Others earned rewards! Heading for Qingshan Town

The Dou Qi Continent's Chat Channel and every major online platform on Blue Star were once again flooded with news about Chu Zhou.

It was fair to say that Chu Zhou had become the undisputed biggest celebrity of the Spiritual Energy Revival era—and on a global scale, at that.

On public social media platforms, countless female celebrities, and even male celebrities, openly declared their love for him. Princesses from other countries also called Chu Zhou their ideal partner and expressed their willingness to marry him.

The leaders of various countries gave their subordinates another furious dressing-down, then increased their funding and manpower, ordering them to find Chu Zhou and establish friendly relations with him by any means possible.

Being the first to become a Dou Zhe only proved that Chu Zhou was talented and lucky enough to stumble upon some good opportunities.

For the moment, he could offer others only limited help. A Dou Zhe could not withstand cannon fire, either.

But his identity as an Alchemist meant he could bring benefits to those around him.

Becoming a First-Rank Alchemist so quickly showed that he had a bright future. He might well be able to help others become Alchemists, giving him strategic significance.

None of this affected Chu Zhou, however. He neither cared nor intended to get involved.

To him, Blue Star's value lay in the natural treasures and spirit beasts brought about by Spiritual Energy Revival.

Perhaps the Dou Qi Continent could no longer produce a Dou Di, but Blue Star could.

"Remember, keep all information about me completely hidden. Don't let anyone learn that I exist. I don't want the hassle."

"As long as you behave and listen to me, you'll always be my woman. You can work for me and enjoy the benefits I bring you."

"A low black-tier Dou Technique is only the beginning. Use the information I give you to secretly gather those medicinal ingredients on the market. With Blue Star's spiritual energy revival, some first- and second-tier ingredients have already appeared. Although I can't bring pills over from the Dou Qi Continent, I can refine them for you on Blue Star."

"Understood?"

Chu Zhou gave Meng Ziwei's voluptuous bottom a firm smack.

"Don't you trust me to get things done?" Meng Ziwei lay against Chu Zhou's chest, her gaze languid. "Last night, did I complain once about any outfit you told me to wear or any position you wanted?"

Last night, Chu Zhou really had enjoyed the treatment of an emperor—perhaps even treatment no emperor had ever received.

Sure enough, as long as a man worked hard to better himself, women would take the initiative, becoming considerate and understanding.

"All right, go make some porridge with Spirit Beast Meat. After we eat, I need to return to the Dou Qi Continent and learn more pill-refining methods." Chu Zhou gave Meng Ziwei a squeeze.

"Of course, darling~" Meng Ziwei cast him a seductive glance, got out of bed, and headed into the kitchen, putting on an apron straight away.

Chu Zhou: "..."

Well, he might as well have another feast first.

Once a person's life settled into a routine, full, productive days always seemed to fly by.

In the blink of an eye, another nine days had passed.

Chu Zhou now returned to Blue Star for all three meals every day, eating Spirit Beast Meat.

Gu Ni taught him ten new Grade One Pill recipes every day, and each time, Chu Zhou took one pill to eat. He had now mastered a hundred Grade One Pill recipes.

Besides that, under the pretext of studying and appraising them, he had asked Ya Fei to purchase and gather Grade One Pills that were common, difficult to refine, or expensive—preferably ones made by powerful Alchemists.

After swallowing them all, he used his Myriad Medicine Clarity Body to thoroughly assimilate their refining techniques and personal experience, just as he had expected.

Now, when it came to refining Grade One Pills alone, his abilities were definitely above Gu Ni's.

Gu Ni also came through for him, recommending him for the examination in the nearest city to Wutan City with an Alchemist Guild. He successfully earned his First-Rank Alchemist certification.

A twenty-two-year-old First-Rank Alchemist was an important figure to many, but he attracted little attention within the Alchemist Guild.

After all, Chu Zhou's sponsor was only a Second-Rank Alchemist.

Once they returned to Wutan City after the examination, Gu Ni immediately offered to teach him how to refine Grade Two Pills.

Chu Zhou was just about to agree when a voice suddenly sounded in his mind.

[Firmament Ledger announcement: Summoner "Donald" has become the first to establish a legally recognized Mercenary Group. Reward: the chat channel's sole special Mercenary Group channel.] ×3

"A Mercenary Group!" A gleam flashed through Chu Zhou's eyes.

The primary requirement for establishing a Mercenary Group was to have at least three Dou Zhe. Only after paying a certain amount of gold coins to a local government official could it be established.

He was currently affiliated with the Mittel Auction House. To avoid giving Ya Fei and Gu Ni the wrong idea, he naturally was in no hurry to establish a Mercenary Group.

He had considered that the first person to establish a Mercenary Group would receive a reward, but he had not expected anyone to meet the requirements so soon.

Even if I know the plot in advance, I can't assume everyone else is useless—especially those backed by nations, financial conglomerates, and powerful investors, Chu Zhou silently reminded himself.

He did not feel much regret, though. He had little interest in establishing a Mercenary Group anyway.

The first person to establish a Family will probably receive a reward too.

The first person to establish a Sect will definitely receive one.

A glint flashed through Chu Zhou's eyes.

Building a Family from nothing was not something that could be done overnight.

He would need strength, territory, a cultivation partner, and descendants.

Establishing a Sect, on the other hand, would only require him to reach the Dou Wang level. Then, following the Dou Qi Continent's rules, he could recruit followers, claim territory, and hold a sect founding ceremony to establish a third-rate power.

A power overseen by a Dou Emperor was second-rate on the continent, one overseen by a Dou Zong was first-rate, and one overseen by a Dou Zun was a top-tier power.

As for one with a Dou Sheng... that was an existence above them all.

[After nine days, we finally heard another reward announcement from the Firmament Ledger. God Chu really... huh? It isn't God Chu.]

[This guy seems to be America's eldest Young Master. It really does pay to have powerful backing.]

[Trump publicly announced to the media yesterday that America already has three Dou Zhe.]

[I'm still at three-stage Dou Qi. How are all these people cultivating like they're riding rockets?]

[Exactly. Didn't they say you can't rely on outside help during the Dou Qi stage?]

[That's true for most people, but there's no shortage of people with special privileges anywhere.]

[Does anyone seriously still not know that eating First-Rank Spirit Beast Meat on Blue Star can improve your Dou Qi cultivation?]

[Holy shit, how come I haven't seen any news about that on Blue Star?]

[LMAO, it'd be a miracle if you could see that on Blue Star. Here in the Dou Qi Continent's Chat Channel, nobody can censor keywords or mute people.]

[...]

Seeing these comments, Chu Zhou understood.

He had firsthand experience with how First-Rank Spirit Beast Meat improved cultivation.

He had just broken through to Three-Star Dou Zhe today. The Azure Flame Soul-Refining Art deserved much of the credit, but Meng Ziwei's tireless efforts to supply him with Spirit Beast Meat had also contributed considerably.

Based on what he could feel, however, First-Rank Spirit Beast Meat mainly benefited cultivation at the Dou Qi stage, since it helped temper the meridians and accelerated the condensation of Dou Qi.

Once someone reached the Dou Zhe stage, talent, cultivation methods, and pill resources became far more decisive factors. First-Rank Spirit Beast Meat, at least, could only provide an extra boost.

Only if Second-Tier Spirit Beasts began appearing on Blue Star, with flesh that offered a greater improvement to cultivation, might that change things.

My lead won't be broken.

But I can't keep working in isolation, either. Chu Zhou's thoughts raced as he said to Gu Ni, "If you think I'm ready to learn how to refine Grade Two Pills, Uncle, I'd certainly love to. But before that, I'd like to visit Qingshan Town first!"

He had two ideas for claiming firsts that he wanted to put into practice as soon as possible.