"Having lived for most of my life, this is the first time I've seen such a young Tier 8 Alchemist. Grandmaster Liu Bai, you have truly broadened our horizons."
Liu Bai smiled faintly and returned the gesture with cupped hands.
"You elders are too kind. I merely succeeded by luck and do not deserve such praise."
"Hahaha, Grandmaster Liu Bai is being too modest."
Another elder said with a smile.
"Three-Colored Pill Lightning, a genuine Tier 8 Pill—this cannot be explained away with a mere word like luck."
Liu Bai smiled but said nothing further.
He looked up at the crowd and spoke clearly.
"Refining a Tier 8 Pill today has taken quite a toll on my mind, and I am somewhat tired. I will not keep you all any longer. Please forgive me."
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.
"Of course, of course!"
"Grandmaster Liu Bai, please get some proper rest!"
"We understand how taxing it is to refine a Tier 8 Pill!"
"We will visit again another day. Grandmaster Liu Bai, take care of your health!"
The crowd tactfully dispersed, but the fervor and reverence in their eyes lingered for a long time.
Liu Bai turned and returned to the courtyard as the gates slowly closed behind him.
In the days that followed, Liu Bai did not continue cultivating.
He rested for half a day, then began handling the alchemy commissions that had piled up earlier.
Although he had announced a temporary halt to accepting new commissions, he still had to complete those he had already accepted.
For an entire month, he barely stepped outside, refining pills day and night.
Fortunately, he was now a Tier 8 Alchemist, and his soul had reached the Spirit Realm. Refining Tier 7 Pills was as easy as eating and drinking,