In almost four months, Di Jiu used up all level-four spiritual herbs before he was able to refine Grade-Three Spirit Elixirs. This was mostly credited to his Dao fire and his ability to vaguely sense the special properties of the spiritual herbs.
The Five Continent Dao Pagoda was probably closed. Di Jiu stopped practising alchemy. Given the amount of expenses and time required to become a Grade-Seven Elixir King, he might as well cultivate until he reached the Pioneer Sea Realm and challenged the people on the Sea Roll.