Seven days later.

Xu Ping took off his clothes and sat in a medicinal tub filled with a red liquid, operating the "Blood Soul Body Refining" skill.

As the technique circulated, steam rose, and his skin emitted a faint crimson and blue crystal light, while the red liquid in the tub gradually dulled in color.

Two hours later.

The liquid in the medicinal tub had become clear as water.

Xu Ping ended his cultivation, slowly opening his eyes with a flash of excitement in them: "This Blood Soul Body Refining is truly formidable; just one session has enhanced my physique by a degree."

If it's fully cultivated, how powerful will it be!

It's definitely much stronger than his Nourishing Life Skill.

Xu Ping got up from the tub, left the cultivation room, and stepped into the courtyard.

At this moment, the previously lively Golden-tailed Carp suddenly curled into a ball, shivering.

"This..."

"Could it be... that the evil qi emitted after cultivating Blood Soul Body Refining scared them?" Xu Ping thought thoughtfully.

Although the Demon Beast Blood Essence had been refined, it inevitably carried some evil qi.

And having bathed in the blood of a hundred demon beasts for cultivation, including Second-stage Demon Beasts, the aura definitely carried evil qi.

Xu Ping pondered for a moment.

The Bone Shaping Skill silently operated, concealing all his aura without a trace.

A moment later, the previously shivering Golden-tailed Carp suddenly appeared confused, cautiously swam around, and after discovering nothing unusual, returned to its lively state.

"This evil qi is indeed interesting; it even managed to intimidate the Golden-tailed Carp," Xu Ping couldn't help but laugh.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, "Could I use the evil qi against my foes?"

After pondering for a moment, he thought it might work.

If the evil qi in his aura got strong enough and exploded all out, it might affect a cultivator.

As long as they are affected for a moment.

After all, battles between cultivators often decide life and death in an instant.

Of course, he was still far away from that; at least he'd have to complete the Blood Soul Body Refining before seeing any clues.

...

...

Seven days later.

Zhang Yan's medicine shop.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, your winemaking skills are getting better." Zhang Yan swallowed a Bliss Pill with some spirit wine, and moments later, his complexion visibly improved.

Having known each other for years, Xu Ping kept his emotions in check at this.

He used to advise him.

Now?

Respect others' lives.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, didn't you want to meet an Alchemy Master before? Now you have a chance," Zhang Yan said with a smile after putting down the wine pot.

"Is that so?" Xu Ping's eyes lit up.

He mainly wanted to meet an Alchemist who could refine Foundation Establishment Pills.

The Foundation Establishment Pill, as a Second-stage Middle Grade Pill, requires at least a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to refine it.

Foundation Establishment cultivators, Second-stage Middle Grade Alchemists in Qiu Xuan Immortal City hold an extremely high status.

"Yes." Zhang Yan nodded, "That Alchemist has a prestigious status, being a First Rank Upper Grade Alchemist themselves, with a master who is one of the few Second-stage Middle Grade Alchemists in the Immortal City."

"I definitely need to meet them!" Xu Ping was moved.

With his current status and strength, directly meeting a Second-stage Middle Grade Alchemist was too difficult.

It's best to approach it indirectly.

"Then you'll need to prepare a gift, as that Alchemist is going to take a concubine in the next few days, it's best to prepare more," Zhang Yan reminded.

"Got it." Xu Ping nodded.

Cultivators also value social etiquette.

...

...

Three days later.

Zhang Yan led Xu Ping to a magnificent residence.

The pavilions within the residence were tall and grand, with two sets of First Rank Upper Grade arrays set up, the entrance was decorated with lanterns and streamers, and cultivators delivering gifts came in an endless stream.

"Li Yu, one jin of Celestial Snow Fruit."

"Chen Talisman Master, thirty spirit stones."

At the entrance of the mansion, a steward specifically recorded the gifts, and cultivators announced them.

"Zhang Yan, one Fire Qilin Fruit."

The shout was a bit louder.

The Fire Qilin Fruit, a special Spirit Fruit, greatly aids cultivators of fire-based cultivation techniques, and just one such fruit costs nearly a hundred spirit stones.

And what Xu Ping gifted was no less.

"Xu Ping, one Mid-grade Magical Artifact."

The shout was equally loud.

...

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, you've gone to such expense! Please come in."

A skinny middle-aged man stepped out enthusiastically after hearing the gift list.

Obviously, he and Zhang Yan were long acquainted.

"Is this fellow daoist you brought along?" He turned his gaze to Xu Ping since he naturally heard the gift Xu Ping brought.

But the two hadn't met before, and naturally, there was no invitation, the only possibility was that Zhang Yan brought him along.

"Yes." Zhang Yan smiled and nodded, "This is Xu Ping, Fellow Daoist Xu, who has long admired your reputation and came specifically to congratulate."

"This is Du Xinghuai, Alchemist Du." He introduced the two of them to each other.

"Alchemist Du, it's an honor to meet you!" Xu Ping clasped his hands in salute.

"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Xu, you're too kind, both of you, please come in," Du Xinghuai warmly invited the two to the main hall for a private table.

The treatment was fundamentally different from the public banquet in the yard.

Obviously, those who gave fewer gifts sat at the public banquet in the yard, and those who gave more naturally sat in the main hall.

Not many sat in the main hall, only a dozen or so, but Xu Ping saw an unexpected person—Jiang Tian.

"Why is he here?"

"Following me?"

Xu Ping was shaken, with thoughts racing, yet his face remained calm.

After some careful thought, he believed it was a coincidence.

They had no grudges, and back then, he probably didn't notice his disguise either.

Perhaps he also wanted to capitalize on Du Xinghuai to meet the Second-stage Middle Grade Alchemist.

Xu Ping thought this was very likely.

The banquet continued.

Alchemist Du toasted each person in the main hall.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, I've improved the Bliss Pill again, it's even stronger now, want to try it after the banquet ends?" Du Xinghuai laughed.

"That'd be great!" Zhang Yan was delighted to hear that, "I've been feeling like the Bliss Pills aren't quite right now, glad to hear it's improved."

Xu Ping had a strange expression, realizing that Alchemist Du was the culprit behind the Bliss Pills!

Hearing their conversation, so Alchemist Du also took Bliss Pills.

As an Alchemist, doesn't he know the harm of Bliss Pills?

Further improvement, making them stronger?

Isn't he afraid of overdosing himself?

"Fellow Daoist Xu, care to join us!"

Du Xinghuai invited warmly, clearly seeing Xu Ping as a like-minded person. After all, he was brought by Zhang Yan, gave generous gifts, naturally easy to associate with seeking pills.

"No need, no need." Xu Ping's expression stiffened, quickly refusing.

Such things, he certainly wouldn't touch.

"No?" Du Xinghuai was briefly taken aback, then realized something with a hearty laugh, "Friend, enjoy, feel free to visit my residence in a few days."

"Sure, no problem." Xu Ping was moved.

Apparently, the Mid-grade Magical Artifact was worth gifting, and this Alchemist Du knew how to treat people.

The banquet continued, the atmosphere getting more lively, maidens gracefully danced in the main hall. Although they were mortals, they had been clearly professionally trained, with elegant and captivating dance moves.

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