You're just a single demon beast? I have a whole army of beast tamers!

"I can agree to this."

Shui Chenyuan said, "However, even if you establish a separate clan, you will still need to refine a batch of pills for the Shui family every hundred years, or sell a batch of first-grade immortal pills at cost price."

Consider it your offering to the Lord's house.

"Okay," Qin Shou said.

Seeing that he agreed so readily, Shui Chenyuan smiled more:

"Then the matter of this alchemy conference is settled."

Qin Shou took out a jade bottle from his sleeve and pushed it in front of Shui Chenyuan:

"This is a four-patterned Qi Condensation Immortal Pill that I managed to refine a few days ago by chance."

"This bento is to show the clan chief my current skill level."

Shui Chenyuan took the jade bottle, opened it, and glanced at it, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

The pill's surface had four clear, engraved golden lines, and the water-attribute laws were condensed and did not dissipate.

He glanced at it for a few moments, then put the cork back on: "Very good."

With such a refined pill, a top-ten finish is already assured.

If they perform even better, they might be able to contend for a top-three finish.

"Does the top three require five runes?" Qin Beast asked.

"In previous years, at least five lines were required, and more than one."

Shui Chenyuan said, "I heard that the Three Immortals Sect and several great immortal clans have geniuses with four or five Dao patterns."

They have a deep foundation and their skills are superb. If you want to compete for a top-three finish, you need to go even further.

"I will do my best," Qin Shou said.

"There's one more thing."

Shui Chenyuan put away the jade bottle. "I will keep an eye out for the Nine Souls Immortal Pill at this auction."

The market price is around two to three thousand low-grade immortal crystals, which the clan can advance in advance.

You can return it when you have more money in the future.

Qin Shou stood up and clasped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, clan leader."

Shui Chenyuan waved his hand: "Alright, go ahead."

Qin Shou left the main hall, walked through several long corridors, and returned to his small courtyard.

For decades, he has spent most of his time with his three Taoist companions and children.

The courtyard has already been renovated twice and is now almost twice the size it was before.

The backyard connects to two side courtyards, where many descendants of the Qin family live.

As he walked along, the children in the courtyard chased and played. Several unfamiliar faces saw him, hurriedly stopped, and timidly called out "Grandpa".

Qin Shou nodded and continued walking inside.

Shui Yingyue was watering flowers in front of the main room.

Beside her was a celadon water jug, and next to her stood a boy of about five or six years old, with a chubby face.

Seeing him return, Shui Yingyue put down the kettle and said softly:

"What did the chieftain say? Is there some trouble?"

"Let me attend the Three Immortals Island Alchemy Conference in five years."

Qin Shou said, "I agree."

Shui Yingyue was taken aback at first, then smiled:

"That's fine then. With your abilities, you may go."

"Where is the child?" Qin Shou asked.

"They're all in the backyard," Shui Yingyue said. "Today, Shui Rou taught them to read, and Shui Yao led the older ones in practicing martial arts."

Qin Shou nodded and walked towards the backyard.

Before I even entered the room, I could hear Shuiyao's voice coming from inside:

"Stand up straight! Stop shaking your legs! You're supposed to be dual-elemental lightning and fire magic users, and you're afraid of a little fireball? I'd be ashamed for you if word got out!"

Qin Shou stood at the door and glanced inside.

Seven or eight boys and girls lined up in the courtyard, channeling their energy towards several floating flames.

Shuiyao held a thin twig in her hand, and would tap anyone who was not in the right posture.

Shui Rou sat not far away, a notebook open on her lap, glancing up every now and then, then jotting down a few notes.

"Grandpa." A slightly older boy was the first to spot Qin Beast and quickly bowed.

The other children joined in the shouting.

Qin Shou waved his hand, signaling them to continue.

He sat down next to Shui Rou and asked in a low voice:

How are the children's progress recently?

Shui Rou flipped through the booklet:

"Qin Shuang is already in the late stage of the Golden Core realm, while Qin An and Qin Lie are slightly less advanced, both in the middle stage of the Golden Core realm."

Qin Yan was even younger, having only reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

The others are pretty much the same.

"Not fast," Qin Shou said.

"Their spiritual roots are ordinary, but they can cultivate to the Golden Core stage in the Immortal City, which is already much faster than in the lower realms," Shui Rou said.

Qin Shou nodded and said nothing more.

He knew best that most of these children only had ordinary spiritual roots.

In the immortal realm, ordinary spiritual roots are only slightly better than those of mortals.

Those who can truly go far are often those with sacred bodies, Daoist bodies, or immortal bodies.

Even spirits only have an advantage in the early stages of cultivation.

The elixirs, spiritual springs, and spirit-gathering arrays in the immortal city can easily make up for the gaps in the early stages.

But once you reach the level of a true immortal, the competition becomes about laws and immortal apertures.

Ordinary spiritual roots have no innate advantages; every step forward requires the accumulation of resources.

Qin Jiuqing's Wood Spirit Saint Body is the true aptitude that allows him to go far.

That's precisely why Qin Shou didn't dare let her appear in the outside world.

"In a few years, when they are older, I plan to start a new generation."

Qin Beast Path.

Shui Rou looked up: "The first generation took the number 'nine,' what's the second generation called?"

"The Way," Qin Shou said, "is difficult to achieve; this serves as a reminder to them."

Shui Rou repeated it and took notes.

Shuiyao walked over at this moment, a thin layer of sweat on her forehead, but her face was full of smugness:

"What brings you here today, looking after these little ones? Has the Shui family given you new work again?"

"Go to the Three Immortal Islands in five years to participate in the Alchemy Conference," Qin Shou said.

Shuiyao's eyes lit up: "Three Immortal Islands? That's a Golden Immortal power!"

I heard that place has a lot of good stuff, and the shops selling rare medicines can stretch for ten miles.

Will you take me or not?

"If I leave, you must stay here and take care of the family," Qin Shou said.

Shuiyao pouted, but didn't argue anymore.

She also knew that once Qin Shou left, Shui Yingyue was soft-hearted and Shui Rou was not good at fighting, so it would be better for her to keep order in the house.

"Now that you have successfully completed your tribulation, how much of your immortal spiritual power have you converted?" Qin Shou asked.

"Forty percent," Shui Yao said. "I soaked in the Shui family's Immortal Spirit Pool twice."

Every time I come out, I feel like half my life has been drained, but it really works.

"I'll go again in a few days. If we don't have enough Immortal Crystals, we'll ask Shui Rouzhi for help."

Qin Beast Path.

Shuiyao nodded: "Okay."

That night, Qin Shou did not stay overnight in the main room.

He locked himself in his meditation room, his mind immersing in the Zhenyuan Immortal Mansion. He then met with Shen Liuli again and told her about the Alchemy Conference.

After listening, Shen Liuli pondered and said, "Shui Chenyuan is willing to let you go, which means you won't be in any danger on this trip."

But you still need to think carefully about which one you truly want: the Taiqing Immortal Flame or the Taiyi Daoist Temple.

"I want both," Qin Shou said.

"Then you'll have to bring out five patterns at the conference."

Shen Liuli said, "Four lines can only guarantee you a top ten finish."

"If you want to compete for a top-three finish, you need to take your alchemy skills to the next level."

"I understand," Qin Shou said. "Over the next month, I will try out several different pill formulas in the space."

Shen Liuli nodded: "You don't need to be too tight."

If all else fails, simply entering the Taiyi Daoist Temple would also be a great opportunity.

Qin Shou did not answer, but simply opened the bottle of Nine Souls Elixir and smelled it.

The fragrance of the elixir entered my mind, and my soul felt as if it had been washed clean by a clear spring.

He's definitely going to this alchemy conference.