Cultivation begins with alchemy and collecting runes.

A large white jade plate hangs high in the sky, and people sleep soundly under the moonlight.

Unlike others, Li Xiuyuan deftly and carefully divided the pills in the furnace one by one.

Then he picked up another one and examined it carefully.

It's okay if you don't watch it; once you do, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

To his delight, four of his last ten fasting pills were of excellent quality, truly top-grade.

To his surprise, these four fasting pills were slightly different from those he had seen in the book.

The appearance is no different from the others, except that there is a faint fire pattern on the central axis of the pill, which is hard to distinguish if you don't look closely.

"Huh? These are cinnabar patterns!"

Li Xiuyuan searched his memory carefully and found the introduction to Dan Sheng Huo Wen.

This is unique to high-grade elixirs; the fire-like patterns on the elixir signify that the elixir has been recognized by heaven and earth.

Compared to this, even the most inferior elixirs are worlds apart.

The prices of the two are naturally distinct, with pills bearing cinnabar patterns fetching several times the price.

These four high-grade fasting pills alone can be sold for two spirit stones.

"It's not that only those who can refine the highest-grade fasting pill can be considered true alchemists."

"Could it be that my mastery of the Fasting Pill has reached perfection, and I'm receiving a hidden reward?"

Li Xiuyuan studied it for a long time, but still couldn't figure it out.

He then focused his divine sense into his sea of ​​consciousness, carefully observing the newly created runes.

[Grain-Clearing Pill [White Rune]: 3 x Hunger-Clearing and Vital Energy-Nourishing Pills (Refinable)]

Without hesitation, Li Xiuyuan chose to refine a rune.

But the next moment, it seemed as if countless plants and trees burst forth with life and came back to life in his mind.

A warm and gentle current flowed through his meridians and throughout his body as he circulated his internal energy.

Guide this flow of heat to circulate throughout the body, eventually returning to the dantian.

"Refining one [Hunger Clearing and Essence Nourishing] can enable one to fast for two months, and one rune is equivalent to the effect of three high-grade fasting pills."

"It also nourishes the body's Qi and blood, repairing damaged meridians, like taking a Qi and blood tonic, instantly giving you a hundred pounds of strength—it's exhilarating!"

Li Xiuyuan was so engrossed in refining the essence of Qingji that night that he unknowingly spent the entire night cultivating.

The next day, as dawn broke, Li Xiuyuan looked at the fifty mid-grade and four high-grade fasting pills on his body and felt a surge of joy.

These are all pure white spirit stones, his very heart and soul.

He went out while it was still early and didn't see any outsiders.

She washed and dressed early in the morning, putting on a black outfit, intending to go to the market to sell elixirs.

I also purchased a batch of materials for fasting pills.

But as soon as he came out, he saw that Liu Dahu had also gotten up early, carrying large and small bags, and setting up a stall to sell goods.

Unlike Li Xiuyuan's "green travel" approach, the two of them drove a carriage tamed by a first-tier alpaca monster towards the main road.

This alpaca isn't exactly a rare bloodline; at best, it's a hybrid of a monster and a domestic fowl.

This horse has excellent endurance and carrying capacity, capable of carrying thousands of pounds of goods for five hundred miles a day, making it a commonly used transportation tool for merchants.

Most mid-stage cultivators in the market with a little wealth would buy one.

It was cheaper and more durable than ritual implements. Li Xiuyuan originally had one, but later he mortgaged it to a human to pay taxes.

"Li Xiuyuan, why are you up so early too?"

Looking at Li Xiuyuan, who was up early, and then thinking of his own Liu Erhu, who was still fast asleep, Liu Dahu felt a surge of anger.

"Uncle Liu is here pretty early too!"

Li Xiuyuan didn't say much, just smiled and quickened his pace, walking forward.

But before they had gone two miles, Liu Dahu caught up with them.

Riding on tall horses, they sped past Li Xiuyuan, kicking up thick dust that forced him to dodge.

Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, Li Xiuyuan felt no envy.

He used to be just as hardworking and busy, but now... he can refine pills, so he doesn't need to be so impatient.

Half an incense stick later, Li Xiuyuan returned to Shanyang Market.

Lingbao Pavilion.

He was entertained by Pang Dehai as always.

Upon seeing Li Xiuyuan, he revealed a professional and slow smile.

Without wasting any words, Li Xiuyuan took out all the fasting pills he had on him.

Pang Dehai was already used to the output of the pills Li Xiuyuan produced.

This time, he was overjoyed to find four superior-grade Bigu Pills with cinnabar patterns.

In less than half a year, Li Xiuyuan was promoted three levels in a row.

From beginner to advanced, one can even refine pills with cinnabar patterns.

This means that his friend will become an entry-level alchemist within a few years.

As far as he knew, the Dan Ding Sect only had entry-level alchemists who could refine Bigu pills.

The annual income from spirit stones is over a hundred, not including the tuition fees charged for "instructing" other alchemy apprentices and the "channel fees" from various shopkeepers.

After all, even the worst pills, once labeled with the name of an alchemist from the "Dan Ding Sect" and endorsed by the sect's assessment, are bound to be expensive, which is only natural.

"There are a total of thirty medium-grade and four high-grade One-Dan Pattern Bigu Pills."

"A total of ten spirit stones."

Li Xiuyuan was surprised. How come this was different from his calculation?

He did not rush to accept the spirit stone, and looked at his friend with a normal expression.

Knowing his friend's nature, Pang Dehai smiled and explained, "Consider the extra four spirit stones my congratulatory gift."

"When you reach a higher rank, don't forget about me, a man tainted by money!"

Seeing that he didn't seem to be faking it, Li Xiuyuan then said, "This is the Fellow Daoist Pang I know. Give me two hundred portions of materials for the Bigu Pill."

"Back room, pick out the materials for two hundred portions of fasting pills, bring me the best quality!"

Pang Dehai smiled and beckoned to the servant behind the counter, then got up and led Li Xiuyuan into a quiet and elegant room.

A golden talisman slipped from his palm, and with a flick of his magical power, he activated it.

Seeing that he meant no harm and recognizing the talisman's soundproofing ability, Li Xiuyuan finally calmed down.

The next moment, Pang Dehai's words, tinged with sincerity, drifted into Li Xiuyuan's ears: "Fellow Daoist Li, tell me, what's your stable pill-forming rate? I have a feeling you're holding back!"

"Let me tell you, things aren't going well out there lately. I can see you have talent, but a storm is brewing, so you'd better find a way out for yourself!"

Li Xiuyuan sensed the attempt to win him over in Pang Dehai's words, thinking, "He's the manager of Lingbao Pavilion, backed by the Blazing Fire Sect. What could possibly be so difficult for him?"

Li Xiuyuan was unwilling to reveal the truth, nor did he want to antagonize his friend.

After much deliberation, he said, "I can refine about 25% of the medium-grade Bigu Pill, and at most 10% of the high-grade one! This is my limit. You know I'm only at the third level of Qi Refining."

Pang Dehai's eyes lit up upon hearing this: "Twenty-five percent are mid-grade, and one-tenth are high-grade with single-core patterns!"

Overjoyed, this Fellow Daoist Li is truly a gem in the rough!

"It seems that befriending him was the right move. He's only thirty years old. Even if he can't reach the Foundation Establishment stage, with the financial support of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, there's a good chance he can be nurtured into a high-grade first-level alchemist or even a top-grade alchemist!"

He already had a plan in mind, and then he said, "No matter how many Abstinence Pills Fellow Daoist Li refines in the future, I will take them all. How about I increase the price by another 10%?"

"I wonder if you have any plans, friend? The pool of the Pill Cauldron Sect is too shallow; how can it be enough for you to display your talent?"