Chapter 101: Purchasing Pills
After half an hour, Chen Luo opened his eyes and exhaled deeply.
He had fully comprehended the pill formula given by Du Jian.
The refining techniques significantly differed from those currently used in the cultivation world. Several medicinal pills required beast cores as catalysts, with intricate details focusing on their handling. The method of using demonic substances for pill concoction had vanished entirely from today’s cultivation realm. Moreover, many of the beasts mentioned in the formula were completely unfamiliar to him.
In the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, mainstream pill concocting relied on combining herbal properties, allowing pharmacological interactions to coalesce into the final medicinal pill.
These two approaches differed fundamentally in intent and materials used.
“Did ancient arcane cultivators overhunt, leading to the extinction of these beasts?” Chen Luo speculated.
Gathering his thoughts, he identified several useful techniques within these methods.
Just as he was about to channel spiritual energy and commence refining anew, he suddenly noticed that his absorption rate of spiritual energy had significantly increased. His perception revealed an additional component of spiritual energy he had never detected before—fire attribute!
“Hmm? My aptitudes have changed again!”
Quickly calming his mind, Chen Luo began sensing his own spiritual roots.
The original water, wood, and thunder attribute roots remained, but now alongside them was an additional fire attribute root. This transformation instantly changed him from having tier-3 to tier-4 spirit roots.
Chen Luo was momentarily stunned by this outcome.
Shouldn’t upgrading from three spiritual roots result in either dual or single attributes? How could his aptitude deteriorate instead?
From the moment he entered the sect, Chen Luo had a premonition that his tier-3 spirit roots were not permanent. His innate aptitude would change as he absorbed more brains. The last alteration occurred when he assimilated the mummified brain, and this recent shift happened after absorbing the tiger demon’s brain.
Both instances involved unique brains, leading Chen Luo to grasp the key factor influencing his aptitude.
“The speed of my cultivation hasn’t slowed down; it’s actually faster now.”
Sensing his Qi Refinement pace, Chen Luo felt no negative impact. It seemed his tier-4 spirit roots differed fundamentally from Huang Ying’s. Huang Ying’s tier-4 spirit roots represented mid-grade aptitude, while his newly acquired tier-4 status resulted from mutation, maintaining a cultivation speed equivalent to dual-attribute roots.
“It appears my spirit root aptitude cannot be measured by conventional standards of the cultivation world.”
Assured that it wouldn’t hinder his cultivation, Chen Luo shifted his focus back to pill concocting. The intricacies of aptitude were beyond his current understanding; he would need to delve deeper once his strength advanced further.
Directing his spiritual energy, the pill furnace took flight again.
With the addition of the fire elemental root, Chen Luo’s control over flames became even more precise, significantly reducing his consumption of spiritual energy.
No wonder Medicine King Peak prioritized fire elemental disciples when accepting apprentices.
Cultivators with fire attribute spiritual roots indeed possess significant advantages in pill concocting.
“Add the ingredients.”
With a wave of his hand, a fresh set of herbs fell into the pill furnace, initiating another round of concoction.
After four hours:
Chen Luo retrieved two crimson medicinal pills from the pill furnace. Having absorbed Du Jian’s ancient pill formulas, he made several refinements to his technique. After multiple trials, the resulting medicinal pills were no longer duds. Compared to his first attempt, these pills exhibited greater perfection and now possessed the fundamental effects of a Qi Nourishing Pill. However, they contained a higher accumulation of pill toxins, which could potentially impact one’s aptitude if consumed excessively.
“Seven medicinal pills, that should cover my costs.”
Chen Luo placed these two pills into a porcelain bottle.
Outside, the sky was just beginning to brighten.
After a night of pill concoction, he had exhausted all three packs of ingredients purchased on his trip down the mountain. Aside from the failed attempts, his greatest yield were these few successful pills. Among the seven, one was entirely useless as a toxic dud, while the remaining six also had their imperfections.
His current level of pill concocting had reached the peak of what the external brain possessed before its death.
This skill matched that of a Qi Refinement stage alchemist.
“Now, I can be considered a proper alchemist. If at Medicine King Peak, it would’ve easily granted me entry into the Inner Sect,” Chen Luo thought with satisfaction regarding his pill-concocting proficiency.
Without any pill formulas, he managed to deduce and develop the method for creating the ‘Qi Nourishing Pill’ through trial and error. With this accomplishment, if he claimed himself to be a genius in the pill dao, no one would dare dispute it.
“For now, selling these medicinal pills through Junior Sister Huang Ying’s channels is not advisable; it could easily attract unwanted attention.”
Chen Luo carefully stored the medicinal pills. After some deliberation, he decided against selling them for profit at this time.
Previously, when crafting talismans, he could attribute his skills to family teachings and early learning—a common occurrence among Divine Lake Immortal Sect’s disciples. Among the Four Arts of Immortality, Talisman Dao is the most widespread discipline, with many rogue cultivators practicing it as well. However, the pill dao was different; the profits from medicinal pills far exceeded those of talismans.
Emerging suddenly as an untrained alchemist would undoubtedly attract attention from individuals with ulterior motives, which contradicted Chen Luo’s initial intentions.
“Let’s wait until my next mission off the mountain to find another opportunity.”
Considering various options, Chen Luo felt they all carried too much risk. It seemed wiser to play it safe first, focusing on breaking through his cultivation base instead.
At the Merit Bestowal Grounds.
Finally, Chen Luo spotted Junior Sister Huang Ying. After her recent secluded cultivation, Huang Ying’s aura had subtly strengthened. Although still in the fifth layer of Qi Refinement, she surpassed many peers at the same level.
“Elder Brother Chen, over here!”
Huang Ying spotted Chen Luo as well and waved enthusiastically from afar.
“Congratulations.”
As Chen Luo approached, he offered his heartfelt felicitations to Huang Ying. For a cultivator, nothing brings greater joy than advancing one’s cultivation base.
“Just a small progress, it doesn’t compare to Shixiong,” Huang Ying replied cheerfully, her delight evident on her face.
“Still purchasing spirit medicines?”
“No, I’m temporarily giving up pill concoction for now.” Chen Luo shook his head.
Having successfully created the Qi Nourishing Pill, he had completed the first phase of his plan, laying the groundwork for crafting the Foundation Establishment Pill. He would seek out a more accomplished alchemist’s knowledge for future concoctions. Currently, breaking through his realm was paramount; staying at the sixth level of Qi Refinement for too long meant it was time to enter the Late Stage Qi Refinement.
“Giving it up is probably for the best. With your aptitude in talismanry, focusing solely on that might lead you to become a Second-Order Talisman Master someday,” Huang Ying agreed with relief.
Witnessing Chen Luo continuously pouring vast resources day after day, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy.
“Do you have any Spirit Gathering Pills here? I’d like to purchase one.”
Chen Luo took out his bag of holding and handed over the Tiger King’s bone gifted by Fu An.
“I’ll exchange this for it.”
“A Tiger King’s bone from Fu An? He isn’t foolish.” Huang Ying snorted twice, clearly aware of the news regarding Fu An possessing such a bone.
Since Fu An had chosen Chen Luo, there was little she could say against it. She herself would likely make the same choice.
“Here, I have one; let’s make the trade.” Huang Ying rummaged through her own bag of holding and swiftly found a small black bottle.
It contained medicinal pills produced by Yakwang Peak within the sect, ensuring their quality.
Compared to these, Chen Luo’s self-concocted Qi Nourishing Pills seemed akin to products from a humble workshop.
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