Seeing the shock on Zheng Hai's face, Han Yi secretly relished his triumph.
"R-really? Is that true?" Zheng Hai pressed, his voice trembling.
Han Yi nodded. "Of course it's true. Even Senior Brother Guan Di acknowledged my exceptional Pill Refinement skills."
"Besides, breaking through in Pill Refinement was the only way I could pass the Sect Return Assessment. How else would I have managed?"
After repeated assurances from Han Yi, Zheng Hai reluctantly believed him.
"Han Yi, you're... you're too incredible!" Zheng Hai exclaimed. "It's only been a year since we last saw each other, but you seem like a completely different person."
The speaker meant nothing by it, but Han Yi's heart skipped a beat. His smug satisfaction faltered.
This was the Cultivation World, after all. What if someone noticed the drastic change in him over the past year and became interested? Worse, what if that person was a Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivator or even a Foundation Establishment expert? That would spell serious trouble.
No good.
For the next few years, he needed to maintain a low profile and stay hidden, avoiding any ostentatious displays.
Han Yi was nothing if not cautious. He was now deeply grateful that he hadn't impulsively agreed to Vice Peak Lord Shen Yu of Little Azure Cloud Peak's offer, or Guan Di's suggestion to move to another Outer Peak and expose himself to more prying eyes. That would be like putting himself under a magnifying glass, making it far too easy for his secret to be discovered.
"By the way, where have you been lately? I went to Little Boulder Peak to find you, but no one answered," Zheng Hai asked.
Zheng Hai shook his head. "I had some urgent business to take care of. Let's not dwell on that. You're back now—let's grab a few drinks."
Han Yi's mouth twitched. He wanted to suggest taking Zheng Hai to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion for a celebratory feast, but then he remembered he didn't have a single Spirit Stone left, only the Medicinal Pills he had just refined.
"Don't worry, it's on me," Zheng Hai said, puffing out his chest when he noticed Han Yi's hesitation.
Earlier, Han Yi had put on a show of generosity; now it was Zheng Hai's turn. Subconsciously, Zheng Hai still saw Han Yi as a friend struggling financially, so naturally, he insisted on paying.
Han Yi didn't refuse. He figured he could sell the pills, refine more, and sell those too. Once he earned some Spirit Stones, he'd return the favor.
There was no need for such formality between them.
The Profound Pill Sect had over a hundred Outer Peaks, each housing hundreds of disciples at a minimum, with some boasting as many as three thousand.
In essence, each peak functioned as a small society.
Consequently, nearly every peak had its own tavern, varying in size. Little Spirit Void Peak, for example, was home to the Little Spirit Void Pavilion.
After spending thirty Spirit Sand, they bought two small wooden barrels of spirit fruit wine and began drinking at the Little Spirit Void Pavilion.
Han Yi recalled from his predecessor's memories that the two of them gathered here almost every year.
As they drank, Zheng Hai did most of the talking, sharing anecdotes about the Profound Pill Sect. He mentioned which senior brother had advanced to the seventh layer of Qi Refining, which inner sect disciple had achieved Immortal Foundation Establishment, and which senior brother had found a beautiful Dao Companion only to have his cultivation realm decline instead of advance—proving that women were indeed a source of trouble.
"By the way, Han Yi, you've been off the mountain for a year. Anything interesting happen? Tell me about it."
"Nothing much," Han Yi replied. "What kind of interesting things could I possibly find? Just Pill Refinement and cultivation—incredibly tedious. I barely spent two or three days outside the sect. Otherwise, how do you think I advanced so quickly? This progress is all thanks to diligent practice."
"I figured as much," Zheng Hai chuckled.
The spirit fruit wine at the Little Spirit Void Pavilion was only moderately effective. Even when they were both at the second layer of Qi Refining, they could afford it. Its low price reflected its modest quality: while it contained Spirit Qi, very little could actually be absorbed.
After finishing their drinks, they parted ways.
Han Yi first headed to Vermilion Bird Peak to exchange his Medicinal Pills for Sect Points.
Han Yi exchanged nine bottles of Evil-Repelling Pills—seven from his recent refinement and two leftover from his previous batch. He had originally had three bottles left over, but he had used one during his breakthrough to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.
He also exchanged twenty bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills.
In total, he received 3,500 Sect Points.
At the Sect's exchange rate of ten Sect Points per Spirit Stone, this amounted to 350 Spirit Stones.
Senior Brother Ma Yu, whom Han Yi had met during his Sect Return Assessment, was on duty at the Vermilion Bird Hall.
"Junior Brother Han, you've struck it rich!" Ma Yu exclaimed. "I've been saving for years, and my assets only total 1,000 Spirit Stones. Your haul is worth nearly a third of my entire net worth!"
"I envy you," Ma Yu sighed.
Han Yi replied modestly, "To be honest, Senior Brother Ma, these pills are the result of over a year of hard work and savings. Otherwise, how could I possibly have accumulated so many?"
"Who knows when the next batch of pills will be ready—maybe in the year of the monkey!"
Ma Yu nodded in understanding. This made sense. If Han Yi could casually refine such a large quantity of high-quality pills in just two months, it would be truly miraculous.
After Han Yi exchanged all his Sect Points for 200 Spirit Stones and pill refinement materials and exited the Management Hall, his brow suddenly furrowed.
I can't come here again for a while.
"Next time, I'll have to go to the market on the Outer Peak."
Within the Profound Pill Sect, the official trading platform was the Management Hall, which used Sect Points as an intermediary currency.
There was also a semi-official trading platform: the market.
Across the hundred-plus Outer Peaks, eighteen markets had been established. These markets were backed by high-ranking members of the Sect, including Foundation Establishment Stage and even Golden Core Stage Great Cultivators.
These markets resembled the Lei Family Market in Mengshan City, but they were fairer, and robberies were rare. Maintaining order was a strict red line within the Sect, as stability was the foundation of its rule.
Han Yi's decision stemmed from his recent conversation with Ma Yu.
His astonishing success rate in pill refinement meant he could supply an endless stream of Medicinal Pills.
Using the Sect's Management Hall for transactions would leave a record. Anyone curious enough to investigate—like Ma Yu, who had already noticed his frequent visits—could easily deduce Han Yi's extraordinary pill refinement capabilities.
Such exposure would inevitably lead to trouble.
Han Yi hated trouble above all else.
Visiting the Sect's semi-official market offered lower prices, but more importantly, it left no record, ensuring greater discretion and security. This was Han Yi's plan.
"It's also time to acquire a few more pill formulas," he mused. "The Qi Nourishing Pill and Evil-Repelling Pill are too basic. Next time I visit the market, I'll look for higher-grade formulas to purchase."
"Besides pill formulas, spells are also sold in the market. I should keep an eye out for those too."
Han Yi's internal plans unfolded one after another, each meticulously arranged. He relished this feeling of complete control.
As he returned to Little Spirit Void Peak, his mind buzzing with these thoughts, he noticed two female cultivators standing at the entrance. From a distance, he didn't recognize them. In truth, Han Yi didn't know a single female cultivator in the entire Profound Pill Sect.
Approaching closer, one of the women clasped her hands in greeting and asked, "Excuse me, are you Junior Brother Han?"
Her voice was ethereal, gentle, and utterly captivating.
Han Yi nodded instinctively, studying her intently.
The two female cultivators at the entrance wore identical gray robes of Outer Sect Disciples.
The one who spoke first had a gentle smile. She stood around 1.7 meters tall, with soft, beautiful features, sparkling eyes, and long hair cascading over her shoulders, accentuating her graceful figure beneath the gray robe. Judging by her appearance and voice, Han Yi estimated her to be three or four years older than himself.
Her companion had a more voluptuous figure, with prominent curves, but her appearance was relatively ordinary, and her expression was utterly devoid of warmth, even bordering on cold.
"Senior Sisters, may I ask who you are?" Han Yi returned the polite bow.
"Greetings, Junior Brother Han. I am Chu Jinmo, and this is my junior sister, Yan Ru," Chu Jinmo introduced herself, her voice ethereal. "We are from Little Sea-Viewing Peak."
"Little Sea-Viewing Peak?" Han Yi frowned. "What brings you here?"
He knew of Little Sea-Viewing Peak—one of the Outer Peaks with the highest concentration of female cultivators. While both women were certainly pleasing to the eye, one with her melodious voice and striking beauty, the other with her eye-catching figure, he couldn't fathom what connection they could possibly have with him.