Longevity Thunder Ancestor

Chapter 13: Obstruction
Ning Fa slept for a night and rested himself. Then he washed up early the next morning and took a spirit boat to Lingchang Island where the family alchemy hall was located.

Since there was no spiritual boat that could go directly from Pingchang Island to Lingchang Island, Ningfa first took a boat to a large island next door for transfer.

Lingchang Island is located in the heart of the Ning family's territory. There is a second-grade medium-quality spiritual vein on the island, which can be said to be the best place for spiritual veins except for the clan's Ningchang Island.

Lingchang Island not only houses the family's alchemy hall, but also has the family's largest spiritual medicine garden, so this island is very important to the Ning family.

The Ning family spent a huge amount of money to protect the entire island with a second-level magic circle. There are family guards stationed there all year round. Even for foundation-building cultivators, it is difficult to attack and they can only enter and exit through specific locations.

It took about three hours for Ning Fa to finally arrive at the pier of Lingchang Island.

At the dock, a team of family guards in silver armor were closely checking the ships and monks passing by. Leading the team was a burly man with a full beard and a body as strong as an iron tower.

He had a strong murderous aura and a pair of cold and sharp tiger eyes. One glance at him made people dare not look at him. It turned out that he was already at the eighth level of Qi training.

The big man spotted Ning Fa coming down from the boat. He glared at him and said, "Ning Fa, why are you here again?"

Ning Fa quickly remembered the identity of this person, and hurriedly bowed and said respectfully: "Uncle Lie, I still have to go to the Alchemy Hall to take the test."

This person's name is Ning Zonglie, he is an elite member of the family and is now also a member of the family's Liefeng Hall.

Ningfa's father also worked in Liefeng Hall before and had a good relationship with this person. He also took good care of Ningfa before.

The big man in silver armor frowned and said, "Boy, you haven't given up yet."

Ningfa could only smile awkwardly without giving any further explanation.

The big man in silver armor sighed, waved his hand, and let him in without checking Ning Fa.

Ningfa breathed a sigh of relief. After entering Lingchang Island, a strong spiritual energy hit him in the face. The concentration of spiritual energy was far higher than that of Pingchang Island where Ningfa was.

On the right side of Ningfa, one could vaguely see an area shrouded by a colorful glow, and a strange medicinal fragrance could be faintly heard coming from that direction.

That place was none other than a spiritual medicine garden on Lingchang Island, where many spiritual medicines were planted, including some first- and second-grade precious spiritual medicines that were hundreds of years old. Any one of them would be snatched up in the market.

Ning Fa withdrew his gaze and walked straight forward. Ten miles ahead, there was a small hill over a hundred feet high. At the foot of the hill there was a continuous group of pavilions. That was where the family's alchemy hall was located.

Several alchemists in the family usually live here, including Liu Qinghui and Ning Ruiming.

Ning Fa quickly arrived in front of the largest pavilion. On the door plaque were written the four characters "Ning Family Dan Hall" with great excitement.

There are also prohibitions here. After knocking on the door, Ning Fa waited patiently at the door.

Not long after, a maid opened the door. After Ning Fa explained his purpose, she took Ning Fa to a side hall and asked him to wait for a while.

Ning Fa sat down casually, but after waiting for a long time, no one came, and he couldn't help but frown.

After waiting for another half an hour, footsteps were heard and a middle-aged monk in brocade robes walked into the room.

This person had a gaunt face, rosy skin like a baby, and a long beard. He looked like an immortal, which was in line with the definition of an immortal on Blue Star.

Seeing this person finally coming over, Ning Fa breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Meeting Master Wei Dan."

This person is called Wei Chengzong. He is not a member of the Ning family, but a guest alchemist of the Ning family. He is responsible for making elixirs for the Ning family and is also the person with the highest level of alchemy in the Ning family. Although he is only at the ninth level of Qi training, he is already a quasi-second-level alchemist and can barely make some of the simplest second-level pills.

He served as the deputy head of the family's Alchemy Hall. Although the head of the hall was the family's third elder, Ning Zhongjiu, the third elder usually did not interfere in the affairs of the Alchemy Hall, and he was basically responsible for the daily alchemy affairs.

For example, he is the one who presides over the assessment of the family's alchemists, and only after his approval will it be reported to the family.

Wei Chengzong looked at Ning Fa with a strange look in his eyes: "Ning Fa, are you still not giving up and still want to take the test?"

Wei Chengzong's strange look made Ning Fa a little wary, but he still replied: "Yes, I think I have mastered the refining of Zeng Yuan Dan, so I came here today to apply for another test."

After Ning Fa finished speaking, Wei Chengzong sighed and said, "According to the family rules, as long as the family members have the spiritual materials, they can come to the Alchemy Hall for assessment at any time. But today is a bit unfortunate. I am refining an important elixir and cannot spare the time to assess you."

Hearing this, Ning Fa's heart sank. He immediately said, "If it's not possible today, what about tomorrow?"

Wei Chengzong smiled bitterly and said, "Neither tomorrow nor the day after tomorrow is possible. If you want to take the test, come back to me in five days."

Ning Fa remained silent, his expression became calm, but there was a hint of coldness in his eyes.

It was too late after five days, because in two days the bet between him and the fifth elder Ning Huarong would take effect.

Since he failed to become the family alchemist, he would have to become Ning Huarong's dual cultivation cauldron.

Although he only needs to accompany Ning Huarong for three months, the biggest problem is that being her cauldron may damage his foundation of Taoism.

He originally had a defective thunder spiritual root, and his cultivation speed was comparable to that of a pseudo spiritual root. If his foundation was further damaged, it would be a luxury for him to even break through to the middle stage of Qi training in the future. What would be the point of him becoming the family's alchemist by then?
What's more, if his realm does not improve, he can basically only refine first-grade low-quality elixirs. He does not have enough mana to refine first-grade medium-quality elixirs.

Even if he entered the Alchemy Hall, he would not be taken seriously because he could not refine high-level pills.

"Ning Ruiming, you are so cunning!..."

Ning Fa knew clearly that Wei Chengzong's words were definitely an excuse, and that he did so most likely because of Ning Ruiming's instructions.

Although Ning Ruiming is only a first-class intermediate-grade alchemist now, he is not only a direct disciple, but also is being trained as a seed for the chief alchemist.

Wei Chengzong's alchemy skills were the worst among alchemists of the same level, and his own strength was not strong enough, so he was keen on making friends with the powerful and influential and currying favor with them.

So obviously he would not refuse Ning Ruiming's simple request.

Ning Ruiming's move was obviously intended to make him lose the bet and damage his foundation after he became the dual cultivation cauldron, so as to completely cut off his potential.

But Ning Fa was somewhat puzzled as to why Ning Ruiming did not take any action when his predecessor came for the assessment, but instead resorted to such tactics when he came this time, not even giving him the chance for a fair assessment.

"Master Wei, please be more accommodating. I am only refining three furnaces of Zeng Yuan Dan, which will take at most three or four hours. It won't take up too much of your time."

Although he knew that Ning Ruiming might be behind this, Ning Fa still made a plea to Wei Chengzong unwillingly.

Wei Chengzong looked at him with sympathy in his eyes, but he still shook his head slowly, then stood up and said, "No, you should come back in five days."

(End of this chapter)