As he made his way toward the on training grounds, where many disciples gathered, he kept his ears open. The sect was always shifting—rules could ge, rivalries could form, and new challenges could appear. If something important was happening, his friends would know.

  Spotting a few familiar faear the well, Adrian approached with a casual nod.

  "How's everything been? Anything neening in the sect?" he asked, keeping his tone light.

  If there was any news worth knowing, he would find out soon enough.

  Adrian approached the group, casually blending into their versation before speaking. "How's everything? Anything neening in the sect?"

  Jiang Hao smirked, crossing his arms. "You really don't pay attention, do you? Always off in your own world. Don't you know?"

  Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Know what?"

  Liu Feng cpped a hand on his shoulder. "The first person to finally sense Qi has appeared."

  Adrian's expression remained ral, but he was mildly surprised. Only now? He had assumed someone would have se earlier, yet it had taken nearly a month.

  Wei Ren houghtfully. "I heard the elder whht us here immediately took him away."

  Jiang Hao scoffed. "Yeah, to give him better resources, obviously. First oo succeed, first oo be rewarded."

  A disciple nearby sighed wistfully. "So lucky. If I had known the first to sense Qi would get special treatment, I would've pushed myself harder."

  Adrian listened without reag much, simply abs the information. So the sect truly valued the first breakthrough. He didn't devalue the achievement, nor did he let it affect him. If anything, it gave him a better uanding of how talent was treated here.

  After a bit more casual discussion, asking around for anything else hy, he found nothing particurly important. Deg he had gathered enough for now, Adrian made his way away from the training grounds.

  Instead of heading straight back to his courtyard, he turned his gaze toward the heart of the sect.

  It was time to see more of this pce for himself.

  As Adrian walked through the sect, his eyes nded on a rge wooden board he main path. It was old but well-maintained, with clear carvings outlining the different areas of the sect.

  At the top, the title read:

  — Sect Grounds Overview —

  His gaze traced the yout. The sect was divided into three maiions:

  Outer Courtyard – where new disciples, including himself, resided.

  Inner Courtyard – for more experienced disciples who had proven themselves.

  Core Courtyard – the most prestigious area, reserved for the sect's true elites.

  A thin engraved line separated each se, as the Outer Disciples weren't allowed to venture beyond their designated courtyard so it didn't show the structure of the other courtyard.

  Ier Courtyard, there were several key loarked:

  Outer Courtyard Disciple's Quarters – where he and others lived.

  Treasure Hall – where cultivation resources were distributed.

  Mission Hall – where disciples accepted sect tasks in exge for rewards.

  Alchemy Pavilion – where alchemists refined pills and studied spiritual herbs.

  Adrian's eyes lingered on the Alchemy Pavilion's mark.

  He had always been curious about alchemy—not just for the pills that could aid cultivation, but for the deeper mysteries behind the craft. What made an herb valuable? How did refiruly work?

  Without hesitatiourned away from the board and made his way toward the Alchemy Pavilion.

  Following the route marked on the wooden board, Adrian made his way through the sect grounds. The path curved gently between stone-paved walkways, with small gardens and open training fields scattered in the distance. Disciples passed by in groups, chatting or heading toward their destinations with purpose.

  After a short walk, he arrived at the Alchemy Pavilion.

  The building was taller than most others ier Courtyard, a three-story structure with engraved wooden panels and intricate carvings of pill furnaces, cauldrons, and spirit herbs. Even before stepping ihe faint st of medie and herbs lingered in the air.

  Pushing open the rge wooden doors, Adriaered.

  A wave rant, bitter, ahy sts rushed into his nose, as if he had stepped into a vast herbal garden. The interior was lively yet posed, filled with disciples moving about—some browsing, others discussing alchemical topi hushed tones.

  From what Adrian had learned over the past weeks, these weren't new disciples like him. They were Outer Disciples from previous years, ones who had yet to meet the cultivation requirements to advao the Inner Courtyard. Many had turo alchemy as a way to earn resources and improve their ces of breaking through.

  His gaze swept across the hall, searg for a pce where he could inquire about pills—their names, effects, and uses.

  he ter of the room, he noticed a long wooden ter where disciples were gathered, exging spirit stones for small jade bottles and medial pouches. That seemed like the right pce.

  Without hesitation, he made his way toward the ter.

  Adrian joihe li the ter, waiting as disciples ahead of him exged spirit stones and tribution points for small jade bottles filled with medial pills. The air carried a faint st of refined herbs, blending into the already rich aroma of the pavilion.

  After a few minutes, it was finally his turn.

  He stepped forward to the ter, where a young disciple—probably just a year or two older than him—was handling the transas.

  Adrian spoke calmly, "Do you have anything that tains information about herbs and their effects? Something I read through?"

  The disciple behind the ter raised an eyebrow but didn't question it. He turned around, pulled out a thin booklet from a nearby stack, and pced it on the ter. "This should do. It lists various on pills, their effects, and the herbs used to make them."

  Adrian reached for it, but before he could take it, the boy added, "You're a new disciple, aren't you?" He g Adrian's robes. "I tell. If you're thinking about using pills, I'd suggest you fet about it for now. Pills aren't something you your stage, and besides, you don't have the tribution points to afford them."

  His tone wasn't mog—just practical advice.

  Adrian, unfazed, simply replied, "I'm just curious. I wao take a look."

  The boy studied him for a moment, then shrugged. "Suit yourself." He leaned back, waving him off.

  Adrian took the booklet and stepped away from the ter, his fingers lightly flipping through the pages. Spotting ay seat he side of the hall, he walked over and sat down, gng around as he took imosphere of the pavilion.

  Adrian flipped through the thin pages of the booklet, his eyes sing the names and descriptions of different pills.

  Some were straightforward, like the Qi Gathering Pill, which helped disciples absorb energy faster. Others, like the Body Tempering Pill, focused on physique refi, strengthening muscles and bones.

  He paused at the Imperfect Meridian Unblog Pill, his gaze lingering on its description.

  Imperfect Meridian Unblog Pill – Helps slightly clear minor blockages in meridians, though it is not perfed may not work for everyone.

  "So even medie has fws… Still, for those struggling with Qi circution, this could be valuable."

  Turning ane, he came across the Calming Mind Pill—a pill meant to help stabilize emotions and focus.

  "I wonder if this would help with deep meditation. But if someone relies too mu external aid, won't they grow depe on it?"

  As he tinued reading, he couldn't help but feel intrigued. These weren't legendary pills that could shake the heavens, but they were still useful tools that cultivators relied on.

  For the first time, he began to uand why alchemy was so important—it wasn't just about strength. It was about efficy, survival, and growth.

  After giving a brief g the remaining pills, Adrian closed the booklet and stood up. The information had been eye-opening, but he knew he couldn't sit here all day.

  He returo the ter and hahe booklet back.

  Before leaving, curiosity got the better of him. "So, how does someone join the Alchemy Pavilion and start refining pills?"

  The boy at the ter blinked, a little surprised by the suddeion, but quickly regained his posure. It wasn't the first time a new disciple had asked.

  "Well," the boy began, "before you even touch a cauldron, you have to memorize every herb and uand the pill formus. After that, there's a writteo check your knowledge. If you pass, you get to follow alchemists and learn how to make pills."

  Adrian aking in the information. But then the boy sighed and added, "That being said, outer disciples aren't allowed to practice alchemy. Only inner disciples join the Alchemy Pavilion because pill refining wastes too many resources."

  Hearing this, Adrian wasn't too disappointed. He uood the logic—outer disciples were expected to focus on cultivation first. Ohey advahey could think about other pursuits.

  Just as the versation was ending, a scoffing voice came from beside him.

  "Hah! What a joke."

  Adrian turned slightly, seeing another outer disciple waiting at the ter. The young man had narrow eyes and a disdainful expression as he looked Adrian up and down.

  "Why are you even dreaming about alchemy?" The disciple sneered. "You haven't even started cultivating properly, and you think you just waltz in here and start refining pills?"

  He crossed his arms. "Do you thihe outer disciples—haven't tried? That we don't put in the effort? If we could bee alchemists, do you think we'd be wasting our time here? Stop daydreaming and focus on cultivating, like the rest of us."

  Adrian turned his gaze to the disciple, his expression unreadable.

  Then, without a word, he simply oward the boy at the ter and turo leave.

  The mog disciple's face twisted into an ugly expression, clearly displeased that Adrian had ignored his insult. But he didn't dare cause trouble—sect rules forbade petty fights withi grounds.

  Adrian stepped out of the Alchemy Pavilion, the fresh air clearing his mind. He had learned what he came for, and now it was time to move on.

  ___ ___ ___