The proficiency level of the Thousand Illusion Face Technique had reached the Grandmaster Level. Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators would find it hard to see through his disguise. Jia Ren therefore didn't believe Luo Yuzhu could see through his ruse.

"Do you recognize me, Daoist friend?"

Jia Ren feigned curiosity, turning his head to look at Luo Yuzhu.

"Are you perhaps an Alchemist? Have you ever crafted the Profound Water Pill?"

Luo Yuzhu's nostrils flared, and she eyed Jia Ren up and down, a hint of suspicion in her gaze.

The Profound Water Pill was a special Alchemy Recipe of the Xuan Shui Sect. The sect had been destroyed hundreds of years ago, and the recipe had long since been lost. I unexpectedly acquired the Profound Water Pill recipe and traded it for the Bait Tempting Technique recipe. Tianbao Pavilion hasn't found Jia Ren, which proves he's quite adept at disguise. Now that I've encountered such a suspicious individual, I can't let this opportunity slip by!

I learned my lesson last time. Before leaving my Cave Dwelling, I made sure to use a Cleaning Talisman to erase any scent of elixirs. Could even the faintest trace of the scent have been detected? This is incredible! Does this woman have the nose of a Seeking Spirit Dog? Before my very eyes, Luo Yuzhu seems to be morphing into the shape of a Seeking Spirit Dog...

"I'm not sure what you're talking about."

Jia Ren didn't hesitate, turning around and walking away.

I only want a peaceful life as a Loose Cultivator and have no interest in joining a Sect. Joining a Sect would limit my freedom. Who knows, they might even try to place a Soul Imprint on me. How could that compare to the freedom of a Loose Cultivator? With mastery over the Proficiency Panel, my future is promising; there's no need to be constrained by others.

"Daoist Jia, you're not easy to find!"

Luo Yuzhu laughed lightly. "The Yuding Sect invites you to join and become a true Alchemist, a position of high status."

Jia Ren turned his head, a puzzled look on his face. "I don't know who this Daoist Jia you speak of is. I don't wish to be mistaken for someone else and treated as a substitute."

"While the Yuding Sect is renowned, not everyone is willing to join a Sect and be bound by its rules," Jia Ren countered. "Especially now, at this critical juncture in the war between the great Sects. Who knows? Joining a Sect might just mean becoming cannon fodder."

Luo Yuzhu remained silent, but the Steward beside her turned pale with anger. "You have a lot of nerve, slandering the Sect..."

Before he could continue, Luo Yuzhu raised her hand to interrupt him.

"Proving whether you are Daoist Jia is simple. He hasn't been refining pills for long, so it would be impressive if he could even manage a rudimentary Profound Water Pill. Crafting the Profound Water Pill will reveal the truth."

"If I have indeed mistaken you, Daoist friend, I will offer an Alchemy Recipe as compensation. What do you say? Surely you wouldn't refuse such a challenge?"

"If you refuse to admit it, I can only invite you to visit the Yuding Sect."

It's rare to find a Loose Cultivator who might be Jia Ren. Naturally, I must invite him to the Yuding Sect. Luo Yuzhu smiled, confident she held the winning hand.

An Alchemy beginner? Who does she think she's underestimating?!

"Fine, today I'll show this little girl how formidable I am!"

Jia Ren did not refuse and followed them into the Cave Dwelling.

Compared to the Alpha-7 Cave Abode, the Alpha-1 Cave Abode was larger. The number of Earth Fire Dragon Head Statues had increased from nine to thirteen. A High-Quality Alchemy Furnace was situated in the Earth Fire Room, possibly a relic left by a previous occupant.

Too lazy to take out my own Alchemy Furnace. He deftly formed the hand seals for the spell, drawing out the Earth Fire. The Earth Fire in the Alpha-1 Cave Abode was of higher quality; its flames were tinged with blue and burned at a higher temperature.

With a slap of his palm, Jia Ren activated the thirteen Earth Fire Dragon Head Statues. The blue Earth Fire intensified, gathering perfectly beneath the Alchemy Furnace without the slightest leak. In a short time, the furnace was heated to a glowing red.

"Get out!"

The Steward was sent out, leaving only Luo Yuzhu behind. Since the Profound Water Pill recipe had originally come from her, she wasn't worried about it being exposed.

"Do you have the necessary ingredients to make the Profound Water Pill?"

Jia Ren had used up all his alchemical ingredients and was happy to take this opportunity to get some for free.

"Of course!"

Luo Yuzhu was quite generous. With a wave of her hand, she placed thirty sets of ingredients before Jia Ren. "Please, have a try."

She stood to the side, watching intently, her eyes fixed on Jia Ren without blinking.

At this moment, I seriously doubt this man is Jia Ren. His control over fire is too strong! Jia Ren is just a Loose Cultivator who supposedly hasn't even begun Alchemy. It's impossible for him to have refined his fire control to the Pure Refined Flame level in such a short time. This level of fire control... only a few Alchemy Grandmasters in the Yuding Sect can achieve such a standard.

The ingredients were skillfully added to the Pill Furnace. His movements were like flowing water, smooth and graceful, though the overall process was slightly different from the one documented for the Profound Water Pill.

Even his spells are different! Where did he learn these unorthodox techniques? Every Alchemy technique and spell is the result of painstaking research and repeated testing by Alchemists. Making rash modifications will only negatively affect the pill formation rate and the quality of the elixir. Moreover, the Earth Fire is far too intense. Isn't he worried he'll end up refining a batch of failed pills?

Luo Yuzhu no longer associated this person with Jia Ren.

Before long, the fragrance of elixirs wafted through the air.

It wasn't that the Alchemy took a great deal of mental energy, but rather... deliberately suppressing my skill to reduce the quality of the elixirs actually required a bit more effort. Jia Ren wiped the sweat from his brow.

"It's done!"

Jia Ren executed a spell. The lid of the furnace flew open, revealing nine neatly arranged Profound Water Pills, exuding an intensely rich fragrance. Each elixir was of superior quality, each grain distinct—a level of skill comparable to an Alchemy Master.

It actually worked? And the quality of the elixirs is still so high?

"Daoist friend, I've misunderstood you."

"Could you enlighten me? Why did you use such intense fire earlier? And those changes to several of the Alchemy spells... I will be sure to repay you handsomely."

I'll teach you a little lesson about how treacherous the world can be.

Jia Ren casually swept the remaining twenty-nine sets of alchemical ingredients into his Storage Bag. Then, with a brilliant smile, he patiently explained each point she had asked about. Every piece of advice was a revelation to Luo Yuzhu. She looked at Jia Ren with eyes brimming with admiration.

To improve an Alchemy Recipe, significantly reducing the refinement time... he truly is an Alchemy Master!

"Thank you, Master! This is a token of my gratitude. This Alchemy Recipe is for the Profound Yin Pill, a First Order, Superior Grade elixir, also originating from the Xuan Shui Sect."

"This is a combat elixir specially designed for Water System Cultivators. Consuming this pill can imbue water-attribute spells with Xuan Yin Force. Alternatively, it can be thrown during battle to release Xuan Yin Qi and freeze the target."

The new Alchemy Recipe Luo Yuzhu presented was quite valuable. It was for a highly rare combat elixir that could be consumed or used directly in battle.

Jia Ren, satisfied with his gains, seized the opportunity while Luo Yuzhu was lost in thought and made a hasty retreat.

Luo Yuzhu was just about to start refining the Profound Water Pills when she shockingly discovered that the alchemical ingredients she had set out earlier had all disappeared...

This caused her to fall into deep thought. What about the integrity of an Alchemy Master? Alchemy looks easy to learn, but it's so easy to fail when you actually try.

Luo Yuzhu tried several times, but each attempt at Alchemy ended in failure. Left with no other choice, she could only return to the Yuding Sect's temporary encampment to seek guidance from her master.

"Let me see how good this master's skill that you admire so much is."

How many true masters can there be in the Cultivation World? Loose Cultivators lack resources and rarely get opportunities to practice Alchemy. How could their Alchemy skills compare to those from prominent Sects, who also receive guidance from renowned masters? It's gratifying that my disciple has a talent for Alchemy and is so dedicated to it. Her only flaw is her naivety; she's too easily deceived. Improving an Alchemy Recipe is no simple task. The Profound Water Pill existed in the Xuan Shui Sect for a thousand years. It has undergone countless improvements and is already close to perfection. How could there still be room for enhancement?

Jade Willow Fairy casually took out one of the Profound Water Pills and glanced at it. Gradually, her expression turned serious. An expert sees things differently than an ordinary Alchemist. She examined the outwardly perfect Profound Water Pill intently.

An Alchemy Grandmaster! This is undoubtedly the work of an Alchemy Grandmaster! These nine Profound Water Pills are perfectly formed, as if a single entity, flawless in their concoction. It's clear that Elixir Patterns could have been produced, but flaws were deliberately introduced to allow some of the elixir's Spiritual Power to dissipate, thereby lowering the quality of these Profound Water Pills.

"You must have smelled an aroma far richer than any previous elixirs you've encountered, correct?"

My own attainments regarding the Profound Water Pill are far inferior to this. Not every Alchemy Grandmaster can refine all elixirs to the utmost peak. Reaching the Grandmaster Level with even one type of elixir is enough to be called an Alchemy Grandmaster.

Jade Willow Fairy herself had only reached the Grandmaster Level with Ju Yuan Ling San, a feat that had also elevated her status in the Yuding Sect. Whenever the Ju Yuan Ling San she refined became available, it was immediately claimed by the higher-ups, leaving no opportunity for even Inner Sect Disciples to acquire any.

Luo Yuzhu nodded blankly. She didn't believe her master would lie. With her limited knowledge, she couldn't understand why someone would worsen the quality of the Profound Water Pill.

Aren't elixirs supposed to be better the higher their quality? This person is an Alchemy Grandmaster?! When Luo Yuzhu thought about how this person had taken the ingredients for twenty-nine batches of Profound Water Pills, a surge of anger welled up within her. What kind of Alchemy Grandmaster behaves so unscrupulously! It's infuriating!

"Where is this person now?"

"Invite him to join the Yuding Sect. He will be granted the status of an Elder."

As a sect specializing in Alchemy, the Yuding Sect only had three Alchemy Grandmasters, each holding a position of high esteem. All the great Sects desperately sought Alchemy Grandmasters, earnestly inviting them to join their ranks. Even if an Alchemy Grandmaster was only at the Qi Refinement Realm, they would deserve treatment equivalent to that of a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator.

A few of them rushed to the Cave Dwelling area to find the Steward and check the recorded information. They scoured the Market but found no trace of the individual.

This matter cannot be handled with too much fanfare. If the Sky Sword Sect were to find out, they would surely try to intercept him. Alchemy Grandmasters are highly sought after; no great Sect would pass up the chance to recruit a Grandmaster-level Loose Cultivator.

After several unsuccessful attempts to find him, they had to switch from an overt search to covert surveillance. From then on, any Loose Cultivator who chose an Alphabet-ranked Cave Dwelling equipped with an Earth Fire Room would be closely monitored by the Yuding Sect.

Jia Ren was unaware of the minor stir his Alchemy session had caused. After encountering a few unexpected interruptions during his Alchemy practice, he decided to take a break from it for a while. He had enough Spirit Enhancement Pills to sustain his Cultivation for a long time, so increasing his Proficiency Levels for Alchemy could wait. However, the delay in his Body Refinement and Xuan Yuan Heavy Water Technique practice irritated him somewhat.

After a moment's hesitation, Jia Ren disguised himself and headed out towards the Ming Family's residence. He encountered no Demon Cultivators on the way and arrived safely.

The Black Soul Sect Cultivators had failed in their bid to seize the Great Wilderness Market and had since disappeared without a trace, presumably having ventured deeper into the Great Wilderness.

Jia Ren released his Spirit Insect to act as a lookout while he practiced the Xuan Yuan Heavy Water Technique. The Profound Water Pills with Elixir Patterns yielded excellent results. The power of his Xuan Yuan Heavy Water was enhanced, and its water-gathering and compression effects were further amplified.

In six hours, he condensed sixty drops of Single Profound Primal Heavy Water and six drops of Double Profound Primal Heavy Water.

Before leaving, Jia Ren didn't forget to fish out several dozen Black Dragon Loaches, ensuring he wouldn't have to worry about his supply of Black Dragon Fish for a while. Thus, the Spirit Fish in Ming Family Lake became extinct.

In the following days, Jia Ren's life settled into a routine. Every day after completing his Cultivation, he would focus on practicing in the Ming Family Lake.

"Ha-ha, Triple Profound Primal Heavy Water!"

Jia Ren condensed a droplet of inky black water, letting it flow slowly in the palm of his hand.

Just then, his Mother-Child Resonance Talisman vibrated.

Not long after, a Sound Transmission Talisman flew to him.

"The Foundation Establishment Pills have been concocted."

"Meet at Grand Wilderness Mountain tomorrow, and I will bring the Foundation Establishment Pills."

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