"So it turns out… it can be done like this…""This… this is nearly a second-grade spiritual pill…""L-Little brother, the pill may be refined, but I still don't understand the key step…"
Inside the pill refining chamber, Wu Cang repeatedly let out exclamations of amazement. He stared at Bai Yuzhe with eyes full of disbelief and admiration. Words couldn't express the excitement in his heart.
Beside him, Wu Wenxuan was utterly speechless. She had some knowledge of alchemy and had watched the entire process. It had been over two hours since they entered the chamber. Although Wu Cang had been the one doing the refining, Bai Yuzhe guided every step. Since Bai Yuzhe hadn't yet reached the Spirit Aperture Realm and lacked source power, he couldn't control the alchemical flame himself.
Yet her father had accomplished several techniques he once thought impossible—each one nothing short of a miracle.
If, at the start, father and daughter still held doubts about Bai Yuzhe, those two hours had turned all their skepticism into wholehearted reverence.
They simply couldn't comprehend how a boy who looked to be only thirteen or fourteen, dressed in rags no less, could have mastered alchemy to such a terrifying level. Even for a genius, wasn't there a limit?
But none of that mattered in the face of the joy in their hearts. This was like manna from heaven.
"All right, let's end it here for today. Take one of these new Calm Heart Pills each day. After three days, the pill toxins in your bodies will be completely eliminated."
Seeing that time was almost up, Bai Yuzhe stood up. He didn't have the luxury to spend all day tutoring Wu Cang.
"Uh…" Wu Cang froze. He'd been so immersed in the joy and sense of accomplishment that he had forgotten both the time and that the success wasn't truly his own.
"Little Brother Bai, may I ask where you're staying?"Suppressing the disappointment in his heart, Wu Cang quickly inquired. If Bai Yuzhe were to leave and never return, he would regret it for the rest of his life. He had already seen the possibility of advancing to a second-grade alchemist.
No—not just the possibility. If this young man continued to guide him for a while, it was virtually guaranteed.
"The northeast district—Goulan Street."
Bai Yuzhe casually revealed his residence.
"Uh…" Wu Cang and his daughter were both stunned again. That was the poorest part of Floating City, where most of the beggars and destitute lived.
They couldn't imagine how a master-level alchemist could live in what was practically a slum.
But then again, considering the boy's attire… it kind of made sense.
"Little brother, if you don't mind, how about staying here at Danxiang Pavilion?"Wu Cang extended an invitation on the spot. If he could keep Bai Yuzhe living under his roof, the thought alone was enough to make him giddy.
"No need. Unless something unexpected happens, I'll be coming here once a day."
Bai Yuzhe declined outright. He didn't want to get too entangled with them. Besides, he had a whole group of siblings to look after. He couldn't very well bring all twenty-some people into the Pavilion.
After that, Bai Yuzhe listed the resources he needed. Wu Cang, without hesitation, handed them over.
In total, there were twenty spirit stones and some medicinal herbs meant for cleansing and strengthening meridians. Though not as effective as refined pills, they were pure and carried no harmful side effects—for now, they would suffice.
Having obtained what he needed, Bai Yuzhe left Danxiang Pavilion, personally escorted by Wu Cang himself.
Along the way, the Pavilion's disciples stood in stunned silence, eyes practically falling out of their sockets.
Their usually aloof and imposing master—the only alchemist in Floating City—was treating a ragged thirteen-year-old like a distinguished guest?
Was this an illusion?
Though curiosity gnawed at them, not one dared to ask a single question.
After returning to his place, Bai Yuzhe gathered everyone together.
Among the eighteen people, only one—Xiao He—was a girl; the rest were all boys.
"Boss, where did you go this morning?""Brother Bai, how's your injury?"
A cacophony of voices rang out as everyone began asking about Bai Yuzhe's situation.
"My injury's nothing. It'll be fine in a couple of days.I went out to get resources for everyone!Brothers, from now on, we won't need to worry about cultivation resources anymore. Also, it's time to change the techniques we're using.From today forward, I'll make sure every single one of you becomes someone who stands above others. We'll be the ones bullying people—not the ones being bullied!"
Once everyone had gathered, Bai Yuzhe looked at them and declared this righteously.
"Boss, no way…Did you hit your head? Still not thinking clearly?""Brother Bai, are you running a fever?"
Xiao He, full of concern, placed her hand on Bai Yuzhe's forehead to check his temperature.
Bai Yuzhe was speechless at their reaction, but he couldn't blame them. After all the bitter years they had lived through, being suddenly told that they could live like lords in a palace—it was no wonder no one believed it.
With a helpless smile, Bai Yuzhe opened his bundle and began taking things out.
In an instant, dazzling light illuminated the room. One by one, glowing green spirit stones shimmered with a mesmerizing brilliance, along with a bundle of dark silken cloth exuding a faint medicinal scent. All eighteen were stunned and immediately gathered around.
In their entire lives combined, they had never seen so many spirit stones. As for the herbs, none of them could identify them, but it was clear that they were far beyond anything they could afford.
"Heh, stunned, aren't you?Relax, this is just the beginning. Each of you gets one spirit stone and one bundle of the herbs. Tonight, take turns coming to my room one by one."
After giving his instructions, Bai Yuzhe turned and went back to his room.
He kept two spirit stones for himself—for cultivation.
Gripping both stones in his hands, he began absorbing the energy within, following the circulation technique from the Dragonbreak Nine Heavens Manual.
Under their old cultivation method, a single spirit stone—used sparingly among them all—could last at least half a month.
Firstly, because they didn't dare use more—spirit stones were an impossible luxury for them before.
Secondly, because their technique had been extremely basic… almost worthless.
By nightfall, Bai Yuzhe had already completely absorbed both spirit stones.
By then, the others had lined up in order to enter his room one by one.
The first to enter was Xiao He, the only girl. Everyone had let her go first.
"Brother Bai…Where did all those spirit stones and herbs come from?"
As soon as she stepped in, Xiao He asked cautiously. She was truly afraid the supplies had been stolen from some noble family—if they were caught, they could all be executed.
"Heh, don't worry, little girl. These resources were obtained fair and square. And this is just the beginning. From now on, our cultivation supplies will come in continuously, so don't hold back—use them freely. No need to be frugal."
Bai Yuzhe replied with a warm smile.
Xiao He was overjoyed, though also quite curious—how had such a steady stream of resources suddenly appeared?
But she didn't press further. Over the years, they had grown used to putting complete trust in Bai Yuzhe.
As the night went on, Bai Yuzhe began carefully evaluating Xiao He's natural talents and traits. He was going to customize a cultivation plan for each and every one of his brothers and sisters.
The next to enter was Luo Ming, a refined-looking boy about the same age as Bai Yuzhe. He was effectively the strategist of their group—sharp-minded and quiet by nature.
After entering, Luo Ming asked Bai Yuzhe a slew of questions. If something didn't make sense to him, he simply couldn't feel at ease.
Bai Yuzhe had no choice but to brush him off again—he absolutely couldn't reveal the truth just yet.
It wasn't that he didn't trust his brothers—But in his past life, Bai Yuzhe had made too many enemies. He needed to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Next to enter was Tieta. Although he was a year younger than Bai Yuzhe, his physique was incredibly robust, standing nearly 1.8 meters tall.No one could understand how someone who had grown up malnourished could turn out so powerfully built…
One by one, all eighteen were thoroughly examined by Bai Yuzhe. By the time he finished, it was already deep into the night.
Then, based on each person's strengths, he began assigning cultivation techniques tailored to them.Of course, Bai Yuzhe didn't have an endless repository of high-tier techniques in his mind, so some people with similar attributes ended up receiving the same techniques.
Still, the techniques Bai Yuzhe provided were all at least of Profound-rank.There wasn't a single one at the Martial or Spirit rank.
If he wished, a single Profound-rank technique written down and auctioned in the Imperial Capital of Floating City could fetch a sky-high price.
However, Bai Yuzhe had no intention of doing so for now. After all, his current strength was still insufficient, and revealing such things could easily bring danger.
The entire night was spent sorting through the techniques stored in his memory.He needed to strengthen the combat power of the whole group.
But the contents of cultivation techniques were vast and complex.In one night, he only managed to write out two complete ones—and even those only covered the early stages of training.
By dawn, Bai Yuzhe, who hadn't slept in two days, began to meditate and rest.Even as he rested, he silently chanted the Dragonbreak Nine Heavens Manual in his heart. He didn't want to waste even a single moment.
Sitting cross-legged on the tattered bed, Bai Yuzhe's hands formed the foundational mudra of the Dragonbreak Nine Heavens technique, placed gently on his thighs.There was a faint, imperceptible trace of draconic aura surrounding him.
But it was extremely subtle—an ordinary person would never be able to detect it.
The first stage of Dragonbreak Nine Heavens was called "The Dragon Swims in Shallow Waters"—the initial entry-level stage of the technique, and also the easiest to cultivate.Martial artists at the Heart Gate Realm could begin practicing it.
In fact, this stage was the simplest among the entire cultivation path.
Gradually, a faint glow began to radiate from Bai Yuzhe's body, emitting a soft and subtle pressure.
"Although the first level is easy to start with, I still don't have enough resources,"he muttered with a soft sigh by afternoon. Then he stood up, preparing to head to Danxiang Pavilion once more.