He's dead.

Seeing the conversation drifting off-topic, Qi Yuan finally remembered the purpose of his visit, quickly coughed lightly, and said with a cupped-hand salute:

"Senior Ancestor Zu, this Junior has come to visit uninvited to request your help in refining a furnace of creation mending heaven pill."

As he spoke, he took out the bag containing the Materials and the Pill Formula with an expectant look on his face and said respectfully:

"Of course, this time I will not let you labor in vain, Senior. I am willing to bear the full cost of opening the furnace as remuneration, as well as all expenses for refining this High Grade Saint Grade Medicinal Pill."

The Pill Saint Sect was not a charitable organization; to invite a Pill Saint to perform Alchemy, besides having sufficient status and standing, one also had to pay a large sum of Spirit Stones as remuneration.

Even so, countless distinguished big shots would break their heads just to get a chance.

After all, Zu Chengzhi publicly claimed to only refine three furnaces of Medicinal Pills each year; no matter how much you could stir up the Cultivation World, you could only honestly queue up at the Treasure Pill Pavilion.

The last time Liu Qi mentioned that the Pill Saint's Alchemy list was already booked more than five hundred years into the future, it was actually too conservative.

The reality was even more outrageous. Qi Yuan had just learned from Yu Yannian that if one were lucky enough to make an appointment now, the actual waiting time would already be approaching two thousand years, and it would only get longer in the future...

Hearing this, Qi Yuan was completely numb, and his determination to take the backdoor route became even firmer.

"Great-Grandfather."

On the other side, Zu Xianxian also recovered from her surprise and quickly chimed in from the side, "This time, it was Brother Qi who discovered the thief's tracks and even saved Da Pang, Er Pang, San Pang, and Si Pang. He has performed such a great service for our Pill Saint Sect; you must help him."

"Oh?" Zu Chengzhi asked, raising an eyebrow, "Since you know a Great Master of the Dao of Alchemy, why not let him help you?"

Seeming to feel his words were too blunt, he added, "Do not misunderstand, little friend. Although I can also refine the High Grade Saint Grade creation mending heaven pill, the success rate is only seventy or eighty percent; it cannot be considered foolproof."

Hearing this, Qi Yuan was stunned for a moment, then quickly explained, "That Senior is usually elusive and rarely seen; this Junior only happens to meet him occasionally."

"Furthermore, it doesn't care about this Junior's thoughts at all, and it is even less likely to refine pills according to my needs."

He was telling the absolute truth. The dog system always forced Medicinal Pills on him without ever considering if the Host needed them; it was all about doing whatever it pleased.

Expecting this trash System to refine a creation mending heaven pill for him was simply wishful thinking.

However, his words fell into the ears of Zu Chengzhi and were understood in a completely different way...

"So that's how it is." Zu Chengzhi nodded with a smile, indicating his understanding, "That Great Master's Alchemy is divine, so it is normal for him to have a quirky temper."

As he spoke, he reached out to take the bag of Materials from Qi Yuan's hand. After scanning it with his Divine Sense, he nodded and said in a warm tone, "Since that is the case, I will shamelessly accept your request."

"As for the remuneration, there is no need. You just gave me two peerless Medicinal Pills, and you have performed a great service for my Pill Saint Sect. It is just a single furnace of Medicinal Pills; let this be a token of gratitude."

Qi Yuan was overjoyed and immediately thanked him, "Thank you, Senior Ancestor Zu, for your help. This Junior is extremely grateful!"

"It is nothing." Zu Chengzhi waved his hand, then said with a serious expression, "The Materials you provided are very complete, which will save a lot of time."

"However, the creation mending heaven pill is, after all, a High Grade Saint Grade Medicinal Pill. The refining process is extremely tedious. Even if everything goes smoothly, it will take at least two months to be completed."

"If you have other matters, little friend, you may leave first and come back to collect the pill on the day it is finished."

Qi Yuan nodded, "Alright, then I will trouble you, Senior."

Two months was already much faster than he had anticipated; he had originally thought it would take at least half a year.

Being confident in refining a High Grade Saint Grade Medicinal Pill in two months was enough to prove that this Pill Saint was worthy of his reputation and truly the number one person in the Dao of Alchemy today.

After agreeing on the date to collect the pill, Qi Yuan took the token given by Zu Chengzhi and departed.

With this token, he would be able to enter the Pill Saint Sect at will when the time came.

Until Qi Yuan's back completely disappeared, Zu Xianxian reluctantly retracted her gaze and grumbled poutily, "Great-Grandfather, why didn't you let me see Brother Qi off? I still wanted him to continue telling me the story about the kid solving cases."

"A kid solving cases?" Zu Chengzhi was a bit confused, "What do you mean?"

"It's about a story of solving cases," Zu Xianxian pouted, "That kid seems to be called Conan something, very smart, but he was born with bad luck; wherever he goes, people die..."

Zu Chengzhi couldn't be bothered to ask further and instructed sternly, "Xianxian, how many times have I told you? Do not call me Great-Grandfather in front of outsiders; you must call me Master."

"It is rare to have the opportunity to refine a High Grade Saint Grade Medicinal Pill. During this time, you will stay by my side and assist me; learn as much as you can."

"Also, this Dao Child of Tai Xuan is definitely not simple. It is highly likely that there is an extremely mysterious Great Master of the Dao of Alchemy hidden behind him. That person's Alchemy has already reached the Realm of returning to simplicity, which is far beyond what I can achieve."

Hearing this, Zu Xianxian's eyes widened, and a look of anticipation suddenly appeared on her small face, "Great... uh no, Revered Master, what do you mean?"

Zu Chengzhi's expression slightly tightened, and he said calmly, "Let us observe a little longer. If such a Great Master truly exists, perhaps that problem which has plagued my Pill Saint Sect for tens of thousands of years might actually be solved..."

Not long after. Baleful Yin Sect Outer Sect. Blood Refining Peak, Immortal Cave Number One, Jia Rank.

Swoosh! A faint white light flashed, and Qi Yuan's figure appeared abruptly without causing a single ripple.

He subconsciously scanned his surroundings and, finding no signs that his Immortal Cave had been intruded upon, could not help but smile with satisfaction.

As expected, having a fearsome reputation had its benefits; at least when he, the Revered Master, was away, no petty thieves would dare to break in.

At this moment, Qi Yuan was in a very good mood. Not only was the creation mending heaven pill taken care of, but before long, the Taixuan Holy Land would also receive a batch of ten-thousand-year-old Spirit Medicine Kings; he had made a huge profit.

Especially that Old Mountain Ginseng, which had lived for at least hundreds of thousands of years; it could be called the King of Spirit Medicine Kings.

Even if it were just kept in the Spirit Medicine garden, it would greatly increase the growth speed of all the spirit plants in the garden, enough to drive countless factions crazy.

Now, there were still about ten days until the agreed-upon time to close the net. Since he could teleport to the Taixuan Holy Land at any time, he did not need to rush over, so he decided to just stay in the Baleful Yin Sect for now.

Currently, the main quest was still within the scope of returning to the Baleful Yin Sect. As an "Outer Sect Disciple", disappearing for a long time would inevitably arouse suspicion.

After putting away the sign outside that read [In seclusion, please do not disturb], Qi Yuan swaggered out, preparing to go sit with a certain enchantress.

Seeming to notice him coming out of the Immortal Cave, several Outer Sect Disciples immediately rushed over with panicked expressions, greeting him tremblingly, "Qi... Master Qi, hello."

Qi Yuan nodded in acknowledgment, but his tone carried a hint of confusion, "What is it?"

These guys were so scared, yet they still dared to come over to greet him; there must be something going on.

The person leading them swallowed hard and managed to squeeze out a stiff smile, "Master Qi, Elder Geng of the Outer Sect has just come out of seclusion, and he specifically asked to see you."

Elder Geng? Qi Yuan frowned, then nodded and replied, "Alright, then I will trouble you all to lead the way."

He knew that there was an Elder in charge of teaching the Outer Sect Disciples on Blood Refining Peak. The reason he hadn't appeared before was because he was in seclusion to condense his Nascent Soul.

Now that the other party had come out of seclusion, he must have already known the fact that the Disciples of Blood Refining Peak were almost all killed. Sending someone to summon him was most likely to hold him accountable.

Regarding this, Qi Yuan was not afraid. Even if Elder Geng successfully broke through to the Nascent Soul, he was only at the Early Nascent Soul Stage; there was nothing to be afraid of.

Soon, Qi Yuan arrived at the main hall at the peak under the guidance of those few Outer Sect Disciples. "Master Qi, Elder Geng is inside; please go in yourself."

After speaking, they immediately greased the soles of their feet and slipped away.

Seeing that person enter the main hall with composure, a guard outside the hall gave a cold smile and whispered to his companion, "It is this brat who killed Elder Geng's most valued Junior, Wu Renjie, and caused Elder Geng to lose all face in the Outer Sect. He is dead meat!"