Xia Li's punch was devastating.

  After twisting Second Young Master Liu's arm, the force surged into his body and caused considerable internal damage, leaving him temporarily incapacitated.

  He could only grit his teeth and crouch on the ground, glaring at Xia Li with hatred.

  "Liu Fu, what happened?"

  As luck would have it, among the onlookers outside Myriad Treasures Pavilion was someone from the Liu family. A middle-aged man immediately walked into the pavilion.

  "Third Uncle, catch him quickly! He has an opportunity—he went from first level to fourth level of Qi Refining in one month!"

  Second Young Master Liu immediately called for his family elder to act.

  "What?"

  Third Uncle Liu's gaze immediately fixed on Xia Li.

  Seeing this, Xia Li simply spread his hands to show he wouldn't resist.

  "Like bullying people, do you? Fine, I accept it. I admit my master has urgent business and isn't in Fenghe City. Kill me or torture me—do as you please, Liu family!"

  "But when my master exterminates your clan afterward, don't say I didn't warn you!"

  Xia Li adopted a resigned attitude, but was already secretly gathering energy to flee. He had prepared a technique specifically for escaping.

  However, Xia Li's attitude actually made Third Uncle Liu hesitate. He had already figured out what was happening.

  Liu Fu wanted to seize someone's opportunity, but the other party had backing—just temporarily absent.

  Seeing the Liu family member hadn't immediately attacked, Xia Li thought for a moment and spoke:

  "Senior, I told him this before, but he still chose to attack. There are things I shouldn't say."

  "But I suspect he has reasons for daring to gamble—for instance... he doesn't care what happens to the family at all. He only cares about himself."

  At these words, Third Uncle Liu immediately turned to look at Liu Fu.

  "You attacked without confirming his background? Without any probing?"

  "I..."

  "Fool!"

  Third Uncle Liu kicked Liu Fu directly, knocking him to the ground.

  "You lost the competition with your elder brother because you weren't good enough. Now, for an opportunity, you're willing to risk the entire family's destruction? Is that it?"

  "Has the family ever mistreated you? You lose one internal competition and this is how you treat the family?"

  Third Uncle Liu was furious. Setting aside whether Xia Li actually had backing, Liu Fu's behavior was suicidal. Get it right and you profit; get it wrong and the Liu family pays the price?

  This brat would definitely flee the moment he seized the opportunity.

  "Young friend, this was our Liu family's fault. I will severely punish him and give you a proper explanation."

  Third Uncle Liu had also probed Xia Li's cultivation. Fourth level defeating sixth level Liu Fu—ordinary rogue cultivators couldn't dream of it.

  Though the Liu family wasn't a major clan, they were still far superior to countless rogue cultivators. Liu Fu being defeated by the lower-level Xia Li only proved Xia Li's background was truly unusual.

  At least he wasn't some destitute rogue cultivator.

  "Mm. Then if there's nothing else, please don't waste my time. I have pills to make."

  "Oh? Young friend, you're also an alchemist?"

  Third Uncle Liu immediately looked at Xia Li. He had observed earlier and hadn't noticed anything particularly complex.

  "Barely counts, I suppose. Master says I have great talent. I don't know how great—I'm about to find out."

  "Then how about this: the Liu family will cover your expenses at Myriad Treasures Pavilion today, as compensation."

  "Fine."

  Xia Li nodded directly. Now was the time to act arrogant—otherwise he wouldn't seem like someone with backing.

  Besides...

  He now knew this Second Young Master Liu apparently wasn't favored. Bullying powerless rogue cultivators was one thing, but encountering someone with real ability, the Liu family wouldn't let him court death.

  With Third Uncle Liu's word, the shopkeeper quickly gathered everything Xia Li needed. Xia Li knew he had to start making pills immediately to prove himself.

  "Everyone, make way please!"

  Xia Li carried the pill furnace outside Myriad Treasures Pavilion, set it down, and sat cross-legged, preparing to refine pills on the spot. This startled all the nearby onlookers.

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  Everyone knew alchemists needed a quiet environment free from disturbance. Some even had requirements about earth veins. Yet Xia Li was being so casual.

  Either he was truly skilled, or he was putting on an act and knew nothing about alchemy.

  【Analyze herb components】

  【Generate pill formula, primary effect: accelerate spiritual energy absorption】

  Xia Li took out the herbs from his pouch one by one, pretending to examine them with a professional air of sniffing and probing.

  【Herb primary components satisfy Surge Qi Pill refinement conditions】

  【Current formula completion approximately 64%. Confirm using these materials for the formula?】

  The Heaven Chip quickly completed the formula. However, compared to Earth's version, the resulting pill would only have about 60% effectiveness.

  This left Xia Li unsatisfied. This wouldn't be impressive enough to intimidate those with ulterior motives.

  Now wasn't the time to hide his abilities.

  So Xia Li continued examining herbs.

  "Shopkeeper, please bring out all the tier-one spiritual herbs Myriad Treasures Pavilion has for me to see."

  "Huh? You want to..."

  "My master only gave me half a formula and told me to complete it based on medicinal properties. He said it's a test!"

  "Alright..."

  The shopkeeper immediately directed servants to fetch the herbs.

  Before long, hundreds of tier-one spiritual herbs were brought before Xia Li. His examination speed was fast—almost just a touch and a sniff before moving to the next.

  In less than an hour.

  All tier-one herbs available at Myriad Treasures Pavilion had been examined, and the Heaven Chip had combined them into a completely new formula with 120% effectiveness.

  Twenty percent better than Earth's version!

  Of course, this didn't mean Earth's formulation was inferior. Earth's pills prioritized not just effectiveness but cost-efficiency.

  Following Earth's formula, materials might cost only two spirit stones. But with the Heaven Chip's new formula, achieving that extra twenty percent might require five spirit stones in materials.

  By Earth's standards, this formula was a pure loss.

  But this world was different. Spiritual herbs were relatively cheap here, while finished pills were much more expensive. The alchemist's skill commanded significant premium.

  After selecting the herbs, Xia Li immediately began refining.

  This required no thought on his part—just delegate to the Heaven Chip. He had already downloaded an alchemy technique.

  The technique's data volume was substantial, including extensive pharmaceutical data, occupying three of his technique storage slots.

  Open furnace, ignite fire, add herbs!

  Xia Li's movements were practiced and fluid, performed in one smooth sequence. He didn't look like a first-time alchemist at all—more like an old master who had studied the art for countless years.

  This was the terror of industrialized alchemy.

  Before automatic pill furnaces were invented, Earth's alchemy techniques had perfected every detail. There were no wasted movements.

  The one refining pills wasn't Xia Li.

  It was everyone who had studied the Dao of Pills on Earth over the years. Their souls and wills had been digitized and manifested through Xia Li.

  One incense stick's time later...

  Xia Li opened the furnace. Pill fragrance wafted everywhere.

  Eight pills, white as jade and flawless, flew out from the furnace.

  "Young Friend Xia, may I ask what pill this is?"

  Third Uncle Liu immediately stepped forward, gazing at the white jade pills. Just their appearance was better than any tier-one pills he had ever seen.

  "Surge Qi Pill. Roughly three times the effect of Nourishing Qi Pills, but I've decided to price them at only twice the cost."

  "What? Three times the effect but only twice the price? Young friend, you are truly a blessing to our kind!"

  Third Uncle Liu immediately patted Xia Li's shoulder warmly, then turned to glare fiercely at Liu Fu.

  If the Surge Qi Pill really had such effects, the Liu family would quickly reach a conclusion.

  Kill Liu Fu to appease Xia Li.