"Hmm?"
Within the Pill Pavilion, Li Huayuan arrived.
He sat cross-legged in front of the pill furnace, ready to start alchemy, when he suddenly noticed a wasted pill beside the furnace.
He often had wasted pills emerge during alchemy, but he always handled them properly and would never leave them aside casually.
Curious, Li Huayuan picked up the wasted pill.
"This elixir, it's not one I refined..."
With just one glance, he confirmed this and couldn't help but frown, starting to carefully examine the wasted pill.
Quickly, the expression on Li Huayuan's face transformed from initial confusion to surprise, finally to shock!
"This elixir... who refined this elixir?!" He couldn't help but exclaim.
Because Li Huayuan could see, this was a Second Grade Body Tempering Pill.
He had also refined such pills many times in the past, but it was absolutely impossible for him to make one like this.
Although it was just a wasted pill, he could tell with his discerning eyes that in both the color and other aspects, the technique of the person who refined it was far superior to his own!
How could this be...
He was utterly amazed, wondering who had visited the Pill Pavilion during his absence and refined such a wasted pill!
When was there ever another alchemist in the Lingyun Sect besides himself?
Full of questions, Li Huayuan immediately called Wang Ping over.
"Elder Li, it was... the Young Sect Leader..."
Wang Ping had just gone to sleep not long ago and was suddenly called over, dumbfounded, never expecting Elder Li to discover someone had visited the Pill Pavilion that day.
He could only recount the events of the day in detail.
"The Young Sect Leader?"
Hearing this, Li Huayuan was slightly taken aback, then couldn't help but frown, "You mean that wastrel Ji Chen?"
Wang Ping replied, "Other than Ji Chen, we don't have a second Young Sect Leader in the Lingyun Sect..."
Li Huayuan's frown deepened.
What on earth was going on?
Although he was only an honored guest elder of the Lingyun Sect, he was familiar with the wastrel Ji Chen.
Knowing that he was a good-for-nothing, it was utterly impossible for such a person to be an alchemist, let alone refine such a wasted pill.
"Other than Ji Chen, did anyone else come?" he asked again.
Wang Ping shook his head directly.
"This is strange..."
Li Huayuan stroked his long beard, puzzled.
Such a wasted pill indicated that the alchemist's skill in the Alchemy Dao must be higher than his own.
Such a person, even throughout the entire Chu Kingdom, would hold a very esteemed status.
"It seems I must find some time to meet this wastrel Young Sect Leader tomorrow..."
After dismissing Wang Ping, Li Huayuan mused to himself this way.
To him, this matter was by no means ordinary, and he had to get to the bottom of it.
...
Time passed.
Before he knew it, dawn appeared in the distant sky.
Early in the morning, Ji Chen awoke from his sleep-dream.
After a simple wash, he took a longsword and headed to the courtyard of the Drunken Ink Residence, intending to train in a set of swordsmanship martial techniques.
This was a set of martial techniques called 'Phantom Sword Technique', at the low-level Profound Tier.
For Ji Chen in his past life, martial techniques of this level were not worth mentioning, but for him now, they were just right.
His cultivation had just broken through to the First Layer of the Vein Condensation Realm. Normally, for a cultivator at this level, practicing Profound Tier martial techniques would be extremely difficult, mainly because wielding such techniques consumes significant spiritual power.
The spiritual power reserves of a typical First Layer Vein Condensation Realm cultivator are insufficient to wield Profound Tier martial techniques.
But Ji Chen was different; he possessed nine spirit veins, with spiritual power that was refined and far beyond that of ordinary people. For him, wielding a Profound Tier martial technique was no challenge.
The Phantom Sword Technique is known for its speed, such that when executed, it appears like shadows, as ethereal as a phantom, making it difficult for ordinary people to defend against.
Due to his past life memories, Ji Chen managed to master this martial technique in just half an hour.
He was confident that with his current First Layer Vein Condensation Realm strength, coupled with the nine spirit veins within him, even opponents at the Fourth or Fifth Layer might not be a match for him if he wielded the Phantom Sword Technique.
"Let's imprint a few more martial techniques..."
After mastering the Phantom Sword Technique, he prepared to continue imprinting martial techniques.
Last night, he imprinted until late at night and successfully imprinted two high-level Yellow Tier martial techniques.
Today, Ji Chen planned to imprint two Profound Tier martial techniques.
Whether these martial techniques were handed over to Ji Xiaotian to enrich the Lingyun Sect's Martial Arts Hall or sold for resources, Ji Chen didn't mind.
His main goal was to strengthen the Lingyun Sect in a short period.
The current situation of the Lingyun Sect was unsustainable; selling martial techniques was one means to sustain development.
Furthermore, Ji Chen didn't lack such martial techniques because, with his past life memories, he could produce as many high-level Yellow and Profound Tier martial techniques as needed.
If necessary, Ji Chen could even imprint Earth Tier or Celestial Tier martial techniques.
However, such high-level techniques would be of no use to the current Lingyun Sect and might provoke unnecessary trouble.
After all, even within the entire Chu Kingdom, it's uncertain if any faction could present an Earth Tier martial technique.
One could imagine what turmoil would occur if an Earth Tier martial technique appeared within the Lingyun Sect.
"Is the Young Sect Leader in?"
Just as Ji Chen was about to start imprinting martial techniques, suddenly, a voice came from outside the courtyard gate.
Ji Chen was slightly taken aback, "Who is it? Come in."
Soon, the gate was pushed open, and looking up, Ji Chen saw that it was Wang Ping along with an old man accompanying him—it was Li Huayuan!
"What's the matter?"
Ji Chen, of course, recognized Li Huayuan and couldn't help but frown seeing him suddenly arrive.
What was going on?
Given Li Huayuan's status as a Second Grade Pill Master, although only an honored guest elder of the Lingyun Sect, his standing usually wasn't much lower than Sect Leader Ji Xiaotian's.
Such a person would hardly have any dealings with a wastrel like him, let alone suddenly seek him out.
Could it be that when he went to the Pill Pavilion yesterday, Wang Ping informed Elder Li?
Is he here to reproach him?
Surely not?