Elder Xu, hearing Qin Ming's words, immediately expressed regret:

"Alas~ It would be wonderful if Fellow Daoist Qin would join our Profound Creek Valley."

"Although I am not very proficient in the Alchemy Dao, our Profound Creek Valley has a complete inheritance of it."

Qin Ming, hearing this, was instantly invigorated and asked calmly, "Does that even include a Tier Three Alchemy inheritance?"

"Indeed, it does."

"Our Profound Creek Valley's founding ancestor, Yunxi Ancestor, was a Tier Three High-Grade Alchemy Grandmaster!"

As Elder Xu spoke, a proud expression surfaced in his words.

Clearly, he held deep respect for their ancestor.

"As far as I know, quite a few Tier Three pill formulas were passed down by the ancestor, but they are all guarded by those old fellows at Pill Peak."

"Even ordinary Tier Three pill formulas are difficult to access."

"And we even have the Golden Core Formation Pill Formula."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming deliberately exclaimed in surprise, "The Golden Core Formation Pill Formula?"

Elder Xu saw Qin Ming's stunned reaction, which was understandable.

"That's right! Hehe! Among the Golden Core sects in the four countries of the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm, only our Profound Creek Valley masters the method of concocting the Golden Core Formation Pill."

"However, even our sect's only Tier Three Alchemy Grandmaster—Grandmaster Gongsun Yang—has a very low success rate in concocting the Golden Core Formation Pill."

"He says that the difficulty of making the Golden Core Formation Pill is unknown and far greater than that of ordinary Tier Three spiritual pills, reaching a level beyond ordinary alchemists."

"Moreover, the materials needed for concocting the Golden Core Formation Pill are extremely rare; one main ingredient, the Fire-Bathing Golden Lotus, is not only scarce in the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm but also exceedingly rare even in the resource-abundant Great Jin Immortal Dynasty."

Once familiar with Qin Ming, Elder Xu opened up and chatted at length with him.

Qin Ming expressed a bit of envy, saying, "Profound Creek Valley's systematic inheritance of the Alchemy Dao truly deserves its reputation as the foremost sect in Liang Country."

"Haha! Indeed, our Liang Country is unlike Wei Country, with an incomparable depth as well as valuing the discovery and cultivation of all kinds of talented cultivators."

"Back then, Grandmaster Gongsun Yang emerged from our sect's Pill Tower assessment held every ten years."

"To think, Gongsun Yang was once just a cowherd boy near the border of Liang Country."

"If not for that Pill Tower assessment, perhaps we wouldn't have today's Tier Three Alchemy Grandmaster in Profound Creek Valley, haha."

Elder Xu of Profound Creek Valley didn't keep much from Qin Ming, as these matters within the sect weren't exactly secrets.

Moreover, Qin Ming had thoughtfully answered his questions and resolved his doubts for two whole days, leaving Elder Xu with a very favorable impression and willing to chat further.

"The Pill Tower?"

Qin Ming asked, puzzled.

Elder Xu smiled slightly and explained, "Friend Qin, the Pill Tower assessment is quite similar in nature to our Spirit Plant Master's Illusion Realm trial with the Wood Array."

"This assessment was established by our founding ancestor, Yunxi Ancestor, to select and evaluate talents in the Alchemy Dao."

"It's also the reason why the inheritance of the Alchemy Dao at Profound Creek Valley remains enduringly prosperous."

"Passing the 7th Layer or higher in the Pill Tower grants unexpected additional rewards."

"And these rewards are all closely related to the Alchemy Dao, such as Pill Furnace, pill formulas, alchemy spiritual materials, pill techniques, Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire, etc."

"However, the difficulty of passing is no ordinary affair. Even though our Profound Creek Valley recruits a group of disciples specializing in the Alchemy Dao every ten years, in several centuries, only a few have managed to pass the 6th Layer and above."

Hearing this, Qin Ming nodded, with thoughtful contemplation in his heart.

"I see."

"If that's the case, doesn't it mean that the more levels you pass in the Pill Tower, the richer the rewards?"

Elder Xu replied, "Exactly."

"Our sect's Elder Gongsun Yang received an unbelievably rare segment of Tier Three High-Grade Soul Nourishing Wood and a Tier Three Middle-Grade Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire after passing the 7th and 8th Layers of the Pill Tower."

"This allowed him, in his subsequent studies, to break through as a Tier Three Alchemy Grandmaster."

"I suspect that at the higher levels of the Pill Tower, even the inheritance of Tier Three pill formulas might exist."

"Could it be... Fellow Daoist Qin is also interested in our sect's Pill Tower?"

"Why not simply join my Profound Creek Valley? What's there in Wei Country anyway? Not only is it riddled with the damage from beast tides, but I've also heard a formidable demon has recently emerged, leaving even the three Golden Cores overwhelmed..."

Elder Xu's voice was persuasive, steering the conversation back to this subject.

He genuinely admired Qin Ming immensely.

Hearing this, Qin Ming chuckled wryly and politely declined Elder Xu's kind offer.

Having obtained the information he wanted, it was about time to end the conversation.

"In any case, I still want to thank Friend Qin for clarifying and explaining things, enlightening me."

"Friend Qin's unique insights into the Path of Spiritual Plants have truly been eye-opening for me."

"No wonder you're able to bring back the long-lost Spirit Nesting Rice after a hundred years of absence in the Cultivation Realm."

"You are the most promising Spirit Plant Master I have ever seen; the future holds great potential for you."

"Elder Xu, you flatter me. We are just exchanging insights with each other," Qin Ming replied humbly.

"Alas, if I weren't unable to stay out long and with a pile of sect affairs to handle, I'd have stayed for a few more days..."

"Friend Qin, you must visit my Liang Country's Profound Creek Valley when you have the chance, so we can have another long chat, haha."

"I shall extend Elder Xu's invitation, as I'd love to witness the splendor of Liang Country's great sect."

…

After the exchange ended.

Qin Ming, escorted by both Elder Xu and Xu Jing, left the Pill Furnace Pavilion.

At the entrance of the Pill Furnace Pavilion.

"Great-grandfather, what do you make of Fellow Daoist Qin?"

"Alas, this young man is definitely no ordinary person, but alas, his heart lies in the fields, unrestrained. Despite my repeated invitations to test him, such a cultivator will never easily join a sect force, nor can he be used by me."

"However, maintaining good relations with him is not a bad move."

"If one day, Friend Qin becomes a Tier Three Spirit Plant Grandmaster or even a Tier Three Alchemy Grandmaster."

"By then, wanting to befriend him would be too late."

Elder Xu sighed long and deeply.

"Tier Three Grandmaster?!"

Xu Jing was utterly stunned, never expecting her grandfather to hold such high regard for Fellow Daoist Qin.

A Tier Three Grandmaster could stand at the pinnacle of the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm...

On the other side.

Qin Ming had already obtained the information he wanted from Elder Xu of Profound Creek Valley.

The Golden Core Formation Pill Formula, besides being inside Pill Peak and with Tier Three Alchemy Grandmaster Gongsun Yang, was also highly likely to exist at the upper levels of the Pill Tower.

'Profound Creek Valley conducts a Pill Tower assessment every ten years to select disciples...'

'Perhaps, this could be an opportunity...'

'However, I need to wait until I break through to the late-stage Foundation Establishment to plan for this.'

'By that time, my strength should be such that, even if unable to rival the Golden Core Ancestors, I should be able to escape unscathed.'

'Of course, if I could secretly acquire the Golden Core Formation Pill Formula, that would be ideal.'

All the materials needed for refining the Jade Profound Pill had also been gathered, and upon returning to the island, he could begin refining immediately.

Then.

Qin Ming visited Lvu Liang.

He had originally promised to have a meal at his residence on the first day.

But unexpectedly, he encountered Elder Xu, eager for knowledge, and ended up talking for two days straight.

Arriving at Lvu Liang's estate, the two exchanged greetings.

Then, Lvu Wanjun personally prepared a table full of food and wine.

Qin Ming also took out a jar of Spirit Fire Wine, pouring a cup for both Lvu Liang and his disciple.

Lvu Liang, having heard of the famous Spirit Fire Wine brewed by Qin Ming, remembered that it was once auctioned at Mirror Snow Pavilion and sold for an extremely high price.

Qin Ming, being so generous in sharing the spirit wine, did not decline.

Lvu Wanjun had long coveted it.

Before long, she had drunk several cups; this wine, for Qin Ming and Lvu Liang, might satisfy only the palate.

But for her, at an early-stage Foundation Establishment, it significantly boosted her cultivation level.

Amidst the clinking of cups and light conversation, Qin Ming also inquired about the recent changes in the situation at Vast Sea Immortal City from Lvu Liang.

After all, he held a position at the top of the Immortal City, and naturally, he knew a lot of the latest intelligence and news.

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