Lu Ping knew that the Li Clan had already guessed his identity as an alchemist. After all, he had not tried to hide his identity when going around the city buying spirit herbs. Not to mention the incident where he identified Li Er-Qiang's rare thousand-year spirit herbs.
After reading the invitation message, Lu Ping summoned Little Sima and asked about the city’s latest affairs. He learned that a team of silver-uniformed cultivators had arrived in the city and then warmly welcomed by the head of Wang Clan.
Lu Ping narrowed his eyes at the news, and Little Sima could feel that something had changed, but he didn't know what. He could only sense that Lu Ping’s bearing had become more oppressive.
Lu Ping adjusted the [Spirit Hiding Art] to raise his cultivation from the Sixth Layer to the Seventh Layer. Then, with Little Sima leading the way, they headed for the Li Clan's residence.
The Li Clan's head, Li Mao-Lin, personally welcomed Lu Ping which, he had to admit, flattered him a little. After all, Li Mao-Lin was a Core Forging Realm Enlightened Master. Even as an alchemist, Lu Ping wasn’t at a level worthy of receiving such favor.
Lu Ping hurriedly responded, "Junior Lu Jiu greets Senior Li. Please, this junior dares not trouble Senior Li to greet me personally."
Li Mao-Lin led Lu Ping to the living hall and gestured towards the two cultivators inside, saying, "This is my daughter, Li Xiu-Zhu, and I believe you've already met the other one."
In fact, Lu Ping had also seen the Li Clan’s young lady Li Xiu-Zhu before when he first arrived in Three Clans City. The other person turned out to be Innkeeper Li.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})Innkeeper Li looked a bit flustered when he saw Lu Ping, but when he saw his cultivation base had entered the Late Blood Condensation Realm, he quietly sighed in relief, as if dismissing a worrying concern.
Li Mao-Lin noticed the other’s reaction, but he only smiled and said nothing. Once the servants had prepared the tea, he ordered them to leave.
Li Mao-Lin then asked, "Little Friend Lu, you are an alchemist, right?"
Lu Ping didn't expect the clan head to be so direct; he also answered straightforwardly, "Yes."
Li Mao-Lin wasn’t surprised at Lu Ping’s frank reply, and he continued, "This time, I must admit that my invitation was given quite hastily. But in truth, my daughter is about to break through to the Core Forging Realm, and I hope you can help us concoct a medicinal pellet to help her with her core condensation."
Lu Ping picked up the teacup and gently took a sip before saying, "Senior Li must be joking. As far as I know, the pellets that can assist in core condensation are all half-step Core Forging Realm medicinal pellets. I am just an ordinary alchemist, I’m afraid that I won't be of any help. Senior, you will have to find someone else for the job. I believe with the Li Clan's strength, it's not impossible to enlist a Master Alchemist's aid."
Li Mao-Lin wasn’t surprised to hear Lu Ping's refusal; he continued, "To be frank with you, it’s not only the Li Clan—the other two clans have noticed your existence already. The 500-year spirit herbs, the rare 1000-year spirit herbs, and the unknown 1000-year spirit herbs from Li Er-Qiang; why would you be buying them if not to concoct half-step Core Forging Realm medicinal pellets?"
Lu Ping expected them to figure out his identity as an alchemist, but he didn't think they would be able to guess so much. He couldn't help but smile bitterly.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})Li Mao-Lin waited for a second, but after noting Lu Ping’s silence, he continued to persuade him. "Little Friend Lu, please lend us a hand in this matter. The Li Clan will surely repay your kindness and be forever grateful for your help!"
Lu Ping knew this was already a huge compromise for a Core Forging Realm Enlightened Master to say such words. If he continued to decline, he might offend the Li Clan. By then, Lu Ping would have to consider if he could make it out alive from the Three Clans City.
With a resigned smile, Lu Ping asked, "I'm curious—with the Li Clan's strength, you can definitely invite a Master Alchemist, or a Core Forging Realm alchemist, to do the job. After all, the divine revelation will surely increase the success rate of half-step Core Forging Realm pellets."
Li Mao-Lin was relieved to hear that Lu Ping didn’t refuse this time; even Innkeeper Li and Li Xiu-Zhu smiled happily.
After hearing Lu Ping’s remark, Li Mao-Lin smiled bitterly. "For some reason, my daughter's condition won't allow her to delay matters long enough for a Master Alchemist to arrive. Please understand our situation."
Lu Ping nodded and didn’t persist asking. "Yes, I did manage to concoct half-step Core Forging Realm pellets before, but my alchemy is still lacking and the success rate is extremely low. Senior, you will probably have to prepare a few more cauldrons of spirit herbs."
Li Mao-Lin nodded and said, "Naturally we will. The clan has already prepared three cauldrons of spirit herbs—all we ask for are two pellets. But even if it fails, I promise the Li Clan will not make things difficult for you."
After sending away Lu Ping, Innkeeper Li cautiously came forward and asked, "Big Brother, isn’t this a little too rushed? After all, he’s just an ordinary alchemist and only in the Blood Condensation Realm; it would be extremely difficult for him to concoct the pellets."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Li Mao-Lin didn't answer Innkeeper Li, instead turning to ask his daughter instead, "Zhu'er, what do you think?"
Li Xiu-Zhu smiled and said, "I don't have much time left. It's better to take the risk than to do nothing."
Li Mao-Lin sighed. "That's right. The Zhang Clan has always been the strongest, so we cooperated with the Wang Clan to maintain a system of checks and balances. But who would've thought the Wang Clan would collude with the Crystal Palace. This really caught our Li Clan off guard."
Li Xiu-Zhu lowered her voice and said softly, "The daughter has brought trouble to the clan—if not for my actions on Ma Clan Island…"
Li Mao-Lin reached out to stop her words and said, "It's not your fault. In fact, if not for you, the Li Clan wouldn't have discovered that the Wang Clan had already sided with the Crystal Palace. This is a blessing in disguise. On top of that, the Zhang Clan should be more anxious than us after knowing that the Wang Clan has turned."
He paused for a second, then turned to look at Innkeeper Li. "If you used less of your little cleverness on trivial matters and more on your cultivation, you would already be in the Late Blood Condensation Realm. Do you really think the Li Clan is lacking a couple hundred spirit stones?"
Innkeeper Li smiled bitterly and answered, "Big Brother, I know my own situation. The Mid Blood Condensation Realm is as far as I can get. I never had the extravagant hope of achieving the Core Forging Realm. My only hobby left is to earn spirit stones."
Li Mao-Lin clearly knew his little brother was lazy, so he waved his hand to dismiss the topic. "We must collect as many spirit herbs as possible just in case Lu Jiu fails in all three attempts. A month later, there will be an underground trade fair taking place in the city. By then, make sure to buy all the relevant spirit herbs. Don't be afraid of wasting spirit stones; they can be earned again. As long as Zhu'er can enter the Core Forging Realm, the situation on the island will be able to regain stability for some time."
On the side, Li Xiu-Zhu saw her father's fatigue. She said with concern, "Father, why don't we notify the grand teacher…"
"Nonsense!"
Li Mao-Lin shouted in a stern voice, then he said solemnly, "Never ever mention this matter again. Remember, the Li Clan is only the Li Clan—we do not have a grand teacher. If word ever get out, the Li Clan will be annihilated and worse, it will affect… Our deaths are trivial, and we will never be able to atone for our mistakes!"
Innkeeper Li and Li Xiu-Zhu didn't dare to say another word. Li Mao-Lin paused for a second and said, "We can invite Lu Jiu to the underground trade fair—after all, he is an alchemist. His knowledge will certainly be higher compared to you two. This can also show him the Li Clan's gratitude."
…
By now, Lu Ping had returned to his cave-dwelling. In his hand was a jade scroll given to him by the Li Clan.
Lu Ping read the jade scroll, murmuring, "Pellet recipe for the Seven Step Striped Pellet… A rare pellet that improves the success rate of core condensation."
At this time, Lu Ping was unaware that he’d been inadvertently drawn into the game for power between the three clans. Right now, he simply focused on the pellet recipe he had obtained from the Li Clan.
The complexity of the Seven Step Striped Pellet was far beyond the Heart Condensation Pellet Lu Ping had concocted before.
As mentioned before, one of the requirements for the Core Forging Realm medicinal pellets was to use at least twenty-seven types of 1000-year spirit herbs.
But the Heart Condensation Pellet only used twenty-four 1000-year spirit herbs, so it was categorized as a half-step Core Forging Realm pellet.
The Seven Step Striped Pellet itself actually required twenty-six 1000-year spirit herbs. Even though it was also categorized as a half-step Core Forging Realm pellet, the difficulty in concocting was not the same as the Heart Condensation Pellet.
Hence, this was undoubtedly a serious challenge for Lu Ping's alchemy.
There was a reason why Lu Ping ultimately agreed to concoct the Seven Step Striped Pellet, other than Li Mao-Lin's skillful request—Lu Ping himself was also interested in a pellet that could increase the success rate of core condensation.
After all, he was already in the Eighth Layer Blood Condensation Realm, so he naturally had to start preparing for his own core condensation for his future breakthrough to the Core Forging Realm.
Furthermore, as an alchemist, he was full of interest when it came to collecting all kinds of pellet recipes.
Other than that, Lu Ping had confidence that he could handle the request.
