Extracting all things: My attributes grow infinitely.

After refining the Six-Pattern Profound Origin Condensing True Pill, Jiang Chuan's title of Outstanding Person is a foregone conclusion.

Lu Yuanshan stood on the white jade steps, his expression changing several times.

He deliberately raised the bar for "outstanding individuals" to six lines.

That's what I was thinking.

Neither of them could possibly refine a pill of this caliber.

If the two scores are roughly the same in the end, he can use this as an excuse to make an exception and award both of them the "Outstanding Person" honor.

After all, Wen Ziyu was someone Shen Henian had personally spoken to.

He had to give them that face no matter what.

Right now, Jiang Chuan has refined a six-patterned high-grade spirit pill, while Wen Ziyu only has a five-patterned mid-grade one. The difference is so great that even a blind person could see it.

At a time like this, trying to tie for first place is just humiliating him and letting others trample on his face.

No matter how much face Shen Henian has, it can't supersede the rules of Dan Pavilion.

"The outstanding performer in this year's Alchemist Examination is Lieyang!"

Lu Yuanshan's voice echoed in the hall.

Wen Ziyu stood in the crowd, his face extremely gloomy. He took a deep breath, calmed his surging blood, and turned to leave.

Lu Yuanshan didn't look at Wen Ziyu again. After the other candidates dispersed, he slowly walked down the steps and came to Jiang Chuan.

A warm smile appeared on his thin, old face, and his tone became more intimate.

"Young friend Lieyang, in all these years I've been in Yuanling Mountain, this is the first time I've seen someone refine a six-patterned high-grade spirit pill during the entrance examination."

"With your alchemy skills, it would be a waste of your talent to stay in Yun Danzi's Class C alchemy room as an alchemy apprentice."

"Although my Grade B alchemy room is not top-notch, it is still worthy of enjoying the Azure Flame Earth Fire."

"If you are willing to come, I can offer you the position of chief assistant."

"The compensation will be double that of a Spirit Fire Alchemist."

"how?"

Jiang Chuan cupped his hands in greeting, his expression calm: "I am flattered by Elder Lu's kindness, but this matter is of great importance. I need to go back and discuss it with Master Yun. I hope Elder Lu will understand."

Lu Yuanshan was not annoyed by this. Instead, he stroked his beard and nodded: "Of course, of course. With your grades, it would not be unreasonable for you to go to the Class A alchemy room. My Class B alchemy room is indeed not a very good place. If you have a better choice, I will only be happy for you."

These words were spoken frankly, which made Jiang Chuan feel more favorably toward this old alchemist.

Lu Yuanshan added, "However, I must add something: those old fellows in the Class A alchemy room are all arrogant and haughty. You might not get anywhere good there. If you don't have a suitable place to go, my door is always open for you. As for Yun Danzi, you don't need to worry. I will personally inform him."

Jiang Chuan bowed again in thanks and accepted the Spirit Fire Alchemist's identity token.

The token felt slightly heavy in my hand, with a warm and smooth texture like jade. The front was engraved with the ancient seal characters for "Yuanling Mountain · Spirit Fire Alchemist", while the back had a silver flame emblem.

He put the token into his pocket, turned around and walked out of the hall. On the white jade square outside the Dan Pavilion, the crowd had already dispersed.

As Jiang Chuan stepped out of the palace gate, he caught a glimpse of a hunched figure slowly walking forward.

It's Old Man Han.

The other person seemed to sense something and looked up, meeting his gaze.

"Fellow Daoist Lieyang," Old Man Han said with a bitter smile, cupping his hands in greeting, "Congratulations on winning the championship."

Jiang Chuan understood immediately upon seeing his expression.

"Didn't pass the exam again?"

"In the end, it's still a bit lacking..." Old Han said with a sheepish smile, then suddenly sighed and interrupted himself, saying, "Forget it, talking about luck is just self-deception. I've figured it out. The path of alchemy is not something you can achieve just by enduring hardship."

Jiang Chuan offered a few words of comfort: "Fellow Daoist, don't be discouraged. With your accumulated experience, you may have another chance next time."

Old Han waved his hand and chuckled.

There won't be a next time.

"I intend to leave the Immortal Alliance today."

"I'll find a mortal city and live out the rest of my life in peace. The little wealth I've accumulated over the years is enough for me to buy a small courtyard in the mortal world, grow a few potted plants, and have a place to settle down."

Jiang Chuan listened quietly, without much emotion in his heart.

He and Old Man Han only met briefly during this assessment.

We don't really have any close relationship.

Whether the other person stays or leaves is their own choice.

but.

He suddenly remembered something.

"Fellow Daoist."

Jiang Chuan suddenly spoke up: "You mentioned earlier that a Heavenly Fire Alchemist was promoted fifty years ago, but according to the records of the Pill Pavilion, the promotion of a Heavenly Fire Alchemist on Yuanling Mountain occurred eighty-three years ago. Where exactly do you get this information?"

Old Han paused slightly, turned around, and stared at Jiang Chuan with his cloudy old eyes for a long while before slowly speaking.

"This isn't some taboo secret, so I can tell you without hesitation..."

"The Foundation Establishment realm is worlds apart from the Qi Refining realm."

"The lifespan of a Qi Refining cultivator is no more than five hundred years, and their physical body can also decay."

"Once you establish your foundation, it will be a completely different world."

"His lifespan is a thousand years, his physical body is solid, and his spirit is stable."

"More importantly..."

After carefully considering his words, he said, "After a Foundation Establishment cultivator falls, they will not truly perish; they will have three more opportunities to reincarnate and cultivate again."

"Reincarnation?"

Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

Old Man Han nodded: "If a Foundation Establishment True Person perishes, there is still a great chance that during their first reincarnation, they can break through the mystery of the womb, awaken their past life memories, and cultivate back to their peak."

"But by the time of the second reincarnation, it is extremely difficult to break the mystery of the womb. Without a protector to guide them, they will most likely get lost in the mortal world."

"As for the third time..."

He sighed softly, "Even Foundation Establishment cultivators can hardly awaken their past life memories anymore. They can only retain some traces of cause and effect from their past lives, which may be recognized by their former fellow cultivators."

"If one's cultivation level cannot advance further after three reincarnations, then one will be completely reduced to a mortal."

"Wash away all karma from past lives."

"Completely become a different person."

Jiang Chuan remained silent for a moment, digesting the information in those words.

Not only can a Foundation Establishment True Person live for a thousand years, but they can also be reincarnated and cultivate again three times.

In other words.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator can theoretically live for a maximum of four thousand years!

This is absolutely insane.

Old Man Han laughed and said, "So, if you ever see any exceptionally talented people in your daily life, please..."

"maybe."

"The other party is the reincarnation of a powerful being!"

"However, beings like these, unless they are absolutely certain they can return to their former peak, usually hide themselves very well."

"After all, in the eyes of those who are interested, the wealth they accumulated in their previous lives is also an immense fortune, not to mention the invaluable foundation-building opportunity involved."

Jiang Chuan suddenly realized, "So the alchemist you mentioned who advanced to the Heavenly Flame realm fifty years ago was also a reincarnated Foundation Establishment cultivator?"

"That's right." Old Man Han nodded slightly. "This must be his second incarnation."

"In just a few decades, he broke the mystery of the womb and returned to the position of a true human."

"That's why."

"That's why his promotion wasn't recorded in the Dan Pavilion's archives."

"I see." Jiang Chuan's doubts were resolved, and he solemnly bowed to Old Man Han to express his gratitude: "Thank you for clearing up my doubts, fellow Daoist."

Old Man Han waved his hand and said, "It's alright. I see that you are as bright as the midday sun. Even if you are not a reincarnation of a true immortal, you should be careful not to be targeted. This Immortal Alliance is far from as glamorous as it appears on the surface."

Jiang Chuan wholeheartedly agreed with these words.

Old Han said no more, and continued walking down the mountain, leaning on his worn-out peach wood cane.

Jiang Chuan watched the hunched figure disappear at the end of the winding mountain path.

Only then did he turn his gaze away.

This conversation greatly benefited him, and he even gained some insight into the secrets of Foundation Establishment, although this realm was still quite far from his reach.

But it was Old Man Han.

He must be hiding some secrets.

but,

Forget it.