Cultivating Immortality Through a Hundred Lifetimes in Both Realms

"This is a cinnabar pattern."

"It's actually a Fire Element Pill with a pill-like pattern!"

Zhou Hongchang was, after all, a top-grade alchemist who had spent his entire life dealing with pills, and he quickly discovered the pill patterns on this Fire Essence Pill.

"Danwen?" Jiang Yun feigned ignorance, revealing a look of surprise and delight. "Let me see it quickly."

Holding the pill in his palm to examine it, Jiang Yun feigned excitement and exclaimed, "It truly is a Core Formation Pill!"

"Congratulations, Second Elder," Zhou Hongchang said respectfully.

"Some alchemists spend their entire lives refining high-grade pills without ever producing pill patterns, but once they do, there is a certain probability that pill patterns will appear in subsequent pill refining."

"Elder, you flatter me." Jiang Yun chuckled. "If I can refine one pill pattern from a hundred high-grade pills, I will be completely satisfied."

"The probability of one in a hundred is already very high." Zhou Hongchang praised, "It is a blessing for the Zhou family to have a genius like you in alchemy."

"Elder, you are absolutely right," Ye Hongyi said with a smile. "I will take this Fire Essence Pill with its pattern to the clan leader for inspection."

After saying this, Ye Hongyi took the Fire Essence Pill with its pattern, left the Pill Hall, and hurriedly went to the depths of the Zhou family to meet the clan leader.

After Ye Hongyi left.

Zhou Zongxiao said with a wry smile, "Mother has really gone too far today, actually accusing us of colluding with demonic cultivators!"

"If that's really the case, then at least we'll still have Yuan Stones to collect," Zhou Zongyao sighed. "Her statement makes us seem even more worthless."

After they finished speaking, they both turned their gazes to Jiang Yun.

Jiang Yun said she was unable to help.

……

On the other side, Ye Hongyi, holding the Danwen Fire Essence Pill, met with Clan Chief Zhou Hongde.

"The two-year period has passed, and Zhou Yun has mastered the refining of Fire Element Pills and Earth Element Pills, and can even refine pill patterns."

Ye Hongyi told Zhou Hongde what had just happened and showed him the Fire Essence Pill with its pattern.

"This child's talent in alchemy is truly the envy of others."

"A top-grade alchemist at the age of thirty-two, he will surely become a second-tier alchemist in the future."

"If I can become a second-tier alchemist, the strength of my Zhou family will definitely reach a new level."

Zhou Hongde examined the Fire Essence Pill with its patterns while muttering incantations to himself.

"Ever since Zhou Yiyan joined the Zixiao Sect and became an outer disciple, other cultivation families in Ningyuanfang have all shown great respect to the Zhou family."

"If my Zhou family produces another second-level alchemist, they will definitely try every means to establish a relationship with my Zhou family."

Ye Hongyi said with a smile.

A second-tier alchemist can refine pills for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

They will definitely be sought after by Foundation Establishment cultivation families.

"Hmm." Zhou Hongde nodded and pondered, "However, the difficulty of refining second-tier pills is far greater than that of first-tier high-grade pills. If one does not successfully break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, it will be very difficult to refine them."

"What are your thoughts, clan leader?" Ye Hongyi asked meaningfully.

"Tell me your thoughts first," Zhou Hongde said with a smile, the couple seemingly both having something on their minds.

"Zhou Yun has such amazing talent in alchemy." Ye Hongyi said in a deep voice, "My idea is to let him marry and have more children, so that he can produce more alchemy geniuses."

"Is that all?"

Zhou Hongde frowned.

That's one way, but it takes too long and is rather unreliable.

No matter how many children one has, they may not necessarily possess Jiang Yun's talent for alchemy.

"No," Ye Hongyi said in a low voice, "Although Zhou Yun is a wild child that Zong Ting brought back from outside, he is also our grandson."

Ye Hongyi paused for a moment, then said with a smile, "My thoughts are the same as yours."

"Do you know what I'm thinking?" Zhou Hongde asked curiously.

"We've been together for so many years, how could we not know?" Ye Hongyi picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip of tea.

"Then let's write our thoughts on the table."

Zhou Hongde smiled.

He dipped his finger in tea and wrote three characters on the table.

Ye Hongyi on the opposite side was the same.

After they finished writing, they looked at each other and smiled.

On the table, the two people had written exactly the same words.

It reads "Juyuan Dan" (聚元丹).

"Two years ago, I watched Zhou Yun refine pills and discovered that his cultivation had actually reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining."

Zhou Hongde pondered and said, "However, with his cultivation aptitude of three spiritual roots, it will still be difficult for him to establish a foundation."

"Ordinary people are fine, but I didn't expect this kid to have such a high talent in alchemy. My Zhou family needs such a talent."

"If he can successfully establish his foundation, he will surely be able to refine second-tier pills, at which time my Zhou family will benefit immensely."

Ye Hongyi nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, "So we have the same idea: to exchange for a Gathering Yuan Pill to help Zhou Yun establish his foundation."

"If he succeeds in Foundation Establishment, with his talent in alchemy, he will definitely be able to refine second-tier pills. The rewards he brings will far exceed those of a single Gathering Yuan Pill."

Ye Hongyi and Zhou Hongde shared the same idea.

That is to invest in Jiang Yun's foundation building, so that Jiang Yun can work harder to become a second-level alchemist and thus repay the family.

"This is a very serious matter. If he fails to establish his foundation, the family's losses will be irreparable in a short time," Zhou Hongde said thoughtfully. "I must consult the Ancestor."

"Seventeen thousand contribution points is no small amount; we must ask the Ancestor for permission." Ye Hongyi nodded.

Zhou Hongde nodded.

Without delay, he set off immediately for the secluded retreat of Zhou Ren, the patriarch of the Zhou family.

After many years, Zhou Hongde met his ancestor Zhou Ren, who was also his father, again.

The last time I saw the Ancestor was when Zhou Yiyan joined the Zixiao Sect and went to report the good news to him.

"What is it?"

Zhou Ren, with his white hair and beard, sat cross-legged on a futon, his eyes closed, and asked Zhou Hongde.

"Ancestor, a genius in alchemy has emerged in our clan..."

Zhou Hongde explained Jiang Yun's talent for alchemy in detail.

"I wish to use the contribution points from my family to exchange for a Gathering Yuan Pill to help Zhou Yun establish his foundation."

"If he can become a second-tier alchemist, my Zhou family will benefit immensely."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ren opened his eyes. "Is he truly so talented in alchemy?"

"Yes," Zhou Hongde affirmed. "If one can establish a foundation, they will definitely become a second-tier alchemist!"

"I understand." Zhou Ren stroked his beard and nodded. "He's your grandson, not an outsider. It's the right thing to do."

After saying that, Zhou Ren changed the subject and asked, "How many contribution points does the clan have in total?"

"Reporting to the Ancestor, it's less than forty thousand," Zhou Hongde hurriedly said, bowing and clasping his hands.

"Hmph!" Zhou Ren sneered. "They're getting worse with age! Are all the Zhou family members useless idiots now?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Hongde immediately thought of his good-for-nothing son.

Fortunately, the youngest daughter gave birth to a child outside the family and brought the child back to the family, where the child became a genius in alchemy.

"Since you're so conflicted," Zhou Ren said shrewdly.

"You might as well exchange for the recipe for a second-tier pill. If Zhou Yun can refine this pill with a success rate of no less than 70%, you can confidently exchange for the Gathering Yuan Pill and give it to him."

"Refining second-tier pills during the Qi Refining stage?" Zhou Hongde looked up and asked.

"Isn't he a genius in alchemy?" Zhou Ren laughed. "Alchemy geniuses in the Zixiao Sect can refine second-tier pills even at the Qi Refining stage, so why can't he?"