"Fellow Daoist, your alchemy skills are truly extraordinary. No wonder the alchemists within the sect say that the Barrier-Breaking Pills you refine have an efficacy that surpasses the Pill Formula by three-tenths."

Chen Sheng raised his teacup:

"It's just practice makes perfect."

Ever since he publicly refined the Yuqing Barrier-Removing Pill at the Danqing Hall three years ago, his reputation within the Dan Vein has gradually spread.

Later on, he demonstrated alchemy at several Dao Assemblies, consistently refining high-quality Tier Three Middle Grade Barrier-Breaking Pills each time.

The introduction on the Jade Scroll now includes the line, "Skilled in refining Tier Three Middle Grade Barrier-Breaking Pills."

Over the past two years, cultivators have come to seek pills from him in an endless stream.

Not only did Chen Sheng accumulate a large amount of Small Merit through this, but he also established ties with several Elders from the Array Talisman Artifact Vein, among whom was Master Shi Fang standing before him.

This Master Shi Fang hailed from the Talisman Vein and was a Middle Grade Talisman Master. Not only an Inner Sect Elder, but also a Golden Core Early-stage Sword Cultivator. The two had many topics to discuss.

As Chen Sheng repeatedly compared and improved the Pill Formulas for the Profound Essence Barrier-Breaking Pill and Yuqing Barrier-Removing Pill, he gradually developed a set of improvement methods.

The improved elixir pills increased the realm-breaking effect from thirty percent to thirty-five percent. Though it was just a half-percent increase, it elevated his prestige in the Alchemy Realm another level.

Chen Sheng cupped his hands: "I wish you, Brother Dao, success in breaking through the Early-stage Golden Core bottleneck after consuming this pill."

Master Shi Fang burst into laughter and took out a platinum-colored Talisman from his Storage Ring.

The Talisman was about the size of a palm, with jagged thunder patterns drawn along the edges and a design of a Flying Sword riding on clouds and mist in the center. The runes faintly flowed with Sword Qi.

He pushed the Talisman toward Chen Sheng:

"Fellow Daoist, take a look at this. It's the new Tier Three Middle Grade Sword Qi Talisman I refined, with fibers from 'Thunder Pattern Bamboo' as paper and powder from 'Li Fire Crystal' as ink, perfect for polishing a Sword Pill."

"To use it, simply place the Talisman at the Dantian, activate the Talisman Power, and transform it into countless Sword Qi to enhance the foundation of the Sword Pill."

Chen Sheng picked up a Talisman, feeling a slight tingling sensation in his fingertips — a result of the sharp Sword Qi contained within the Talisman.

With his Divine Sense, he carefully examined and discovered that the rune patterns within the Talisman somewhat corresponded with the basic Sword Pattern from 'Profound Derivation Sword Array True Understanding,' realizing this instantly:

"Thank you for the guidance, Brother Dao. My Sword Pill has just formed, and this Sword Talisman is truly timely. How many Small Merit does it require?"

Master Shi Fang took a hearty sip of Spirit Tea, wiped his mouth, and said:

"No need for formality. This single Sword Talisman is a gift to you, Fellow Daoist. If you find it useful, come find me again. Next time, it won't be free."

Chen Sheng couldn't help but burst into laughter at these words, seeing that this Brother Dao had great confidence in his talisman, giving one as a sample first.

"Then, I thank you, Fellow Daoist!"

Master Shi Fang laughed heartily and patted the red gourd at his waist:

"Fellow Daoist, so bold! Once I break through the bottleneck, I must bring a keg of 'Drunken Immortal Brew' to drink with you for three days!"

...

Three years passed quietly.

The Nine Cloud Peak today was no longer as quiet as it once was.

A new elegant courtyard had been cleared around the cave dwelling, with green-tiled white walls hidden among lush Spirit Woods.

The courtyard often bustled with activity, with over a dozen beautiful women dressed in silk; some picking morning dew near the Spirit Field, others playing music or chess at the stone table. Their hair was styled elegantly, with an air of grace and celestial charm between their brows.

Most of these women came from the secular Imperial Family of the surrounding areas.

In Yue Country, the secular world was often a Land of Weak Spirits, where most had some Low Level Spirit Veins, making them suitable even for Foundation Establishment Cultivators' cultivation.

Many secular royal families also held considerable power; some were Foundation Establishment Families, while others were branches of Golden Core Clans.

Like the green-clad woman bending over to weed the Cloud Heart Rice, with the Profound Bird Totem embroidered on her sleeve, a member of the Southern Chu Imperial Family, her ancestors once being descendants of side branches of Golden Core Cultivators.

Although her Spiritual Root qualification was mediocre, she had cultivated to the Late-stage Qi Cultivation.

Chen Sheng stood on the White Jade Platform before the cave dwelling, gazing at the courtyard's lively scene, a trace of tranquility flashing in his eyes.

His decision to branch out and continue the bloodline back then had a deeper plan behind seeking out these women!

The royal families behind these women held immense power in the secular world. The descendants with poorer qualifications could inherit the throne in the secular world with his influence.

They could enjoy prosperity and use the royal bloodline to continue to branch out and propagate. Within two hundred years, his bloodline could spread like a web in all directions.

Thus, in the next life, he would more likely be reborn in Yue Country without risking crossing the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range!

Simultaneously, as Chen Sheng successively gained offspring with excellent qualifications, it also showcased his achievements to prepare for entering the high-end market in the future.

"Fellow Daoist Micro-Image, long time no see!"

A hearty laugh interrupted Chen Sheng's thoughts.

Only to see a streak of red light break through the clouds, with more condensed Spiritual Power fluctuations than three years ago, falling onto the platform and sending a slight ripple of energy outward.

Master Shi Fang, still barefoot, had sword talisman tattoos glistening golden on his bronzed skin. The red gourd at his waist swayed slightly, and his Mana fluctuations became significantly stronger.

Clearly, he had reached Mid-stage Golden Core cultivation!

With a glance, Chen Sheng assessed the other's realm and clapped his hands, laughing: "Congratulations, Brother Dao, on breaking through the bottleneck!"

Just as the words fell, two courtly dressed women stepped forward to pay respects; one in an apricot-yellow dress was the princess from the Southern Chu Imperial Family sent back in the day.

She now carried a touch of maternal warmth between her brows and respectfully greeted: "Greetings, Ancestor, congratulations on breaking the realm, Ancestor."

Master Shi Fang was caught off guard by the term "Ancestor," scratching his head and laughing heartily with Chen Sheng:

"Look at this title, they're almost calling me an old monster!"

He had just turned a bit over 300 years old, still young among Golden Core Cultivators.

However, in his youth during worldly adventures, he indeed had some wild antics, even marrying the Princess of the Ten Kingdoms, leaving behind many bloodlines.

Later, after Master Shi Fang became a Golden Core, the Ten Kingdoms Royal Family even bestowed him the honorary title of Ancestral Emperor of Shi Fang!

The ancestors of these women contained his bloodline; in terms of generations, calling him "Ancestor" was not wrong.

Chen Sheng gave a gentle smile, stepping aside to lead the way:

"It's fine; everyone can stick to their own terms. Brother Dao, your timing is perfect today. You should try my newly brewed 'Condensed Dew Wine'."

The group entered the cave dwelling, and a Jade Disc had already been laid out on the Cold Moon Stone Table. It contained slices of fruit from Tier Three Spirit Fruit "Purple Mist Peach."

Just as Master Shi Fang sat down, he loosened the red gourd, "pop" opened the Jade Plug, and a rich aroma of wine wafted out, causing tiny wine mist spirits to condense in the cave dwelling:

"My 'Drunken Immortal Brew' has been cellared for fifty years, and I brought three burrows today. No one is leaving sober!"

Chen Sheng flicked his finger, and two White Jade Wine Cups flew out from under the stone table. Master Shi Fang lifted the gourd and poured wine into the cups, and the wine formed into dragon shapes, swirling in the cup three times before settling into amber-colored wine.

Master Shi Fang took a sip of the wine, smacked his lips, and said:

"Oddly, after taking the improved Profound Essence Barrier-Breaking Pill you gave me, I not only broke through smoothly but also resolved the Sword Talisman understanding that had been blocking me for decades."

He took out a stack of talismans from his Storage Ring, and the Talisman Paper shone with golden light, with the Flying Sword design exuding a subtle spatial fluctuation:

"This is my newly refined Tier Three High Grade 'Sky-Splitting Sword Qi Talisman.' Give it a try, Fellow Daoist?"

Chen Sheng received the Talisman, with his fingertips feeling a Sword Qi several times sharper than three years ago, nodding in praise:

"Brother Dao's talisman magic is truly remarkable."

The two drank and chatted as they discussed topics from the Alchemy Dao to Talismanic Magic, then to the recent Spirit Vein disturbances in Yue Country.

Master Shi Fang animatedly recounted worldly tales, speaking of how he once mediated the Ten Countries' war and spent three days and nights drunk at a royal banquet, making the two women cover their mouths with laughter.

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