The transformation was complete. The cramped wooden shack was gone, replaced by a sturdy, two-story stone fortress.

Running a hand along the cool, rough-hewn walls, Jiang Chen felt a deep sense of satisfaction. The upgrade wasn’t just cosmetic; it was a massive leap in security. Whether he was refining pills, forging artifacts, or practicing volatile spells, the stone structure offered a level of concealment and durability the old timber never could.

His living quarters had moved from the damp ground floor to the second story. It was a proper master bedroom now, complete with a private study, a balcony overlooking the spiritual fields, and even access to the roof for stargazing or surveillance.

It was perfect for his needs—except for one glaring issue.

It was completely barren.

The interior was stark and empty. His old, creaky wooden bed, the battered table, and the mismatched chairs looked almost comical against the fresh stone architecture. They were relics of a poorer time.

Jiang Chen stared at his plank bed and sighed. “Next time I visit the Loose Cultivator market, I need to buy proper furniture. This place needs to look like a home, not a prison cell.”

Deciding to tackle the study first, he gathered the scrap lumber left over from the construction. With a few simple cuts and some joinery, he assembled a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf with seven tiers.

He unpacked his collection, lining the shelves with titles like Hundred Tales of Spirit Farms and various cultivation manuals.

Stepping back, he nodded. It served a dual purpose: it cleared the clutter from his storage bag and, more importantly, it curated an air of sophistication. A wall of books made him look like a scholar of the Dao rather than just a dirt-farming hermit.

Satisfied with his handiwork, Jiang Chen sat in his squeaky wooden chair and retrieved the Scorching Sun Finger manual.

He circulated his Qi, feeling the heat rise in his meridians. Perhaps it was the latent potential of his Fire Spirit Root, or the foundation laid by the Nine Flames Mystic Art, but the technique felt intuitive. The obscure passages unraveled quickly in his mind.

At this rate, I’ll reach the Novice level in just a few days, he thought. My comprehension speed has definitely increased.

Just as he was about to dive deeper into the trance, a vibration at his waist broke his concentration. He flipped his hand, and a Communication Talisman appeared between his fingers.

Yu Caiqing’s cool voice echoed from the paper. “I am preparing to refine the Yin-Yang Interlace Pill. Do you have the materials?”

Jiang Chen infused a sliver of Qi to reply. “I have them. One hundred stalks each of Crimson Sun Ginseng and Black Yin Lingzhi.”

“Good. Come to the Pill Tower immediately.”

The connection severed. Short, professional, efficient.

Jiang Chen stood up and headed downstairs, but he didn’t leave the house immediately. He detoured into the kitchen.

He had no idea how long the session in the Earth Fire Zone would last, and he couldn’t let his companions starve.

The new kitchen was a chef’s dream—at least twice the size of the old one, with wide windows letting in natural light and venting the smoke. Cooking here was no longer a chore; it was a pleasure.

He spent half an hour whipping up a hearty stew. It was simple fare—rich meat and Spirit Rice—but it was nutritious enough for both humans and beasts. He filled Da Huang’s bowl and set out a portion for the Pearl Chickens.

“Eat up,” he murmured, patting the dog’s head. “Guard the house.”

Leaving the farm, Jiang Chen summoned the Giant Leaf artifact and shot toward the horizon.

The journey was smooth. No bandits, no wandering beasts, just the biting wind of winter whipping past his defensive barrier.

When he arrived at the Earth Fire Zone, the contrast was jarring. Outside, the world was frozen in the grip of winter; here, the air shimmered with geothermal heat.

The plaza was packed. Cultivators swarmed the area, treating the volcanic region as a massive heater to escape the bitter cold. The atmosphere was lively, bustling with trade and gossip.

For the resident alchemists, autumn and winter were the golden harvest seasons. It was no coincidence the Pill Appreciation Conference was held in early winter. The cold drove customers to them, allowing them to jack up prices and sell pills at a premium. It was classic supply and demand.

The guards at the Pill Tower nodded as he approached. He was a regular now. A quick registration of his token, and he was waved through.

He descended to the ninth underground floor, navigating the labyrinthine corridors until he reached Earth Fire Room No. 7.

In the Pill Tower, residency was permanent unless disaster struck. Once a room was assigned, it was yours until you died or quit.

The heavy stone door stood shut, a slab of rock so thick that shouting from the outside would be futile. The only way to announce oneself was via Communication Talisman. Surprisingly, despite being deep underground, the signal was flawless—likely due to an array acting as a signal amplifier.

Jiang Chen pinged Yu Caiqing again.

Moments later, the heavy grinding of stone against stone echoed through the corridor. The door slid open.

This time, there was no blast of heat, no billowing smoke. The room was cool, silent, and clinically clean.

Jiang Chen stepped inside, his eyes scanning the space.

Yu Caiqing stood by the Black Nether Cauldron. She was the picture of focus, arranging her tools with meticulous precision. Hearing his footsteps, she glanced over her shoulder.

“Senior Sister Yu,” Jiang Chen greeted with a polite cupped-fist salute.

“I apologize for dragging you all the way out here,” she said, nodding slightly.

“Think nothing of it,” Jiang Chen chuckled warmly. “We’re partners, after all.”

Yu Caiqing paused, a flicker of surprise crossing her icy features. “Yes… I suppose we are.”

Jiang Chen didn’t waste time on pleasantries. He reached into his storage bag and retrieved the four boxes containing the requested herbs: the Yang-aligned Crimson Sun Ginseng and Golden Crow Vine, and the Yin-aligned Black Yin Lingzhi and Moonlight Grass.

He presented them with both hands.

Yu Caiqing’s spiritual sense swept over the boxes instantly. Her eyes lit up. “Excellent.”

Truthfully, she had only expected him to succeed with one or two of the difficult strains. To bring all four was a pleasant shock.

“A pity,” she murmured, inspecting the roots. “Only the Moonlight Grass and Golden Crow Vine are truly top-grade. The Ginseng and Lingzhi are merely close to it.”

Still, combined with the Tai Chi Flower she already possessed, the ingredients were sufficient. She could attempt the Yin-Yang Interlace Pill immediately.

If she succeeded, the Golden Core realm would no longer be a distant dream. She could finally catch the eye of a high-ranking Elder and ascend to the status of a core disciple.

Seeing her lost in thought, Jiang Chen coughed awkwardly. “So… should I leave you to it?”

“Don’t rush,” Yu Caiqing said, waving a hand. “We need to settle the payment. Do you want your compensation now, or after the refinement?”

“Is there a difference?”

“If I pay you now, I can only offer Spirit Stones based on the market value of the herbs,” she explained. “If you wait until after the refinement… and if I succeed… I can pay you with a Yin-Yang Interlace Pill.”

Jiang Chen’s internal calculator clicked. A finished Earth-grade pill like that was worth over a thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones. It was a massive gamble, but the potential return was exponential.

“Senior Sister,” Jiang Chen said, his voice firm. “I have absolute faith in your skills. You will succeed.”

It sounded like a compliment, but it was a business decision. He was taking the pill.

Yu Caiqing wasn’t surprised. She nodded, accepting the wager. “Very well. We settle afterwards.”

Success or failure, profit or loss—it all hinged on the result. In truth, even she didn’t have 100% confidence.

“Senior Sister,” Jiang Chen asked, testing the waters. “Might I stay and observe the refinement?”

To witness the birth of an Earth-grade pill was a rare opportunity. The techniques involved would be invaluable for his own growth.

Yu Caiqing looked at him with genuine confusion. “You’re a Spirit Farmer with a Wood Spirit Root. What could you possibly gain from watching a fire-attuned refinement?”

Jiang Chen grinned unabashedly. “It’s an Earth-grade pill. I just want to witness history.”

For anyone else, Yu Caiqing would have pointed at the door. But this man had consistently delivered miracles with his planting, and he was her primary supplier.

“Fine,” she relented. “Come back on the seventh day.”

“The seventh day?”

“The Yin-Yang Interlace Pill requires seven days and seven nights of continuous refinement,” she said solemnly. “The alchemist cannot rest for a single breath. One moment of distraction, and everything turns to ash.”

Jiang Chen’s eyes brightened. He bowed deeply. “Thank you, Senior Sister!”