"Master Li, thank you for your hard work!" Wang Fan approached and greeted with a smile.
However, his eyes were fixed on the jade bottle in Li Shiming’s hand, clearly showing his mind was not on the exchange but on the Third-grade Spirit Pills.
"Fellow Wang, here are the Spirit Pills I’ve refined!" Li Shiming smiled and handed over the jade bottle.
Wang Fan couldn’t wait to open the jade bottle, and upon seeing the six Intermediate Third-grade Spirit Pills inside, his smile was irrepressible.
"Master Li, you’re truly skilled, I’ve gained a lot!" he continually cupped his hands in gratitude.
The other late-stage Golden Core cultivators, observing Wang Fan’s expression, realized that Li Shiming’s Spirit Pill refinement must be excellent to make Wang Fan so excited.
They regretted not having invited Li Shiming for pill refining together with Wang Fan earlier; now with Wang Fan’s success, it’s likely the reward for pill refining will increase.
Without Li Shiming needing to mention a price increase, they would voluntarily request one.
No cultivator would think of gaining extra benefits from an Alchemy Master; they would willingly pay rewards corresponding to the Alchemy Master’s level.
Annoying an Alchemy Master would bring extremely troublesome consequences.
"I am tired and need to rest for a while, so the furnace will remain closed temporarily!" Li Shiming nodded slightly to the Golden Core cultivators, expressing his intention to return to his abode.
"Master Li, there’s an auction in two months. Do you plan to attend?" Yu An quickly asked as he saw Li Shiming preparing to return to his abode.
"I’ll attend!" Li Shiming, upon hearing of the auction, was interested to see it and nodded in agreement.
After Li Shiming returned to his abode, the late-stage Golden Core cultivators eagerly inquired Wang Fan about the Third-grade Spirit Pills in the jade bottle.
When they heard there were six Intermediate Third-grade Spirit Pills in the jade bottle, they couldn’t hide their envy.
An Independent Cultivation Alchemy Master’s skills are typically not very high, let alone achieving full pill completion and intermediate quality, even ensuring success is uncertain.
At this moment, having an Alchemy Master who could achieve full pill completion and refine Intermediate Spirit Pills was extremely exciting.
Were it not for Li Shiming stating he needed rest, they worried contacting him now might anger him, as all were eager to engage him in pill refining.
Simultaneously, they recalculated Li Shiming’s reward for pill refining, understanding his skill wouldn’t compare to a mere 60% success rate; that would be an insult to Master Li.
Yu An left Li Shiming’s abode and headed towards the mountain top, rather than to the Baodan Pavilion.
Outside a cave abode at the mountain top, he cast a spell to activate the formation and entered.
"Greetings, Father!" Yu An bowed to greet Yu Songquan, the Ancestor, respectfully.
Yu An’s identity was known by very few cultivators at Wuqing Mountain; outsiders only knew he and Ancestor Yu hailed from the Yu Family.
"Yu An, your cultivation has been somewhat slow!" Ancestor Yu scanned Yu An, speaking sternly.
Yu An’s expression turned bitter, fully aware of his father’s high expectations, hoping he would become a Nascent Soul cultivator.
Yet the cultivation of a late-stage Golden Core is extremely slow, and Independent Cultivators face additional barriers due to the lack of resources, limiting their pace compared to major sect’s late-stage Golden Core cultivators.
"Father, I came precisely because of this. An Alchemy Master moved into Wuqing Mountain and refined three furnaces of Spirit Pills for Wang Fan, all achieving full pill completion and intermediate quality!" he promptly turned the conversation.
"Who is this Alchemy Master with such capabilities?" Ancestor Yu was taken aback and questioned.
"I haven’t heard of him before, but he appears very young. I suspect he’s trained by some sect but became a Loose Cultivator under unknown circumstances!" Yu An shook his head, responding.
He had also investigated Li Shiming’s background without any prior information.
Given Li Shiming’s alchemical prowess, he couldn’t possibly be a true Loose Cultivator, as it’s tough for Independent Alchemy Masters to achieve such high levels.
Independent Alchemy Masters elevate their skills by frequent practice, particularly through long-term practice of select elixir recipes, which eventually earns them acknowledgment as an Alchemy Master.
Independent Alchemy Masters lack alchemical lineage, which involves more than studying texts; it requires hands-on transmission from a mentor, found only within sects with generations of legacy and accumulation.
"In that case, spare no expense to recruit him to Wuqing Mountain, agreeing to any conditions he might have unless they’re unreasonable!" Ancestor Yu considered and instructed sternly.
"I’ve interacted with him; he didn’t agree!" Yu An recounted his experience with Li Shiming at the Baodan Pavilion.
"Foolish, you threatened an Alchemy Master with the Fire Phoenix Treasure Tripod; what were you thinking?" Ancestor Yu angrily slapped the armrest.
He quickly realized the significance of the Fire Phoenix Treasure Tripod; as a Fourth Grade Pill Furnace, if this Alchemy Master needed it, it implied he was capable of refining Fourth-grade Spirit Pills.
"Take the Fire Phoenix Treasure Tripod to..." he hesitated, realizing he didn’t know the Alchemy Master’s name, then inquired: "What’s the Alchemy Master’s name?"
"Li Shizhen!" Yu An replied.
"Give the Fire Phoenix Treasure Tripod to Li Shizhen. Additionally, I have a Fourth Grade Demon Pill here, send it along, and say that the Fire Phoenix Treasure Tripod is a gift from Wuqing Mountain, and the Fourth Grade Demon Pill is in exchange for refining a furnace of Fourth-grade Spirit Pill, as for the reward..." Ancestor Yu paused here, contemplating the appropriate reward.