Cultivating immortality through titles, without bottlenecks.

Wei Zhong was naturally delighted to have received a heart-protecting bell for free, but...

Wei Zhong looked back at Lin Qingyuan, who nodded, indicating that his assistance was worth the price.

Wei Zhong then accepted it with a clear conscience.

"These Foundation Establishment cultivators are really unreasonable. They don't care about others at all when they fight."

"As expected, this alchemy conference is something a mere weapon refiner like me should not have meddled in. I shall leave now, I shall leave now..."

"Thank you for your great kindness, senior. If you need to refine weapons in the future, you can travel east to find me."

"I am somewhat famous; just ask about 'Yang Tieshou' in Lingshan..."

After saying this, the Iron-Handed Refiner Yang actually walked directly towards the city gate.

Wei Zhong was taken aback, then smiled, realizing that the other party had been frightened by the message just now.

"A demonic calamity is imminent; the Medicine King is in peril."

This "Medicine King" naturally refers to the entire Medicine King Valley, while the demonic threat ahead...

Wei Zhong turned to his master for advice.

"He is most likely a demonic cultivator. Since ancient times, the righteous and the demonic have been irreconcilable in the cultivation world."

"Medicine King Valley is a prestigious and righteous sect, and the center of the flourishing of alchemy. It is normal for it to be targeted by the demonic path."

"Master, should we run away?"

"Run? Run for what? Are you not going to participate in this alchemy gathering?"

Wei Zhong chuckled and scratched the back of his head:

"Isn't this because we're worried about Medicine King Valley's demise? If we lose our lives at the Pill Gathering, it'll be useless to strive for a high ranking."

Lin Qingyuan shook his head:

"Don't worry too much, Medicine King Valley is not as bad as you think."

"When the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up, and Medicine King Valley is that tall person."

"You have come here today to broaden your horizons, not to intimidate you."

"Focus your mind and prepare for the alchemy gathering."

Wei Zhong nodded and tied the heart-protecting bell to his chest:

"Disciple understands!"

The two returned to the courtyard, and Wei Zhong immediately closed the door and went to refine elixirs.

Lin Qingyuan stood in the courtyard, a gentle breeze swirling around him, his expression dangerous as he looked at the red-clad female cultivator who had appeared not far away.

"What is the meaning of this, Fellow Daoist Yin? Could it be that you are acting on orders from above to sabotage this alchemy gathering?"

The woman in the red dress stepped forward, her hair ornaments shimmering with light; she was none other than Yin Ruoxia from the exchange meeting earlier.

The latter was just fighting against the Foundation Establishment cultivator from Medicine King Valley, but in no time he had gotten rid of the trouble and followed Lin Qingyuan and the other person to this place.

Yin Ruoxia smiled faintly:

"Brother Lin, what are you saying? There is no intention of disrupting the Medicine King Valley Alchemy Conference in the hall."

"Today's actions are merely a reminder to the old bones in the valley to be aware of the movements of the demonic cultivators."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingyuan narrowed his eyes:

"Could it be that what the jade slip says is true?"

Yin Ruoxia waved her crimson sleeve:

"How could it be fake?"

Lin Qingyuan's expression was solemn. He wanted to ask a few more questions to get more information from Yin Ruoxia, but she was unwilling to say more.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, just focus on accompanying that young friend to the competition and alchemy. As long as you don't meddle in other people's business, you'll be able to ensure a safe journey."

"I won't say more, Brother Lin, take care!"

After bowing respectfully, the latter withdrew from the Qingfeng Domain and disappeared into the courtyard.

Lin Qingyuan's expression softened, and he couldn't help but sigh. He withdrew his domain, just as Yang Jingting opened the array and pushed open the door.

"Brother Mu, what's this outside?"

"It seems to be a battle between cultivators. My companion and I were startled and returned after wandering around for a while."

"Cultivators battling it out? As expected, with the Pill Gathering imminent, even Spirit Medicine City isn't entirely peaceful."

After muttering a few words, he closed the door and went to cultivate himself.

The next morning, Wei Zhong, led by Yang Jingting, headed to a street full of small shops.

"This place is located on the outskirts of Spirit Medicine City. The shops on both sides are mostly run by independent cultivators or immortal cultivation families."

"The goods in the store aren't exactly high-end, but most are affordable and good value for money..."

As Yang Jingting introduced the place, he led Wei Zhong and Lin Qingyuan to the front of a shop.

Wei Zhong looked at the sign above his head: "Gu's Stove Shop".

Upon entering, one finds no dazzling array of goods, only various alchemy furnaces, either hanging or placed throughout the shop.

Behind the counter, a young cultivator was yawning, one hand supporting his chin and the other covering his mouth.

They seemed a bit bored because business in the shop was so slow.

Only when they heard footsteps outside the shop did the other person reluctantly open their eyes.

Upon seeing Yang Jingting and the other two, he rubbed his eyes in disbelief, then exclaimed with delight:

"Uncle Yang!"

He waved his hands unconsciously and immediately added a sentence.

"Please wait a moment, Uncle-Master. I will go and fetch Master right away."

Then we walked towards the back hall.

Wei Zhong was puzzled, but Yang Jingting had already turned around to explain:

"This is the shop of an old friend of mine. When you see it, just call him Uncle Gu."

Yang Jingting gave his instructions, and Wei Zhong nodded slowly.

After a short while, the young cultivator followed an elderly man who was already in his eighties.

After a long separation, Gu Yanshu and Yang Jingting embraced each other excitedly.

After exchanging pleasantries, Wei Zhong learned that the two were from the same school and were also sworn brothers.

"This is my sixth disciple, named Wei Zhong. He has come here to ask my senior brother for a pill furnace to prepare for the Pill Dao Conference."

"A pill-refining furnace? No problem, no problem. I'll make sure you're satisfied, Junior Brother..."

Once inside, everyone was served a feast.

Watching the two elders conversing warmly, Wei Zhong was deeply moved by the profound friendship between the two fellow disciples.

"Both were disciples of alchemists, yet one chose the path of alchemy, while the other chose the path of weapon crafting, which involves forging alchemy furnaces?"

Alchemists naturally need alchemy furnaces to refine pills, and it's understandable that Gu Yanshu, who is rooted in the sacred city of alchemy in Medicine King Valley, is so engrossed in alchemy furnace refining.

From his conversation, Wei Zhong could tell that although the shop seemed to be doing poorly, it was actually full of regular customers and doing good business.

The profits were no less than those of ordinary weapon-refining shops of the same level.

Wei Zhong grabbed a spiritual fruit from the table, and the young cultivator who had been minding the shop earlier took the opportunity to come over.

After talking, Wei Zhong learned that the latter's name was Si Xun, and he was Gu Yanshu's only personal disciple.

He had some knowledge of alchemy and weapon crafting, but he was only a dabbler in both.

"My rudimentary skills are certainly no match for Brother Wei's. Going to the Pill Gathering would only be a disgrace. I might as well stay here and help my master run the shop."

On the other side, Gu Yanshu happened to turn around and look at Si Xun. It seemed that he had just talked with Yang Jingting about this disappointing disciple, and he kept pounding his chest, shaking his head and sighing.

After the banquet, the two bid each other farewell, and Gu Yanshu solemnly handed a storage bag to Wei Zhong:

"Nephew, work hard at refining the elixir; your master's hopes rest entirely on you."

"Don't worry, Uncle-Master!"

At night, Wei Zhong held the newly acquired azure alchemy furnace with a look of delight:

"Azure Furnace, a mid-grade first-order furnace. Although it is called a pill furnace, it is actually a half-finished product, the furnace body."

"A standard high-grade alchemy furnace can be upgraded to a high-grade alchemy furnace level by adding high-level materials and having someone refine it again."

"This senior master is really generous, giving away a top-grade furnace body so readily."