I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

After a few pleasantries, Ge Liancheng took out a storage bag and handed it over: "These are just some mundane items, consider them a housewarming gift."

Xu Zhou did not answer immediately.

"Why must you do this, Senior Brother Ge?"

Ge Liancheng's smile remained unchanged: "It's just that I admire Junior Brother Xu's effective teaching methods."

That was a well-chosen statement, but it made Xu Zhou wary.

This person before me had once schemed to seize my alchemy room, yet now he's come to praise me instead?

He remained silent for a moment, but still accepted the storage bag.

Since the other party was willing to give it, he naturally wouldn't refuse.

As for what the other party is trying to do, we need to observe carefully.

Although Xu Zhou had some grudges against him, he smiled and led him into his home when the other party brought him gifts.

After Ge Liancheng took his seat, he chatted casually for a short while before getting up to leave.

Watching him leave, Xu Zhou couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

I just had a casual chat with Ge Liancheng, and all he said were some common, cliché phrases.

When the conversation turned to Xu Zhou himself, the other party praised him for his excellent teaching skills, but made no mention of any complaints against him or Ge Liancheng's help.

They didn't even mention the Xiao family, as if they didn't care about it at all.

That's understandable. Back then, Xu Zhou was just using the Xiao family's influence to his advantage. So many years have passed, it's understandable that the other party realized his relationship with the Xiao family was fake.

However, Xu Zhou couldn't understand why Ge Liancheng was trying so hard to please him, even so.

Upon opening the storage bag, they found it contained over three hundred spirit stones.

Even for Xu Zhou now, it wouldn't be easy to earn that many spirit stones quickly, so it's clear that the other party needs his help.

After thinking for a long time, Xu Zhou temporarily accepted the storage bag.

Since Ge Liancheng has taken the initiative to speak on his behalf, the past grievances can be put aside. Now that he has brought generous gifts and asks for his help, he may not necessarily be unable to cooperate with him.

It's always better to have more friends than more enemies.

...

In the following days, the number of visitors to Xu Zhou Cave increased significantly.

Some of them had spoken up for him at the deacon meetings, and by visiting him for a few casual words, they had established a relationship with Xu Zhou.

Others, whether indirectly or directly, all asked the same question:

"Master Xu, would you be willing to accept a junior member of my clan?"

These people either offered a price, or politely begged, while others were more direct, taking people directly to the door.

Those who filed the complaint intended to make things difficult for Xu Zhou, but unexpectedly, it made him even more famous.

Fortunately, most people only mentioned it briefly, as their respective juniors were either still young or had been apprentices for many years and had their own opinions.

It wasn't until Ge Liancheng visited for the third time that this happened.

This time, he did not come alone, but brought a young girl with him.

The girl stood outside the door with her head down, not daring to look up.

At that moment, Xu Zhou's doubts about him were immediately resolved.

It turned out to be the case.

No wonder Ge Liancheng was able to put aside past grievances and come to curry favor with her, carrying bags of spirit stones; it turned out it was all for this young girl.

In the end, Xu Zhou's alchemy room gained two new apprentices.

The quiet and well-behaved girl among them was named Ge Mo, and she was Ge Liancheng's biological daughter.

Ge Mo's foundation in medicine was weak, and his comprehension was also mediocre. He had previously studied in another alchemy room, but his performance was so poor that he hardly honed his alchemical skills.

Ge Liancheng had only one daughter, and he was extremely worried about her future.

When he learned that Xu Zhou was very good at teaching, he put aside his past grievances.

Not only did he speak on Xu Zhou's behalf in front of the deacons, but he also personally visited him several times, each time bringing a considerable amount of spirit stones, until the last time when he explained his purpose.

Xu Zhou pondered for a long time and hesitated.

Ge Liancheng had a grudge against him in the past, but now he was willing to lower his head and curry favor with him, which was obviously because his daughter's talent was indeed somewhat lacking.

If you send them to your side and teach them well, that's fine. But if you don't teach them well, it's easy to cause trouble.

But in the end, Xu Zhou agreed.

There was no other reason than that Ge Liancheng gave them a great deal.

To persuade him to accept Ge Mo, Ge Liancheng gave him a total of over a thousand spirit stones, which translates to tens of thousands of contribution points, bringing him one step closer to exchanging for the Dao of Alchemy inheritance.

With such sincerity, Xu Zhou could not easily refuse.

Compared to Ge Mo, the other apprentice didn't bring anything with him when he started.

But Xu Zhou still gladly accepted it.

This tall, thin apprentice was named Yuan Ce. He was personally brought to the door by Steward Yuan, so it was really hard to refuse.

Yuan's status at Baicaotang needs no further explanation. Xu Zhou has studied his medicine classics to this day, and if he were to be honest, he could call him his teacher. Naturally, he immediately agreed.

Although no gift was given, Deacon Yuan made him a promise worth more than a thousand spirit stones.

"Your foundation in Daoist alchemy is very solid, even comparable to mine. In addition, you have studied medicine for many years, and you should have many unique insights due to your ability to draw inferences from one another. You should not be content with just teaching a few apprentices here."

"Write down what you've learned and understood; perhaps it will add a new medicine book to Baicaotang."

"If that's really the case, I have some connections in the field of verifying alchemical lineages, so I might be able to put in a good word for you."

Recalling what Deacon Yuan had said that day, Xu Zhou couldn't help but feel a little dazed.

Ke Yanfeng said the same thing in the past.

At the time, I was focused on studying the cultivation techniques and later on the medicine classics. I didn't have much time to think about this matter.

However, now that Deacon Yuan has offered his advice, the situation is different.

In order to more easily obtain the Daoist alchemy lineage, he may really have to start writing a medicine classic.

...

The complaint against Xu Zhou was suppressed by Deacon Yuan, and no one mentioned it again afterward.

The alchemists who filed complaints were disheartened. Not only did other alchemists ridicule them, but even their own apprentices complained incessantly. It could be said that they had tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead.

Xu Zhou's reputation soared because of this incident. Despite being just an ordinary mid-grade alchemist, he attracted the attention of many cultivators, and even some members of the inner sect had heard of his name.

Xu Zhou naturally understood the importance of keeping a low profile. After taking on two apprentices, he announced that he would focus on educating his existing apprentices and would not be able to take on any more.

The external turmoil may not be over yet, but for Xu Zhou, it is no longer important.

For him, the most important thing is to seek to pass on knowledge and improve his cultivation. He doesn't care what others say about him behind his back, as long as it doesn't affect his current life.

After shutting out the outside noise, he calmed down and continued to concentrate on studying the classics.

Occasionally, when inspiration strikes, I pick up my pen and write a medical classic.

As for teaching apprentices, that's the part that requires the least worry.

As long as he sits in the alchemy room and is always ready to answer the apprentices' questions, he is the best mentor.

...

This day.

Xu Zhou opened the furnace to refine elixirs.

Without Zhang Yuan and Zhou Sijin by his side to assist him, and even Yuan Ce was no longer there, only Ge Mo was busy processing medicinal herbs as always, running back and forth in the alchemy room.

Although there were fewer assistants, Xu Zhou was skilled and was not affected by this.

Finally, the fragrance of elixir filled the air, and the elixir was successfully refined.

Xu Zhou poured the Qi-guiding dew into the prepared jade bottle, eventually filling three and a half bottles.

After thinking for a moment, she took out one of the bottles and handed it to Ge Mo: "You did a good job this time. Go back and rest for a couple of days."

Ge Mo accepted the jade bottle, his face a mixture of joy and exhaustion. He bowed respectfully and then left with the bottle in his hands.

After she left, Xu Zhou sighed inwardly.

The alchemy room is much quieter now than it was a few years ago.

Five years have passed since he took Yuan Ce and Ge Mo as his apprentices.