With a low, controlled shout from Zhou Kai, the heavy lid of the alchemy furnace shot skyward.

Whoosh!

Three crystal-clear pills, swirling with dense, misty vitality, spun rapidly out of the furnace opening. Zhou Kai’s hand moved like lightning, snatching them from the air with practiced ease.

He opened his palm. Each pill was perfectly round, exuding a lustrous sheen. Faint, mysterious patterns—the mark of the Dao—shimmered and flowed across their surfaces like living water. They were clearly treasures far beyond the ordinary.

“T-Top… Top-grade?”

In the crowd, an elderly cultivator with a white beard stared, his eyes widening until they threatened to pop from his skull. His voice trembled, cracking with disbelief.

“Heavens! Three of them! Three top-grade Dew Return Pills in a single batch!”

For a standard Second-Grade Alchemist, successfully refining one or two mid-grade Dew Return Pills was a respectable feat. If luck smiled upon them and they produced a single top-grade pill, it was an achievement they would boast about for a decade.

Yet, this ‘Master Danyangzi’ had produced three flawless top-grade pills in one go.

The success rate was terrifying. The quality was suffocating. It was unheard of.

The richly dressed cultivator who had sneered earlier now stood frozen, his face the color of ash. His mouth hung open, but no words came out. The mockery died in his throat, replaced by sheer, paralyzed shock.

As for the injured loose cultivator, tears instantly welled in his eyes. His entire body shook uncontrollably.

He had come prepared to beg for a single mid-grade pill, praying it would be enough to save his life. He never dared to dream of this. Three top-grade pills? The medicinal efficacy was several times stronger!

This wouldn’t just heal his internal organs; the pure, concentrated vitality would restore his damaged Source Origin. It might even cleanse his meridians, paving a smoother path for his future cultivation.

This wasn’t just a transaction. It was a rebirth.

Zhou Kai flicked his wrist, sending the jade bottle floating toward the man. His voice was calm, indifferent, like a master who had done nothing more than pour a cup of tea.

“Three top-grade Dew Return Pills. The quality is barely acceptable. Take them.”

The loose cultivator caught the bottle with trembling hands. He dropped to his knees, his forehead smashing against the stone floor with a heavy thud.

“Thank you… Thank you for your life-saving grace, Master! This junior will never forget your great kindness! If you ever have a command, I will die ten thousand deaths without hesitation!”

His voice was hoarse, choked with sobbing.

Zhou Kai waved a hand dismissively, signaling him to rise. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the courtyard.

In that moment, not a single soul dared to look at Master Danyangzi with anything less than absolute reverence.

Three days passed in a flash.

The name “Danyangzi” swept through the Crouching Tiger Mountain market like a storm. The threshold of his courtyard was nearly worn down by the endless stream of cultivators seeking pills.

Zhou Kai remained rigid with his rules: One furnace per day. Highest bidder wins.

Regardless of the pill requested, the result was always the same—flawless, top-grade quality. His reputation became unshakeable.

However, the big fish—the Chen Family—had yet to bite. Zhou Kai wasn’t worried. Large families were slow, cumbersome beasts. They acted with caution.

On the morning of the fourth day, before the first light of dawn touched the sky, Zhou Kai stirred.

The bed beside him was empty, but the sheets still held a lingering, fragrant warmth.

Creak.

The wooden door was pushed open gently. Chen Ziqing stepped inside, carrying a wooden basin filled with steaming water. A faint, soothing medicinal scent wafted from the basin.

She placed the water on a small stool by the bed and set out a fresh set of robes.

“Master,” she cooed softly, her voice like melted honey. “It is time to rise.”

Zhou Kai looked at her, and his heart gave an involuntary, traitorous throb.

She was wearing a simple maid’s outfit today, but on her, it looked sinful. The fabric clung to her curves, highlighting the swell of her chest and the narrowness of her waist.

He quickly recited a mental mantra to clear the fire rising in his blood.

Zhou Kai, ah, Zhou Kai. Focus. You need to break through to the Bone Forging realm within a month.

You cannot drain all your Yang essence on this little vixen, no matter how delicious she is!

But… gods, these past three days had been bliss. Pure, unadulterated bliss.

Chen Ziqing was a master of varying her approach.

On the first day, she had batted her innocent, doe-like eyes at him. “Master, how is your disciple’s alchemy? Has my technique improved?” That “lesson” had ended with her bent over the alchemy table, learning a very different kind of rhythm.

On the second day, she had played the victim, eyes red and teary. “Brother-in-law, how could you be so harsh with Ziqing? It hurts…” The guilt trip had turned into a passionate, comforting session that nearly broke the bed frame.

And last night… the third day.

She had changed into this maid attire, lowered her head submissively, and whispered, “Master, allow this lowly servant to help you undress…”

The memory hit him like a physical blow.

He remembered her small, soft hands fumbling with his belt. He remembered the way she sank to her knees, her tongue darting out to wet her lips as she looked up at him with heated devotion. He remembered the friction, the wet sounds filling the room, the way her body arched and trembled as he filled her with his energy, their Dual Cultivation cycling rapidly until she lay boneless and panting in a pool of their combined fluids.

Who could withstand this?!

He pulled up his system interface.

[Alchemy: Second Grade (300/300) – LIMIT REACHED] [Status: Cannot Break Through]

His proficiency points were overflowing. The blockage was clear: Cultivation Arts were tied to his cultivation realm. To become a Third-Grade Alchemist, he needed to reach the Foundation Establishment realm.

“Alright, good Ziqing,” Zhou Kai said, forcing his voice to remain steady as he swung his legs out of bed.

She immediately knelt to help him with his boots, her chest pressing against his calf.

Zhou Kai gritted his teeth. Tonight… I absolutely must go find Chen Ziyi. I need a change of pace. Or… perhaps I should have them both together?

The Chen Family Estate, Council Hall.

The atmosphere was heavy with authority. Patriarch Chen Rulong sat at the head seat, his expression unreadable. Below him sat the Elders, including the Fifth Elder, Chen Heming.

In the center of the hall stood Chen Xingze. He was dressed in magnificent silk robes, his face wearing a mask of arrogant impatience.

“Let us discuss this ‘Danyangzi’,” Chen Rulong said, breaking the silence. “In just three days, his fame has shaken Crouching Tiger Mountain. One furnace a day, every pill top-grade. I fear even within the Heavenly Spring Sect, second-grade alchemists with such consistency are rare.”

Chen Heming stroked his beard. “Patriarch, this man’s origins are mysterious. He acts with high-profile arrogance, which suggests he has backing. We must be cautious. However…” He glanced meaningfully at Chen Xingze. “Our Chen Family truly needs a high-quality Foundation Establishment Pill.”

“Xingze is already at the ninth layer of Qi Condensation,” Chen Heming continued. “His body cultivation has reached the ninth layer of Meridian Opening. He is on the verge of perfection. If we can secure a top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill for him, his success will be guaranteed. Entering the sect under a Golden Core master will be effortless.”

“Elder Heming speaks wisely,” another Elder chimed in.

“We have gathered four sets of main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill. If Danyangzi can truly produce a top-grade pill… we could entrust the remaining materials to him. If he succeeds, the Chen Family’s future dominance is secured!”

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the hall.

A top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill was a strategic resource. The alchemists they had contacted in the Heavenly Spring Sect could only guarantee low-grade pills, with a high chance of failure.

Hearing the praise for an outsider, Chen Xingze snorted, his lip curling in disdain.

“A mere Danyangzi? Even if he knows some alchemy tricks, he is ultimately just a loose cultivator at the ninth layer of Meridian Opening. Can he really turn the sky upside down?”

He scoffed, pacing slightly. “The materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill are priceless. It is natural the family does not trust an outsider. If he truly has the skill to serve our Chen Family… well, that would be his good fortune.”

Chen Rulong’s sharp gaze settled on the young man.

“Xingze,” the Patriarch said slowly. “Danyangzi’s initial reputation seems to have spread from that girl from the Wang family—Wang Qiaoqiao. I heard she was once his exclusive agent?”

Chen Xingze waved his hand dismissively.

“Wang Qiaoqiao? She is merely one of my future concubines. A plaything. What insight could she possibly have? She just got lucky and clung to this alchemist’s leg early on.”

He paused, a cruel glint entering his eyes. ” However, if you have doubts, Patriarch, I will personally go and give her a… warning. She won’t dare hide anything from me.”

Chen Rulong nodded. “Very well. This matter is of great importance. Investigate thoroughly. Find out Danyangzi’s background… and determine if he truly has the confidence to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill.”

“Understood,” Chen Xingze replied lazily.

In his eyes, an alchemist—no matter how skilled—was just a servant. A tool to be used by the strong.

Wang Qiaoqiao’s Courtyard.

Wang Qiaoqiao had been living in a state of constant unease.

Master Danyangzi’s reputation was exploding like thunder across the market. As the one who had “discovered” him, she had become the focus of unwanted attention.

Yet, Zhou Kai had not contacted her since that night.

When Danyangzi appeared out of thin air, she had guessed it was Zhou Kai’s doing. But the lack of communication was gnawing at her.

She bit her lower lip, her thoughts racing in anxious circles.

He promised. He said he would help me enter Calamity Abyss Valley. He said he would help me escape Chen Xingze…

But now? He is a celebrated Master. Even the Chen Family must be eyeing him. Does he still need me? Are his promises still valid? Or have his wings grown so strong that he has forgotten the little bird who helped him start?

The more she thought, the tighter her chest felt. Panic was a cold stone in her stomach.

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound of a fist on the courtyard gate made her jump.

Wang Qiaoqiao’s heart hammered against her ribs. She took a deep breath, smoothed her robes, and forced a calm expression onto her face before walking to the gate.

When she opened it, the blood drained from her face.

Standing there was the one person she feared most.

Chen Xingze.

He wore an expression of indifferent scrutiny, his eyes sweeping over her body like a customer inspecting cattle at a market.

“Young Master Chen,” Qiaoqiao whispered, dropping into a slight curtsey. She tried to keep her voice docile, hiding the trembling of her hands.

“Hmm.” Chen Xingze didn’t wait for an invitation. He strode past her into the courtyard, looking around with a sneer.

“You must have heard about Danyangzi, right?” he asked, his back to her.

The question hung in the air like a blade.