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

After leaving the beast-taming shop, Qin Shou walked around the city for a while and found an inconspicuous inn to stay in.

The room wasn't big, but it was quiet.

He closed the door, set up a protective barrier, and then released the golden lion beast from the beast pouch.

As soon as the little beast was taken out of the bag, it arched its back and let out a low growl.

The Qin beast did not move.

He crouched down, holding a drop of true spirit blood in his palm.

The blood came from the Diamond Ape, and its golden light carried a heavy aura.

The golden lion sniffed, and its low growl gradually stopped.

"Eat it," Qin Shou said.

The little beast stared at him for a while, then slowly walked forward, curled its tongue, and licked the drop of true spirit blood into its mouth.

A moment later, it swayed and lay down on the ground to sleep.

Qin Beast put it back into the Treasure Gourd space and took another look inside.

Beneath the five-colored tree, colorful spheres are slowly rotating.

The golden lion beast was placed beside a sacred spring.

Several eighth-tier demonic beasts watched from afar, not daring to approach.

"It likes this place," Shen Liuli's voice came from within the immortal abode.

"Let it sleep first. We'll deal with its bloodline after the Three Immortal Islands matter is over," Qin Beast said.

"You spent two Five-Path Immortal Pills to buy this beast," Shen Liuli said.

"It's worth it," Qin Shou said. "If the bloodline of the Suanni awakens, it will become a divine beast. I don't have any divine beasts, so this one came at just the right time."

"That shop is not simple," Shen Liuli reminded her.

"Of course I know." Qin Shou sat down by the window, looking at the twinkling lights of the immortal city outside. "They released the Golden Lion Beast and only exchanged it for immortal pills with five or more runes. They are clearly trying to lure people in."

They were targeting the alchemists who could refine high-grade pills at this alchemy conference.

"Since you saw through it, why did you still jump in?"

Whether I jump or not, they already remember me.

Qin Shou said, "Instead of hiding, we should exchange it for some tangible benefits."

Moreover, this golden lion beast is truly rare.

Shen Liuli fell silent.

Night was falling.

The lights of Danyin Immortal City bathed half the sky in a warm glow.

Qin Shou sat by the window, toying with the Shui family's token in his hand.

The Alchemy Conference will begin in a few days.

He had been waiting for this day for a long time.

The atmosphere in Danyin Immortal City was already different the day before the Alchemy Conference.

There were noticeably more monks on the streets.

Many people wore robes of various colors, with clan emblems or sect marks embroidered on their chests.

After having breakfast at the inn, Qin Shou went to the Immortal Medicine Market in the east of the city.

The market was set up specifically for the conference, stretching for miles, with stalls filled with all sorts of medicinal herbs.

The majority of the medicines are of the first and second tiers, with only the occasional third-tier medicine displayed prominently, priced ridiculously high.

Qin Shou walked half a street but didn't buy many things.

He did find a few high-quality first-grade immortal herbs, but stopped to ask their prices, then shook his head and left.

Shen Liuli transmitted her voice from within the immortal abode: "These prices are almost half again as expensive as those in Wucang Immortal City. It's not worth it."

"Just looking."

Qin Shou said, "It's not too late to buy after the conference is over."

When he returned to the inn, it was nearly noon.

The shopkeeper brought over a pot of spiritual tea and whispered, "A senior is looking for you downstairs. He says he's from the Shui family."

Qin Shou went downstairs and saw Elder Liu standing in the inn's lobby.

Elder Liu's face was still a little pale. When he saw Qin Shou come out, he looked him up and down before saying, "It's good that you're alright."

"Let's go inside and talk." Qin Shou led the person back to the room.

After Elder Liu sat down, he told her about Shui Qingli.

No beating around the bush, I got it all out in three sentences.

After listening, Qin Shou remained silent for a moment, then asked, "Is Elder Xun alright?"

Elder Xun returned to the Shui family to report the news.

I came to Three Immortals Island to find you, as he instructed.

Elder Liu said, "The clan leader has already sent me a message, instructing you to attend the conference as usual."

You can choose whether or not to visit the Shui family's shop here.

The clan chief will make separate arrangements for the auction.

Qin Shou nodded: "How will the clan handle Senior Qing Li's funeral arrangements?"

"Don't announce the funeral yet."

Elder Liu said, "If outsiders find out that Qingli is dead now, the Shui family's prestige among the five families will drop."

The clan chief said they would deal with it all at once after the Alchemy Conference.

Qin Shou didn't ask any more questions.

Shui Qingli and he weren't exactly close friends, but they had traveled together after all.

Last night he was still thinking that if Ruoshui Qingli hadn't died, things would be much easier once she arrived at the Three Immortals Island.

Now that the person is gone, I have to face it all myself.

"This inn is too remote."

Elder Liu stood up. "During the conference, the Three Immortals City was a melting pot of all sorts of people."

If you, a member of the Shui family, live outside, it's easy for trouble to happen to you.

Come with me to the courtyard behind the Shui family's shop. There are protective barriers there, making it easier to keep watch.

Qin Shou thought for a moment and said, "Okay."

He packed his things and went to the Shui family's shop with Elder Liu.

The shop was not far from the main street; it sold elixirs and medicinal herbs in the front and had two courtyards in the back.

Qin Beast lived in the east wing, and Elder Liu lived in the west wing.

The courtyard was equipped with a defensive array, which was much stronger than that of the inn.

That night, Qin Shou released the Golden Lion Beast from his spatial dimension to take a look.

The little beast was still sleeping, but its breathing was more steady than before.

The gold on its fur shone brighter, and the bumps on both sides of its head bulged out a little.

Qin Shou probed with his divine sense and found that the drop of true spirit blood had been almost completely absorbed.

The blood vessels have not yet fully awakened, but there are already signs of loosening.

"If we feed it a few more drops, it should wake up within ten days."

Qin Shou said.

Shen Liuli's voice came from the immortal mansion:

"You plan to use up that True Spirit Blood before the conference?"

"No rush. Let it fall asleep first."

I'll deal with it separately after the conference ends.

Qin Shou put the Golden Lion Beast back into his spatial storage. "I will take my first test tomorrow. You will keep an eye on Jiu Qing for me."

If there is any movement in the space, call me immediately.

"Go in peace," Shen Liuli said.

The next day, the alchemy conference began.

The preliminary test was held at the Danxin Terrace in the very center of Danyin Immortal City.

It was a circular stone platform, hundreds of feet in diameter, surrounded by nine white jade pillars.

Each pillar is engraved with runes, and the platform will be divided into ninety-nine independent cubicles during the trial.

Each participating alchemist occupies a separate room, ensuring that they do not interfere with each other.

The judging panel was set up on the high platform on the north side, with the members of the Three Immortals Sect sitting at the highest point.

When Qin Shou arrived, hundreds of people were already standing in front of the platform.

There were old and young people, and their cultivation levels ranged from pseudo-immortals to true immortals.

He was dressed in a greyish-white robe and blended into the crowd unnoticed.

Elder Liu nodded to him from the outside and then found a seat.

The rules for the preliminary test are simple.

Each person received a uniformly distributed elixir, titled "Condensing Essence Elixir".

Within two hours, scores will be based on the quantity and quality of pills produced.

The worst performer is eliminated.

Qin Shou received the medicinal herbs and entered a stone chamber.

He didn't rush to make a move, but touched each of the medicinal herbs one by one.

This batch of medicinal herbs is of ordinary quality, a grade lower than the ones sent by the Shui family.

He knew what to do, so he lit the furnace and started the fire.

It was an ordinary alchemy furnace.

After the fire started, his movements were extremely steady, and he kept the purification time of each elixir very precise.

He had done this process countless times; he could do it with his eyes closed.