The influence of Wujimen extended across the Five Seas and四海，encompassing more than half of the Eastern Domain. Shixiao Tian, as the eighth elder of Wujimen and a renowned丹master, held a significant amount of power within the sect. His authority allowed for considerable leverage, and soon, information about a man named Zhong Qing, who hailed from the Xianjiangmen, was meticulously gathered and presented before him.

In the grand hall, Shixiao Tian regarded the information about Zhong Qing, a leader of a minor sect, and sneered. "A mere peak master of a second-rate sect dares to hijack my opportunity. death-defying!"

Due to the limited time for investigation, the information about Zhong Qing was sparse, only revealing his background, his apprentice Su Ye, and the incident where he effortlessly crushed a bloodthirsty brute.

"Inform me of this man's background. He seems to have some hidden talents," a figure in a dark robe asked, the head of Wujimen's secret guards. They were responsible for information gathering and intelligence.

"Enough," Shixiao Tian waved his hand dismissively. "A minor sect peak master, what else could he be? Just gather his identity."

"And what of his talents? Even if he is extraordinary, how extraordinary could he be?" he added, before ordering the guard to leave.

The dark-robed guard, sensing that Zhong Qing was no ordinary individual, wanted to warn the eighth elder. However, seeing the dismissive attitude, the words he wanted to speak were stifled in his throat.

With the guard's departure, Shixiao Tian set off again, his destination now clear. He aimed directly for the headquarters of the Mufu Peak within the Xianjiangmen.

In his mind, dealing with a peak master from a second-rate sect was as simple as squashing a cockroach. His identity and status were such that he could shape the outcome as he pleased.

……

Mufu Peak!

The interior of the peak was filled with the roar of thunder. A black smoke billowed into the sky.

"Cough, cough..."

Zhong Qing, the peak master of the Mufu Peak, waved his hand to dispel the noxious smoke. Meanwhile, he was deeply troubled.

"Why did the furnace explode? I followed the standard procedure."

In the corner, a pile of廢棄 furnaces lay broken and scattered. The central furnace, where he had attempted to refine the elixir, was now shattered in half.

"Could it be that the furnace quality is subpar?"

Pondering, Zhong Qing ordered Lin Feng, his apprentice, to go to the alchemy peak to fetch a higher-quality furnace.

"Master, I will go fetch a better-quality furnace from the alchemy peak for you."

Zhong Qing jotted down the reasons behind the failure in his book, continuously summarizing and analyzing the causes.

Outside, Lin Feng, who was currently in the midst of his cultivation, sighed resignedly before rising from his seat.

"Master, I will return shortly!"

After responding, Lin Feng left to fetch the furnace.

It did not take long for him to arrive at the residence of Ge Changqing, the master of the Alchemy Peak.

"Lin Feng, you came," Ge Changqing greeted warmly, his face alight with smiles. "I just happened to have some new tea. Have a taste and see if you like it. If you do, take some back for your master and apprentice."

"Master Ge!"

Lin Feng bowed and saluted. "I'm not here for tea today. I need to get a high-quality furnace for Master Zhong from the Alchemy Peak. Could you be so kind as to accommodate us?"

"Of course!"

"What's there to be accommodating about? We're all from the same sect. It's about being helpful to others, which is also about being helpful to oneself."

With a wave of his hand, Ge Changqing summoned one of his subordinates.

"Fetch the Purple Azure Furnace for me. Let Lin scholar take it back for his master."

The subordinate looked on in shock. "Master... that Purple Azure Furnace is precious to you; it's the peak's treasure. Shouldn't we retrieve it?"

"What's the matter? Fetch it! I said to fetch it!"

"How can such a precious item be taken lightly? It's a treasure of the Alchemy Peak!"

"Rubbish! Are these inanimate objects more valuable than our fellow sect members and the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood?"

He turned to Lin Feng with a smile, "There's no need for formality among family. If Master Zhong needs a furnace, just let me know. As for trading or not, that's too formal."

moments later, two subordinates carried the Purple Azure Furnace, a majestic, half-person high, and ten-thousand-jin heavy furnace with a deep purple hue, to Ge Changqing's residence.

The warmth and generosity of the Alchemy Peak master left a group of alchemy peak disciples in a state of shock. The master's unconditional gift of a valuable treasure, along with an implied arrangement for Lin Feng's future marriage, was seen as excessive and inappropriate.

However, Lin Feng understood the reason behind it. He had become the apprentice of Zhong Qing, and with him, he had stepped onto a true path of success. Lin Feng's rise to prominence was a testament to his teacher's guidance.

After Lin Feng left, the other disciples looked at Ge Changqing, their thoughts tangled.

"Peak Master, the Purple Azure Furnace is a treasure of our Alchemy Peak. You gave it away so freely. Is that not too hasty?"

"Yes?"

"What do I need to teach you how to do things?"

The disciples, embarrassed and defeated, lowered their heads.

Ge Changqing, however, was elated. ordinary disciples may not know Zhong Qing's identity. He, as the peak master, knew it well.

That was the rebirth of an emperor. A figure standing atop the clouds.

Now, while he was still in obscurity, to send him a treasure and leave a good impression would be beneficial for him in the future. Once he rose to prominence, if he could remember a favor or offer a little something back, it would be a thousandfold return.

His strategy and vision were different from theirs. He had reasons for becoming the peak master.

……

On the other side,

when Lin Feng brought the Purple Azure Furnace back to the Mufu Peak, Zhong Qing was overjoyed. He immediately noticed the charm of the furnace. It was luxurious, beautiful, elegant, and rich in connotation.

"Alright, go and train! I need to refine elixirs now."

Zhong Qing placed the furnace on the hearth, lighting a fire, heating it up, and sorting the elixir materials.

Whether it was luck or the power of the new equipment, this time, the furnace did not explode. The elixirs were successfully refined.

However, when Zhong Qing pulled the finished products out of the Purple Azure Furnace, he was somewhat skeptical of his own creation.

"Is this an elixir?"

He had never seen a pig run, but he had tasted pork. He had heard that many alchemists' elixirs were fragrant, smooth, round, and brimming with elixir energy, looking so appetizing that people would want to eat them. But his elixirs?

They were patchy and roughly shaped like lumps, yellowish in color, and with a smell of burning. Zhong Qing stared at them for nearly a quarter of an hour, considering tossing them into the trash pile as waste.

But thinking about the effort put into them, he felt a bit reluctant. Perhaps, his way of refining elixirs was fundamentally different from the mainstream, and he might be paving the way for a completely new path of alchemy.

With this thought in mind, Zhong Qing treasured the elixirs and named them "Lump Elixir" according to their appearance, which was both novel and fitting.

However, the efficacy of these elixirs was still unknown, and Zhong Qing was itching to find out.

Just then,

high above the clouds,

a ray of light shot through the air, its momentum like a虹, releasing the aura of a day-level strongman, shaking the clouds and winds.

The light was so fast that in the blink of an eye, it had reached the peak. It condensed into a figure, whose presence was overwhelming.

This person was none other than Shi Xiao Tian.

His gaze swept the surroundings of the peak, finally landing on Zhong Qing.

"You are Zhong Qing, the peak master of Mufu Peak," he said, hands on his hips, his posture regal, like a god of heaven looking down upon the ants of the world.

That gaze was discomforting to Zhong Qing.

"Who are you?"

Zhong Qing lifted his head, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"An uppity fellow! What is your name?"

Before he could respond, Shi Xiao Tian's voice grew more intense. "I am an elder of the Holy Land. Do you dare speak to me like this?"

"Do you think you can get away with it?"

His aura surged, seems to want to cow Zhong Qing into submission.

"Hand over the Tian Ling herb, or face the wrath of the Holy Land and the anger of the strong!"

As he spoke, his aura intensified, threatening Zhong Qing with punishment if he did not comply.

Zhong Qing was thoroughly enraged by this. Without any further words, he struck out with a palm.

Shi Xiao Tian, caught off guard, was sent flying, knocked unconscious before he could react. In the moments before losing consciousness, he faintly heard Zhong Qing mutter, "Just what I needed, an guinea pig to test my elixir's effect..."