10: Master-level Longevity Skill Proficiency

The next day, early morning.

Zhang Qingxiao was meditating to restore his Qi when he suddenly felt some new insights regarding the Longevity Skill appear in his mind.

The circulation path of the Cultivation Technique also underwent some subtle adjustments.

This adjustment made it much smoother when he circulated his Qi through the meridians.

With every cycle of the technique, the amount of Qi refined was slightly more than usual.

Feeling the changes in the Longevity Skill, Zhang Qingxiao moved his consciousness and immediately opened his attribute panel.

【 Name: Zhang Qingxiao 】

【 Identity: Chang Sheng Sect Utility Disciple 】

【 Aptitude: Mediocre 】

【 Lifespan: 32 / 75 years 】

【 Realm: Qi Refining Level 3, Progress: 35 / 100 】

【 Cultivation Technique: ChangSheng Skill for Qi Refining Stage, Great Master: 1 / 800; Tiger Leopard Body Tempering Art, Great Master: 687 / 800 】

【 Skills: Alchemy: Pi Gu Pill, Proficient: 165 / 200; Spell: Fireball Technique, Great Master: 338 / 800; Swordplay: Chong Ling Swordplay, Great Master: 493 / 800 】

"As expected, the proficiency of the Longevity Skill has broken through to the Great Master level."

The proficiency of the Longevity Skill had been stuck at 399 / 400 for five days.

Now, it had finally broken through to the Great Master level.

Through this increase in the Longevity Skill's proficiency, he gained a deeper understanding of the attribute panel.

Once the proficiency of a Cultivation Technique exceeds the scope of the technique itself, deeper insights are required to break through to the next level.

And while cultivating, these insights would mysteriously appear to him.

The specific amount of time required to enter the next level mainly depends on his understanding and comprehension of the technique.

It is not as he previously thought, that one could continuously improve just by cultivating.

Although this might cause him to waste some time when breaking through to a higher proficiency level, it allows him to truly understand and comprehend the technique.

From this perspective, the attribute panel is much more practical than he had imagined.

It just means the time required for a Breakthrough will increase slightly.

After understanding this ability of the attribute panel, Zhang Qingxiao had even greater expectations for the future.

In the future, he wouldn't need to worry too much about encountering Bottlenecks when improving his cultivation Realm.

"With the Longevity Skill proficiency increased to the Great Master level, the time to break through to Cultivation Level 4 will surely be shortened as well."

Zhang Qingxiao closed the attribute panel, stood up, picked up his basket and Magical Artifact longsword, and headed to the market with his only Mid-Grade Spirit Stone.

After selling the Pi Gu Pills he brought, he purchased thirty portions of medicinal ingredients for refining Yellow Dragon Pills, fifty portions for Pi Gu Pills, and ten Yellow Dragon Pills, then left the Li Family Pill Shop.

He wandered around the market streets for a few laps, and whenever he saw someone selling Yellow Dragon Pills at a stall, Zhang Qingxiao would go up to inquire.

He found several Cultivators who could refine Yellow Dragon Pills, but he was repeatedly turned away.

He knew the reason behind this and could only sigh helplessly, thinking that these people had too small of a worldview.

Just as he was about to leave the market, feeling somewhat unwilling to give up after gaining nothing,

he encountered an elderly man who looked to be in his sixties or seventies, with white hair and beard, selling Yellow Dragon Pills.

Holding the mentality of "better safe than sorry," he approached the old man.

"Fellow Daoist, did you refine these Yellow Dragon Pills yourself?" Zhang Qingxiao asked with a smile.

"Yes, three Low-Grade Spirit Stones each, no bargaining."

"How many Yellow Dragon Pills do you want, Fellow Daoist?"

The white-haired old man looked up, took a glance, and said indifferently.

"The quality of the Yellow Dragon Pills is quite good, and three Low-Grade Spirit Stones each is not expensive."

"I wonder if you would be willing to sell your experience in refining Yellow Dragon Pills? I am willing to pay a high price for it."

Zhang Qingxiao didn't hold much hope; seeing the old man's indifferent attitude, he just asked casually.

"Fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones. I can teach you for three days and allow you to ask three questions."

"Deal!"

This price was far beyond Zhang Qingxiao's expectations, but he agreed without hesitation.

He didn't need to learn all of the old man's experience in refining Yellow Dragon Pills like other Cultivators.

He only needed to be able to refine Yellow Dragon Pills within a short period.

With the support of the attribute panel, as long as he successfully refined one Yellow Dragon Pill, he could continuously increase his proficiency.

And the success rate of refining Yellow Dragon Pills would continuously increase as his proficiency grew.

"I live in the last house at the end of the third alley on the east side outside the market. I have time every afternoon; you can come find me."

The white-haired old man hadn't expected that he was just deliberately making things difficult, yet the other party agreed without even a stutter, so he couldn't help but take a few extra looks at Zhang Qingxiao.

"Fellow Daoist, may I make a small request?"

"I hope you can assist me in refining one Yellow Dragon Pill. I will provide all the medicinal ingredients, and after successful refining, the Yellow Dragon Pill will also belong to you."

The place where the white-haired old man lived was in the same direction as his own home, and the distance was not too far.

He made this request to be able to refine the Yellow Dragon Pill as soon as possible and not waste the fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones in vain.

"I will assist you in refining at most three furnaces of Yellow Dragon Pills. I cannot guarantee whether you will succeed in refining them."

The white-haired old man hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Zhang Qingxiao asked for the old man's name, and upon learning that the other party was called Liang Ming, he paid ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones as a deposit, agreed on the time, and turned to leave the market.

Returning home, he quickly prepared some food, ate it hastily, and then, following the address provided by the white-haired old man, he brought the medicinal ingredients to the old man's home.

"Pa! Pa! Pa!"

Zhang Qingxiao knocked on the courtyard gate.

"Who is it!"

A childish voice came from inside the courtyard.

"Is Fellow Daoist Liang Ming here?"

"I have an appointment with him to come find him this afternoon."

Zhang Qingxiao quickly explained his purpose.

"Grandpa hasn't returned yet. You should wait outside for a while."

The person inside seemed a bit nervous and did not come over to open the door.

"Alright, then I will wait outside for Fellow Daoist Liang Ming to return."

This wait lasted for over an hour before Liang Ming finally came walking over slowly, carrying a basket on his back.

Seeing Zhang Qingxiao, he was slightly stunned, "You came quite early."

"Follow me in."

Liang Ming opened the courtyard gate, and Zhang Qingxiao followed him inside.

Entering the courtyard, Zhang Qingxiao looked around. This place was much larger than the courtyard he lived in, and it was kept in good order and very clean.

On both the left and right sides, some medicinal herbs were planted, and a path in the middle led directly to the house.

The house was also built quite beautifully; one could tell at a glance that it was a relatively wealthy family.

While Zhang Qingxiao was examining the courtyard, an eleven or twelve-year-old little girl ran out of the room, quickly ran to Liang Ming's side, and recounted what had happened an hour ago.

"This is my granddaughter, Liang Qiaoer."

Liang Ming introduced her briefly, then led his granddaughter and Zhang Qingxiao into the room.

Putting down his basket and pouring a cup of tea, Liang Ming sat opposite Zhang Qingxiao and asked, "How long have you been refining Yellow Dragon Pills?"

"Are you familiar with the process of refining Yellow Dragon Pills?"

Zhang Qingxiao told him his situation truthfully.

Since he was asking others for Alchemy experience, he naturally couldn't hide anything; that wouldn't benefit him in any way.

Knowing that he had just come into contact with the refining of Yellow Dragon Pills, Liang Ming didn't say anything more.

He took Zhang Qingxiao to a room specifically for Alchemy, "You refine a furnace of Yellow Dragon Pills first, let me see your situation."

"Only by knowing the problems can I better guide you."

Liang Ming had originally just wanted to get it over with, but after learning from his granddaughter about Zhang Qingxiao's actions outside his door for over an hour, his favor towards the person in front of him increased a little.

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Liang."

Zhang Qingxiao bowed, took out the medicinal ingredients he had brought, and laid them out.

Then, he came to the Pill Furnace and began to warm it up.

Liang Ming's Pill Furnace was of much higher quality than the one he used; when activating the fire-gathering Formation, he clearly felt that it consumed less Qi.

It was also much easier to control.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Zhang Qingxiao felt it was about right, so he followed the method recorded on the Pill Formula and put the medicinal ingredients into the Pill Furnace in order.