14: Mage

In the early morning, Xu Qi'an pushed open the door of his thatched hut, feeling the surging power within his body, a slight smile playing on his lips.

After a night of arduous cultivation, relying on the rank one mid-grade demon beast meat, he successfully broke through to Body Refinement Fourth Layer!

With Body Refinement Fourth Layer paired with Qi Refining Sixth Level cultivation, Xu Qi'an believed his current strength was comparable to an ordinary Qi Refining Late Stage.

This didn't even account for his other trump cards and methods.

Just the Qi Refining Late Stage Talismans Xu Qi'an currently possessed were enough to surpass many Qi Refining Late Stage Cultivators.

Xu Qi'an smiled faintly; at this moment, he could finally change his form!

Thinking of this, Xu Qi'an felt a surge of excitement and took out a mirror from his storage bag. The mirror reflected Xu Qi'an's delicate face.

The face of this body wasn't bad, it was above average.

Xu Qi'an took a deep breath, and then the face in the mirror changed, becoming extremely beautiful.

Then, two extra fleshy lumps appeared on Xu Qi'an's chest.

"It really works!"

Xu Qi'an changed into many different appearances and body shapes, truly experiencing the heroic bearing of Wu Yanzu and Peng Yuyan from his previous life.

However, in the end, to avoid attracting attention, Xu Qi'an changed into the appearance of an ordinary large man.

At this moment, his physique was a circle more robust than before, with bulging muscles and a faint copper glow faintly visible beneath his skin, clearly presenting the appearance of a sturdy man.

After tidying up, Xu Qi'an suppressed his Qi Refining cultivation to Refining Qi Level 4 and walked towards the Qingzhu Market.

Today, he decided to try his luck again and see if he could find any Secret Manuals or Materials related to formations, elixirs, artifacts, or Talismans at the stalls.

In the Qingzhu Market, people came and went, it was bustling and lively.

Xu Qi'an moved between the stalls, his gaze shifting over the dazzling array of goods.

Xu Qi'an browsed for a while, but didn't find anything satisfactory, though he also knew that insights and secrets about formations, elixirs, artifacts, and Talismans were not that easy to obtain.

Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to a secluded stall.

Xu Qi'an noticed that Cultivators frequently visited that stall.

Xu Qi'an arrived at the stall and saw several old books displayed, one of which had "Elixir Refining Miscellaneous Records" written on the cover.

Xu Qi'an's heart was filled with joy.

The stall owner was a middle-aged scholar with a gentle face, his cultivation around Qi Refining Sixth Level.

As soon as he saw Xu Qi'an arrive, his eyes lit up, and he carefully sized up Xu Qi'an.

Then, he said with a smile: "Fellow Daoist has good taste. This miscellaneous record was obtained by me after countless hardships, and it records many insights into elixir refining."

"If Fellow Daoist has the idea of stepping into elixir refining, you can't miss it."

Xu Qi'an picked up the book and flipped through a few pages, finding that it indeed recorded some methods and precautions for refining low-grade elixirs.

He was secretly pleased, but didn't show it on his face, merely asking: "How many ling stones is this Elixir Refining Miscellaneous Records?"

The stall owner glanced at Xu Qi'an, and suddenly smiled: "Ling stones? I don't need ling stones."

"I have a question, is Fellow Daoist a Body Refinement Cultivator?"

Xu Qi'an was taken aback, then asked with a somewhat wary expression: "What if I am? Then what does Fellow Daoist want?"

"Fellow Daoist also knows that the secret insights into the four arts of formations, elixirs, artifacts, and Talismans are quite valuable, and ordinary Cultivators are not willing to sell them."

The middle-aged scholar's lips curled up slightly, and then he lowered his voice and said: "I need Fellow Daoist to help me with something. If you are willing, this Elixir Refining Miscellaneous Records will be given to you."

"If the matter is successful, there will be other treasures given as well."

Xu Qi'an frowned, weighed the matter in his heart, and decided to probe first: "I wonder what Fellow Daoist needs me to help with?"

The middle-aged scholar looked around, and seeing that no one was paying attention, he whispered: "This is not the place to talk. If Fellow Daoist is interested, let's meet tomorrow at noon at the Lingyun Teahouse, how about it?"

Xu Qi'an pondered for a moment, and finally nodded: "Okay, tomorrow at noon, see you at the Ling Teahouse."

The next day at noon, Xu Qi'an arrived at the Ling Teahouse as agreed. Inside the teahouse, several maidservants moved back and forth, and the aroma of tea filled the air.

Following the instructions of the middle-aged scholar, he walked into a private room on the second floor.

Pushing open the door, the middle-aged scholar was already sitting inside. Seeing Xu Qi'an enter, he smiled and stood up: "Fellow Daoist is indeed punctual, please sit."

Xu Qi'an nodded, sat down, and asked: "May I know how Fellow Daoist is addressed?"

The middle-aged scholar smiled: "My name is Bai Zhan, may I know Fellow Daoist's esteemed name?"

Xu Qi'an casually made up a name: "Diao Deyi."

Upon hearing this, a strange look flashed in Bai Zhan's eyes, but he quickly hid it and said with a smile: "So it's Fellow Daoist Diao. However, we still have one more person to wait for."

Xu Qi'an's heart stirred, and just as he was about to ask, he suddenly heard footsteps from outside the door.

Immediately after, a young Cultivator dressed in luxurious clothes pushed the door open and entered.

This person had a handsome face, with a hint of arrogance between his brows, and his cultivation was actually Qi Refining Sixth Level!

"Fellow Daoist Wan Feng, you're finally here!" Bai Zhan quickly stood up and greeted him warmly.

Wan Feng nodded faintly, his gaze swept over Xu Qi'an, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes, but he didn't say much, just sat down casually.

Bai Zhan smiled and introduced: "This is Fellow Daoist Wan Feng, a famous Formation Master."

"This is Fellow Daoist Diao Deyi. His cultivation is not bad, and he is a helper I specially invited."

Xu Qi'an cupped his hands, but was secretly surprised: Bai Zhan could actually invite a Formation Master, it seems this matter is not simple!

Wan Feng glanced at Xu Qi'an, his tone cold: "Bai Zhan, is the person you found reliable? Don't let him hold us back later."

Bai Zhan quickly smoothed things over: "Fellow Daoist Wan Feng, don't worry, Fellow Daoist Diao cultivates both body and magic, his strength is not bad, he definitely won't hold us back."

Wan Feng's expression changed slightly, and then he turned his head away, no longer looking at Xu Qi'an.

Xu Qi'an's right eye twitched slightly. Hearing this, he sneered in his heart, but didn't show it on his face, merely saying calmly: "Fellow Daoist Bai, now that everyone is here, can you explain what you need my help with?"