### Chapter 11: Reaching Qi Refining Level Five
Ye Jingyong spoke with great excitement, while Ye Jingyu only smiled faintly, creating a clear contrast between the two.
Ye Jingcheng, upon hearing this, felt a bit dizzy. He hadn't expected that not only did he not need to worry, but the family seemed to value him even more. This aligned with his own suspicions. He estimated that if the Scarlet Flame Fox performed even better, he might uncover more of the Ye family's secrets!
With this thought, his curiosity deepened. He continued to refill the teacups for Ye Jingyu and Ye Jingyong.
Seemingly noticing Ye Jingcheng's confusion, Ye Jingyu spoke up:
"Jingcheng, focus on improving your cultivation and nurturing your spirit beasts. Along with your alchemy skills, your future will be limitless!"
"However, you must understand, the family's finances have always been a significant issue. Right now, raising two spirit beasts is something you'll largely have to handle on your own!"
Ye Jingyu emphasized the words "spirit beasts" as he spoke. Ye Jingyong nodded in agreement and added:
"Jingcheng, once you reach the level of a first-tier middle-grade alchemist, along with the Scarlet Flame Fox, it might be best for you to manage the Ye family shop in the Taihang Market. After all, hunting beasts in the Taihang Mountains always carries some risk!"
"Thank you, Fourth Brother, Second Brother, for your advice. I will seriously consider it!" Ye Jingcheng nodded in agreement. He had been thinking along these lines as well. However, when it came to the family's finances, he couldn't help but feel something was off. The Ye family's wealth-gathering methods were no less than other families, yet to the outside world, the Ye family was always perceived as poor!
He also had a suspicion: Could the family's poverty be due to the expense of raising high-level spirit beasts?
Once this idea surfaced, it became hard to dismiss. After all, the current head of the Ye family's spirit beast was a second-tier Blue-eyed Hanging Eyed Tiger, which consumed vast amounts of spirit food and spirit grains daily.
And this was just what Ye Jingcheng knew of.
However, what pleased him most was that he could now study a new pill recipe for free without having to pay contribution points. Learning a new recipe required a considerable amount of contribution points, which was no small number.
Of course, trial and error in crafting a new recipe would surely come with significant costs.
In an instant, the family token in his hand didn't seem as hot as before.
After drinking a few cups of spirit tea, Ye Jingyu and Ye Jingyong bid their farewell. Apart from giving Ye Jingcheng contribution points, they also had to send contribution points to Jingli.
Once the two had left, Ye Jingcheng returned to his cultivation. After returning from the Taihang Mountains and finally seizing a crucial opportunity, he knew he had to make the most of it.
He took out a fist-sized pill bottle from his storage bag, inside which was a single pill.
[translator: sauron]
This pill was called the Green Spirit Pill, suitable for mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators to enhance their cultivation. One pill alone cost ten spirit stones, something he usually couldn't bear to use.
Now that he was at a critical breakthrough point, it was also beneficial for him to fine-tune his fire control and improve his alchemy skills. He wouldn't hesitate.
As the Green Spirit Pill went down, a thick surge of spiritual energy spread within him, heading straight for his Qi Sea. Ye Jingcheng didn't dare relax for a moment and immediately started circulating the Lihuo Technique.
With each ripple, the room quickly quieted down.
Ye Jingcheng became deeply immersed in cultivation, while the Scarlet Flame Fox lay at the doorway, and the Jade Ring Mouse occasionally darted out of the room.
In cultivation, time passed unnoticed, and ten days flew by in the blink of an eye.
Suddenly, Ye Jingcheng's body emitted a red glow, followed by a faint ripple of spiritual energy that gently spread out!
The Scarlet Flame Fox, which had been lying there, jumped up, its eyes wide open in surprise.
Ye Jingcheng also opened his eyes, waking from his cultivation.
"Finally, I've reached the fifth level of Qi Refining!" Ye Jingcheng thought, feeling a wave of emotion after having been stuck at the fourth level of Qi Refining for four years.
At the same time, a sense of joy welled up within him.
He picked up the Scarlet Flame Fox and infused it with a significant amount of spiritual energy.
As the spiritual energy flowed in, the Scarlet Flame Fox's fur became even more vibrant and fiery. At that moment, Ye Jingcheng even had the illusion that its fur was alive, like flames dancing.
The Scarlet Flame Fox began to chirp, gently patting Ye Jingcheng with its large tail.
Its sky-blue eyes stared at him, and its tongue moved instinctively.
Hungry again!
Ye Jingcheng took out a portion of the meat from the Qingyun Wolf and a large bowl of spring water.
The Long-Eared Deer meat was too valuable, so the four of them hadn't kept any, leaving only the first-tier Qingyun Wolf meat.
After feeding the Scarlet Flame Fox until it was full, Ye Jingcheng cleaned up the room, making sure it remained spotless and fresh before stepping out of the courtyard.
He headed towards the Treasure Pavilion.
The Ye family's Treasure Pavilion had three floors. The first floor was for exchanging spirit stones and various spirit materials, while the second floor housed the family's collection of manuals and texts.
Typically, a Ye family cultivator could enter the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion three times for free in their lifetime: once when they first began their cultivation journey to select a manual, the second time upon reaching the seventh level of Qi Refining to either change techniques or obtain the second half of their technique, and the third time upon reaching the Foundation Establishment stage.
Of course, each of these free opportunities had different levels of access, especially the first time, which offered very limited choices.
Beyond the free opportunities, one had to spend contribution points to acquire various spells and pill recipes, such as Fireball Technique, Wood Vine Technique, or Flowing Sand Technique. These basic spells each required at least ten contribution points.
Ye Jingcheng walked through the winding stone paths, and soon the Treasure Pavilion came into view. The pavilion's gate was open, and Ye Jingcheng could see Ye Haiping inside, seemingly absorbed in studying something.
Ye Jingcheng didn't speak, standing quietly instead.
After a few moments, Ye Haiping noticed him.
"Jingcheng, why are you standing there? Come in!"
"Eighth Grandfather, I didn't want to disturb you while you were organizing the records." Ye Jingcheng responded.
"You're not disturbing me. You've had a breakthrough?" Ye Haiping shook his head and then scrutinized Ye Jingcheng, his expression turning to mild surprise.
"Yes, this grandson is of dull aptitude, only now making the breakthrough. I must have made you laugh!"
"Why would I laugh? For someone with four spirit roots to reach the fifth level of Qi Refining at your age is quite an achievement!" Ye Haiping interrupted.
"You're here to select a pill recipe, correct?"
"Yes!" Ye Jingcheng nodded.
Ye Haiping nodded back and led Ye Jingcheng to the second floor without saying more.
The room on the second floor was smaller than the one below, lined with numerous bookshelves, some holding ancient books, but most containing jade slips.
After passing by two shelves filled with ancient books and one with jade slips, Ye Haiping finally stopped:
"Jingcheng, there are a total of seven first-tier middle-grade pill recipes here. You can choose freely!"
Ye Jingcheng nodded and began looking at the jade slips. The first one was the Green Spirit Pill, the very pill he had just consumed.
Other options included the Body Tempering Pill, the Green Yuan Pill, and the Qi and Blood Pill, among others...
Seeing these choices, Ye Jingcheng hesitated. He naturally wanted the Green Spirit Pill, as it was the most valuable, selling for ten spirit stones each. If he could produce three or four pills per batch, the profits would be substantial.
However, the Green Spirit Pill was also the most difficult to craft.
Moreover, for raising spirit beasts, the Spirit Nourishing Pill was a balanced option that supported overall cultivation and vitality. But if he truly wanted to enhance the power of his spirit beasts, the Body Tempering Pill would be indispensable.
(Chapter End)