I Can Upgrade My Talent Infinitely

They all spoke in low voices, the sounds on-site blending together into a murmur.

Fang Yun had just settled into his spot. After a quick glance at his surroundings, he signaled for Lin Ke to join him.

Once they'd moved to a less crowded spot, Fang Yun took out a Spirit Talisman and created a simple barrier, isolating the two of them from everyone else.

"What are Elder Lin and Senior Fang doing?"

"Is it something that can't be said in public...?"

"They're being so secretive. It makes one curious."

"You'd be wise to curb that curiosity. If Elder Lin finds out, there will be consequences."

The barrier was simple. Any Cultivator who had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage could find out what Fang Yun and Lin Ke were doing inside with a simple probe.

But they didn't dare.

If they actually tried to probe, they would be discovered instantly.

After all, both of them were Late-stage Core Formation cultivators, and probing someone was an extremely impolite act.

"Fang Yun, what's going on?" Lin Ke herself was curious about his behavior.

The barrier Fang Yun had used allowed those inside to see out, but prevented anyone outside from seeing in.

"I suggest you take a close look at this Inner Sect Disciple from your Purple Mist Sect," Fang Yun said, pointing to a cultivator at the early Foundation Establishment Stage.

This early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator harbored ill will toward him.

His senses, always passively prepared for battle, had picked up on the anomaly almost instantly.

A Foundation Establishment disciple from the Purple Mist Sect harboring malice toward him was suspicious, no matter how he looked at it.

If an Elder from the Purple Mist Sect bore him ill will, Fang Yun could come up with a few reasons—perhaps the Purple Mist Sect's Elder of Alchemy was overly envious of his Alchemy Talent, for instance.

But he couldn't imagine any plausible reason for a mere Foundation Establishment disciple of the Purple Mist Sect to feel that way. The gap between them was immense, and Fang Yun's existence posed no threat to the disciple's access to low-tier resources.

This early-stage Foundation Establishment Inner Sect Disciple of the Purple Mist Sect had to have some connection to the Blood Spirit Sect.

"Why?" Lin Ke asked instinctively.

"My gut tells me he's a problem," Fang Yun gave the most unpragmatic, yet also the best, answer. "I just glanced over, and the way he looked at me felt... off."

Back when Fang Yun was still in the Foundation Establishment Stage and an Elder of the Celestial Cloud Sect, he had rooted out every single disciple within the sect who bore him ill will.

The Celestial Cloud Sect's background checks on its disciples were already stringent, but even then, some fish still slipped through the net.

This was especially true back when the Celestial Cloud Sect was at a disadvantage in its standoff with the Celestial Demon Sect.

As the sect grew stronger, such incidents became increasingly rare. But to be on the safe side, he made a point of meeting every single Elder of the Celestial Cloud Sect.

Problematic disciples were one thing, but if such a cultivator existed among the Elders, it was a major crisis that had to be dealt with immediately.

"A gut feeling..." Lin Ke mulled it over. She found it a little amusing but didn't laugh, simply nodding. "Alright, I'll handle it."

There was no harm in looking into it, after all.

Besides, Fang Yun was only suspicious of one person, not a whole group.

When it came to screening disciples, the Purple Mist Sect was even more rigorous than the Celestial Cloud Sect.

After dispelling the barrier, Fang Yun returned to his original spot.

Lin Ke, meanwhile, went to find Cai Qingyan.

Among the Purple Mist Sect's Elders, Cai Qingyan and four others were responsible for internal security and investigations.

This sort of thing was her specialty.

After Cai Qingyan was briefed on the situation, she left immediately, while Lin Ke remained to watch the Alchemy competition between Fang Yun and Cen Yuandao.

'Fang Yun's intuition is frighteningly accurate. That disciple must be guilty of something…'

Casually, Lin Ke kept an eye on the Foundation Establishment disciple.

Cai Qingyan's departure seemed to make him a little tense.

As the time for the Five Qi Chao Ling Pill refining competition drew near, both Fang Yun and Cen Yuandao took out their respective Alchemy Furnaces.

Shortly after Fang Yun took out his Alchemy Furnace, Cen Yuandao's eyes locked onto him.

No, not at him—at his Alchemy Furnace.

Unable to restrain himself, Cen Yuandao walked over to Fang Yun's side to inspect the Alchemy Furnace up close, even reaching out a hand to touch it.

"What a fine furnace!" Cen Yuandao exclaimed in admiration.

Cen Yuandao wasn't an Artifact Refiner and didn't know much about Artifact Refining, but as an Alchemy Master, he had a keen eye for judging the quality of an Alchemy Furnace.

This Alchemy Furnace of Fang Yun's was a Magical Treasure with Three Prohibitions.

It was the finest three-prohibition Alchemy Furnace Cen Yuandao had ever seen.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, did you refine this Alchemy Furnace yourself?" Cen Yuandao asked, looking at Fang Yun.

"That's right," Fang Yun nodded.

It was an Alchemy Furnace he had refined twenty-seven years ago.

He had spent a very long time collecting the Spiritual Materials to refine it.

"Would it be possible for you to refine one for this old man as well in the future?" Cen Yuandao asked, an idea forming in his mind.

He was now thoroughly convinced of Fang Yun's skill in Artifact Refining.

To be able to refine such a high-quality Alchemy Furnace meant that Fang Yun's skill in Artifact Refining was nothing short of exceptional.

Rumor had it that Fang Yun's talents in both Artifact Refining and Alchemy were top-tier. At this moment, Cen Yuandao was starting to think his Artifact Refining Talent was likely far superior to his Alchemy Talent.

"As long as Fellow Daoist Cen can gather the necessary Spiritual Materials, I will certainly refine it," Fang Yun agreed without hesitation.

A good Alchemy Furnace could help an Alchemy Master refine pills more effectively.

Fang Yun's desire to help the Purple Mist Sect refine Tier Four pills was not just for his own benefit, but for the sect's as well.

He genuinely hoped the Purple Mist Sect would grow stronger.

The Qionglin Domain was vast, and the territory held by righteous cultivators like themselves was far too small.

A stronger Purple Mist Sect would, in turn, be a great benefit to his own Celestial Cloud Sect.

"Excellent. Then it's settled," Cen Yuandao nodded, very pleased.

Just then, a dissonant voice cut through from among the Purple Mist Sect's Elders.

"You damn old coot! So, you're not satisfied with the Alchemy Furnace I refined for you, is that it?"

Fang Yun looked toward the source of the voice. It was an elderly woman.

He didn't recognize her.

The next moment, he received a voice transmission from Lin Ke.

She explained that the woman was Jiang Muyu, the Purple Mist Sect's Artifact Refining Elder, and Cen Yuandao's Tao Companion.

One was a master of Alchemy, the other of Artifact Refining. They had become Tao Companions over three hundred years ago, and their union was the stuff of legends within the Purple Mist Sect.

"It's not that I'm dissatisfied. I simply want a better Alchemy Furnace," Cen Yuandao said matter-of-factly, stroking his beard.

"Are you implying this boy's skill in Artifact Refining is greater than mine?"

"It's a plain and simple fact," Cen Yuandao stated, seemingly unfazed by the fact that Jiang Muyu was about to explode with rage.

"Just fine!" Jiang Muyu laughed, her anger boiling over. She turned to Fang Yun. "They all say that Fellow Daoist Fang possesses unparalleled talent in both Alchemy and Artifact Refining. But I've heard a more specific rumor—that your Alchemy Talent is actually far greater than your talent for Artifact Refining. Is that right?"

Before Fang Yun could answer, Cen Yuandao couldn't resist retorting:

"Old woman, you're just making things up now. How is it that I've never heard such a rumor?"

"That's just because you're ignorant! Fellow Daoist Fang's Alchemy Talent surpasses his talent for Artifact Refining, and his skill in Alchemy is also far superior to his skill in Artifact Refining! There's no point in even having this competition. You old coot should just concede now and save everyone the trouble of wasting their time!"

"Why, you..."

Cen Yuandao immediately fired back.

And so, their bickering began.

Fang Yun noticed that Lin Ke looked completely unfazed, and the other Elders from the Purple Mist Sect showed no particular expression either.

Among the Purple Mist Sect disciples, only a few seemed surprised by the unfolding scene.

Fang Yun understood. Squabbles like this between the old couple were clearly not a rare sight. With that realization, he simply watched in silence, waiting for it to be over.

The couple's argument over his talents in Alchemy and Artifact Refining couldn't help but remind him of the past.

Back then, the older generation had also argued about the nature of his talents.

The difference was that back then, the alchemy masters claimed his Alchemy Talent was superior, while the artifact refiners argued his talent for Artifact Refining was greater. Now, the situation was completely reversed.

"We'll see what level Fellow Daoist Fang's Alchemy is at once we compete. Old woman, don't try to disturb my focus."

"Fine. I'll just watch and see how you lose, you old geezer," Jiang Muyu said with a scornful smile.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, are you ready?"

Cen Yuandao tore his gaze away from Jiang Muyu and looked toward Fang Yun.

Fang Yun nodded. "I'm ready when you are."