I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

After Xu Zhou and Li Zelei returned to their sect, neither of them brought up the matter of the array diagram's origin.

This array diagram may have originated from the Hu family, and the encounter with the thief on the road may also be intricately related to the Hu family.

But none of that matters.

After all, it's just a formation diagram, and it only involves the two of them. The sect can no longer make decisions for them as before.

Reporting it rashly could actually cause trouble.

If they pretend not to know, then the Hu family will also be unable to do anything about them.

Xu Zhou had made up his mind to stay in the sect in the future and never go out unless necessary.

As for Li Zelei, he was even less worried.

The skills and combat power that Li Zelei had previously displayed were comparable to those of a Grand Cultivator at the peak of Qi Refining. If it weren't for protecting him, he might have already broken through the formation and left.

Once the Hu family reaches the Foundation Establishment stage, no one else can do anything to him.

After bidding farewell to Li Zelei, Xu Zhou returned to Baicaotang to continue teaching apprentices and refining elixirs.

He will stay here for a long time to come, focusing on his studies and cultivation.

He has been at the sixth level of Qi Refining for several years. With the accumulation of pills and time, he is gradually approaching the bottleneck of the seventh level of Qi Refining and should try to break through.

For other cultivators, the difficulty of this bottleneck and the magnitude of the improvement after breaking through it are comparable to "minor Foundation Establishment".

However, it was much easier for Xu Zhou.

Most of the bottlenecks faced by others stem from the hidden injuries accumulated in their bodies over a long period of cultivation.

To heal hidden injuries, one either needs to spend a lot of time and effort on treatment or seek healing pills to alleviate the symptoms, both of which require a great deal of time and energy.

However, Xu Zhou was different from others. He had already fully mastered the cultivation technique during his training and rarely went out to fight with others. As a result, he had very few hidden injuries left in his meridians, which would hardly affect his breakthrough.

That being said, it still takes time to accumulate experience to break through to this level.

Xu Zhou wasn't in a hurry; he just kept taking his time, as usual.

They endured this hardship for three years.

Finally, one day, he had a sudden inspiration, and his cultivation progressed smoothly, breaking through to the seventh level of Qi Refining.

His internal magical power surged, and his spiritual consciousness instantly became clearer, making everything around him seem different.

This breakthrough would be a huge improvement for other cultivators, but almost no one paid attention to it when it came to Xu Zhou.

To outsiders, he is almost sixty years old.

At this age, a normal cultivator would have already suffered from declining health and vitality, but he had only just broken through to the seventh level of Qi Refining, and his chances of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage were slim. At most, he would live to be 120 years old, with no further possibility of advancement.

Only a few close acquaintances and disciples in the alchemy room offered their congratulations.

Xu Zhou didn't care; his physical age was still firmly locked at twenty-five or twenty-six, and he was still in his prime. However, this was something he couldn't tell outsiders.

Even after his breakthrough, his life remained largely unchanged; he simply continued to learn skills and hone his craft step by step.

Two months after his breakthrough, he submitted his application for advancement in alchemy and quickly passed the assessment.

From then on, he made further progress in alchemy and became one of the few top-grade alchemists in the Hundred Herbs Hall.

This matter did not cause much of a stir.

Even among top-grade alchemists, there are differences. What kind of pills they are good at refining, their success rate, and the quality of their pills are all enough to differentiate top-grade alchemists.

Although he has become a top-grade alchemist, it will still take him a long time to hone his skills and reach the first-tier limit.

Xu Zhou didn't celebrate. He simply informed his relatives and friends and continued his studies.

That day, in the alchemy room.

Xu Zhou, as always, was reading a classic text in the corner, while his apprentices were learning how to process medicinal herbs.

Over the years, his apprentices have changed many times.

Apart from Xiao Jingwen, who stayed on, everyone else was a new face.

Among them was an acquaintance, Li Pochen, who had passed the Hundred Herbs Hall's assessment and officially become an apprentice.

The boy has grown up now, with a tall and straight figure, and he looks seven or eight parts like Li Zelei when he was young.

Unlike Li Zelei, Li Pochen is a quiet person who can concentrate on alchemy for a long time, which is more similar to Xu Zhou.

After all, he was an apprentice whom she had raised since childhood, so it's normal that they have similar personalities.

Xu Zhou was engrossed in reading the classics when he suddenly felt something and stopped studying.

Just now, he noticed that the barrier at the door had been triggered.

Have we had some guests?

Xu Zhou closed the book, stood up and said, "Chen'er, go outside and see who it is."

As his disciple, Li Pochen was even more approachable than ordinary apprentices. Upon hearing the order, he immediately got up and went to the door to check.

By the time Xu Zhou had prepared the tea, Li Pochen had already returned with a graceful female cultivator, who turned out to be Song Rou.

Xu Zhou was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "It has been a while since I've seen you."

"Don't even mention it," Song Rou said with a helpless smile. "I've been busy with seclusion lately, and I've only just found some time to visit."

Xu Zhou couldn't even remember the last time he saw the other person.

Since Song Rou advanced to the rank of superior alchemist ten years ago, she has been in seclusion for a long period of time. Except for a few occasions when she comes out to go out, she spends the rest of her time quietly cultivating in her cave.

Her talent in alchemy was outstanding, but her spiritual root aptitude was much worse.

Now that he has finally become a top-grade alchemist with ample resources, he wants to quickly break through to the ninth level of Qi Refining through seclusion, hoping to make a chance at Foundation Establishment in the future.

Xu Zhou scanned the area with his divine sense and realized that Song Rou had already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining!

Why is she coming to me instead of seeking Foundation Establishment?

The two sat down.

Song Rou didn't speak immediately, but looked down at the teacup, her fingertips gently stroking the rim.

The atmosphere was rather quiet.

Xu Zhou didn't urge him, he just waited.

After a moment, she seemed to have made up her mind and raised her head.

"Senior brother, I heard that you are now a top-grade alchemist?"

Xu Zhou nodded: "It was just completed a few days ago."

He had informed the other party about this in a previous letter; it wasn't a secret.

Song Rou pondered for a moment, a hint of joy flashing in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.

After a few more breaths, she spoke again.

"I remember you used to study medicine as a side job?"

"I've studied a little."

"Is it the 'Thousand Needles Meridian Opening Method'?"

"That's right."

After saying this, she fell silent.

She frowned slightly, her eyes darting around, as if she were struggling with something, and remained silent for a long time.

Xu Zhou glanced at her, already having some guesses in his mind, and then calmly said:

"If there's anything you need, just say it."

Upon hearing this, Song Rou's expression stiffened slightly.

She pursed her lips, as if she had finally made up her mind, took a deep breath, and slowly said, "Junior sister, there is indeed something I would like to ask senior brother for help with."

Xu Zhou didn't agree immediately, but looked at her and asked, "What is it?"

Song Rou looked up and met his gaze.

"Senior brother, could you please refine a Clearing Pill for me?"

Xu Zhou thought to himself, "Just as I thought."

Clearing Obstacles Pill.

This is not an ordinary elixir of immortality, but a medical elixir recorded in the "Thousand Needles Meridian Opening Method". Its refining method and principle are not entirely the same as those of immortality, and it is extremely difficult to refine.

However, the effects of this elixir are undeniable; it clears away the accumulated toxins in a cultivator's body, allowing them to cultivate at a faster pace.

In addition, it can slightly increase the probability of foundation building.

No wonder Song Rou immediately came to his door to ask him for help in refining pills.

only...

Xu Zhou looked at Song Rou and said, "Junior Sister, this pill is not easy to refine."

As if she had been prepared, Song Rou said, "Senior brother, please give it a try. As a reward, I am willing to share half of my medicinal herb quota with you."

"Besides that, if you have any other requests, please feel free to speak up."

She also knew that such a miraculous elixir would certainly not be easy to refine.

Fearing that her promises might not be enough to move Xu Zhou, she looked at him with a pleading expression.

Xu Zhou shook his head with a wry smile: "Junior sister, you've misunderstood."

What I mean is, this elixir is really difficult to refine.

He paused, then looked at Song Rou: "Junior Sister, think about it, the Clearing Barrier Pill is such a miraculous medicine, capable of helping cultivators refine pill poisons and even increasing the probability of Foundation Establishment, so why hasn't anyone else in the sect asked me to refine it?"

Song Rou shook her head.

After learning of the existence of the Clearing Pill, she immediately went to its door, without having time to learn more about it.

Xu Zhou explained, "Because the Clearing Pill is not a medicinal elixir, but a medical product, the principles of the two are different."

The art of medicine is individualized; different treatment methods must be employed based on the different physical symptoms of each person. Therefore, even the most effective medicines must be people-centered.

He pointed to the door leading to the alchemy room: "Ordinary pills, once they are made, will have roughly the same effect no matter who takes them."

However, the effects of medicine and remedies need to be adjusted according to the individual's condition.

Even the slightest difference will alter the entire formula. Once refined, it can only be used by one person.

Upon hearing this, Song Rou's face paled: "Does it mean it will take a very long time to deduce the elixir formula?"

"That's not all."

Xu Zhou sighed: "The deduction of the pill formula is secondary. If you really want this elixir, you must tell me everything about your cultivation technique and your cultivation level."

In addition, you must also give me a portion of your essence and magical energy.

Only in this way can I deduce the elixir formula.