Class is dismissed.

The lingering warmth in the quiet room has yet to disperse.

While a group of Qi Refining disciples were eager to step forward and ask questions, the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the last row had already surrounded Chen Sheng like stars around the moon.

Their faces were filled with eagerness as they inquired about alchemy insights, their words full of a desire to connect.

Chen Sheng responded with a smile, calmly exchanging Communication Jade Talismans with everyone:

"Fellow Elders, the path of alchemy is broad and profound. Let us pause here for today and discuss it in detail another day."

He turned his gaze to the Qi Refining disciples eagerly waiting for their turn:

"Let me first resolve the queries of these young ones."

Although reluctant, the Foundation Establishment cultivators knew better than to linger and courteously took their leave.

Several 'nephews' stationed here didn't forget to remind the disciples as they left:

"Learn well from the Palace Master."

"Do not waste this opportunity."

After seeing everyone off, Chen Sheng turned around with a gentle smile, patiently addressing the disciples' questions.

From the subtle differences in spiritual material combinations to breath regulation during fire control, he explained everything thoroughly, never neglecting even the most basic questions.

Time passed quietly in the exchange of questions and answers.

Until the sun set in the west, and Chen Sheng turned into a streak of pale golden light, quietly vanishing outside the quiet room door.

As soon as he left, the room erupted into excitement.

A round-faced disciple, flushed with excitement:

"The Palace Master's alchemy skills are incredible! Even the elders were entranced, their looks as they left, it was as if they had met a kindred spirit!"

"Incredible is an understatement, the Palace Master's lectures are so clear, even clearer than those of the stationed elders."

"Those fire technique changes that I couldn't understand before, I instantly grasped them after his explanation!"

"If only I could become his disciple…"

Someone murmured softly, eyes full of longing, immediately echoed by a chorus of agreement.

…

Returning to the Hidden Dragon Cave Mansion, Chen Sheng left the trivial matters of the Fire Spirit Palace behind him—there were nephews to handle them.

His senior brothers had always been hands-off, and he followed their example.

The cave mansion was filled with spiritual qi.

Sitting cross-legged on a futon, a thought from his Divine Sense made a Tier Two Lower Grade "Cloud Ascending Pill" fly out from the jade bottle, directly into his mouth.

The pill melted upon entry, transforming into a vast torrent of mana that rushed straight to his Dantian.

Chen Sheng operated the "Pure Yang Qi Technique," guiding the medicinal power to refine quickly. In just half an hour, it was transformed into strands of pure mana, merging into the whirlpool in his Dantian.

He sighed inwardly:

"Indeed, Enhancing Technique Elixirs are swift. A single Cloud Ascending Pill saved me half a year of arduous cultivation."

Feeling the slight blockage in his meridians caused by the rapid refining of the medicinal power and the mixed impurities in his mana.

Chen Sheng extracted a drop of smooth, pearl-like liquid from a crystalline jade bottle — Tier Two Lower Grade "Cold Marrow Liquid."

Although not as immediate as Spirit Rhinoceros Liquid or Ice Heart Marrow used during Foundation Establishment, it was perfect for daily nurturing.

A single drop down his throat turned into a clear stream, gently washing away the blockages in the meridians and stripping away the impurities hidden in the mana.

After a long time, Chen Sheng slowly opened his eyes and condensed a wisp of mana at his fingertips, observing its purer crimson hue, and sighed softly:

"A drop of Cold Marrow Liquid costs three thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones. It feels like consuming Spirit Stones rather than elixirs."

He shook his head, dispelled these distracting thoughts, and switched to operating the Body Refining Technique to continue condensing Blood Gang.

The cave mansion was filled with surging blood and qi, intertwined with the surrounding spiritual qi to form a faint red mist.

…

Another month slipped by quietly.

One day, Wu Lingshuang entered the Hidden Dragon Cave Mansion holding a gilded invitation.

Chen Sheng took the invitation, raised an eyebrow as he saw the four golden characters "Cyan Wood Commerce Association" shining on the cover:

"The Cyan Wood Commerce Association's auction?"

"Exactly."

Wu Lingshuang nodded, her tone carrying a bit of solemnity:

"An elder from the Commerce Association secretly informed me that this auction has gathered many rare items, and even a Core Formation Spiritual Object may appear."

A flash of surprise crossed Chen Sheng's eyes:

"Is this true?"

Wu Lingshuang analyzed:

"They wouldn't dare speak falsely. Once the news is released, even the Fake Pill families might be tempted. If it's a falsehood, how would they end it?"

Chen Sheng nodded, continuing to inquire: "When and where will it be held?"

Wu Lingshuang:

"Two months later, at the Cyan Wood Commerce Association Headquarters in Fenghua Immortal City."

Chen Sheng tapped the invitation with his finger, pondering for a moment:

"I'll go take a look then."

Wu Lingshuang paused, then added:

"By the way, my lord, the Chen Clan in Fenghua Immortal City has been having some issues lately…"

Through her account, Chen Sheng quickly sorted out the situation.

As rumors of the Chen Clan Elder's imminent death grew, several forces coveting the Chen Clan's assets began to make their moves.

They dared not resort to open violence but joined forces to seize the mining rights to a Tier Two Top Grade ore vein from the Sect, a core asset of the Chen Clan.

"How did the Chen Clan respond?" Chen Sheng asked.

Wu Lingshuang chuckled softly: "Their reaction was quite intense! I heard several Foundation Establishment cultivators have already fallen in that mine."

Chen Sheng nodded: "What do you think?"

Wu Lingshuang replied:

"I think they're being pushed to the limit."

"Over the years, the Chen Clan has relinquished many industries, yet the others are still aggressive, it's unbearable."

"But resorting to violence exposes their weakness, as it violates agreed norms."

Chen Sheng shook his head:

"You oversimplify things. Force is the most effective and stable thing in this world."

"With their Elder not yet deceased, their willingness to act implies they have a fallback plan."

A glint of deeper meaning flashed in his eyes:

"Those families are likely overconfident. The Fake Pill Family has deep roots, and even if Elder Chen passes, would he not have left contingencies?"

"Just wait, there'll be a good show to watch!"

Hearing this, Wu Lingshuang fell into contemplation.

Chen Sheng, however, said no more—ordinary people couldn't imagine the influence of a Fake Pill Cultivator.

Only someone in the Sect's inner circle like him, a True Inheritor, could vaguely sense that latent threat.

Never mind if the tiger is merely old, even if it's dead, its remnants are enough to deter petty criminals.

…

Another month passed by.

In the Hidden Dragon Cave Mansion, a dozen small array banners slowly rotated around Chen Sheng, arranged according to the Nine Palaces formation.

As his Divine Sense fluctuated, without casting any spells, the spirit light on the array banners suddenly flared.

A semi-transparent light shield spread from him as the center, enveloping a corner of the cave mansion, and a basic Spirit Gathering Array quietly formed.

Chen Sheng opened his eyes, sensed the increasingly precise connection between his Divine Sense and the array banners, and revealed a faint smile:

"The first layer of 'Divine Inference Array' is finally perfect."

Closing his eyes, he could clearly perceive his improved control over his Divine Sense compared to before.

Trying to recreate the Yin Yang Fire Technique, every flicker and every subtle temperature change of the flame was within his Divine Sense's control.

Though there was still a gap from entering the microcosm control, it was a crucial step forward.

Chen Sheng murmured to himself:

"This cannot be rushed."

"Once I attain the third layer and become a Tier Two High Grade Alchemist, it will naturally fall into place."

As he contemplated, the Communication Golden Order at his waist suddenly lit up.

Scanning it with his Divine Sense, he found it was a message from Wu Lingshuang saying that the Chen Clan issue had temporarily calmed down as an elder stationed in Immortal City sent trusted disciples to mediate.

"They actually mediated?" He was slightly surprised, then shook his head, not delving further.

No matter the intrigue within, whether storms threaten to rise or undercurrents surge, his master has his back, these squalls won't reach him for now.

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