"It was just as well that Wei Shangyi didn't pass. It would save me trouble from having him oppose me later!"
Zhou Xun was someone who feared trouble.
If Wei Shangyi withdrew now, Zhou Xun would have an easier time as well.
But that did not mean he would let the Wei Brothers off.
When his wings had fully grown and his strength became formidable, that would be the time to deal with the Wei Brothers.
Another round of pill refinement had ended, and Lin Xueying pointed out the problems in everyone's refining.
"Today is the last time I will offer guidance to you all. In seven days, your pill refinement skills will be assessed. Fellow cultivators who have yet to successfully refine a pill must work diligently!"
With that, she drifted away.
Wei Shangyi was ranked seventeenth and had little confidence in passing the assessment.
Though he possessed a Medium Spiritual Root, spiritual root aptitude was merely an auxiliary consideration in the assessment.
After returning, he immediately sought out his elder brother, Wei Shangli, to discuss a response.
Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, private room Number Ten of the First Class.
Wei Shangyi and Wei Shangli were toasting an Elder with graying hair, dressed in brocade robes embroidered with fine patterns.
Had Zhou Xun been there, he would have recognized him.
This Elder was the steward in charge of logistics at Danbao Pavilion.
He was also a member of the Lin family, of extraordinarily high seniority, belonging to the same generation as the Lin family's current Supreme Elder.
Even the Lin family head had to address him as Clan Uncle.
Unfortunately, his talent was too poor. Even now, he was only at the third level of Qi Refinement, so he had been assigned to Danbao Pavilion as the steward responsible for logistics.
It could be said that throughout Danbao Pavilion, no one had deeper seniority than him.
Even Grandmaster Yun Ku had not been at Danbao Pavilion as long as this old Steward Lin.
"Shangyi, if you hadn't told me, I never would have known that you and Shangli were actually blood brothers!" The Elder was already somewhat drunk.
"I was at fault, Warden Lin. I shall punish myself with three cups!" Wei Shangyi lifted the wine jug, poured himself three cups of spirit wine, and drained them all in one breath.
"What Warden Lin? Call me Third Granduncle!"
"Even your elder sister-in-law has to call me Third Granduncle when she sees me!"
Wei Shangyi's expression twitched slightly. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to call out, "Third Granduncle!"
The Elder was delighted upon hearing that.
"To tell you the truth, in this Danbao Pavilion, even that brat Yun Ku wouldn't dare put on airs before me!"
"Of course. Who doesn't know that you, sir, are the true pillar holding back the sea?" Wei Shangyi flattered the Elder.
"So, if you have something to say, just say it!" As the Elder spoke, a sharp glint flashed through his eyes.
"As expected, nothing can be hidden from you, sir!" Wei Shangli added flatteringly.
"My third brother knows that his talent in pill refinement is ordinary, and he truly has no confidence in this assessment. We ask that Third Granduncle lend a hand!"
"Lend a hand?"
"If it were anything else, this old man might be able to put in a word, but as for the apprentice assessment, I truly can do nothing!" Though the Elder spoke in an imposing tone, he knew his own limits very well.
All affairs of Danbao Pavilion were decided by Grandmaster Yun Ku alone. Even the Lin family's current Supreme Elder would not interfere in Danbao Pavilion's affairs.
How could it be this old fool's place to offer his opinions?
If others gave him face, they might call him Old Master Lin. If they did not, he was merely an undying low-level cultivator.
Wei Shangli was not surprised by the Elder's reaction. He had another purpose in seeking him out.
"I heard that the logistics affairs under Third Granduncle's charge also include inspecting the entire earthfire formation?"
"Why are you asking about that?" The Elder immediately became vigilant.
"This grandnephew means nothing by it. I only hope that on the day of the assessment, Third Granduncle can control the earthfire and cause a few people ranked ahead of my younger brother to falter!"
"With Third Granduncle's many years of experience overseeing the earthfire formation, all you need do is slightly manipulate the earthfire's power while others are refining pills, causing it to erupt just a little, and they will fail!"
"Besides, earthfire occasionally erupts on its own. Even if they fail their refinement, they will only blame their own bad luck and never suspect Third Granduncle!"
"If Third Granduncle helps my brother fulfill his long-cherished wish, I am willing to offer ten spirit stones as payment!"
The Elder flew into a rage upon hearing this. He refused decisively, his words ringing with righteousness.
"Though this old man's cultivation is low, I absolutely will not allow such things to happen in Danbao Pavilion. For the sake of my grandniece, I will pretend today's matter never occurred. Do not mention it again in the future!"
"Twenty spirit stones!" Wei Shangli had long since learned the Elder's character and raised two fingers with one hand.
"Enough. I have been in Danbao Pavilion for many years. How could I break my principles for a mere twenty spirit stones?" The Elder raised his eyes.
"You'll have to pay more!"
"Thirty spirit stones. What do you say?" Wei Shangli's heart bled.
He had not brought many spirit stones with him when he fled. Every one he used meant one less remaining.
He had not expected this old man to be so greedy.
But for the sake of his third brother, and to prevent Zhou Xun from standing out, it was all worth it.
"They say pill refiners are wealthy, but it seems talisman masters are no less so. Thirty is enough, thirty is enough. Rest assured, you two. Once I, Lin Hongjiu, have taken the money, I will make sure this matter is handled beautifully!" The Elder chuckled, no trace remaining of his former righteous integrity.
"I naturally trust in Third Granduncle's reputation. When the time comes, all you need do is—"
In one breath, he named the numbers of three Alchemy Rooms. Zhou Xun's Room B-Seventeen was conspicuously among them.
Because Grandmaster Yun Ku had only recently broken through to Foundation Establishment, he entered seclusion after the recruitment gathering ended to consolidate his cultivation.
All of Danbao Pavilion's affairs had been handed over to Lin Zhishan.
After Lin Xueying returned, Lin Zhishan asked her about the current state of these prospective apprentices and listened to the opinion of this clan niece who was also his junior sister.
"Erniu not only has high cultivation aptitude, but his talent in pill refinement is also the best among them all."
"Xun Houqing is steady and honest. His cultivation aptitude is ordinary, but he has unique strengths in pill refinement."
"Zhou Xun's cultivation aptitude is average. His pill refinement is only barely passable as well. Even if he passes the assessment, he will rank near the bottom. Still, he is rather handsome. Why does Revered Teacher value him so highly?"
She, too, knew that Grandmaster Yun Ku valued Zhou Xun.
"When I saw this person, he reminded me of my former self."
Just as Lin Zhishan was about to answer, a powerful voice rang out, like an ancient bronze bell. Grandmaster Yun Ku had emerged from seclusion.
"Back then, my cultivation aptitude was ordinary, and my talent in pill refinement was not particularly outstanding either. Yet my heart in pursuit of the Dao never diminished. Fortunately, my benefactor did not abandon me and passed on the art of pill refinement to me. Step by step, footprint after footprint, I became who I am today!" The Elder sighed, a look of reminiscence appearing on his face.
"It was also because of Master that I have what I do today!" Lin Zhishan was deeply moved.
Lin Xueying seemed to understand yet not understand, but she nodded.
In her view, since Revered Teacher valued this person, then even if his talent in pill refinement was somewhat lacking during the assessment, allowing him to pass would not be a problem. He was only a Pill Refinement Apprentice, after all.
Afterward, she spoke with Grandmaster Yun Ku about Zhou Xun.
Time passed quickly. Seven days went by in the blink of an eye.
Over those seven days, another five people successfully refined Pigu Pills.
As for the eight people who still had not successfully refined one, they were destined to return empty-handed from this assessment.
Everyone understood clearly that those who passed this assessment would be selected from the remaining twenty-two.
This was Grandmaster Yun Ku's first recruitment of Pill Refinement Apprentices after advancing, and all of Danbao Pavilion attached great importance to the assessment.
Lin Zhishan personally presided over it.
"You have all been in Danbao Pavilion for half a year. You should have basically mastered the fundamental arts of pill refinement. Today is the day to test your results!"
Lin Zhishan stood before the prospective apprentices, his voice stern and solemn.
Wei Shangyi stood among the crowd, but his gaze slid toward Zhou Xun, who was not far away. An unfamiliar excitement gleamed in his eyes.
"Once the pill refinement ends, let's see whether you can still remain so calm and unruffled!"
At the same time, he looked toward several others.
Among the thirty people here, aside from Wang Erniu, his spiritual root was the best.
He should have been surrounded by stars like the moon, yet his pill refinement skills were ranked seventeenth.
The proud Wei Shangyi deeply resented this.
He resented Xun Houqing and resented Zhou Xun. Why should their pill refinement surpass his?
He even resented Lin Zhishan and Grandmaster Yun Ku. With spiritual root aptitude as outstanding as his, why did he have to compete on the same stage as those with Inferior Spiritual Roots?
"Today, all of you will falter!"
Naturally, Zhou Xun had no idea that Wei Shangyi was plotting against him like this. He was listening attentively to Lin Zhishan's speech.
Though he was extremely confident in passing the assessment, he still needed to hear the rules clearly.
Before you continue