Imperial City.
Lei family residence.
This place was where the Lei clan's main lineage resided.
As for some branch members, if they were valued by the main lineage, they also lived in the Imperial City, though not here but rather crowded together with other Qi Refining families in the western area.
Those not valued were distributed throughout the commandery cities.
The eastern district of the Imperial City was inhabited by either Foundation Establishment families or Foundation Establishment wandering cultivators.
The imperial Cao family was also here, occupying the area with the most concentrated spiritual qi.
The southern region had many trading marketplaces, as well as Qi Refining sects and wandering cultivator forces entrenched there. The most famous was the Dan Hall.
The pill marketplace near it was also the most bustling and prosperous marketplace in the southern district.
At Lei residence main hall, Xu Chuan sat waiting for a while before a dignified middle-aged man walked in from outside and directly sat in the main seat.
"Family Head, Chief Yun Zhongzi wasn't present, so this subordinate invited the Dan Hall's elder ranked second in pill refining skill, Elder Sansu." Lei Feng lowered his head and cupped his fists toward the main seat.
"The Dan Hall Elder Sansu who refined the superior-grade Divine Sense Pills?"
"Family Head Lei has actually heard of this poor Daoist's name. This is truly a great honor for three lifetimes." Xu Chuan also stood as he spoke.
Although Xu Chuan hadn't probed, he figured that anyone who could become the Lei family head must have Foundation Establishment cultivation, so he didn't dare casually probe with divine consciousness.
"Master Sansu, you're too polite. Please, have a seat."
"Thank you, Family Head Lei." After Xu Chuan sat down, he asked, "I wonder what pill matter Family Head Lei wishes to inquire about by inviting this poor Daoist here?"
"Master Sansu, take a look at this pill formula. Can you refine it?"
The Lei family head swept his sleeve, and a pill formula flew out from his storage bag, landing accurately in Xu Chuan's hand.
The name and effects of this pill formula had been deliberately concealed, showing only the materials.
Xu Chuan looked carefully and confirmed that this pill formula should be complete. Based on the spirit medicines listed, he could also deduce it was a longevity-increasing pill.
Someone in the Lei family was nearing the end of their lifespan?
Was it the Lei family's ancestor?
Seeing Xu Chuan's brow slightly furrow, the Lei family head said indifferently, "How does this pill compare to the Divine Sense Pill you've been refining?"
"Several times more complex. This is also the first time this poor Daoist has seen a pill formula requiring so many materials."
The Lei family head waved his hand, and Lei Feng immediately left the place.
After a moment, he simply formed a seal, and a layer of faint light immediately enveloped the entire hall.
"Since Master Sansu's pill Dao accomplishments rank second in the Dan Hall, you must be able to deduce from the formula's materials what type of pill this is, correct?"
"Longevity-increasing type."
The Lei family head smiled faintly, "Exactly. Isn't Master curious about who in my Lei family needs it?"
"This poor Daoist deeply understands that going too far is as bad as not going far enough. Whatever Family Head Lei asks this poor Daoist to do, this poor Daoist will do." Xu Chuan said respectfully.
"Master Sansu is straightforward." The Lei family head said, "The formula's materials have already been prepared. My Lei family has also prepared a pill room for your use in refining pills. As long as Master Sansu can refine this pill, you will henceforth be an honored guest of my Lei family. If you have any difficulties, you can bring them to my Lei family."
Refine it successfully and become an honored guest. Fail to refine it, and at best he'd have to swear a restriction not to spread what he saw or heard in the Lei family. At worst, he'd be silenced permanently.
Although this possibility wasn't high, after all, Xu Chuan was a Dan Hall elder, someone Yun Zhongzi valued and behind the Dan Hall stood the imperial family.
It could be said that the Dan Hall primarily refined pills for the imperial family.
Casually killing a Dan Hall elder with excellent potential would lead to the imperial family questioning the Lei family, potentially even triggering conflict.
"May I ask how many portions of materials there are? This pill requires so many materials and is so difficult to refine. This is also the first time this poor Daoist is refining this type of pill. I truly cannot guarantee the pill formation rate."
"Ten portions." The Lei family head said indifferently, "My Lei family, gathering the entire clan's strength, has currently only collected ten portions."
"Master Sansu, you only need to refine one pill, and that will be sufficient."
Xu Chuan grumbled inwardly. Longevity-increasing pills were inherently heaven-defying pills with no distinction between low, medium, and high grades. One furnace couldn't possibly produce large quantities.
Even top pill Dao masters who could produce two or three pills from one furnace would be benefiting from the pill Dao ancestor's divine intervention.
"Ten portions, this is forcing me to put forth my full effort."
After pondering briefly, Xu Chuan cupped his fists, "This poor Daoist will try his best."
"Much obliged."
Having said this, the Lei family head withdrew the hall's restriction and had someone take Xu Chuan to the pill room.
"A longevity-increasing pill. I wonder, after this pill is refined, how much longevity can it add? It shouldn't be something as simple as three to five years."
Xu Chuan let out a long breath and activated the pill room's restriction to prevent others from disturbing him.
He slapped his storage bag, and the Phoenix Furnace flew out, settling over the earth fire passage opening.
"Fortunately, I've been using the Phoenix Furnace to refine pills recently and have become familiar with it. Plus, after my divine sense transformed, the Nine Flames Formula has consecutively broken through to the five flames level. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have much confidence."
Xu Chuan didn't dare refine carelessly. He still first tasted the hundred herbs, identified their medicinal properties, and confirmed their mutual conflicts to avoid carelessly fusing medicinal liquids during pill refining.
For many pill formulas, incorrect medicinal liquid fusion sequences would lead to pill refining failure or reduced pill quality.
This pill formula had a total of thirty-six materials.
Just confirming the medicinal property changes took Xu Chuan four or five days.
Fortunately, Xu Chuan's pill Dao accomplishments had increased considerably. With his Divine Farmer's Hundred Herbs talent, he could grasp the medicinal property changes and conflicts in advance.
After only three furnaces, he produced completed pills, though unfortunately they were waste pills.
Two more consecutive furnaces of waste pills followed.
Sixth furnace, Xu Chuan successfully refined one longevity-increasing pill.
Seventh furnace failed.
Eighth furnace produced one pill.
Ninth furnace, one pill.
The tenth furnace unexpectedly produced two pills.
Looking at the five pills, Xu Chuan pondered, then ultimately put away four and only took one to give to the Lei family head.
"Good, good, good! As expected, it's the Azure Bloom Pill!"
Looking at the greenish-white pill in his hand, its surface marked with azure patterns that shimmered like rosy clouds, the Lei family head knew Xu Chuan had indeed refined it successfully and wasn’t merely perfunctory with him.”
This was also why he had deliberately concealed the pill's name and description.
"So this pill is called Azure Bloom Pill." Xu Chuan murmured.
"That's right. Azure Bloom Pill can increase a Foundation Establishment cultivator's lifespan by thirty years, a Qi Refining cultivator's by sixty years. Even among longevity pills, it's considered superior-grade. However, it's almost ineffective for Golden Core cultivators."
"What about for mortals?"
"Mortals? Naturally it can also increase longevity by sixty years. However, an immortal cultivator needs to refine it for them. Otherwise, a mortal body cannot withstand this type of immortal pill." The Lei family head was stunned for a moment but still answered Xu Chuan clearly.
"Master Sansu is truly worthy of being a pill Dao master. Your level is not inferior to Yun Zhongzi in the slightest."
"I dare not compare myself to the chief." Xu Chuan said modestly.
The Lei family head smiled faintly, then tossed Xu Chuan a Lei family token.
"This is my Lei family's token. All Great Wei families who see it will give three parts of face. As long as they're not mortal enemies, they definitely won't attack Master. Otherwise, it would be a provocation against my Lei family."
Xu Chuan didn't refuse and immediately stored it in his storage bag.
"Master Sansu has greatly helped my Lei family. Is there anything else you need? My Lei family will definitely find it for you."
"No need." Xu Chuan waved his hand with a smile, "Having that token just now is better than everything else."
"Haha, Master Sansu is truly worthy of being a pill Dao master. Lei admires you. From now on, if you have any matters, just come to the Lei family. Show the token, and no one in my Lei family will dare to stop you. You'll also be treated with courtesy."
Pausing, he continued, "However, regarding today's matter, please have Master Sansu swear a Heavenly Dao oath to never divulge it."
Xu Chuan immediately complied and swore never to divulge it.
The Lei family head breathed a sigh of relief, his face full of smiles. He even personally escorted him outside the residence gates.
"Four Azure Bloom Pills, invaluable. The Lei family token can also serve as a shield for my Xu family in the future. Truly doing good deeds without leaving one's name."
The corners of Xu Chuan's mouth held a slight smile as he immediately returned to the Dan Hall.
When Steward Chen saw him return, he approached to inquire.
"It's nothing. The Lei family invited this poor Daoist over to discuss pill Dao matters. It's already concluded."
"That's good then." Steward Chen said, "The imperial family has been urging again. They hope Master Sansu can refine twelve superior-grade Divine Sense Pills as soon as possible."
Even the imperial family, when asking the Dan Hall to refine pills, would symbolically provide spirit stones.
Otherwise, how could such a large Dan Hall be supported? Whether elders' monthly stipends, task rewards, or purchasing spirit herbs, all required spirit stones to circulate.
Most of the pills the Dan Hall refined were supplied to the imperial family.
The rest were taken to the marketplace to sell or traded with various families.
"This poor Daoist understands."
Xu Chuan nodded slightly and headed toward the pill room on the Dan Hall's second floor.
"This won't do. I still need Daoist Yunding and the others to quickly refine superior-grade Divine Sense Pills. Although there's profit to be made, it's ultimately not sustainable."
After all, before long, once Xu Mingxian perfected the Four Symbols Heaven Force Array, he planned to use traveling as an excuse to return to Qingjiang.
With so many pills in his storage bag, they should ultimately be used by clan members to avoid waste.
As for himself alone, there was no way he could use them all.
Once he reached the ninth layer perfection of Qi Refining, Qi Gathering Pills and their ilk would be completely useless to him.
Xu Chuan returned to the small courtyard once.
As expected, Xu Mingxian's progress was very smooth. He said that in another half month, he would definitely succeed.
A second-grade superior-grade grand array, combining offense and defense. Xu Chuan's heart was also excited.
His only concern was that Dongxi's spiritual qi was thin, so it might not be possible to arrange it completely successfully, or it might not display the power a second-grade superior-grade grand array should have.
He could only take it one step at a time.
The next day, after Xu Chuan refined two furnaces of Divine Sense Pills, he went to find Daoist Yunding.
"Eh, how does this busy person have time to find me? No need to refine Divine Sense Pills?" Daoist Yunding said teasingly.
"I'm seeing if there's anything you need my help with. Having all the superior-grade Divine Sense Pills entrusted to me alone is truly more than I can handle." Xu Chuan said.
"There's actually a time when you, this pill maniac, feel fatigued?" Daoist Yunding laughed, then continued, "You're not planning to instruct me so I can help you, are you?"
"Exactly my intention." Xu Chuan smiled faintly.
"Fine by me. Regarding Divine Sense Pills, I do indeed have some questions I'd like to ask for advice."
Xu Chuan said, "Hearing is false while seeing is true. Why not have Fellow Daoist Yunding directly refine one furnace for me to observe? I might discover where your problem lies. After all, with your pill Dao, although Divine Sense Pills are difficult, after all this time has passed, you should be able to refine superior-grade pills."
Daoist Yunding pondered briefly, then nodded, "Fellow Daoist Sansu, since you've already said this much, if I refuse again, I'd be rather ungracious."
Afterward, Xu Chuan observed Daoist Yunding refining pills.
"Refine one more furnace and let me see."
Daoist Yunding complied.
"Just as I thought."
Xu Chuan really did discover some of Daoist Yunding's problems. "Fellow Daoist Yunding, when you're fusing the medicinal liquids, the sequence isn't right. Plus, the timing and heat at these several places are also somewhat off."
Daoist Yunding earnestly listened to Xu Chuan's suggestions and asked several more questions. Xu Chuan answered them one by one.
After absorbing the lessons, Daoist Yunding refined pills again.
However, this also couldn't be corrected immediately. Pill refining was complex, and the medicinal property changes and conflicts were ever-changing. Different timing and incorrect heat would also reduce pill quality.
For four or five consecutive days, after finishing refining Divine Sense Pills, Xu Chuan would go help Daoist Yunding then, Daoist Yunding finally refined his first superior-grade Divine Sense Pill.
Divine Sense Pill was a second-grade pill, and refining it was also difficult, no easier than True Essence Pill.
"Fellow Daoist Sansu, thank you for your help these past few days. Without you, relying on my blind refining alone, I'm afraid it would take several months, or even half a year, before I might have refined a superior-grade Divine Sense Pill. Your teachings have greatly benefited me."
After pondering, Daoist Yunding continued, "I always feel that your pill Dao accomplishments don't seem weaker than Chief Yun Zhongzi's. When you instructed me, it gave me the same feeling as when the chief instructs me."
"It must be an illusion. Fellow Daoist Yunding, don't speak carelessly." Xu Chuan waved his hand, "The chief is a Foundation Establishment senior who has devoted himself to pill Dao for over a hundred years. How could I compare?"
"That makes sense. Foundation Establishment stage immortal cultivators possess divine consciousness, so refining is indeed easier than for us in the Qi Refining stage."
Hearing this, Xu Chuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
That very day, the entire Dan Hall knew that besides Xu Chuan, Daoist Yunding had also refined superior-grade Divine Sense Pills.
"Yunding also refined superior-grade pills? How is that possible?!"
Xu Zhen's face showed disbelief. "This Divine Sense Pill's refining difficulty is even slightly harder than True Essence Pill. He's never once refined a superior-grade True Essence Pill. How could he succeed so quickly with Divine Sense Pills?!"
"Did the chief return to instruct him?"
"No, if the chief returned, I would definitely know. Could it be that Sansu fellow?"
"Damn it, I, Xu Zhen, was first surpassed by the inexplicably added Daoist Sansu, and now I'm being ridden over by Yunding!"
Xu Zhen's heart was filled with indescribable rage. It took him a long while to calm his emotions and reinvest himself in refining Divine Sense Pills.
He still wanted to refine superior-grade Divine Sense Pills to establish connections with second-rank families, or even first-rank families.
With Daoist Yunding helping to refine superior-grade Divine Sense Pills, Xu Chuan relaxed considerably. He even requested a batch of ordinary first-grade pill and second-grade pill materials under the pretext of honing his pill techniques.
He planned to refine another wave before leaving, as reserve pills for the Xu family.
Of course, with Xu Chuan's current status in the Dan Hall, as long as the quantity wasn't too large, everything was permitted.
After all, the higher his pill Dao accomplishments, the higher his pill formation rate and superior-grade rate. This was increasingly beneficial for the Dan Hall. Compared to this, a mere dozen or so portions of materials were negligible.
Seven or eight days later.
Hearing that Xu Chuan wanted to go out traveling, Steward Chen felt like the sky was falling.
"Master Sansu, right now is the Dan Hall's busiest time. Why be hasty about this moment? Wait a few months or half a year, then go traveling. It won't be too late."
Xu Chuan shook his head, "My mind is made up. Now Fellow Daoist Yunding's success rate with superior-grade Divine Sense Pills is also stabilizing, no less than my previous rate. It's enough to replace this poor Daoist. Additionally, I've heard that Fellow Daoist Xu Zhen is also about to refine superior-grade Divine Sense Pills."
Pausing, Xu Chuan looked directly at Steward Chen and continued, "If this poor Daoist were the only one in the Dan Hall who could refine superior-grade Divine Sense Pills, and the chief wasn't here, this poor Daoist would naturally feel duty-bound. Otherwise, I would be letting down the chief's cultivation and generous treatment. But now, whether I'm here or not makes no difference."
Steward Chen couldn't out-argue Xu Chuan. Since Xu Chuan wasn't completely bound to the Dan Hall and could come and go freely, Steward Chen couldn't obstruct him further.
"Then when will Elder Sansu return?"
Xu Chuan pondered briefly. His eyes rippled with a few traces of longing for home as he looked toward the bright blue sky beyond the Dan Hall's main gate, then smiled faintly.
"Return date uncertain."