Not long ago, one of the female students had gone into seclusion for three months and emerged as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, making the likes of Xiao Meiniang and Chen Zihan incredibly envious.

"Darling, your Alchemy Mastery just keeps getting better and better."

Qin Yun mused with a soft sigh. The man wasn’t even as old as Ling Bingyun, yet his Cultivation had already reached the Golden Core Realm, and his skills in both the Alchemy and Talisman Path had reached the Third Grade.

’For anyone else, a lifetime of hard work might not be enough to reach such heights, would it?’

’He was simply... a prodigy!’

’But then again, considering he was the legendary Child of Destiny, an anomaly in the River of Time, perhaps all these accomplishments were to be expected.’

’She considered herself fortunate beyond measure to have met him.’

Xue Qingtan blinked her pretty eyes and asked softly, "My love, since you can refine Third Grade Elixirs so easily, would you be willing to take on some commissioned jobs from the Chamber of Commerce? The compensation, of course, will be more than generous!"

Ling Changqing replied casually without pausing his work, "Of course, that’s no problem. Just give me the list."

Based on market rates, the compensation for refining Third Grade Elixirs was quite high. With Ling Changqing’s level of skill, getting rich and supporting his bevy of beautiful companions would be a simple matter.

Yang Yunfei thought for a moment and moved to give him a shoulder massage, but Qin Yun stopped her.

"Don’t get in the way right now! There will be plenty of other chances to dote on him!"

"Er, o-okay."

Yang Yunfei’s pretty face flushed as she glanced enviously at the other two women, who looked so poised and elegant.

’I wonder when I’ll be able to achieve the Golden Core Dao Fruit, just like them?’

Ling Changqing’s alchemy process went off without a hitch. His Third Grade high-rank Alchemy Mastery allowed him to handle any potential mishaps with ease.

And that wasn’t even factoring in the boost from his Luck and Fortune. With it, Ling Changqing was confident he could even attempt to refine a Quasi-Rank Four Elixir.

「Seven days passed in a flash.」

When it was time to extract the elixirs, Ling Changqing deftly executed a Spirit Technique to control the heat of the Spirit Flame. A low rumble echoed from within the Pill Furnace.

A moment later, as the furnace lid slowly lifted, a torrent of Spiritual Qi erupted in a cloud of white mist, and a revitalizing medicinal aroma filled the air.

"It worked! And there really are three of them!" Qin Yun said, her expression full of delight.

Xue Qingtan immediately cast an Object Control Technique to retrieve the three Crystal Condensation and Transcendence Pills suspended in the mist, placing them in her palm for a closer look.

Two were standard-grade elixirs, with one premium-grade—exactly as Ling Changqing had predicted.

"You’re incredible, my love!" Xue Qingtan exclaimed in admiration.

A premium-grade Crystal Condensation and Transcendence Pill was valuable enough to be featured in an internal auction held by a Nascent Soul power, where it could fetch a price several times higher than a standard-grade one.

"Alright, let’s head out," Ling Changqing said. "They’re probably getting impatient."

Back in the Clan Assembly Hall, the Envoys from the three families had indeed been waiting for some time.

"Fellow Daoist Ling, what’s the situation?"

Liu Qianlan was the first to speak, her shimmering eyes fixed expectantly on the handsome, black-clad youth before her.

"I’m pleased to say I was successful."

Ling Changqing said with a smile as Yang Yunfei stepped forward, holding a fine jade tray. Upon it, nestled on a silk lining, lay three translucent, perfectly round Elixirs.

"That one’s mine!"

With lightning-fast reflexes, Liu Qianlan snatched the premium-grade Elixir and clutched it tightly in her fist.

Feng Xingyuan shot her a speechless glance before taking one of the remaining Elixirs. The last Crystal Condensation and Transcendence Pill went to Tu Feng.

"Our thanks, Fellow Daoist Ling."

All three were quite satisfied. As for the payment, that had already been settled.

Liu Qianlan’s eyes flickered thoughtfully. "Fellow Daoist Ling," she said suddenly, "I would like to rent a Spirit Vein Cave Mansion Hall for my disciple to enter cultivation in seclusion here for three months. What do you say?"

She was worried that delays might invite unforeseen complications, so she decided it was best for her disciple to enter seclusion right here and return only after achieving a breakthrough.

She had already brought all the necessary auxiliary resources for Core Formation.

"Of course, that’s no problem."

Ling Changqing agreed with a nod.