Seeing Zhou Kai’s keen interest in Broken Wood Bay, Zhao Tieshan took another big gulp of wine. His words mingled with the scent of alcohol as he spoke.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, it seems you’re also someone who dislikes boredom. This Broken Wood Bay… it does have its interesting points.”

Zhou Kai flicked his fingers, and two pills landed steadily on the stone table.

“Just two first-grade Rejuvenation Pills, a small token of my respect.”

“Fellow Daoist, you travel in the mountains year-round and are bound to get bumps and bruises. Though these pills are low-grade, they are quite helpful for minor injuries. Consider it… my thanks in advance for your insights.”

“Haha! Fellow Daoist Zhou, you’re too kind!” Zhao Tieshan didn’t stand on ceremony and directly stored the two pills in his Storage Bag, his smile growing even more sincere. “Actually, if Fellow Daoist Zhou spent a bit more time as a Loose Cultivator, you’d eventually figure out these tricks yourself. Since you’ve offered them, this old Zhao won’t refuse your kindness!”

“Fellow Daoist, do you really think those Calamity Abyss Valley disciples go to that godforsaken Broken Wood Bay to maintain order because they have nothing better to do?”

Zhou Kai raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond.

Zhao Tieshan chuckled and leaned in closer. “That Broken Wood Bay place is almost only known to us Loose Cultivators who are constantly on the move. The reason there are Calamity Abyss Valley people there is entirely because… those disciples are doing some ‘money-making’ business there!”

“Money-making business?” Zhou Kai repeated. “I’d like to hear the details.”

“You probably know that although our Calamity Abyss Valley bears the name of a righteous sect, our ways have always been unconventional, with a hundred flowers blooming in sect traditions.”

“Calamity Abyss Valley disciples have always emphasized ‘acting according to one’s own heart, not by the books.’ To put it bluntly, as long as they think it’s right, rules are nothing!”

“Of course, sect rules are still supreme.”

“That sounds rather free-spirited,” Zhou Kai chimed in.

“So,” Zhao Tieshan continued, “many Calamity Abyss Valley disciples will take any path to earn cultivation resources. Some have started selling spots to enter the sect.”

“What?!”

Even though Zhou Kai was somewhat mentally prepared, hearing this still stirred up significant waves in his heart.

Selling sect entry spots?

Entering a great immortal sect was the ladder to heaven that countless people dreamed of, the path for a carp to leap over the dragon gate! How could such a major event concerning one’s future and fate be treated as merchandise and traded for Spirit Stones?

Zhou Kai’s eyes flickered as he asked in a low voice, “Fellow Daoist Zhao, entering a sect is such a significant matter. The sect needs to register and record it, with Elders inspecting everything. How can it be sold?”

“Normally, of course not!”

Zhao Tieshan wagged his finger. “Calamity Abyss Valley’s disciple recruitment is similar to the Heavenly Spring Sect’s. Partly, they directly select from the cultivation families under their control; another part involves accepting Spirit Root seedlings who still have to pass numerous difficult trials!”

“And the Broken Wood Bay route is…” Zhou Kai pressed.

“Those Calamity Abyss Valley disciples at Broken Wood Bay take a roundabout route. They don’t ask about your origins; they treat you as a family disciple and report you directly to the sect!”

Zhou Kai suddenly understood.

Pretending to be a family disciple!

“Wouldn’t that make me an affiliated cultivator of some family?”

“No, they don’t want trouble either. These spots themselves are operated by them for profit; it’s not about actually finding you a backer. Once you enter the sect and the formalities are complete, you just find the Steward to separate from that family. It’s very convenient.”

“Which family is so bold as to engage in this kind of business?” Zhou Kai’s mind raced immediately to the key point. A family daring to do this was no ordinary one; there must be backing behind them.

Zhao Tieshan laughed heartily. “This matter… it’s not exactly a secret, but not just anyone can get involved either. Some Stewards within the sect might be aware. As long as it’s done cleanly without causing trouble, they probably can’t be bothered to investigate deeply. After all, water that’s too clear has no fish.”

“However,” he continued, “as for which specific family is operating behind the scenes at Broken Wood Bay, what the procedures are, and how many Spirit Stones are needed to arrange things… you’ll have to inquire about that yourself.”

“Thank you for enlightening me, Fellow Daoist. I’ve benefited greatly today!” Zhou Kai sincerely clasped his hands in thanks.

This information was worth far more to him than those two Rejuvenation Pills!

“No need for thanks; it was just a small effort.” Zhao Tieshan waved his hand and started urging him to drink again.

Zhou Kai drank a few more cups with him before rising to take his leave.

Broken Wood Bay! Calamity Abyss Valley! Selling spots!

Previously, deceiving Wang Qiaoqiao was just about painting a grand picture to stabilize her before proceeding with his plans.

Who would have thought that an actual path would really appear! And from the sound of it, as long as enough Spirit Stones were available, everything might be possible!

Calamity Abyss Valley might have a somewhat unrestrained style, but it was still a reputable orthodox sect with deep foundations and abundant resources. Compared to being a Loose Cultivator in a small place like Crouching Tiger Mountain, it was like the difference between heaven and earth!

If spots could be sold… did that mean… as long as he could afford enough Spirit Stones, not just Wang Qiaoqiao, but even himself, Ziyi, and Ziqing could all have a chance to enter Calamity Abyss Valley?

He had to go to this Broken Wood Bay! And as soon as possible!

Thinking this, he instructed the Chen sisters: “Ziyi, Ziqing, listen.”

“Tomorrow, Wang Qiaoqiao will come over.” Zhou Kai paused before continuing, “Ziyi, your Spirit Root awakening matter is too shocking; it shouldn’t be known by outsiders. When she comes tomorrow, stay in your room and don’t show yourself.”

Chen Ziyi obediently nodded. “Ziyi understands.”

Then Zhou Kai turned his gaze to Chen Ziqing. “Ziqing, when Wang Qiaoqiao arrives, wait for me in the quiet room in the backyard. I’ll have you demonstrate something.”

Chen Ziqing’s eyes flickered slightly; she seemed to guess something. She replied obediently, “I’ll listen to Big Brother Zhou.”

At noon precisely, Wang Qiaoqiao arrived as promised.

Bypassing the main hall, Zhou Kai led her into the backyard quiet room where Chen Ziqing was sitting properly before an alchemy furnace. Seeing Wang Qiaoqiao enter, she also stood up and gave a slight bow.

“This is my wife, Ziqing,” Zhou Kai introduced naturally. “She has some talent in alchemy and is diligently practicing.”

Zhou Kai gave a slight nod towards Chen Ziqing. “Ziqing, no holding back. Full effort alchemy.”

Wang Qiaoqiao’s heart stirred. Zhou Kai really was Dao Companions with Chen Ziqing! She knew about Zhou Kai’s entanglement with Chen Xingze back then; she thought Zhou Kai claiming both sisters were his Dao Companions was just face-saving bluster spoken in anger. But it turned out to be true?!

Moreover, Chen Ziqing actually knew alchemy? Looking at her technique, her furnace fire control was quite steady—clearly not someone who had just started.

She suppressed her shock and suspicion, merely nodding politely towards Chen Ziqing.

The only sound in the quiet room was the bubbling of the alchemy furnace. For a full hour, Chen Ziqing released spiritual power from her fingertips.

With a sound, the furnace lid opened.

The scent of medicine accompanied by Pill Qi surged out, instantly filling the entire quiet room.

Wang Qiaoqiao twitched her nose, smelling the medicinal scent. Her spirit lifted. Qi Gathering Pill?

Chen Ziqing waved her hand, collecting the pills. Ten pills rolled into a jade bottle. Their luster was restrained—clearly high-grade!

Wang Qiaoqiao’s breath caught.

High-grade Qi Gathering Pills! One furnace, ten pills—all high-grade!

One must know that for ordinary first-grade alchemists refining Qi Gathering Pills, producing one or two high-grade pills was considered good enough. Producing medium-grade already qualified as success, and producing low-grade wasn’t strange either.

Producing high-grade every furnace was almost an impossible task, let alone ten pills—all high-grade!

This wasn’t just “some talent”—this was clearly an alchemy prodigy!

When did she learn alchemy? When did the Chen Family produce such a monstrous talent? Was Chen Xingze brain-damaged back then? Selling her off for five hundred Spirit Stones?

“Husband, mission accomplished. I refined one furnace of high-grade Qi Gathering Pills.” Chen Ziqing’s face showed slight weakness, but her eyes sparkled brightly.

Zhou Kai nodded, satisfied, looking at Wang Qiaoqiao. “Fellow Daoist Wang, what do you think of my wife’s alchemy skill?”

Wang Qiaoqiao snapped back to reality, barely suppressing her inner shock to offer sincere praise. “Miss Chen’s alchemy skill is astonishing! So young yet able to refine a full furnace of high-grade Qi Gathering Pills—truly extremely rare!”

Zhou Kai smiled slightly, his tone carrying some pride. “All personally taught by me. Ziqing’s comprehension isn’t bad; she learns fast.”

Chen Ziqing instantly understood Zhou Kai’s intent. Her face appropriately showed slight shyness and gratitude as she said softly:

“It’s all due to Big Brother Zhou’s careful teaching. Since following my husband, he often instructs me in alchemy and doesn’t stint on various spiritual materials, letting me practice freely. This little skill barely allows me to enter the hall.”

“What?!”

This time Wang Qiaoqiao could no longer maintain her calm and blurted it out.

She originally thought Chen Ziqing’s innate talent was already a miracle. Who knew this astonishing alchemy skill was actually truly taught by Zhou Kai?!

Zhou Kai… he wasn’t just a second-grade alchemist. He could actually pass on his alchemy essence and teach such an outstanding disciple—or rather, Dao Companion?!

This was the most shocking part! An alchemist capable of passing on the Dao of Alchemy possessed value far exceeding the mere alchemist themselves!

Wang Qiaoqiao looked at Chen Ziqing, her eyes changing completely. From previous scrutiny and curiosity, her gaze shifted to envy… and even carried a trace of jealousy.

Zhou Kai observed Wang Qiaoqiao’s reaction, fully understanding her emotional changes.

He pressed his advantage, saying, “Ziqing only because her cultivation is still shallow can only refine first-grade pills. When she reaches the middle stage of Qi Condensation, I believe advancing to become a second-grade alchemist will be just a natural progression.”

“As for what heights she will reach in the future… perhaps even I cannot predict.”

Wang Qiaoqiao’s inner turmoil was fierce. Previously, her attitude towards Zhou Kai was mostly based on benefit calculation and utilization, thinking him just a somewhat cautious second-grade alchemist worth investing in.

But now, the potential shown by Zhou Kai, plus his ability to cultivate a Dao Companion, plucked fiercely at that “climb high branch” string deep inside her heart.

If I could follow Zhou Kai… He teaches Chen Ziqing alchemy; could he teach me too? He provides cultivation resources for Chen Ziqing; could he give them to me too? He handles the Calamity Abyss Valley spot…