After a night's sleep to fully recover his energy, Ning Fa washed up the next morning and took a Spirit Boat to Lingchang Island, where the family's Pill Hall was located.
Since there were no direct Spirit Boats from Pingchang Island to Lingchang Island, Ning Fa first took a boat to a large island next door for a transfer.
Lingchang Island was located in the heart of the Ning family's territory. It had a second-grade mid-quality Spirit Vein, making it arguably the best place for Spirit Veins besides the ancestral land, Pingchang Island.
Lingchang Island not only housed the family's Pill Hall but also the largest spiritual herb garden in the family. Therefore, this island was very important to the Ning family.
The entire island was protected by a second-grade formation, which the Ning family had paid a great price to establish. Family guards were stationed there year-round, making it difficult for even Foundation Establishment cultivators to break in. Access was only permitted at specific locations.
After about three hours, Ning Fa finally arrived at the dock on Lingchang Island.
At the dock, a squad of family guards in silver armor was rigorously inspecting incoming and outgoing boats and cultivators. Leading them was a burly man with a full beard and a body like an iron tower.
He exuded a strong aura of battle, and his tiger-like eyes were sharp and spirited, making it intimidating to meet his gaze. This man had already reached the eighth level of Qi Condensation.
The burly man spotted Ning Fa disembarking from the boat and glared at him, "Ning Fa, why are you here again, you brat!"
Ning Fa quickly recalled the man's identity and immediately bowed respectfully, "Uncle Lie, I'm still here to participate in the assessment at the Pill Hall."
This man was Ning Zonglie, an elite disciple of the family and currently a member of the family's Blazing Wind Hall.
Ning Fa's father had also served in the Blazing Wind Hall before and had a good relationship with this man, who had also taken good care of Ning Fa in the past.
The silver-armored man frowned, "Brat, you still haven't given up?"
Ning Fa could only force an awkward smile and offered no further explanation.
The silver-armored man sighed, waved his hand, and without checking Ning Fa, let him pass.
Ning Fa breathed a sigh of relief. Upon truly entering Lingchang Island, a dense spiritual energy washed over him, far exceeding the concentration on Pingchang Island where he resided.
To Ning Fa's right, a place could be vaguely seen shrouded in colorful, auspicious light, with a peculiar medicinal fragrance faintly drifting from that direction.
That was the spiritual herb garden on Lingchang Island, where many spiritual herbs were planted. Among them were valuable first and second-grade spiritual herbs with ages of several hundred years. Any single plant there would be highly sought after in the market.
Ning Fa withdrew his gaze and walked straight ahead. Ten miles ahead, there was a small mountain over a hundred feet high. At the foot of the mountain lay a cluster of continuous pavilions, which was the location of the family's Pill Hall.
Several of the family's Pill Masters resided here normally, including Liu Qinghui and Ning Ruiming.
Ning Fa soon reached the largest pavilion. The plaque above the door bore the flamboyant inscription of "Ning Family Pill Hall."
This place was also protected by restrictions. After knocking on the door, Ning Fa patiently waited outside.
Before long, a maid opened the door. After Ning Fa explained his purpose, she led him into a side hall and asked him to wait.
Ning Fa sat down casually, but after waiting for a long time with no one appearing, he couldn't help but frown.
After waiting for another half hour, footsteps sounded, and a middle-aged cultivator in brocade robes entered the room.
He had a refined face, skin as rosy as a baby's, and a long goatee. He looked ethereal and perfectly fit the description of an immortal from Earth.
Seeing that the man had finally arrived, Ning Fa breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Greetings, Alchemist Wei."
This man was Wei Chengzong. He was not a member of the Ning family but a guest alchemist for the Ning family, specifically responsible for refining pills for them. He was also the most skilled alchemist in the Ning family.
Although he was only at the ninth level of Qi Condensation, he was already a quasi-second-grade alchemist, capable of refining some of the simplest second-grade pills.
He served as the deputy head of the family's Pill Hall. While the head of the hall was the family's Third Elder, Ning Zhongjiu, the Third Elder rarely involved himself in the Pill Hall's affairs. Wei Chengzong was generally responsible for the daily alchemy matters.
It was he who presided over the family's alchemist assessments. Only after his approval would the results be reported to the family.
Wei Chengzong looked at Ning Fa, a strange expression appearing in his eyes, "Ning Fa, you haven't given up, have you? You still want to take the assessment?"
Wei Chengzong's peculiar expression made Ning Fa wary, but he still replied, "Yes, I believe I have mastered the refinement of the Essence Replenishing Pill, so I have come today to apply for another assessment."
After Ning Fa finished speaking, Wei Chengzong sighed, "According to family regulations, as long as family disciples provide their own spiritual materials, they can come to the Pill Hall for assessment at any time. However, it's rather inconvenient today. I am currently refining an important batch of pills and cannot spare the time to assess you."
Hearing this, Ning Fa's heart sank. He immediately asked, "Not today, then what about tomorrow?"
Wei Chengzong gave a wry smile, "Tomorrow or the day after won't work either. If you want to be assessed, come back to me in five days."
Ning Fa fell silent, his expression turning calm, but his eyes held a hint of coldness.
Five days from now would be too late, as the agreement between him and the Fifth Elder, Ning Huarong, would take effect in two days.
If he did not become a family alchemist, he would be forced to become Ning Huarong's dual cultivation cauldron.
Although he only had to accompany Ning Huarong for three months, the biggest problem was that being her cauldron could damage his Dao Foundation.
He already had a flawed Lightning Spiritual Root, making his cultivation speed comparable to a pseudo-spiritual root. If his Dao Foundation were further damaged, breaking through to the mid-Qi Condensation stage would likely be a distant dream. At that point, even if he became a family alchemist, what would be the point?
Moreover, without improving his cultivation, he would essentially only be able to refine first-grade low-grade pills. He wouldn't have enough spiritual power to refine mid-grade first-grade pills.
Even if he joined the Pill Hall, he wouldn't be taken seriously if he couldn't refine high-grade pills.
"Alchemist Wei, you have some nerve!..."
Ning Fa knew in his heart that Wei Chengzong's words were an excuse, and that Ning Ruiming was most likely behind this.
Although Ning Ruiming was only a mid-grade first-grade alchemist now, he was not only a direct descendant but was also being groomed as a potential chief alchemist.
Wei Chengzong, whose alchemy skills were considered the weakest among alchemists of the same rank and whose own strength was not solid, was keen on befriending the powerful and currying favor.
Therefore, it was obvious that he would not refuse such a simple request from Ning Ruiming.
Ning Ruiming's actions were clearly intended to make him lose the bet and damage his Dao Foundation after becoming a dual cultivation cauldron, thereby completely cutting off his potential.
However, Ning Fa was somewhat puzzled as to why Ning Ruiming hadn't acted when his predecessor came for an assessment before, but now that he himself had come, Ning Ruiming was resorting to such tactics, not even giving him a fair chance to be assessed.
"Alchemist Wei, please be accommodating. I only need to refine three batches of Essence Replenishing Pills, which will take at most three to four hours. It won't take up too much of your time."
Despite knowing that Ning Ruiming might be behind this, Ning Fa still asked Wei Chengzong, unwilling to give up.
Wei Chengzong looked at him with a hint of sympathy in his eyes but still slowly shook his head and then stood up, "No, you should come back in five days."