Taking Liu Qingquan up into the sky, circling Tonglin County once, the day had already turned to dusk.
At the Liu residence, after a meal, Lu Zheng did not summon Liu Qingyan that evening. Instead, he went alone to the peach grove to speak with Shen Ying.
The next day, he headed to Shaotong Mountain, learning that Daoist Mingzhang had not yet returned. Thus, he informed Yuanjing about the execution of Black Wheel King.
Then…
Each day, he took Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan to stroll in the skies or studied the *Chisongzi Zuoji Yushui Danjing* together.
Shen Ying had little interest in this golden elixir method, and like Daoist Wansong, she was particularly fond of the *Fire Avoidance Technique*.
However, Liu Qingyan was remarkably suited to this practice. She had unique insights into various alchemy methods, and her proficiency in alchemy progressed by leaps and bounds, even surpassing the enhancements Lu Zheng gained from using the light of fortune.
This could only be attributed to her deep knowledge of medicine and herbs accumulated over time, and her natural talent for this craft.
Lu Zheng wasn’t envious, though. After all, his wife was no different from himself, and the elixirs she refined were still for his use, weren’t they?
…
Besides the elixir scripture, Lu Zheng naturally did not neglect his cultivation. Using aids like the light of fortune, incense energy, merit golden light, and enhancing elixirs, his cultivation didn’t progress by leaps and bounds, but it advanced rapidly.
In theory, after crossing the five-hundred-year cultivation threshold, progress typically became a slow grind of accumulation, with the cultivation curve approaching a logarithmic function.
Yet Lu Zheng seemed unaffected by this rule. Though not yet at the terrifying level of an exponential function, he could maintain a linear function curve model.
Moreover, as his cultivation grew, the cooldown period shortened, showing signs of evolving toward an exponential curve.
Curve overtaking! Truly impressive!
Lu Zheng mused to himself, “At the very least, I need to stand tall before Brother Hu, Senior Song, and others. They may not care, but I can’t afford to be indifferent, right?”
As for Daoist Wansong… he seemed far out of reach for now, no need to rush…
…
In the scorching summer, under the old peach tree.
Flames surged, the bronze furnace roared.
Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan sat facing each other, forming hand seals, controlling the flames while casting runes into the furnace to manage the decomposition and fusion of the herbs inside.
This was an elixir combining four spiritual herbs and twelve common herbs. Neither Lu Zheng nor Liu Qingyan could complete it alone, so they attempted to refine it together.
If successful, it would greatly benefit their alchemy skills.
By their side, only Shen Ying and Xiao Cui stood under the old peach tree, watching. The five women from Wuxiu Manor, though visiting, stayed clear of the backyard, waiting politely in the front courtyard.
At this point, Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan had been seated before the bronze furnace for three days and three nights. The spiritual herbs in the furnace had fully melted, forming distinct liquid clusters, merging one by one according to their properties.
When they controlled the furnace fire, using the elixir fusion seal to manage the final spiritual herb’s integration, then applying the elixir condensation technique to form the pills…
Lu Zheng waved his hand, and the bronze furnace’s lid shot up with a “bang,” soaring into the sky. A dozen thumb-sized elixirs flew out, tracing graceful parabolic arcs in the air, landing in the jade tray Liu Qingyan held up, spinning ceaselessly around the tray’s center.
At the same time, thick clouds of fragrant medicinal smoke billowed from the furnace, spreading throughout Peach Blossom Manor with each breath.
The scent of the elixir was intoxicating!
The five women waiting in the front courtyard—Hua Yixing and her companions—instinctively inhaled, feeling a lightness in their demonic energy.
“Such potent medicinal power!” Hu Cainiang couldn’t help but exclaim, “This effect far surpasses our Biluo Fruit!”
“Can they be compared? Our Biluo Fruit comes from a century-old spiritual tree, yielding dozens of fruits at a time, while this batch of elixirs used four spiritual herbs!” Hua Yixing said.
While Hua Yixing and Hu Cainiang spoke, Lin Jing’er, Yu Mingxin, and Bai Ting’er remained silent, focused on inhaling.
“Inhale, inhale, inhale! All they do is inhale! No decorum at all, not afraid of choking themselves!” Hua Yixing said exasperatedly, scolding her three sisters. But when she turned and saw Hu Cainiang, ignoring her to focus on inhaling…
“Slurp—”
Hua Yixing gritted her teeth and couldn’t resist taking a deep breath herself.
The medicinal power entered her body, her true qi flowed freely, as if her bones had lightened by a few ounces.
Truly fragrant!
…
In the backyard.
Seeing the elixirs land in the jade tray, Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan ceased their efforts. Shen Ying, with Xiao Cui, stepped forward, smiling softly, “Congratulations, Lu Lang, congratulations, Qingyan, succeeding in forming the elixirs on the first try. Truly cause for celebration!”
Lu Zheng nodded, “Good luck.”
Shen Ying and Liu Qingyan both rolled their eyes at him, then looked at the elixirs in the tray.
“Only thirty percent of the herbs were used, so there aren’t many elixirs, just twelve,” Liu Qingyan counted the elixirs, then smiled, “The good news is the herbs weren’t wasted much, and the fusion was quite harmonious, preserving most of the medicinal properties.”
“That’s wonderful!” Shen Ying nodded, smiling.
Taking a porcelain bottle from her sleeve, Liu Qingyan lifted her hand to pour the elixirs into it, then handed the bottle to Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng took the bottle, sensing five small vortexes in the front courtyard, eagerly absorbing the scattered medicinal energy in the manor.
These scattered energies were less than a tenth of a single elixir’s potency.
How pitiful…
With a glint in his eyes, Lu Zheng smiled, “We don’t actually need so many elixirs. With the Qingcai Festival approaching, why not invite some friends to gather at Peach Blossom Manor for a small event, perhaps an elixir-tasting gathering?”
As soon as Lu Zheng spoke, the rhythm of inhaling in the front courtyard faltered.
“No, no, we sisters cannot accept such precious elixirs without merit,” Hua Yixing’s voice called out.
As her words fell, the five women, knowing Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan had finished refining, moved from the front courtyard to the back.
Liu Qingyan rose with a smile, linking arms with Hu Cainiang, who came to support her, “Sisters, no need to be so formal.”
“This isn’t about formality. Even among close friends, we can’t accept such precious elixirs for free,” Hua Yixing insisted, and Lin Jing’er and the other three nodded in agreement.
Lu Zheng laughed, “This is mainly because Qingyan and I acquired a new alchemy technique. Inviting friends to celebrate together is just a gesture of goodwill. What’s a single elixir in that context?”
“This…”
“It’s settled then. The event will be on the day of the Qingcai Festival, at Peach Blossom Grove. I hope you all will join us!”
Hua Yixing and the others exchanged glances, finally cupping their hands in thanks.
