Gou Zai created a blessed land in the immortal abode

Guangling Mountain.

house.

Li Chengming sat in the pavilion, holding a cup of tea in his hand, and kept drinking the tea.

Sitting in front of him was a pretty girl, about fifteen or sixteen years old.

The girl sat upright, her hands neatly placed on her knees, her clear eyes constantly scrutinizing Li Chengming with a mixture of curiosity, scrutiny, and a hint of unconvinced resentment.

"Are you the alchemist Father mentioned?" the girl asked, her voice clear but her tone somewhat cold. "You don't look much older than me."

Li Chengming put down his teacup and smiled slightly:

"Does Master Kong mean he wants me to teach you alchemy?"

"How much do you know about alchemy?"

Kong Xuan pondered for a moment, then said seriously:

"Alchemy requires an alchemy furnace."

Li Chengming's lips twitched, and he coughed twice:

"Ahem, how much do you know about pharmacology? Have you ever read any books on it, or even cultivated any kind of spiritual plant yourself?"

"No."

Li Chengming was numb.

He now understood that this wasn't about taking on a disciple; it was simply Confucius sending his daughter to him so that the two could spend more time together.

"I treated him as a respected senior, but he wants to be my father?" Li Chengming cursed inwardly.

However, he remained calm and said, "Before refining pills, one must first understand the principles of pharmacology."

After saying that, Li Chengming took out the book "Thirteen Chapters on the Fundamentals of Spiritual Plants" that he had obtained earlier in the market.

"This 'Thirteen Chapters on the Fundamentals of Spiritual Plants' records the pharmacological knowledge of thirteen common spiritual plants. Take it for now, and I will continue to teach you after you have memorized them all."

Li Chengming now wants to get rid of this woman in front of him as soon as possible.

Kong Xuan glanced at the books on the table, then at Li Chengming's distant and perfunctory attitude. Her expression shifted slightly, and a hint of annoyance rose in her heart. But then she suddenly remembered her grandfather's instructions and could only say in a deep voice:

"Xuan'er understands."

After saying that, she took the book and went back to the inner room.

"That old man Confucius!"

Watching the other person's departing figure, Li Chengming shook his head helplessly.

The thought of having to live under the same roof with him for the rest of his life filled him with despair.

He was confident that it wouldn't be long before he would truly be known as Kong Shaowen's son-in-law.

After all, he had been living and eating with that person's daughter.

It would be fine if they introduced her to my daughter, but the problem is that she's only fifteen or sixteen years old!

He was a full ten years younger than Li Chengming!

Too small!

It will be censored.

"I've really been ripped off!"

After Kong Xuan left, Li Chengming sat alone in the pavilion and opened the book of alchemy notes compiled by Kong Shaowen.

It must be said that Kong Shaowen was indeed highly accomplished in alchemy.

His notes not only detailed the compatibility principles of dozens of elixirs and the key points for controlling the heat, but also included a summary of his failed elixir-making cases over the years, each one written in great detail.

Li Chengming was so engrossed in watching that he didn't realize it was getting dark.

"Young Master Li."

A soft voice came from behind.

Li Chengming turned around and saw a maid in a blue dress carrying a lamp walking over, followed by two servants carrying food boxes.

"Miss said that Young Master Li has not eaten yet, so she asked me to prepare some food." The maid placed the lamp on the stone table and then directed the servant to lay out the dishes from the food box one by one.

Four dishes and a soup, a balanced mix of meat and vegetables, plus a pot of warm Lingmi wine.

Li Chengming raised an eyebrow slightly. These aristocratic families really know how to enjoy life. In the past, he had to cook his own meals.

So he didn't stand on ceremony and picked up his chopsticks to eat.

"Please thank your young lady for me."

The maid smiled, curtsied, and left with her servant.

In the room.

Through the thin window screen, Kong Xuan looked at Li Chengming in the courtyard, her mind replaying her father's words:

"The Kong family is in dire straits right now, so I've already arranged a marriage for you..."

At this moment, she looked through the thin window screen at the man in the pavilion who was enjoying his meal, and she couldn't quite describe the feeling in her heart.

He did look young, with a handsome face and a somewhat carefree air about him, unlike those ascetic monks who spent their days in arduous training. The way he ate wasn't exactly refined, but there was a casualness in his manner that made the food seem delicious.

"Li Chengming..."

She silently repeated the name in her mind, turned around and sat back on the couch, opening the book "Thirteen Chapters on the Fundamentals of Spiritual Plants".

Since we're here, let's make the best of it.

…………

The days that followed were quite complicated for Li Chengming.

Having another person around made him quite uncomfortable, so he mostly used the excuse of seclusion for cultivation or alchemy to stay in his room.

They do not go out to meet people.

As for Kong Xuan, she spent most of her time reading "Thirteen Chapters on the Fundamentals of Spiritual Plants" in the courtyard.

This day.

Someone came into the courtyard.

"Xuan-mei!"

The courtyard gate opened, and a tall, handsome young man walked in, holding a sword in his hand, smiling broadly.

"Brother Li." Kong Xuan was pleasantly surprised and stood up to greet him.

"Why are you here?"

"I heard that Sister Xuan has become Brother Li's disciple, so I came here specifically to see her."

"Brother Li?" Kong Xuan asked, puzzled.

"Does Brother Li know him?"

"Haha, of course I know him. The fifth-grade 'Stopping War and Seeking Gold' technique that I am currently cultivating was obtained by the family from him."

Although Kong Chengli was a direct descendant of the Kong family, he did not cultivate the fire-element cultivation method that was the main practice of the clan, but rather the metal-element method.

Originally, his Qi cultivation technique was only at the third rank, making it difficult to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, so he also practiced swordsmanship.

Now, he has switched to cultivating the fifth-grade "Stopping War and Seeking Gold Method," and with the support of the clan's resources, he has broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining in one fell swoop.

"By the way, where is Brother Li? I came here in person to express my gratitude."

Kong Chengli looked around but did not see Li Chengming in the courtyard.

Kong Xuan pursed her lips and said softly:

"He's cultivating inside."

No sooner had she finished speaking than the door opened, and Li Chengming walked out slowly.

"Brother Kong, it's been a long time!"

Kong Chengli looked in the direction of the sound and saw Li Chengming come out of the house, cupping his hands in greeting:

"Brother Li, it's been a long time."

Sensing the rise and fall of Kong Chengli's breath, Li Chengming smiled.

"Congratulations, Brother Kong, on breaking through to the late stage of Qi Refining."

The late stage of Qi Refining is a huge dividing line between the early and middle stages.

In the late stage of Qi Refining, spiritual energy begins to undergo a qualitative change, becoming substantial enough for cultivators to easily fly through the air.

"Haha, this is all thanks to Brother Li's 'Method of Stopping War and Seeking Gold'!"

Without the "Stopping War and Seeking Gold Method," Kong Chengli could have easily broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining with his previous third-grade cultivation technique.

However, it will take a year and a half.

Currently, with the Zhao family patriarch breaking through to the late Foundation Establishment stage, the Liu family is wavering, and the Kong family's situation is becoming increasingly precarious.

As a sword cultivator, Kong Chengli naturally wanted to break through to the late stage of Qi Refining as soon as possible.

"If you ever need my help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask!" Kong Chengli said sincerely.

Li Chengming waved his hand:

"Brother Kong, you're too kind. It's a fair exchange, and everyone gets what they need."