Raise a sword!

Five days later, Sun Yinxi and Jiang Peng arrived at the Liu family manor located outside Bibo Harbor.

Along the way, a constant stream of people accompanied them, clearly all of whom, like Jiang Peng and his companion, had come to celebrate the birthday of the Liu family patriarch.

After seeing one Foundation Establishment cultivator after another pass by, Jiang Peng couldn't help but sigh, "As expected of the three major powers of Bibo Port, the Liu family has quite the influence."

Before long, the Liu Family Manor could be seen in the distance.

The Liu Family Manor is located near the southern foot of the Earthly Roaring Mountains. It has set up several massive formations, occupied a large plain at the foot of the mountains, and developed it into the family's medicinal herb fields.

As for the main house, it is surrounded by a courtyard wall.

At first glance, the courtyard walls were decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and a long queue had formed in front of the welcoming gate.

Upon arrival, Jiang Peng immediately changed from walking side by side with Sun Yinxi to walking slightly behind, adopting the posture of a follower.

It doesn't matter what happens on their own turf, but when they're out in the world, Sun Yinxi represents the face of the Cangshan Sect. No matter what others do, Jiang Peng has to show the proper attitude.

Seeing this, Sun Yinxi didn't say anything, but led Jiang Peng past the long queue and straight to the Liu clan member who was greeting guests at the door.

"Brother Liu Xian, it's been a long time." Sun Yinxi stepped forward and gave a slight bow.

The man called Liu Xian appeared to be around forty years old and was dressed as a middle-aged scholar.

He turned his gaze upon hearing the voice, and after seeing Sun Yinxi, he frowned and pondered for a moment before suddenly realizing what was happening.

"You are... Yinxi's nephew? Oh, now I should address you as fellow Daoist!"

Liu Xian looked delighted, stepped forward to return the greeting, and then said to the servant beside him, "The Cangshan Sect has come to offer their congratulations."

The servant immediately shouted at the top of his lungs, "The Cangshan Sect, the head of the three sects of the Northern Foothills, has come to congratulate our patriarch on his birthday!"

Jiang Peng's face was tense as she forced a smile.

When did the Cangshan Sect become the leader of the three sects in the northern foothills? As a disciple of the Cangshan Sect, how come he had no idea about this news?

Has the Jade Pavilion Sword Pavilion been informed? Has the Illusionary Sound Sect been notified?

Does everyone agree?

It turns out that even large families care about face.

Jiang Peng secretly glanced at Sun Yinxi again, only to find that she not only didn't feel ashamed, but even tilted her head up slightly, as if she accepted the fact with equanimity.

Seemingly noticing Jiang Peng's gaze, she moved her lips slightly.

A voice transmission sounded in Jiang Peng's ear.

"Hmph, Sword Pavilion and Illusionary Sound Sect aren't familiar with the Liu family, so no one from them will come... When you're out in the world, you rely on your friends for face. If someone gives you face, you have to accept it, otherwise you'll lose face on both sides."

"Senior sister is quite worldly-wise," Jiang Peng also transmitted her voice.

Upon hearing this, Sun Yinxi gave Jiang Peng a subtle glare.

Liu Xian led them through the passageway and garden to the banquet hall.

By this time, many guests had already taken their seats. Acquaintances chatted with each other, while enemies glared at each other through the air. However, no madman would cause trouble in such a setting.

Overall, it was a harmonious and joyful scene.

Sun Yinxi and Jiang Peng were led to a separate table slightly towards the front of the middle.

Liu Xian did not leave either, but sat down opposite the two.

"Upon hearing of the passing of my second brother Liu Zhi, our ancestor was truly heartbroken for a long time... My second brother Liu Zhi was an ambitious man. He disliked being a spirit plant cultivator and only wanted to refine pills. He traveled all over the Southern Mountain Region, and in the end, only the Cangshan Sect was willing to take him in."

A hint of surprise flickered in Jiang Peng's eyes.

He was looking at Sun Yinxi beside him, but Liu Xian across from him saw it clearly.

"Who is this?" Liu Xian asked.

Sun Yinxi introduced, "He is Jiang Peng, the personal disciple of Senior Brother Qin Yuan. He is now in charge of most of the affairs of our sect's Pill Hall. With the cultivation of the ninth level of Qi Refining, he can already refine second-tier pills."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xian immediately cupped his hands in greeting to Jiang Peng, as a gesture of respect.

Jiang Peng quickly returned the greeting.

Then, Liu Xian said, "Young friend Jiang, you may not know this, but most of the cultivators in my Liu family are wood-elemental cultivators. Although we are good at cultivating spiritual materials, we have few fire-elemental cultivators who can learn alchemy... Moreover, the Liu family has no lineage of alchemy techniques."

"There aren't many sects in the Southern Mountain Region that are skilled in alchemy. Upon seeing that a descendant of the Liu family had come to seek apprenticeship, they all treated him with courtesy and then saw him off... This is because they know that my Liu family members have learned their alchemy techniques and want to take them back to their own families, so they are unwilling to pass them on."

"Back then, my second brother Liu Zhi went through many twists and turns before finally becoming a disciple of the Cangshan Sect. The alchemy techniques that my Liu family descendants are learning today are all inherited from the Cangshan Sect."

Jiang Peng then realized what was happening.

If it's just the inheritance of alchemy techniques, it shouldn't be difficult for the Liu family, given their status, to obtain it.

However, having a lineage doesn't mean you can learn it, much less master it.

Jiang Peng also had the help of the Purple Gold Cauldron. After taking the pill, he could see the scene of the pill being refined. By comparing the two, he was able to learn it on his own.

This is an isolated case that cannot be replicated.

The Liu family has few cultivators with fire spirit roots, and no one is willing to teach them alchemy. Even after obtaining the inheritance, it is unknown how many detours and how many resources will be consumed before they can barely train an alchemist.

Moreover, for a family like the Liu family, if the alchemists they train are not skilled enough and the quality of the pills they produce is mediocre, they will never allow their disciples to take them, and they probably won't be able to sell them for a good price.

Moreover, for a family like the Liu family, if the alchemists they train are not skilled enough and the quality of the pills they produce is mediocre, they will never allow their disciples to take them, and they probably won't be able to sell them for a good price.

No matter how you look at it, it's a losing proposition.

More importantly, it is probably also related to the fact that they run a spiritual materials business, and that the business is quite large.

You've been given the opportunity to grow the spiritual materials and refine the pills, while everyone else is left to starve?

This might be one of the reasons why Liu was unable to learn advanced alchemy techniques.

Some people didn't expect that the Liu family could still refine elixirs.

Liu Xian looked at Jiang Peng and smiled, "The alchemy techniques of the Cangshan Sect have taken root in my Liu family. Now the Liu family has cultivated some promising young talents. At the birthday banquet later, these young talents will demonstrate their alchemy skills in public."

"I hope my young friend Jiang will not hesitate to offer his guidance at that time."

"I wouldn't dare offer guidance," Jiang Peng replied.

Liu Xian took it as Jiang Peng being modest. The fact that a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator could refine second-tier pills showed that his alchemy skills were already quite high.

"If young friend Jiang is itching to show his skills, he might as well step up and demonstrate his abilities to broaden the horizons of our younger generation."

Jiang Peng looked at Sun Yinxi beside her.

Sun Yinxi nodded slightly and said, "Just consider it an exchange."

"Senior sister, you may not know this, but I am learning the Danyangzi lineage. I am only familiar with the alchemy lineage of our Cangshan Sect... Although there are similarities between different alchemy lineages, they are quite different in general."

Unexpectedly, Liu Xian's eyes lit up as soon as he said this.

"Isn't that perfect? ​​My Liu family has also heard of Senior Danyangzi's great name. If that's the case, then young friend Jiang should definitely show us his skills."

Jiang Peng wanted to refuse again.

But Liu Xian laughed and said, "I know you two came for the Xuanxin Leaf, and my Liu family also intends to further our relationship with the Cangshan Sect... Young friend Jiang, this matter will probably fall to you."

After saying this, Liu Xian apologized and got up to get busy.

Jiang Peng and Sun Yinxi were left staring at each other in bewilderment.

"What does he mean?" Sun Yinxi still didn't understand.

Jiang Peng understood.

"The alchemy tradition of the Cangshan Sect only goes up to the second level, while Danyangzi's alchemy skills can reach the third level."

Jiang Peng shook his head and chuckled, "It's not enough that Liu has learned the alchemy techniques of the Cangshan Sect; now she wants to learn mine too."