Immortality and cultivation begin with alchemy and accounting.

The next morning, Bai Qingjian returned, walking with a slightly languid air, looking completely carefree.

Clearly, the Wang family cultivators treated him well at Tianxiang Tower last night.

Bai Xuanjing was in the courtyard looking through the notes on the Rejuvenating Pill.

"Xuanjing, how's your study going?"

Bai Qingjian entered the courtyard and asked Bai Xuanjing a question.

Bai Xuanjing stood up and bowed: "I've already seen the general outline. I'll do some more calculations, and we should be able to start refining pills tonight."

"Deduction? Isn't alchemy just about reading the alchemy manual and then directly refining the pills?"

Bai Qingjian asked curiously.

He knew nothing about alchemy and spoke without restraint, saying whatever doubts he had.

They were not at all worried about whether their questions were stupid or not.

Bai Xuanjing smiled and said, "You can refine it directly, but the initial refining will definitely waste a lot of materials. I am used to first deduce the medicinal properties and other characteristics of the spiritual herbs in my mind before refining the pills."

As the saying goes, "Sharpening your axe won't delay your woodcutting."

"Oh, I see." Bai Qingjian waved his hand. He wasn't really interested in knowing how the pills were made, so he didn't press the issue.

"I've gathered quite a few of the ingredients for the Rejuvenating Dragon Pill. The Wang family has already sent me nine portions, and more ingredients may be sent later."

"Don't panic, try practicing first."

As he spoke, Bai Qingjian took some brocade boxes out of his storage bag and used his magic to imprison them in mid-air.

The materials needed to refine the Returning Dragon Pill are mostly spiritual herbs, and do not involve materials from demonic beasts.

Many of the materials are not commonly found, but a large family like the Bai family would usually keep them on hand.

However, it's not easy to gather all the necessary pieces from outside the local area.

However, collecting a small amount is not a problem.

Bai Xuanjing took the brocade box and examined it.

"These medicinal herbs... seem to vary in quality."

"They can't even get the years consistent."

After looking through it for a while, Bai Xuanjing gave his conclusion without any politeness.

Even if the same medicinal herb is mature, different years will result in different medicinal properties.

In alchemy, this slight difference can be the key to determining whether or not the pill will be successfully formed.

Experienced alchemists can disregard the differences in the ingredients used to make these pills.

However, Bai Xuanjing is still some distance from that level.

Especially when facing a mid-grade first-tier pill.

He usually uses medicinal herbs provided by the Bai family when refining pills.

These medicinal materials still have a basic standard in terms of quality.

At least it's the same kind of elixir, and there shouldn't be any major differences in age or quality.

Bai Qingjian coughed lightly: "The spiritual herbs involved in the Returning Dragon Pill are cultivated by specialists in the Flowing Cloud Sect, but in the outside world, the way to obtain these spiritual herbs is basically through the wild."

"Let alone the Wang family, even if our Bai family were to collect these spiritual herbs, we couldn't say we could do it perfectly."

Bai Xuanjing nodded in agreement, without dwelling on the topic further.

"It was a wise move for you to hide in the market; things are in complete chaos outside!"

Bai Qingjian suddenly spoke up, changing the subject.

His trip to this meeting was clearly not just for the food and drink.

They also received a lot of information from the Wang family.

Upon hearing this, Bai Xuanjing's heart stirred, and he asked, "Could it be that the demonic cultivation is escalating?"

Bai Qingjian nodded: "According to the Wang family cultivators, there are more and more demonic cultivators outside."

After saying that, he frowned slightly, his face showing a solemn expression: "This is not common... In previous years, when demonic cultivators lacked food, they would come to the Vast Ocean to beg for alms, but this would only last for a month or two at most."

"Not too many demonic cultivators will come, and the situation will definitely not escalate."

"I have a feeling that the Blood Blade Sect's attack this time is more like a coordinated, organized raid!"

Bai Xuanjing asked curiously, "If the demonic cultivators delay their departure, won't they have to notify the Flowing Cloud Sect?"

Bai Qingjian nodded: "The Wang family does have this idea, but Jing'an Market is dominated by the four major families."

Many members of the four major families felt that introducing the Flowing Cloud Sect would be like using one enemy to devour another, potentially weakening their control over the area.

"Once the Liuyun Sect sets up the Immortal Dao Division here, the four major families will even become puppets and lose control of Jing'an Market."

"In addition, we need to increase the tax revenue to support the expenses of the Immortal Dao Division."

"The specific direction has not yet been discussed and a result has not been reached."

Overall, the four major families still hope to resolve this matter themselves.

Some have suggested that the four major families took the initiative in this attack by demonic cultivators, delivering a crushing blow. By intimidating the demonic cultivators, they could deter them from further attacks for a considerable period.

"However, the four major families are not all ruthless and decisive, and they have not reached a consensus on the matter of confronting the demonic cultivators."

As he spoke, Bai Qingjian showed a disdainful expression.

Clearly, they disapproved of the two-faced behavior of the four major families.

Bai Qingjian shook his head and commented: "New families often fail to last long, and the root cause is this: they don't have any method in doing things, they are afraid of everything, and they lack the spirit of pioneering and progress."

A generation might be so fortunate as to produce one or a few Foundation Establishment cultivators that they would be powerful and influential for centuries, but once those Foundation Establishment cultivators perished, the entire family would quickly fall into decline.

The Bai family cultivators adhere to a low profile when they are away from home.

But not causing trouble doesn't mean being afraid of trouble.

Whether it was the demonic scourge of yesteryear or the present-day Jinlan Island, the Bai family has never been lenient or careless; even Foundation Establishment seedlings have to go to the battlefield for training.

Faced with both opportunities and dangers, the family is always able to make decisions immediately.

While the influence of the Liuyun Sect certainly played a part, it also reveals the Bai family's style of conduct.

Born into the Bai family, Bai Qingjian completely disapproved of the ways of these families in Jing'an Fang City.

Upon hearing this, Bai Xuanjing also showed a thoughtful expression.

In the past, when demonic cultivators invaded, the local powerful clans generally did not make any move.

After all, demonic cultivators often plunder and capture rogue cultivators and small families, and they also intentionally avoid large clans and refrain from provoking them.

Once the demonic cultivators have retreated, the established businesses left behind by these independent cultivators and small families are often taken over by the local powerful clans.

For powerful clans, demonic cultivators even served to help them clean up the sea regularly.

Unwittingly, this actually brings them some benefits.

This time, the demonic cultivators have actually forced the four major families to find a way to deal with it?

Thinking of this, Bai Xuanjing felt a little heavy-hearted.

If the demonic cultivators continue to cause chaos, it won't be a good thing for him either.

"I need to watch over the shop. You can continue deducing the elixir formula. I won't keep you any longer."

Bai Qingjian is usually a chatterbox and can't stand being alone.

However, knowing that Bai Xuanjing was refining pills, he did not disturb him.

Before leaving, Bai Qingjian seemed to remember something and asked, "Do you use any swords among your magical artifacts?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Xuanjing frankly replied, "The two magical artifacts I currently use are both swords."

"Okay." Bai Qingjian nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face.

However, he didn't say much after that and left the place.

This question seems a bit nonsensical.

But Bai Xuanjing quickly recalled that Bai Qingjian had mentioned that if he helped him refine the Returning Dragon Pill, he would receive some benefits.

Could it be related to this?

After thinking for a moment, Bai Xuanjing shook his head and continued to look through the notes on pills.

He can also exchange contribution points for the Bai family's magical inheritance.

If Bai Qingjian only wanted to give him a sword-related spell, he wouldn't really care.

The Bai family has produced few sword cultivators throughout history, which stems from the fact that the family's sword cultivation tradition is not perfect.

Many first-tier mid-grade sword techniques in the collection are inferior to the "Long Cry Sword Qi Technique".

Unless it's a technique passed down outside the family and has unique features, it wouldn't pique Bai Xuanjing's interest.

……

into the night,

The weather isn't very good today; the sky is foggy and there's no moonlight.

Only a few lights or various lighting fixtures provide illumination within Jing'anfang.

In the darkness, hurried figures would occasionally disappear into the distance, while groups of two or three cultivators would whisper among themselves.

There is no curfew in Jing'anfang, and people can move around at night; some monks will go out.

inside the house,

Bai Xuanjing sat cross-legged, with a mackerel alchemy furnace placed in front of him.

The spirit pearl of the locust tree swirled before it.

Bai Xuanjing was already very skilled at using the Sophora japonica wood spirit pearl to refine elixirs.

With a change of fingertip incantation, a cluster of flames appeared on the surface of the spirit pearl.

A dose of the Rejuvenating Pill was placed next to Bai Xuanjing.

Theory on paper is ultimately superficial; true understanding requires personal experience.

Regardless of one's understanding of the elixir manual or the deduction of the medicinal properties of spiritual herbs, to truly see the results, one must still refine elixirs.

Bai Xuanjing exhaled a deep breath and began refining pills.

……

About half an hour later, Bai Xuanjing looked thoughtful, held a ball of dark liquid in front of him, and began to examine it.

"Although this is my first time working with Fire Spirit Mushroom, based on my deductions and the records in my alchemy notes, there shouldn't be any problems with extracting its medicinal properties."

Bai Xuanjing muttered to himself, somewhat surprised.

He didn't expect that the first batch of Rejuvenating Dragon Pills would be stuck at the step of extracting the medicinal properties of the spiritual herbs.

Moreover, it is a crucial ingredient: fire ginseng extract.

"What exactly is the problem?"

Bai Xuanjing stood up, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Compared to a year ago, Bai Xuanjing's alchemy skills have greatly improved, and he has gained many years of alchemy experience.

When refining elixirs, he did not limit himself to the contents recorded in the elixir manual, and no longer followed the prescribed steps.

Occasionally, I'll have some of my own ideas.

It has a rather mature and prudent feel to it.

If a refining process fails, Bai Xuanjing will delve into the reasons behind it, never rushing through it or simply piling up quantities.

After a long while, he looked at the locust tree spirit pearl, which was still swirling and pulsating.

Bai Xuanjing suddenly had a thought.

"Fire in the shade of the locust tree... Fire Spirit Mushroom..."

As if he had grasped some key point, Bai Xuanjing's eyes lit up.

"Although spiritual fires are generally similar, their properties differ slightly, but for most spiritual herbs, these differences are not crucial."

"But this is not always the case for certain elixirs."

"The Fire Spirit Mushroom is a fire-attribute spiritual herb. During the tempering process, due to its attribute, it will resonate with the spiritual fire."

"I understand... The key to the failure of the elixir extraction lies in the difference in properties between the fire in the Sophora japonica wood and the fire spirit mushroom."

This difference is amplified in the medicinal herb, Fire Spirit Mushroom.

When using locust wood to quench it with a medium fire, the process should be targeted and some modifications should be made!

Bai Xuanjing vaguely grasped the key point and was overjoyed.

He was immediately itching to try it out. After changing his approach, he wanted to immediately extract the elixir to verify his idea.

boom!!!

However, before Bai Xuanjing could reopen the furnace, he suddenly heard a roaring sound from outside.

Immediately following was a surge of violent spiritual energy.

Whether it was a misperception or not, Bai Xuanjing felt her room tremble slightly.

Although she wasn't at the center of the spiritual energy fluctuations, Bai Xuanjing could clearly sense this unusual magical energy fluctuation.

"Someone's having a power struggle in the market!"

Bai Xuanjing's eyes widened in surprise, and a thought suddenly popped into her mind.

The next moment, he sensed a chilling aura emanating from the courtyard.

"Xuanjing, are you alright?"

Bai Qingjian's voice came from the courtyard.

Bai Xuanjing quickly opened the door.

Bai Qingjian stood in the center of the courtyard, holding a first-grade top-quality wooden longsword magic weapon.

Compared to his usual carefree demeanor, Bai Qingjian now exuded an extremely sharp aura.

Like a long sword poised to strike.

They seemed like two different people on ordinary days.

His brows were also filled with a solemn expression.