Elder Jin Sends Li Chengjie Away

The auction finally came to an end with the fall of the hammer on its final grand item.

The crowd began filing out in a bustling stream.

Li Chengjie and Lin Zixue followed the flow of people out of the Treasure Pavilion.

The lingering glow of the setting sun dyed the horizon orange-red. As the lights of Falling Cloud City began to shine, the streets remained packed with carriages and people, as lively and clamorous as ever.

Before Li Chengjie could properly savor the tangled emotions brought on by this expansion of his horizons, or speak further with Lin Zixue, a pale golden Transmission Talisman fluttered silently toward her like a butterfly weaving through flowers. It stopped before her, hovering motionless, with a familiar aura of pressure faintly emanating from it.

Lin Zixue's expression turned solemn. She reached out and took the Transmission Talisman, swept it with her divine sense, and a trace of surprise appeared on her face. She then turned to Li Chengjie, her tone somewhat grave. "Alchemist Li, Master has sent word. He wants the two of us to go to his Cave Abode at once."

"Elder Jin has summoned us?" Li Chengjie's heart stirred slightly. He was somewhat surprised.

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator and an elder with real authority in the Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion, Elder Jin was usually occupied with countless affairs. He rarely summoned a mere Registered Apprentice like him alone.

Could it be because of today's auction? Or had Wang Zhen stirred up trouble again, beating the villain to the accusation?

All sorts of thoughts flashed rapidly through his mind, but Li Chengjie kept his expression composed and replied respectfully, "Yes, Senior Sister."

The two immediately changed direction. Rather than returning to the Registered Apprentice quarters, they headed straight into the depths of the Flowing Cloud Pill Pavilion, toward Elder Jin's secluded Cave Abode.

The deeper they went into the Pill Pavilion, the denser the Spiritual Energy became, and the more tranquil the surroundings grew.

After passing through several moon gates laid with restrictions, they arrived before an elegant courtyard nestled against the mountains and beside the water. Security here was strict; the occasional passing disciple wore inner-sect robes and carried an extraordinary air.

After their arrival was announced, a young Daoist attendant led the pair into a quiet chamber.

The chamber was simply furnished, with calming Sandalwood Incense burning within.

Jin Leiwei, Elder Jin, sat cross-legged upon a Prayer Mat, his eyes half-closed as though resting his mind.

Jin Leiwei wore ordinary clothes today. He had lost some of the majesty he carried while handling affairs in the Pill Pavilion, but gained a profound stillness that was impossible to fathom.

Wang Zhen was unexpectedly standing to one side with his hands lowered. When he saw Li Chengjie enter, a flash of undisguised gloomy hatred passed through his eyes. Yet he swiftly lowered his head again, returning to an obedient appearance.

"Disciple Lin Zixue (Li Chengjie) greets Master (Elder Jin)." The two bowed in unison.

Jin Leiwei slowly opened his eyes. His calm gaze swept over them both before finally settling on Li Chengjie. That look seemed capable of piercing straight through one's heart, making Li Chengjie's heart tighten involuntarily.

"Mm." Jin Leiwei responded indifferently. His voice was not loud, yet it carried unquestionable weight. "The auction has ended? Did you gain anything?"

Lin Zixue stepped half a pace forward and answered respectfully, "Reporting to Master, the auction has concluded. Alchemist Li and I mainly went to broaden our horizons. We saw many treasures and figures from various sides, and benefited greatly, but did not bid on anything."

"Oh? What figures did you see?" Jin Leiwei asked, seemingly casually.

Lin Zixue briefly recounted the members of the Wen Family, Tan Family, and Zhang Family she had seen at the auction, along with "Blade Absolute" Liu Wenxuan, Fu Minghui of the Fu Family, and the others. Her account was entirely matter-of-fact.

When Daoist Luo Yang was mentioned, Jin Leiwei's eyes shifted slightly, but that was all.

After listening to Lin Zixue's account, Jin Leiwei nodded. His gaze shifted to Li Chengjie once more, his tone calm and even. "Li Chengjie, you have been in the Pill Pavilion for nearly ten months. As a Registered Apprentice, aside from completing your assigned tasks each day, have you gained any new insights on the path of alchemy?"

It was here!

Li Chengjie knew that this was the real point.

Maintaining a humble posture, Li Chengjie answered in a deep voice, "Reporting to Elder Jin, this disciple is dull-witted and does not dare speak recklessly of insights. It is only that when handling medicinal ingredients and completing alchemy tasks each day, I pay greater attention to subtle changes in spiritual power control, as well as the fusion reactions of different medicinal properties beneath the Furnace Fire, striving to make my foundations more solid. When I have spare time, I also read through the list of pill formulas available for exchange with Contribution Points in the Pill Pavilion Regulations. I yearn for them in my heart, yet know full well how great the gap remains between myself and them. I must work twice as hard."

This answer was impeccable in its propriety. It demonstrated diligence, revealed a trace of yearning for loftier alchemy, and at the same time pointed out his current lack of resources. Not a drop of water could leak through it.

Jin Leiwei neither approved nor disapproved after hearing it. He merely said faintly, "Strengthening one's foundation is indeed the proper path. On the path of alchemy, haste brings no success. Still, alchemy ultimately requires a great deal of practice. What is learned on paper always feels shallow in the end."

Elder Jin changed the subject. His tone remained mild, yet held a hint of meaning difficult to detect. "Recently, friction between the Northern Border and the Blood Fiend Cult has been increasing. The sect's demand for all kinds of basic pills, especially healing and qi-restoring pills, has risen.

"The Pill Pavilion's Mission Hall will soon issue a batch of related refinement tasks for the Northern Border. Both Contribution Points and Spirit Stone rewards will be thirty percent higher than usual. Since you are diligent, you may wish to keep an eye on them. Take more missions and refine more pills. It will benefit your cultivation level, your skills, and even your accumulation of resources."

Li Chengjie's heart gave a violent leap!

Elder Jin's words seemed like ordinary instruction and guidance, but in light of Wang Zhen's previous deliberate suppression—preventing him from accessing the better-paying missions—the fact that Elder Jin had personally pointed out this path made the implications well worth considering.

Was he warning Wang Zhen?

Or was he giving Li Chengjie a legitimate opportunity to earn more Contribution Points and Spirit Stones?

Or perhaps both?

Whatever the case, this was undoubtedly a positive sign for Li Chengjie!

It meant that he had at least entered Elder Jin's notice, and that his "diligence" had earned a certain degree of recognition.

"Thank you for Elder Jin's guidance! This disciple will certainly do his utmost and not disappoint Elder Jin's expectations!" Li Chengjie suppressed the excitement in his heart and bowed respectfully, his tone filled with gratitude.

Wang Zhen, standing to one side, instantly looked somewhat ugly. Though he tried his best to restrain himself, his tightly clenched fists and faintly heaving chest still exposed the turmoil in his heart.

He had gone to such lengths to suppress Li Chengjie, only for Master to overturn it with one offhanded sentence...

Jin Leiwei took in Wang Zhen's reaction completely, yet paid it no heed. He merely waved a hand at Li Chengjie and Lin Zixue. "All right. If there is nothing else, withdraw. Cultivate properly, and do not slack off."

"Yes, this disciple takes his leave."

Li Chengjie and Lin Zixue bowed once again, then slowly withdrew from the quiet chamber.

After leaving Elder Jin's Cave Abode grounds and walking quite some distance away, Lin Zixue finally let out a soft breath once she was certain no one was nearby. She smiled at Li Chengjie. "Congratulations, Alchemist Li. It seems Master has a favorable impression of you. With Master's words, Senior Brother Wang... will likely restrain himself somewhat. It will be much easier for you to earn Contribution Points and Spirit Stones from now on."

Li Chengjie was equally exhilarated, but he did not lose himself in triumph. Instead, he became even calmer.

He cupped his hands and said, "I must also thank Senior Sister Zixue for speaking well of me before Elder Jin all this time. Chengjie will remember this kindness in his heart."

The reason Elder Jin had noticed such an insignificant figure as him was undoubtedly closely tied to Lin Zixue's usual reports and evaluations.

Lin Zixue waved a hand. "I'm only telling the truth. The key is that you've earned it yourself—keeping a low profile, working diligently, and building a solid foundation. Master values disciples who keep their feet on the ground most of all."

After they parted ways, Li Chengjie returned alone to his small room in the Registered Apprentice quarters.

Closing the door and activating the restrictions, Li Chengjie sat cross-legged on his meditation cushion, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.

What he had experienced today was a massive flood of information. At the auction, he had seen people from all sides and treasures worth astronomical prices. He had also identified concrete replication targets—Liu Wenxuan with ten thousand points, Fu Minghui with thirty thousand points, and even Daoist Luo Yang with a million points—filling him with motivation. Elder Jin's summons and his veiled guidance had swept aside a major obstacle on Li Chengjie's path to earning resources!

"Northern Border missions... Contribution Points increased by thirty percent... does that mean the Spirit Stones I earn will increase by thirty percent too?" Li Chengjie muttered, the corner of his mouth curling upward.

This was like being handed a pillow just as sleep overcame him! He had been worrying about how to earn Spirit Stones faster, and the sect had sent him a favorable wind.

"Wang Zhen... You want to suppress me, but sadly, strength is the only hard truth. As long as I can keep growing stronger, earn enough resources, and replicate enough experience, what are you to me?"

Li Chengjie hesitated no longer and began carefully planning what came next:

First, break through to Qi Refining Level 7 as soon as possible! With Han Li's experience, the breakthrough was just around the corner.

Second, devote himself fully to taking on higher-paying sect alchemy missions and amass Spirit Stones like mad.

The goal was clear, and the path was laid out before him. Li Chengjie could even feel the Internal Spiritual Energy within him growing more active because of his surging Fighting Spirit.

Earn Spirit Stones, replicate experience, grow stronger!

(With all you fellow Daoists urging me to update, I'll definitely post ten thousand words a day.)