After Xia Li announced the pill's effects, many nearby still harbored doubts.

  However, this was right outside Myriad Treasures Pavilion, and the pavilion's alchemist had been observing Xia Li's refinement process.

  "Fellow Daoist, if you don't mind, may I appraise the pill?"

  The Myriad Treasures Pavilion alchemist approached Xia Li.

  Xia Li sized him up—a white-haired elderly man who was quite a figure in Fenghe City.

  Fenghe City had only two alchemists: one from Myriad Treasures Pavilion and one guest alchemist at the marketplace. These two monopolized the entire city's pill business.

  "Please, Elder Sun."

  Xia Li humbly handed the pill to Elder Sun. As the saying goes, a powerful dragon doesn't crush a local snake. His plan had never been to antagonize anyone or fight for dominance.

  Because the opportunity everyone sought—he already had it.

  "May I consume one?"

  Elder Sun's attitude was now very proper, showing no hint of condescension.

  "Please."

  Xia Li made an inviting gesture. This pleased Elder Sun greatly. Xia Li's alchemy skills were clearly superior to his, yet he remained so humble and courteous. When evaluating the pill later, he could afford to be generous.

  At his age, suppressing young talent wouldn't benefit him anyway. Better to curry favor and perhaps secure some benefits for himself.

  Swallowing the pill...

  A spiritual vortex immediately formed in his dantian and began continuously generating spiritual energy. The quantity aside, the key was the speed and intensity of generation.

  "Excellent pill! Marvelous pill!"

  "This pill generates spiritual energy at more than three times the rate of Nourishing Qi Pills. Most crucially, it has an effect Nourishing Qi Pills lack—it can temporarily enhance spiritual energy intensity, aiding in breakthrough!"

  Elder Sun's words immediately caused a commotion. Everyone's eyes fixed on the pills in Xia Li's hand.

  In Fenghe City, everyone was a talentless, potential-less rogue cultivator.

  Precisely because they lacked talent, they needed external aids.

  For geniuses, breaking through Qi Refining levels was naturally effortless—smooth sailing, water flowing to the sea.

  But for rogue cultivators, attempts to break through often failed due to insufficient spiritual energy intensity. And pills that aided Qi Refining breakthroughs were extremely rare.

  After all, if you couldn't even pass the Qi Refining hurdles, what business did you have cultivating?

  Nourishing Qi Pills could nurture spiritual energy. Taking more before a breakthrough helped somewhat, but that help was negligible at best.

  "This... the intensity is still increasing!"

  "It's progressive, not regressive!"

  Elder Sun shouted in delighted surprise. The spiritual vortex in his dantian was generating energy at increasing intensity. Normal pills had diminishing effects over time.

  Meaning the effect was strongest right after consumption, then gradually weakened.

  But Surge Qi Pills were different—they actually grew stronger!

  "This old man... this old man..."

  "This old man is about to break through!!"

  Elder Sun's face flushed red as he roared. The bottleneck that had been sealed for nearly twenty years due to his aged and weakened body finally shattered. A powerful aura erupted from within him.

  "Ninth level of Qi Refining... finally... finally reached peak Qi Refining. This old man might actually have hope of Foundation Establishment in this lifetime!"

  Elder Sun was so excited he nearly jumped up, wanting to kneel and kowtow to Xia Li right there.

  This was a completely new pill with tremendous benefits for Qi Refining cultivators!

  The other rogue cultivators watching immediately rushed toward Xia Li.

  "Ten spirit stones! Give me one!"

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  "I'll pay fifteen!"

  "Twenty!!"

  The rogue cultivators had abandoned all consideration of cost-effectiveness. A Nourishing Qi Pill typically sold for two spirit stones; doubled would be four.

  But cultivation was about seizing the initiative.

  One step ahead meant every step ahead. Miss this batch, and who knew when Xia Li would refine the next? Buy now, improve yourself, and you'd have a chance to compete for the next batch.

  "Quiet! A pill this wondrous—ten spirit stones is a bargain! This pill is flawless, without cracks or impurities. It's definitely top-grade quality."

  "Top-grade Nourishing Qi Pills cost five spirit stones each, but top-grade Surge Qi Pills can't simply be priced at double."

  Elder Sun immediately spoke up. Ten spirit stones was far too cheap. He needed to help Xia Li raise the price so Xia Li would remember his kindness.

  "No need. It can even be cheaper—eight spirit stones each. I'm just covering costs."

  Xia Li immediately indicated no need for higher prices. Not that he didn't want to charge more, but these rogue cultivators couldn't afford it!

  Better to sell in volume. Besides, the profit margin was already huge—he had originally planned to sell at four spirit stones each.

  "This... we thank Alchemist Xia!"

  "Alchemist Xia is truly a dragon among men."

  "Alchemist Xia is a blessing to Fenghe City."

  The rogue cultivators were overjoyed. A pill with Surge Qi Pill's effects at top-grade quality—even major sects might not have many.

  Third Uncle Liu now stood beside Xia Li with a beaming smile. Then...

  He suddenly grabbed the weakly sprawled Liu Fu and clamped his hand around his throat.

  "From this day forward, Liu Fu is expelled from the Liu family. As a family criminal, I sentence him to death!"

  "Third... Third Uncle... you!!"

  Liu Fu's eyes filled with terror. He had known he was finished the moment Xia Li gained the upper hand, but hadn't expected it to happen so fast. Third Uncle Liu wasn't giving him any chance to survive!

  "Hmph. A vicious wretch like you—sparing you would be a disaster for both Alchemist Xia and the Liu family."

  With that, Third Uncle Liu squeezed. With a crack, Liu Fu's head went limp.

  This Second Young Master Liu, who had some reputation in Fenghe City, died just like that—killed by his own family in broad daylight.

  Xia Li noticed the commotion on Third Uncle Liu's side and was surprised by how decisively the Liu family acted.

  "Alchemist Xia, your grudge with him has nothing to do with our Liu family. Please don't hold it against us."

  After killing his own nephew, Third Uncle Liu was still smiling at Xia Li. This was quite an eye-opener.

  "Naturally not. I just didn't expect you wouldn't help Second Young Master Liu at all."

  From Third Uncle Liu's appearance until now, aside from an initially offensive glance, he had behaved extremely properly. Xia Li found this incredible.

  "Alchemist Xia, did you really expect the young one to cause trouble and the old one to come finish the job? Our small family can't afford such drama."

  Third Uncle Liu knew what Xia Li meant and explained with a bitter smile.

  "That kind of domineering behavior is what major sects enjoy. Small families and minor sects don't dare casually offend people. We do bully others, yes—but we're just evil, not stupid."

  With that, Third Uncle Liu took out a transmission jade slip and said something into it.

  Then he looked at Xia Li with another smile.

  "Alchemist Xia, Liu Fu's parents will also be executed shortly. Please don't hold any grudge against the Liu family."

  "Uh..."

  This Xia Li truly hadn't expected. The Liu family killed Liu Fu and that wasn't enough—they weren't even sparing his parents. Was this really a family?