Immortality and cultivation begin with alchemy and accounting.

The improvement of alchemy skills is ultimately somewhat abstract; it can be perceived, but cannot be concretized.

But the improvement in cultivation level is real and tangible!

His cultivation level improved dramatically, equivalent to three months of diligent practice.

He even vaguely felt that he had touched the bottleneck of the fourth level of Qi Refining!

The third to fourth level of Qi Refining is considered the early to mid-stage of Qi Refining, but there is a bottleneck involved.

Especially for cultivators with average talent, the bottleneck will be more obvious.

……

Five days later.

Inside the underground alchemy room, Bai Xuanjing sat cross-legged, looking tense.

Over the next five days, he used all the remaining thirteen materials to refine pills.

A total of eight portions were successfully refined.

As for the ball of light, he did not open it, but stored it all in his sea of ​​consciousness.

Eight orbs of light have now been accumulated.

Having finished refining the pills for the day, Bai Xuanjing planned to open all the light orbs to see what rewards awaited.

It felt like a lottery.

The first ball of light,

【…】

[Your reward: Alchemy skill improved * Three months of arduous training]

Immediately afterwards, the remaining light orbs were also opened by Bai Xuanjing's all-in attack.

[You have received the following reward: Cultivation level increase * Three months of arduous training]

[You have received the following reward: Tier 1 Low-grade Water Arrow Talisman *3]

……

With the rewards fully activated, Bai Xuanjing felt a surge in her cultivation level and was overjoyed.

Of these eight settlement rewards, two are for cultivation level improvement and three are for alchemy improvement.

The rest,

There are three Water Arrow Talismans, three Water Repellent Talismans, and five Tier 1 Low-Grade Spirit Plants, Qingping Grass.

The Water Arrow Talisman is an offensive talisman that can create water arrows to attack enemies.

The water-avoidance talisman is an auxiliary talisman that can help cultivators to conceal themselves in water and move freely.

As for Qingping Grass, it is a material for alchemy. Bai Xuanjing remembers that it was an auxiliary spiritual medicine for a certain first-grade mid-level pill.

"These past few days of alchemy have directly increased my cultivation level and alchemy skills by almost a year's worth of hard work!" Bai Xuanjing thought to himself.

He felt that he was getting closer and closer to the bottleneck of the fourth level of Qi Refining!

Those below the third level of Qi Refining can only be considered to be in the early stage of Qi Refining.

Reaching the fourth level of Qi Refining is the middle stage of Qi Refining, which is quite different from the early stage of Qi Refining.

With Bai Xuanjing's aptitude, even with sufficient resources to nurture him, it would take many years of arduous training for him to break through from the third level of Qi Refining to the fourth level.

Now, it's readily available!

It should be noted that three mid-grade spiritual roots are a rare quality in the Bai family, and many people can only stay at the mid-stage of Qi Refining even after a lifetime of hard work.

According to clan records, only a few clansmen with such aptitude could reach the late stage of Qi Refining.

As for those with three mid-grade spiritual roots who can break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and have their own separate volume in the clan annals, there have only been two or three such individuals in the past five hundred years!

These two or three people were all people with great fortune and opportunities.

There is always a way out, but it is clear that those with exceptional talent will have more options!

For cultivators of ordinary talent, reaching the same level requires much more effort.

"If that's the case, I might not be unable to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, or even a higher realm, in this lifetime!" Bai Xuanjing's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he began to dream.

Just then, a paper crane flew in from outside and caught Bai Xuanjing's eye.

Upon seeing the origami cranes, Bai Xuanjing's gaze froze, somewhat surprised.

"A message on a paper crane: Has anyone from the family arrived?"

This paper crane for transmitting sound is a special magical artifact made by the Bai family. Whether transmitting or receiving sound, it requires a special incantation made by the family.

If you receive the message rashly without using the proper techniques, you will not only fail to receive the information, but the paper crane carrying the message will also spontaneously combust.

This paper crane is just an ordinary object, and most of the Bai family disciples know the incantation used to receive its information.

There are also some higher-level paper cranes for transmitting messages. The techniques required to receive these messages are quite obscure and are restricted from being practiced by the family. Only the higher-ups can access them.

This can also be considered a method of encrypting information.

Autumn Maple Island is far from the family, and Bai Xuanjing has only been here for a few years, so he doesn't have any close relatives nearby.

In that case, these communication paper cranes are most likely used for official business!

"Could it be my second uncle?"

"But there are still half a month before the family collects the Azure Scale Pills."

Bai Xuanjing hesitated for a moment before accepting the message paper crane.

This earth fire vein has no protective formation; anyone who knows its location can simply enter.

The reason for sending a message via paper crane first was partly to avoid revealing Bai Xuanjing's privacy.

On the other hand, there was also the concern that the fire vein here had been occupied by the family's enemies, who had set a trap.

This kind of thing has happened before.

Only when Bai Xuanjing responds to the telepathic message will the people outside come in.

"It really is my second uncle!"

Upon receiving the message from the telepathic paper crane, Bai Xuanjing immediately understood and cast a spell on it.

The paper crane then flew away.

Bai Xuanjing also left the alchemy room.

Stepping onto the lava shore, he was wary of the fireworms, but he didn't encounter any accidents and safely arrived at the entrance to the Earth Fire Vein Cave.

Almost simultaneously, a streak of light flashed by in the distance and landed in front of Bai Xuanjing.

The newcomer stood on a flying sword, wearing a blue Taoist robe painted with mountain and river patterns and decorated with cloud and animal motifs.

He was a middle-aged man with a square face.

"Second Uncle!"

Bai Xuanjing bowed respectfully.

The person who came was his second uncle, Bai Jingming, who had reached the pinnacle of Qi cultivation.

Bai Jingming chuckled and waved his hand, saying, "Xuanjing, there's no need for such formalities."

"I've come here today to collect the Azure Scale Pills, and also to deliver some pill-making materials and daily necessities to you. Additionally, Xuan Gu asked me to bring you a scroll of pill-making notes."

As they spoke, the two entered the cave side by side and headed downwards.

Bai Jingming is Bai Xuanjing's father's younger brother, so the two are closer than ordinary clan members.

In addition, Bai Xuanjing had been raised by Bai Jingming since childhood, so there were fewer reservations between them.

As for Bai Xuangu, whom Bai Jingming mentioned, he is Bai Xuanjing's older brother.

Baek Hyun-kyung's relationship with this older brother is also quite good.

Bai Xuangu has a high talent for cultivation and has two high-grade spiritual roots. He has been given special attention by his family and is now a cultivator in the late stage of Qi Refining at the age of over forty.

Bai Xuanjing was his father's son born late in life, and he was more than ten years younger than Bai Xuangu.

When Bai Xuanjing was twelve or thirteen years old, her father passed away, and Bai Xuanjing was raised by Bai Xuangu.

As the eldest brother, Bai Xuangu often helped his younger brother and would occasionally send him some resources for cultivation.

"Second Uncle, according to past practice, the Azure Scale Pills should be collected in about ten days, right? Why are they here so early this year?"

On the way, Bai Xuanjing asked softly.

Bai Jingming coughed lightly, "This year, all alchemists have started collecting Azure Scale Pills earlier than usual. This involves the family's plans, and you don't need to know the specific reasons."

Upon hearing this, Bai Xuanjing felt a chill run down her spine, realizing that her family might be about to make another big move.

Memories swirled in his mind, but were quickly suppressed by Bai Xuanjing.

Whatever his family does, it doesn't affect him much.

He was an alchemist, and all he needed to do was refine pills according to the quotas issued by his family.

"Since the time for collecting the pills has been brought forward, if the required number is less than the limit, as long as the missing number is less than ten pills, it will still be considered a successful mission," Bai Jingming continued.

They are family cultivators, bound together by blood ties, unlike the rogue cultivators or even sect cultivators outside.

The family system is more humane, the targets set are not too outrageous, and the restrictions are not as strict.

Bai Jingming looked at Bai Xuanjing, "Can you finish this?"