Fire Spirit Palace, Alchemy Meditation Room.

The sound of the pill fire crackling intertwined with Chen Sheng's steady voice of explanation.

Over a hundred disciples held their breath, focusing their gaze intently on the figure on the platform.

Today, Chen Sheng was explaining the fire control for a Tier One High Grade Elixir "Qi Condensing Powder."

With a flick of his finger, the spiritual fire at his fingertip transformed into tri-colored flames, swirling like a mist around the pill furnace. Every minute change was dissected with clarity and precision.

"At this point, it must be nurtured gently for three quarters of an hour; remember, impatience will lead to failure."

Chen Sheng withdrew the spiritual fire, and the lid of the pill furnace automatically sprang open.

Three smooth white pills floated up, each marked with three pill patterns, clearly a top-grade creation.

The fragrance of the pills immediately filled the entire hall.

The disciples all looked on in awe—under the hands of the Palace Master, the same materials resulted in a product over thirty percent more efficacious.

At that moment, Chen Sheng's voice suddenly halted.

His gaze swept over the audience below, and the once noisy hall instantly fell silent. All eyes were focused on him, even their breathing softened.

"Today, I have decided to accept two disciples from amongst you."

Chen Sheng spoke slowly, his voice not loud but clear enough for everyone to hear.

As his words fell, a low murmur of excitement rose from the audience, countless eyes shining with eager anticipation.

Everyone knew what it meant to become a direct disciple of the Palace Master!

Chen Sheng raised his hand in a calming gesture, and the hall immediately returned to silence.

He paused for a moment, then announced two names:

"Li Min, Hu Bao."

In the crowd, two young men looked up abruptly, their faces filled with surprise and excitement.

Li Min, a calm-faced cultivator clad in blue, trembled slightly in his fingertips upon hearing the news.

Hu Bao, on the other hand, was burly and had his mouth agape, unable to comprehend for a moment.

The envious gazes of the surrounding disciples were cast their way, some regretting why they hadn't concentrated more a moment ago, others muttering quietly.

These two individuals were already among the standouts among the disciples.

Li Min had solid alchemy skills, while Hu Bao had a natural talent for recognizing spiritual materials.

"Disciples pay respects to Master!"

Li Min and Hu Bao snapped out of their daze, hurriedly squeezing through the crowd, falling to their knees with a slight tremble in their voices due to excitement.

Chen Sheng nodded lightly.

Chen Sheng was the True Inheritor and the Palace Master of the Fire Spirit Palace.

Accepting disciples in the Fire Spirit Palace was a necessary procedure, and these disciples would become his trusted aides in the future.

Moreover, his selection of these two was no coincidence.

Li Min was a clansman of the third senior brother Li Yuan, whose father was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with a solid foundation.

Hu Bao was a direct descendant of Elder Hu Zexi from the Precepts Hall, honest by nature and popular among the disciples.

Their backgrounds were decent, and their path of cultivation required no worrying from Chen Sheng.

Both were endowed with High Grade Spiritual Roots, leading in alchemy talents among their peers, making their election a justifiable choice.

Chen Sheng stood with hands clasped behind his back and spoke calmly:

"You may rise."

"I once accepted another disciple who is now serving the family, and will introduce you to him in the future."

"Henceforth, Li Min shall be the second disciple, and Hu Bao the third disciple."

Both bowed deeply again, their foreheads touching the ground as they solemnly responded: "We will obey Master's commands!"

...

A few days later, outside the Hidden Dragon Cave Mansion.

"Take care, Elder Hu."

Chen Sheng stood at the entrance, watching a Cyan Rainbow disappear into the horizon.

The visitor was Hu Bao's grandfather, Elder Hu Zexi, Vice Hall Master of the Precepts Hall, who came specifically to deliver a gift to his grandson.

Chen Sheng turned back into the cave mansion, placing two storage pouches on the stone table.

The one on the left was from the Li Family, while the one on the right was a gift from the Hu Family.

Chen Sheng swept them with his divine sense and nodded gently—though not as generous as the resources offered by families like the Hua Clan, they were indeed sincere.

Within were not only twenty thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones but also three five-hundred-year-old Clear Spirit Grass and a piece of Cold Marrow Jade, all Tier Two Spiritual Objects suitable for refining mana.

All of which were useful to Chen Sheng, causing him to feel satisfied:

"Quite thoughtful."

He stored the items back into the storage pouch, just about to sit down for cultivation when the Communication Golden Order at his waist suddenly glowed faintly.

Extending his divine sense into it, he saw only five words: "Hurry to Danxin Cave."

Chen Sheng did not dare delay; his figure flickered, and he shot into the sky wrapped in Purple Thunder Rainbow Light, flying deep toward the Pill Furnace Peak.

...

The heat of the flames permeated throughout Danxin Cave.

As Chen Sheng stepped through the hall doors, he noticed several figures already present.

Second Senior Brother Li Guishou, Third Senior Brother Li Yuan, Fourth Senior Brother Li Changyang, Sixth Senior Brother Fang Lingxiao...

Chen Sheng was taken aback and realized even the Second Senior Brother, who usually resided in the Northern Wilderness, was here, indicating something important.

The Dragon Void Daoist sat in the main seat, flicked his fingers, and several streams of light fell before everyone, each transforming into a Warm Jade Meditation Mat.

"Sit down and let's talk."

"Yes!"

Everyone cupped their hands in salute and sat down in order.

The Dragon Void Daoist looked around, his expression growing serious:

"The reason I've summoned you all is to inform you of an important decision: the sect leadership has decided to expand westward, targeting the Miasma Forest of the Western Border."

"The Miasma Forest of the Western Border?" Li Guishou's head shot up, a trace of excitement flashing in his eyes.

The Dragon Void Daoist nodded:

"The place is shrouded with miasma, full of poisonous creatures, and even a Tier Three Demon King resides there. It is extremely perilous."

"After you return, prepare to refine some Antitoxic Pills and Healing Pills to stock up for the front lines' needs."

Li Yuan pondered and said, "Disciple understands, I will arrange for disciples of the Pill Hall to expedite the production of elixirs."

Sitting on the mat, Chen Sheng silently contemplated.

He had seen records of the Western Border Miasma Forest in the sect's archives.

The miasma there could corrode cultivators' meridians, and even Exotic Poisonous Heart Rot Powder was present. Even Foundation Establishment cultivators might perish if careless.

It seemed this expedition was going to be a tough battle.

"Alright." The Dragon Void Daoist waved his hand, "Second and third remain, the rest may leave."

Chen Sheng, along with Li Changyang and Fang Lingxiao, cupped their hands in salute and exited to the Guest Welcoming Pavilion outside the cave mansion.

Fang Lingxiao, being the most impatient, asked as soon as he steadied himself:

"What are we supposed to do for the Western expansion? We surely aren't going to refine pills in the Miasma Forest, are we?"

Li Changyang chuckled lightly:

"Rest assured, Sixth Junior Brother, this doesn't really concern those of us who haven't reached late-stage Foundation Establishment."

"We just need to focus on refining pills within the sect to supply the frontline's needs and earn contribution points."

Chen Sheng nodded in agreement, "Indeed! The opportunity for Core Formation isn't for us. Haven't you noticed Second and Third Senior Brothers are still inside listening to the master's instructions?"

After chatting a bit, Li Changyang left first under the excuse of "arranging elixir materials."

Chen Sheng pulled Fang Lingxiao, "Come, visit my cave mansion, let's discuss the new Pill Formula together."

...

Within Danxin Cave.

Only the Dragon Void Daoist remained with Li Guishou and Li Yuan.

"This expedition is an opportunity for you."

The Dragon Void Daoist took out a map and pointed to a red dot marked on it:

"Deep within the Miasma Forest of the Western Border, there may be 'Blood Spirit Flower,' 'Jade Marrow Reishi,' and other Core Formation Spiritual Objects, which are greatly beneficial for advancing to Golden Core."

"Additionally, if you can acquire the demon pills of those few Tier Three Demon Kings and refine them into Fake Pills, it could be a viable alternative path."

A flame ignited in Li Guishou's eyes instantly.

After failing to reach Golden Core last time, he now had less than thirty years of lifespan remaining. Refining the demon pill into a Fake Pill was his best option.

He immediately spoke up:

"I understand, Master! I will not miss this opportunity!"

Beside him, Li Yuan also clenched his fists, fully aware of the harsh reality of cultivation.

He was still relatively young, but wasn't Li Guishou also gifted back in the day?

If he didn't seize the time to plan for Core Formation objects, today's Second Senior Brother might be him tomorrow.

"I am willing to follow Second Senior Brother, even unto death!"

The Dragon Void Daoist nodded with satisfaction:

"Both of you have limited talent in alchemy, remaining at Tier Two High Grade so far, but fortunately, your skills in magical combat aren't weak."

"Well then, I will petition the Sect Leader to give you the opportunity to command a division and accumulate military achievements in exchange for Core Formation Spiritual Objects."

"You may leave and prepare well."

After the two bowed out, the Dragon Void Daoist was left alone in the cave.

He pulled out an aged picture from his sleeve, depicting an elder with white eyebrows and a dignified gaze.

The Dragon Void Daoist gently stroked the portrait, as though the elder in the image was quietly watching him, his voice tinged with emotion:

"Master."

"Now that I've nurtured a potential Fake Pill cultivator and two Tier Three Alchemist seeds, I've fulfilled your last wish."

"In the days to come, I should live for myself."

The Dragon Void Daoist sighed, putting the portrait away.

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