Chapter 693 - 487: The Temple Is Small, the Little Demon-Wind Is Strong, and Trouble Comes Knocking (Part 2)

"This is a true alchemy apprentice, the kind without any embellishment."

Master Zhang walked up to Zheng Yi and said softly.

"Thank you, Master Zhang. I have always been striving hard."

Zheng Yi replied respectfully.

"Hmm."

Master Zhang looked at Zheng Yi with deep satisfaction in his eyes.

He was not devoid of human wisdom. Thinking of the past few days in the Alchemy Pavilion, where other alchemy apprentices were subtly excluding Zheng Yi, he sighed, "Only when you become an official apprentice will the Wang Family truly value you, and the other registered disciples in the Alchemy Pavilion might treat you better.

After all, this is the Wang Family’s territory."

Master Zhang could only say this much.

Although he was now an alchemist, the Wang Family had to show him some courtesy, but in the end.

He also earned his livelihood from the Wang Family and couldn’t speak ill of the main family.

Moreover, now that he was the Wang Family’s son-in-law, being half a member of the Wang Family, he naturally couldn’t do so.

"Please rest assured, Master Zhang. The Wang Family has been kind to me, and now that I have a son with the Wang Family’s daughter, I’d say I am quite content."

Zheng Yi looked at Master Zhang, his words full of sincerity.

Upon hearing this, Master Zhang felt an added threefold sense of pity: "Good, you may take your leave."

Zheng Yi leisurely left the Skill Transmission Hall.

Master Zhang then headed to the Wang Family.

An Immortal Seed like Zheng Yi originally had no qualifications to enter the true Wang Family Territory.

Not only is this place equipped with a Third-grade Giant Spirit Array that gathers the Spiritual Qi of the low-grade spirit vein from beneath Piaomiao Mountain, increasing its richness by another threefold, it also possesses other special effects. This is the true core area of the Wang Family.

However, such rules naturally couldn’t bind Master Zhang, as the value of an alchemist far exceeds ordinary imaginations.

"Has Elder Wang returned?"

Master Zhang asked.

Within the family territory.

Wang Lei casually smiled, his figure even carrying a hint of bloodthirsty air.

"I just got back not long ago, I just went to the Task Hall to deliver a task and acquired quite a bit of cultivation resources.

Why, could it be that some alchemy apprentices from the Wang Family annoyed you?"

Wang Lei said loudly with a bit of resentment on his face, "Master Zhang, you may directly discipline them. The Wang Family deeply trusts your ways of imparting skills."

Master Zhang shook his head, smiling wryly.

He slowly recounted Zheng Yi’s situation.

"What?

He actually became an alchemy apprentice, and his talent and comprehension in alchemy seem to vaguely match the Second Elder’s granddaughter, Wang Miaomiao!"

Wang Lei was dumbfounded, his eyes full of surprise.

The image of Zheng Yi suddenly appeared in his mind.

Before he went on the mission, he had casually given Zheng Yi a hand. Perhaps he had already forgotten the incident, but there was still some impression of it.

Coming to his senses, Wang Lei couldn’t help but laugh, "Who would have thought, this young fellow actually has such fortune, and now it seems he has caught Master Zhang’s eye."

Elder Wang looked at Master Zhang with a burning gaze, his implication quite obvious.

Master Zhang did not hide it, saying, "Zheng Yi has a calm mind, even though he was excluded in the Alchemy Pavilion by several apprentices in the past few days, he remained focused on alchemy and cultivation.

His cultivation has now reached the extreme of First-layer Qi Refining. It’s estimated that in a few days he will successfully break through to Second-layer Qi Refining, and then it will take only a little over a month to refine a Spirit Storage Pill.

He’s only a few days behind Miaomiao.

Moreover, during this period, he has been diligently cultivating, without the restlessness of other Immortal Seeds and most of the Wang Family members.

If one day he gets the Elixir of Spirit Root Repair to upgrade his spirit root to a mid-grade spirit root, then he might have some chances of achieving the rank of Second-grade Alchemist in the future.

At that time, even the Foundation Establishment Realm could be within sight."

Hearing Master Zhang speak at such length, Wang Lei’s eyes flickered.

His interest in Zheng Yi grew even stronger.

Master Zhang had already reached the late stage of Qi Refining. In this world, materials that could improve spirit roots are as hard to find as climbing to the sky, but simply repairing them still had some hope.

The reason why people’s spirit roots differ in quality.

Is because of the existence of inherent defects.

The miraculous items that repair spirit roots merely supplement and salvage on the surface.

With the relentless effort of numerous low-level cultivators, there is now a way to supplement low-grade spirit roots up to mid-grade spirit roots, but the hope for success remains slim.

Even the assistance to the Foundation Establishment Realm is quite limited.

After all, for the average cultivator, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm is inherently difficult, and everyone actually knows that only those with top-grade spirit roots have a substantial chance, while most others spend their lives as mediocre.

"Rest assured, Master Zhang, I’ll take action on this matter."

Wang Lei spoke up, so Master Zhang said no more.

On that day, the Wang Family Ancestral Land was just hosting a ancestral hall meeting.

The meeting discussed matters related to the spiritual land needed for Piaomiao Mountain’s future planting, the rearing of demon beasts, and how to exchange the other resources of Piaomiao Mountain with other families.

To acquire more spirit stones.

To put it simply, it was about expanding revenue and economizing.

Many elders voiced their opinions, seeking ways for development.

But for the moment, no effective suggestion was made.

Just as the meeting was about to end, Wang Lei suddenly stood up, his eyes reflecting a deep light, speaking with a smile: "The Alchemy Pavilion is crucial to our Wang Family.

And Alchemist Master Zhang, has contributed tremendously to our Wang Family over the years.

Master Zhang, too, should find a true direct disciple."

As soon as Wang Lei spoke, everyone present was taken aback.

The Second Elder squinted with a golden gleam in his eyes, lightly smiling, "Isn’t my Miaomiao qualified to become Master Zhang’s direct disciple?"

"Miaomiao is naturally the most qualified.

But in the heart of the Second Elder, and in the hearts of everyone in the Wang Family, is Miaomiao’s future truly just to become an alchemist?"

Wang Lei hit the nail on the head.

Being an alchemist is good, but the power of cultivation rests within oneself, which is more important.

Though an alchemist’s status may be high, it is ultimately an auxiliary.

Just like Master Zhang who exists depending on the Wang Family and is not the root foundation.

If the Wang Family of Piaomiao Mountain wishes to advance further, it needs not just an alchemist, but a truly reliant force, which is the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The current powerhouse of the Foundation Establishment Realm in the Wang Family is the old patriarch.

Though just over a century old, he might live another forty to fifty years, nurturing a Foundation Establishment powerhouse in this time is no easy task.

If none are nurtured, with the surrounding families like wolves and tigers, can the Wang Family still hold on to Piaomiao Mountain? It’s uncertain.

"Externally, we claim Miaomiao has a mid-grade spirit root, which is why we have her follow the path of alchemy, but everyone knows she actually possesses a top-grade spirit root, moreover, a top-grade fire spirit root.

Having her cultivate alchemy is just to give a bit more assurance to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

While Master Zhang’s legacy hopes to cultivate a Third-grade Alchemist, or higher, if possible.

If this succeeds.

For our Wang Family, it is all gain and no loss."

Wang Lei spoke confidently before the elders and the clan leader, without a hint of fear.

He had bled and toiled for the Wang Family, and everything said now was in everyone’s interest without harming anyone, hence he spoke confidently.

"Wang Lei’s words have merit."

Several elders soon expressed their agreement.

The Second Elder also didn’t offer any opposition, as the difference between a Third-grade Alchemist and a Foundation Establishment powerhouse was clear.

The entire second branch was aware of this.

The clan leader spoke, silencing the voices: "This matter is indeed important, but is there a good seed in the Alchemy Pavilion to inherit Master Zhang’s legacy?

Let’s not end up training someone mediocre,

which would instead weaken our Wang Family."

Wang Lei’s expression remained unchanged, he replied directly, "Master Zhang has already chosen a candidate."

The Second Elder already had some guesses.

Before he could speak, a lower elder preemptively answered: "Could it be Zheng Yi among the Immortal Seeds?

I heard after becoming an alchemy apprentice.

In a month he might refine the Spirit Storage Pill, his alchemy talent is only slightly less than Miaomiao’s by three parts."

"Yes, it is indeed that person."

The elder’s intervention saved Wang Lei the trouble of further explanation.

"Is this person reliable?"

The clan leader asked again, as the head of the family must be cautious.

Other clan elders also had concerns.