Ascending from the mortal realm to become an immortal begins with taking charge of a grotto-heaven.

"Junior Brother, have you come here today because you've achieved some success in alchemy and are here specifically to sell your work?"

Su Qinghe nodded slightly, and actually guessed Zhang Li's purpose.

Now that Su Qinghe had guessed his intentions, Zhang Li stopped beating around the bush. He raised his hand and patted his storage bag. With a few soft rustling sounds, dozens of pill bottles were neatly arranged on the mahogany cabinet in front of him.

"I have been diligently honing my alchemy skills these past few days and have accumulated a batch of fasting pills, which I am now selling at your esteemed store."

A hint of surprise flashed in Su Qinghe's eyes. She raised her hand and casually picked up the bottle at the front, poured out a pill and examined it closely. The pill was plump and translucent, indicating that it was of superior quality.

Su Qinghe sighed softly, looking at Zhang Li with surprise: "When you first came to purchase the Dao of Alchemy, it must have been your first time encountering the Dao of Alchemy. In just a few months, you have been able to refine such a high-quality Bigu Pill. It seems that you have quite a talent for alchemy, Junior Brother Zhang."

Ordinary outer sect disciples, lacking spirit stones to purchase alchemy materials, would typically spend one or two years successfully refining their first batch of pills. Zhang Li, however, only took a few months, which is enough to demonstrate his high aptitude for alchemy, enough to bridge the gap caused by limited resources.

Zhang Li didn't offer much explanation. He knew his own aptitude for alchemy; if it weren't for the Black Field of the Cave Heaven, he wouldn't have had the chance to even attempt the Dao of Alchemy. He simply offered his usual polite remark:

"It's just a matter of practicing day and night until you become proficient. I'm so grateful for my senior sister's detailed explanation back then, which saved me from taking many detours."

Su Qinghe said no more. If one could refine pills based on just a fragmented explanation, then there would be no shortage of alchemists in the cultivation world. She quickly picked out a few more bottles to examine and said:

"These fasting pills are of excellent quality. I can purchase them for three spirit stones for every two bottles. What do you say, Junior Brother Zhang?"

The price was the same when it was sold at Dan Ding Lou before, so Zhang Li naturally had no objections and nodded in agreement.

"Alright, forty bottles of the Bigu Pill, priced at sixty low-grade spirit stones."

As she spoke, Su Qinghe took out spirit stones from the counter and handed them to Zhang Li.

Zhang Li did not rush to accept the spirit stones. After hesitating for a moment, he took the initiative to ask, "Senior Sister Su is very knowledgeable. Besides selling pills, I also wanted to ask if your shop has any pills that can temporarily improve one's comprehension. My comprehension of magic is really poor, and I find it quite difficult to practice."

After a moment's thought, Su Qinghe said softly, "There is something that suits your needs, but it is not a pill. It is a kind of spiritual tea called Kongming Spiritual Tea. When brewed with spiritual spring water, it can help cultivators enter a state of mental clarity and a mind free of distractions. It is of great benefit to comprehending cultivation techniques and deducing spells."

It is said that drinking it regularly can improve a cultivator's comprehension, but I have my doubts about that. However, the taste of the spiritual tea itself is excellent.

Zhang Li's eyes lit up, and he immediately perked up, quickly asking, "How much does this Clear Mind Tea cost? Does your shop sell it?"

"no."

Su Qinghe gently shook her head, a faint smile flashing in her eyes as she watched Zhang Li's expression dim instantly. She then slowly added, "I only had it once by chance at a sect gathering. If you really want to buy some, it's not like you're completely without options. Try your luck with a senior brother; he should still have some in stock."

"I would be most grateful if you could enlighten me, Senior Sister," Zhang Li said, bowing respectfully.

"Go to Qingmu Valley and find Liu Lin," Su Qinghe said slowly. "Although this Senior Brother Liu Lin is an outer disciple, he specializes in cultivating spiritual herbs and trees. The Kongming Spiritual Tea was planted and processed by him personally. In the entire Qingxuan Sect, he is the only one who has kept this item all year round."

Zhang Li was overjoyed and quickly asked, "I wonder what Senior Brother Liu usually likes? I can't just come empty-handed, can I?"

"Senior Brother Liu doesn't have any particular favorite things. I'll write a letter; you can go find him directly."

After saying that, Su Qinghe took out paper and pen, wrote a letter, and handed it to Zhang Li.

Zhang Li accepted it with both hands and solemnly cupped her hands in thanks: "Thank you for your kindness, Senior Sister."

After carefully putting away the letter, Zhang Li bid farewell to Dan Ding Tower and headed towards Qingmu Valley.

After leaving the Dan Ding Tower, Zhang Li thought it over and over. It wouldn't be right to go empty-handed, so he bought some of the spiritual teas and pastries that cultivators often brought when they visited, and then continued towards Qingmu Valley.

Upon reaching the entrance to Qingmu Valley, a layer of pale blue light blocked Zhang Li's path. Seeing this, he had no choice but to take out the letter, cup his hands, and say, "I am Zhang Li, carrying a letter from Senior Sister Su Qinghe, and have come to pay my respects."

As soon as he finished speaking, a gentle magical force spread out from the depths of the light barrier, gently guiding the letter in Zhang Li's hand and sending it flying into the valley.

A moment later, the tightly closed barrier parted to reveal a narrow passage, from which emerged a middle-aged man of about forty years old. He wore a blue cloth robe with his trousers rolled up to his knees and straw sandals covered in grass clippings. He looked more like an old farmer tending his fields than a cultivator.

"So you're Zhang Li, the one Junior Sister Su mentioned?"

Zhang Li quickly cupped his hands and offered the spirit tea and pastries in his hand: "I am Zhang Li. Greetings, Senior Brother Liu Lin. I apologize for disturbing you. I have prepared a small gift, and I hope you will not find it offensive."

Liu Lin waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to be so polite: "No need for such formalities, come with me into the valley and we'll talk."

The moment you step into Aokugaku territory, the surrounding scenery changes instantly.

The valley is filled with all kinds of spiritual herbs and plants, their green branches and leaves glistening with spiritual dew, and a faint spiritual aura wafts in on the breeze.

Several spiritual fields are scattered throughout the valley, with bamboo irrigation canals winding through the entire valley, and trickling spring water nourishing the spiritual plants everywhere.

One of the most eye-catching tea trees is a tea tree that is more than half a meter tall. It is planted next to a spring in the valley. The tea tree has lush branches and leaves. The leaves are translucent and emerald green. Each leaf is covered with fine shimmering light. The edges of the leaves are covered with lingering dew. Wisps of white mist are wrapped around the branches. The elegant and long-lasting tea fragrance is carried by the wind and fills the entire valley.

Beside it are two shorter tea trees, which should be young plants cultivated by Liulin and have not yet fully grown.

Deep in the valley, there are a few simple bamboo houses, which are Liu Lin's daily residence for frying spirit tea and taking care of spirit trees.

Liu Lin stepped aside to lead the way, his gaze sweeping over the three spirit tea trees, and casually said, "This is the Void Spirit Tea Tree that I cultivated myself. Junior Brother, you came here for this, didn't you?"

Zhang Li nodded sincerely: "That's right. My comprehension is too poor. I have been practicing a technique diligently but I still can't get the hang of it. I learned from Senior Sister Su that the Void Spirit Tea can help me comprehend techniques, so I came here to buy it."

Upon hearing this, Liu Lin walked forward slowly and smiled faintly: "The Clear Spirit Tea is not a rare treasure, but it can make your mind clear, which is most suitable for a cultivator like you who is stuck at the threshold of magic."

The two walked through the spiritual field and arrived at the door of the bamboo house. In front of the house, there were bamboo trays for drying tea leaves, and the aroma of tea in the air became increasingly strong.

Liu Lin pushed open the bamboo door and turned to look at Zhang Li: "I will naturally give Su Qinghe face. Tell me, how much do you want?"

Zhang Li quickly cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask how much your Clear Mind Tea costs, Senior Brother?"

"It's not expensive. One or two spirit teas cost a hundred spirit stones. If you use them sparingly, it will last you a month."

Zhang Li was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. One hundred low-grade spirit stones for one tael of spirit stone was not even enough to buy one tael of spirit stone from the pills he had just sold. To be honest, this was the most expensive spirit item he had ever seen in his cultivation journey.

Fortunately, he didn't lack spirit stones.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Li decided to buy one or two ounces to test the effect, so he said, "I'll listen to my senior brother and give you one or two ounces first."

"That's quite straightforward."

As he spoke, Liu Lin took out a jade box and handed it to Zhang Li.

Zhang Li immediately took out spirit stones from his storage bag and handed them over.

"Thank you, Senior Brother. Here are the spirit stones. Please count them."

Liu Lin glanced at it casually, waved his hand, and all the spirit stones were pocketed. Then he looked at Zhang Li and whispered, "This tea should only be brewed once a day. Don't overdo it! Remember that!"

Zhang Li solemnly clasped his hands and bowed: "This junior will remember my senior brother's teachings."