“Fifth Brother? Why are you here?” The young girl’s jaw dropped in surprise. Then, realization dawned, and a shadow of disappointment crossed her face. “You came to see Yu’er, didn’t you?”

“You call me Fifth Brother, yet you assume I cannot visit you simply for your own sake?” Wang Hao laughed, scanning her aura. She had reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining—a solid foundation. He nodded in satisfaction and produced two vials. “Here. Two bottles of Yellow Dragon Pills. Cultivate diligently.”

Wang Wenxian’s eyes widened. “Yellow Dragon Pills?”

The Wang family’s fortunes had improved, but ordinary clansmen still only received one standard pill a month. To acquire more, one had to hoard Spirit Stones or grind contribution points. A single bottle of Yellow Dragon Pills represented two years of salary or the labor of refining a hundred lesser pills.

“This is too precious,” she stammered, pushing them back. “I cannot accept this.”

Wang Hao sighed, feigning severity. “Years ago, your grandfather entrusted your care to me. I have been absent, failing that trust. If you refuse even these pills, rumors will spread that I am the type to take the money without doing the work.”

“Nonsense! Fifth Brother has already done so much. I lack nothing; how could I ask for more?”

“Take them,” Wang Hao insisted, pressing the vials into her hand. “Consider it payment. You will be looking after Zou Yu. Though she is my disciple, I am often away. You are her de facto master. As a teacher, you must set an example. Reach Foundation Establishment quickly; you cannot do that without resources.”

Wang Wenxian finally relented, clutching the vials as she invited him into her cave dwelling.

Inside, Zou Yu spotted Wang Hao and immediately bowed. “Master!”

“En. Are you accustomed to living here?” Wang Hao asked casually.

“Yes! Sister Wenxian takes good care of me. She gives me so many delicious treats,” Zou Yu chirped, her small face beaming.

Wang Hao chuckled inwardly; he was hopeless with children, so leaving her in Wenxian’s care was the right move. “It is good that you are comfortable. But do not focus solely on eating. Later, have your Sister Wenxian select a cultivation technique for you. I will be checking your progress.”

“Yes, Yu’er understands!” The girl nodded obediently.

“Go play for a moment. I need to speak with your sister.” Wang Hao patted her head before turning his attention back to Wang Wenxian. “Wenxian, what art are you specializing in?”

“Alchemy, Fifth Brother,” she replied, puffing out her chest slightly. “I am already a First Rank, Mid-Grade Alchemist.” Among her peers, she was unrivaled.

Wang Hao shook his head with a smile. “Then I gave you the wrong gift. Since you are an alchemist, you surely have no shortage of pills.”

“Hardly. I cannot refine Yellow Dragon Pills yet.” Her pride deflated slightly. Reaching the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining at eighteen was impressive, but her alchemy was still developing.

“Do you have a furnace? Let me see it.” Wang Hao decided to offer some guidance. Since she was mentoring his disciple, he could not be stingy.

“Yes.” She produced a small, green cauldron.

Wang Hao glanced at it. First Rank, Low-Grade. Barely serviceable.

He retrieved several stalks of spiritual herbs from his storage bag. “Refine a batch of Yellow Sprout Pills. Let me see your technique.”

Wang Wenxian nodded, pleasantly surprised. The family legend was going to personally tutor her. She took a deep breath, cleaned the furnace with meticulous care, and ignited the spiritual charcoal.

Half an hour later, a fragrant sweat coated her brow. She exhaled sharply and opened the furnace lid, revealing four round, yellowish pills.

Wang Hao picked one up, popping it into his mouth to taste the residue and potency. “Acceptable. A forty percent success rate is respectable for your current level.”

Wang Wenxian began to smile, but Wang Hao’s expression remained serious. “However, do you know where you failed?”

“W-what?”

“The flaws,” he pressed.

“Oh… mainly my Divine Consciousness,” she murmured, lowering her head. “I lost control during the formation stage, and two clusters of liquid dissipated.”

“That is a symptom, not the cause,” Wang Hao corrected sternly. “Your heat control during the fusion phase was erratic; the temperature spiked, damaging the herbal essence. More importantly, you were too conservative during the division phase.”

He gestured to the furnace. “That solution was sufficient for eight pills, yet you only divided it into six. Did you lack the confidence to handle eight? If you are constantly worrying about gains and losses, how can you control the Dao of Alchemy?”

Wang Wenxian gripped the hem of her robe, her knuckles white. She had always been praised in the Alchemy Hall. She hadn’t realized her technique was so riddled with errors.

“Remember,” Wang Hao continued, softening his tone slightly. “When you encounter a difficulty, do not try to skirt around it. Face it. Crush it. The more you fear your Divine Consciousness failing, the more likely it is to fail.”

Seeing her dispirited look, Wang Hao realized he might have been too harsh. He didn’t have much experience teaching teenagers.

He waved his hand, and a new cauldron appeared. It glowed with a soft, violet hue.

“The Purple Light Furnace,” Wang Hao said. “I used this in my early years. It is of no use to me now, so I am gifting it to you. May you become a Second Rank Alchemist soon.”

“Fifth Brother, I…”

“Do not refuse,” he cut her off. “Zou Yu will need to learn alchemy eventually; pass it to her when you outgrow it. Technique is vital, but so are tools. Use the right tool to solve the problem. Now, try again with this furnace.”

“Yes, Fifth Brother!” Wang Wenxian clenched her fists, her determination reignited.

She cleaned the Purple Light Furnace and began the process anew. The superior equipment stabilized the heat, allowing her to focus entirely on the fluid dynamics within.

Half an hour later, Wang Hao opened his eyes as she let out a joyous cheer. “Six pills! Fifth Brother, I succeeded!”

“Not bad. You corrected the mistakes I pointed out.” Wang Hao nodded approvingly. “You are still far from perfection, but with diligence, you will become the family’s finest alchemist.”

He flicked a pill towards her. “A Spirit-Concentrating Pill. It will enhance your Divine Consciousness. It benefits both cultivation and alchemy.”

“Thank you, Fifth Brother!” This time, she accepted it without hesitation. She understood now—he wasn’t just giving charity; he was investing in the family’s future.

“I will take my leave. I brought back a large stock of herbs; go to the Affairs Hall and accept missions. Contribute to the family and hone your skills.”

Wang Hao left the cave dwelling, leaving a revitalized Wang Wenxian staring at his retreating back, swearing a silent oath to exceed his expectations.

Stepping out into the sunlight, Wang Hao considered heading to the Transmission Hall’s academy next. With the Pill Cauldron Sect’s legacy in hand, he needed to scout for more seedlings with alchemical talent. The Wang family needed to leverage this inheritance to rise into the ranks of medium-sized clans.

Suddenly, a streak of light cut through the air.

A flying sword halted abruptly in front of him, hovering at eye level.

“A Flying Sword Message?” Wang Hao was startled. It was Wang Yanzhao’s blade. Why would the elder summon him so urgently?

He cast a simple seal, unlocking the message talisman attached to the hilt. Wang Yanzhao’s voice, tight with anxiety, projected into his mind.

“Wang Hao, come to the main hall immediately. We have an urgent situation to discuss.”

Wang Hao didn’t hesitate. He summoned his own flight tool and shot toward the peak.

Upon entering the main hall, he found Wang Yanzhao and Wang Longyou standing by the entrance, their expressions grim and pacing with palpable anxiety.