108: Dan Pavilion

Lu Xuan only had a slight understanding of the Alchemy Pavilion, knowing it was home to a group of Alchemists.

Moreover, it was rumored that an Advanced Alchemist presided over the Alchemy Pavilion on Lake Heart Island, though no one had ever seen them.

Most of the Medicinal Pills on the island came from there; selling his own pills might be encroaching on their territory.

However, since they had invited him so politely, it suggested the outcome wouldn't be too bad... Three days later, at Cuiyun Pavilion.

Su Dingbei loyally accompanied Lu Xuan, which earned him a bit more respect in Lu Xuan's eyes.

After all, the Alchemy Pavilion was no small power.

Second-floor private room.

Su Dingbei had booked a private room; one must know that the minimum spend for such a room was three Spirit Stones.

It could be said that Su Dingbei had really gone all out this time.

Lu Xuan and he sat in the room, drinking high-quality Yunlu Tea.

This single pot of spiritual tea alone was worth eighty spirit grains.

Wisps of Spiritual Qi flowed through their limbs and bones.

"The fragrance lingers in the mouth with an endless aftertaste. As expected of spiritual tea; I've certainly gained some insight today."

Su Dingbei savored the tea.

Knock, knock, knock.

Opening the door, two Cultivators appeared—one tall and one short, one old and one young.

"May I ask if you are the Seniors from the Alchemy Pavilion?"

"Indeed. Are you that Alchemist?"

"No, no. This is Alchemist Wang Teng, Fellow Daoist Wang."

Su Dingbei, who had opened the door, quickly stepped aside to reveal Lu Xuan sitting inside.

The two walked in.

"Greetings, Seniors."

Lu Xuan bowed. Although he sensed no danger from the tall young man, he felt a faint threat from the older man, who was clearly a Late Stage Qi Refining expert.

"There is no need for such formality, Fellow Daoist. I am merely a few years older; we may address each other as Fellow Daoists."

"I am Helan Zhiyuan, and this is my grandson, Helan Jin."

"Fellow Daoist."

Helan Jin gave a salute.

"Please, sit down, both of you."

The four sat facing each other in pairs.

"I wonder what advice you have for me today?"

Lu Xuan got straight to the point, without any attempt at testing the waters.

"Fellow Daoist Wang is indeed a straightforward person. We have come today on behalf of the Alchemy Pavilion."

"I wonder if you know much about the Alchemy Pavilion?"

"I have heard a little, but I do not know the full picture. I hope you can enlighten me."

"Hahaha."

Helan Zhiyuan stroked his beard and laughed.

"You are truly a person of genuine character. Even if others didn't know, they would say they'd heard of our great name. Your 'heard a little' is quite refreshing."

"To know what you know and know what you do not know—that is true knowledge!"

Lu Xuan replied casually.

Helan Zhiyuan pondered the phrase repeatedly, his eyes growing brighter.

"You are indeed a man of great wisdom. I shall not waste words then."

"The Alchemy Pavilion spans across the Bishui Linglan Continent and is a neutral power within it. Our headquarters is in Holy Pill City, tens of thousands of miles away—a city entirely composed of Alchemists."

"The City Lord who established Holy Pill City is a Tier 4 Dao Lord of Alchemy, capable of refining Nascent Soul Stage pills. His strength is also at the Nascent Soul Stage, and he is incredibly powerful; people call him Dao Lord Qingmu."

“Holy Pill City has been established for over a thousand years. Although its history is short, its influence is immense."

"In the Bishui Linglan Continent, almost every power, large or small, has a presence of the Alchemy Pavilion, and nearly ninety percent of Alchemists are registered with us."

"The Alchemy Pavilion here on Lake Heart Island is a branch of Holy Pill City."

"Holy Pill City? ...Dao Lord Qingmu..."

Lu Xuan muttered to himself.

Helan Zhiyuan took a sip of tea and continued.

"Holy Pill City is a vast power but remains strictly neutral. Moreover, Dao Lord Qingmu established a very thorough registration system. Anyone who reaches the level of Junior Alchemist can register at the Alchemy Pavilion. You can choose to join the pavilion or simply register."

"Once registered, you can choose to become a member. By completing monthly tasks, you can receive the pavilion's protection and eventually purchase foundation establishment pill within the pavilion."

"If you do not join, you can still use your Rank status to freely enter and leave the Alchemy Pavilion, exchange insights with other registered members, and even visit Holy Pill City in the future."

"So, you two have come today to invite me to register?"

"Of course. It would be even better if Fellow Daoist Wang could join the Alchemy Pavilion. Currently, there are only five Alchemists in our Autumn Water Lake branch."

"Then how many have registered?"

"Only the Pavilion Master knows the number of registered Alchemists."

Helan Zhiyuan looked at Lu Xuan with squinted eyes, appearing very amiable.

"How do I purchase the foundation establishment pill?"

"As long as you complete pavilion tasks, you will earn Contribution Points. Once you have enough Contribution Points, you can use Spirit Stones to purchase a foundation establishment pill."

"Contribution Points?"

"If you complete the tasks on time every year, you get a fixed ten Contribution Points. Once you collect two hundred points, you can buy a foundation establishment pill. One pill only costs ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, which is only half the price of the outside world."

"Ten thousand?"

Lu Xuan had no reaction, but Su Dingbei, standing beside him, was stunned.

Although he knew he had no hope of Foundation Establishment in this life, hearing that it cost ten thousand internally and twenty thousand externally still filled his heart with despair.

"Hehe, do not be surprised, Fellow Daoist. Being able to buy it for twenty thousand is already lucky. Do you know that at the Imperial City auction a few months ago, a single foundation establishment pill sold for fifty thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones?"

"An auction in the Imperial City?"

"It was in the Imperial City of Yue Kingdom. The Purple Sun Sect put up a foundation establishment pill for auction, and it finally sold for fifty thousand."

Hiss—

Both Lu Xuan and Su Dingbei sucked in a breath of cold air.

One must know that Su Dingbei's salary was only fifteen Spirit Stones a month. Even if he didn't eat or drink, it would take nearly two hundred and eighty years to save fifty thousand.

"Two hundred and eighty years... A Qi Refining Cultivator usually only lives for about a hundred and fifty years. Hahahaha!"

Su Dingbei bitterly downed a cup of wine.

"foundation establishment pill are inherently rare. There are so many Cultivators stuck at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining; the foundation establishment pill are always in short supply. If some Prodigies want to use a 'spiritual essence' for Foundation Establishment, the cost could reach over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. No one but Immortal Clans or Great Sects can afford that."

"Therefore, the ten thousand Spirit Stones and two hundred Contribution Points of our Alchemy Pavilion are actually the easiest way for you to achieve it. Most Alchemists in the pavilion come for these foundation establishment pill."

Listening to Helan Zhiyuan's introduction, Lu Xuan naturally knew he wasn't lying.

In the end, he still chose to refuse.

"Please forgive me, Fellow Daoist. I am used to being a free spirit. I will go to the Alchemy Pavilion to register, but as for joining, we can discuss that later."

Lu Xuan didn't completely close the door on the idea.

"Very well. Since Fellow Daoist Wang has his own plans, we shall take our leave. You only need to find some time to register at the Alchemy Pavilion."

"Thank you both for coming personally. I am terribly sorry."

"Don't say that. The Alchemy Pavilion is a place of freedom. If you change your mind one day, you can come find me there."

"Please, stay!"

"Take care, Fellow Daoists."

..."Grandfather, why do you value this Wang Teng so much? I see he is already around thirty and is only a Junior Alchemist. Even if he achieves something in the future, he'll likely only be an Advanced Alchemist. Breaking through to Rank 1 won't be that easy."

Helan Jin was somewhat puzzled. He was supposed to be studying at the Alchemy Pavilion today, but his grandfather had unexpectedly called him to meet this Wang Teng.

He thought it would be some formidable character, but it turned out to be just a Junior Alchemist.

"What do you know? Do you know how long it took this Wang Teng to become a Junior Alchemist?"

"How long?"

"Hmph, only a bit more than half a year. Do you know what that signifies?"

"Half a year? How is that possible?"

"His Legacy likely comes from Peng Liangcai."

"Back then, Peng Liangcai was also a registered Junior Alchemist in the pavilion. During his assessment, he also refined those qi gathering pill. Furthermore, the Pill Furnace he used is now being used by Wang Teng."

"How long has it been since he obtained the Legacy?"

Hiss—

Helan Jin was greatly shocked. He looked back at the restaurant as if trying to see through the window to find out what was so different about Lu Xuan that made him so formidable.