Immortality: Starting with the Fruit of Taiyin

"What's up?"

While cleaning the alchemy furnace using common water-based spells available on the market, Wang Xuan casually asked a question.

"Master Wang, have you ever heard of the Mu family of Xiaozeshan?"

Their attitudes became noticeably more subdued. Ever since they learned that Wang Xuan had broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining, the Han brothers, Han Dao and Han Bo, had returned to their previous attitudes towards him.

After all, the idea that the strong are respected is still very common in the cultivation world.

"The Mu family of Ozawayama?"

"You're talking about the previous owner of your Han family's sacred land, aren't you?"

At first, he couldn't remember, but after a moment's thought, Wang Xuan recalled the name.

The Han family's spiritual vein was purchased, but under normal circumstances, no family would sell the spiritual vein on which they depend for survival.

Fortunately, the Mu family declined, and the previous Foundation Establishment cultivator had passed away decades ago, but no next Foundation Establishment cultivator had been born yet, so the Han family got the benefit.

After all, spiritual veins in the cultivation world have always been scarce, and unless there is war, it is difficult for newly promoted cultivators to buy the corresponding spiritual land even if they have enough spirit stones.

"Yes, it's them."

Nodding, Han Bo stated his purpose:

"Some time ago, the only remaining member of the Mu family who had reached the peak of Qi Refining suffered a relapse of his old injury, and his Qi and blood were fluctuating."

"In order to cure their ancestor, they sought medical help everywhere, and it just so happened that they found it in me... I think Master Wang's alchemy skills are superb, so perhaps he can bring me back to life."

A master alchemist is not a physician, just as a master alchemist is not a poison master.

However, there are commonalities among the three, just like the relationship between array masters and geomancers. Generally speaking, a second-tier alchemist can also be regarded as a first-tier physician or poison master.

Therefore, it is common for people to seek out alchemists to examine and treat their injuries. Wang Xuan had encountered people who came to him for medical treatment before.

However, feeling a bit strange, he asked another question.

"I am merely a mid-grade alchemist, not some famous master, so why bother targeting me?"

"Naturally, it's for the sake of secrecy."

Han Bo explained, "The family spent a large sum of spirit stones to buy the second-tier spirit vein, and now the Mu family has no Foundation Establishment cultivators left."

"If my clan hadn't been the ones who bought the spiritual vein, they might not have contacted me."

"I see."

Finding no problems, Wang Xuan nodded in agreement.

"Okay, when are you coming?"

"Well... the old patriarch of the Mu family is getting old, so I'm afraid we'll need Master Wang to go there in person."

Looking troubled, Han Bo continued;

"However, they are willing to pay extra spirit stones to make up for the time wasted by Master Wang."

"Um?"

Slightly taken aback, Wang Xuan glanced at Han Bo.

The road seemed plausible, but he just shook his head regretfully.

"Oh, I see. Then forget it."

"Huh? Why? The Mu family is offering quite a lot of compensation!"

Han Bo stared wide-eyed, never expecting Wang Xuan to refuse.

But how can that be? If he refuses like this, what will happen to the brokerage fee that the Mu family promised him?

"There's no particular reason. If I had to say, it's probably because Mr. Wang prefers quiet to activity and isn't interested in traveling far away."

Wang Xuan made up a reason casually, his expression indifferent.

"As you know, if the sect had not been destroyed, I probably wouldn't have left the mountain gate even once in ten years."

"Prefers quiet to activity? What kind of excuse is that?"

Somewhat dumbfounded, Han Bo hadn't expected such an answer, but he couldn't find a reason to persuade him otherwise.

People are just doing what they love, they don't even bother to earn spirit stones, what can you do about it?

"Well... okay then, I'll try to find someone else to think of a solution."

Cursing under his breath, Han Bo dared not show any impropriety and could only leave dejectedly.

……

Another half month has passed.

On this day, we returned to the quiet room.

Wang Xuan took out an invitation card from his storage bag, which was marked with the mark of the Nanhua Sect.

The envelope had a faint fragrance of cinnabar, and the letter paper was made from the pulp of some kind of spiritual bamboo.

This letter came from a former classmate in the Lower House. He was a man of great social standing and connections among his peers.

Wang Xuan had some impression of him, but not much; he only remembered that the man was very eloquent.

Now that the sect has been destroyed, it seems that the other party has not joined a family, but has united a group of fellow disciples to form a small organization.

Although they dared not use the banner of the orthodox sect, they contacted their former fellow disciples in various large and small families and chambers of commerce, using their shared identity as disciples of Nanhua as a bond to establish connections and exchange resources. It is said that they even contacted several Foundation Establishment cultivators who had absconded with funds as their backers.

The other party sent the invitation because they had learned about Wang Xuan and hoped to meet this junior brother.

According to the letter, their small organization has also recruited two alchemists from a sect, one of whom has even reached the threshold of high-grade alchemy.

If he is willing to come, we can learn from each other about alchemy, encourage each other to improve, and there will be many benefits.

Wang Xuan's reaction was to burn the invitation on a nearby lamp and then blow on it.

puff--

Ash filled the air and fell to the ground, leaving white specks.

"A mutual aid organization... Ha, that's all?"

In the quiet room, Wang Xuan shook his head to himself.

"Is it a bit low-class? Or are you looking down on me?"

"Even if it's true or not, what would I do there? Work for a Foundation Establishment cultivator?"

"They can't possibly be harboring some ridiculous idea that others will continue to train us Qi Refining cultivators, can they?"

Wang Xuan chuckled inwardly, knowing full well that this was impossible.

After all, just because a Core Formation level power can do the same thing doesn't mean a Foundation Establishment level power can.

Because doing the same thing with different levels of power will most likely lead to completely opposite results, this has long been a well-known fact in the cultivation world.

So he was a little disappointed. Wang Xuan thought he would see some new tricks, but he didn't expect it to be the same old routine over and over again.

He believes he could do a better job if he were to do it himself.

"But then again, it seems like this is how things should have gone."

"It would be abnormal if it attracted someone with extraordinary abilities."

Wang Xuan sighed softly, realizing he was overthinking things.

Thanks to the Han family head's flattery and his "earnest teachings" to his younger generation, quite a few people who originally didn't care who he was did start to notice his existence.

However, there are actually quite a few disciples like Wang Xuan; he himself has heard of many.

For example, someone who had just reached the peak of Qi Refining had overdrawn their sect's contribution to pre-borrow a Foundation Establishment Pill, only to find that their sect had been wiped out.

For example, when going out on a mission, they might use the spirit boat and magical artifacts provided by the sect, and then run away as soon as they hear the news.

There were also those who were stationed and responsible for transporting the income from a certain market, mine, or medicinal field for a period of time, but something went wrong halfway through, so they simply kept it for themselves.

While the bulk of the sect's inheritance was received by Foundation Establishment cultivators from various regions, there were also some lucky individuals among the Qi Refining disciples.

However, Qi Refining is ultimately just Qi Refining, except for former true disciples and those with Core Formation potential.

The benefits gained by these inner and outer disciples are not taken seriously by the Core Formation forces; only some rogue cultivators pay attention to them.

The ultimate result is what Wang Xuan is facing.