Raise a sword!

That evening, upon hearing that Jiang Peng had returned, Qin Yuan made a special trip from Danhuo Peak back to Biwu Peak.

Upon learning that Jiang Peng had already reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, and was not far from reaching the ninth level, Qin Yuan's face was filled with emotion.

"It's only been a few years, and your cultivation level is almost catching up with mine."

As usual, the master and apprentice discussed alchemy. Qin Yuan explained to Jiang Peng in great detail the many secrets he had learned from Danyangzi, and even set up a furnace to refine pills as a demonstration.

With such hands-on instruction, even a slow learner could memorize it, let alone someone like Jiang Peng who had already achieved some success in alchemy.

For several days in a row, Jiang Peng spent her time in this intense teaching environment.

He felt that his alchemy skills had improved considerably, but he would only know the specifics after he had thoroughly integrated what he had learned during future alchemy practice.

However, Jiang Peng was not particularly pleased with Qin Yuan's complete sharing of his knowledge.

He knew that this was because his master knew his days were numbered, which was why he was passing on his knowledge in such a hasty manner.

Several days later, the master and apprentice finally came out of the alchemy room. Jiang Peng went to the kitchen and cooked two bowls of noodles, which she then ate with Qin Yuan.

Jiang Peng brought up the matter of Ni Chang.

After listening to Jiang Peng's account, Qin Yuan pondered for a moment, and finally seemed to have thought of something, his face showing amazement.

"Ni Chang is about to form her core."

Jiang Peng couldn't understand why her master could borrow sect tribute from Ni Chang and immediately connect it to the fact that Ni Chang was about to form her core.

Qin Yuan sighed, "I once saw what Master Shen looked like before he formed his core... Master Shen always had a profound and unfathomable appearance, but before he formed his core, he had a period of indulging in lust and acting recklessly."

Master Shen was another Golden Core cultivator from the Cangshan Sect.

Unlike the veteran Master Lü, Master Shen has only been at the Core Formation stage for sixty or seventy years.

"Is there any connection between these things?" Jiang Peng was still puzzled.

Qin Yuan shook his head and said, "I am just a minor cultivator in Qi Refining, how would I know about the peak of Foundation Establishment... It's just that the changes in Ni Chang that you mentioned reminded me of the past."

"Back to Ni Chang... Although she's about my age, her status in the sect is much higher than mine... She never gambled in the past, let alone gambled away her entire fortune and used the sect's contribution money for such an absurd thing as gambling?"

"So the changes in Ni Chang should also come from this, but I can't say exactly how."

"Each realm has its own unique scenery. Just as the journey from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment is the first step for a cultivator to enter the Dao, the journey from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core must also be a tremendous change."

When the topic of Golden Core came up, the fatigue of the past few days vanished instantly, and the master and disciple began to fantasize for a long time about how majestic Golden Core cultivators should be.

After boasting for quite some time, the two finally stopped, still feeling unsatisfied.

Jiang Peng took out a jade box from her storage bag.

Qin Yuan opened the box and found a rather inconspicuous piece of wood inside.

After a brief examination, he exclaimed in surprise, "It's actually Fragrant King Wood? You're going to refine a Wood Spirit Pill?"

With Qin Yuan's knowledge, he naturally knew about the Wood Spirit Pill, a second-tier pill that aids in foundation building.

"It's time for this disciple to prepare for Foundation Establishment." Jiang Peng nodded slightly.

Qin Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "How did it go with the high-grade first-tier pill I asked you to refine?"

Jiang Peng then took out several small porcelain bottles, each containing high-grade first-level pills that he had refined.

There were no special pills, just common ones like antidote pills, but their grade was genuinely top-grade first rank.

After reading it, Qin Yuan nodded and said, "Hmm, Cola Novels—your personal mobile library, accessible anytime. As expected, your alchemy skills are ahead of your cultivation level."

As he spoke, he pushed the box containing the fragrant wood back in front of Jiang Peng.

"I will prepare the formula for the Wood Spirit Pill and other auxiliary materials for you... but this time you will be the one to lead the pill refining, and I will assist you."

Jiang Peng quickly waved his hand and said, "Master, the Wood Spirit Pill is a second-grade pill. I am afraid that I lack experience and skills and might ruin this hard-won spiritual material."

"At the crucial moment, your master will step in." Qin Yuan looked at Jiang Peng. "Good disciple, if you don't even dare to refine the Wood Spirit Pill, how can you expect to refine the more complex Foundation Establishment Pill?"

"The pills I took when I achieved Foundation Establishment for the second time were ones I refined myself... Back then, I hadn't even reached the tenth level of Qi Refining, yet I still managed to produce three Foundation Establishment Pills in one batch. Besides me, the other two people also broke through!"

"In terms of natural talent, you surpass me; in terms of solid foundation, you are among the best in the Cangshan Sect..."

After a slight pause, Qin Yuan sighed and said, "More importantly, I have nothing left to teach you about alchemy at the Qi Refining level... I don't have time to wait for you to grow slowly."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Peng pursed her lips, stood up, bowed deeply to Qin Yuan, and remained standing for a long time.

In the end, it was Qin Yuan who helped him up.

"That's settled then."

"Your disciple obeys."

...

In the following days, Jiang Peng took over the many trivial matters that her master had taken over before she left, and resumed her peaceful yet busy life.

Within the Cangshan Sect, there is a peak without a master, called Yanwu Peak.

The summit was carved into a huge platform, where disciples usually practiced their spells, and the sect's grand competition was naturally held here as well.

Around noon, Jiang Peng escaped from the trivial matters at Danhuo Peak and came to Yanwu Peak with Lan Yingying.

Nine arenas have been set up at the summit of Martial Arts Peak, and disciples go up to compete from time to time.

"The competition is divided into three levels: early, middle and late stages of Qi Refining. Right now, it's still about attacking and defending the arena. In the end, the top sixteen in each of the three levels will be determined, and then the final winners will be determined by head-to-head battles," Lan Yingying explained briefly.

Jiang Peng quickly spotted Mei Jinhe and Su Zhi in the crowd.

The two new disciples on Azure Mist Peak have been practicing for three years in the blink of an eye, and now both of them have reached the third level of Qi Refining.

Both of them have mid-grade spiritual roots. Mei Jinhe's talent seems to be slightly better, but it does not exceed the scope of mid-grade spiritual roots.

At this moment, Mei Jinhe stood on a stage, her pretty face full of pride, waiting to accept the challenge.

She glanced around and happened to see Jiang Peng. She waved to Jiang Peng with a happy expression.

But then her gaze fell on Lan Yingying beside her, and she let out another soft hum.

"Tsk, the little girl's jealous." Lan Yingying's hand pinched Jiang Peng's waist. .

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Jiang Peng shook her head.

"In matters like these, you'd better trust a woman."

As she spoke, Lan Yingying applied force to her hand.

Jiang Peng then made a face with his teeth bared.

Just then, a heart-wrenching cry suddenly came from behind.

"Junior Sister Yingying? What are you doing here? And who's with you?!"

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