Chapter 30: Bestowing upon Him the Surname Ling

Inside the massive alchemy chamber, a scarlet gold cauldron stood at the center, taller than a man. The room was sealed off, reinforced by arrays.

"This cauldron is likely crafted from some rare, refined gold; it is worth a fortune," Lin Hao remarked with admiration.

Beside the cauldron lay a pale yellow sheet, somewhat worn, yet the pill formula was inscribed on a rare material capable of resisting the erosion of time.

"A formula for the Ascension Pill. Excellent. Ling Clan, this is merely the beginning. Next, I will memorize every one of your most precious formulas, and later, I’ll take them out to sell. Heh."

Lin Hao chuckled and, without wasting time, began the alchemy process.

The Supreme Fire moved at his command like a dragon or serpent. He grabbed a portion of the medicinal herbs for the Ascension Pill and tossed them directly into the furnace.

A moment later, a nine-patterned Ascension Pill was freshly forged. Holding it in his hand, Lin Hao gazed at the pill, which looked like a work of art, and nodded in satisfaction.

"An alchemist’s success rate cannot be one hundred percent, but that applies to you, not me."

Lin Hao’s lips curled upward. Without a moment's hesitation, he swallowed the pill.

He had already thoroughly studied the properties of the Ascension Pill. It was precious because it could unconditionally boost a cultivator's level without any side effects or damage to their foundation. This was its greatest advantage and the dream of every cultivator. If it had any flaw, it was that one could only benefit from it once; taking it again would be as useless as eating a supplement.

As the pill settled in his stomach, it transformed into a surging wave of energy, flooding his limbs and bones. His Qi Sea began to churn, and his Supreme Divine Meridians pulsed. In an instant, Lin Hao’s cultivation soared to the peak of the second level of the Qi Sea Realm—a full level higher than before.

Yet, it did not stop there. The lingering potency of the medicine was immense, and ultimately, Lin Hao successfully broke through to the third level of the Qi Sea Realm. Although it was only the initial stage, the result far exceeded his expectations, coming as a pleasant surprise.

"It seems the grade of the pill truly matters. A nine-patterned Ascension Pill can actually boost one by two levels," Lin Hao mused, sensing the immense value of the pill.

He checked his cultivation: his True Qi was thick, his vitality surged like a dragon, and his foundation remained incredibly solid, with none of the usual drawbacks associated with pill-assisted advancement.

"Origin Stones. Every time I advance, I require vast amounts of energy. This breakthrough consumed ten low-grade Origin Stones. As my cultivation rises, this consumption will become absurd. By the time I reach the Origin Transformation Realm, when True Qi converts to Origin Power, the energy demand will be unimaginable. I must prepare in advance and stockpile Origin Stones."

Ever since entering the Qi Sea Realm, Lin Hao had realized a grim reality: his Supreme Body was a bottomless pit. The cost of his growth was terrifying. Fortunately, he now held the identity of a nine-patterned alchemist, so he shouldn't have to worry too much about Origin Stones in the future.

That night, Lin Hao barely paused, remaining immersed in the process of alchemy. By morning, he looked at the ninety-nine nine-patterned Ascension Pills displayed before him, his lips curling slightly.

"My control over the Supreme Fire is becoming more proficient, and my focus during alchemy far exceeds others, which has greatly benefited my overall spirit and vigor," he thought.

He pocketed fifty of the pills, leaving the remaining forty-nine as the quota for the Lingyun Pavilion.

When Lin Hao pushed open the door, Ling Zhen was the first to greet him. The old man had kept watch all night, yet he appeared energetic, showing no signs of fatigue.

"Master Tianbao, have you finished?" Ling Zhen asked with a smile.

Lin Hao casually tossed a storage bag into Ling Zhen’s arms. "Fifty pills. I ate one, so there are forty-nine left. See for yourself, Elder Ling."

Ling Zhen trembled, his hands shaking as he peered into the storage bag. Indeed, there were forty-nine nine-patterned Ascension Pills—not a single one missing.

"My heavens!" Ling Zhen’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He found it inconceivable. To be honest, when Lin Hao entered the room the day before, Ling Zhen had suspected he was boasting. As an alchemist himself, he didn't believe anyone could produce fifty nine-patterned pills in a single night.

But now, with the pills before his eyes, he had no choice but to believe. What frightened him even more was that this young Master Tianbao appeared completely refreshed, showing no hint of exhaustion after a night of labor.

"Heaven-defying. He is not human," Ling Zhen muttered, feeling an unprecedented sense of defeat. Being of the same profession, the gap between them was agonizingly vast. He was now thoroughly humbled, finally understanding the true meaning of talent: a natural-born alchemy saint, destined for the craft. If heaven had not sent Master Tianbao, who else could have illuminated the dark path of alchemy?

"Master Tianbao, your cultivation..." Ling Zhen suddenly noticed that Lin Hao had reached the third level of the Qi Sea Realm.

"Yes, the effect of the nine-patterned pill is far superior to the eight-patterned. After taking it, I advanced two levels," Lin Hao explained.

"Truly worthy of a nine-patterned pill. The Lingyun Pavilion has already prepared a place for you to rest," Ling Zhen said.

"Understood. And my master?" Lin Hao asked.

"Brother Ren insisted on returning to the Alchemy Pavilion. He left last night. Do not worry, Master; Brother Ren is now a senior guest of the pavilion and will not suffer any grievances there," Ling Zhen replied.

Lin Hao frowned slightly. Ren Baichuan had left the Lingyun Pavilion, but after a moment of thought, he understood why. This was the Ling Clan’s territory, and Ren Baichuan felt ill at ease. Being an older man lacking composure, he likely feared that staying would lead to a slip-up that might arouse the Ling Clan’s suspicions, potentially causing harm to them both. For Lin Hao, it was a good thing; it allowed him to act without restraint.

Lin Hao returned to his quarters to plan his next moves. Meanwhile, Ling Zhen found Ling Wu to show him the pills.

"He really refined so many nine-patterned pills in a single night?" Ling Wu stood up abruptly, his shock upon seeing the pills no less than Ling Zhen’s.

"Not only that, but Master Tianbao’s cultivation also rose by two levels," Ling Zhen added.

"This is the difference between eight-patterned and nine-patterned pills. If this batch is announced, the entire alchemy world will be shaken. Our pill business will be unprecedented," Ling Wu said, his eyes glowing with excitement.

"This must be reported to the clan immediately," Ling Zhen said.

"Agreed. I am going now. You have rendered a great service; prepare for a significant rise in status," Ling Wu said excitedly. "I will apply to the clan to release those precious, guarded formulas so that Master Tianbao can participate in their refinement."

"Thank you, Manager, for your cultivation," Ling Zhen said, his beard trembling with joy.

"However, Manager Wu, those formulas are our clan's closely guarded secrets. Master Tianbao is an outsider, after all. If we show them to him directly, might it be..." Ling Zhen worried.

"An outsider? Then we shall groom him to be one of our own. I will request that he be brought into the Ling Clan. If possible, I will grant him the Ling surname, making him truly one of us. All the resources of the Ling Clan shall be opened to him," Ling Wu declared.