Lu Chang’sheng had no intention of shortchanging the Little Fire Cloud Beast—the stronger the Little Fire Cloud Beast, the bigger boost it would give him. Who knows, after three or five hundred years, maybe he could even raise a Golden Core Spirit Beast.

These past few days, Lu Chang’sheng had also noticed a few strange traits in the Little Fire Cloud Beast. He wasn’t sure if Fire Cloud Beast Ning Yun had picked up on them.

The Little Fire Cloud Beast wasn’t like ordinary beasts; it stood out not just for its intelligence, but also for its formidable fire talent.

Unlike cultivators, spirit beasts are born with innate magic—it’s like their signature techniques come automatically with the package.

As for its fire control ability, honestly, right from the start it could already rival his own Minor Achievement Fire Control Technique.

Typically, a Fire Cloud Beast caps out at Late Foundation Establishment, but for this Little Fire Cloud Beast, reaching the Golden Core Stage wasn’t out of the question.

As for the Little Fire Cloud Beast’s expectations, Lu Chang’sheng felt he could disregard them entirely.

Foundation Establishment was by no means his limit.

Lu Chang’sheng decided to play it safe—he still had plenty of time to work with.

"It’s a shame the sect’s resources are lacking. Otherwise, I might’ve bumped my Foundation Pill formula up to Minor Achievement a dozen years earlier."

Good Beast Sect wasn’t famous for alchemy; most of the institute’s Jade Scrolls on the Alchemy Dao only reached a middling second-grade level at best.

Still, they were superior to Dean Huang Yun’s current standard.

At that level, you could refine a second-grade lower pill, and on a lucky day, maybe a second-grade mid-grade pill.

But reading that tier’s Jade Scrolls on alchemy didn’t really add much to his experience anymore.

"Now, I guess I can barely touch the second-grade middle-tier level myself."

In terms of hard requirements for an alchemist, Lu Chang’sheng was already about on par with Huang Yun.

It’s all stuff like spiritual sense, fire control—technical requirements for alchemy.

But that’s not the whole story when it comes to refining a given kind of pill.

If you want to make a particular pill, you have to learn the pill formula, and then, by accumulating hands-on experience, you’ll finally succeed in making it.

Even among alchemists in the same realm, some are better with certain pills than others.

For instance, Lu Chang’sheng’s specialty was the True Essence Pill—if he and Huang Yun refined that pill together, he just might come out on top.

But refining Foundation Pill? That wasn’t a contest he could win.

Because Huang Yun’s Foundation Pill formula had already reached Minor Achievement, and might be closing in on Great Success by now.

It’s a pity—

The end is near, and he doesn’t have the strength for it anymore.

"Alchemist Lu, small gathering in the alchemy hall tonight. Don’t be late." That night, while Lu Chang’sheng was making pills, a message popped up from the Sound Transmission Shell.

The message came from the hall’s steward, Luo Li.

Lu Chang’sheng responded, thinking, "This probably has something to do with the Profound Turtle Alchemist’s Cave."

Ever since Dean Huang Yun sensed that his end was approaching, he’d hardly left his room—busy preparing for the great tribulation of lifespan.

He didn’t even bother with small gatherings anymore; even if someone requested a meeting, he was hard to find. Lu Chang’sheng had only met Huang Yun in passing all the years he’d been here.

So when he learned of the alchemy hall gathering, he was genuinely surprised.

"Looks like Huang Yun’s pinning his hopes on the Profound Turtle Alchemist’s Cave."

Nobody faces death calmly—least of all someone like Huang Yun, who’s lived hundreds of years.

If ordinary means weren’t enough, you had to find another way. Lately, the news about the Profound Turtle Alchemist’s Cave had been all anyone in the Guangnan Domain talked about—half the region knew already.

Huang Yun being moved by it was entirely reasonable.

When Lu Chang’sheng arrived, there were only about a dozen cultivators at the alchemy hall.

"Fellow Daoist Lu." A burly man spotted Lu Chang’sheng approaching.

This was Wu Feng, the only other second-grade alchemist in the sect besides Lu Chang’sheng.

The rest were already over at Purple Ice Lake.

"Fellow Daoist Wu Feng, you haven’t headed to Purple Ice Lake yet?"

"I was about to set out, but then the dean summoned us."

"No idea what this is about," Lu Chang’sheng said.

Wu Feng lowered his voice, "I heard the dean recently tried to break through, but failed. This time, maybe he’s hoping there’s some treasure in the Profound Turtle Alchemist’s Cave."

Lu Chang’sheng nodded. Huang Yun was a third-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator, hoping to break through to mid-stage Foundation Establishment—then he could get a bit more lifespan added on.

When you break through from Qi Cultivation to Foundation Establishment True Man, you get three hundred years of lifespan and add a hundred years or so. But that’s not the upper limit for Foundation Establishment cultivators. Just like Qi Cultivation, each little bottleneck in Foundation Establishment you cross gives you a bit more lifespan, and in the end, you can reach nearly five hundred years.

"Hope the dean succeeds."

Lu Chang’sheng sighed.

"Tough luck!" Wu Feng also sighed.

Huang Yun had been at third-layer Foundation Establishment for quite some time—if he’d been confident, he’d have broken through long ago. No way would he have waited until now.

The closer you are to your lifespan limit, the worse shape you’re in. Unless it’s a last resort, no one waits until the bitter end to try for a breakthrough.

As the room filled, the two stopped talking, not wanting to be overheard.

"I hear Fellow Daoist Ning Yun’s kid has already been signed. Do you know about this?"

Wu Feng changed the topic.

Lu Chang’sheng showed a small smile. "Of course I know."

"Wonder who got so lucky. Too bad I’m fresh out of spirit beast slots this time."

Fire Cloud Beasts are always alchemists’ first pick.

Only those who can’t compete, or don’t want to wait, go for other spirit beasts instead. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Because a Fire Cloud Beast’s fire control ability really does help an alchemist a lot.

"Do you know who signed the Little Fire Cloud Beast?"

Wu Feng asked.

Lu Chang’sheng smiled. "Just got lucky, I guess."

Wu Feng froze for a second, then realized, shaking his head and laughing, "Fellow Daoist, you sure know how to keep it low-key."

No need to keep this a secret anyway—not like you could. The only reason word hadn’t gotten out yet was that lately, most of the sect’s higher-ups had headed for Purple Ice Lake.