In the previous three years, Han Yi had broken through from the Qi Refining Fourth Layer to the Fifth Layer. However, during the subsequent three years, his cultivation realm remained stagnant at the Fifth Layer, still a short distance from reaching the Sixth Layer.
As one progresses further, advancing in cultivation becomes increasingly difficult.
Nevertheless, his stagnation in cultivation didn't hinder his skill breakthroughs.
First, his Spirit Void Finger technique advanced from the Masterful stage to Perfected Purity.
The enhanced power of the Spirit Void Finger didn't disappoint Han Yi. By compressing only a tenth of his mana into a single finger strike, he could directly shake the Courtyard Formation.
Han Yi estimated that the power of this strike now matched the level of a Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivator.
In other words, with his Fifth Layer Qi Refining cultivation, Han Yi could now contend with cultivators two layers above him. While the outcome of an actual battle remained uncertain—these were merely simulations, untested in real combat—this breakthrough undeniably boosted his confidence.
Following the breakthrough of the Spirit Void Finger, the second skill to advance wasn't the Sword Control Technique, but the Alchemy Technique.
Three years prior, after spending his remaining Spirit Stones to resolve a crisis, Han Yi had devoted countless hours to pill refinement.
Han Yi's breakthrough in alchemy had dramatically improved his pill refinement skills.
Now, his success rate for refining Qi Nourishing Pills was virtually one hundred percent, and he could consistently produce at least six batches of standard-quality pills for every ten attempts. His success rate for refining Evil-Repelling Pills had also reached fifty percent, and he occasionally managed to produce standard-quality versions of this pill as well.
It was important to note that breaking through to the Late-Stage Qi Refining required standard-quality Evil-Repelling Pills. These higher-grade pills commanded exponentially higher prices on the market compared to ordinary versions. Each standard-quality Evil-Repelling Pill sold for around thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones—six times the price of an ordinary pill.
In addition to his original four pill formulas, Han Yi had acquired two new ones: the Spirit Sensing Pill and the Qi Fusion Pill. These two medicinal pills were commonly used by Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivators.
Han Yi had invested heavily in these new pill formulas to tap into the lucrative Late-Stage Qi Refining market. With his current mastery of pill refinement, producing ordinary pills was effortless, but the profit margins were too slim to justify the effort.
This was why Han Yi sought out medicinal pills that could command high prices.
The Spirit Sensing Pill and the Qi Fusion Pill were his chosen remedies, perfect for generating profit.
The Spirit Sensing Pill, designed for cultivators at the seventh layer of Qi Refining, enhanced their perception of Spirit Qi, providing a foundational sensitivity for their expanding mana reservoirs.
Upon reaching the Late-Stage Qi Refining, preparing for Immortal Foundation Establishment became essential. This pivotal phase served as a crucial bridge between the lower and upper echelons of cultivation, forming the core reserve of a sect's strength.
The Qi Fusion Pill complemented the Spirit Sensing Pill by accelerating the assimilation of absorbed Spirit Qi into one's own mana.
These two pills worked synergistically, typically sold as a set and commanding premium prices.
Three years of pill refinement and sales had accumulated wealth far surpassing his previous holdings, multiplying his net worth several times over.
Following his breakthrough in alchemy, he mastered the Sword Control Technique and then the Light Body Technique.
During these three years, he not only frequented the numerous markets of the Outer Peak but also ventured into the Inner Peak market to sell his medicinal pills.
Truthfully, neither the Inner Peak nor the Outer Peak of the Profound Pill Sect originally had established markets. All disciples, regardless of their status, conducted exchanges, trades, and purchases through the sect's official platform.
However, the Sect later discovered that many disciples were bypassing the official exchange platform and secretly organizing private trading gatherings.
Every cultivator has their secrets. Perhaps they acquired Magic Artifacts during a skirmish that couldn't be openly traded, or stumbled upon an Immortal Dao Inheritance with a mysterious Pill Formula or high-quality Medicinal Pills.
Trading such items on the Sect's official platform would attract scrutiny and make them a target. Private trading gatherings gradually arose from this need for discretion.
These gatherings grew increasingly popular, attracting cultivators of higher and higher status. Even Foundation Establishment Stage Inner Sect disciples and Elders of Affairs began to participate.
Finally, at the suggestion of a Golden Core Stage Great Cultivator within the Sect, independent markets began to emerge, separate from the Sect's official platform.
These semi-official markets offered both transactional privacy and the security of Sect membership, while also generating revenue for the Sect—a win-win situation.
This is how the Inner and Outer Peak markets came into being.
For many years, the eighteen markets on the Outer Peak and three on the Inner Peak have operated stably and successfully.
Over the past three years, Han Yi had spent most of his time in the Outer Peak market, venturing into the Inner Peak market only three times.
Each visit was meticulously planned, with extreme caution.
He knew this was risky, but he had no choice. Most disciples in the Outer Peak market were only at the Mid-Stage Qi Refining level and couldn't afford his Medicinal Pills.
Moreover, his breakthroughs in the Spirit Void Finger, Sword Control Technique, and Light Body Technique had significantly increased his overall combat strength, giving him a measure of confidence.
At Little Spirit Void Peak, in his courtyard, Han Yi finished his cultivation and stood up. A translucent, pale red panel materialized before him, displaying his current status:
[Lifespan: 28/99]
[Cultivation Realm: Qi Refining Fifth Layer (86/100)]
[Cultivation Technique: Fire Pill Profound Art (Mastery 89/100)]
[Skills:]
[ Alchemy Technique (Perfected Purity 7/100) ]
[ Spirit Void Finger (Perfected Purity 4/100) ]
[ Sword Control Technique (Perfected Purity 2/100) ]
[ Light Body Technique (Perfected Purity 2/100) ]
"Seven years have passed in the blink of an eye since I transmigrated," Han Yi mused. "I'm close to reaching the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. I believe I can break through within another year."
He took a deep breath, his mind already filled with plans and unwavering confidence for his future cultivation journey.
"By the way, the Demon Cave War ended not long ago," Han Yi mused. "Thank goodness I poured all my savings into securing an exemption from participation."
Even now, the reports of the Demon Cave War's outcome sent a shiver down his spine.
Not long ago...
The expeditionary forces had returned.
Over half the original contingent had perished in the brutal fighting within the Demon Cave.
Of the three Golden Core Stage Supreme Elders who had led the expedition, two had fallen. Only eight of the twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators survived, and the Qi Refining cultivators suffered even greater losses—only eight hundred returned out of three thousand four hundred.
This single battle had dealt the Profound Pill Sect a devastating blow, crippling its foundations.
But the impact wasn't limited to the Profound Pill Sect alone. The Demon Cave War had inflicted a severe wound on the entire Great Qian Cultivation World.
During that catastrophic conflict, even a Transformation God Stage powerhouse from Jade Capital Mountain had sacrificed himself to slay a Heavenly Demon God who had descended into the world. Multiple Nascent Soul Stage cultivators had also perished.
These were just rumors Han Yi had pieced together from gossip in the market. Yet, even from these fragments, he could vividly imagine the war's ferocity.
For someone like him, a mere Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivator, to have been caught in that maelstrom would have meant surrendering all control over his life and death.
Money well spent to avert disaster.
Three years ago, Han Yi might have felt cheated by Fan Mo. Now, he counted himself fortunate.
Faced with a matter of life and death, Han Yi accepted being swindled out of some Spirit Stones.
After quickly gathering his belongings and Medicinal Pills, he headed straight for Little Sea-Viewing Peak.
Over the past three years, he had maintained his connections on Little Sea-Viewing Peak, considering it one of his vital networking channels.
The events of three years prior had taught Han Yi that simply closing his eyes and hunkering down wouldn't suffice in this world. He needed to stay informed about the Sect's affairs at all times.
Even when lying low, one had to be prepared.
Personal connections, channels, and information were what he had deliberately cultivated over the past three years.
Upon reaching Little Sea-Viewing Peak and seeing who had come to meet him, Han Yi paused, genuinely surprised.
It was Yan Ru, still as strikingly curvaceous as ever.
This was their first reunion in three years.
Three years ago, Yan Ru had been selected to join the conscripted army. Fortunately, she had survived three years of relentless combat.
"Junior Brother Han, long time no see," Yan Ru greeted him, her expression even colder than before. Though it was a greeting, Han Yi felt an invisible wave of killing intent wash over him.
This killing intent had accumulated from three years of constant fighting in the Demon Cave. It wasn't deliberately directed at Han Yi but rather unconsciously radiated from her.
Han Yi's heart tightened.
Anyone who could survive three years of slaughter in the Demon Cave was a ruthless individual.