Chapter 853: Not Forgetting the Original Aspiration Wang Qingqi

In the Red Moon Sea, on Silver Snake Island.

Inside an alchemy chamber, Wang Qingqi was instructing Wang Tianbei on pill refining.

Wang Qingqi had less than five years of life left. Over the past few years, under his meticulous guidance, Wang Tianbei had become capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills, though his success rate was not high, still requiring more pointers from Wang Qingqi.

With little time remaining, Wang Qingqi was happy to offer more guidance to the younger generation.

"Tianbei, you must practice more. The family will rely on you in the future," Wang Qingqi instructed meaningfully, his clouded gaze fixed on the crimson flame beneath the alchemy furnace. All sorts of past memories surfaced in his mind.

In a quiet courtyard, a family of three was having dinner.

"Qingqi, this is a Qi Cultivation Pill; it's beneficial for your cultivation. Take it and consume it! You must cultivate diligently. Our family's alchemists aren't skilled enough in refining pills; they can only refine low-tier pills like Qi Cultivation Pills. Pills for cultivators above the sixth level of Qi Condensation can only be bought."

A middle-aged man in his early forties took out a green porcelain bottle and handed it to a seven-year-old boy.

Wang Qingqi asked curiously, "Dad, why doesn't our family cultivate more alchemists?"

"Artifact refining is the foundation of our family's existence, and artifact refiners receive generous compensation. Alchemy, we have neither a tradition nor renowned masters to guide us. In recent years, battles have been constant, and puppet beasts are much more useful than pills. We can't compete with other powers when it comes to first-tier pills. The patriarch has multiple sales channels, and orders are quite numerous..."

Before the middle-aged man could finish speaking, he started coughing, his face a little pale.

"Dad, are you alright? Please take a Qi Origin Pill immediately."

The middle-aged man waved his hand and said, "No need, it's an old ailment. Qi Origin Pills are too expensive. The spirit stones to buy one bottle of Qi Origin Pills are enough to buy you ten bottles of Qi Cultivation Pills. Your father has no hope in this life. You must cultivate diligently and go further than your father."

"I understand, Dad. I will cultivate diligently. In the future, I will become an alchemist and refine a large quantity of Qi Origin Pills for you, so you can take them every day."

A determined expression appeared on Wang Qingqi's childish face.

In the main hall, Wang Changsheng was speaking with Wang Qingqi.

"Qingqi, our family cannot progress far without an alchemist. You've been determined to become an alchemist since childhood. Ninth Uncle used multiple connections to arrange for you to study alchemy under a second-tier alchemist from the Hundred Spirits Sect. You must work hard, and I will take good care of your parents."

"Ninth Uncle, I will diligently study alchemy. When I return after mastering it, I will definitely help the family refine pills, so we won't have to spend high prices buying them from other powers."

Wang Qingqi nodded and said earnestly.

Wang Changsheng smiled slightly and praised, "Good. I hope you never forget your original aspiration and remember what you said today."

At the Hundred Spirits Sect, in the Alchemy Hall.

An old man in a red Daoist robe sat on the main seat, while over a dozen alchemy apprentices stood nervously before him.

"Tell me, why do you wish to study alchemy?" the red-robed elder's gaze swept over the five individuals as he asked casually.

"Alchemists are highly sought after, and I'll have a good future."

"Learning alchemy allows one to earn many spirit stones, which helps on the path of cultivation."

"My father said alchemists are highly sought after, so he told me to learn a skill to go further on the path to immortality."

"Alchemists are respected."

Wang Qingqi thought for a moment and said, "Our family doesn't have a second-tier alchemist, and alchemy is our family's weakness. I want to become a second-tier alchemist so that my relatives won't have to pay high prices to buy pills from other powers."

Hearing this, the red-robed elder was somewhat surprised and asked, "What is your name?"

"Wang Qingqi."

In a secret chamber, Lu Zhong was chatting with Wang Qingqi.

"Qingqi, your alchemy talent is excellent. Why don't you stay at the Hundred Spirits Sect and become our disciple? You can still help your relatives with alchemy, but you'd first need to refine pills for the sect. Our Hundred Spirits Sect has deep foundations, with numerous second-tier pill recipes and many second-tier alchemists, something your Wang family cannot compare to."

Lu Zhong's tone was full of temptation.

Wang Qingqi shook his head and refused without hesitation, stating solemnly, "Master, my family spent a large amount of spirit stones to send me to you to learn alchemy. Now that I have achieved something, it is only right that I return to the family and contribute to its development. My relatives are waiting for me to go back!"

Lu Zhong sighed softly and said, "In that case, you may return. If you change your mind, you can come back anytime. I must warn you, it will be difficult for you to advance to a second-tier alchemist by relying on self-study; you won't go far in the path of alchemy."

Wang Qingqi smiled calmly and said earnestly, "I am a disciple of the Azure Lotus Wang family. It is my duty to serve my family. Without my family, I wouldn't be who I am today. Master, there is no need to persuade me further."

Inside a teahouse, more than twenty alchemists gathered, exchanging insights on alchemy.

Suddenly, a faint sound of footsteps echoed, and a handsome young man walked in.

"Oh, this fellow Daoist looks unfamiliar. Fellow Daoist Li, who is this?"

"I am Wang Qingqi, a disciple of the Wang family from Azure Lotus Mountain."

"The Wang family of Azure Lotus Mountain? The Wang family has a second-tier alchemist? I've never heard of it."

Wang Qingqi slightly furrowed his brow, secretly vowing to help the family cultivate more second-tier alchemists.

At Azure Lotus Mountain, Wang Qingqi walked out of the spiritual herb garden, with several Foundation Establishment stage clansmen walking ahead of him.

"Have you heard? The Purple Jade Pill has gone up in price again. Last month it was thirty spirit stones per pill, now it's forty. What a rip-off."

"What can we do? The Purple Jade Pill is a second-tier pill. After years of war, prices have soared. Our family doesn't know how to refine Purple Jade Pills, so we can only buy them at high prices from other powers. And the Purple Jade Pill isn't even the one that's risen the most. The price of the detoxifying Clear Spirit Powder is outrageous. It's sold for sixty spirit stones per portion in the black market. Damn it, how great would it be if our family could refine Clear Spirit Powder."

"We don't have the pill recipes. Most of the recipes used in the market are controlled by other powers. Unless Fourth Uncle can research new recipes based on ancient ones, but that would take too long and might not even succeed. Forget it, if it's expensive, then it's expensive! When it's cheaper, we'll just buy more to stock up."

Wang Qingqi felt a bitter taste in his mouth after hearing this.

"What? Fourth Brother, you want to modify the pill recipes? Those ancient recipes are very old; even if you spend a lot of time, you might not be able to research new ones. It's a waste of time, just forget about it!" Wang Qingkai said with a frown.

Wang Qingqi smiled faintly and said, "How will we know if it doesn't work if we don't try? Someone has to do this. We can't always be constrained by others, can we? If I do it now, our descendants will have an easier time. Patriarch, please agree!"

Wang Qingkai sighed softly and said, "Alright! Draft a list, and I'll immediately instruct the clansmen to collect the spiritual herbs you need. Don't neglect your own cultivation; cultivation is the foundation."

"Understood. Here's the list. Please send people to collect all the spiritual herbs quickly."

"Fourth Granduncle, Fourth Granduncle, what do you think of the quality of this Foundation Establishment Pill?"

A familiar male voice pulled Wang Qingqi back to reality.

Wang Tianbei held a Foundation Establishment Pill in his hand, looking somewhat excited.

Wang Qingqi examined it carefully, nodded with satisfaction, and praised, "Excellent, Tianbei. Your Granduncle won't live much longer. From now on, you will be responsible for refining Foundation Establishment Pills for the family. In the future, if you become a third-tier alchemist, remember to visit my grave and let me know."

Hearing this, Wang Tianbei's nose stung, and he looked at the white-haired Wang Qingqi with profound respect.

This elder, standing before him, had single-handedly supported the family's path of alchemy, yet in doing so, he had delayed his own cultivation.

A sudden, sharp whistling sound rang out. Wang Tianbei quickly took out a communication disc, infused it with a spell, and a majestic male voice instantly resounded: "Tianbei, I am your Ninth Granduncle. I am outside the alchemy chamber. Open the door."

Wang Tianbei was slightly startled but dared not delay. He immediately opened the alchemy chamber door to see Wang Changsheng standing at the entrance.

"Tianbei, there's nothing for you to do here. You may leave! I have something to say to Qingqi."

Wang Tianbei acknowledged and turned to leave.

"Qingqi, look what this is?" Wang Changsheng smiled faintly, took out a light green wooden box, and opened it. Inside was a pale green fruit, emitting a peculiar fragrance, with some golden patterns on its surface.

"Ninth Uncle, is this a Longevity Fruit?" Wang Qingqi took a deep breath and asked in surprise.

"Qingqi, consume this Longevity Fruit, and you can increase your lifespan by a hundred years. You'll still have a chance to attempt the Core Formation stage. You've worked hard all these years."

Hearing this, Wang Qingqi's eyes reddened, and he choked out, "Ninth Uncle..."

He had thought his path to cultivation was hopeless, but joy had descended from the heavens.