When Ye Chen was on the run at the Silver Moon Market, he even took the alchemy furnace with him.

  The main advantage was the rge and versatile space.

  When the first batch of Five Elements Pills was completed, the lid of the furnace was opened.

  The fragrance of the pills immediately filled the entire room.

  At Ye Chen's current level, even when refining a new type of pill he had never made before, he rarely failed.

  Seven pills flew out of the alchemy furnace.

  Ye Chen gnced at them in his hand.

  The Five Elements Pills were perfectly round, with a harmonious blend of five colors, giving a natural and complete feel.

  However, this batch of pills had slightly dull colors, not vibrant enough.

  Moreover, the five colors were not evenly distributed.

  "Four medium-grade, three low-grade, no top-grade!"

  Ye Chen shook his head and stored the Five Elements Pills away.

  He was ready to continue refining.

  The efficacy of two medium-grade Five Elements Pills was equivalent to a year's accumution in the sect's Five Elements Cave.

  But for Ye Chen, medium-grade pills were not worth considering.

  If he was going to use them, they had to be top-grade.

  Top-grade pills not only increased the maximum expansion of the dantian but also enhanced the endurance of the meridians, indirectly boosting cultivation speed.

  Although the effect of enhancing meridian endurance was not very significant, even a slight improvement was precious to Ye Chen.

  So, he had to continue refining until he produced top-grade Five Elements Pills.

  ...

  By evening, Ye Chen finally refined a batch of high-grade Five Elements Pills.

  He felt that it wouldn't take many days to produce top-grade ones.

  Ye Chen was in a good mood, and his enthusiasm for cultivation at night was high.

  Actually, the Five Elements Pills that Ye Chen didn't use could be given to Lu Jing and Lin Ke'er to increase their chances of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage in the future.

  With their strength increased, the effect of cultivating together would be better.

  But to be honest, Ye Chen didn't trust the two women very much.

  And everyone knew how precious the Five Elements Pills were.

  If word got out, even his master might not be able to protect him.

  So, he decided against it.

  In the future, he would see if there was any contract or treasure that could put his mind at ease.

  If so, he could give some of the things he couldn't use but couldn't easily bring out to the maid.

  He pnned to visit Qingyun Workshop to inquire about it ter.

  ...

  While Ye Chen was diligently cultivating, at the top of Sword Peak, Gu Yunyun's pretty face was frosty.

  For the peak master, accepting a direct disciple also came with a price.

  The performance of the direct disciple would affect some of the peak master's benefits.

  Gu Yunyun, who had always had a smooth journey and crushed her peers, might not care about benefits, but if her direct disciple was humiliated in the future sect competition, it would be embarrassing.

  That's why Gu Yunyun specifically reminded Ye Chen to secure this year's Five Elements Cave spot.

  Every bit of strength mattered.

  This way, during the sect competition, she would lose a little less face.

  But who knew, Ye Chen turned around and gave the spot to someone else.

  Gu Yunyun, who never paid much attention to sect affairs, only found out then.

  Her direct disciple had poor aptitude and low cultivation, but he was also a lick spirit.

  He even gave away the Five Elements Cave spot.

  This made the usually calm Gu Yunyun quite angry.

  She, Gu Yunyun, had a lifetime of honor and was the most likely to break through to the Golden Elixir Stage in the future.

  Yet she ended up with such a disgraceful disciple.

  Poor aptitude and giving away resources willingly, acting as a lick spirit.

  Ye Chen was deeply devoted as a lick spirit, but it was her reputation on the line.

  Especially since the peak master of Law Peak, who never got along with her, would definitely have his disciple beat Ye Chen on stage and then smile smugly at her.

  And she could only watch helplessly.

  Thinking of the impending humiliation, Gu Yunyun clenched her fists.

  At this moment, she truly wanted to clean house.

  In Gu Yunyun's garden, there was a pool with a spring constantly bubbling up, crystal clear.

  Gu Yunyun sat directly in it, feeling her mind calm down.

  Lying in the pool, the water rippling and light refracting, it was as if she could see the reflection of snow-capped mountains.

  Starlight shone down from the sky, making the pool glow softly.

  Gu Yunyun habitually and naturally released her divine sense, probing towards Ye Chen's small courtyard, beginning her daily fairy cultivation.

  But soon, Gu Yunyun felt something was off.

  During previous cultivation, her state of mind would fluctuate, but the reaction was never this intense.

  This time, for some reason, her mind was greatly disturbed, and her thoughts were running wild.

  What was going on?

  Could it be that she was so angered by Ye Chen's lick spirit actions that her mind was in turmoil?

  Feeling something was wrong, Gu Yunyun immediately wanted to stop today's cultivation.

  But halfway through retracting her divine sense, she couldn't resist and extended it again.

  Her jade hand, originally resting on the edge of the pool, somehow ended up submerged in the water.

  The calm surface rippled, and amidst the sound of water, there were faint, almost imperceptible soft hums...

  ...

  Ye Chen had no idea that his lick spirit actions had disturbed his beautiful master's state of mind, causing an unexpected incident during her cultivation.

  If he knew...

  Ye Chen would definitely be thrilled.

  In the following days, Ye Chen spent his time either cultivating or refining pills.

  Finally, on the sixth day, he produced his first top-grade Five Elements Pill.

  This put Ye Chen in an excellent mood.

  He didn't hesitate to consume and refine it.

  The top-grade Five Elements Pill melted in his mouth.

  In a short time, it transformed into the purest Five Elements spiritual energy, circuting through his five organs according to their attributes, and finally pouring into his dantian.

  The dantian trembled slightly, expanding at an imperceptible speed.

  The feeling was extremely wondrous.

  Meanwhile, Ye Chen's expression changed again.

  The Five Elements spiritual energy surged in his dantian, giving Ye Chen a feeling of imminent breakthrough...

  "Boom..."

  After an unknown period, Ye Chen opened his eyes, a satisfied smile on his face.

  The efficacy of the top-grade Five Elements Pill was astonishing.

  With just one pill, his dantian expanded by about one-tenth.

  As long as he continued taking pills daily, doubling or even tripling it was definitely possible.

  This was an effect the Five Elements Cave could never achieve.

  Moreover, Ye Chen officially broke through to the seventh level of Qi Refining today.

  At his current breakthrough speed, reaching the eighth level of Qi Refining before the end-of-year sect competition was a certainty.

  Ye Chen was determined to participate in this year's sect competition.

  Although the Foundation Establishment Pill was not as rare as the Five Elements Pill, due to a certain main ingredient being monopolized by top forces, the annual output was fixed, making it equally precious.

  In the Qingyun Sect, apart from direct disciples breaking through to the ninth level of Qi Refining and being rewarded with one, the only other way to obtain it was through the sect competition.

  The first pce in the sect competition could receive a low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

  Although Ye Chen wouldn't break through to the Foundation Establishment stage this year, it was only a matter of one or two years.

  With his aptitude, possessing third-grade spiritual roots, the difficulty of breaking through was undoubtedly epic.

  The Foundation Establishment Pill, besides increasing the chance of Foundation Establishment, primarily protected the meridians and foundation.

  Without the Foundation Establishment Pill, even if a cultivator survived a failed breakthrough, they would be severely injured and never have another chance to break through.

  But with the Foundation Establishment Pill, even if the breakthrough failed, a short rest would allow for another attempt.

  One Foundation Establishment Pill represented one breakthrough opportunity.

  For any Qi Refining stage cultivator, it was a divine medicine.

  And for Ye Chen, its importance was unimaginable.

  Ye Chen's requirement for Foundation Establishment Pills was as many as possible.

  It would be best to get hundreds or even thousands.

  With so many attempts, one would surely succeed.

  But the system couldn't infinitely replicate; gifts from the system couldn't be given away for feedback.

  So Ye Chen had to acquire several Foundation Establishment Pills.

  Ye Chen was not only determined to win this year's sect competition but next year's as well.

  As long as he hadn't broken through, no disciple in the entire Qingyun Sect should dream of taking first pce!

  CPDD