cracks finally shattered with a deafening crash!

In an instant, spiritual power far more abundant and condensed than before surged through his meridians, which had expanded to nearly twice their former width, like a flood bursting through a broken dam. It eventually flowed into his dantian qi sea, which seemed to have been opened up anew. An unprecedented sense of strength and control rose within him.

The pores all over his body opened, greedily drawing in the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth around him, far denser than that of Qingshi Market. His entire essence, energy, and spirit abruptly rose to a new height, while the range of his Spiritual Sense Perception noticeably expanded as well!

Qi Refining Level 6!

He had succeeded!

Li Chengjie slowly opened his eyes. A sharp light flickered within them as he felt the endlessly surging spiritual power inside him, far surpassing what it had once been. The corners of his lips lifted into an uncontrollable smile.

Though the process had been perilous, and his meridians still faintly ached, the result had been worth it.

An increase in cultivation level did not merely mean greater strength. It also meant a higher chance of success when refining higher-tier pills, as well as a faster rate of earning Spirit Stones.

After briefly consolidating his realm, Li Chengjie rose and stretched his limbs. Looking at the fish-belly white light spreading beyond the window, his heart was clear and bright.

Today, Li Chengjie planned to visit the Hall of Affairs and see whether there were any tasks for refining Harmony Qi Pills.

With his current cultivation level of Qi Refining Level 6, coupled with the foundation of a Mid-grade Alchemist, he had far greater confidence in refining Harmony Qi Pills. The rewards were also far beyond what low-grade pills could offer.

After washing up and changing into his pale blue Apprentice Robe, Li Chengjie strode energetically toward the Hall of Affairs.

The moment he stepped through its doors, he heard a somewhat shrill voice, carrying a hint of ingratiating flattery, speaking loudly. "...Rest assured, Steward Zhou. This batch of herbs for Clear Heart Powder will definitely be processed properly by this old man. I guarantee the impurity removal rate will reach over fifty percent! Back in Qingshi Market, who didn't know of my, Chen Xing's, skill in processing herbs...?"

Li Chengjie's steps paused slightly. That voice... sounded somewhat familiar.

Following the sound, Li Chengjie saw an elderly man standing before the counter. He wore a faded gray Alchemist Robe, washed so many times it had gone old, and had a slightly plump figure and hair streaked with gray. He was bowing and scraping before an attendant behind the counter, his face piled high with a humble smile.

Who else could it be but Chen Xing?

It seemed that after Qingshi Market had collapsed, Chen Xing had also made his way to Falling Cloud City. Apparently, he intended to return to his old trade and make a living by taking herb-processing tasks at Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion.

Li Chengjie's expression remained calm, but a ripple stirred within his heart.

Meeting an old acquaintance again truly carried a flavor all its own.

Soon, Chen Xing finished handing over his task as well. He turned around, the ingratiating smile on his face not yet fully faded, and casually swept his gaze across the hall—only for it to land precisely on Li Chengjie, who was watching him.

Chen Xing was initially taken aback, finding the young man somewhat familiar. But when he got a clear look at Li Chengjie's features, as well as the pale blue robe marking him as a Registered Apprentice of the Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion, Chen Xing's eyes instantly widened round, his mouth falling slightly open as disbelief filled his face.

"Li... Li Chengjie?!" Chen Xing blurted out, his voice cracking.

Chen Xing quickly walked over to Li Chengjie and scrutinized him up and down, especially the Standardized Token at his waist and the Apprentice Robe he wore. Once he confirmed it beyond doubt, the shock on his face deepened further.

"You... how are you here? And how did you become a Registered Apprentice of the Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion?" Chen Xing's voice was thick with doubt and disbelief.

In his recollection, though Li Chengjie possessed decent talent in alchemy, he was merely a Rogue Cultivator with no backing whatsoever. It had already been sheer luck for him to gain a foothold in a place like Qingshi Market—how could he possibly enter the Pill Pavilion at the heart of the Flowing Cloud Sect?

Only then did Li Chengjie seem to notice him. Turning his head, he revealed a suitably surprised expression and cupped his hands. "So it is Furnace Master Chen. I trust you have been well."

That address—"Furnace Master Chen"—made Chen Xing's old face flush red. He hurriedly waved his hands, his tone more courteous than ever, even carrying a hint of flattery. "Oh, no, no, you mustn't say that! Alchemist Li, you shame this old man! You are now a distinguished disciple of the Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion, while this old man... this old man is merely a Rogue Cultivator scraping out a living here. I cannot bear the title of Furnace Master. I cannot!"

Chen Xing leaned closer and lowered his voice, curiosity mingling with probing intent. "Alchemist Li, when... when did you enter the Pill Pavilion? Could it be that... some esteemed person offered you their support?"

Li Chengjie had no desire to say much. He merely smiled faintly and answered vaguely, "It was a fortunate coincidence. A senior brother recommended me, and I was fortunate enough to pass Elder Jin's assessment, which allowed me to enter the pavilion and study."

"Elder Jin?!" Chen Xing sucked in a cold breath, the astonishment on his face intensifying.

Elder Jin of the Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion was a Foundation Establishment Realm master—a Second Rank Alchemist! If Li Chengjie had passed his assessment, then Li Chengjie's alchemy skills...

Chen Xing suddenly recalled that, before Li Chengjie had left Qingshi Market, he had seemingly already been able to steadily refine Qi Condensation Pills, with a respectable Pill Formation rate.

Could it be that this kid had encountered another stroke of fortune afterward, and his skill in the Dao of Alchemy had already reached a level worthy of recognition from a Foundation Establishment alchemist?

First Rank mid-grade?

Or even... higher?

At the thought of this possibility, the way Chen Xing looked at Li Chengjie changed completely.

His earlier surprise and confusion were swiftly replaced by a complicated mix of envy, jealousy, and a faint thread of regret.

Chen Xing recalled how, back in Qingshi Market, he had treated Li Chengjie as cheap labor, withheld his pay, and even abandoned him in the end...

Had he known this boy possessed such potential and such fortune, he should have made an effort to win him over. Even forming a good connection would have been enough!

Chen Xing's face instantly piled on an even warmer smile, one that carried a few traces of sycophancy, while his tone grew still more respectful. "Ah! Congratulations, Alchemist Li! My congratulations! This old man knew from the start that you were no creature meant to remain in a pond—you would one day soar into the heavens! And indeed! Indeed! To win Elder Jin's favor, your future prospects are boundless! Truly boundless!"