The voice in her mind immediately started criticizing, not waiting for her thanks.
"Seven spiritual herbs to make two pills, what a waste! It would be more useful to eat the herbs directly! What kind of trash are you? What kind of nonsense are you learning?"
Jin Baoer silently withdrew her heartfelt gratitude and replied with calm humility.
"Senior speaks wisely."
It was like hitting cotton with a punch! She hadn't expected this little girl to be so composed! The voice suddenly felt bored and lost its desire to respond.
Receiving no reply, Jin Baoer hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Senior, are you still there?"
After waiting for a while, the only response was silence...
However, for every day that followed, whenever she had trouble refining pills, a disdainful and arrogant voice would appear in her mind, directly pointing out her mistakes, causing her alchemy skills to improve by leaps and bounds in just half a month!
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior. I should be leaving here for my next destination. Do you have any place you wish to go?"
Her interactions over this period had given Jin Baoer a general understanding of this mysterious person: arrogant, sharp-tongued, powerful, boastful, and possessing extremely sharp refining methods. Although difficult to get along with, it was a small price to pay for the immense gains she had made.
"As you wish, I have no knowledge of your Immortal Cultivation Continent anyway."
This one sentence revealed two things to Jin Baoer: First, the mysterious person was not from the Immortal Cultivation Continent! They were likely a powerful expert from an outer continent, as rumored! Second, when in a good mood, he would say "you" and "I," but when in a bad mood, he would curse directly!
"Since that's the case, I'll head to Xuanjian Mountain first to find a weapon."
As expected, there was no further reply. Jin Baoer, unfazed, directly opened the door...
She walked into the main hall, only to see a group of people rushing about with anxious and distressed expressions. Upon meeting Li Qingjiu, she learned the reason.
"I don't know who the wretched soul is! A few days ago, they ambushed Dragon Tiger Sect's only fourth-grade alchemist! They're still lying in their room and won't wake up for at least two or three months. The competition is about to start, and now this..."
Jin Baoer looked up.
"Competition? What competition?"
Li Qingjiu, sitting on a chair, had lost all his previous smugness and spoke dejectedly.
"The reason Dragon Tiger Sect ranks among the top in Ziyun City is not only due to our many powerful experts, but also because we excel in both alchemy and talismans. Our alchemists are all recorded by the Alchemy Association, and Elder Hanqing, the leader of our alchemists, is an outstanding figure in the Association. This Alchemy Competition is crucial for Dragon Tiger Sect's reputation, but now..."
Simply put, their most skilled alchemist was injured and unconscious. If they missed the competition, Dragon Tiger Sect might lose the recognition of the Alchemy Association, forcing them to disband their alchemy branch. From then on, they would have to purchase pills from other sects, which would be a considerable expense.
In her past life, Jin Baoer had heard of the Alchemy Association. Although she had no dealings with it, she knew of its prestige. The top ten ranked individuals would be recorded on the Heavenly Pride List, their names spread throughout the entire continent, earning them the admiration of all cultivators!
Legend had it that a genius who ascended as a twelfth-grade alchemist had held the first place for hundreds of years, leaving a lasting legacy for eternity... With that in mind, she had to strive to become an alchemist too, lest she disgrace her master!
"Without that alchemist, aren't there others?"
Li Qingjiu shook his head, his face full of helplessness.
"There are already very few alchemists on the entire continent, and those with exceptional talent are even rarer. Most of them are in major sects. Dragon Tiger Sect is merely a mid-to-upper-tier sect; where can we find them? First and second-grade alchemists are not enough. Third and fourth-grade alchemists are hard to find. Those above fifth grade are practically sect elders. We simply can't find anyone."
Jin Baoer pondered. In that case, she should currently be considered a third-grade alchemist, as she could skillfully produce third-grade Tanning Pills. She hadn't tried fourth-grade ones yet and didn't know if she could.
If Li Qingjiu knew that the person standing before him was a third-grade alchemist, he wouldn't be so dejected. After all, as long as they secured a top-five spot, they could maintain their position. A third-grade alchemist was more than sufficient. It was a pity he hadn't made it clear, and the other person didn't understand the association's rules...
"Oh right, why are you out today?"
Ever since he discovered Jin Baoer was a woman, he had deliberately tried to avoid her. However, she had stayed in her room recuperating and was completely unavailable. After a month of internal struggle, he had gradually let go of their differing genders.
"It's nothing. I've recovered from my injuries and came to thank Sect Leader Li. Since he's busy, I won't disturb you."
Before she could leave, Sect Leader Li walked in with seven or eight people, his brows furrowed, clearly preoccupied.
"Fairy Jin? Have you recovered?"
Jin Baoer nodded, then paused before speaking.
"I heard that Dragon Tiger Sect is holding an alchemy competition, and I would like a spot. I am a disciple of Peak Master Hua of Misty Sect, and I have some involvement in alchemy. However, I haven't been certified by the Alchemy Association yet, so my grade is unclear."
Sect Leader Li was stunned by her words, then looked at her with surprise.
"Peak Master Hua Qing Su of Misty Sect's Hua Feng Peak? That's a fifth-grade alchemist!"
Jin Baoer nodded. She hadn't expected the old man to be quite famous, which made her even more determined to work harder!
For the next half a month, Jin Baoer continued to practice alchemy in her room. After consuming numerous spiritual herbs, she finally became proficient in the production methods, temperature control, and proportions of many pills. The alchemy competition finally began...
To the disappointment of the Dragon Tiger Sect members, they still hadn't found any outstanding alchemists, as if all the third and fourth-grade ones had vanished!
With a spirit of resignation, Sect Leader Li attended the competition venue...
As expected of the renowned Alchemy Association of the Immortal Cultivation Continent, the competition venue was a sea of people, and the arena was extraordinarily large. The clamor was incessant.
"Sect Leader Li! Haha, long time no see!"
The speaker was a middle-aged man with a portly figure, his face filled with schadenfreude.
"You Yitian, I thought you would have learned your lesson after being beaten black and blue last time and behaved yourself. I didn't expect you to still be so flamboyant!"
Li Bai Luo spoke without reservation, his tone arrogant and unrestrained, completely disregarding the gazes of those around him and the embarrassment of Sect Leader You.
Even though he was mentally prepared for today's defeat!
His face darkened as he was publicly humiliated, but realizing he truly couldn't match Li Bai Luo's strength, he kept quiet, intending to gloat later!
This also caused a group of small sects who were eager to watch the drama to avert their gaze. The two sects had been in a fierce rivalry for years, and now that he had an opportunity, he naturally wouldn't miss it.
Perhaps finding no sense of presence from Li Bai Luo, Sect Leader You shifted his gaze to the group of people behind him, eventually fixing his eyes on Jin Baoer! His lecherous gaze roamed back and forth, and he exclaimed in surprise.