The Alchemy Gathering Concludes, Winning Over Luan Xiu

"The Sect Leader Kang family is very prosperous. In my opinion, their current state is comparable to that of the wealthy families in the capital."

Compared to before, Attendant Luan no longer showed much arrogance when facing Kang Dabao. After all, he himself had not yet Core Formation, yet he had already witnessed the late Sect Leader Kang Da surpassing him. His attitude could not remain the same as before.

In fact, after Pei Yi's death, Attendant Luan's attitude towards the Chongming Sect plummeted. Although his cultivation level was almost negligible compared to his Dao of Alchemy skills, Attendant Luan was quite prestigious among the local Fei Household's retainers.

His sudden change in attitude caused even most of the Alchemist and other artisans in the Fei Household in Shannan Circuit to become estranged from the Chongming Sect.

This makes sense. Attendant Luan had put in a lot of effort and resources to save Pei Yi's Dao Path, but the former hadn't even crossed the threshold of Foundation Establishment.

Even after his death, the so-called "disciple of the Prince of the South" that Kang Dabao used to always talk about never appeared, which greatly angered Attendant Luan, who had gained nothing.

In other words, they were also concerned about Fei Tianqin and Fei Nanying's great favor towards Sect Leader Kang Da. Otherwise, as Third Tier Attendant Luan, Luan Alchemist's connections would probably be no less than those of ordinary wealthy family heads, and he could certainly cause some trouble for the Chongming Sect.

Fortunately, he didn't harbor any malicious intent at the time, and he was also mindful of his family's relationship with the Fei Household, so he didn't take any action. Otherwise, the current situation between the two sides would be incredibly awkward.

Thanks to this, Sect Leader Kang Da was able to at least personally offer a considerable sum of money to invite Attendant Luan as the president of the Chongming Sect's alchemy conference, which could be considered as easing tensions between the two sides.

After all, the latter is a Third Tier Alchemist, a rare and valuable connection for the Chongming Sect. There's no reason to further strain the relationship.

Even though Kang Dabao had already achieved the middle-grade elixir level in public, he couldn't expect this Third Tier Alchemist to show him any flattery in person. This was because Luan Attendant Luan a transcendent position in the Fei Household, far surpassing that of ordinary retainers.

Furthermore, Kang Dabao had also heard that the Fei Household's ancestor, Ye Shui, had already agreed to Attendant Luan. After the latter's half-life of waiting in Cloud Horn Prefecture was completed, he would invite top Daoist masters to give a proper lecture to see if they could dispel the Attendant Luan the elixir three times.

Sect Leader Kang Da had long understood Luan Attendant Luan's temperament, so he didn't put on any airs of superiority. He simply replied politely, "Not at all. All the Alchemist here have come specifically to seek your guidance because they heard that you are here."

"Sect Leader Kang, you flatter me, you flatter me too much."

As a seasoned alchemist who associated with highly skilled cultivators, Attendant Luan Alchemist was unlikely to be overjoyed by Kang Dabao's kind words.

However, being praised so highly by Golden Core cultivator still made him feel a little proud. Before coming, Sect Leader Kang Da and other figures had explained the rules of the conference in advance. After Attendant Luan a good mood, he did not put on airs and walked to the high platform in the center of the venue to take his seat.

The Double Brightness disciples who were maintaining order in the arena struck the golden gongs, and the Alchemist who had entered immediately stopped what they were doing and returned to the low tables next to their assigned Pill Furnace.

Attendant Luan a Rogue Cultivator who was only two hundred years old. His achievements in alchemy were quite remarkable.

He simply glanced at the cultivators below the stage and quickly got a general idea of their situation.

After Attendant Luan remained silent, simply sitting cross-legged before the jade table, where he picked up a knife and pen and began carving seals without pause.

When one reaches the level of Attendant Luan, a natural quality arises in him when he is focused on his work, which makes onlookers feel calm and at peace.

The vast alchemy examination hall suddenly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Only the occasional sound of a cluster of earth fire churning and the sound of Attendant Luan words blended together, and then there was no other noise.

As Attendant Luan finished his final stroke and laid the Jade Slip flat on the table, thick black seal script gradually appeared on the low tables of the Alchemist below the stage, writing:

"Earth Virtue Qi-Nurturing Pill: Black-skinned Solomon's Seal, Almond-shaped Poria Cocos, Pheasant Shell, Rootless Water"

"Is it a Pill Formula?"

The murmurs of the Alchemist gradually rose in the room. Strangely enough, even though there were more than a hundred Alchemist present, not one of them had ever heard of the origin of this Pill Formula before, let alone the ingredients, medicinal properties, and effects.

Fortunately Attendant Luan didn't let the cultivators speculate for too long, and then spoke up to explain:

"I accidentally came to this Pill Formula yesterday during a short rest. If one can fully understand the principles of pharmacology, one can Qi Refinement a spiritual pill to aid Qi cultivation according to this formula. Today, I will use this as the topic."

You have only half a day to refine the pills. I will see whether they are successful and what their effects are by this evening. The rankings in this pill refining competition will also be determined entirely by the grade and effects of the pills.

Upon hearing this, the cultivators present realized that the Sect Leader Kang Da Chongming Sect, Kang, had once again taken an unconventional approach.

Not only were standardized Pill Cauldron uniformly distributed, but the types of spirit medicine were also specified. Even the Pill Formula had been prepared in advance by the local Dao of Alchemy masters.

Therefore, those who can excel in this competition are unlikely to be mere mediocre individuals.

However, this means that many well-off families have to make a lot of hard work preparing for their children's future.

Whether it's the newly purchased cauldron, the acquired spiritual materials, or the several Pill Formulas that have long been mastered, they are all useless now; it's truly a case of trying to fill a basket with water in vain.

However, the reactions of the Alchemist below the stage did not concern Sect Leader Kang Da and Attendant Luan. With a flick of their fingers, the former summoned gray geese from the Beast Garden, carrying medicine baskets, flew into the arena.

First, baskets of spirit medicine were placed one after another in an orderly fashion around the Alchemist. Then, at each of the four corners of the arena, a group of Double Brightness disciples, each holding a formation flag, suddenly began to strike the ground incessantly.

Gradually, Golden Light emanated from beside each cauldron, shielding the Alchemist inside and preventing them from being spied on or disturbed.

The Sect Leader Kang Da, had high expectations for the cultivators who were diligently refining pills in these Golden Light chambers.

After all, the questions for this examination were put together by him and Attendant Luan Gongfeng, in order to select some good talents from among the many qualified Alchemist, eliminating the influence of family background and resources.

This was because Attendant Luan had once told Sect Leader Kang Da that the path of Alchemist cannot be judged by temporary skill, but rather by one's inherent comprehension, in order to know whether one has a future in this field.

"Being good at listening to advice" is one of Kang Dabao's few virtues. After Luan Attendant Luan explained the advantages and disadvantages of the matter, Kang Dabao readily agreed to the advice of the Third Tier Alchemist.

Sect Leader Kang Da had excellent eyesight, and the participating Alchemist weren't particularly wary. So, with just a few slight movements of his eyes, Kang Dabao was able to clearly see the scene inside the Golden Light room, and his gaze gradually became much more serious.

He was a complete novice when it came to alchemy, and after many years, he had only made slight progress compared to when he was preparing the Mortal Shedding spirit medicine for his disciples.

However, he also saw clearly that Qi Ke and his group of Double Brightness disciples were not slow in their actions and did not show any difficulty like most of the others. He knew that his years of cultivation had been somewhat effective.

Attendant Luan the same view on the matter as Sect Leader Kang Da. Under Kang Dabao's earnest instructions beforehand, Alchemist in the Chongming Sect.

From his own perspective, even if the disciples of the Chongming Sect lacked any particularly outstanding talents due to their individual limitations, there were still quite a few who deserved to be cultivated. This showed that Chongming Sect and had not gone astray.

Compared to Attendant Luan's past experiences, this is quite rare for a newly emerging Golden Core sect.

Half a day passed quickly, and the Golden Light that had enveloped the Pill Furnace gradually faded, while the Spiritual Qi in the area was largely pushed back by the earth fire.

The Alchemist, some beaming with joy, others filled with regret, could only halt their work, tossing the refined pills into jade bottles on a low table. They then placed the bottles atop talismans bearing names, origins, and backgrounds, sending them on the wind to the high platform.

After more than a hundred pills were placed on the jade table, Attendant Luan raised his eyelids and glanced at them briefly, and immediately understood.

He formed a mysterious hand seal with one hand and tapped the jade table with the other.

Immediately, most of the jade bottles on the table shattered with the sound, and the pills inside turned into wisps of turbid gas that dispersed into the air. The earth fire beside the corresponding Alchemist below the platform was instantly extinguished, and his face turned ashen as he lowered his head and remained silent.

This group consists of the Alchemist whom Attendant Luan the least and who have the weakest comprehension. Perhaps some of them are already quite skilled and are just one step away from becoming Second Tier Alchemist, but Attendant Luan feels that these people lack a certain spark, and that they may never take that final step before they die. Even if they are willing to put in some effort, they are not the Chongming Sect should cultivate with twice the effort and half the result.

Two or three-thirds of the fire in the arena was suddenly extinguished. At this point, the Alchemist who had been cleared out could leave the arena, rush to the Chongming Sect's archway, and collect a decent souvenir before leaving.

However, most of them harbored some resentment. Those who could enter the Alchemist profession had a certain pride and were unwilling to leave in such a dejected manner. They wanted to see what kind of person could win the favor of Third Tier Alchemist.

Ignoring the burning gazes below, Attendant Luan changed his hand gestures, and a wisp of golden wind brushed over the remaining thirty pills one by one. After the golden wind brushed his face, he understood, and then picked up his pen and knife to carve Jade Slip.

With each stroke of his brush, the remaining fire in the arena would extinguish in one place. After only a few breaths, only three places remained where flames were still emanating.

Chongming Sect, True Disciple of He Wanying Sect Qi Ke, is one of them;

One of the branches of the Anshan Gun Household, Gun Fangmu.

Then there was Chen Zihang, an unremarkable-looking Rogue Cultivator Alchemist was somewhat famous in Cloud Horn Prefecture.

The eliminated Alchemist remained silent, and the three standing in the center of the arena suddenly became the target of everyone's criticism. Attendant Luan, also an Alchemist, understood the thoughts of the cultivators below, but he said little, only holding the three refined elixirs in his hands and explaining them one by one:

"Although the method used by the Chongming Sect Qi Ke in refining the pills has some immature and inappropriate aspects, he knows to steam the Poria cocos nine times over a high flame before refining it into powder. This removes the bitterness and enhances the medicinal properties, which is something I didn't even think of when I was refining the Pill Formula yesterday. How could I not record it?"

"Don't underestimate Chen Zihang just because he comes from a humble background; he is well-versed in pharmacology. I have determined the processing methods for these six medicinal ingredients, and among more than a hundred people, only he has mastered them perfectly. Can any of you compare?"

"Anshan Gun Household Gun Fangmu meticulous and has thoroughly mastered this Pill Formula. The quantities of all the ingredients are exactly as I calculated at the time. Can you possibly find even the slightest error?"

The cultivators below the stage were unwilling, but how could they have the ability or the qualifications to argue with Third Tier Alchemist? With all the facts laid out before them, how could they possibly be dissatisfied?

Attendant Luan no courtesy or consideration in front of these low-level Alchemist, and bluntly pointed out several common mistakes, scolding the cultivators until their faces turned red. Only then did Sect Leader Kang Da step onto the stage to try and smooth things over.

Although these Alchemists had a shallow connection with the Chongming Sect, they were still figures of some standing, so Chongming Sect did not treat them with any disrespect.

A banquet and ceremonies had already been prepared outside, ensuring that the unsuccessful Alchemist wouldn't have come for nothing.

In addition, the Earth Virtue Qi-Nourishing Pill formula, which had been personally explained by Master Luan, was a precious item for these alchemists. Leaving aside the intrinsic value of the formula itself, the opportunity to be personally instructed and taught by a third-level alchemist was something ordinary people rarely witnessed.

To be honest, these unsuccessful Alchemist should not resent Sect Leader Kang Da at all; on the contrary, Chongming Sect a favor after they leave.

Regardless of whether Kang Dabao's reputation will rise even higher after this, Attendant Luan Gongfeng has received benefits and respect. Today, he has been very attentive, not only calling the three selected individuals to his presence for a detailed instruction but also giving each of them a copy of a handbook, which is quite generous.

The Sect Leader Kang Da, had the three of them thank him one by one. Then he summoned Duan Anle, who had just been assigned the task of eliminating Evil Cultivator and was currently working at the sect, and took him away to make proper arrangements.

Qi Ke was already a disciple of the sect, so he didn't need to worry about anything. Chen and Gun, on the other hand, were new faces, and both their hospitality and vigilance couldn't be taken lightly. It was only reassuring to entrust them to a disciple like Duan Anle.

Having accomplished this much, Attendant Luan considered the matter perfectly settled, so he prepared his resignation. However, just as the words reached his lips, Attendant Luan saw Sect Leader Kang Da take out something.

"The True Explanation of Dao of Alchemy by the Daoist Zhusan the Dao"?

Even though Attendant Luan cultivation for many years, this was the first time he had ever seen this book. He couldn't guess Kang Dabao's intentions, and a look of suspicion arose in his eyes.

"To be honest, fellow Daoist, this unexpectedly acquired Dao of Alchemy text is quite obscure. No one in my Chongming Sect can understand it yet, so I wish to offer it to you for your study. I have no other request than that you impart all the knowledge you gain from it to the three Alchemist we just met."

That's probably a bit...

Attendant Luan speech when, upon seeing the preface to "The True Explanation of the Daoist Alchemy of Daoist Zhusan Dao of Alchemy," all the difficulty on his face vanished, and his heart was filled with ecstatic joy:

"These Dao of Alchemy classics have fallen into the hands of the Chongming Sect; isn't that like casting pearls before swine?! How could I possibly refuse?!"

At this moment, any lingering unease Attendant Luan towards Sect Leader Kang Da had completely dissipated. He forced a smile, maintaining a composed demeanor. "Sect Leader Kang's sincerity is something I have no reason to refuse."

Kang Dabao was overjoyed and Attendant Luan with a token, granting him the title of Guest Elder of the Chongming Sect. Only then was the matter considered settled.

Having just Attendant Luan was so eager to acquire it that he couldn't wait to return to his place of cultivation. He borrowed a quiet room from the Chongming Sect and began to study it.

Despite bringing this matter to fruition, Sect Leader Kang Da did not get any rest. He did not need to handle the affairs of the new disciples' entry into the sect, and Yuan Jin and Jiang Qing also came forward to entertain Gun Shilu, who was visiting for the first time with his disciples.

Kang Dabao frowned slightly as he looked at the newly acquired token, then walked alone into the council hall.