He had cultivated in the new spirit land for several days.
Li Ping was delighted to discover just how good second-tier upper-grade spirit land was.
He had originally estimated that he would need about a month to fully convert the magical power within his body into that of the Life-Nourishing Art.
Now, however, thanks to the second-tier upper-grade spirit land, his conversion speed had increased dramatically. He would probably need only half a month to convert all his magical power.
At this rate, he would become a proper Foundation Establishment cultivator before the new year arrived.
Then he could truly begin cultivating the first layer of the Marsh Water Life-Nourishing Art.
He opened his eyes with a smile. "I've been in my new cave abode for several days now. It's time I paid that Pill Refiner next door a visit!"
An emerald streak of light flew out of a lush mountain ravine and landed before a cave abode halfway up the mountain.
The light dispersed, revealing Li Ping. He looked up at the cave abode before him.
Compared with his own, the formation shrouding this cave abode was similar, but its outward appearance was somewhat different.
Clearly, the Meng Family had put real effort into building these cave abodes. Each had its own distinct design rather than being cast from the same mold.
Li Ping took out a voice transmission talisman and recorded a message explaining that he was the neighbor living next door and had come today specifically to visit Master Hu. He then tossed it straight into the formation and waited patiently where he stood.
The cultivators who could move into the cave abodes on Immortal Peach Mountain were all Foundation Establishment cultivators with second-tier craftsmanship, giving them a certain standing in the Immortal City.
Moreover, they were neighbors who would be living alongside one another for years to come. Thus, even though Master Hu enjoyed an exalted status as a second-tier upper-grade Pill Refiner,
as long as he was not too busy refining pills to spare the time, he would normally be willing to receive Li Ping.
Sure enough, Li Ping had barely waited a moment outside the cave abode.
An opening appeared in Master Hu's formation, and a figure in plain-colored robes stepped out.
Li Ping looked up and took in the man's appearance. He looked to be in his sixties, short and stout, with a somewhat sallow complexion and long white hair hanging loose to his shoulders.
While Li Ping was studying him, the stout man also spotted Li Ping. A smile immediately appeared on his face. "Haha... Fellow Daoist Meng told me a fellow daoist had moved in next door. I was planning to pay you a visit myself, but here you are already, Fellow Daoist Li. Come in, please, come in!"
Master Hu Feng greeted Li Ping with just as much warmth as the Meng Family Ancestor.
Li Ping could not help wondering, Is the atmosphere on Immortal Peach Mountain really this friendly?
With Master Hu leading the way, the two entered the courtyard and arrived at an elegantly traditional pavilion, apparently the place where Master Hu usually received guests.
They sat down in the pavilion, and a handsome youth of about seventeen or eighteen, with rosy lips and gleaming white teeth, brought them spirit tea.
The youth said respectfully, "Master, Senior Li, please have some tea."
Hearing this, Li Ping gave him a few more appraising looks. Judging by his words, this youth was actually Master Hu's disciple.
Noticing Li Ping's gaze, Master Hu introduced the youth with pride. "Fellow Daoist Li, this is my youngest and final disciple. He has dual spirit roots, and though he is only eighteen, he has already reached the sixth layer of Qi Refining. He also has a great gift for alchemy and is close to becoming a first-tier Pill Refiner. In the future, he has a chance of inheriting my mantle and becoming a second-tier Pill Refiner."
"Oh?" Li Ping was somewhat surprised.
Reaching the sixth layer of Qi Refining at eighteen was nothing particularly unusual.
After all, the youth had dual spirit roots and a second-tier upper-grade Pill Refiner as his master, so he would have no shortage of pills for cultivation.
What surprised him was that the youth was already close to becoming a first-tier Pill Refiner at this age.
Alchemy was far more complicated than talisman crafting. Not only did one need to identify spiritual plants and understand their medicinal properties and their supporting and guiding roles, but one also had to master numerous processes such as flame control and purification.
Generally speaking, anyone wishing to learn alchemy had to spend at least ten years as an apprentice before being qualified to touch a pill furnace. How long it would take to produce finished pills was another question entirely.
Becoming a first-tier Pill Refiner at eighteen did indeed demonstrate a remarkable gift for alchemy.
With this in mind, Li Ping took a second-tier lower-grade spirit talisman from his Storage Bag and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Hu, since this is my first time meeting your disciple, please let this spirit talisman serve as a meeting gift."
A second-tier lower-grade spirit talisman was worth fifty spirit stones, a substantial sum for a youth at the sixth layer of Qi Refining.
The youth hurriedly looked toward his master, but Master Hu smiled and nodded. "Silly boy, since Fellow Daoist Li has offered it, go ahead and accept."
Only after receiving his master's approval did the youth accept the spirit talisman, delight written all over his face. "I, Liu Yuan, thank you for your gift, Senior."
Seeing Li Ping's generosity, Master Hu looked at him with even greater warmth. "Fellow Daoist Li, as neighbors, we ought to visit each other more often from now on."
Li Ping smiled and nodded in agreement.
The two then chatted casually about amusing stories and happenings on Immortal Peach Mountain.
Of course, Master Hu did most of the talking, while Li Ping listened attentively and nodded in agreement from time to time.
As a veteran Pill Refiner who had lived on Immortal Peach Mountain for many years, Master Hu knew the mountain's affairs exceedingly well. Through him, Li Ping also learned quite a bit about the other craftspeople.
This would undoubtedly be of some help when Li Ping activated the "peerless talent" of other crafts in the future.
Still, Master Hu was so enthusiastic that Li Ping found it rather strange.
As the two chatted, Liu Yuan stood respectfully to one side, attending them.
Just then, a gray-robed figure suddenly rushed into the pavilion, interrupting Li Ping and Master Hu's conversation.
Displeasure appeared on Master Hu's face as he looked at the newcomer. "Why are you rushing about like this? Can't you see I'm discussing the Dao with Fellow Daoist Li?"
The gray-robed figure hurriedly replied, "Master, Senior Wang from the Wang Family is here. He says he has urgent business with you."
"The Wang Family..." Master Hu looked thoughtful.
He said helplessly, "You may not know this, Fellow Daoist Li, but this Fellow Daoist Wang approached me through his connection with the Meng Family Ancestor. I can hardly afford to offend him. I'm sorry for being such a poor host today. Another day, I will certainly visit you to offer my apologies."
Hearing this, Li Ping tactfully cupped his hands. "Not at all, not at all. I was the one imposing on you today. Since you have business to attend to, Fellow Daoist Hu, I'll take my leave and visit another day."
"Very well." Master Hu looked at the gray-robed figure who had rushed in. "Qufeng, see Fellow Daoist Li out for me."
He then introduced him to Li Ping. "This is my eldest disciple, Feng Qufeng."
Li Ping nodded, though inwardly he found this rather interesting.
After all, when Master Hu had introduced Liu Yuan earlier, he had proudly reeled off a whole string of accomplishments.
"Dual spirit roots," "a gift for alchemy," "the inheritor of my mantle"...
Yet his introduction of his eldest disciple, Feng Qufeng, consisted of nothing more than a name.
Master Hu hurried away with his youngest and final disciple.
Feng Qufeng said respectfully, "Senior Li, let me see you out."
Li Ping nodded.
Feng Qufeng was an ordinary-looking man with dark skin, thick eyebrows, and a long face. In appearance, he could not begin to compare with his junior disciple brother.
One looked like a graceful young nobleman, while the other looked like a farmer who had just finished working the fields.