Joining the Elixir Hall

Zheng Qian's expression changed only slightly before returning to normal.

Wherever there were people, there was a jianghu. He had seen plenty of disciples within the sect scheming and crushing one another.

As a steward of the Elixir Hall and a member of the Azure Elixir Sect's middle ranks, he naturally knew quite a few things that lurked in the shadows.

Across the barren Red Wasteland, resources were exceedingly scarce. Neighboring factions harbored deep conflicts as they fought over resources.

Nearly all the large and small factions under the Azure Elixir Sect had all manner of grievances against one another.

If the sect had to meddle in such rotten affairs, it would not have time for anything else.

"What you said does make some sense. The sect has always ignored conflicts between the small and mid-sized factions under its command.

"As a steward of the Elixir Hall, I cannot meddle in Shennong Hall's affairs either."

With that, he tossed out a storage pouch.

"There are materials for three batches of Spirit-Awakening Pills inside. Spirit-Awakening Pills are relatively difficult among first-rank high-grade pills.

"I'll give you three chances. As long as one batch produces three pills, you will pass."

Liu Yuanchen immediately took out the Crimson Copper Furnace and controlled the Fire-Control Gourd to spray out flames.

Once the furnace had heated up, he took out the spirit herbs from the storage pouch and placed them into the pill furnace to refine slowly.

Since he did not want to expose too many of his methods, he deliberately held back while refining the medicinal essences, extracting only eighty percent of their potency.

He had already refined Spirit-Awakening Pills many times. Though he was somewhat nervous now, every step proceeded in perfect order.

Refining, reducing over a fierce flame, and condensing the pills flowed together in one breath. He opened the furnace lid and took out four Spirit-Awakening Pills, one of which was even a good-grade pill.

Seeing Liu Yuanchen refine a batch of Spirit-Awakening Pills as smoothly as drifting clouds and flowing water, Zheng Qian stood stunned for quite some time.

Then he burst into laughter. "Good, excellent!

"Most disciples who come for the assessment are somewhat nervous.

"If they can produce pills from their first batch, that is already considered good.

"But your first batch produced four pills, and one is even a good-grade pill.

"Whether in state of mind or alchemy skill, you are already among the best of the First-Rank High-Grade Alchemy Masters.

"My few disciples are nowhere near your equal."

From the sound of it, he intended to take him as a disciple.

However, Liu Yuanchen did not dare agree rashly.

He had always been at the bottom of the sect and knew little about its middle and upper ranks.

He knew nothing of Steward Zheng's background, nor of any enemies he might have.

The cultivation world attached immense importance to the relationship between master and disciple. "A master for one day, a father for life" was absolutely not mere empty talk.

Once he acknowledged a master, the mark on him could never truly be erased.

No matter what he thought or did, outsiders would forever see him as someone from Zheng Qian's faction.

If that faction had stronger enemies, his own days would become even harder.

Besides, his future potential was extremely high.

A mere steward was truly unqualified to be his master.

Liu Yuanchen pretended not to understand Zheng Qian's implied meaning. "Thank you for your praise, Steward Zheng."

Seeing him act this way, Zheng Qian did not know whether he truly had not understood or simply did not wish to become his disciple.

Yet he did not press the matter. He merely picked up a brush and wrote something at the desk.

More than ten breaths later, he swept his sleeve. A sheet of paper on the desk instantly transformed into a paper crane and flew out of the hall.

"I have submitted a written report to the Grand Elder regarding your alchemy skills.

"Once the Grand Elder enters your information into the records, you will become an official Alchemy Master of the sect."

As he spoke, he took out another crimson copper token and wrote several characters on it with his brush.

Then he gave it a light toss. Like a falling leaf, the token drifted down from the seat of honor and floated before Liu Yuanchen.

This string of techniques left Liu Yuanchen utterly dumbfounded.

The methods of a Sea of Qi Realm cultivator truly could not compare with those of a Qi-Nourishing Realm cultivator.

He reached out and caught the token. On its front was a mountain peak and a gourd.

Every Azure Elixir Sect disciple's token bore this pattern on its front.

On the back were the three large characters, "Liu Yuanchen," along with a smaller pill furnace design, the emblem of the Elixir Hall.

Looking at the words on the token, Liu Yuanchen was deeply shocked. Zheng Qian had just used a brush to write upon it.

Yet the handwriting was like knife carvings, sunk deeply into the token to a depth of nearly three-tenths.

Recovering from his shock, Liu Yuanchen looked at the crimson copper token in his hand, unable to conceal his delight.

Disciples within the sect held different statuses, and their tokens were made of different materials.

Liu Yuanchen had previously been an outer sect disciple, and his token had only been made of black iron.

Inner sect disciples carried crimson copper tokens.

The tokens of hall stewards and elders' disciples were made of frost silver.

Elders already counted among the sect's upper ranks, and their tokens were forged from refined gold.

Vice Sect Masters possessed Purplegold Tokens, while the Sect Master and Supreme Elders had purple jade tokens.

Now that he had received a crimson copper token, he was an inner sect disciple from this day onward.

Although inner sect disciples still ranked below stewards,

as the sect's future, they had the right to meet hall masters and deputy hall masters directly, and stewards did not dare bully them lightly.

Most importantly, inner sect disciples had the right to refuse tasks assigned by stewards.

The highest-ranking Chen Household member within the Azure Elixir Sect was only the steward of Shennong Hall.

Shennong Hall's blade could not reach an inner sect disciple of the Elixir Hall.

Even if the Chen Household had some connections within the Elixir Hall, they would at most be at the level of stewards.

Trying to keep him under their thumb would not be so easily accomplished.

Liu Yuanchen cupped his hands in salute. "Thank you, Steward Zheng."

Zheng Qian nodded slightly. "You have just joined the Elixir Hall, so you still need to find a cave mansion among the several peaks under the Elixir Hall's jurisdiction.

"Take your token and go to Azure Sun Peak to find the steward responsible for assigning cave mansions."

Liu Yuanchen bowed, put away his alchemy equipment, and slowly withdrew from the hall.

He boarded the flying boat and arrived at a small patch of level ground halfway up Azure Sun Peak.

Ever since Azure Pill Peak became the territory of the Elixir Hall, the Azure Elixir Sect's main peak had been moved to Azure Sun Peak.

The sect's main offices were all established atop Azure Sun Peak, while some subordinate offices were set up at the foot of the mountain or along its slopes.

The office responsible for arranging disciples' cave mansions was located halfway up Azure Sun Peak.

Liu Yuanchen put away his flying boat and walked to a small courtyard.

A sign hung over the courtyard gate, inscribed with the words: "Administrative Hall Cave Mansion Office."

He entered through the gate. There were only three main rooms in the courtyard, backed against the mountainside.

In the main hall of the central room, an old man sat behind a desk.

When Liu Yuanchen entered, the old man did not even raise his head. "Which hall are you from? What is your name?"

Liu Yuanchen stepped forward and bowed. "Newly promoted Elixir Hall disciple Liu Yuanchen, here to select a cave mansion."

Upon hearing that he was an Elixir Hall disciple, the old man raised his head and examined him carefully, his expression becoming exceedingly amiable.

"You joined the Elixir Hall at such a young age. Your future is boundless!

"This old man is Tang An, and I shamelessly serve as the steward here.

"Little Friend Liu, take out your token and let me have a look."

Liu Yuanchen took out the crimson copper token he had just received. Beneath it was a pill bottle.

Tang An accepted the token and swept his sleeve over it, causing the pill bottle to slide into his sleeve.

His expression had already been amiable, but after accepting the pill bottle, his old face bloomed into a flower with his smile.

He took out a sheet of beast hide. After pouring spiritual power into it, one flashing point of light after another appeared across its surface.

"All cave mansions within the Elixir Hall's territory are here. The dim points are cave mansions already occupied.

"The red, blue, and white points represent the spiritual energy density of the cave mansions.

"White is the lowest, equivalent to the level of a Second-Rank Spirit Vein.

"Blue comes next, at the level of a Three-Tier Spirit Vein.

"Red points are at the level of Fourth-Rank Spirit Veins."

"As an inner sect disciple, Little Friend may only choose among the white and blue cave mansions.

"In this old man's opinion, Little Friend should choose a blue cave mansion.

"A cave mansion with richer spiritual energy will also make cultivation faster."

The Elixir Hall truly deserved its position as the foremost hall of the Azure Elixir Sect. Even ordinary inner sect disciples could choose cave mansions comparable to second- and third-rank spirit veins.

Liu Yuanchen had already achieved his goal and no longer needed to worry about being sent to the battlefield. There was no need to show off further and become neighbors with powerful figures.

He looked over the white points on the map and intended to choose a relatively secluded cave mansion.

"My cultivation is meager. Spiritual energy at the level of a second-rank spirit vein is already more than sufficient for my cave mansion.

"It would be best if it were relatively spacious, with no other cave mansions nearby."

Tang An was somewhat puzzled, but he still pointed to a cave mansion in a corner of the beast hide. "This cave mansion is quite good. It lies at the foot of an unnamed hill in the eastern part of Azure Pill Peak.

"There are few people around, and Reflecting Moon Creek flows past its entrance.

"The land on both sides of the creek is level. As long as you are willing to put in some effort, it can certainly be opened into spirit fields."

Liu Yuanchen examined that cave mansion. There truly were no other cave mansions within ten li of it.

"I am very satisfied with this cave mansion. I'll take this one."

Tang An took out a small black iron token and swept it across the beast hide. One point of light immediately dimmed.

He handed the token to Liu Yuanchen. "Little Friend Liu, this controls the cave mansion's formation. Be sure to keep it safe."

Liu Yuanchen accepted the token and cupped his hands. "Thank you for your trouble, Steward Tang."

After chatting idly with Tang An for a few moments, he finally took his leave.

Following the token's guidance, he flew toward the small hill east of Azure Pill Peak.

Before long, the Eagle-Feather Flying Boat landed before the cave mansion.

The cave mansion had been carved into the foot of the hill's eastern side, with a broad expanse of flat ground before its entrance.

Twenty zhang east of the cave mansion's gate lay Reflecting Moon Creek. The stream flowed from north to south, only about two zhang wide and less than five chi deep.

The water was clear and shallow. By moonlight, the sand and stones on the riverbed could be seen.

Many flowers, grasses, and trees grew along both banks, some of them even spirit plants.

Unfortunately, those spirit plants were public property of the sect or the Elixir Hall and could not be touched by individuals.

The ordinary grasses and trees, however, could be cleared away directly to open spirit fields.

After inspecting the surroundings of the cave mansion, Liu Yuanchen pushed open its gate and entered.

The new cave mansion was quite spacious. Beyond the entrance was a large stone chamber, ten zhang square.

Inside were stone tables and chairs, as well as a first-rank high-grade Spirit Spring. Around the Spring Eye was a small pool where he could raise some spirit fish.

There were also three smaller stone chambers within the cave mansion, each five zhang square.

One was a bedroom, furnished with a set of stone tables and chairs and a stone couch.

The other two stone chambers could serve as a pill room and a storeroom.

Traces of formations covered the walls throughout the cave mansion, while the formation's core lay beneath the stone couch in the bedroom.

After Liu Yuanchen bound the formation token to himself and infused it with spiritual power, a watery blue radiance enveloped the cave mansion.

Outside the cave mansion, a thin veil of mist rose up, concealing everything within a hundred zhang.

"A second-rank high-grade Cloudwater Formation. The setup is quite decent."

Among the hundred arts of cultivation, alchemy, artifact refining, talismans, and formations were revered as the four great paths. Beneath them were relatively common pursuits such as the Divine Farmer Art and spirit cooking.

As for the rest, they were subdivisions of these common paths.

For example, artifact refining included methods such as tempering ores and recovering precious materials from damaged magical artifacts.

If one possessed some skill in such crafts, it would be entirely possible to support a small faction.

Every faction that had endured on the Red Wasteland for five hundred years possessed some unique specialty.

Among the hundred arts of cultivation, formations were unquestionably the most difficult path.

A qualified Formation Master had to know how to refine formation bases, formation disks, formation flags, and other such objects. First and foremost, he had to be a qualified Artifact Refining Master.

Cultivating both paths naturally made the difficulty even greater.

As long as a fixed formation was not damaged, maintaining it for several thousand years was no problem.

Thus, market demand was relatively limited.

Liu Yuanchen, as a First-Rank High-Grade Alchemy Master, was already rolling in wealth among Qi-Nourishing Realm cultivators.

Even other Alchemy Masters with lower pill success rates could still easily sustain rapid cultivation.

But first-rank high-grade Formation Masters among rogue cultivators were generally unable to make ends meet, able only to set up street stalls in certain marketplaces.

If one merely arranged a formation according to a Formation Diagram, it was not especially difficult.

However, formations had to withstand all kinds of formation-breaking methods. When setting one up, one needed to account for the many situations it could face, involving extremely complex calculations.

When establishing a fixed formation, one also needed to make fine adjustments according to the terrain.

Once anything had not been considered thoroughly enough, it would leave a fatal flaw in the formation.

In the eyes of experts, such formations were merely decorations that could be broken with a wave of the hand.

Without extraordinary talent, one simply could not become a qualified Formation Master.

The investment required to train a Formation Master was enormous, and more often than not, resources would be thrown into the water.

Therefore, on the Red Wasteland, the number of factions possessing second-rank Formation Masters did not exceed the fingers on two hands.

The only factions with third-rank Formation Masters were the Azure Elixir Sect, Iron Cauldron Mountain, and Demon Cloud Sea.

Qualified formations were exceedingly scarce, which also made the fees charged by second-rank Formation Masters extremely high.

The defensive formation at the Liu Family Ancestral Land was only a second-rank low-grade formation, and it had cost more than a thousand spirit stones to hire a Formation Master from the Myriad Treasures Trading Association to set it up.

If Liu Yuanchen's Cloudwater Formation had been arranged by a Formation Master outside the sect, it would likely have been impossible without five thousand spirit stones.

With a high-grade second-tier formation guarding him, his sense of security soared.

Sitting cross-legged on the stone couch in his bedroom, he sighed inwardly. "I'd finally climbed out of Golden Ao Mountain's pit. For a long time to come, I wouldn't have to worry about my life being in danger.

But going to the Qingstone Mountain Blessed Land had also become much more difficult."

For safety's sake, Azure Elixir Sect inner disciples below the Sea of Qi Realm were not allowed to leave freely.

Even when carrying out missions, they were mostly confined within the sect gates.

To leave, one had to apply through an office under the Standing Affairs Hall.

Running outside all the time would easily draw the attention of those with ulterior motives.

"Next time I go to the Qingstone Mountain Blessed Land, I'll probably have to wait until this great war is over."

"Luckily, I'd already told Xiao Yu that it was extremely dangerous outside, that I needed to find somewhere safe to hide, and that he should look after the Blessed Land properly."

"With Xiao Yu's intelligence, even if he couldn't grow spirit plants well, maintaining the Spirit Field Soil shouldn't be a problem."

As for the Blessed Land's safety, he was not worried in the slightest.

The Blessed Land Embryo was a small independent space, with no existing passage connecting it to the outside Great World.

It merely drew spiritual energy from the Blackcloud Ridge Great Spirit Vein through the Bluestone Mountain Spirit Nexus.

There had never been any legends of Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands on the Red Wasteland, so there should be no means of locating Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands either.

As long as he did not reveal any flaws on his end, the Blessed Land Embryo would remain safe.

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