Advancement to Clan Pill Master

Ning Fa watched Ning Shaohong leave.

He then looked at Ning Ruiming, a smile appearing on his face.

Ning Ruiming's expression turned extremely ugly. Apparently unwilling to give Ning Fa the chance to humiliate him, he abruptly flicked his sleeve and hurried out of the pill chamber.

"Ning Fa, one must look at a scholar with new eyes after three days apart. Let this old man congratulate you first on joining the Alchemy Hall. If you need anything in the future, you may come find this old man."

With a beaming face, Wei Chengzong congratulated Ning Fa.

It was already set in stone that Ning Fa would become an official Clan Pill Master. Moreover, having refined Dao Patterned Pills, Ning Fa certainly would not be an ordinary Low-grade First-grade Pill Master.

Even if he could only refine Essence Replenishing Pills in the future, as long as he maintained such a terrifying pill formation rate, he would definitely occupy an important position within the clan.

Thus, he needed to build a good relationship with Ning Fa as well. Especially since Ning Ruiming had previously ordered him to obstruct Ning Fa's assessment, he now wanted to show goodwill and mend their relationship.

Although Ning Fa hated this old fox enough to grind his teeth, he also knew that Wei Chengzong had merely acted under pressure and bore him no personal ill will. He had even given guidance to the original Ning Fa in pill refinement before.

So Ning Fa put on a fake smile and exchanged a few perfunctory words with Wei Chengzong before taking his leave.

After all, he had refined pills continuously for nearly seven or eight hours. Now that the overall situation had been settled, he felt exceptionally exhausted, with both his mana and divine sense greatly depleted.

At that moment, Ning Fa noticed Liu Qinghui shift slightly and take a small step forward, as though she had something to say to him.

But Ning Fa had no desire to play along with that little hypocrite and turned to leave directly.

"Ning Fa, congratulations."

Liu Qinghui's soft congratulations came from behind him.

Ning Fa paused, unable to help wondering what that little hypocrite was plotting. If she was sincerely congratulating him, he would be the first not to believe it.

But he could not be bothered to ponder the woman's thoughts. Acting as though he had not heard her, he left directly.

Ning Fa returned to his home on Pingchang Island. He did nothing, thought of nothing, and fell straight into bed.

This month of high-intensity pill refinement had kept him like a bowstring pulled taut. Now that he had finally relaxed, he felt incomparably exhausted.

Early the next morning, Ning Fa was awakened by knocking at the door.

The moment Ning Fa opened it, he saw Ning Chuanwei in a blue robe, with shifty eyes and a thieving look, grinning slyly at Ning Xiuying, who wore dazzling crimson battle armor. "My lady, you must be here to escort Ning Fa to Fifth Elder's residence, right? Don't worry, that brat is at home. I saw him return with my own eyes yesterday evening."

Ning Xiuying looked as though she had no interest in acknowledging him at all. When she saw Ning Fa emerge, a faint smile curled her lips.

Ning Fa's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the surging curves before her chest. He did not know whether it was an illusion, but why did they seem even more spectacular than yesterday?

As though she had noticed his gaze, Ning Xiuying deliberately, yet seemingly casually, thrust out her chest.

Ning Fa nearly stared himself cross-eyed. Only then did he notice Ning Xiuying's half-smiling expression, and he hurriedly greeted her, "Sister Xiuying."

Ning Xiuying first shot him a sidelong glare, then said seriously, "By Ninth Elder's order, I have come to notify you that yesterday, the clan elders' council passed a resolution. You have officially passed the clan's Pill Master assessment and may join the clan's Alchemy Hall. This is your Alchemy Hall Token. Tomorrow, you may move to Lingchang Island. Pill Master Wei will explain the details to you."

After speaking, Ning Xiuying handed Ning Fa a small, round green token.

Ning Fa accepted the token instinctively.

Although he had long known that he would certainly pass the assessment, only upon truly hearing the result did the huge stone in his heart finally fall to the ground, as though a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

That meant he had won his wager with Ning Huarong and would no longer have to serve as her dual-cultivation Cultivation Cauldron.

Although Ning Huarong had an overbearing nature, she had always kept her promises. She would not stoop so low as to refuse to accept defeat and come trouble him again.

At the side, Ning Chuanwei had long since been dumbfounded.

What? This good-for-nothing had actually passed the clan's Pill Master assessment and would become a respected pill master?

How was that possible!?

At this moment, Ning Xiuying continued, "However, the clan hopes that within one year, you will successfully refine two Low-grade First-grade Pills—the Qi Replenishing Pill and the Essence Supplementing Pill—and achieve at least a thirty percent pill formation rate. After all, that is also the standard requirement for an ordinary Low-grade First-grade Pill Master."

Ning Fa frowned at these words. Was the One Dao Mark Essence Replenishing Pill he had refined not convincing enough? They still wanted him to refine other pills.

Noticing Ning Fa's expression, Ning Xiuying hastily explained, "Do not misunderstand. It is not that the clan is being harsh with you. Given your skill in refining Essence Replenishing Pills, even if you could not refine other pills, you would still be qualified to enter the Alchemy Hall and would certainly hold an important position. The clan simply wishes to see your potential in refining other pills."

Ning Fa nodded. That made sense. For the Ning Clan to have developed to its current momentum, the clan elders naturally could not be muddleheaded fools.

He clasped his fists toward Ning Xiuying. "Thank you for making the trip to deliver the news, Sister Xiuying. Also, please convey to Ninth Elder that once I am settled, I will return to Yun Chang Island to thank her in person."

Ning Shaohong was his pillar now, so he had to maintain this connection properly.

Although she had said she would only help Ning Fa once, Ning Fa felt that this Ninth Elder was someone cold on the outside but warm within.

"Very well, I will certainly convey it."

Ning Xiuying smiled at him, her attitude much more sincere than it had been yesterday.

Though she was already at the seventh level of Qi Condensation while Ning Fa was only at the third level, she was merely Ning Shaohong's maidservant. Ning Fa, meanwhile, had now entered the clan's Alchemy Hall. In terms of status within the clan, Ning Fa was no weaker than her now.

After all, the Ning Clan had fifty or sixty Late Qi Condensation cultivators, while there were only six Pill Masters in the clan, Ning Fa included, not counting pill-refining apprentices.

Furthermore, having witnessed Ning Fa refine pills in person yesterday, she knew very well that he was no ordinary Pill Master. After all, he had even refined Dao Patterned Pills.

If he advanced to Qi Condensation Mid-stage and became a First-grade Mid-rank Pill Master while retaining such a terrifying pill formation rate, his status within the clan would rise even more sharply. By then, unless she achieved Successful Foundation Establishment, she would only be able to look up at Ning Fa.

What was more, the benefits of befriending a Pill Master were simply too great. Perhaps through Ning Fa, she could obtain some precious pills from the Alchemy Hall.

After Ning Xiuying turned and left, Ning Fa looked at the still-dazed Ning Chuanwei and said with a half-smile, "Why are you still here? Are you waiting for me to invite you inside for a few drinks?"

"Ning Fa... ah, no, honored Clan Pill Master..."

Ning Chuanwei finally came back to his senses. He immediately looked at Ning Fa with a fawning expression and said in delight, "Does this little brother truly have such an honor? Then this little brother is blessed for three lifetimes."