Afterward, Third Uncle Liu hurried back to prepare the medicinal ingredients.

  Liu Xiaoxiao stood respectfully in place, gazing at Xia Li with admiring eyes.

  "Big Brother Xia, I've already achieved minor success in the Thousand Refinements Art. What about teaching me alchemy like you promised?"

  Liu Xiaoxiao had absolute faith in Xia Li's alchemy skills. Ever since she'd been chosen by the Liu family to receive Xia Li's favor, she'd been exposed to pills beyond just Surge Qi Pills.

  Escape-use Cloud Breath Pills, Sword Qi Pills that allowed temporary sword energy manipulation, Body Tempering Pills that enriched blood and qi, Healing Pills with excellent wound recovery effects, and more.

  These pills, after negotiation among the three powers, weren't sold externally. They were only sold through internal channels to qualified customers.

  After all, scarcity creates value.

  "You've already achieved minor success?"

  Cultivation methods weren't like techniques—they were profound and complex, with difficulty several times that of techniques.

  "I don't know how it happened either. Maybe I have good comprehension?"

  "Possibly. Since you've achieved minor success in the Thousand Refinements Art, it's time to teach you some basic alchemy."

  "However, my alchemy is somewhat different from other common methods. But the principles are the same. How much you can absorb depends on your ability."

  "Mm-hmm!"

  Liu Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously. Alchemy inheritance was far more important for someone from a small family like her than other types of inheritance.

  "So first, do you have any understanding of basic alchemy knowledge?"

  "Yes. I've been self-studying whenever I have free time."

  "Good. Now forget all of it."

  Xia Li told Liu Xiaoxiao to forget everything she'd learned about alchemy. People in this world had no spirit of collaboration in alchemy, and various traditions each swept only their own doorstep.

  Even when producing pills with identical effects, the refining processes varied wildly, yet everyone thought their own methods were superior.

  Though their researched techniques could improve success rates to some degree, it was still foolishly inadequate!

  Earth's alchemy didn't deal in abstractions. It didn't emphasize talent or technique, and sensitivity to medicinal properties took a back seat.

  Earth's alchemy focused on one thing and perfected it: the classic control variable method.

  From millions, tens of millions of refining attempts, the most detailed data was extracted. When to add which ingredient, what heat level, what to do when—everything was analyzed with crystal clarity.

  From countless trials and errors came the most correct conclusions.

  So Earth's alchemy had no schools or factions—only one standard that everyone collectively built.

  So simple even a dog could follow it.

  "Huh?"

  Liu Xiaoxiao's smile froze. She'd thought this would earn her favor with Xia Li, showing him she was diligent and studious. She hadn't expected to have wasted her effort.

  "Wait here."

  Xia Li found a blank jade slip in his storage ring and began using the Heaven Chip to inscribe pill formulas.

  "Take this. It's the formula for Nourishing Pills. The effect is just strengthening the body, but long-term use greatly benefits health. Consider it an upgrade from Fasting Pills."

  Xia Li tossed the jade slip to Liu Xiaoxiao. She caught it and eagerly examined it, and what she saw instantly revolutionized her understanding.

  This was hardly a pill formula...

  She'd seen pill formulas before, but most only listed basic ingredients. More detailed ones might mention what to watch for during refining.

  But the formula Xia Li gave was so detailed that you just had to follow it exactly. There was absolutely no comprehension barrier.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  This level of formula required countless hours of experimentation to produce. It absolutely qualified as inheritance!

  "I feel like... I could refine this right now!"

  "This is the inheritance I'm prepared to give you. Of course, it's not just Nourishing Pills. I'll pass on a total of thirty-six formulas including this one."

  Earth's alchemy inheritance had pros and cons. The downside was that without the formulas, you probably couldn't even refine Fasting Pills.

  But after long-term study and practice with those thirty-six formulas, understanding this world's formulas shouldn't be difficult once you'd mastered the skills.

  This was less about training alchemists and more about training alchemy workers.

  But even so, it was enough for Liu Xiaoxiao. She had no alchemy talent to begin with. Becoming an alchemy worker was already tremendous fortune.

  Afterward, Xia Li inscribed other types of pill formulas, but only up to Foundation Establishment level.

  He was doing this to cultivate a loyal force, but he couldn't yet be certain of the Liu family's character.

  So he had to hold back.

  Helping the Liu family gain enough capital to firmly establish themselves in Fenghe City was sufficient.

  "These are other formulas. You may share them externally, but only teach methods that produce low-grade pills. If anyone tries to seize or interrogate you, you know what to do."

  "I understand..."

  Liu Xiaoxiao accepted the jade slips from Xia Li with a heavy heart. If anyone tried to seize or interrogate her, she would end her own life to prevent the inheritance from leaking.

  Xia Li and the Liu family had initially been at odds—she knew this. And the conflict was precisely because her foolish second brother had tried to seize Xia Li's inheritance.

  Her second brother's behavior was actually the norm in the cultivation world. In other words, the Liu family obtaining this inheritance was one thing; whether they dared use it was another matter entirely.

  How to monetize the inheritance to strengthen the family would require careful discussion back home.

  "Then go back and try refining on your own."

  "Great kindness needs no words of thanks!"

  Liu Xiaoxiao knelt on the spot and gave Xia Li ten sincere kowtows before leaving. Whether it was the Thousand Refinements Art or the pill formulas, both were enough for this girl from a small family to reach greater heights.

  Outside the Xia residence.

  Just as Liu Xiaoxiao stepped out the main gate, she encountered Third Uncle Liu returning.

  "Ruyan, how did it go?"

  "Third Uncle, I'm not called Ruyan. How many times do I have to tell you?!"

  "Nonsense! Your name was given by your parents. How can you change it at will?!"

  "If you want me to keep contributing to the family, never call me that name again!"

  Liu Xiaoxiao was dead serious. The name Liu Ruyan definitely held some great terror. Others might not sense it, but she could feel it herself.

  "Fine, fine. Let's talk business. What did Senior Xia teach you?"

  "An extremely precious inheritance. Alchemy with a 100% success rate."

  "What?!"

  Third Uncle Liu instinctively looked around. Fortunately, no one was nearby.

  If other powers learned of this, they'd use every means to seize it.

  This wasn't treasure—it was a death sentence!

  "Third Uncle, I know the gravity of this. I trust you, which is why I'm telling you. Don't tell anyone else in the family about this."

  "I'll discuss it with the Ancestor. We might as well apply soul seeds to the entire clan. This requires the whole family's effort, but we absolutely cannot have traitors."

  "That works."

  Liu Xiaoxiao and Third Uncle Liu began plotting seriously.