Three hours later.
Wang Yuyao, despite her exhaustion, practically fled in embarrassment.
Only then did Wang Jianqiang finally calm down, the fire in his chest settling at last.
He turned his attention back to the system panel.
"Enhance Spiritual Roots."
With a thought, he gave the command.
"Ding! Enhancing a Five-Element Spiritual Root requires 5 Gold Attribute Points."
The system's crisp response echoed in his mind.
Wang Jianqiang curled his lip.
So, improving one's root constitution really wasn't that easy.
But that was fine—the real prize was still to come.
He took a deep breath and was just about to perform his second Innate Divine Power Draw—
When a sudden knock came at the door.
"Hmm?" He frowned slightly, then got up to open it.
"Elder Dong?"
Seeing the figure outside, he froze for a moment.
This was the first time Elder Dong had ever come to him during the day.
Recovering from his surprise, he quickly stepped aside and gestured for her to enter.
Once inside, Dong Yue's expression turned solemn.
"There's something I've thought over again and again," she began slowly. "In the end, I decided I must remind you."
"What is it?" Wang Jianqiang blinked.
"No matter what happens," Dong Yue said seriously, "you must never reveal that you can refine perfect-grade Tier Two pills."
"Why not?" He raised a brow.
"You're probably thinking," Dong Yue said with a faint sigh, "that if word gets out, the sect will definitely shower you with resources and cultivation opportunities, right?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Wang Jianqiang asked.
Dong Yue shook her head."It's not that simple. Showing your value to earn resources is normal—many disciples do it. But… do you understand what it means for a sect to have a Tier Two alchemist capable of refining perfect-grade pills?"
"Take the Perfect Foundation Pill, for example."
"Under ordinary circumstances, a four-spirit-root cultivator has only a one-in-ten-thousand chance of successfully forming a foundation. A three-root cultivator? Maybe one in a thousand."
"But if such a person takes a Perfect Foundation Pill—one that allowed even you, a so-called five-root 'waste,' to form your foundation—then for them, the success rate would become one hundred percent."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Do you know what that means for a sect?"
Wang Jianqiang's pupils flickered.
Dong Yue continued:"It means they could mass-produce Foundation Establishment cultivators—without any entry barrier whatsoever."
"And that's only the beginning. You'll soon be able to refine other perfect-grade Tier Two pills."
"With your ability alone, you could influence the fate of an entire sect, raising its strength dramatically in mere years."
As her words sank in, Wang Jianqiang took a deep breath—cold sweat forming on his back.
It hit him like a hammer.
A person must have value.
But too much value… could be fatal.
He'd never managed a sect before, so he always viewed things from a personal perspective.
But after Dong Yue's reminder, he instinctively placed himself in the mindset of a sect leader.
And immediately, the danger became obvious.
If he were the sect master and a disciple like that appeared under his command…
His first reaction wouldn't be to "nurture" him.
It would be to control him—Completely.
Turn him into a weapon, a tool that could never act freely.
And that wasn't even considering internal politics within the Hehuan Sect.
Would the other three major sects—Xuanqing Palace, Zhengyang Sect, and Wanjian Gate—ever allow Hehuan Sect to grow unchecked?
Of course not. Their first move would be to eliminate him, at any cost.
He, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, could never survive being hunted by three sects.
Seeing the horror dawning on Wang Jianqiang's face, Dong Yue smiled faintly."Now you understand, don't you?"
He nodded slowly, frowning again."But… I've already refined some Tier One perfect-grade pills. People know about that."
Dong Yue waved her hand dismissively."That's fine. Tier One perfect pills don't mean much. As long as you don't say anything yourself, no one will assume you can refine Tier Two perfect-grade ones."
"Becoming a Tier Two alchemist just means you can make ordinary Tier Two pills. It doesn't imply you can continue making perfect ones."
"There have been countless strange opportunities throughout history. Some Tier One alchemists once made a perfect pill by chance—but when they advanced to Tier Two, they could no longer reproduce it. They faded into mediocrity."
"There are plenty of such examples. So don't worry."
Wang Jianqiang exhaled in relief.
Dong Yue's tone softened."Just… be cautious when using Tier Two perfect pills. Don't reveal them to outsiders. And if you're ever exposed, blame it on me."
"I've been to an ancient forbidden land—everyone in the sect knows. Just say I found the pills there."
——
That day, the two talked for a long time.
Near the end, Dong Yue's expression grew distant.
"For… certain reasons," she said quietly, "I must break through within a year."
Her eyes met his, serious and searching. "Is there any way for you to advance your alchemy quickly?"
Wang Jianqiang froze.
By his estimation, she still had at least twenty years of lifespan left—why the urgency?
After a brief moment of thought, he feigned hesitation."There is a way… but it could affect my future in alchemy."
Her eyes widened slightly."How serious an effect?"
He smiled faintly."Quite serious, perhaps. But for you—it's worth it."
Dong Yue's heart warmed instantly.
"Ding! Good and Evil Value increased — Current Value: 90."
The system prompt rang in his mind, and he nearly grinned.
She'd jumped from 65 all the way to 90!
Ever since Wang Yuyao's panel had been solidified, he fully understood how valuable that effect was.
Now, seeing Dong Yue's affection rise so sharply, he could almost see the next permanent panel forming.
"I once obtained a secret art in the Cold Pool Mystic Realm," he said slowly, "a technique that can rapidly elevate one's alchemy through dual cultivation."
"If you cooperate fully, I can reach the level of High-Tier Tier Two Alchemist in three to five months—half a year at most."
Dong Yue's face instantly flushed red.
Dual cultivation… to improve alchemy?
What kind of bizarre method was that?
But looking at his serious expression, she couldn't bring herself to doubt him.
There were countless techniques in the world—maybe some eccentric alchemist really had invented such a method.
Still, when she thought about the "price" of it, her cheeks burned even hotter.
She'd originally meant to be with Wang Jianqiang once.
But somehow, one time became two, then three…And now he wanted to keep this up for months!
Yet almost immediately, she scolded herself for thinking such things.
After all, aside from the first time… every instance afterward had been for her sake.
Especially this time—he was even willing to sacrifice his own future to help her.
She had been far too petty.
Taking a deep breath, Dong Yue steeled herself.
Her face softened as she looked at him, and she said gently—
"Junior Nephew Wang… I'll be in your care."