Wait a minute, where is my master?

"Temple master, is it possible to dig up these small pits from the ground completely and pack them up for Miss Fu Ling to take away?"

Seeing Jin Xu seemingly troubled, Little White suddenly came up with a suggestion.

The young Taoist brightened up at the suggestion.

However, he had yet to agree or disagree.

The Insect Queen Little Black crawled on the ground, saying, "No, you cannot move the Gu worms during their breeding period, otherwise it's very likely something will go wrong."

Well, it seemed that the method of packing them up to take away was not feasible.

Not only was this method unworkable, but the backyard was now unusable for the time being. Jin Xu had been planning to re-study Alchemy during his stay in Shangjing City, right here.

Now, it looked like he needed to find another place.

So, the barefoot young girl stayed here for the time being.

...

Days went by.

Seven days later.

East of Shangjing City.

The big sister selling steamed buns outside the royal venue heard the familiar music from inside for the fifth time.

The disturbance this time was many times greater than usual, but the nearby residents, merchants, and birds nesting in the vicinity clearly developed a resistance, continuing with their business as usual, seemingly accustomed to it.

Inside the venue, on the martial arts field.

The young Taoist looked at the cultivators who had taken over half of the martial arts field and collapsed on the ground, letting out a long sigh of relief.

These people were the last batch to undergo the Wash Essence and Marrow.

Once he had performed the Body Purification Skill on them, he could rest for a while and then start preparing to send Little Hong home.

"Thank you, young Taoist, for the grace of Wash Essence and Marrow."

"Young Taoist's generosity is greatly appreciated."

"The royal uncle is a miracle worker with a benevolent heart!"

"..."

Among the first cultivators to regain their senses, some staggered to their feet and thanked him with a fist salute.

Jin Xu stood at the edge of the martial arts field, responding calmly to their thanks.

With the notice released by Tingfeng Building, the four subsequent Wash Essence and Marrow procedures didn't result in any claims for compensation afterward.

However, rumors had been spreading outside during this time that the young Taoist was a miracle doctor.

A small portion of the cultivators purified by the Body Purification Skill, whose hidden injuries were healed or toxins in their bodies were removed, began to spread Jin Xu's reputation far and wide.

As the story was passed on, it turned into claims that the young Taoist's kind-hearted nature could cure all diseases and poisons under the heavens.

When purifying people's essences and marrow, he would incidentally rid your body of toxins and heal your injuries.

This was truly a blessing for the cultivators in the Nine Provinces.

As a result of this rumor, the already difficult existence of the Demon Sect worsened.

The disciples of the Demon Sect were no longer synonymous with evil in the eyes of many cultivators; they were seen as walking sources of medicine and Spirit Stones.

Even the black market sporadically started to see the trafficking of disciples from the Demon Sect... and the prices were not low.

Nevertheless, due to the might of the Great Xia Dynasty and the young Taoist, cases of killing the innocent to claim credit did not occur again.

At the edge of the martial arts field.

Jin Xu stood in place, politely acknowledging the thanks from everyone.

But in his mind, he was pondering over another matter.

"It has been seven days now, and the person who tasked Jingyu Building to investigate my exact whereabouts still hasn't made the next move. What exactly are they waiting for?"

Five days ago, goat-bearded Nalan Yuandao sent him a message saying that they had reveled his trails and specific information to the client as he had instructed.

After knowing this, the young Taoist quietly became the farmer waiting for the rabbit.

But now that all the cultivators who underwent the Wash Essence and Marrow had been cleansed, the other party still hadn't shown up.

"Let's wait another three days. If they still don't make a move, we'll send Little Hong back home first,"

While Jin Xu was secretly deciding this in his mind, most of the cultivators on the martial arts field had also left.

At that time, Yu Yaoer came over with Little White.

"Young master, Yunzhao says she has found another special alchemy furnace. Do you want to study alchemy again later?"

Behind the Little Fish Demon, the slim shoulders of the husky bore a huge black alchemy furnace with four holes.

In the past seven days, aside from waiting for a rabbit and performing Body Purification for people, Jin Xu hadn't been idle—

—he had blown up almost ninety percent of the alchemy furnaces within the Great Xia territory.

To this day, he had not even produced a single batch of the most basic Strengthening Pills.

Emperor Xia had been desperately bringing in alchemy furnaces to Shangjing City via teleportation arrays from all over, causing the city lords everywhere to be somewhat puzzled. They wondered whether Great Xia was preparing for war again to expand its borders, or whether it was planning to recreate a Medicine King Valley.

After all, the outside world was rife with rumors that their Royal Uncle was a divine doctor.

Maybe one day he would transform into the ancestor of some Alchemy Dao sect.

"A special alchemy furnace?"

The young Taoist looked at the alchemy furnace on Little White's shoulder without much surprise in his eyes.

Ever since the back courtyard of the residence became a temporary "Gu Worm breeding base," he had moved his alchemy studies to this royal venue.

And after seven days of relentless practice, Jin Xu was considering whether to switch to learning another cultivation skill.

After all, effort is important, but the direction of one's choices is even more crucial.

"Yes, a special alchemy furnace. Don't just look at the four holes, young master. This furnace is made entirely of Late-year Cold Iron. It contains not a trace of any other metal and has extreme resistance to all kinds of flames while also being exceptionally sturdy.

However, because of this characteristic, it requires several times more spiritual power to concoct pills than an ordinary furnace. If the Alchemist's cultivation is not adequate and their flames are not strong enough, the spiritual medicine placed inside can even freeze.

For this reason, after being crafted, it was only used two or three times before being set aside."

According to Yunzhao, this furnace was the handiwork of a master skilled in mechanical techniques from Pan Shi Valley, and it was a product of his tinkering.

That's why it only has four holes," Yu Yaoer explained, as Little White gently placed the black alchemy furnace on the floor of the martial arts field.

Crack, crack...

The sound of breaking flagstones arose.

The black alchemy furnace, with its own weight, had shattered the ground of the martial arts field.

Three legs carved with frost and snow patterns sank deeply into the bluestone tiles.

"This furnace is heavy enough. I just don't know if it looks good but is useless, or if it can withstand my Fire Condensing Skill."

The young Taoist stepped forward and lightly ran his palm over the surface of the alchemy furnace, feeling the cold touch.

Shreds of cold air seemed to want to penetrate into his palm.

But they were repelled by the surge of golden spiritual power flowing around his body.

"Young master, want to give it another try?" Yu Yaoer's voice carried an encouraging tone.

The young Taoist's alchemy skills were taught by her.

Although the Little Fish Demon confessed that her alchemy was much worse than her cooking, having a student who couldn't even concoct one batch of pills was quite frustrating.

Hearing his demon pet's words, Jin Xu also showed a look of interest in his eyes.

He understood the principle that choice is more important than effort.

But as someone who had always excelled at everything he learned from a young age, suddenly encountering something he couldn't accomplish no matter what was extremely irksome to him.

If only I could produce just one batch of Strengthening Pills!

Therefore, the young Taoist lightly nodded his head.

He reached out to Yu Yaoer for a set of herbs needed to make Strengthening Pills.

Intending to try one last time.