Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

A month later, He Damin was already able to refine first-tier pills quite well. He had refined all kinds of pills, including Qi Gathering Pills, Yuan Nourishing Pills, and Healing Pills, and the quality of all of them was above the middle grade, with the occasional high grade pill.

Once, he was refining a Qi Gathering Pill. After it was completed, the aroma was exceptionally rich, and a faint luster flowed across its surface. Old Zhang took a look, his eyes widened, and he excitedly danced with joy: "Superior grade! Superior grade Qi Gathering Pill! My disciple, your talent is truly one in a hundred years! In all my years of teaching disciples, I've never seen anyone as intelligent as you!"

He Damin simply smiled and offered no explanation. He knew in his heart that this had little to do with talent. As a peak Tribulation Transcending stage expert, his divine soul was so powerful that he could easily control the temperature of every wisp of flame, and his true essence circulation was precise to the millimeter. Refining this kind of first-tier pill was simply a matter of subverting expectations. Not to mention high-grade, refining top-grade pills wouldn't be difficult for him if he wanted to; he just didn't want to be too sensational.

A month had passed, and He Damin felt that Zhang Laodao had taught him almost everything he needed to know. Continuing to learn would only result in repeating the same few first-tier pills, offering little improvement. He bid farewell to Zhang Laodao.

Although Master Zhang was reluctant to part with such a talented and generous disciple, he knew he couldn't teach him his skills for long, so he could only bid him farewell with deep sorrow. "Disciple," he said, "if you ever become a great person, don't forget your master!"

"Don't worry, Master, I'll come to see you again when I have the chance." He Damin left a lot of spirit stones for Zhang Laodao and then left the mountain valley.

Next, he planned to go to the Qingyun Sect. The fellow was right; the Qingyun Sect's alchemy hall definitely possessed a more systematic and advanced alchemy tradition. He didn't intend to directly storm the sect gates; that would be too reckless. He had inquired and learned that the Qingyun Sect's alchemy hall recruited alchemy disciples every three years, regardless of sect affiliation; any cultivator could apply. And this year happened to be the recruitment year.

He Damin found a place and suppressed his cultivation level to the Golden Core stage. Too high a level wouldn't be good; it was more reasonable for a Golden Core cultivator to enroll in alchemy training. If he directly revealed his Tribulation Transcending stage cultivation, he'd probably be seen as a monster.

The Qingyun Sect's main gate is located on Qingyun Mountain, a high mountain with dense forests and swirling clouds and mist, truly possessing an ethereal atmosphere. The registration area was in a square at the foot of the mountain, where quite a few people were already queuing. He Damin also joined the queue and received a number.

The selection process is simple, consisting of only one task: refining a first-tier pill on the spot. Choose one from three options: Qi Gathering Pill, Yuan Nourishing Pill, or Healing Pill.

When it was He Damin's turn, he walked to the designated alchemy platform, where a ready-made furnace, spiritual fire, and medicinal herbs were laid out. He chose the Qi Gathering Pill. A number of people were watching the spectacle, and several disciples dressed in alchemy hall robes were maintaining order.

He Damin took a deep breath, lit the fire, preheated the alchemy furnace, and then methodically processed the medicinal herbs, adding them into the furnace according to the prescribed proportions. His movements were slow but very steady, each step precise. Controlling the fire, stirring, purifying, condensing the pill… everything seemed so effortless and natural.

At first, the people around didn't pay much attention, thinking he was just an ordinary Golden Core cultivator. But gradually, they realized something was wrong. He Damin's control over the fire was too precise; the flames in the furnace were incredibly stable, and the medicinal fragrance emanating from it was becoming increasingly rich and pure.

The examiner was a middle-aged deacon from the Alchemy Hall, whose cultivation was at the Nascent Soul stage and whose alchemy skills were also quite high. At first, he watched casually, but later his eyes gradually brightened, and he stared intently at He Damin's alchemy furnace.

Not long after, He Damin made a hand seal and shouted in a low voice, "Condense!"

With a "bang," the lid of the alchemy furnace popped open, and three round, plump, emerald-green pills with a shimmering luster flew out. They spun around in the air once before being caught by He Damin in a jade bottle.

A refreshing fragrance of medicinal herbs instantly filled the air, invigorating all who smelled it.

"This...this is..." The other examinees were stunned.

The chief examiner rushed over, picked up He Damin's jade bottle, poured out a pill, examined it closely, and his hand trembled violently, almost dropping it. He exclaimed, "A top-grade Qi Gathering Pill! It's actually a top-grade Qi Gathering Pill!"

An uproar erupted around them. While first-grade pills were common, top-grade first-grade pills were extremely rare! Even in the Qingyun Sect's alchemy hall, there weren't many disciples who could consistently refine top-grade first-grade pills.

The chief examiner looked at He Damin excitedly: "You...you studied alchemy before? Who was your teacher?"

He Damin replied modestly, "Replying to the steward, I learned a little bit from a rogue cultivator before, but I dare not call myself his master."

The chief examiner nodded repeatedly, his face beaming with joy: "Excellent! A promising talent! What's your name?"

"He Damin."

"Good! He Damin," the chief examiner declared on the spot, "you are hired! From this day forward, you are an inner disciple of the Alchemy Hall of my Qingyun Sect!"

A murmur of envy arose around him. He Damin bowed slightly in thanks, but felt nothing in his heart. And so he infiltrated the Qingyun Sect.

The Alchemy Hall is built halfway up Qingyun Peak. It is a three-story pavilion, entirely constructed of green jade, exuding an ancient and solemn atmosphere. The first floor is the alchemy room, from which a rich aroma of medicinal herbs wafts. The second floor is the library, housing the alchemy classics accumulated by the sect over the generations. The third floor serves as the living quarters and meeting place for the elders.

He Damin was assigned to the alchemy room in the far corner of the first floor, numbered Bingzi No. 17. His days were simple. Apart from the routine morning lessons, he spent the rest of his time either practicing alchemy in the alchemy room or reading in the library on the second floor.

The alchemy tradition of the Qingyun Sect was indeed far superior to that of Old Daoist Zhang. The library contained a vast collection of alchemy texts, ranging from the most basic identification of spiritual herbs and fire control techniques to advanced pill formulas and the study of pill patterns, as well as insights into the refining of pills from first to sixth rank. He Damin read with great eagerness. With his powerful spiritual sense and photographic memory, he could often finish a book in less than half an hour, and understand it thoroughly.

Within a month, he had read through all the alchemy books in the library, from the first to the third tier. Next came practice. He started refining first-tier pills: Qi Gathering Pills, Yuan Nourishing Pills, Healing Pills, Detoxifying Pills, Grain-Abstaining Pills, Youth-Preserving Pills… One type of pill after another was born in his hands, their quality progressing from low-grade to mid-grade, from mid-grade to high-grade, and finally to top-grade—his progress was astonishingly rapid.

His divine sense could clearly "see" the changes in the medicinal materials inside the alchemy furnace, precisely control the temperature of every wisp of flame, and perfectly grasp the timing of pill condensation. For him, alchemy was more like a precise experiment; as long as the parameters were mastered, the result would not be bad.

In just six months, He Damin became the most outstanding disciple of the Alchemy Hall, surpassing even some veteran disciples who had studied for decades. Several elders of the Alchemy Hall also noticed this exceptionally talented young man and summoned him to their sides to instruct him on the secrets of alchemy. Some elders specialized in refining third-tier pills, some in fourth-tier, and one elder could even refine fifth-tier pills. He Damin accepted all instruction humbly and learned rapidly.

A year later, he was already proficient in refining sixth-tier pills. Two years later, seventh-tier. Three years later, eighth-tier. Five years later, ninth-tier.

Ten years later, one morning, He Damin stood on the highest terrace of the Alchemy Hall, overlooking the rolling sea of ​​clouds below. In his hand, he held a pill the size of a longan, golden in color, and covered with mysterious dragon patterns. The pill exuded a powerful spiritual energy, and its fragrance filled the air, causing all the spiritual herbs on Qingyun Peak to sway gently, as if in worship.

This is a tenth-tier pill—the Tribulation-Crossing Pill. Legend has it that only a Pill Emperor can refine this pill.

The moment the pill was completed, all the alchemists in the Qingyun Sect were alarmed. The elders of the Alchemy Hall, including the long-absent Supreme Elder, rushed over and gathered around the terrace, looking at the Tribulation-Crossing Pill in He Damin's hand with their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

The Grand Elder of the Alchemy Hall, a Nascent Soul cultivator with snow-white hair and a youthful face, trembled as he reached out his hand, wanting to touch it but hesitating. His eyes widened, and he exclaimed in disbelief, "A tenth-grade Tribulation-Crossing Pill? This is impossible! Only a Pill Emperor can refine tenth-grade pills! He has only studied for ten years, how could he possibly become a Pill Emperor?"

He Damin didn't explain, but simply smiled and put the Tribulation-Crossing Pill into a jade bottle. The alchemy level of this world was indeed not difficult for him, a peak Tribulation-Crossing cultivator.

He turned and left the terrace, leaving behind a group of alchemists still in shock. Tenth-grade pills were the pinnacle of alchemy in this world. Pill Emperor was also the highest title for alchemists in this world. He had spent ten years rising from a complete novice to a Pill Emperor.

But he knew that wasn't enough. He learned alchemy not for himself, but for the future generations of the He family. He needed to record his alchemy insights, compile them into a systematic textbook, and pass them on to posterity.

After leaving the Qingyun Sect, He Damin returned to the valley. He began compiling the "He Family Alchemy Manual." Starting with the most basic identification, harvesting, and processing of spiritual herbs, he covered everything from herb compatibility, heat control, and alchemy techniques to detailed formulas and refining methods for pills from first to tenth rank, recording everything meticulously. He also meticulously documented all the difficulties, failures, and solutions he encountered during his alchemy process, striving for comprehensiveness.

Chen Xueru watched him hunched over his desk, writing and drawing for hours on end, and felt a pang of heartache for him. She often brought him hot tea and snacks, urging him to take a break. "Brother Damin, you've been writing for months. Take a rest, don't overwork yourself."

He Damin looked up, rubbed his slightly sore eyes, and smiled: "Almost done, Ruru, it'll be finished in a few more days."

"You've written such a thick book, who's going to finish reading it?" Chen Xueru picked up the thick stack of manuscripts on the table, weighed it in her hand, and found it to be dozens of kilograms heavy.

"No rush, take your time." He Damin stretched. "The younger generation of the He family has plenty of time. If one generation can't learn it, two generations will. They'll definitely learn it eventually."

On the day the "He Family Alchemy Manual" was completed, He Damin held a simple ceremony to solemnly store the manual in the core area of ​​the Yin-Yang Space. This was the He family's most precious treasure, far more valuable than gold, spirit stones, or spiritual veins.

"Brother Damin, what are you planning to learn next?" Chen Xueru leaned close to him and asked softly.

He Damin looked at the children playing in the courtyard, thought for a moment, and said, "Weapon crafting. The He family can't just know how to refine pills and not how to craft weapons. Weapons, magical artifacts, armor—we must be able to make all of these ourselves."

"How long will it take to learn?"

"Maybe ten years, maybe twenty," He Damin smiled, his tone relaxed. "No rush, I have plenty of time."

He stood up and walked to the window. The pomegranate tree in the yard had grown very tall, its branches and leaves lush and verdant. Several children were practicing the basic boxing techniques he had taught them under the tree, chanting their childish slogans in clear, loud voices.

He Damin looked at them, a slight smile playing on his lips. He knew his journey was far from over. Alchemy was just the beginning; next came weapon crafting, formations, talismans, spiritual plants, beast taming… all the arts of cultivation, he had to learn. Not for himself, but for the future generations of the He family. He wanted them to avoid having to start from scratch, from nothing to something, like he had. He wanted to pave the way for them, to let them stand on the shoulders of giants, to see further, and to walk more steadily.

"Brother Damin, what are you thinking about?" Chen Xueru walked to his side and took his arm.

He Damin held her hand, feeling the warmth of her palm, and said softly, "I'm thinking that once I've mastered all the arts of cultivation, I'll write a complete set of textbooks. Alchemy, weapon crafting, formations, talismans, spiritual plants, beast taming—I'll write a book on each. So that the future generations of the He family will have books to read, methods to follow, and paths to walk."

Chen Xueru leaned on his shoulder and asked softly, "How long will it take to write?"

"Maybe a hundred years, maybe a thousand years," He Damin smiled, a determined glint in his eyes, "but I have a lifespan of several thousand years, no rush."

A gentle breeze swept through the courtyard, carrying a faint fragrance of flowers and a rich sense of tranquility. He Damin held Chen Xueru in his arms, quietly gazing at the home he was striving to create.