Longevity: Starting with an infant's innate growth potential

Chapter 38 Inviting Guests and the Steaming Fire Inscription (Seeking further reading, monthly votes, and recommendations)

The couple were overjoyed to confirm that Zhou Ling had indeed reached the fourth level of Qi Refining.

Zhou Shan excitedly paced back and forth in the courtyard.

Finally, the couple decided to treat Zhou Ling to a good meal today and also host a banquet for some of their friends from the medicine-finding team to celebrate.

The transition from the third to the fourth level of Qi Refining is a major hurdle, much like the transition from junior high to senior high school.

Zhou Ling reached the fourth level of Qi Refining at the age of nine, which meant he was admitted to a top high school.

After all, for independent cultivators, this is a crucial step in their lives.

Therefore, it is worth celebrating.

Zhou Ling was taken aback. Today was a day off, and he had already agreed to go out with Wang Xin and the others.

When Li Ru heard about this, he smiled and told him to invite Wang Xin, Yuan Hu, and other close friends over.

Zhou Ling thought for a moment and realized that apart from Wang Xin and Yuan Hu, the other students in the dormitory were just nodding acquaintances.

There is naturally no need for an invitation.

After finishing breakfast, Li Ru went out shopping and asked the restaurant for a day off.

Zhou Shan then went to invite his friends.

A short while later, Yuan Hu came to call Zhou Ling.

He was overjoyed to hear that there would be food today.

Currently, his cultivation level is only at the second level of Qi Refining, and it will be very difficult for him to reach the fourth level of Qi Refining next year.

But he also knew that even if he could reach the fourth level of Qi Refining, his family might not be able to continue supporting his cultivation at the academy.

However, he was an optimist and didn't think too much about it.

A "things will work themselves out" mentality.

The two immediately went out to call Wang Xin to come over.

Over the years, they have always met Wang Xin at the entrance of the Taoist temple.

I have never been to Wang Xin's house.

Zhou Ling guessed that Wang Xin must live near the Taoist temple.

After all, this area is rich in spiritual energy.

It's the most expensive area in the western part of the city.

He was also thinking that once he had saved up enough spirit stones, he would rent a small courtyard nearby.

The spiritual energy in my own home is only at the low-grade level of the first rank.

Now that he has reached the fourth level of Qi Refining, he can no longer support both his parents' and his own cultivation.

However, this matter cannot be rushed; we must first resolve the issue of the brewing furnace.

At the entrance of the Taoist temple, I met Wang Xin and heard Zhou Ling say that his family was going to host a dinner party because he had entered the fourth level of Qi Refining.

Her large, bright eyes curved into crescents, full of joy, but she still said shyly, "But I haven't prepared any gift yet!"

“We’re good friends, so what kind of gift do we need?” Zhou Ling said with a smile.

Wang Xin thought about it and realized it made sense, so she happily followed Zhou Ling.

Zhou Ling did not go straight home, but went to Lu's workshop instead.

He was preparing to host a banquet for Master Lu. Over the past year, he had earned a considerable amount of spirit stones from the Lu family workshop and had also improved his weapon-refining skills.

Upon seeing Zhou Ling enter, Master Lu, who was working on the instrument, stopped and handed the work over to Lu Liu'an.

She took out a towel, wiped her face, and greeted Zhou Ling with a smile, "Brother Ling is here!"

After exchanging greetings, Zhou Ling invited Master Lu.

Wang Xin and Yuan Hu, who were both afraid of the heat, waited outside in the courtyard.

Upon hearing Zhou Ling's invitation, Master Lu readily agreed with a smile.

"Master Lu, I'd like to trouble you to forge a crystal jade brewing furnace body in the next couple of days!"

After explaining the invitation, Zhou Ling sat down on the stone chair under the locust tree and stated the main purpose of his visit.

Master Lu sat down on the stone chair opposite Zhou Ling, poured him a bowl of tea, fanned himself with a palm-leaf fan a few times, and asked, "Is the brewing stove for your own use, or..."

"It's for our own use, so please use some good quality crystal jade, Master Lu," Zhou Ling said as he accepted the teacup.

Master Lu nodded. "This isn't cheap. It costs over forty low-grade spirit stones, plus a fifteen-stone deposit! I need to buy the materials first."

Zhou Ling took out fifteen spirit stones that he had prepared beforehand from his spirit stone bag and handed them to Master Lu. He then asked, "Master Lu, do you know where I can find steaming fire imprint patterns?" Master Lu finished his tea in one gulp, exhaled, and shook his head, saying, "This is my weapon-refining workshop. I have quite a few tools of all sizes here."

"But there really aren't any steam-fire inscription patterns."

Zhou Ling was slightly disappointed, but thinking about it, it was normal. Usually, when an inscription master leaves the workshop, he will take the inscription pattern with him.

Apart from some workshop-specific inscriptions and patterns.

"However, I did have a crystal jade brewing furnace here before, but it was damaged and could not be repaired."

"There is a steaming mark on it, but I don't know if it's damaged. If you want it, I'll have someone bring it over for you to take a look!"

Master Lu thought for a moment, then poured another bowl of tea and said.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ling's eyes lit up. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Master Lu!"

As long as there is a Steamfire Inscription, even if it is damaged, one can gradually master the correct inscription by using [Basic Insight] and [Basic Analysis].

"Dog, go to the equipment room and fetch that broken brewing furnace!"

Master Lu then called out to one of his disciples.

Soon, the disciple came over carrying a furnace.

The brewing furnace is similar in shape to an ordinary alchemy furnace. It is made of crystal jade, with a crystal-clear surface and engraved cloud patterns.

There was only a faint crack in the middle of the furnace.

Master Lu took the brewing furnace and placed it on the stone table.

"See if this works?"

Master Lu pointed at the alchemy furnace and smiled.

Zhou Ling carefully examined the brewing furnace.

The engraved inscription was quickly found on its bottom.

Looking at the nearly worn-out inscription, Zhou Ling's gaze narrowed slightly.

He turned the brewing furnace over, leaned closer, and examined it intently once more.

[You are observing the Steam Inscription, Beginner Observation +1]

[You are analyzing the Steamfire Inscription. Basic Analysis +1, Steamfire Inscription Proficiency +1]

"A steam-fire inscription with thirteen runes!"

As his talent was unlocked, Zhou Ling gradually began to observe the patterns of the inscriptions within the blurry imprints.

The blurry structure of the steam fire inscription also appeared in my mind.

Zhou Ling thought for a moment and asked, "Master Lu, could you sell me this brewing furnace?"

Although the inscription is extremely blurry and some lines are damaged, the general structure of the inscription can still be clearly seen.

They possess the talents of [Basic Insight] and [Basic Analysis].

With careful observation and analysis, it is still possible to gradually obtain the correct inscription.

Moreover, its perfect engraving on the brewing furnace can greatly help in drawing if analyzed carefully.

Master Lu asked in surprise, "This inscription has been damaged for a long time, how can it still be effective?"

"Well, I just wanted to observe and understand some of the structure of the inscription!" Zhou Ling explained.

“In that case, you can take it!” Master Lu said, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan.

Then he asked Lu Liuan to bring a basket and put the brewing furnace into it.

Zhou Ling thanked Master Lu after receiving the basket and was about to carry it on his back.

Master Lu waved his hand and said, "This is nothing, just a small matter. I'll have Anzi deliver it to you!"

"No need! I can do it myself!"

Zhou Ling simply carried it on his back. With his body refinement cultivation, which was close to the mid-stage of the first level, he could easily lift ten brewing furnaces.

Master Lu did not insist.

Before leaving, Zhou Ling reminded Master Lu to be on time for lunch.

Master Lu smiled and nodded.

Thank you to the morgue abbot, carefree god, gentle breeze and fine rain, and Mushi for the generous donations! Thank you!

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(End of this chapter)