Zhou Kai stood in the center of the three-section courtyard, his gaze calculating as he surveyed the layout. It was time to secure his new domain.

With a flick of his wrist, he deployed the “Dual-Polarity Essence Absorption” Spirit Gathering Array.

Hum.

The air shimmered. Instantly, the Spirit Qi within the courtyard walls thickened, becoming a dense, invisible fog. A single breath felt refreshing, the energy content several times richer than the outside world.

But the main event was the defensive measure: the “Hidden Kill Heaven-Confusing Array.”

This was a nasty piece of work combining entrapment, lethality, and illusion. Its primary function was absolute concealment. Once activated, the interior of the courtyard became a blur to the outside world. No matter how hard a spy tried to pry with their Divine Sense, they wouldn’t glimpse a single tile inside.

Zhou Kai nodded in satisfaction. From now on, this would be the daytime domain of “Master Danyangzi.”

The plan was simple: receive clients in the morning, cultivate and refine pills in the afternoon, and return to the main residence in the evening to… reunite with the Chen sisters.

This place was where “Danyangzi” would forge his legend. More importantly, it was the trap destined to be Chen Xingze’s burial ground.

After finishing the setup, Zhou Kai returned to his own small courtyard.

The domestic scene that greeted him was peaceful. Chen Ziqing was tending to a patch of medicinal herbs, her movements graceful and practiced, while Chen Ziyi was leaning close to Lin Zhiwei, asking for advice on cultivation techniques.

Zhou Kai walked over, pulling Chen Ziyi into his lap before beckoning Chen Ziqing over. Once he had a beauty on either side, he laid out his plan: renting the separate courtyard and operating under the alias “Danyangzi.”

Chen Ziyi smiled gently, adjusting his collar. “Husband always has his own methods. I won’t ask too many questions. I only hope you are careful in all matters.”

Lin Zhiwei, who had witnessed Zhou Kai’s ability to change his physical form, nodded in agreement. “Fellow Daoist Zhou, if you need any assistance, please speak directly. I will not refuse.”

As for Chen Ziqing, her sparkling eyes instantly lit up with admiration.

“Wow! Brother Zhou is amazing! To think of such a clever method!”

She leaned in, hugging Zhou Kai’s arm tightly against her chest, her voice dropping to a sugary, coquettish coo:

“Brother Zhou… can I go to ‘Master Danyangzi’s’ place later to study? My first-grade pill refining skills are surely beneath a Master’s notice, but I can serve tea, pour water, and warm the bed… I mean, assist him! I might even learn a secret technique or two!”

Zhou Kai pinched her cheek, chuckling. “We’ll see.”

The night passed without incident.

The next day, before the first light of dawn broke the horizon, Zhou Kai rose quietly.

He opened his system panel.

[Pill Refining: Second Grade (300/300)]

He had reached the absolute peak of second-grade mastery.

Zhou Kai activated his disguise technique. His bones shifted, his skin weathered, and his aura changed completely. He was no longer the sharp young cultivator, but “Danyangzi,” an arrogant, eccentric master.

He slipped out of the house, concealed his presence, and stealthily entered the large courtyard he had prepared.

When the sun had fully risen, Zhou Kai deactivated the Restriction on the front gate and pushed open the heavy wooden doors.

Creak.

The scene outside surprised him slightly, though he had anticipated some interest.

A bustling crowd of at least thirty or forty people had gathered outside the entrance.

Their cultivation levels ranged from Early to Late Qi Condensation. There were even a few individuals dressed in luxurious silk robes—clearly Stewards or young scions from the nearby cultivation families.

However, the prevailing mood was not reverence, but curiosity and skepticism.

They were here to gauge the true capabilities of this “Master Danyangzi” who had appeared overnight. Many eyes held a mocking glint, as if waiting for a charlatan to make a fool of himself.

“Fellow Daoists,” Zhou Kai said, his voice deep and authoritative. “Please, enter.”

The crowd filed in. The moment they stepped across the threshold, their expressions changed. A wave of rich, dense Spirit Qi washed over them, invigorating their pores.

“Hiss! Such rich Spirit Qi!”

“This courtyard… could it have a high-grade Spirit Gathering Array? That’s quite an investment!”

“This Master Danyangzi indeed has some capital!”

The scrutiny in their gazes softened, replaced by a grudging respect. Just this display of wealth and formation mastery proved he wasn’t a common swindler.

Zhou Kai stood with his hands clasped behind his back, projecting the aura of a lofty, untouchable expert. Only after the whispering died down did he speak.

“This old man is Danyangzi. Having newly arrived at the Crouching Tiger Mountain Market, I am honored by your presence. However, regarding my pill refining services, I have rules.”

He paused, letting the silence stretch.

“First: I seek quality over quantity. I will only refine one furnace of pills per day. This ensures superior quality. This rule is unshakable!”

“Second: The required medicinal materials must be provided by the client. For rare herbs, this old man may have some on hand, but the exchange price will be discussed separately.”

“Third: This is the most important rule. My time is precious. The single furnace each day will go to the highest bidder. Of course, if the requested pill grade is sufficiently high or its refinement difficulty piques my interest, I may grant priority.”

As soon as the three rules were announced, an uproar erupted.

“What? Only one furnace per day? He puts on quite an act!”

“What if the refinement fails? Will you compensate for the materials?”

“The highest bidder wins? He thinks he’s a Golden Core Ancestor or something?”

A cultivator in brocade robes sneered loudly. “Who knows if he truly has skill or is just posturing to cheat us of our Spirit Stones!”

Zhou Kai paid no heed. He stood like a statue, eyes half-closed, indifferent to their doubts.

Time passed slowly. After half an hour, the atmosphere shifted from clamorous to stifling. Impatience was written on many faces. They felt Danyangzi was too arrogant for his own good.

Just then, a weak yet resolute voice rang out from the back of the crowd.

“Senior! This junior… this junior is willing to offer all my worldly possessions to beseech Senior to refine one furnace of Dew Return Pills!”

The crowd instinctively parted.

A middle-aged Loose Cultivator stumbled forward. He wore simple, worn Daoist robes, his face pale as paper, his aura feeble and flickering. He was clearly suffering from a severe, long-term injury that had damaged his foundation.

He was a nobody who had been injured months ago in a conflict. His internal organs were failing, his Source Origin depleted. He had exhausted his savings buying the herbs for the “Dew Return Pill”—a second-grade holy healing medicine capable of regrowing flesh and knitting bones for Qi Condensation cultivators.

But he had no connections. No second-grade Alchemist would waste their time on a dying pauper.

Hearing that a new Master was opening a furnace, he had dragged his dying body here to gamble on a sliver of hope.

Thud.

The Loose Cultivator fell to his knees, his voice choked with sobs.

“This junior pays respects to Master Danyangzi! My internal organs are failing… I urgently need the Dew Return Pill to sustain my life! I am willing to offer all my remaining Spirit Stones! I only beg the Master to show mercy and save this junior’s worthless life!”

Zhou Kai swept his gaze across the courtyard, then looked down at the kneeling man.

“Dew Return Pills…” he muttered. “A difficult refinement. But this old man has newly arrived.”

He raised his voice slightly.

“Since this Fellow Daoist is in urgent need and possesses the courage to step forward first… very well. Today’s first furnace, I shall refine for you free of charge.”

“Consider it a gesture of goodwill to the Fellow Daoists of Crouching Tiger Mountain, and a chance for you all to witness this old man’s methods firsthand.”

The entire courtyard went into shock.

“What? Free pill refining?”

“And for second-grade Dew Return Pills? The labor cost alone is astronomical!”

“Is this Master serious?”

The brocade-robed cultivator stared, dumbfounded, then sneered coldly. “Hmph. Sounds nice. Who knows if he’s just using this pauper to practice? If the refinement fails, the only one suffering a loss is the dying fool!”

The Loose Cultivator trembled with excitement, kowtowing repeatedly until his forehead bled. “Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!”

Zhou Kai said nothing more. He summoned his pill cauldron.

He swept his Divine Sense over the man’s herbs, confirming everything was correct. Then, the performance began.

Whoosh!

Flames erupted, warming the cauldron.

Zhou Kai’s fingers flew, weaving a complex series of hand seals that left afterimages in the air. One by one, the medicinal herbs were tossed into the fire—purification, fusion, separation.

Every movement was fluid, filled with a rhythmic beauty that bordered on art.

The cultivators in the courtyard, regardless of their level, held their breath. Their gazes were locked onto Zhou Kai and the glowing cauldron.

Even those who understood alchemy watched in a trance. Master Danyangzi’s technique was profound, exquisite, and far beyond the clumsy efforts of ordinary refiners.

Time passed. A refreshing, medicinal fragrance began to waft from the cauldron, filling the courtyard.

Approximately an hour later, Zhou Kai suddenly opened his eyes. A flash of brilliance shot from his pupils.

“Condense!” he shouted.

His hands formed a final seal, sending a surge of Mana striking the metal.

Hum—

The cauldron emitted a clear, bell-like chime.

“Open!”