Treading Light

Xu Xuyang froze, then continued to shine the light.

He had been trading with Lin Changheng for quite some time and truly admired his alchemy; every pill was a standout among the standard-grade offerings, showing a deep foundation.

Yet, they had never reached the level of a fine-grade pill.

"Hum~"

Golden light flashed once more upon the bronze mirror, and this time, Xu Xuyang saw it clearly.

"Alchemist Lin, congratulations, congratulations! Your path of alchemy has progressed; you've refined a fine-grade pill!"

As the congratulations echoed, Lin Changheng smiled and said, "It is the result of accumulation; success has finally arrived."

He remained neither arrogant nor impetuous, calm and composed.

Seeing such a state of mind in the man before him, Xu Xuyang could not help but take a deep look at him, nodding as he said, "With such a mindset, Alchemist Lin, your future achievements will surely be boundless."

"Many thanks for your kind words, Senior."

Xu Xuyang continued to appraise the remaining pills.

Yellow light, yellow light, golden light...

"Another fine-grade pill?"

Xu Xuyang was no longer calm, though his surprise was primarily one of delight.

He looked at Lin Changheng as a lecher might look at a beauty, or a starving ghost might gaze upon a feast.

"By accumulating experience and synthesizing my insights, I finally managed to produce another one after the next three furnaces."

Lin Changheng had already prepared his explanation. This implied that he could replicate the feat, rather than having stumbled upon it by mere chance or luck.

The value of this was worlds apart!

"Excellent."

After quickly settling the accounts with Lin Changheng and paying out the spirit stones, Xu Xuyang sent him off, then hurried away from the hall, clutching the two fine-grade pills.

He entered the "Returning Peak Dojo" located at the core.

Afterward, Lin Changheng arrived at Master Mo's small courtyard.

This was another dojo, called "Cloud-Viewing," established upon the main trunk of a medium-grade spirit vein.

The density of the spiritual energy was at least three times that of the branch veins.

Both those in the middle stage of Qi Refining and those serving as guest elders were eligible to reside there.

Lin Changheng had not moved, nor had Dantai Feiyue; both had hidden the information regarding their breakthroughs to the middle stage.

They still resided within the "Tide-Listening Dojo."

After shamelessly sponging off his host for food and drink, Lin Changheng informed Master Mo of his ability to refine "fine-grade pills."

Master Mo's face immediately filled with pride, mixed with the joy of a mentor.

The words "I taught him" were practically plastered across his face.

Master Mo immediately brought out his prized spirit wine, and he and Lin Changheng toasted one another.

Once the intoxication began to show on his face, Master Mo spoke of the death of his close friend.

That friend had also been a medium-grade alchemist, named "Xu Hanli."

Although he belonged to the "Han" generation, the same as "Xu Hanji," he was not a young man, but an elder.

He belonged to a mortal branch of the Xu Family; born in a mortal town, he was later discovered to have spiritual roots and a talent for alchemy, after which he was brought into the Xu clan.

He had become close friends with Master Mo.

Recently, however, while out gathering materials for alchemy, he had been ambushed by the Chen Family and killed on the spot, his head severed from his body.

Losing a friend in his old age, and to such a gruesome fate, left Master Mo in unspeakable agony.

An ambush? Could it be the "Black Dragon Pond Fishery"?

Lin Changheng, who was pouring the wine, felt his heart stir.

Lin Changheng offered some words of comfort and then began to probe indirectly. Though half-drunk, Master Mo's words were half-veiled, yet they provided Lin Changheng with a definitive answer.

It really was the "Black Dragon Pond Fishery"!

Everything was connected.

It was precisely because of this that Bai Fengxian and the others had been pulled away to stand guard.

Losing a medium-grade alchemist—surely that counts as a severe blow to the Xu Family's foundations, right?

Lin Changheng thought to himself that if this were the case, the Xu Family would have no choice but to go mad on the front lines, and might even be contemplating how to launch a sneak attack on the Chen Family's rear.

After drinking for a while longer, Lin Changheng circulated his internal energy to dispel most of the intoxication before taking his leave.

Walking along the road, he had to ensure he remained clear-headed.

Only then would he be safe enough.

Yet, he couldn't stop pondering: since the Xu Family was now short one mid-grade alchemist, did that mean they would need to cultivate a replacement to fill the gap?

Otherwise, the supply of pills for external trade would likely face a shortfall.

Suddenly, he recalled his cheap brother, Xu Xuzhong, the manager of the General Affairs Hall, who had once cryptically urged him, "When you return this time, you must study the Dao of Alchemy diligently and refine your pill-making skills..."

"Hiss!"

Lin Changheng's eyes widened, followed by a surge of excitement.

So that's what he meant... I see it now. Perhaps, there really is a significant opportunity!

At that moment, a night breeze blew quietly, rustling the leaves and dispersing the dark clouds overhead, allowing the moonlight to spill down.

The path ahead was bright and clear; he could walk forward bathed in light.

Less than half a month later.

Someone came looking for him.

"Hoo~"

Lin Changheng ceased the circulation of the Departing Fire Night-Illuminating Guide, which he had already practiced to the "Proficient" realm, and disconnected the first-grade low-tier Spirit Gathering Array.

This Spirit Gathering Array consumed quite a lot; using spirit stones as a catalyst to draw in the energy of the spirit veins, it required a new stone every three days. It was meant to be used only when needed, not wasted.

Now that the Departing Fire Night-Illuminating Guide had advanced to the Proficient level, his cultivation speed had increased by two parts. Every time he finished a session, he could perceive the progress, which was truly satisfying.

Steady progress was addictive.

"Coming."

Lin Changheng opened the door, but it wasn't his fellow immortal-seed friend; it was an unfamiliar female cultivator from the Xu Family. "May I ask what this is about?"

"The Eldest Miss requests your presence."

The female cultivator bowed.

The Eldest Miss?

Lin Changheng was somewhat surprised.

In the entire Xu Family, the only one who could be called the Eldest Miss was Xu Hanji.

An image of a young girl in a purple dress immediately surfaced in his mind—cold, aloof, and striking.

She wants to see me?

The two of them had no daily interaction, nor had they ever even spoken. What could she possibly want?

Could it be... related to the Dao of Alchemy? That's the only reason. After all, I only just revealed my high-quality pills.

"Please, lead the way."

He locked the door and followed the female cultivator as they walked.

Inside the Returning Peak Dojo.

They arrived at an elegant small courtyard situated beside a narrow waterfall.

Lin Changheng followed the female cultivator inside.

This dojo was truly different; there was no spiritual energy leaking outside the buildings, as it was all gathered within each structure.

Every building had been fitted with an extraordinary Spirit Gathering Array. He couldn't discern the exact grade, but they were certainly not low-tier.

Moreover, each courtyard was protected by defensive arrays, ensuring maximum security.

Lin Changheng clicked his tongue in wonder, feeling a twinge of envy. Only a residence supported by powerful arrays could truly be called a cave-dwelling, right?

"Hurry and serve tea to Fellow Daoist Lin."

As soon as Lin Changheng sat down in the main hall, a cold voice rang out.

Though cold, it was not icy.

It was simply her nature, not arrogance.

Lin Changheng turned to look. This time, Xu Hanji was dressed in pale yellow robes, with a purple ribbon tied in her hair. Her skin, whiter than snow, made her entire being glow with radiance.

Compared to the purple dress, this outfit lacked a bit of the aloofness that kept people at a distance, instead adding a touch of youthful charm.

"Greetings, Eldest Miss."

Lin Changheng rose to greet her, neither servile nor overbearing, his etiquette impeccable.

"Please, sit, Fellow Daoist Lin."

After exchanging some tacit, polite pleasantries, Xu Hanji finally got to the point: "I heard that Fellow Daoist Lin has tended the furnace for ten years without ever slacking. Now that you have entered the ranks and refined high-quality pills, it truly fills this young lady with admiration."

So, she finally mentioned it?

Lin Changheng felt a weight lift from his heart, though his expression remained perfectly calm. "The Eldest Miss is too kind. It is merely the Dao of Heaven rewarding diligence."

Upon hearing this, Xu Hanji was surprised, then revealed a faint smile. The Dao of Heaven rewards diligence? Interesting. Usually, I only hear people cursing the Dao of Heaven for being heartless or blind. This is the first time I've heard such a saying.