“Elder?” Cheng Qi tentatively called out after seeing Elder Tian Min didn’t respond for a long time.

“Ahem, what were we talking about? Oh, yes, I’d better tell you the steps for handling medicinal materials first,” Elder Tian Min came back to his senses and coughed a few times before continuing. Fortunately, as a Xuan-level alchemist, he still had some experience, otherwise it would be embarrassing if he couldn’t teach Cheng Qi some things.

Elder Tian Min first pointed out Cheng Qi’s shortcomings and explained them in detail. Such an opportunity was really rare for Cheng Qi. He immediately sat upright and listened attentively. Many things that he only half-understood before quickly became clear after being pointed out by Elder Tian Min.

Li Tianyan was extremely talented in the way of cultivation, but he was not qualified to be a teacher. His teachings to Cheng Qi were based on one part instruction and nine parts self-realization. Fortunately, Cheng Qi had a very good understanding and could easily grasp the teachings in just a few words.

However, there were some problems that Cheng Qi himself was unable to discover, and had no way of asking. Now with Elder Tian Min’s careful guidance, many remaining shortcomings were addressed. Cheng Qi was so engrossed in the teachings that he forgot the time for a moment. He didn’t realize it was late until Elder Tian Min stopped.

.

When Cheng Qi returned to his room, he was not in a hurry to rest, but continued to review what Elder Tian Min had just taught him.

After that day, Cheng Qi’s life in Qingdan Palace became more regular. He practiced whipping in the backyard every morning and listened to Elder Tian Min’s lectures in the afternoon. In addition to refining, Elder Tian Min occasionally shared some cultivation experiences, which were all very valuable for Cheng Qi.

At night, Cheng Qi stayed in his room, absorbing spiritual energy and practicing, reviewing what he had learned during the day, and then slowly digesting it to find a method that suited him.

In just two months, Cheng Qi’s cultivation had been promoted to the late eighth level of Qi Condensation, and his alchemy skills had greatly improved. His progress often made Elder Tian Min sigh in amazement.

“Xiao Qi, why is Tianyan not coming back yet? Does he often stay in seclusion like this for more than two months?” Elder Tian Min, who was about to teach Cheng Qi that day, finally asked uncontrollably.

“The young master is going to build a foundation, so he will be in seclusion for a longer time.” Li Tianyan specifically told him before the retreat, and Cheng Qi had already mentally prepared himself.

Elder Tian Min became excited when he heard this, “Nonsense, Li Tianyan is only at the late ninth level. Even if he reaches the peak of the ninth level, he is still far away from Foundation Establishment. How can he be careless about such an important matter?”

From the peak of the ninth level to Foundation Establishment, it seemed like one step away, but in fact, it was separated by a huge chasm. Ji Hexuan had been at the peak of the ninth level for nearly a year and had not yet reached the Great Perfection state to advance. If he didn’t advance quickly enough, he might end up trapped in this level until his death.

As soon as Elder Tian Min finished speaking, the spiritual energy of Qingdan Palace suddenly surged violently. He felt that the spiritual energy was all condensing in one direction. Elder Tian Min’s face grew solemn, “This kid is really going to build a foundation.”

“Young master… is always measured.” Cheng Qi knew that Li Tianyan would not do anything uncertain, but he was still a little nervous at Elder Tian Min’s reaction.

“Is this called being measured?” Elder Tian Min was so angry that he almost blew his beard and glared, then turned around and walked out of the hall. Cheng Qi hurriedly followed.

.

It was still noon, the sun was shining outside, but a dark cloud gathered over Qingdan Palace, accompanied by an orange glow. Soon the color of the glow began to change again. This was the first time Elder Tian Min had seen such a phenomena.

The other elders of the sect also noticed the unusual movements in Qingdan Palace. They realized that there were cultivators building the foundation, and they took the disciples of the ninth level of Qi Condensation to stand on the top of a nearby mountain and watch. Some people came directly to Qingdan Palace.

Elder Li Mo saw Tian Min standing outside Qingdan Palace, walked up to him, and greeted him, “Elder Tian Min, which disciple of yours is going to build the foundation?”

As far as he knew, Tian Min brought back a disciple from the mortal world, and his disciple was only at the late ninth level, so he probably hadn’t reached the stage to build his foundation yet.

Elder Tian Min was in a bad mood at this time, especially when he saw Chi Zhuo among the visitors. He was not in the mood to greet Li Mo. He just put his hands behind his back and said, “Tianyan.”

When he heard that the person building the foundation was really Li Tianyan, Elder Li Mo stopped talking. He could already predict that this advancement would definitely fail. No wonder Elder Tian Min looked so grim.

Elder Chi Zhuo snorted coldly, “I thought you had accepted some kind of genius disciple, and even sent the sect’s foundation-establishment cultivators to the punishment hall for him, but I didn’t expect he is eager for quick success and instant benefits, which is really a waste of the sect.”

Cheng Qi puffed up his cheeks angrily when he heard this. Elder Chi Zhuo was Yan Haoyu’s master. He came to Qingdan Palace two months ago to ask Elder Tian Min to release Yan Haoyu, but they ended up having a bad time. But Cheng Qi felt a strange feeling coming from Elder Chi Zhuo.

Elder Tian Min couldn’t care less about talking with others at this time, he stared at the phenomena floating in the air with a slightly sullen face.