Chapter 145: Pill Refining (A celebratory chapter for Silver Alliance Master Yūsei Kōshō! )
Chapter 145: Pill Refining (A celebratory chapter for Silver Alliance Master Yūsei Kōshō! )
Inside the Cave Abode.
The array patterns of the Fire Control Formation lit up, one by one, drawing spirit energy from the spirit stones and forming a cerulean second-order flame beneath the Purple Jade Cauldron.
Waves of heat swept through the surroundings, and the temperature steadily rose.
After feeling the docile and stable nature of this flame, Fang Xi nodded in satisfaction.
The formation set he designed operated quite successfully, with no other flaws apart from consuming spirit stones.
Fang Xi took a deep breath, first taking out other medicinal ingredients, and refined a batch of 'Qi Replenishing Pills'.
In the inheritance of pill refining techniques, this had a technical name: 'Warming the Cauldron'!
A pill cauldron that had not been used for a long time often performed poorly when refining the first batch of pills, slightly affecting the success rate of subsequent pills.
His expression solemn, he set aside the refined Qi Replenishing Pills and took out sixteen jade boxes from his storage pouch.
After opening them, various materials appeared, among which a grayish-white monster core was the most eye-catching.
"Let's begin!"
Fang Xi murmured, first taking out the 'Dragon Transformation Ginseng', as white as jade, and cutting off a piece with a small jade knife.
To refine a Foundation Establishment Pill, one portion of materials actually didn't require an entire 'Dragon Transformation Ginseng'; a cut section was sufficient.
However, the 'Dragon Transformation Ginseng' lost its medicinal efficacy quickly after being damaged, hence it was often sold as whole plants.
"These monster cores were actually from early-stage Foundation Establishment demonic beasts, and I don't expect to produce more than two pills per batch, so naturally, I'll follow the minimum configuration for all of them. . . Small quantities, multiple attempts, to accumulate experience. . ."
Fang Xi released his Divine Consciousness, extending it into the Purple Jade Cauldron.
The next moment, he placed the cut Dragon Transformation Ginseng into the pill furnace, manipulating the flame to envelop it, refining it into a translucent medicinal liquid.
Next, came the other auxiliary materials. . .
Throughout this process, Fang Xi's Divine Consciousness meticulously observed every subtle change within the pill furnace.
Anyway, he wasn't prepared for the first batch to succeed, so his mindset was excellent, treating it purely as an experiment.
Once the grayish-white monster core entered the pill furnace, Fang Xi's expression immediately became solemn, more so than ever before.
Roar! Roar!
Upon encountering the flame, the monster core instantly erupted with a surge of resistance, and faint roars of a demonic beast could be heard within.
"Refining pills with monster cores is indeed not as gentle as using spirit herbs. . ."
Fang Xi immediately dripped in Azure Spirit Liquid, seeking to merge the medicinal properties and stabilize the various ingredients.
However, the next moment!
Boom!
The Purple Jade Cauldron trembled, and the medicinal liquid and monster core inside erupted in a violent conflict, both turning to ash!
Fang Xi's first attempt at pill refining failed to even complete the step of congealing the medicinal liquid into a pill!
"Hm. . . The monster core's impact was too strong, and the Azure Spirit Liquid was added a bit too late. . ."
His face showed no joy or sorrow, not caring in the slightest that he had accidentally destroyed an extremely precious monster core, as he recalled the recent pill refining experience.
After resting for a night and simulating the process multiple times in his mind, Fang Xi once again opened his cauldron to refine pills!
Bang!
This time, he barely managed to combine the Azure Spirit Liquid with the monster core and integrate it with the medicinal liquid, but failed at the very last step. . .
...
Three months later.
"Sixth batch!"
Fang Xi's expression was indifferent, his gaze sharp; he fluidly fed each ingredient into the pill furnace.
Next, came a purple-crystal-like monster core, and the Azure Spirit Liquid!
"With the fifth batch, I was already close to forming the pill, but my magical power was insufficient at the crucial moment. . ."
This time, Fang Xi was well-prepared, perfectly activating the monster core's demonic power and fusing it with the original medicinal liquid, transforming it into a translucent liquid, green tinged with purple.
The furnace fire blazed fiercely, continuously nourishing this mass of medicinal liquid. . .
After seven days and seven nights, Fang Xi popped a Qi Replenishing Pill into his mouth, first restoring some of his magical power, before unhurriedly casting a spell incantation:
"Congeal!"
Inside the pill furnace, the greenish-purple medicinal liquid continuously condensed, its color constantly shifting between myriad hues. . .
Sweat beaded on Fang Xi's forehead, as he arduously stabilized the various spiritual energy conflicts within the pill.
Three days later.
"Open the furnace!"
His magical power surged, as he cast spell incantations, one after another, into the Purple Jade Cauldron.
The Purple Jade Cauldron rumbled, and a pale blue pill flew out, landing in Fang Xi's hand.
But before joy could surface on his face, the color of this Foundation Establishment Pill rapidly turned black, then it exploded. . . turning into a pile of ash.
"My technique for retrieving the pill still needs improvement. . . I was a bit too hasty earlier."
...
Another three months passed.
As the number of furnace openings increased, the time Fang Xi spent refining Foundation Establishment Pills also grew longer.
This was a good sign.
Previously, he had failed right at the start, but now, he could persist until the final step of retrieving the pill.
"Eighth batch!"
Fang Xi proceeded methodically, overcoming each difficulty and obstacle along the way, until he reached the final pill retrieval step.
This time, he improved his original pill collection incantation, a spell seal descending into the pill furnace.
The Purple Jade Cauldron rumbled open, and the scent of medicine permeated the room.
A brilliant blue pill landed in Fang Xi's hand; it was indeed a Foundation Establishment Pill!
However, on the surface of this pill, there was a gray pill pattern!
"Low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill? !"
Fang Xi frowned: "It seems my previous technique still had imperfections. . ."
This low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill also had the miraculous effect of assisting cultivators in their Foundation Establishment breakthrough, but its pill toxins exceeded the standard, and its efficacy was slightly inferior to a regular Foundation Establishment Pill, only about sixty to seventy percent as effective.
"But it's enough, more than enough. . ."
"As long as the Foundation Establishment Pill can protect the meridians and ensure survival even if Foundation Establishment fails, then it's a sufficient safeguard. . ."
Fang Xi carefully put away this low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, then went off to sleep soundly.
His pressure during this period had been quite significant, especially during the last few batches.
Although he had repeatedly told himself that if he failed, he would just repeat the process of collecting materials, the Demon Kings of Da Liang were not infinite either. Fortunately, all his pressure had now vanished!
Overjoyed, Fang Xi went out to relax for a few more months, then returned, feeling refreshed in both body and mind, to continue opening his cauldron!
For the ninth batch of Foundation Establishment Pills, Fang Xi indulged his whims, freely and wildly implementing his previous conjectures one by one, only for the furnace to explode mid-refinement.
He chuckled heartily, then proceeded to clean the furnace and refine the last monster core.
This time, however, he seemed to have divine assistance; in his final attempt, he successfully refined a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill!
...
On the bed in his Cave Abode, Fang Xi lay half-reclined, tossing two jade bottles in his hand.
"Ten monster cores, in the hands of those alchemy grandmasters, would yield at least ten genuine Foundation Establishment Pills. . ."
This wasn't to say they would succeed every time they refined pills, but rather that some alchemy grandmasters could refine two Foundation Establishment Pills in a single batch!
As for Fang Xi, ten cores became two pills, one of which was low-grade—it was practically a massive loss!
But Fang Xi felt it was still quite a gain.
At the very least, he had quietly obtained two Foundation Establishment Pills.
Moreover. . . he had also learned the art of refining Foundation Establishment Pills!
With this skill, he would dare to impersonate a second-order alchemy grandmaster!
Though, Fang Xi had no intention of doing so.
He toyed with the jade bottles containing the Foundation Establishment Pills, and began contemplating his Foundation Establishment breakthrough.
"Undergoing the transformation by consuming a Foundation Establishment Pill is best done atop a second-order spirit vein, as it provides a bonus. . ."
"With this Fang Xi identity, I can openly break through to Foundation Establishment. . . I am only fifty-eight years old now, so I can declare that my sixty-year Foundation Establishment lifespan limit is approaching, and thus I'm choosing to fight to the death!"
Although the success rate for cultivators to achieve Foundation Establishment on their own was extremely low, and the death rate extremely high, there were still lucky individuals!
"Or. . . claim I luckily acquired a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item?"
"Anyway, after Foundation Establishment, the spiritual item would have been consumed, so who could verify it?"
...
White Peace Immortal City was a holy land for rogue cultivators to achieve Foundation Establishment.
Every so often, news would spread of rogue cultivators successfully achieving Foundation Establishment.
Its reputation was generally reliable.
Since Fang Xi had painstakingly planned for the Foundation Establishment Pill for his breakthrough, he naturally had to ensure the best conditions in other aspects as well.
As for renting a second-order spirit vein cave abode, it was indeed safer in White Peace Immortal City than anywhere else in the State of Yue.
What's more. . . Fang Xi had also considered the issues after Foundation Establishment.
"After I establish my Foundation, even though my spiritual root is excellent, I will still need a second-order spirit vein, along with Foundation Establishment cultivation techniques and certain resources to cultivate properly. . . It would be best to have a powerful faction backing me."
"White Peace Immortal City looks good. . . If I establish my Foundation within the city, and my origins are clean, I will surely be recruited; perhaps I can join them then?"
As for the Core Formation sects of the three countries? They were not within Fang Xi's consideration.
Not to mention whether the entry examination would be strict, just the fact that Fang Xi wasn't a disciple nurtured by the sect from a young age doomed him to be forever excluded from the core, unless under special circumstances.
After all, within sects, loyalty was paramount!
...
With these thoughts in mind, Fang Xi tidied up his Cave Abode and returned to White Peace Immortal City.
Smoky Willow Alley, Building Eighty-Seven.
He had previously leased it for ten years, and was still within the term.
Looking at his small courtyard, he felt a certain familiarity.
"Fellow Daoist, you're back! Something big has happened here recently!"
Wisteria Fairy, clad in a green dress, saw Fang Xi, her eyes suddenly lit up: "Your cultivation. . . Perfected Qi Refinement?"
"I was lucky to obtain some opportunities, and finally advanced to the tenth level of Qi Refinement!"
Fang Xi smiled faintly; as he was about to undergo Foundation Establishment, there was no need to hide his apparent cultivation level anymore, and he asked, "What happened?"
"Alas. . . Jin Ling's man's lifespan was nearing its end, so he rented a second-order cave abode in the inner city to attempt Foundation Establishment, but he failed and died. . ."
Wisteria Fairy revealed everything, her tone respectful.
After all, Fang Xi was already a master of Perfected Qi Refinement.
"Ah. . . this really is unexpected."
Fang Xi quickly brought gifts and went to Su Lie's home to mourn.
"Fellow Daoist Fang. . ."
Jin Ling wore a pure white simple dress, her expression cold and indifferent.
"Fellow Daoist Jin, please accept my condolences. . ."
"You know Old Su's temperament. . . Before his lifespan ran out, he was bound to take a gamble. " Jin Ling said expressionlessly: "Before he went into secluded death cultivation, he once said his biggest regret was not attempting a breakthrough before turning sixty, which led to a depletion of his blood qi and reduced his chances of success. . . He didn't spare a single thought for me, what a cruel heart!"
Fang Xi was speechless.
...
The next day, he went to the inner city, found the steward in charge of rentals, and stated his intention to rent a second-order cave abode.
"Of course, of course. . ."
The rental steward, clad in a green silk robe, introduced himself as Han, and said with a smile: "May I ask the purpose of your renting a cave abode, esteemed sir? If it's for secluded cultivation to break through your cultivation, we have the best 'A-grade' cave abode, with spiritual energy reaching peak second-order inside!"
"Naturally, it's for secluded cultivation to break through! " Fang Xi said with a resolute expression.
Seeing Fang Xi's Perfected Qi Refinement cultivation, Steward Han's expression couldn't help but become slightly solemn: "May I ask your esteemed age?"
"Fifty-eight. . . " Fang Xi replied with a weary expression.
"Alas, an A-grade cave abode is one hundred spirit stones per year. . ."
Steward Han didn't say much, and quickly helped him complete the procedures.
After Fang Xi left, he looked at Fang Xi's retreating figure, and his expression surprisingly carried a trace of pity.
Working here, he had seen many rogue cultivators who gambled their lives before their sixty-year lifespan limit.
The vast majority of them failed, and those with bad luck even lost their lives.
"Foundation Establishment, huh. . ."
A hint of gloom and self-mockery appeared on Steward Han's face: "True Heaven's Chosen all achieve Perfected Qi Refinement before thirty, then consume Foundation Establishment Pills to break through. . . How can old folks like us compare. . ."
Sob. . . still in debt, but I'll definitely repay.
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