Cultivation is just so scientific!

He's not on the Beishu Continent now, with a powerful sect behind him as his support.

Since he lacks backing, he plans to find one.

This has been his intention for quite some time. He even planned to wait until reaching the Nascent Soul Stage before joining a powerful faction as a Guest Elder.

Guest Elder is merely a temporary strategy. Though it sounds good, it's not truly being part of the faction.

The opportunity at hand is rare indeed. If he could truly join the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, it would save him much trouble.

"How could I refuse!" Li Shiming replied with a smile.

He took out the Third Grade Five Elements Nine Revolutions Furnace, the Red Sun Spirit Fire ignited within. He placed the Fourth-grade Spirit Tea Leaves and Fourth Grade Spirit Spring Water into the Pill Furnace and began using the Spiritual Fire to heat the spiritual spring water and spirit tea.

Master Jiang Hong stared intensely at the Five Elements Nine Revolutions Furnace. Although he didn't use his Spirit to enter the furnace, his alchemy experience allowed him to see a lot.

He admired Li Shiming's control over temperature. While he couldn't perceive the details inside the furnace, he could discern the changes in temperature of the Red Sun Spirit Fire through the surface of the furnace.

This mastery over the temperature of the Red Sun Spirit Fire filled him with awe.

"Please enjoy!" Li Shiming lightly tapped the Five Elements Nine Revolutions Furnace, and the Fourth Grade Spiritual Tea inside flew out, landing into three Third Grade Tea Cups, which he offered to Master Jiang Hong and Ancestor Zhang Kai, gesturing as he spoke.

Ancestor Zhang Kai wasn't tasting this Fourth Grade Spiritual Tea for the first time, yet he was still delighted to begin savoring it.

Master Jiang Hong used his Spirit to lift the Third Grade Tea Cup, not wanting the temperature from his hand to affect the Fourth Grade Spiritual Tea.

Upon sipping the Fourth Grade Spiritual Tea lightly, his eyes filled with brightness.

"Excellent!" he praised.

Li Shiming smiled modestly. He was used to compliments. He took a sip of spiritual tea and silently lamented that the consumption of Fourth Grade Spiritual Tea and Fourth Grade Spirit Spring Water was rather quick.

The Fourth Grade Spiritual Tea he possessed couldn't support many gatherings, prompting him to consider where to acquire more.

Drinking Fourth Grade Spiritual Tea didn't enhance his strength directly, but its effects were subtle, gradually improving his spiritual and mental state.

He felt that frequent consumption of Fourth Grade Spiritual Tea would benefit his progression to the Nascent Soul Stage.

In fact, it's not a secret in Dongqi that frequent consumption of Fourth Grade Spiritual Tea promotes progression to the Nascent Soul Stage, but which Golden Core cultivator has such resources to drink it often?

"Master Li, do you not belong to a sect?" Master Jiang Hong drank the spiritual tea, placed the cup down, and asked Li Shiming.

The question was abrupt, leaving Li Shiming unsure of how to answer.

Understanding a cultivator's background, especially knowing they've hidden their identity, is considered extremely rude.

"I'm not probing into your past, just curious whether you have allegiance to any sect?" Master Jiang Hong noticed Li Shiming's misunderstanding and explained with a smile.

"No longer!" Li Shiming replied with a bitter smile and shook his head.

He thought of the Shushan Sect, which wanted to capture him for the Cave Heaven Inheritance, severing all ties between him and the sect. As for his training under the Shushan Sect, he repaid them in his own way.

He believed he'd done right by the Shushan Sect and did not plan to acknowledge the identity of a Shushan Sect cultivator after leaving.

The only person he felt sorry for was his master, Elder Su.

He trusted Elder Su would understand his choice. Remaining in the Shushan Sect, regardless of whether they could protect him, the sect's Nascent Soul ancestors would first extract information on the Cave Heaven Inheritance before deciding his fate.

The benefits from the Cave Heaven Inheritance eclipsed those he brought as an Alchemy Master.

The cultivation world is pragmatic, and you can't say the Nascent Soul ancestors of the Shushan Sect were wrong. After all, the Shushan Sect, passed down for tens of thousands of years, had long established principles of sect supremacy.

But when this principle encounters an individual like Li Shiming, he certainly didn't want to sacrifice himself for the sect.

"Master Li, is it true you've left your sect and are now a Loose Cultivator?" Master Jiang Hong intensified his tone.

"Indeed, I'm now a Loose Cultivator!" Li Shiming nodded affirmatively.

The cultivators present understood Li Shiming had previously belonged to some sect as an Alchemy Master, yet for unknown reasons, he'd left the sect and the original continent, arriving at Dongqi.

"Master Li, on behalf of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, I extend an invitation for you to join, with myself as your sponsor. What do you think?" Master Jiang Hong stood up and spoke solemnly.

Ancestor Zhang Kai was taken aback, not expecting Master Jiang Hong to invite Li Shiming to join the Ten Thousand Beast Sect.

Sects like the Ten Thousand Beast Sect rarely recruit non-cultivators, especially when Li Shiming has reached the Great Elder Level.

Great Elders of his level hardly form loyalty towards the Ten Thousand Beast Sect.

Great Elders hold strong personal viewpoints, making change difficult.

With natural enemies, both local and foreign, the Ten Thousand Beast Sect adheres to cautious principles in recruiting disciples to prevent infiltration by external spies.

"Is there anything important I need to know before joining the Ten Thousand Beast Sect?" Li Shiming asked, requiring clarification on some issues beforehand.

"All it requires is a formal oath upon joining!" Master Jiang Hong replied without hesitation.

In considering inviting Li Shiming, he'd pondered multiple scenarios.

Li Shiming was a bit surprised by its simplicity.

Always read at the source—MV@LEMP@YR.

The oath of joining is dual. Aside from pledging loyalty, the sect also promises to protect the disciple.

Previously, Li Shiming and his avatar Li Yuanba joined the Shushan Sect and Senluo Sect under oaths but could still defect, given that the sects betrayed first.

When a sect breaks its oath, it couldn't bind Li Shiming and Li Yuanba.

Joining the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, as long as it didn't betray him first, he wouldn't voluntarily betray the sect.

"Wuqing Mountain treated me well. If I join the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, I must compensate Wuqing Mountain." Li Shiming mused aloud.

"No need for you to worry about compensating Wuqing Mountain. I will ensure the sect provides extra support!" Master Jiang Hong smiled, waving his hand.

From Li Shiming's words, he could sense agreement to join the sect.

Moreover, Li Shiming's emphasis on loyalty was heartening; such sentiments only seem to inhabit younger cultivators.

"Thank you!" Li Shiming said relieved.

Wuqing Mountain gave him a chance, gifted the Fourth-grade Fire Phoenix Treasure Tripod, and offered support in dire times. He most disliked owing favors, but thanks to Master Jiang Hong's assurances, his debt was settled.

"Master Li, one final matter: please fully exert your skills in crafting a batch of Spirit Pills!" Master Jiang Hong asked intently, presenting his final request.

He placed a storage bag in front of Li Shiming, whose Divine Thought explored its contents, finding a Fourth-grade Spiritual Medicine, some Second and Third-grade materials, and an elixir recipe.

The recipe was for the Great Sun Qi Union Pill, moderately difficult among Fourth-grade Cultivation Assistance Spirit Pills.

"Then, please wait here for seven days!" Li Shiming replied with a smile.

The fact that Master Jiang Hong made the request post-invitation showed the offer was genuine, irrespective of Li Shiming's alchemical prowess.

However, the treatment post-joining would depend on his level of alchemical proficiency.

Li Shiming harbored no resentment in being judged by his craft. After all, evaluating an Alchemy Master's abilities was bound to be through alchemy.

He possessed absolute confidence in this area, his primary concern being how much of his alchemical skills to showcase.