Rising to the fourth stage of Battle Qi after half a month, and then reaching the fifth stage just one and a half months later—this unparalleled pace of cultivation would even leave the former Xiao Yan gasping in admiration. Although each stage upgrade brings greater challenges, given Xiao Yan's current speed, achieving the seventh stage of Battle Qi within a year should not be an overly difficult feat. Of course, this depends entirely on a sufficient supply of Foundation-Enhancing Elixir; otherwise, before Xiao Yan even reaches the seventh stage, he would suffer a severe injury during the training sessions led by Yao Lao, and likely perish. Without the restorative power of the elixir, Xiao Yan’s frail constitution would simply be overwhelmed by accumulated internal blood clots, leaving no other viable option. So, right now, what Xiao Yan needs to do most is to purchase new materials and refine the Foundation Elixir once again. It sounds simple enough, yet he's encountered a significant challenge—his funds are running low. "Worst off? Then your effectiveness will suffer—under such circumstances, you might need six months just to advance to the next stage of Battle Qi. Master Yao's voice carries a hint of dissatisfaction, as if he's already furrowed his brows. 'Funds are running low? Go find that young girl. With her background, securing several thousand gold coins is nothing short of trivial. If that fails, go to your father. Why compromise your cultivation by reducing your medicinal potency just to delay your progress?' Hearing Master Yao's advice, Xiao Yan shook his head in resignation. 'Just consider it my rather dull sense of pride at work,' he said. 'How could I go to a girl repeatedly for loans? My father is manageable—I've been avoiding him for two months now. And if I do go to him, what if he presses further questions? Wouldn't that reveal your presence to me?' 'Master, can anyone else prepare the Foundation-Building Elixir?' Suddenly, Xiao Yan frowned, as though remembering something." "Hehe, little one, on the Continent of Qi, there are countless medicinal herbs. To prepare pills with specific effects, one must carefully select herbs from among these countless materials—herbs that can neutralize the turbulent energy emanating from the magical crystals you wish to refine. Only then can you successfully craft the desired pills. If you simply randomly combine ingredients, the furnace might collapse and the pills be ruined—minor setbacks, perhaps. But what if the very energy reverses and overwhelms you? Hehe..." With that, the elder pharmacist gave a low, thoughtful smile and continued, "This Foundation-Building Elixir is the result of years of meticulous experimentation on my part. Of course, others might accidentally stumble upon the same formula, but such a chance is exceedingly rare." "Moreover, during the refining process, the degree and proportions in which the three materials blend, the intensity of the flame—all of these require countless trials and an exceptional level of spiritual perception. Otherwise, you might wonder why every alchemist needs to be personally guided by their master from the very beginning." To become a truly powerful alchemist, one would need a master's guidance—otherwise, merely mastering the experimental formulas would take a lifetime. "Therefore, while I can't claim this across the entire Qi Continent, within the Jima Empire, I can confidently assert that no one else will be able to produce a foundational elixir identical to mine!" As he spoke, a subtle sense of pride emanated from the old alchemist. Astonished by the complexity of the foundational elixir, Xiao Yan unconsciously licked his lips. When he first observed the old alchemist crafting it, he had thought it straightforward; now, he realized that preparing pills was far more intricate than what met the eye. Indeed, the world of alchemy was vast and profound—no wonder it stood as the most esteemed profession on the Qi Continent. After the initial shock, Xiao Yan felt a sense of delight, gently smiled, and said, "Master, I'm not planning to use the worst-grade Foundation-Essence Liquid for cultivation. Instead, I intend to auction it off at the gathering. Right now, my finances are tight, so once I receive the funds, we'll purchase better materials. After all, for you, refining Foundation-Essence Liquid is merely a simple task—how does that sound?" "Indeed, go ahead. It's not uncommon for a pharmacist to auction off their own pills, and this Foundation-Essence Liquid is merely the most basic kind of cultivation medicine—selling it won't be a loss." After a brief pause, the elder pharmacist responded with a matter-of-fact tone. Hearing Black Elder nod in agreement, Xiao Yan chuckled, gathered his things, and then hurriedly rushed out of the room. Since the herbs required were not particularly high-grade, Xiao Yan simply picked the youngest specimens of Purple-leaf Orchid and Bone-Cleansing Flower from the herb shop. For the Wood-type magic crystals, after a few checks, he settled on the most affordable one—the Green Wood Mouse Crystal. After gathering all the necessary materials, Xiao Yan found a guest inn and hid there, allowing the elderly herbalist to prepare the Foundation Elixir. This time, however, the elixir’s potency was significantly weaker than before, and its luster had shifted from translucent emerald to a more muted, speckled green. He carefully transferred the elixir, which filled a volume equal to half of his palm, into the white jade vial he had purchased earlier, then exhaled in relief. With the vial securely placed close to his body, Xiao Yan left the inn and swiftly headed toward the largest auction hall in Wutan City.