After agreeing to Tang Min to participate in the competition, Qi Zhiheng put Lin Yixi's matter behind his mind.

Since he had so many family members, it would be best to take them all with him if he wanted to attain enlightenment. So he went back to find his family.

Qi Zhiheng informed everyone about this incident, hoping that his family would send some representatives to compete for a spot in the competition.

After obtaining his family's consent, Qi Zhiheng went to Sect Master Que Hanhai to see if the sect master could help his family compete for a spot in the competition.

Qi Zhiheng has brought considerable benefits to the sect, so Que Hanhai still has to give him face. However, this face cannot be given casually; at the very least, the sect leader must see the capabilities of the Qi family.

The Sect Master said, "Actually, you don't have to worry. Your spot has been internally selected. Three months before the official competition begins, there will be an internal screening within the sect. As long as your family members can win the competition, there will still be a spot in the finals. The reason you were chosen is simply because they have confirmed your ability and they feel there is no need to compete with those disciples."

Qi Zhiheng hadn't expected this to happen. Since there was still a chance, he went back without worry.

After five months of seclusion, Rong Gu finally emerged and successfully became a Foundation Establishment stage disciple.

An eighteen-year-old Foundation Establishment cultivator is a rare find even in the Southern Continent. Upon hearing this news, many disciples from Danfeng came to offer their congratulations.

As Rong Gu's master, Qi Zhiheng also attracted a lot of attention.

The reason why Rong Gu was able to break through the foundation-building stage was closely related to the foundation-building pill. Top-grade foundation-building pills were extremely rare, not to mention that Qi Zhiheng gave him two. He failed once in the middle, and only after taking the foundation-building pill for the second time did he succeed in breaking through. If he wanted to break through and become a golden elixir next, he had to gain some understanding of alchemy.

When Rong Gu came to pay his respects to Qi Zhiheng, he looked much more energetic and spirited, having advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Qi Zhiheng teased, "You seem quite happy."

Rong Gu replied somewhat shyly, "This disciple is indeed very happy to have broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage. It's not like I've disgraced my master."

Rong Gu was originally an inner sect disciple with decent aptitude, possessing dual spiritual roots. Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage at the age of eighteen was a challenge. However, with the top-grade elixirs Qi Zhiheng had given him, he was able to consume numerous top-grade elixirs without hesitation, having previously been afraid to take them alone. With the addition of two top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills, he successfully established his foundation.

Rong Gu was naturally happy. When he first started learning, although he had good aptitude, his alchemy skills were average and his cultivation was not particularly outstanding. For several years, he had been confined to the inner gate and was not selected to enter any peak.

Several years passed like this, and finally, with the help of Qi Zhiheng, he entered Danfeng and was able to worship such a powerful alchemist as his master. This made Rong Gu feel that his way of cultivation had been greatly changed, and his gratitude to Qi Zhiheng was genuine.

Qi Zhiheng tossed him a bottle of pills: "Now that you've broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, these pills are much less effective." Thinking about it, he felt a little regretful. If he had remembered these pills earlier, he might have been able to obtain his first spiritual vein much sooner!

"Thank you for the congratulatory gift, Master." Rong Gu automatically regarded the pill as a congratulatory gift from Qi Zhiheng for helping him establish his foundation.

Qi Zhiheng said, "No need to thank me, everyone has one." After saying that, he turned and left, gesturing for Rong Gu to follow.

Rong Gu was somewhat speechless, but still followed behind Qi Zhiheng and asked, "Master, what kind of pill is this?" He had just opened it and looked at it, but he couldn't recognize what kind of pill it was at all.

Qi Zhiheng said, "This is a Cleansing Pill. It can purify spiritual energy and remove some of the toxins and impurities from the body."

Upon hearing this, Rong Gu felt a surge of warmth in his heart and said with deep emotion, "Master, you are too good to me!"

Qi Zhiheng waved his hand casually and said, "It's okay, everyone has some anyway." The other disciples have been eating for several months, and the little bit his eldest disciple just received is less than what the other disciples have eaten.

Rong Gu: "..." He felt inexplicably moved, as if he were a fool.

Then Qi Zhiheng said, "Although everyone has pills, I plan to take you as my personal disciple."

"Master...Master! This disciple will definitely work hard in the future!" Rong Gu was naturally happy. He used to be the senior disciple. If Qi Zhiheng bypassed him and directly accepted other disciples as personal disciples, his position would be awkward.

Qi Zhiheng's move solidified his position among the remaining hundred-plus disciples.

If Qi Zhiheng were to accept a personal disciple, he would need to prepare a personal disciple ceremony. There's a set procedure for this within the sect. Qi Zhiheng would need to report this matter to the sect, register his name there, and then the ceremony could be held. He would simply send out invitations and hold an apprenticeship ceremony.

However, Qi Zhiheng really didn't want to handle the chores like setting the date and preparing the necessities himself; he wanted to pass the buck!

When Qi Zhiheng took Rong Gu to register, he had the person in charge of this area handle it for him. He just needed to hand over the spirit stones he needed.

Qi Zhiheng was very satisfied with the result, as it saved him a lot of trouble.

After the registration was completed, Qi Zhiheng personally led Rong Gu back to the alchemy room.

Rong Gu hesitated. He had to go into seclusion before, and the affairs of the alchemy room were handed over to Ye Hanyuan. Now that he had come out of seclusion, should Ye Hanyuan continue to handle the miscellaneous affairs of the alchemy room, or should he take over again?

Rong Gu was preoccupied with his own thoughts, and followed Qi Zhiheng back to the alchemy room.

While he was still hesitating about whether to ask his master, Qi Zhiheng solved his problem.

Qi Zhiheng said in front of everyone, "Your senior brother has now become a Foundation Establishment cultivator. I will be focusing on supervising him for a period of time. If you need anything, just ask your second senior brother, understand?"

"Understood!" the disciples replied loudly.

Rong Gu understood the meaning behind his words: the matter should still be handled by Ye Hanyuan, while he himself would go to refine pills.

Rong Gu was excited again when he thought that his master would teach him alchemy alone.

Qi Zhiheng led the man to a private alchemist's room and tossed him a pharmacopoeia of second-level spiritual herbs: "See when you can memorize the contents of this book."

Rong Gu's heart raced when he saw the spiritual herbs inside: "Master, are you planning to teach your disciple how to refine level two pills?"

Qi Zhiheng said, "Of course I'll teach you how to refine level two pills. Otherwise, what's the point of showing you level two materials?" He was joking, of course. Advancing to level two alchemist would grant him a spiritual vein, and he had waited so long for this moment!

Therefore, his current focus is on training Ronggu.

"This disciple will definitely work hard!" Rong Gu, unaware of the truth, was deeply moved.

Qi Zhiheng patted his shoulder: "Master has high hopes for you!" After saying that, he left first.

He returned to the alchemy room where his hundred or so disciples worked.

"Father!" Two childish voices rang out at the same time, and Da Bao and San Bao rushed into Qi Zhiheng's arms like two little cannonballs.

Qi Zhiheng patted the two children's heads: "How was your day? Nothing unexpected happened, right?"

Da Bao happily told Qi Zhiheng about his story, including how he had become acquainted with so-and-so and what kind of spiritual herb he had acquired.

Sanbao, on the other hand, wasn't interested in recognizing any spiritual herbs; he just played with a few small flowers for a long time.

Qi Zhiheng felt very sorry for Sanbao because he had already thought about how Xiaoshuang'er would grow up to be a muscular man. He didn't know how his son would face such a tragic life in the future, so he could only try to give Sanbao more fatherly love during his childhood to make up for it.

Qi Zhiheng said, "After Father teaches these older brothers and sisters something, he can take you back for dinner."

Qi Zhiheng instructed everyone present to begin refining pills. Even the disciples who previously only knew how to refine medicinal powders had now mastered refining first-grade pills under his tutelage.

Qi Zhiheng felt it was about time. After he finished the apprenticeship ceremony, he could start selecting some disciples and focus on their cultivation.

After his disciples finished refining the pills, Qi Zhiheng took the child home.

When Erbao saw his father, elder brother, and younger brother return, he rushed out to greet them: "Father! You're back!" He ran over and hugged Qi Zhiheng's leg.

Qi Zhiheng put down the three children and picked up the second child: "Second child, did you listen to your father today? Did you miss your father?"

Erbao hesitated for a moment, then said, "Erbao is very obedient and misses his father very much."

Yang Yitian walked out expressionlessly: "Obey? Your son folded and tore up a whole stack of my talismans and you still have the nerve to call yourself obedient?"

Erbao, exposed but unmoved, had no idea what Yang Yitian was rambling on about.

Although he is just over one year old, it is still a bit difficult for him to understand some complex sentences!

Qi Zhiheng awkwardly praised, "Erbao likes talismans so much, he will definitely be a great talisman master in the future."

He turned to Erbao and said, "Erbao, why don't you go to the alchemy room with your father tomorrow?"

Erbao understood what he meant and quickly shook his head, saying, "No, no, the alchemy room smells bad and tastes bitter."

Qi Zhiheng guessed that the smelly smell must refer to the smell of medicine: "How could it smell bad? Do you think Father smells bad?" He smells like medicine.

Erbao nodded honestly and said, "Father smells bad."

Qi Zhiheng: "..." This son who is so good at sabotaging others is definitely not his biological son.

Da Bao, feeling indignant on his behalf, said, "Father doesn't smell bad, he smells nice! My older brother and sister say it's the smell of medicine!"

The medicine must smell good, Da Bao thought.

Erbao ignored Dabao and instead said to Qi Zhiheng, "Father, even if you're smelly and hungry, I'll still hug you."

Qi Zhiheng: "..." He believed that he was his biological son, even if he thought that someone dared to get close to him!

Author's note: I discovered a serious problem today. In the last chapter, I confused the Danfeng Peak Master. The person talking to Qi Zhiheng was not Zuoqiu Man, but Tang Min...

Master of Panyun Peak: Zuoqiu Man

Danfeng Peak Master: Tang Min

The three disciples personally taught by the Peak Master of Danfeng: Lin Yixi,

Lin Yixi is not Zuoqiu Man's disciple, but Tang Min's brother.