In the stillness of the night, Luo Chen sat alone inside the green thatched hut. In his hand, a pristine bamboo scroll lay spread open, the very Foundation Establishment gift given to him by Li Yixian. The Medicine King Codex of Yimu. The scroll had clearly been transcribed with great care, its bamboo slats crafted from rare second-tier violet qi bamboo, exuding a faint medicinal fragrance even before it was opened. This technique had not come cheap. Luo Chen had paid five thousand low-grade spirit stones for it, and more importantly, agreed to bring the Li family into an official alliance with Luo Tian Society, the Nangong family, and the Dajiang Gang. Though the Li clan promised not to meddle in alchemy affairs, the alliance itself gave them legitimacy and protection, something not to be underestimated in this volatile cultivation world. This was no groundless fear. Anyone could see that, after Luo Chen achieved Foundation Establishment, what was once the weakest, Luo Tian Society, had suddenly become the strongest native force in the Dahe Market. With Wang Yuan, a combatant who could challenge Foundation Establishment cultivators; a subjugated second-tier Explosive Ape as an ultimate weapon; and a corps of battle-hardened Qi-Refining experts, the group's cohesion and strength were far greater than the former Poshan Gang's raw numbers had ever achieved. If Luo Chen ever decided to move against the Li family, the other allied powers would almost certainly join him out of mutual interest. And in that case, wouldn’t history repeat itself, the same tragedy that had once befallen the Poshan Gang? This woman sees things quite clearly, Luo Chen murmured to himself, and opened the Medicine King Codex of Yimu. He gave it a thorough read, then used his system to check whether it was a valid and untainted cultivation method. Only after receiving confirmation did he affirm that this technique bore no hidden tricks. He closed the system. Luo Chen didn’t plan on using the system to initiate the technique. Though he had now stepped into the Foundation Establishment Realm, finally reaching the level suitable for learning second-tier cultivation methods, and the system’s cost for such techniques had normalized, he only had three achievement points left after unlocking the Imperial Nectar. It simply wasn’t enough. Still, he wasn’t worried. With his foundation in the Long Spring Art already at Perfected Mastery, he could transition into the Medicine King Codex of Yimu almost seamlessly. There was no need to rush or waste points, not when the groundwork had already been laid. "Though the Yimu is gentle, it may flay sheep and cleave oxen [1]. Holding fire and embracing blaze [2], one mounts the phoenix and rides the ape [3]. "In damp and vacant lands, even horseback riding bears sorrow [4]. Yet a vine-bound armor suits both spring and autumn [5]." A night passed. Luo Chen slowly awakened from his secluded cultivation. He glanced at his status panel again, focusing on the techniques section. The entry for the Perfected Mastery Long Spring Art had already vanished. In its place appeared, Medicine King Codex of Yimu: Beginner (2/100), Divine Breaker of Malevolence: Perfection (351/500) Myriad Beast Sutra: (10/100) "As expected, my judgment wasn’t wrong. "If I had chosen to switch to Nether Spring Darkfire, it would've taken at least a few months just to barely get started. The continued cultivation would have been even more troublesome. Instead, transitioning seamlessly into an advanced version of the Long Spring Art allowed me to quickly get started. "And beyond that, the effects are far superior!" Luo Chen could still feel the unique effects from the Perfected Mastery Long Spring Art lingering in his body, automatic qi regeneration, purified spirit power, and other enhancements. If that was all, it would already be excellent. But more importantly, he could feel his familiarity with the Medicine King Codex of Yimu continuously increasing. The rate of improvement was far higher than with any other technique! In just a single night, his proficiency had surged to 2, rather than lingering at the starting point of 1. This rate of improvement far outpaced what he’d experienced with other techniques in the past. Clearly, the credit belonged to the Perfected Mastery he had already achieved with the Long Spring Art. "It won’t be long before I reach minor mastery with this codex, perhaps even major mastery!" Luo Chen had no doubt about it. However, he still couldn’t fully determine the effects of the Medicine King Codex of Yimu. With the technique only recently initiated, he lacked solid data to conclude. Complicating things further was the massive backlog of medicinal energy still stored in his body, waiting to be refined, another factor muddling his internal readings. A long-term seclusion was necessary. However, before that could happen, there was one matter that needed his attention. Luo Chen’s eyes flickered with a subtle gleam. He rose, composed and purposeful, and closed the door of the green thatched hut behind him. With a step onto a wisp of white cloud, Luo Chen descended from the mountaintop. The Alchemy Hall. The Pill Sanctuary. The Alchemy Hall, once the Duan family’s artifact tower, had been reconstructed under Sima Huiniang’s direction. Not to serve as a furnace for refining pills, but as a quiet resting place for Luo Chen after his alchemical sessions. Yet since the end of yesterday’s Foundation Establishment Ceremony, the grand bronze doors of the hall had remained tightly shut. Outside, Qu Hancheng, visibly older and more careworn than before, paced back and forth along the walkway. His brow furrowed with worry. At the hall’s entrance stood Mi Li, pale and delicate, her expression drawn. She spoke softly. “Uncle Qu, don’t worry.” Qu Hancheng halted and let out a long sigh. “How can I not worry? Lingjun has been kneeling inside that hall all night. Who knows how the President will punish him?” He had refined pills without Luo Chen’s permission. That was a serious offense! In the Luo Tian Society now, Luo Chen’s words held absolute authority. And the Alchemy Hall had been founded by him; no one dared go against his rules. For Qu Lingjun to refine pills without permission was a blatant transgression. Mi Li bit her lip. “Maybe… It’s not punishment?” Qu Hancheng blinked, stunned by the thought. But before he could respond, a breeze stirred the air. Luo Chen appeared before them, with Sima Huiniang and Murong Qinglian by his side. He looked calm, unreadable. “President…” Qu Hancheng began, but Luo Chen silenced him with a glance. “You two, wait here.” Leaving them with that, Luo Chen walked toward the Pill Sanctuary. The great bronze doors slowly creaked open, revealing a shaft of soft light. Within, a lone figure knelt silently, back straight and unwavering in the glow. As Luo Chen’s tall figure stepped inside, the bronze doors shut behind him once more. "Director, the President won’t punish Lingjun, will he?" Qu Hancheng finally couldn’t help but ask Sima Huiniang. Sima Huiniang smiled faintly. "Relax, this is a good thing." Seeing his lingering doubt, she added with a gentle chuckle, "With Lingjun’s alchemy talent, who could bear to punish such a promising seedling?" Was Qu Lingjun really that gifted in alchemy? Others might not know, but in Luo Chen’s eyes, it was beyond question! Looking at the youth kneeling below, Luo Chen felt a strange daze settle over him. He remembered the toddler once cradled in Tang Quan’s arms, bawling in fear as they soared through the skies. He recalled the red-faced little brat, flustered and tongue-tied under one of his early alchemy assessments. Now, in what felt like the blink of an eye, that child had become a striking youth, lips red, teeth white, refined and composed. The boy’s features bore a clear resemblance to old Qu Hancheng, particularly his brows and nose. But his eyes… those eyes, filled with boundless curiosity and a stubborn set to the mouth, reminded Luo Chen of someone else entirely, himself. Indeed, this young man bore some resemblance to him. Both had weak aptitudes. Both harbored an extraordinary passion for alchemy. The difference was that Luo Chen had a system. Qu Lingjun, on the other hand, had something no one could gift: true, natural talent. The kind that, even if unpolished, could already refine a first-tier low-grade pill in fewer than a hundred attempts. With such talent, even if great sects didn’t fight over him, countless small factions certainly would. Of course, what would happen after that… wasn’t so easy to say. Even Luo Chen, with all his schemes and tools, had endured heavy suppression under the likes of Mi Shuhua and Miao Wen. With such frail shoulders, how far could Qu Lingjun really go on the path of immortality? A difficult silence spread throughout the hall. 1. 刲羊解牛 (kuī yáng jiě niú) literally means "to slit the sheep and dismember the ox." It evokes imagery of expert butchery and is often used metaphorically to describe someone with precise, masterful skill in dissecting complex situations or dealing with intricate tasks. It can also imply ruthlessness or efficiency in execution, depending on the context. ☜ 2. 怀丁抱丙 (huái dīng bào bǐng) means "to carry Ding and embrace Bing," referencing two of the Ten Heavenly Stems, 丁 (Dīng) and 丙 (Bǐng), both associated with the fire element. This phrase metaphorically conveys the idea of nurturing or harnessing dual aspects of fiery energy, often symbolizing passion, ambition, or power. In Daoist or cultivation contexts, it may also relate to balancing or absorbing elemental forces. ☜ 3. 跨凤乘猴 (kuà fèng chéng hóu) translates to "straddling a phoenix and riding a monkey." This fantastical phrase blends mythological creatures, phoenix representing nobility, rebirth, or destiny, and monkey symbolizing cleverness, agility, and mischief. The expression can suggest transcending norms, undertaking a surreal journey, or embracing both noble aspirations and cunning action. ☜ 4. 虚湿之地，骑马亦忧 (xū shī zhī dì, qí mǎ yì yōu) translates to "In a land of damp emptiness, even riding a horse brings concern." This metaphor suggests that in unstable or unsuitable conditions, even with strength or tools (like a horse), one cannot act freely or safely. It emphasizes the importance of environment and foundation in any endeavor. ☜ 5. 藤萝系甲，可春可秋 (téng luó xì jiǎ, kě chūn kě qiū) means "Armor tied with wisteria, suitable for both spring and autumn." This poetic phrase combines the imagery of softness (wisteria vines) and hardness (armor), symbolizing adaptability, grace under pressure, or dual-purpose utility. The reference to spring and autumn implies versatility across changing circumstances or seasons. ☜