Lu Ping knew that the Li Family had guessed his identity as an alchemist. In the three months since Lu Ping entered the three families' cities, he didn't try to hide his tracks. That day at the mortal's market, Lu Ping found a thousand-year-old spiritual herb and exchanged it for a Blood Condensing Pill. This news caused quite a stir among the rogue cultivators. In addition, Lu Ping frequently visited the shops selling spiritual herbs and bought 500-year-old spiritual herbs without restraint. This further confirmed Lu Ping's identity as an alchemist.
Lu Ping called Xiao Sima over and asked him about what happened on the three families' islands. From Xiao Sima, he found out that a group of cultivators wearing bright silver robes had arrived at the three families' cities and were warmly received by the Wang Family's Patriarch.
When Lu Ping heard this news, he squinted his eyes. No one knew what he was thinking. Then, Xiao Sima felt that the Lu Ping beside him had suddenly changed. As for what changed, Xiao Sima couldn't tell. He only felt that Lu Ping seemed to have become more powerful.
Lu Ping used the Spirit Concealment Technique to raise his cultivation from the Sixth Layer to the Seventh Layer. Then, under Xiao Sima's guidance, they walked towards the Li Family's residence.
The Li Family's Patriarch, Li Maolin, personally came out to welcome Lu Ping. After all, the other party was a Core Forging cultivator. Even if Lu Ping was an alchemist, it wasn't worth it for a Core Forging cultivator to personally welcome him.
Lu Ping hurriedly saluted. "Junior Lu Jiu. How could I dare to trouble Senior Li to personally welcome me?"
Li Maolin brought Lu Ping to the living room and pointed to the two people already waiting in the hall. "This is my daughter, Li Xiuzhu. I believe Lu Xiaoyou already knows the other one."
Lu Ping had seen this Li Family's young miss when he first arrived at the Three Family City, but he pretended to be meeting her for the first time. On the other hand, the Li Family Inn's Head Shopkeeper Li looked a little flustered, but when he saw Lu Ping, especially when he noticed that Lu Ping was at the Seventh Layer of the Blood Condensation Realm, he heaved a sigh of relief, as if a burden had been lifted from his heart.
Seeing this, Li Maolin smiled but didn't say anything. He ordered for the tea to be served and after dismissing the servants, he said, "Lu Xiaoyou is an Alchemist, right?"
Lu Ping didn't expect the Patriarch to be so straightforward, so he replied bluntly, "That's right!"
Seeing that Lu Ping didn't deny it, Li Maolin wasn't surprised. Instead, he said, "It's a bit rude to invite Lu Xiaoyou this time, but my daughter is about to break through to the Core Forging stage. I hope you can help my daughter refine a pill that can help her condense her Core."
Lu Ping picked up the bowl of tea on the table, took a sip, and said, "Senior Li must be joking. According to this Junior's knowledge, all pills that can help condense a Core are half-step Core Forging stage pills. This Junior is just an ordinary Alchemist, so there's nothing I can do. Senior, please find someone else. I believe that with the Li Family's strength, it's not impossible to invite an Alchemy Grandmaster."
Lu Ping's refusal wasn't out of Li Maolin's expectations. Instead, he said, "I won't hide it from little friend. Little friend's situation in the three family cities is not only known to my Li Family, but also to the other two families. Little friend not only collected five hundred year old spirit grasses, but also bought a few thousand year old spirit grasses from the shops in the three family cities at a high price. Especially when little friend bought the unknown thousand year old spirit grasses from Rogue Cultivator Li Erqiang, you said it would be of great use to little friend. If little friend didn't have the confidence to refine a half-step Core Forging stage pill, how could you do this?"
Lu Ping knew that his identity as an Alchemist had long been discovered, but he didn't think that on the day he bought the three spirit grasses from Li Erqiang, his excited words would cause the Li Family's Patriarch to guess so much. He couldn't help but smile bitterly.
Li Maolin saw that Lu Ping didn't speak, so he said, "I ask little friend to lend a hand to my daughter. My Li Family will reward you handsomely!"
Lu Ping knew that a Core Forging stage cultivator had already given him enough face. If he continued to decline, he would offend the Li Family. The three family cities were the Li Family's territory. If that happened, whether or not he would be able to leave this place would be a problem.
Lu Ping smiled bitterly and said, "I'm very curious. With the Li Family's strength, it is entirely possible to invite an Alchemy Grandmaster, or even an Alchemist who has reached the Core Forging stage. After all, with Divine Sense, the success rate of refining a half-step Core Forging stage pill will increase by a lot."
Li Maolin saw that Lu Ping didn't refuse, and his expression relaxed. Even Li Xiuzhu and the shopkeeper beside him had a happy expression on their faces.
Hearing Lu Ping's words, Li Maolin smiled bitterly and said, "I ask little friend to forgive me. My daughter has her own difficulties. She can't wait that long, and I can't invite an Alchemy Grandmaster to help."
Lu Ping nodded and didn't pursue the matter. Instead, he said, "Although this junior was lucky enough to refine a half-step Core Forging pill, due to the limitations of my skill, the success rate is extremely low. I'm afraid that Senior will have to prepare more spiritual herbs."
Li Maolin nodded and said, "Of course. The family has already prepared three sets of spiritual herbs. As long as little friend can refine two pills, it will be fine. Even if little friend fails, my Li Family will not make things difficult for little friend."
After sending off Lu Ping, the shopkeeper cautiously stepped forward and asked, "Big Brother, isn't this a bit too hasty? After all, the other party is only a Blood Condensation stage cultivator. I'm afraid it will be extremely difficult for him to refine a half-step Core Forging pill."
Li Maolin didn't answer the shopkeeper's question. Instead, he turned to the young lady beside him and asked, "Zhu Er, what do you think?"
Hearing this, Miss Li said, "There's not enough time. No matter what, we have to gamble."
Li Maolin sighed and said, "Yes, the Zhang Family has always been the most powerful family in Sanjia City. The Wang Family and the Li Family have always worked together to keep them in check. I didn't expect the Wang Family to have dealings with the Crystal Palace. This really caught my Li Family off guard."
Miss Li said in a low voice, "It's my daughter's fault for causing trouble for the family. If I wasn't on Ma Family Island …"
Li Maolin raised his hand and stopped Miss Li from speaking. He said, "This matter isn't your fault. If it wasn't for this, our Li Family wouldn't have known that the Wang Family has already sided with the Crystal Palace. This can be considered a blessing in disguise. Moreover, the Wang Family has sided with the Crystal Palace. The Zhang Family should be more anxious than us."
Li Maolin paused and turned to look at Shopkeeper Li. He said, "If you spent more time on cultivation, you would have reached the late stage of the Blood Condensation Realm by now. Do you think our Li Family still needs a few hundred spirit stones?"
Shopkeeper Li smiled bitterly. "Big Brother, I know my own strength. Reaching the mid stage of the Blood Condensation Realm is already my limit. I never expected to advance to the Core Forging Realm. The only thing I have left is to earn spirit stones."
Li Maolin waved his hand. He knew that this brother of his was mischievous, so he didn't want to argue with him anymore. Instead, he ordered, "Try to collect as many herbs as possible to prevent this person from failing three times. One month from now, the Sanjia Island's underground trade fair will be held. At that time, we must exchange all the herbs we have. Don't be stingy with spirit stones. We can always earn more spirit stones. As long as our Li Family has another Core Forging Realm cultivator, the situation on Sanjia Island will be stable for a while."
Miss Li saw that her father was tired and said worriedly, "Father, should we inform the ancestor …"
"Nonsense!" Li Maolin shouted. Then, he lowered his voice and said solemnly, "Don't mention this again. Remember, our Li Family is our Li Family. There has never been any ancestor. If this matter is spread, our Li Family will be annihilated. If we delay it … we won't be able to atone for our sins even if we die ten thousand times!"
Shopkeeper Li and Miss Li didn't dare to say anything. Li Maolin thought for a moment and said, "You can invite Lu Jiu to the auction. He is a pill refiner, so his standards are higher than yours. Consider it our Li Family will give him some face."
At this time, Lu Ping had already returned to his cave abode. He was holding a jade slip in his hand. "Seven Step Mark Pill. This is a top-grade pill that can increase the success rate of pill condensation."
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