The Hehuan Sect cultivates alchemy; my senior sister helps me refine alchemy throughout the world.

Looking at the Qi Gathering Pill in Xie Liaochen's hand, Shen Yifei felt much calmer.

He deliberately put the top-grade Qi Gathering Pill in his storage bag to deal with the current situation.

The Cauldron of All Things is hidden inside the ring, which is concealed on the thumb, becoming invisible and unseen by anyone.

The items in the storage bag were all handpicked by him; they weren't worth much money, but they were eye-catching enough.

He can refine top-grade Qi-gathering pills; this one skill alone is enough to save his life.

Alchemists are highly sought after by all sects. A good alchemist is the foundation for a sect's growth and development!

"I refined this elixir myself," he answered honestly.

Xie Liaochen raised an eyebrow: "You refined it?"

"Yes. This disciple spent three years tending the fire in the alchemy room of the Hehuan Sect, and later entered the inner sect, where I learned some alchemy techniques." Shen Yifei spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, his expression perfectly appropriate.

Liu Mengli said he can act. I didn't realize it before, but now I admire myself!

The elder next to him leaned over, picked up the pill, looked at it against the light, smelled it, and his eyes widened: "Sect Master, the medicinal power of this pill is at least ten times that of an ordinary Qi Gathering Pill."

Xie Liaochen took the pill, smelled it, and glanced at Shen Yifei twice.

"If you can refine top-grade pills at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, who is your master at the Joyful Union Sect?"

"I didn't have a teacher; I learned it all by myself from books."

Inside the main hall, the elders exchanged glances, their expressions incredibly varied. He could refine top-grade pills just by reading books? This guy was either a genius or a fraud!

"Sect Master," the elder said in a low voice, "if this person's alchemy skills are truly as he claims, then our Qingyun Sect's supply of pills..."

He didn't finish speaking, but Xie Lichen understood.

Although the Qingyun Sect is more impressive than the Hehuan Sect, its alchemists have always been a weakness.

The highest-ranking alchemist in the sect is only a fourth-grade alchemist, and the pills they refine are of mediocre quality. Most of the Qi Gathering Pills and Foundation Establishment Pills used by the disciples for cultivation have to be bought from outside. The spirit stones spent on pills each year are enough to support half of the sect.

Xie Liaochen put the pills back into the porcelain bottle, and the look in his eyes as he looked at Shen Yifei changed.

"Shen Yifei, how long will it take you to refine one batch of Qi Gathering Pills?"

"One hour."

"How many pills have been formed?"

"Seven or eight at the least, ten at most."

Xie Chen glanced at the elder again, who nodded slightly, indicating that the success rate of this pill was considered high among alchemists.

"Alright." Xie Liaochen stood up. "From today onwards, you will stay at the Qingyun Sect and help us refine pills. This will last for six months. After six months, I will send someone to escort you back to the Huan Sect."

Shen Yifei was already prepared, but he still pretended to be troubled: "Sect Master, although I don't have a sect in the Hehuan Sect, Elder Gu has been kind to me. If I suddenly disappear, he will definitely come looking for me. If the two sects start fighting, it won't be good for anyone."

Xie Liaochen smiled and said, "Don't worry about that. I will write a letter to the Hehuan Sect to explain the situation. I'm just borrowing you for half a year, not forcing you to stay. Elder Gu won't say anything."

Shen Yifei sneered inwardly. Borrow? Easier said than done. It's just turning him into their free labor, making him their pill refiner.

But we absolutely cannot let them get away with this!

Thinking of this, he decided to go all out. "Since the sect leader says so, then this disciple will stay." Shen Yifei cupped his hands in greeting. "However, this disciple has a small request."

"explain."

"Alchemy requires medicinal herbs. The sect will give me 20% of the pills I refine. This is the rule for alchemists, and it's the same price wherever I go."

Xie Liaochen was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Alright, two-tenths, two-tenths. As long as the quality of the pills is good, I won't treat you unfairly."

Actually, Xie Lichen wouldn't have felt at ease if Shen Yifei hadn't mentioned this condition.

The fact that he wants a commission means that Shen Yifei will definitely do his best to refine pills for him!

The elders standing nearby didn't look too happy, but since the sect leader had agreed, they couldn't say anything.

Xie Liaochen immediately wrote a letter and sent it to the Hehuan Sect. He also asked Zhao Qingshan to take Shen Yifei to arrange accommodations.

Stepping out of the main hall, Zhao Qingshan's face was ashen, worse than if he'd eaten shit. He'd broken Shen Yifei's ribs last night, and now that man was a guest of honor of the sect leader. If Shen held a grudge and spoke ill of him to the sect leader, Zhao would be in deep trouble.

"Junior Brother Shen, I'm sorry about what happened last night. I was just following orders and I was a little too rough. Please forgive me."

Shen Yifei clutched his chest and smiled at him, "Senior Brother Zhao, you're too kind. That little injury is nothing. I'll need your help in the future."

Hearing this, Zhao Qingshan breathed a sigh of relief and became much more attentive, personally leading him towards the back mountain.

The residence that Qingyun Sect arranged for Shen Yifei was halfway up the back mountain, a separate courtyard that was more than twice the size of the one he had in Hehuan Sect.

Several spirit bamboos were planted in the courtyard, and there was a spirit spring in the corner of the wall, bubbling out water and filled with spiritual energy.

Inside the alchemy room stood a pill furnace about half a person's height, its walls covered with runes, far superior to the one from the Hehuan Sect. Dozens of jade bottles and a pile of medicinal herbs sat on a shelf against the wall.

"Junior Brother Shen, this courtyard used to be the residence of the sect's chief alchemist. He went on a journey after breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage, and it has been empty ever since. The sect leader said you can stay here for now, and just let him know if you need anything." Zhao Qingshan said with a smile.

Shen Yifei walked around the alchemy room and nodded in satisfaction: "Please thank the sect leader for me."

After Zhao Qingshan left, Shen Yifei closed the door, plopped down on the bed, and clutched his chest, grimacing in pain.

"Little guy, you're badly hurt, aren't you?" Liu Mengli's voice rang in his mind, tinged with schadenfreude.

"Nonsense, three ribs are broken, what do you think?" Shen Yifei took out a healing pill, stuffed it into his mouth, and leaned against the headboard, panting.

Liu Mengli emerged from the cauldron, wearing the light red ruqun she had bought the night before. She sat down beside his bed and pressed her hand against his chest.

"Don't touch it, it hurts."

"Serves you right. Who told you to show off and fight a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator?" Liu Mengli didn't pull her hand back and continued to massage him.

"Your skin is really tough. A full-force palm strike from a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator would have disemboweled anyone else. You only broke a few ribs; you're lucky to be alive."

Shen Yifei didn't reply, closing his eyes and taking a breath. And it must be said, Liu Mengli used some kind of technique, but with her massage, the pain was reduced by more than half.

"Do you think the Qingyun Sect's decision to keep you in their alchemy workshop is genuine?" Liu Mengli suddenly asked.

"Whether they're sincere or not, it's all the same. I'm in their hands now. If I don't agree, I'll die. If I agree, I'll at least have six months to live."

"And what about six months from now?"

"Let's talk about it in six months." Shen Yifei opened his eyes and stared at the roof beam. "Six months is enough time for me to do a lot of things."

Liu Mengli shuddered at his expression. Whenever this little guy made that face, it meant someone was about to be in trouble.

Soon, the Hehuan Sect replied.

There was also a letter from Shen Yifei. Shen Yifei opened it and saw it was a handwritten letter from Elder Gu. The gist of it was: "Since that's the case, you should focus on refining pills at the Qingyun Sect. Someone will come to pick you up in six months. Cultivate diligently and don't neglect your studies."

After the disciple who delivered the letter left, Shen Yifei closed the door and took the letter out to read it again. Elder Gu's handwriting was messy, obviously written in a hurry, but the content was very clear: he was to leave it.

What does this mean? It means that the Hehuan Sect doesn't want to fall out with the Qingyun Sect over a disciple in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

Although the Hehuan Sect has a solid foundation, it is indeed far inferior to the Qingyun Sect. It's not worth offending the Qingyun Sect over such a trivial matter.

"Little guy, you've been sold." Liu Mengli crossed her arms and stared at him with her green eyes.

"I know." Shen Yifei put the letter away. "But there are advantages to being sold out. If I can refine a few batches of good pills during these six months at Qingyun Sect, earn some spirit stones, and improve my cultivation level..."

This deal is a great one!