Zhang Ying stood in place, momentarily stunned.
She had felt a similar aura when her father broke through to the Core Formation stage years ago. How was it possible she was sensing it now from a cultivator who had just entered the Qi Gathering stage?
At the same time, Lin Chen, inside the Nine Dragon Ring, slowly rose from his seclusion.
Ten days in the outside world equated to a month within the Nine Dragon Ring. His Quanjing Dan was finally refined!
However, as soon as he stood up, he realized that the restriction he had set up outside the valley had been triggered!
Someone had intruded!
With this thought, Lin Chen dared not delay and quickly withdrew his spiritual consciousness from the Nine Dragon Ring.
As expected, the moment he emerged, he saw Zhou Tianguo and the Second Elder, whom he had met before, rushing in.
"Lin Chen, what was that just now?"
Zhou Tianguo had also sensed that aura, but due to the isolation of the cave's restriction, the aura he perceived was very faint.
Out of caution, he had brought the Second Elder to investigate.
"Great Elder, good news, look!"
Lin Chen knew he couldn't hide it, so he spread his palm, revealing several first-grade Spirit Gathering Pills.
"These are, first-grade Spirit Gathering Pills?"
Upon seeing the pills in Lin Chen's hand, Zhou Tianguo's eyes widened, his expression filled with disbelief.
Good heavens, he knew he had sensed a strong spiritual energy fluctuation, and it turned out Lin Chen had actually refined Spirit Gathering Pills!
"That's right, Great Elder. I spent a month researching and finally refined them."
Lin Chen nodded, deliberately putting on an air of smug satisfaction.
"Excellent, excellent! Lin Chen, you are truly a genius!"
Hearing Lin Chen's words, Zhou Tianguo couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
In just one month, he had refined a first-grade Blood Replenishing Pill, and now he had refined a first-grade Spirit Gathering Pill. Lin Chen was indeed a genius destined to be an alchemist. It seemed he had struck gold this time!
As long as this young man broke through to the fifth level of the Qi Gathering stage, he would definitely become a second-grade alchemist!
At that time, even he, a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment stage, could use the pills he refined!
"Thank you for your praise, Great Elder. However, I only plan to hand over ten of these pills to the sect's treasury. The rest, I wish to use to break through my cultivation."
"This way, I can attempt to refine other pills."
"Although I am currently a first-grade alchemist, I need at least the third level of the Qi Gathering stage to refine a first-grade Qi Replenishing Pill."
Lin Chen explained his intentions to Zhou Tianguo one by one.
"Excellent, excellent, you may. I agree!"
Upon learning that Lin Chen intended to refine first-grade Qi Replenishing Pills, a hint of joy appeared on Zhou Tianguo's face.
Qi Replenishing Pills were unique among medicinal pills. Upon consumption, they could restore spiritual energy in the body in a very short time.
This was an invaluable treasure for monks in combat!
Even a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment stage like himself would find first-grade Qi Replenishing Pills significantly effective.
"During this period, I request that the Great Elder issue an order that no one is to disturb me. If I am disturbed, I might suffer a qi deviation."
Lin Chen then stated his other request.
He had just refined the Quanjing Dan, and his next step was to use it to enter seclusion and break through to the Core Formation stage.
At such a crucial juncture, he absolutely could not be disturbed by anyone.
"Alright, I agree. As long as you do not emerge from seclusion or summon me with the jade pendant, I will absolutely not allow anyone to disturb your closed-door cultivation."
Hearing Lin Chen's words, Zhou Tianguo agreed without hesitation.
There was no other way; Qi Replenishing Pills were too important!
Even the alchemists of the Liu family, the foremost immortal cultivation family in Zhejiang province, could not refine Qi Replenishing Pills!
If Lin Chen could refine them, then the Ghost God Sect would truly rise to prominence.
"Let's go, we're all leaving. No one is allowed to disturb Elder Lin. Those who disobey will be sliced into a thousand pieces!"
With that, Zhou Tianguo, holding the ten Spirit Gathering Pills Lin Chen had given him, retreated from the cave.
After Zhou Tianguo left, Lin Chen, being cautious, went to Zhang Ying again: "I am about to enter seclusion, but I am worried someone might force their way in. I'd like to ask you to reinforce the cave's formation."
"Upon completion, twenty Blood Replenishing Pills will be your reward."
Lin Chen then spread his palm, and twenty first-grade Blood Replenishing Pills appeared in his hand.
"How could you possibly have so many pills?"
Seeing the pills in Lin Chen's hand, Zhang Ying was dumbfounded.
Good heavens, even when her father was alive, she had never seen so many pills!
"Alright, just tell me if you'll help or not."
Lin Chen was in a hurry to improve his cultivation and couldn't explain further, so he pressed her.
"Okay, I'll help you! But you have to unlock the shackles on my feet, otherwise, I won't be able to set up the formation."
"Also, while I'm setting up the formation, you must not recite the incantation for the Soul Locking Nail, otherwise, I would rather die than live, and I won't help you!"
Zhang Ying looked at the Blood Replenishing Pills in Lin Chen's hand and stated her conditions.
"Alright, it's a deal!"
Lin Chen nodded and agreed immediately.
She was his senior sister, the only daughter of his master. How could he possibly harm her?
Moreover, if his master knew his daughter was alive, wouldn't he take him in as a son-in-law?
With this thought, Lin Chen subconsciously glanced at Zhang Ying's figure and appearance. Yes, she was a stunner!
"What are you doing?"
Zhang Ying keenly sensed Lin Chen's lewd gaze just now and became vigilant.
"Ahem, nothing. You can start setting up the formation now."
Lin Chen awkwardly rubbed his nose, stepped forward to unlock her shackles, and then stood far away.
After calming herself down, Zhang Ying cast a spell and reinforced the formation within the cave.
"Alright, the pills."
Having finished, Zhang Ying extended her hand.
Lin Chen was not polite. He handed over the Blood Replenishing Pills directly and turned to leave.
He truly couldn't bear to see Zhang Ying suffer, but he also knew that only by breaking through to the Core Formation stage could he find a way to break the Soul Locking Nail!
"Hey, you..."
Seeing Lin Chen turn to leave, Zhang Ying felt a surge of frustration.
She had originally intended to try and use a beauty trap, but this person didn't even acknowledge her!
Could it be that she, the most beautiful woman in the Zhejiang immortal cultivation world, was a fake?
"No, he must be impotent, or perhaps a eunuch!"
Zhang Ying disparaged Lin Chen in her heart with indignation. After consuming a Blood Replenishing Pill, she also sat down to cultivate.
Although she knew that with the Soul Locking Nail binding her, she might never be able to break through her realm in her lifetime, she couldn't give up hope.
Meanwhile, inside the Nine Dragon Ring, Lin Chen did not hesitate. He swallowed the Quanjing Dan and began his secluded cultivation.
He was determined to break through to the Core Formation stage this time!