Hall of External Affairs.
Wang Jianqiang approached Dong Rou, as usual, paying his respects to her impressive figure.
The Hehuan Sect was filled with beautiful women.
But such an astonishing scale, he had only ever seen on Dong Rou.
"Buying or selling items?" Dong Rou looked at Wang Jianqiang, her inquiry as cold as ever.
The next moment, her gaze sharpened.
Her lazy posture suddenly straightened.
Wang Jianqiang's eyelids twitched, fearing they might pop out of her clothes.
Dong Rou didn't notice Wang Jianqiang's gaze, she just stared at him.
Sixth level of Qi Refining!
In less than two months, his cultivation had risen from the third level of Qi Refining to the sixth level!
At this rate, he might really reach Foundation Establishment!
By then...
Her eyes flickered for a moment, then dimmed again, and she sat back down in dejection.
Impossible.
For Wang Jianqiang to have such an astonishing breakthrough speed, he must have relied on the Perfect Azure Spirit Pill.
Though the Perfect Azure Spirit Pill was impressive, it was still just a First-Rank Intermediate Elixir.
Once Wang Jianqiang's cultivation broke through to the seventh level of Qi Refining, the effect of the Perfect Azure Spirit Pill would surely diminish greatly.
And as his cultivation continued to rise, the effect would continue to decrease.
In the ten levels of Qi Refining, it was unrealistic for him to reach the ninth level with just the Perfect Azure Spirit Pill, let alone Foundation Establishment.
Moreover.
Even if he did reach the tenth level of Qi Refining before his lifespan limit, so what?
With his aptitude, the success rate of reaching Foundation Establishment would probably be shockingly low, right?
Wang Jianqiang had no idea what Dong Rou was thinking.
Though he was a bit surprised by Dong Rou's sudden stand and sit, he didn't think much of it.
"I want to purchase the Cloudmist Pill formula."
Before coming, Wang Jianqiang had already decided on the formula he wanted to buy.
In terms of effect, the Cloudmist Pill was top-tier among First-Rank Advanced Elixirs, and its gentle medicinal power suited him well.
Upon hearing this, Dong Rou's eyes flashed.
A First-Rank Advanced Pill Formula!
Could he have already become a First-Rank Advanced Alchemist?
Hadn't he just recently become a First-Rank Intermediate Alchemist?
Dong Rou gave Wang Jianqiang a deep look.
She suddenly realized she couldn't quite see through this junior nephew of hers.
"The Cloudmist Pill formula costs eight thousand spirit stones."
Hearing Dong Rou's words, Wang Jianqiang's expression froze, "So expensive!"
The Azure Spirit Pill formula, which was only First-Rank Intermediate, cost just two hundred spirit stones, yet the Cloudmist Pill formula, just one rank higher, was so exorbitantly priced! This story is hosted at g.com.
If it were anyone else, Dong Rou wouldn't bother explaining, buy it or not.
But even she didn't know why, at this moment, she showed a different attitude towards Wang Jianqiang, patiently explaining.
"First-Rank Low and Intermediate Pill Formulas are too low-level, the sect doesn't value them, so they're naturally cheap.
First-Rank Advanced Pill Formulas are considered regulated items, so the price is much higher."
After hearing Dong Rou's explanation, Wang Jianqiang understood.
He then showed a hint of embarrassment.
Originally, he thought with the spirit stones on him and three Perfect Azure Spirit Pills, he had more than enough to buy the Cloudmist Pill formula and ingredients. But now, he realized he didn't even have enough for the formula.
Just as he was about to buy some ingredients for refining Perfect Azure Spirit Pills first, and then come back after making some money, Dong Rou seemed to see his predicament and spoke again.
"Are you short on spirit stones?"
Wang Jianqiang nodded awkwardly, "I only have five hundred spirit stones and three Perfect Azure Spirit Pills."
The Perfect Body-Nourishing Pills were consumed too quickly. Besides the initial ten he refined, he had made some more in his spare time, but they were all gone.
Dong Rou pondered for a moment and said, "I can authorize you to take the Cloudmist Pill formula on credit, you just need to repay it within two months."
Wang Jianqiang was stunned.
The ever-cold Elder Dong was actually giving him special treatment?
"Could she have taken a liking to me?"
Wang Jianqiang thought happily, then dismissed the idea.
Unable to figure it out, he decided not to think about it. After all, it was a good thing.
"Thank you, Elder Dong."
Wang Jianqiang bowed to Dong Rou.
Then he exchanged the three Perfect Azure Spirit Pills for spirit stones, bought a large amount of spirit herbs, and walked out.
Dong Rou watched his gradually receding figure, her perfectly painted face filled with confusion.
"Even though I know he can't reach Foundation Establishment, why do I still hold a sliver of unrealistic hope for him?
A Qi Refining cultivator creating the legendary Perfect Elixir is already a miracle. Perhaps because he created this small miracle, my subconscious is unwilling to give up and wants to gamble on another bigger miracle.
Unfortunately, if miracles could be easily created, how would they be called miracles?"
Thinking of this, she sighed helplessly.
***
Back at his residence, Wang Jianqiang immediately took out the Cloudmist Pill formula and placed the jade slip on his forehead to read it.
Moments later, the system's prompt sounded.
"Ding, detected inferior pill formula, optimizing and upgrading the formula will cost 30 cultivation points, proceed with optimization upgrade?"
Compared to the First-Rank Intermediate Body-Nourishing Pill and Azure Spirit Pill, the optimization upgrade cost for a First-Rank Advanced Pill Formula was significantly higher.
Fortunately, he had used his time efficiently in the past few days, interacting actively with Chen Jiaojiao while refining elixirs during his cultivation breaks.
He had accumulated 50 cultivation points again.
Wang Jianqiang made up his mind.
"Ding, the Cloudmist Pill formula has been successfully optimized and upgraded to the Perfect Cloudmist Pill formula."
Wang Jianqiang then allocated the remaining 20 cultivation points to the Dao of Alchemy.
His Dao of Alchemy level rose from First-Rank Intermediate to First-Rank Advanced, but he didn't immediately start refining the Perfect Cloudmist Pill.
Instead, he first refined some Perfect Body-Nourishing Pills for backup, then some Perfect Azure Spirit Pills to warm up, and only then began the Perfect Cloudmist Pill refinement.
However, just as he was about to start refining the Perfect Cloudmist Pill, Chen Jiaojiao came by to ask for elixirs.
Wang Jianqiang naturally welcomed her generously.
In just half an hour, they concluded a project worth billions.
With slightly trembling legs, Wang Jianqiang saw Chen Jiaojiao out the door.
"Jiaojiao, I picked up a precious pill at the Hall of External Affairs a few days ago, haven't had the heart to use it, so I'm giving it to you."
After some thought, Wang Jianqiang handed over a Perfect Azure Spirit Pill.
He always felt that the system's favorability feature wasn't just for gauging others' attitudes towards him.
He had a hunch that if he could max out someone's favorability towards him, the true purpose of favorability would reveal itself.
"This is... an Azure Spirit Pill?"
Chen Jiaojiao examined the Perfect Azure Spirit Pill closely, her pretty face showing shock.
"No, its potency far exceeds that of a regular Azure Spirit Pill!"
After coming to her senses, she asked Wang Jianqiang uncertainly, "Are you really giving this to me?"
"Of course."
Wang Jianqiang smiled kindly and nodded.
"Uncle Wang, you're so good."
Chen Jiaojiao thanked Wang Jianqiang with emotion and then left.
"Ding, favorability +20."
Checking the attribute panel, Chen Jiaojiao's favorability towards him had risen to 80 points.
"Not far from maxing out."
Wang Jianqiang nodded in satisfaction and wobbled back inside.
After resting for a while, he continued refining elixirs.
As expected, after upgrading his Dao of Alchemy to First-Rank Advanced, he could now refine Perfect Cloudmist Pills.
And the success rate was still 100%.
In just half an hour, he refined his first Perfect Cloudmist Pill.
Then he stopped refining, and after his spiritual power recovered, he swallowed the Perfect Cloudmist Pill.
After refining the Perfect Cloudmist Pill, he felt he was almost at the mid-to-late stage of the sixth level of Qi Refining.
One more pill and he could break through to the seventh level of Qi Refining!
"The potency of two pills is equivalent to a hundred Perfect Azure Spirit Pills, the Perfect Cloudmist Pill is truly powerful."
Wang Jianqiang was instantly filled with motivation.
He continued refining.
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan