Mortal Alchemy

A month, two months, four months passed.

Chen Ping followed Zhao Hu around a dozen islands, but didn't openly discover any valuable mineral veins.

Chen Ping's gaze also occasionally fell on the two maids beside Zhao Hu, and he made sure they noticed.

After four months, Zhao Hu seemed even more anxious than Chen Ping.

This allowed Chen Ping to probe Zhao Hu's situation, and he found that Zhao Hu was very short on spirit stones.

It was probably related to his position as a Grand Deacon.

It seemed that if Zhao Hu wanted to secure his position as Grand Deacon, he would need to prepare a large sum of spirit stones for bribes.

Zhao Hu was becoming increasingly impatient and restless.

Chen Ping didn't act recklessly or touch Zhao Hu's bottom line.

One day, Chen Ping discovered a small deposit of jadeite obsidian on a small island, also a Tier 2 mineral vein.

"Congratulations, Tiger Lord! This subordinate has discovered a jadeite obsidian deposit on this island. Tiger Lord can arrange for people to mine it."

"Where is it?"

"Please follow me, Tiger Lord." Chen Ping led Zhao Hu to the front of a mine tunnel. On the walls were glittering jade-colored ores, shimmering with a captivating light.

The fat on Zhao Hu's face trembled: "Good, good, good!"

He patted Chen Ping hard on the shoulder:

"Good brother, I will definitely not mistreat you!"

This Chen Ping had actually found another Tier 2 mineral deposit. He really was capable!

Chen Ping seized the opportunity to say casually, "Just as long as Tiger Lord doesn't forget what you promised me."

"Hahahaha," Zhao Hu said, "In half a month, I will take Brother Chen back to the sect and officially make you a member of the Sea God Sect. By then, Brother Chen will be able to cultivate and truly become one of us."

"Hehehehe, and then, I'll take Brother Chen to Shattered Star Market."

Zhao Hu gave a knowing, lewd smile.

In recent months, Chen Ping had been secretly staring at his maids, and the maids had truthfully informed him.

If Chen Ping didn't act this way, how could he put Zhao Hu at ease and show him that he was working diligently?

Chen Ping also showed a timely look of joy:

"Then I will have to trouble Tiger Lord."

Zhao Hu took Chen Ping back to the White Jade Flying Boat he had purchased and called out to the maids:

"Today is a good day. Bring out the best wine and dishes. We must have a good drink with Brother Chen."

Chen Ping secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally dealt with this idiot, Zhao Hu.

It had taken Chen Ping two and a half years to handle someone like Zhao Hu, who was greedy, lustful, unambitious, and had an inflated sense of self-importance.

If it had been someone more difficult to approach, he didn't know how much more time it would have taken.

After the wine and food were plentiful, Chen Ping, feigning drunkenness, asked:

"Tiger Lord, how long will it take to buy a cauldron beauty from here?"

Zhao Hu chuckled, "About twenty days. Can't Brother Chen hold on any longer?"

His words also concealed a hint of murderous intent.

This White Jade Flying Boat traveled 1,500 miles a day, so it would take about twenty days to reach Shattered Star Market, a distance of roughly 15,000 to 20,000 miles.

Chen Ping drunkenly said, "I've endured for so long, I can wait another month or two."

After saying that, Chen Ping's head lolled to the side, and he fell asleep snoring on the table.

The next day, when Chen Ping woke up, the White Jade Flying Boat had already set sail, seemingly heading to the Sea God Sect. Zhao Hu was going to bring Chen Ping to join the Sea God Sect.

After flying for half a month, they arrived at a branch stronghold of the Sea God Sect.

Here, the arrogant Zhao Hu adopted a very humble attitude, leaving the two maids who accompanied him on the flying boat. He led Chen Ping into the branch stronghold alone.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator wearing a white robe was the person in charge here.

Zhao Hu clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Greetings, Protector!"

The Protector's expression was indifferent: "What is it?"

Zhao Hu: "This disciple guarantees and recommends a brother to join the sect."

The Protector's eyes swept over Chen Ping and Zhao Hu:

"Disciples joining the sect, kneel down and have your aptitude tested."

Chen Ping's heart tightened:

"Test my aptitude?"

Under the watchful eyes of the Protector and Zhao Hu, Chen Ping didn't dare to hesitate or delay, so he had to bite the bullet and come before the Protector, kneeling on one knee.

Both were Foundation Establishment cultivators, and Chen Ping was also a Tier 3 Body Refiner. This Protector shouldn't be able to detect anything, right?

The Protector held a round disc-shaped magic artifact. The disc rotated, emitting a light that enveloped Chen Ping.

Chen Ping's heartbeat began to accelerate. He was extremely nervous inside, but his expression remained unchanged.

After a moment, the light dissipated, and the Protector said:

"Mortal aptitude, poor soul. Grant him a Joyous Union Art for cultivation as a cauldron."

"Zhao Hu, take him away."

"Thank you, Protector!" Zhao Hu was even more reassured about Chen Ping.

In front of the Protector Foundation Establishment cultivator, he was also of mortal aptitude and had a poor soul. It seemed that Chen Ping did indeed have an ancestral inheritance, but he himself was a mortal.

Chen Ping breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that they hadn't detected anything from him.

Zhao Hu led Chen Ping away and came to another great hall to register, receive the official disciple's robe, token, and a Joyous Union Art.

Zhao Hu chuckled lewdly: "Brother Chen, this Joyous Union Art is a good thing. As long as you have money to buy a cauldron, you can replenish your yang by extracting yin and cultivate."

Chen Ping showed an expectant and eager expression: "I'll have to trouble Tiger Lord to help me choose a good cauldron."

"We're brothers, so leave this matter to me." Zhao Hu put his arm around Chen Ping's shoulders, looking like they had an excellent relationship, and took Chen Ping back to the White Jade Flying Boat, then sailed away from the island, heading towards Shattered Star Market.

Standing on the deck, Chen Ping couldn't suppress the excitement in his heart: "I'm finally on the road to Shattered Star Market again."

"This time, no one should be able to stop me, right?"

Chen Ping was thinking this.

A White Jade Flying Boat flew up from behind.

"Hmm?" The White-robed Protector's voice sounded from the flying boat: "Where are you going?"

Chen Ping's heart turned cold, and his mind became gloomy:

"Why did this Foundation Establishment Protector follow us?"

At this point, there could still be unexpected complications!

Chen Ping followed Zhao Hu, clasping their hands in a fist salute. Zhao Hu said:

"Reporting to the Protector, I am taking a brother from the sect to Shattered Star Market to buy a well-trained cauldron for cultivation."

"Oh." The White-robed Protector's voice sounded: "In that case, take my flying boat and go together. That way, it will be faster, and I also have business to attend to at Shattered Star Market."

Chen Ping really wanted to refuse, but he had no right to speak.

Zhao Hu's eyes lit up, and he clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Thank you, Protector!"

"We are all brothers in the sect, so this small matter is no problem," the White-robed Protector said indifferently.

However, Chen Ping was extremely wary of this White-robed Protector: "Could this person have discovered something about me and is looking for an opportunity to entrap me?"

The group boarded the White-robed Protector's White Jade Flying Boat together.

Chen Ping's heart was in his throat.

He had completely lost his magic power, and his body refinement also had no combat power. Traveling with a Foundation Establishment cultivator was no different from having one foot in the grave.

Chen Ping's heart was pounding, but he was able to remain calm on the surface.

He told himself that perhaps he hadn't revealed anything and had just happened to run into this White-robed Protector, and that he was indeed a good person.

Time passed little by little like this, speeding across the sea.

Chen Ping was constantly on edge, but he was powerless, like a fish on a chopping board, causing him to endure immense pressure, as if he were suffocating!