Gou Zai created a blessed land in the immortal abode

In order to catch the Cloud Dew Insect, Li Chengming specially found a retainer who had raised spirit insects and borrowed a cage for catching spirit insects.

That retainer often bought Qi-restoring powder from Li Chengming, so he borrowed it without much effort.

Back in his immortal abode, Li Chengming hid to the side, quietly waiting for the cloud dew insects to return.

After waiting for an unknown amount of time, a soft, shimmering light appeared in the air above the dense forest.

There were about twenty or thirty scattered spots.

"They're here." Li Chengming's gaze sharpened.

He then took out a magical artifact shaped like a fish basket, made a hand seal, and held a water snake in his hand.

His gaze searched for the strongest among the group of cloud dew insects.

Soon, he discovered that among the group of cloud dew insects, there was one that was much larger and whose cultivation level was clearly at the third level of Qi Refining.

Li Chengming did not rush to make a move, but waited until all the spirit insects were lying on the Yun Gen Fruit before suddenly attacking.

The water snake slithered through the air and swallowed the Qi Refining Level 3 spirit insect whole in one gulp.

The cloud dew worm was, after all, at the third level of Qi Refining. Although it was trapped by Li Chengming's Water Snake Technique, he discovered that the cloud dew worm seemed to be sucking his water vapor.

They'll be out of trouble soon.

Li Chengming reacted swiftly, scooping up the spirit insect basket he had prepared earlier and drawing in the cloud dew insect trapped by the water snake.

"Now let's see how you struggle!"

Seeing their king captured, the other cloud dew insects flew into the air and hovered together.

A moment later, a cloud gradually took shape in the air.

A strong wind gradually rose within the immortal abode.

"Good heavens!"

Li Chengming dared not be careless. He first used a water snake technique to disperse the nascent clouds and mist, and then quickly activated the spirit insect basket in his hand to suck all the cloud dew insects into it.

"Buzzing!"

Looking at the struggling Cloud Dew Insects in the Spirit Insect Basket, Li Chengming smiled smugly:

"Haha, from now on you'll all listen to me!"

After saying that, Li Chengming picked up the cage and strode towards the animal pen.

He took the Qi Refining Level 3 Cloud Dew Insect out of the spirit insect basket and put it into the beast pen.

A circle of array patterns lit up on the ground in the center of the animal pen, and spiritual light gathered into a pillar of light, enveloping the Cloud Dew Insect.

The cloud dew insect was initially struggling violently, but as it was bathed in spiritual light, its movements gradually slowed down, and it eventually lay motionless on the ground, its thin wings still trembling slightly.

Li Chengming could sense that a faint connection was slowly forming between himself and the spirit insect.

The feeling was strange, as if an invisible thread connected his consciousness with the intention of the cloud dew worm.

He could vaguely sense the Cloud Dew Insect's emotions: fear, unease, and a faint trace of hostility.

"It seems we'll need some more time."

…………

Guangling Mountain.

Alchemy room.

Kong Shaowen made a hand seal, and the black alchemy furnace in front of him, as tall as a person, opened, releasing three crimson pills.

Take out the white jade bottle, divide it into its contents, and put it into the storage bag.

"The three [Huangyuan Zhengyang Pills] have finally been completed."

Since returning from Moon Lake Market, he has been refining the [Radiant Origin Yang Pill], which has consumed a lot of his essence and energy. Even with his late-stage Qi Refining strength, he is exhausted.

However, now was not the time to rest, so he took the pills and headed towards the clan's main courtyard.

…………

The Confucius Family Compound.

Kong Chengheng sat in the bamboo pavilion, his face calm, his gaze fixed on the spirit fish in the pond.

Suddenly, his expression changed, and he turned around to see a person walking quickly into the courtyard.

It was Kong Shaowen.

"Third Uncle," Kong Chengheng called softly.

"Chengheng, the [Huangyuan Zhengyang Dan] is complete."

Kong Shaowen strode in and handed over the white jade bottle containing the pills.

Kong Chengheng took the bottle, probed it with his spiritual sense, and chuckled softly:

"This [Huangyuan Zhengyang Pill] is a Foundation Establishment Pill that can catalyze cultivation and increase the chance of Foundation Establishment. It has almost no hidden dangers. It is truly amazing that Third Uncle was able to refine it."

Compared to Kong Chengheng's calmness, Kong Shaowen looked worried:

"Chengheng, you only broke through to the ninth level of Qi Refining two or three years ago, and your Qi Refining realm is not yet complete. Although your cultivation technique, the [Shangyang True Fire Technique], has the essence left by the clan, I'm afraid that if you want to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage..."

Hearing his uncle's concern, Kong Chengheng waved his hand and said calmly:

"This breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage was not my intention, but rather a result of being forced by circumstances."

"Third Uncle, as you know, the Zhao family somehow obtained a secret technique for refining blood into pills, and has already refined many rogue cultivators of the same lineage as him, which has helped him break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment."

"As for my Kong family, my uncle is only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and although my father is currently preparing to break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, it is probably hopeless in the short term, and the success rate is only 20% to 30%."

"Right now, only if I also break through to the Foundation Establishment realm can I possibly rival that Zhao family patriarch."

"The Zhao family actually committed cannibalistic acts; how are they any different from those evil cultivators!"

The thought that the Zhao family patriarch had actually broken through to the late Foundation Establishment stage by eating people filled Kong Shaowen with anger.

"Where did the Zhao family get their secret techniques? Where did they get the audacity?"

The practice of cannibalism to increase one's cultivation level was not uncommon thousands of years ago, but various Taoist lineages strictly prohibited it in order to protect their disciples.

The three sects and seven families joined forces and destroyed the largest demonic sect at the time, the Shangyan Sect.

From then on, the practice of using cannibalism to increase one's cultivation level gradually ceased.

The Zhao family is a Foundation Establishment family with a pivotal position in Youyang County, yet they brazenly resort to cannibalism to increase their cultivation.

Their actions are shocking.

Kong Chengheng's expression was solemn, and he said in a deep voice:

"Perhaps that important figure doesn't allow our three families to be so close... It's best not to speculate on this matter."

He paused, then continued:

"Third Uncle, Li Chengming has already begun attempting to refine pills."

Kong Shaowen paused, not quite catching the sudden shift in topic, but still replied:

"I knew it, that kid would definitely know how to refine pills."

"Why did Uncle San help him time and time again?"

"That kid is extraordinary; he has many secrets... perhaps he's a reincarnated ancestor," Kong Shaowen joked.

"Anyway, that kid is quite capable, it's always good to make a good connection with him, let's just consider him a pawn in a game."

In any case, the help given was just a drop in the ocean for the Kong family. If they could truly befriend a reincarnated ancestor...

The feedback received was self-evident.

Moreover, even if Li Chengming is not some reincarnated ancestor, but just a person with extraordinary talent, befriending him would still bring many benefits.

No matter how you calculate it, it wouldn't be a losing proposition for the Kong family.

Kong Chengheng nodded slightly:

"As long as Uncle knows what to do in this matter, that's fine."

"I will now go into seclusion to strive for a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage as soon as possible. From now on, I will leave the clan affairs to you and my uncle."