Chapter 10: Advanced

After glancing at Zhuo Ming, who was still staring intently at him, Wu Yan couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. He then said solemnly: "In response to my senior brother, everything is going well for me here. Therefore, I hope my senior brother can explain this to Senior Sister Bai, or choose someone else to serve her."

Just as Wu Yan was lost in thought, Zhuo Ming suddenly coughed and said in a rather unnatural manner: "Junior Brother Wu, there is something I would like to consult you about. Um, it is like this: recently, Senior Sister Bai Zhi Ning is short on manpower, so she wishes to transfer you to her as a talisman craftsman disciple. Um, if you are willing, you can report directly to her!"

Brother Wu, are you here to submit a task as well? Huh? Brother Wu! You have already reached the ninth level! This is truly a reason to congratulate you! In the square of the Talisman Hall, Wu Yan had just put away his flying artifact when he was startled by Wang Gu's shout. Seeing his exaggerated reaction, Wu Yan could only shake his head helplessly. Ever since he had scared away that cultivator surnamed Yan using a mutual destruction method, it seemed that Wang Gu had been spared as well. Therefore, this guy had been living quite comfortably for the past few months, and whenever he had time, he would come to disturb him, completely disregarding his warnings. If it weren't for the fact that he spent very little time in the Talisman Hall each month, he would probably be driven crazy by him.

Having understood the ins and outs of the matter, Wu Yan finally felt a sense of relief. Although it was still unclear why that Senior Sister Bai had sought him out, it was likely that a girl with such background, strength, and beauty was usually high and mighty, proud and overbearing, doing whatever she pleased. The decision to summon him to her side was probably just a fleeting whim. However, this command was more effective in the ears of people like Zhuo Ming and Wang Gu than an imperial edict.

Wang Shidi, are you mistaken? Perhaps there is another person named Wu Yan in the Symbol Crafting Hall! Alright, I have other matters to attend to." After saying this, Wu Yan no longer entangled with Wang Gu, turning to head towards Zhuo Ming's residence. He had no interest in why that Senior Sister Bai wanted to see him. His plan for wealth was progressing smoothly, and he naturally did not wish for any external factors to alter it. Moreover, he had already reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement. He believed that by taking another Dragon Marrow Pill, he could reach the tenth level in just half a year. At that time, having become a senior outer disciple, he would no longer be under the jurisdiction of Zhuo Ming or that so-called Senior Sister Bai.

"Can I only take three?" Wu Yan muttered to himself with a furrowed brow. He originally thought that with the spirit stones from selling the talismans, he could buy a dozen Dragon Soul Pills and rush straight to the Foundation Establishment stage. However, he did not expect things to be so complicated. Three Dragon Soul Pills could at most help him reach the tenth level of the Qi Refining stage. If he wanted to advance further, he would need to take another type of pill—Small Peiyuan Pill. However, the price of this pill would likely be several hundred spirit stones.

A day later, Wu Yan finally emerged from the stone house. He had successfully elevated his cultivation to the ninth level of the Qi Refining stage. However, strangely, he did not feel much joy; he only vaguely sensed that he seemed to have gained something. "Could this be what is referred to as a realm?" Wu Yan smiled faintly, raised his hand to release his flying artifact, and flew towards the Talisman Crafting Hall. Today was the day to submit tasks and receive the materials for the next month's assignments. However, these so-called tasks no longer held any significance for him. He could casually submit forty to fifty blank talisman papers each month to appease that fellow Zhuo Ming. He imagined that if Zhuo Ming knew he was currently crafting talismans, he would probably be as restless as Senior Brother Ma!

"Brother Wu, wait a moment! I have something to discuss with you. Oh, no, it's Sister Bai who wants to see you. However, I haven't been able to find you these past few days. So, knowing you would come today to submit your task, I've been waiting here for most of the day." Wang Gu urgently stopped Wu Yan and said.

Thank you, Junior Brother Wang, but there is no need for such exaggeration!" Wu Yan replied lightly to the library, "I will go submit my task now. If you have anything to attend to, feel free to go ahead!"

The Dragon Essence Pill, primarily made from fifty-year-old Dragon Essence Mushroom, is supplemented with Tianxing Grass, Three-Color Huangjing, and Yiyang Fruit. It requires a medium-level alchemical fire to be refined for a total of forty-nine hours to achieve completion. The pill is purple-blue in color and emits a unique fragrance. This pill is effective for cultivators in the Qi Refining stage, allowing them to wash their meridians and refine their essence. However, those who have consumed three pills will find it ineffective, and it is also ineffective for cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage. At this moment, Wu Yan was sitting in his stone house, staring blankly at a jade slip. This jade slip was obtained from the storage bags of two disciples from Tiandu Peak and contained basic alchemical techniques. In addition to recording several fundamental pill formulas, it also listed information on a dozen of the most common pills in the cultivation world. The Dragon Essence Pill was the last one mentioned in this compilation.

Upon hearing Zhuo Ming's words, Wu Yan immediately understood why Senior Sister Bai had sent Wang Gu to find him. Zhuo Ming's current expression of deep frustration was not due to reluctance to part with him, but rather jealousy. It seems that Zhuo Ming is indeed one of the many suitors of Senior Sister Bai. In order to please her, Zhuo Ming would certainly carry out her orders without hesitation. However, having such a favorable task fall upon someone he has always looked down upon naturally displeased him. Thus, it is evident how painful the torment he has endured these past few days has been.

"Senior Sister Bai? Looking for me?" Wu Yan was taken aback, somewhat puzzled. Since joining the Symbolic Hall, he had never had any interaction with *Tu* Shu. Why was she looking for him? It seemed that his performance had not been particularly outstanding!

With a smile and a shake of his head, Wu Yan reached out to take the Dragon Essence Pill. After quietly observing it for a moment, he tilted his head back and swallowed it. Soon, a wave of heat rose from his abdomen and spread throughout his limbs. Feeling everything, Wu Yan did not dare to be negligent; he immediately circulated his spiritual energy to envelop the medicinal power of the Dragon Essence Pill, then gradually guided it through the meridians of his entire body. After an unknown amount of time, when the medicinal power of the Dragon Essence Pill had completely dissipated, Wu Yan slowly opened his eyes. He immediately felt that some changes had occurred throughout his body, though these changes were beyond description. Carefully sensing this transformation, Wu Yan closed his eyes again. This situation should only arise after breaking through the eighth layer of the bottleneck, so it would be best to consolidate his progress first.

"Are you serious?" After hearing Wu Yan's words, Zhuo Ming took a while to regain his composure, and then he smiled broadly and said, "It is rare for Junior Brother Wu to have such self-awareness. Good! No problem, I will personally explain your situation to Senior Sister Bai. Here, this is your spirit stone for this month. Go to the deacon disciples to collect next month's materials! Also, congratulations on your cultivation level advancing again, Junior Brother! Haha!"

"Then... I shall take my leave, Junior Brother." After Wu Yan bowed to the still inexplicably excited Zhuo Ming, he quietly departed. It was not until he entered the Great Hall of Talisman Making that he smiled oddly. He truly did not expect that Zhuo Ming had just given him five spirit stones. It seems that he made the right decision; otherwise, if he had impulsively agreed, he would not only have offended Zhuo Ming but also a large group of cultivators pursuing Bai Zhi Ning. At that time, he would have truly found himself in a dire situation.

"Refer to Brother Zhuo! Here are the task items completed this month, please verify them, Brother. " Inside the stone chamber where Zhuo Ming resides, Wu Yan calmly presented forty-seven sheets of blank talisman paper and fifty-three pieces of already invalidated materials before Zhuo Ming. However, he always felt that Zhuo Ming's expression was somewhat peculiar, as if he wanted to say something. Coupled with the fact that he had come to find him in a grand manner the day before, only to casually ask a few questions, this was not in line with Zhuo Ming's usual style. Could it be that his hidden matters have been discovered?

With a wry smile, Wu Yan put away the jade slip. The hundreds of spirit stones for the small cultivation pill were beyond his current reach; it was more important to elevate his cultivation to the tenth level as soon as possible. After all, given his current status as a low-ranking outer disciple, leaving the Symbol Refining Hall too frequently would be quite inconvenient. Wouldn't Zhuo Ming start to suspect him? It was truly hard to imagine that guy would personally come looking for him, and after not finding him, he actually dispatched a dozen or so cultivators to search everywhere. If he hadn't returned in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Leaving the Symbol Refining Hall too frequently would be quite inconvenient. Wouldn't Zhuo Ming start to suspect him? It was truly hard to imagine that guy would personally come looking for him, and after not finding him, he actually dispatched a dozen or so cultivators to search everywhere. If he hadn't returned in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.