Chapter 97: Four Proposed Solutions

Wu Wei-zhenren continued his cultivation within the hall, and each time Chen Luo entered, he could sense an aura from Wu Wei-zhenren akin to a vast ocean. He couldn’t help but wonder if, apart from cultivating, this Shizun ever ventured outside.

Of course, such thoughts remained only in his mind.

As the peak lord of Divine Lake Immortal Sect and a powerful Foundation Establishment cultivator, Wu Wei-zhenren undoubtedly had his own social circle; it was just that as a Qi Refinement disciple, Chen Luo had no access to it. It was similar to the scholars at the academy, always maintaining a stern and rigid demeanor before their students.

“I am aware of the situation.”

Wu Wei-zhenren opened his eyes and casually waved his hand.

Two jade slips flew from a nearby bookshelf, landing automatically in the hands of Chen Luo and Fang Shan.

“These are your mission rewards.”

“Can we not choose our own rewards?” Fang Shan looked at the jade slip in his hand and couldn’t resist asking.

This wasn’t what they were told when accepting the task earlier.

However, Wu Wei-zhenren showed no intention of explaining further. After distributing the items, he resumed his cultivation immediately. As he practiced, the aura of ‘Xin Mo’ grew increasingly potent within the hall. Realizing this, Chen Luo and Fang Shan had no choice but to exit quietly.

“What a huge loss! If I knew the reward would be like this, I wouldn’t have taken such risks.”

Fang Shan stood at the door, examining the jade slip in his hand with a troubled expression.

The jade slip contained ‘Ginseng Root Planting Technique,’ while Chen Luo’s held the ‘Flame Control Art.’ Both were related to pill concocting knowledge, consistent with what the mission description had promised from Medicine King Peak.

However, this knowledge was not what Fang Shan desired. With plans to leave the mountain next year, he had undertaken this joint task hoping to acquire resources for breaking through his cultivation realm. After all the effort, he ended up receiving only a ‘Ginseng Root Planting Technique,’ which held little value unless sold.

“Look on the bright side,” Chen Luo offered reassuringly. “It’s still better than failing the mission.”

Considering how勉强 they barely managed to complete the task, these rewards were quite decent.

“Pill concocting knowledge can fetch some spirit stones; selling it could provide significant resources,” Chen Luo added.

“Ginseng Root Planting Technique is more suited for spiritual farming, not as valuable as the Flame Control Art you received.” Fang Shan resigned himself to reality.

From Wu Wei-zhenren’s demeanor, it was clear that his Shizun did not highly regard him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have given Chen Luo the Flame Control Art and Fang Shan the Ginseng Root Planting Technique.

“If only I had your aptitude,” Fang Shan said, envy flickering in his eyes.

To reach the sixth layer of Qi Refinement within less than a year indicated a promising future towards Foundation Establishment and potentially even the path of immortality!

“I only have three spiritual roots; there are countless others stronger than me within the sect,” Chen Luo replied quietly, fully aware of his own situation.

“Just my thoughts, really. Pill concocting relies heavily on pharmacology knowledge—understanding the medicinal properties of various spirit materials. That’s where the true value lies.” After venting a bit more, Fang Shan bid farewell to Chen Luo.

Alone, Chen Luo returned to the graveyard at the rear of the mountain.

Since the Gravekeeper Brother left, this place had become remarkably tranquil.

Seated in his room, Chen Luo finally found peace and began reflecting on his experience during the descent from the mountain.

“Taking that mission was quite risky.”

Originally, Chen Luo planned to gain some practical experience by joining the expedition team, then return to exchange divine abilities from other main peaks. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the reward changed to Medicine King Peak’s Flame Control Art instead.

“In the path of cultivation, one must remain steadfast and not be swayed by external temptations.”

“This time, I was blinded by the task’s rewards and overlooked the underlying dangers. It wasn’t a rational approach; I must be cautious in the future.”

After silently admonishing himself, Chen Luo started recalling the several encounters of magical combat he witnessed during the mission.

The first encounter was between Shijie Chu Hongye from Wanwu Peak and Demoness Precious Moon from Nine Poisons Valley. Their battle filled the field with swarms of insects and toxins, vastly different from straightforward martial combat.

The second encounter was between Xianhe Chengfeng and the Corpse-Raising Sect’s iron corpse, showcasing a battle at Foundation Establishment level.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, the competition shifts to divine abilities and magical power. Qi Refinement cultivators have virtually no means of defense against Foundation Establishment practitioners, as it becomes a contest dominated by magical suppression.

Lastly, there was Chen Luo himself defeating the tribulation cultivator.

With his preemptively improved Soul Technique, he had achieved absolute dominance, ensuring his opponent never even touched him throughout the entire fight—a testament to maximizing Wu Dao Peak’s technique advantage.

“The direction for my Soul Technique is correct; what I lack is defense.”

Recalling Demoness Precious Moon controlling bats and spiders, he still hadn’t devised a suitable countermeasure.

Their sheer numbers were overwhelming, making it impossible for his current spiritual energy reserves to sustain effective resistance.

“Learning another defensive divine ability might divert too much focus. It’s better to prioritize advancing my realm first. Once I reach Foundation Establishment, I can address this issue. With increased strength comes more options.”

In cultivation, the most crucial aspect remains one’s cultivation realm.

Having reached this conclusion, Chen Luo set aside the problem temporarily.

He would revisit it after achieving Foundation Establishment, anticipating that a more perfect solution might present itself then.

Picking up the Flame Control Art obtained from Wu Wei-zhenren, he skillfully infused it with spiritual energy, swiftly mastering the associated knowledge.

This time, over a dozen external brains provided feedback, indicating that many had studied Flame Control Art before their demise.

Those aspiring towards the immortal path invariably encountered knowledge related to pill concocting at some point.

Who hasn’t dreamt of becoming a master alchemist?

“It’s time to delve into pill concocting; with medicinal pills as aid, my cultivation journey can reach even greater heights.”

Unlike others who might worry about aptitude and resources for learning pill concoction, Chen Luo need not concern himself with such issues. Among the external brains he collected, several belonged to novice alchemists. While he couldn’t yet attempt advanced medicinal pills, brewing basic ones like blood qi pills was well within his grasp. However, these brains were severely fragmented, requiring him first to acquire the missing knowledge before utilizing it effectively.

By the time Chen Luo finished summarizing his gains from this trip down the mountain, night had fallen outside.

The cemetery after dark was exceptionally quiet.

Previously, there would have been the Gravekeeper Brother’s snoring, but now, complete silence prevailed, devoid even of insect sounds.

“Perfect timing, having just reached the sixth layer of Qi Refinement. I’ll go tend to the soil for our esteemed predecessors once more.”

Chen Luo approached a nearby cabinet, retrieved a shovel and deer-hide gloves, and headed straight for the cemetery.

With a lantern in one hand and a shovel in the other, his movements were remarkably practiced.

The skills passed down by his Third Uncle remained firmly honed.

After half an hour, Chen Luo finished filling and leveling the grave mounds, letting out a long sigh. He now controlled one hundred twenty external brains, significantly enhancing his mental acuity during cultivation.

“Next, I must find an opportunity to break through to Late Stage Qi Refinement.”

Chen Luo’s current cultivation base had reached the sixth layer of Qi Refinement. On Wu Dao Peak, there were many cultivators at this level, but reaching the seventh layer was different. Only a handful on the entire peak had achieved it. From this stage onwards, the disparity caused by one’s immortal cultivation aptitude becomes even more pronounced.

Even with his three spiritual roots, Chen Luo felt some pressure, albeit within manageable limits.

“I’ve fully mastered the Divine Comprehension Art, memorizing all thirteen layers. Now, it’s time for refining spiritual energy.”

Chen Luo sensed the quantity of spiritual energy within him.

Upon breaking through to the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, the number of little spiritual energy snakes inside him increased to nine. However, since then, their count ceased growing, as if ‘nine’ marked a limit. To reach the Late Stage Qi Refinement, he needed to surpass this threshold.

“To achieve Foundation Establishment, I require a hundred spiritual energy snakes. The gap is truly immense.”

Chen Luo attempted to cast the Dust Removal Technique.

The spiritual energy dispersed, swiftly clearing all impurities from the room. Surprisingly, it consumed only a minimal amount of his internal spiritual energy. At the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, Chen Luo was among the leading Wu Dao Peak disciples and could now apply for various positions on the mountain, such as Huang Butong’s role in assigning tasks or Hu Qiudao’s duty of welcoming newcomers.

Holding the ball of impurities, Chen Luo began contemplating ways to break through to the next realm.

Breakthroughs cannot be achieved merely by rigidly following a technique; it requires more than rote memorization. If it were that simple, there wouldn’t be so few Foundation Establishment cultivators.

“At this cultivation pace, I’ll reach the limit of the sixth layer within half a month at most.”

The ginseng root proved highly effective. As a Late Stage Qi Refinement spirit medicine valued at one thousand spirit stones, its complete digestion saved Chen Luo approximately three to four months of effort.

However, the ginseng root’s benefits only extended up to this point.

Most spirit medicines during the Qi Refinement stage primarily enhance spiritual energy levels. Higher-grade spirit materials, capable of providing greater advancement, are not easily obtainable for just one thousand spirit stones. They often fetch prices in the tens of thousands at auctions. Spirit medicines specifically related to reaching Foundation Establishment are even rarer, with any available quickly snapped up or traded within higher-tier circles.

“The first step is to accumulate ten little spiritual energy snakes,” Chen Luo recalled from the seventh layer of the Spirit Comprehension Art.

The opening section explained how, once sufficient spiritual energy was attained, one could more effectively refine it. However, regarding how to achieve this ‘sufficient quantity,’ the technique provided only a brief mention:

“Through steadfastness in refining qi and absorbing essence from the sun and moon, one can enter the Late Stage of Qi Refinement.”

It sounded vague yet true. Many older cultivators outside, stuck in the Late Stage Qi Refinement, had indeed progressed by merely enduring over time, with little hope of reaching Foundation Establishment in their lifetime.

Chen Luo would not employ such a method unless he desired to follow in Gravekeeper Brother’s footsteps, leaving the mountain to become a wealthy landowner among mortals.

“By extracting and purifying the essence blood of beasts, you can flawlessly advance to the Late Stage Qi Refinement, directly entering the ninth layer.”

“Using marrow extraction, seizing another’s spiritual energy can also break through your current realm.”

Suddenly, two pieces of information resonated from the mummified brain within his mind. It seemed that as the number of external brains increased, the mummified brain regained some activity, unexpectedly coming back to life.

Chen Luo then attempted to consult the two Foundation Establishment brains and swiftly received responses.

‘Break through using a Spirit Gathering Pill.’

‘Consume Zhu Yang Flower for breakthrough.’

These methods likely corresponded to how the two Foundation Establishment elders had achieved their advancement before their passing.

When Chen Luo further inquired about the process of refining Spirit Gathering Pills and where Zhu Yang Flowers could be found, there was no response.

It remained incomprehensible.

The knowledge seemed incomplete; recalling the names alone appeared to be remnants from their lifetime.

Out of these four options, the ones provided by the mummified brain were impractical.

Using demon beast essence blood, as suggested first, sounded promising. There was indeed a demonic creature on Wu Dao Peak—the immortal crane Xianhe Chengfeng, akin to an uncle-master’s rank. However, with his small stature, attempting to extract its essence blood would most likely result in death without even realizing how it happened. As for the second method, he knew nothing about the Extraction Technique or where to learn it, let alone employing such a divine ability to steal others’ spiritual energy.

The most reliable approaches came from the senior members of the Divine Lake Immortal Sect.

“I can try researching the Spirit Gathering Pill,” Chen Luo contemplated. “And regarding the Zhu Yang Flower, I can ask Junior Sister Huang Ying to inquire about it.”

Chen Luo pondered his viable options.

“Perhaps I should seize this opportunity to learn pill concocting. After all, I’ll need it for creating Foundation Establishment Pills eventually.”

After weighing his choices briefly, Chen Luo made a decision.

First thing tomorrow morning, he would seek out Junior Sister Huang Ying for a pill furnace!