An Obstruction Out of Nowhere

Ning Fa slept through the night. After fully restoring his energy, he washed up early the next morning and took a spirit boat to Lingchang Island, where the family's Pill Hall was located.

Since there was no spirit boat traveling directly from Pingchang Island to Lingchang Island, Ning Fa first took a boat to a large neighboring island to transfer.

Lingchang Island lay in the heart of the Ning Clan's territory. It possessed a Second-grade Mid-rank spirit vein and could be said to have the best spirit vein aside from the clan's ancestral land, Ningchang Island.

Not only was the family's Pill Hall located on Lingchang Island, but it also housed the largest Spirit Medicine Garden in the clan. Thus, this island was of great importance to the Ning Clan.

The entire island was protected by a Second-grade formation that the Ning Clan had erected at great expense. Family guards were stationed there year-round. Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators would find it difficult to attack their way in, and entry and exit were possible only through designated locations.

After roughly three hours, Ning Fa finally arrived at Lingchang Island's dock.

A squad of family guards clad in silver armor was conducting strict inspections of passing ships and cultivators at the dock. Their leader was a burly man with a face full of beard and a body like an iron tower.

Sha Qi hung heavily about him. His tiger eyes were cold and sharp, and a single glance from him made people afraid to meet his gaze. This man was astonishingly already at the Eighth Level of Qi Condensation.

The burly man spotted Ning Fa stepping off the boat at once. He widened his tiger eyes and barked, "Ning Fa, why have you come again, brat?!"

Ning Fa swiftly recalled the man's identity. He hurriedly bowed and said respectfully, "Uncle Lie, I've come to the Pill Hall to take the assessment again."

This man was named Ning Zonglie. He was one of the clan's elite descendants and was now also a member of Blazing Wind Hall.

Ning Fa's father had previously served in Blazing Wind Hall as well and had been on excellent terms with him. Ning Zonglie had also taken considerable care of Ning Fa before.

The silver-armored man frowned heavily. "Brat, you still haven't given up?"

Ning Fa could only put on an awkward smile and offer no further explanation.

The silver-armored man sighed, waved his hand, and let Ning Fa through without even inspecting him.

Ning Fa let out a breath of relief. Once he truly entered Lingchang Island, a dense wave of spiritual energy washed over him. Its concentration far surpassed that of Pingchang Island, where Ning Fa lived.

To Ning Fa's right, he could vaguely see an area enveloped in five-colored rosy light. A strange medicinal fragrance drifted faintly from that direction.

That place was one of Lingchang Island's Spirit Medicine Gardens. Many spirit medicines were planted within, including precious First-grade and Second-grade spirit medicines that were several hundred years old. Any one of them would cause a frenzy if brought to the market.

Ning Fa withdrew his gaze and walked straight ahead. Ten li away stood a small mountain more than a hundred zhang tall. At its foot was a sprawling cluster of pavilions, the location of the family's Pill Hall.

Several of the family's Pill Masters usually resided there, including Liu Qinghui and Ning Ruiming.

Ning Fa soon arrived before the largest pavilion. The four bold and lively characters, "Ning Family Pill Hall," were written on the plaque above its entrance.

This place was likewise protected by restrictions. After knocking on the door, Ning Fa waited patiently outside.

Before long, a maid opened the gates. After Ning Fa explained his purpose, she led him into a side hall and told him to wait for a moment.

Ning Fa sat down casually, but after waiting for a long time, no one came. His brow could not help but furrow slightly.

After another half hour, footsteps sounded, and a middle-aged cultivator clad in brocade robes entered the room.

The man had a lean face, skin as rosy as an infant's, and a long wisp of beard. He looked ethereal and immortal, perfectly fitting Blue Star's image of a transcendent.

Seeing that the man had finally arrived, Ning Fa breathed a sigh of relief. "Greetings, Pill Master Wei."

This man was named Wei Chengzong. He was not a member of the Ning Clan, but an alchemy guest elder employed by the Ning Clan specifically to refine pills for them. He was also the most skilled alchemist in the Ning Clan.

Though he was only at the Ninth Level of Qi Condensation, he was already a Quasi-Second-grade Pill Master, capable of barely refining some of the simplest Second-grade Pills.

He served as the deputy hall master of the family Pill Hall. Although the official hall master was the clan's Third Elder, Ning Zhongjiu, the Third Elder rarely involved himself in Pill Hall affairs. Wei Chengzong was generally responsible for its daily alchemy matters.

The family's Pill Master assessments, for instance, were overseen by him. Only after he approved would the matter be reported to the family.

Wei Chengzong looked at Ning Fa, a strange look appearing in his eyes. "Ning Fa, could it be that you still haven't given up and want to take the assessment again?"

Wei Chengzong's strange expression put Ning Fa on guard, but he still replied, "That's right. I believe I have mastered the refinement of the Essence Replenishing Pill, so I have come today to apply for another assessment."

After Ning Fa spoke, Wei Chengzong sighed. "According to clan rules, clan descendants may come to the Pill Hall for an assessment at any time so long as they provide their own spirit materials. But unfortunately, I am currently refining a furnace of important pills and cannot spare the time to assess you."

Ning Fa's heart sank at those words. He immediately asked, "If today won't work, what about tomorrow?"

Wei Chengzong gave a bitter smile. "Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow won't work either. If you wish to take the assessment, come find me again in five days."

Ning Fa fell silent. His expression became calm, though threads of coldness flickered in his eyes.

Five days later would already be too late, because in another two days, his wager with the Fifth Elder, Ning Huarong, would take effect.

If he failed to become a family Pill Master, he would have no choice but to become Ning Huarong's dual-cultivation cauldron.

Although he only needed to accompany Ning Huarong for three months, the greatest problem was that serving as her Cultivation Cauldron would very likely damage his Dao Foundation.

He already possessed an Incomplete Lightning Spiritual Root, and his cultivation speed was comparable to that of someone with a Pseudo Spiritual Root. If his Dao Foundation were damaged as well, even breaking through to the Qi Condensation Mid-stage would likely become a distant dream. At that point, what meaning would there be in becoming a family Pill Master?

What was more, if his cultivation level did not rise, he would basically only be able to refine Low-grade First-grade Pills. He simply would not have enough mana to refine First-grade Mid-rank Pills.

Even if he entered the Pill Hall, he would not receive much attention if he could not refine higher-grade pills.

"Ning Ruiming, what a fine scheme you have..."

Ning Fa saw through it all as clearly as a mirror. He knew Wei Chengzong's words had to be an excuse, and there was an eighty to ninety percent chance that Ning Ruiming was behind this.

Although Ning Ruiming was currently only a First-grade Mid-rank Pill Master, he was not only a direct-line descendant, but was also being groomed as the leading Pill Master candidate.

Because Wei Chengzong's alchemy skills ranked among the worst of those at his level, and his own strength was not solid enough, he was keen on currying favor with the powerful and fawning upon the influential.

Thus, he clearly would not refuse such a simple request from Ning Ruiming.

Ning Ruiming's move was obviously intended to make Ning Fa lose the wager, to have his Dao Foundation damaged after becoming a dual-cultivation cauldron, thereby thoroughly cutting off his potential.

What puzzled Ning Fa, however, was why Ning Ruiming had made no move when the previous Ning Fa had come for assessments, yet now that he had come, Ning Ruiming was resorting to such tactics and would not even give him a fair chance at an assessment.

"Pill Master Wei, please be accommodating. I only need to refine three batches of Essence Replenishing Pills. At most, it will take three or four hours and won't delay you for long."

Although he knew Ning Ruiming might be causing trouble behind the scenes, Ning Fa still unwillingly pleaded with Wei Chengzong.

Wei Chengzong looked at him, sympathy appearing in his eyes, but he slowly shook his head nonetheless. Then he rose to his feet and said, "No. Come back in five days."