As one of the three Top-tier Alchemists in the entire Cloud Sea Sect, Wang Yangyin possessed the strength and qualifications to be arrogant.

When the gathered crowd realized he truly had no intention of participating, a wave of disappointment washed over the hall. The eyes of the Senior Alchemists, Yu Caiqing included, dimmed noticeably. To catch the eye of a legend like Wang Yangyin, to be taken in as a core disciple under his tutelage—that was the dream. It meant access to profound techniques, exemption from the sect’s tedious monthly quotas, and a tenfold increase in cultivation resources.

But Wang Yangyin didn’t even deign to glance at the pills displayed around him. He walked straight toward the exit of the Pill Tower, his voice indifferent. “Carry on.”

While his absence was a regret for the spectators, for the competitors, it was a massive relief. The suffocating pressure of his presence lifted, and the atmosphere in the Pill Tower’s first floor relaxed instantly.

The gathering resumed with renewed vigor. More cultivators crowded in, and more jade vials were uncorked. The event crescendoed as the judges began selecting the top ten.

Junior and Senior Alchemists alike presented their masterpieces. However, in this arena, standard excellence wasn’t enough. Only the rare, the exotic, or the Earth-grade could capture the crowd’s imagination and the judges’ high scores.

Relying on her striking appearance and her undeniable talent, Yu Caiqing’s [Water-Fire Dragon Tiger Pill] easily secured a spot in the top ten.

But who took the crown?

Was it the prodigy Fang Xiaozi? No. Although his Top-grade Foundation Spirit Pill was flawless and his youth marked him as a genius, he lacked the weight of experience required for the top spot.

The champion of the Internal Pill Appraisal Gathering was a quiet, unassuming Senior Alchemist. He had been with the Alchemy Hall for a decade, always keeping his head down, neither showing mountains nor revealing water. He was a man with almost no reputation.

Yet, the pill he presented left the experts stunned.

[Nine Orifices Devouring Yin Pill].

It was an Earth-grade formula, and the quality was merely Inferior. Logically, many alchemists here had produced Superior-quality pills that should have outshone it. Why did a low-quality Earth-grade pill take first place?

The answer was simple: it was a lost recipe from a thousand years ago.

To reconstruct a fragmented ancient formula was a feat of theoretical mastery far surpassing the refinement of a common Earth-grade pill. He had revived a lost legacy.

The rewards were unveiled, drawing gasps from the crowd. First place received a Top-grade Spirit Artifact—the [Profound Sky Green Flame Furnace]. It contained a wisp of Green Luan Life Fire, capable of purging impurities and optimizing pill quality automatically.

Yu Caiqing ranked fourth. Her prize was a Superior Spirit Artifact: the [Spirit-Nurturing Meditation Mat]. Woven from ten-thousand-year-old Soul-Nourishing Wood, it allowed a cultivator to enter a “Thoughtless State” during alchemy, shielding the mind from all external distractions and inner demons.

Standing to the side, Jiang Chen watched with his jaw slightly unhinged.

He knew alchemy was profitable, but he hadn’t realized it was this profitable. The prizes from first to tenth place were all Spirit Artifacts. Even the lowest rank received a Superior-quality item. In the outside market, any one of these would fetch at least a thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones.

Yu Caiqing seemed satisfied with the result. Although she hadn’t been picked up by a Top-tier Alchemist, the material reward was exactly what she needed.

“With this mat,” she said, her voice tinged with relief, “I can significantly increase the success rate of the [Yin-Yang Interlace Pill].”

Jiang Chen immediately cupped his hands, smiling. “Then it seems I must congratulate Senior Sister Yu in advance on her breakthrough to the Golden Core realm.”

Yu Caiqing blinked, a rare, playful smile touching her lips. “My luck has been surprisingly good ever since I met you. perhaps you are my lucky star.”

She shifted back to business. “How are the Golden Crow Vine and Moonlight Grass coming along?”

“Both are thriving,” Jiang Chen replied promptly. “They are growing strong and sturdy.”

Yu Caiqing nodded, her expression calculating. “Now, all that remains are the extreme Yang ingredient, [Red Sun Ginseng], and the extreme Yin ingredient, [Profound Yin Lingzhi]. I have already secured the auxiliary herb, the Taiji Flower.”

Jiang Chen thought for a moment. “How about I ask around the Spirit Farm for you?”

“Please do,” Yu Caiqing agreed. “If any Spirit Farmers are cultivating these herbs, I am willing to purchase them at a premium above the market rate.”

They parted ways shortly after. Yu Caiqing lived within the Earth Fire Zone, while Jiang Chen had a long flight ahead.

Bidding her farewell, Jiang Chen stepped onto his Giant Leaf and shot into the sky.

The sun had long since set. The night was as dark as spilled ink, with the Milky Way hanging like a river of crushed diamonds overhead. Below, the withered winter trees were coated in a layer of silver frost, and the flowing river shimmered with a cold, metallic light. The winter air was crisp, biting, and utterly silent.

By the time Jiang Chen returned home, Da Huang and the Pearl Chickens had already retreated to their warm nests.

Only Fortress, the “honest man,” was still dutifully patrolling the perimeter of the Spirit Farm.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The heavy, rhythmic footsteps of the puppet shattered the tranquility of the farm.

As Jiang Chen landed, Da Huang immediately scrambled out of his doghouse. The large dog wagged his tail furiously, pressing his body against Jiang Chen’s legs, his face the picture of fawning adoration.

Jiang Chen squatted down, grabbing the dog’s head with both hands and rubbing it vigorously, indulging in the tactile comfort of his loyal pet.

Fortress completed a circuit and returned to the wooden house.

“You don’t need to patrol at night,” Jiang Chen instructed.

Although the puppet required no rest and could function twenty-four hours a day, the thump-thump-thump of its movement was simply too loud. It was fine during the day, but in the silence of the night, it was a nuisance.

Jiang Chen tossed the [Companion Green Lotus] into the second-grade Spirit Farm on the right, allowing it to release its [Green Lotus Domain] to nurture the Moonlight Grass.

He then entered the wooden house to prepare dinner—or rather, a midnight snack.

He kept it simple but high-quality. He heated a wok and tossed in a portion of Mutated Spirit Rice, frying it with fresh eggs laid by the Pearl Chickens.

As the heat hit the oil, a rich, savory aroma exploded in the small kitchen. The golden yolks coated the pearlescent grains of rice, sizzling and popping. The smell was intoxicating—a blend of caramelized egg, earthy grain, and the faint, sweet scent of spiritual essence.

He plated the fried rice and fetched a bottle of Top-grade Golden Wine from the basement.

Sitting at his table, he took a bite. The rice was chewy and tender, the eggs fluffy and rich. The spiritual energy within the food burst on his tongue, warming his belly instantly. He washed it down with a sip of the mellow Golden Wine, sighing in contentment.

Simple, yet luxurious.

After eating and cleaning his bowl, Jiang Chen lay down on his wooden bed. With a thought, he retrieved the Spirit Beast Ring from his Jade Green Gourd.

He extended his spiritual sense into the ring, visualizing the interior.

The five captured Fire Crows looked pathetic. They were listless, huddled together, their feathers dull. Their blood-red eyes held only fatigue, fear, confusion, and pain.

Jiang Chen observed them and thought, According to Liu Wei, I need to starve them for a few days until they submit out of desperation.

But that method was for amateurs—people without a Fire Spirit Root or a specialized cultivation technique. They had to rely on crude biological needs to break the beast’s will.

Jiang Chen was different. He had maxed out the [Fire Crow Qi Nurturing Method]. He didn’t need to wait. He could force the bond now.

With a flick of his wrist, he summoned one of the cowering Fire Crows out of the ring.