Immortality and cultivation begin with alchemy and accounting.

"Consider these two bottles of pills a gift to you. You can use them to condense runes to control beasts."

Bai Xuanle pushed the two bottles of demon-feeding pills on the table in front of Bai Xuanjing.

Seeing that Bai Xuanjing wanted to refuse, he immediately said, "I haven't had a chance to thank you for helping me refine the Demon-Feeding Pill. You have to accept this pill no matter what."

After some initial refusal, Bai Xuanjing finally accepted the pill, which improved Bai Xuanle's impression of him even further.

"Let's go to Qifeng Pavilion," Bai Xuanle said immediately.

Bai Xuanjing had no objection and left the courtyard one after the other with Bai Xuanle, heading towards Qifeng Pavilion.

Qifeng Pavilion is a building on Daoping Island of the Bai family, used by Bai family disciples for gatherings or for rest and recreation.

The pavilion is built beside an inland river on an island, and the river is filled with lotus flowers, creating a beautiful scene.

Qifeng Pavilion is also quite grand, capable of accommodating dozens of people, and has many stone tables and benches.

When Bai Xuanjing and his companion arrived, more than a dozen young alchemists had already gathered around them.

These are the so-called younger generation of alchemists in the Bai family.

They were all cultivators from the second branch of the sect, and since they all came from the Alchemy Hall, Bai Xuanjing knew most of them.

"Brother Xuanjiao!"

"Hyun-ching unnie!"

"..."

Baek Hyun-kyung greeted everyone present with a smile.

Although we all know each other, we're not particularly close; we just chat briefly.

Bai Xuanle had also worked in the Alchemy Hall, and many people knew her.

However, his attendance at the alchemy gathering was clearly somewhat unexpected.

However, the alchemy gathering was not a secretive event, so it was open to all.

Soon, the group gathered in the center of Qifeng Pavilion and began exchanging ideas on alchemy.

It is often a cultivator who raises an unsolved problem he encountered in the process of refining pills.

Those who had ideas answered casually.

If anyone disagrees, a debate will take place on the spot.

The atmosphere was harmonious, but when neither side could convince the other, they would often argue until they were red in the face.

Bai Xuanjing's gaze shifted and landed on the two of them.

One was Bai Xuanjin, and the other was a beautiful female cultivator.

Baek Hyun-jin goes without saying.

The female cultivator was Bai Xuanluo, whom Bai Jingming described as the third-best alchemist among the younger generation.

"...Xuanjing, I heard that your Yellow Jade Pills were refined quite well this year. Do you have any solutions for this?"

Just as Bai Xuanjing was pondering.

Bai Xuanluo suddenly smiled and raised an eyebrow at Bai Xuanjing.

What she just mentioned was the extraction process of a spiritual herb called Autumn Wind Grass during the refining of the Yellow Jade Pill.

Autumn Wind Grass is a low-grade first-level spiritual plant. Its medicinal properties are generally poor, and it is not very effective when taken directly.

However, the Autumn Wind Grass contains special properties that can enhance the medicinal properties of the core ingredient of Yellow Jade Pill, Yellow Jade Tortoise Glue.

It can be considered a medicinal ingredient.

Refining the medicinal properties of the Autumn Wind Herb and guiding it to blend with the Yellow Jade Tortoise Glue is considered a difficult problem in the process of refining the Yellow Jade Pill.

Bai Xuanjing looked at Bai Xuanluo and noticed the faint scrutiny in Bai Xuanluo's eyes.

A thought struck him, and he understood.

In the past, Bai Xuanjing's alchemy skills would naturally be inferior to Bai Xuanluo's.

However, Huang Yudan and Bai Xuanjing performed exceptionally well this year, which must have aroused Bai Xuanluo's dissatisfaction.

Thinking of this, Bai Xuanjing felt somewhat helpless.

However, he wasn't too flustered and said, "I've also thought about the problem that Sister Xuanluo mentioned."

The autumn wind grass contains a certain degree of cold and dampness, and this cold and dampness is the key to stimulating the mild medicinal properties of the yellow jade tortoise shell glue, so it needs to be preserved.

However, ordinary earth fire is inherently hot and is naturally incompatible with cold and yin energy.

If processed using ordinary methods for medicinal herbs, applying earth fire would easily destroy the cold and yin nature of the Autumn Wind Grass.

Although the medicinal liquid could eventually be extracted, it was difficult to blend with the yellow jade tortoise shell glue, often resulting in failed elixir refining.

"Therefore, in my opinion, the key to processing Autumn Wind Grass lies in maintaining its yin and cold properties, and the main method I use is based on controlling fire..."

Baek Hyun-kyung spoke eloquently.

What he said was not just made up; it was indeed his accurate understanding of alchemy.

After Bai Xuanjing finished speaking, all the cultivators present showed thoughtful expressions.

Some of what Bai Xuanjing mentioned were from Huang Yudan's notes, while others were clever ideas Bai Xuanjing had developed during the alchemy process.

It sounds like there's no problem.

Several people had their eyes sparkling and their faces showing joy, clearly having learned something from Bai Xuanjing's words.

"It seems your alchemy skills have improved considerably during your three years away from home, Xuanjing!"

After hearing Bai Xuanjing's words, Bai Xuanluo had no choice but to admit it and readily acknowledged Bai Xuanjing's progress, putting away her little thoughts.

In fact, when she learned that Bai Xuanjing ranked higher than her in refining the Yellow Jade Pill, she was extremely dissatisfied and even felt that Bai Xuanjing might have secretly bought pills to make up the difference.

That's why she brought up the issue of dealing with the autumn wind grass, a problem that she considered somewhat difficult.

Judging from Bai Xuanjing's answer, perhaps she was judging a gentleman by her own petty standards!

"I completely agree with what Brother Xuanjing said, and the alchemy techniques that Brother Xuanjing has mastered are indeed amazing."

"I also have some ideas about how to handle autumn wind grass."

Bai Xuanjin also spoke with a smile, sharing some more experience in alchemy.

Bai Xuanjing found some of the content helpful.

Although the participants in the alchemy gathering were all young alchemists, their alchemy skills were only at the first-grade low-level pill level.

However, through brainstorming, many of the alchemy ideas still gave Bai Xuanjing a fresh perspective.

Soon, the topic shifted from refining first-grade low-level pills to the No. 8 Fire Vein.

"...Therefore, this No. 8 Fire Vein actually involves a struggle between the alchemy and weapon-forging factions."

"In the past, if a mid-grade first-level fire vein became available and there were no mid-grade first-level alchemists among the younger generation, we could simply select an excellent low-grade first-level alchemist and send them out."

"But now that things have reached the family level, we, the second branch of the family, can no longer easily fool them."

Therefore, only after one's alchemy skills reach the mid-grade of the first rank can one occupy the No. 8 Fire Vein for cultivation.

Baek Hyun-jin spoke eloquently, revealing all the information he possessed.

Among the cultivators present, he was the oldest and his alchemy skills were widely recognized as the best, so he was regarded as the backbone of the group.

He only spoke up because someone had asked him about the No. 8 Fire Vein.

Some disciples, like Bai Xuanjing, whose elders hold high-ranking positions, know the ins and outs of the Bing-8 Fire Vein.

Some people are also unaware of this.

After hearing Baek Hyun-jin's words, many people looked embarrassed.

"These four branches are really domineering. Ever since we obtained the No. 8 Fire Vein a hundred years ago, the Fire Vein has belonged to our third branch, yet they still want to covet it!" a cultivator said indignantly.

Some people immediately saw through it: "It is said that in recent years a demon clan's water palace has appeared in the northern sea, and the power of the Vast Sea has shrunk. It seems that the original fire vein of the Fourth Branch is located there."

"It seems they lost some of their fire veins, so they've set their sights on us."

Some people were indignant: "That sounds nice, but it's nominally a loan; I'm afraid they won't pay it back!"

Someone asked curiously, "Brother Xuanjin, since you already knew about this matter, have you ever practiced refining the Azure Water Pill? I wonder if you have any insights to share with us."

We probably won't get the C8 Fire Vein, but we can still use it when we cultivate the Azure Water Pill in the future.