The long-awaited sense of tranquility allowed Qin Xin, who had been in a tense state, to relax a little.

Since his alchemy contest with Kong Bai, his troubles have decreased significantly. Perhaps most people are wary of his alchemy skills, which makes Qin Xin somewhat regretful. If he had known that his identity as an alchemist could solve so many problems, he should have shown his alchemy skills earlier.

The main peak of Kunmen is no longer what it used to be. The news of Qin Xin defeating Kong Bai in alchemy has spread throughout the inner courtyard, which has earned him a lot of fame. Many low-level alchemists have come to join him, and naturally, they have all been accepted by Shui Qingxi and arranged to enter the alchemy workshop to refine pills. Qin Xin will occasionally go there to teach them.

What impressed Qin Xin was that after the Kunmen Pill Shop was handed over to Qin Xue and the others to manage, disciples flocked to buy pills every day. They even devised a method for pre-ordering pills. In addition, the quality of the pills sold by the Kunmen Pill Shop was no less than that of the Pill Sect's pill shops, and the price was much cheaper. This attracted the praise of many inner court disciples, and even many of the originally high and mighty Ganmen disciples lowered their status and came to the Kunmen's trading center to find out more.

With its fame and strength, Kunmen's main peak has long since shed its former desolate state. In addition, nourished by the spiritual veins, the hillside is covered with lush vegetation, and occasionally some beasts can be seen running and making noise in the forest. Moreover, many spiritual herbs have also grown on the mountain, and disciples often go up the mountain to pick them.

Because of the considerable spiritual energy earned from the sale of elixirs, the abandoned buildings on the summit have now been repaired.

However, Qin Xin was not used to living in the pavilions and courtyards on the mountaintop. Instead, he was used to the feeling of his secluded cave dwelling. He would only go to the cultivation room on the mountaintop when he needed to cultivate.

Of course, Shui Qingxi and the others did not move out of the cave. They seemed to be clinging to him, which gave Qin Xin a headache. However, he could not directly drive them away, since these people were all arranged by Hua Jin.

Since Shui Qingxi and the others joined the Kunmen main peak, Qin Xin has not seen Hua Jin again. He asked about Hua Jin's whereabouts several times, but the girls always gave him the runaround, so Qin Xin could only suppress his curiosity.

He stretched slowly, feeling somewhat tired after several days of refining pills.

"You brat, don't be too proud. Your alchemy skills are still far behind your master's."

Danqing's somewhat ethereal spirit slowly floated out, stroked his white beard, and said with a kind look in his eyes.

Seeing that Danqing's once almost transparent spirit body had now regained some substance, Qin Xin felt relieved. These days, he had asked Qin Xue and the others to keep an eye out for special spiritual medicines that could help repair the soul at the trading center. As soon as he said this, the others were startled, as they all thought that Qin Xin had damaged his soul while refining pills.

Qin Xin fabricated a story, using the pretext of researching spiritual herbs and refining pills, and thus escaped the women's questioning.

"Teacher, you said the lava core fire would erupt in a year, but why hasn't it happened yet?"

Qin Xin changed into a clean robe and asked in confusion.

"It seems that guy is starting to gather his strength." Danqing smiled.

From that smile, Qin Xin could sense the burning passion in his heart for the strange fire.

Qin Xin felt the same way. Now, he had heard that the fire seed of the Yang Fire he had absorbed had evolved. If it were a different kind of fire, it might make him stronger. He was also looking forward to it.

"We're still missing some materials for devouring the strange fire; it seems we need to prepare them soon."

Qin Xin murmured softly, "When I devoured the Yang Fire earlier, I had already used up all the materials for the Fire-Repelling Pill. The Strange Fire is obviously more terrifying than the Yang Fire, but I'm afraid the Fire-Repelling Pill alone won't be enough to sustain me until the end. I'll need other pills to help me."

However, through selling Condensing Aperture Pills and Five Elements Condensing True Pills, Qin Xin had already earned a large amount of spiritual energy. The various trading centers in the inner courtyard were rich in medicinal herbs. He had already refined two Fire-Repelling Pills. To be on the safe side, he now needed to refine a Meridian-Protecting Pill to ensure that the absorption of the strange fire seed would not damage the meridians in his body.

After leaving the side courtyard, Qin Xin had just entered the main hall of the pavilion when he saw Ya Ru lying listlessly on the table.

"Ya Ru, where are your sister Xue and the others?" Qin Xin asked softly.

"Hmph! You're such a hands-off manager. I knew I shouldn't have come to the main peak. You've been keeping me up all the time lately!"

Ya Ru slumped wearily on the table, looking utterly disillusioned.

"Don't you have any idea how many Qi Condensation Pills you've squandered?" Qin Xin didn't indulge Ya Ru, who seemed to be putting on an act.

He was used to Ya Ru's complaints. Because she often slacked off in her cultivation, Shui Qingxi punished her by making her watch over the pill workshop. At first, the girl was very eager to go to the pill workshop, her purpose being to ruin the Condensing Aperture Pill.

"It's just a few Qi Condensation Pills, how stingy!"

Upon hearing Qin Xin's words, Ya Ru, who had been lying down, immediately sat up and protested loudly, "I'm going to go and cultivate with Senior Sister Rui Jin, hehe..."

After making a funny face, Ya Ru skipped and hopped towards the outside of the pavilion.

"Oh right, Sister Qingxi told me to tell you that after you finish your cultivation, you can go to Ganmen. It seems there's some kind of banquet. I don't really understand it. The invitation is on the table, you can see it yourself."

Ya Ru, who had just stepped out, suddenly turned back and pointed to a table in the hall.

“This girl…”

A smile crept across Qin Xin's lips as he watched Ya Ru disappear in a flash.

"I wonder how that girl Ziling is doing..."

Thinking of Zi Ling, who was about the same age as Ya Ru, Qin Xin couldn't help but worry. It had been a long time since he had seen her, and he wondered how she was doing now that she possessed the Youhan Ancient Body. As for Qin Lin, whose life essence had been depleted due to burning his blood and qi, he had been stabilized with the help of the sixth-grade high-level pill, Fuling Qingdan, which Qin Xin had entrusted Qin Xue to send back. Unfortunately, the burning of his blood and qi had damaged his foundation, and he was afraid that he would never be able to reach a higher realm in this lifetime unless he had an even more powerful pill to help him.

Gently rubbing his head to clear his mind of these troubling thoughts, Qin Xin stood up and took the invitation into his hand.

"Um?"

Upon seeing the golden sun pattern on the invitation, Qin Xin was slightly puzzled. He recognized the mark as unique to the royal family of the Great Xia Dynasty, but its sudden appearance in the inner courtyard piqued his curiosity.

"Do you want to open the door?"

A smile played on Qin Xin's lips as he flickered his fingertips and stored the invitation in his spatial ring.

With a light step, he flashed away from the cave and rushed towards the inner courtyard gate.