85: Recruited by various mountain sects

Stepping onto the third floor was like entering another world in an instant.

The space was much smaller than the first floor, appearing more elegant.

The number of people decreased sharply; looking around, there were only about twenty people scattered throughout.

The environment was extremely quiet, with only very faint conversation or the low hum of a Pill Furnace operating in a distant Alchemy room.

The medicinal fragrance permeating the air was no longer the mix found on the lower floors, but a purer, more reserved, and refreshing scent emitted by several types of high-tier Medicinal Pills or Spiritual Plants, which invigorated the spirit upon smelling it.

The Cultivators here appeared to have a cultivation of at least Foundation Establishment Mid-stage or higher, wearing the attire of Inner Sect elite Disciples. They had a steady demeanor, either meditating alone or conversing in low voices, forming a world of difference from the noisy and crowded first floor.

The appearance of Lu Yang’s unfamiliar face, especially his aura fluctuation belonging to the Foundation Establishment Early-stage—which seemed exceptionally weak on the third floor—was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the silence of the place.

Almost all eyes focused on him at the same time; doubt, scrutiny, inquiry, and even undisguised contempt landed on him like physical weight.

At a square table closest to the stairs sat Ma Teng, a Foundation Establishment Mid-stage Cultivator with a serious expression, wearing a dark brown alchemist robe.

This person was a Danxia Peak Disciple, somewhat famous for his fire-based Alchemy control.

His brow furrowed as he put down a Spiritual Plant he was wiping and spoke bluntly, his voice sounding unusually abrupt and clear in the quiet third floor:

“Junior Brother, this is the third floor of the Alchemy Hall, an area only accessible to Third-Rank Alchemists.

Is this your first time here? Did you take a wrong turn?”

Ma Teng's tone carried obvious disbelief and a hint of condescending questioning.

Not far away, a female Cultivator dressed in a water-blue Daoist robe leaned against the wooden railing.

She had a slender figure, and the water-blue fabric flowed like ripples, subtly embroidered with silver water patterns.

Her heart-shaped face was quite gentle and beautiful, with willow-leaf eyebrows, almond eyes, and skin as white and delicate as fine jade.

However, deep within those eyes that should have been soft, there was a hint of scrutiny and coldness that did not match her gentle temperament.

Su Wan was a Bibo Peak Disciple, specializing in water-attribute Medicinal Pills.

At this moment, she also turned slightly and whispered to her companion. Although her voice was soft, it was clearly audible in the pin-drop quiet environment:

“Strange, Elder Li the administrator has always been rigorous. How could he let a Junior Brother of the Foundation Establishment Early-stage come up?

Could there have been an oversight during the inspection?” These doubts pricked Lu Yang like needles just as he had stood firm.

Facing this undisguised doubt and the many scrutinizing gazes, Lu Yang's face showed no anger or panic, remaining as calm as if he hadn't heard those words.

He did not rush to defend himself. His gaze swept across the third floor, and he walked straight toward a clearly vacant black square table not far from the stairs.

Under everyone's gaze, he calmly took out the Jade Bottle containing the third-rank flawless pill from his Storage Pouch again, gently pulled out the stopper, and tilted his wrist.

That entirely emerald-green pill, encircled by two silver pill veins, rolled onto the cool surface of the square table with a light, crisp sound.

The Medicinal Pill lay there quietly, like a perfect work of art.

Its perfectly round and flawless form, the clear and deep pill veins, and the pure, restrained yet undeniable medicinal power fluctuation that became more obvious as it rolled, were like a giant boulder thrown into a calm deep pool, stirring up silent, monstrous waves in the quiet space of the third floor!

The seriousness and doubt on Ma Teng's face, who was closest, instantly froze!

His eyes stared fixedly at the pill, his pupils shrinking suddenly due to shock.

As a Third-Rank Alchemist, he knew all too well what this pill represented.

That flawless quality, that stable and pure medicinal power, and especially those two clear and deep pill veins, all declared the refiner's superb fire control techniques and profound understanding of medicinal property Fusion!

Ma Teng had refined third-rank pills for many years himself, but he rarely managed to refine a High Grade pill with clear pill veins, let alone such a perfect flawless pill!

Furthermore, flawless third-rank Medicinal Pills were things that money couldn't buy in the Inner Sect.

The person before him was only at the Foundation Establishment Early-stage; it was impossible for him to have obtained this by mere chance.

Since he could produce such a pill, it must have truly come from his own hands.

A strong sense of shame surged into his heart. He opened his mouth to say something, but his throat felt blocked and he couldn't make a sound. His face quickly flushed red, and his eyes shifted away in embarrassment, not daring to look at the pill anymore, and even less daring to look at Lu Yang.

Beside him, Su Wan's gentleness had long been replaced by shock. She subconsciously covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.

The other Cultivators, who had originally held attitudes of contempt or were waiting for a good show, now had brilliant expressions—shock, astonishment, and disbelief—all eventually turning into a complex emotion.

Su Wan looked at the pill and then at the calm Foundation Establishment Early-stage youth standing by the table with uncertainty. Her previous contempt and suspicion melted away as quickly as ice and snow under sunlight, replaced by an unspeakable awe and a hint of lingering fear.

To be able to refine a third-rank flawless pill, this strength was enough to make the vast majority of Third-Rank Alchemists present feel ashamed!

A full seven or eight breaths of suffocating silence passed.

Finally, a Cultivator sitting by the window who looked quite elderly and whose aura had reached the Peak Late Foundation Establishment Stage, Elder Li.

Elder Li was a senior alchemist of Xuanmu Peak.

He was the first to react, standing up with a warm but solemn smile. He walked closer, his tone becoming unprecedentedly polite:

“Junior Brother, your Alchemy skills are amazing; it is truly admirable!

I wonder which Elder's tutelage you are under? Or which Peak of the Inner Sect do you belong to?” He asked the question that everyone present wanted to know.

Lu Yang met Elder Li's gaze, his voice still calm and steady as he clearly replied:

“In response to Senior Brother, I am Lu Yang. I have just passed the assessment and been promoted to the Inner Sect, and I haven't had time to join any Peak yet.”

“Just entered the Inner Sect? Haven't joined a Peak yet?!”

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a drop of cold water in boiling oil; the entire third floor instantly erupted!

The atmosphere that had just been silent due to shock was instantly replaced by an unprecedented fervor!

“Junior Brother Lu!” The first to react was actually Ma Teng, who had been incredibly embarrassed just a moment ago!

He lunged forward, his face instantly covered in an extremely enthusiastic smile, with no trace of his previous arrogance. “Junior Brother! You are truly an Alchemy genius! I was blind just now, please don't blame me!

Junior Brother, listen to me. Our Danxia Peak's Peak Master is at the Great Perfection of Peak Foundation Establishment, just one step away from Core Formation!

The Peak Master values talent immensely! Not only does our Peak possess a branch of a high-quality Earth Fire Spiritual Vein, which is of great help for fire-based Alchemy and fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques, but our Alchemy resources are also the best among the many small Peaks of the Inner Sect!

If you are willing to deign to join us, the Peak Master will surely be overjoyed and will definitely teach you his unique fire control secret technique without reservation!

This is a profound fire control method that can be mastered even at the Foundation Establishment Stage!” He spoke extremely fast, for fear of being interrupted.

“Junior Brother Lu! Please wait and hear me out!” Before Ma Teng could finish, a slightly chubby Cultivator with a loud voice had already squeezed over.

This person was named Zhao Gang, a Disciple of Xuantie Peak.

He said urgently, “While the fire vein of Danxia Peak that Senior Brother Ma mentioned is good, it is too singular!

Our Xuantie Peak's Peak Master is also at the Peak Foundation Establishment cultivation!

More importantly, our Peak is full of talent!

We currently have three experienced Third-Rank Alchemist Senior Brothers permanently stationed at the Peak, and even a Junior Martial Uncle Elder at the Fourth-Rank Alchemist Realm who gives guidance from time to time!

The culture of exchange and sparring among Disciples in our Peak is very strong!

If you come, Junior Brother, your daily exchanges and discussions on the Dao with your fellow Senior Brothers will surely make your Alchemy skills improve by leaps and bounds! And!” Zhao Gang paused, throwing out a heavy weight, “My Xuantie Peak manages part of the Sect's Artifact Refining Pavilion!

If you want to refine or upgrade an exclusive Pill Furnace in the future, you can find the best Artifact Refining Masters in the Peak at any time. Materials and labor will have internal prices, and the quality is absolutely guaranteed!” This condition was a huge temptation for an alchemist.

“Junior Brother Lu! Don't be in a hurry to decide!”

At this time, Su Wan also completely ignored her previous slip of the tongue and stepped forward quickly, her voice crisp and pleasant, carrying sincerity.

“The Peaks of the two Senior Brothers are good, but the competition is also great.

Although our Bibo Peak is not a major Peak specializing in Alchemy, the atmosphere in the Peak is harmonious and quiet, and the Peak Master is generous and kind, never being harsh on Disciples.

More importantly!” Su Wan specifically emphasized her tone, “Our Peak Master is a lifelong friend of Manager Chen, who manages the Sect's core Medicine Garden!

Therefore, the share of rare Spiritual Plants our Peak can receive every year is a full thirty percent higher than other Peaks of the same size!

When you refine high-tier pills, Junior Brother, you will no longer have to run around to find and purchase those rare main and auxiliary herbs, saving time and effort!” For an alchemist, a stable supply of High Grade Spiritual Plants had self-evident value.

“How about it, how about coming to my Bibo Peak?”