Cheng Yan nodded. **"Exactly. Our junior sister has always been clever."**

Master Lingxu sighed. **"She may be a little too clever. The sect's intention was to let disciples practice alchemy themselves, yet she's taking on their tasks. How will they ever learn?"**

Cheng Yan, however, explained, **"Master, Junior Sister has already considered this. She only accepts tasks from disciples who have been in the sect for over thirty years."**

Master Lingxu fell silent for a moment. Then Cheng Yan added, **"There's actually a benefit to this. Thanks to her influence, the younger disciples in our alchemy sect have become much more diligent. The refining chambers are packed every day, and disciples have to queue early to secure a spot. Because of this, our sect now has an overabundance of Spirit Replenishing Pills and Windstride Pills. I actually came today to ask—should we sell some of the lower-grade ones to the Tianji Pavilion?"**

Master Lingxu was taken aback.

**"In less than half a year, we've gone from a shortage of pills to a surplus?"**

After a brief pause, he nodded. **"That would be a good idea."**

With the entire alchemy sect caught in a frenzy, the success rate of refining pills had increased significantly. Now, disciples were reluctant to consume anything less than a top-grade pill.

Just as master and disciple finished their conversation, Qin Shu finally arrived, panting from her climb up the mountain.

She activated a cleansing technique to remove her sweat, then called toward the cave residence, **"Master! Your disciple is late!"**

Master Lingxu and Cheng Yan, long accustomed to voice transmissions, were briefly stunned by her shouting.

Opening the barrier, they allowed Qin Shu inside. Seeing her flushed cheeks, Master Lingxu curiously asked, **"You climbed all the way up again?"**

Qin Shu nodded, then looked up at her master. **"Oh, right! Master, I have something I need to ask you."**

Master Lingxu casually poured a cup of tea and handed it to her. **"Drink first, catch your breath, and then speak."**

Cheng Yan, who had been standing for ages without a sip of tea: **"..."**

Master, could your favoritism be any more obvious?

Qin Shu didn't stand on ceremony. She accepted the cup and drank it all in one go, feeling instantly refreshed.

Her eyes lit up. **"Master, this tea is amazing!"**

Master Lingxu stroked his beard with a pleased smile. **"If you like it, take some with you later."**

Qin Shu sneakily pulled out a porcelain bottle from her storage ring, looking a little embarrassed. **"Would that... be too much?"**

Master Lingxu, seeing her little movements, chuckled even more. **"A master is like a father. There's no need for politeness between us."**

Cheng Yan hesitated, glancing at Qin Shu. **"Does Senior Brother get some too?"**

Master Lingxu sighed dramatically. **"I only have so much, and now all of you are after it. Fine, I'll send some to Wen Chi and Chiyu as well."**

Qin Shu immediately cupped her hands and bowed. **"Thank you, Master!"**

Then, looking up, she asked, **"Master, why did you summon me today?"**

Master Lingxu replied, **"I saw the notes you made for Chiyu on refining techniques. Quite an interesting approach."**

Qin Shu smiled. **"I merely helped Senior Sister identify patterns. This method may help her refine pills more efficiently, but it won't allow her to achieve perfect results. If she wants to refine different pills, she'll need to start from scratch again."**

Master Lingxu nodded slightly. **"This method has limitations for Chiyu, but if applied to disciples with Wood Spiritual Roots, it would be much more effective."**

**"That's true. They can naturally sense changes in spiritual plants."**

Master Lingxu thought for a moment before saying, **"In a few days, go to the alchemy chambers and teach the other disciples some refining techniques."**

This was essentially asking a **top student** to give a **peer tutoring session**.

Qin Shu had done plenty of these in her past life. She was practically an expert at sharing learning strategies.

Hearing her master's request, she agreed without hesitation.

Many cultivators guarded their insights, reluctant to share. But Qin Shu accepted so readily that Master Lingxu's impression of her grew even more favorable.

He smiled warmly. **"Now, what was it you wanted to ask me?"**

After nearly a year as her master, he had yet to truly guide her. He wasn't exactly a model teacher.

Qin Shu finally stated, **"Master, I've been training in body cultivation lately. After each session, I need a medicinal bath, which is quite inconvenient. I wanted to ask if there are any pills that might help?"**

**"Body cultivation?"** Master Lingxu looked surprised.

What exactly was this child trying to do? **She was an alchemist!**

Qin Shu nodded seriously. **"Yes. During my trial outside the sect, I realized how physically fragile human cultivators are compared to demonic beasts. If I can strengthen this weakness, it will help me greatly in the future."**

Her reasoning was sound, but **the suffering required for body cultivation far exceeded that of spiritual cultivation.**

Master Lingxu narrowed his eyes. **"Are you certain about this?"**

Qin Shu's playful demeanor vanished. With unwavering determination, she replied, **"Absolutely."**

Master Lingxu scrutinized her expression, trying to see if she was truly resolute.

After a long moment, he finally spoke. **"If you're looking for body-tempering pills, I do have a formula."**

As he spoke, he retrieved a jade slip from his storage ring and placed it on the table, sliding it toward Qin Shu.

**"This formula is something I obtained by chance. It strengthens blood and qi, which are essential for body cultivation. Try it out. If you have any questions, come find me."**

Qin Shu considered this for a moment. **Her master was known to enter closed-door seclusion for long periods—who knew when he would emerge again?**

She decided to ask now rather than later. **"Master, what grade is this pill?"**

Master Lingxu furrowed his brows in thought, then suddenly realized—**although his disciple was a genius in alchemy, she was still only at the fifth level of Qi Refinement.**

A **fifth-grade pill** would be far too difficult for her.

His gaze shifted to Cheng Yan. **"Cheng Yan."**

Cheng Yan sighed internally—he understood immediately. He cupped his hands in a respectful bow. **"Understood, Master. I will assist Junior Sister in refining it."**

Master Lingxu finally smiled with satisfaction. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a token made of what appeared to be both wood and stone, handing it to Qin Shu.

**"If you need any spiritual herbs, take this token to the apothecary and retrieve what you require."**

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