Azure Sea Sect.
Cold Spring Peak.
Fang Qing found a spring eye.
This spring eye lacked sufficient spiritual energy and had not entered any grade, but under the perception of his Ji Water true power, it carried a vigorous vitality. Using it to combine dicines was an excellent choice.
“As expected, this Ji Water cultivation image still has many aspects worth excavating…”
Fang Qing had originally only planned to use his mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation to once again attempt water-thod pill refinent.
But today, with a sudden inspiration, transforming his Ji Water true power brought him an additional surprise.
Pa!
He patted the storage pouch at his waist, and three jade boxes flew out. Inside were Qi-Replenishing Grass, Spirit-lding Flower, and Jade Splendor Treasure Fish Juice— all materials for refining “Jade Splendor Spirit Water.”
After successfully entering the Qi Ingestion path, Fang Qing had mingled through the various marketplaces of Ba Commandery in the World of Ancient Shu, buying low and selling high, acting as a cross-world profiteer. He had exchanged for a batch of contribution points, then spent them all on pill-refining notes, raw materials, and the like, preparing to heavily invest to improve his pill-refining skills.
“Go!”
Fang Qing first extracted the Qi-Replenishing Grass.
He circulated the Water-Control Technique, causing the spiritual spring to rise into a vortex.
This ti, Fang Qing sensed an obvious difference. Many obscure and difficult points from before were now effortlessly resolved under his Ji Water true power.
Although he was still using the Mystic Origin Three Revolutions technique, there was inexplicably a flavor of “Six Vortices Flying Stars” within it.
“Ji Water is also known as Fountain Water. Spiritual springs belong to it—so my control over spring water has greatly increased?”
A faint realization arose in Fang Qing’s heart.
At this mont, his state was simply superb. After handling the Qi-Replenishing Grass, he proceeded to temper the Spirit-lding Flower and the Jade Splendor Treasure Fish Juice.
Next ca the fusion and warming of the various dicinal liquids…
The drawback of water-thod pill refinent lay in its long refining ti, far exceeding that of fire-thod pill refinent.
After a long while, the spiritual spring before Fang Qing had completely transford into a dicinal pool, faintly exuding a strange fragrance.
“Very good. At this stage, I only need to slowly wait for the dicinal properties to settle, and then carry out the final step of extracting the spirit water.”
Fang Qing let out a long breath, excitent flickering in his eyes. He sat cross-legged and began waiting silently.
“According to the pill manuals, this step requires two to three days. Fortunately, unlike fire-thod pill refinent, there’s no need to guard the furnace day and night… but it still consus a great deal of ntal energy.”
…
“Huh? This dicinal fragrance?”
“Its color is jade-green, its aura clear and pure… It seems that pool of spiritual dicine is about to succeed. It should be Jade Splendor Spirit Water. I wonder which senior brother or sister it is?”
Cold Spring Peak was a public area. There were many Pill Island disciples, and soone imdiately noticed the anomaly and exclaid in admiration.
“That person… seems to be Fang Qing?”
“Oh? That backdoor-entering disciple?”
“Shh… Being able to refine a first-tier spirit water already counts as entering the ranks of pill masters. His status will be completely different in the future. We should be cautious—careful that disaster cos from the mouth.”
“Tsk tsk… I heard that this person doesn’t get along well with Li Yusu under Master Floating Cloud Daoist? That Li Yusu hasn’t had much luck. Previously, he tried to break through the mid-stage Qi Refining bottleneck in seclusion, but failed and lost quite a bit of primordial energy…”
“Li Yusu? Shouldn’t he be mid-grade spiritual root? To be trapped by a small mid-stage Qi Refining bottleneck? Looks like that ‘mid-grade aptitude’ evaluation was barely earned…”
…
The surrounding discussions were not concealed at all and were fully transmitted into Fang Qing’s ears.
“I didn’t expect to hear news about that Li Fish-Egg as well?”
Hearing of that person’s failed breakthrough, Fang Qing felt a sense of pleasure in his heart. He stood up and cupped his hands in all directions, saying, “Fellow sect mbers… this pool of spirit water has not yet finished refining. Please spare your junior brother for now. Once the spirit water is complete, there will certainly be repaynt.”
“Haha… We’ll move farther away and not disturb the spring’s pill aura.”
The group of senior brothers and sisters inexplicably felt that Fang Qing’s words made great sense and withdrew to a certain distance.
Fang Qing observed coldly and knew that his “silver tongue” had taken effect.
“As expected, those with cultivation higher than mine and firr willpower… have stronger resistance to verbal influence.”
“And… verbal persuasion ultimately still has to land on tangible benefits or fists. If I were to promise heavy rewards, the persuasive power of silver tongue would increase even more…”
Two days later, Fang Qing’s eyes lit up. He ford hand seals with both hands, streams of true power striking into the dicinal pool before him.
The originally clear dicinal pool had now separated into several distinct layers.
The topmost layer was jade-green like erald. Just a slight whiff made one feel the true power within the body stir faintly.
“As expected, it’s a pill dicine that enhances true power…”
Fang Qing smiled and took out more than a dozen small green-skinned gourds from his storage pouch.
These gourds were only about the size of an infant’s fist. A normal adult hand could fully grasp one. They were containers specifically used to hold spirit water.
“Rise!”
He pointed with his finger, and a stream of “Jade Splendor Spirit Water” flew out, falling into a green-skinned gourd, rapidly filling it before Fang Qing sealed it.
A short while later, a row of twelve green-skinned small gourds was neatly lined up.
This was another characteristic of water-thod pill refinent— although it took a long ti, the yield was large!
“Congratulations, senior brother, on your successful refinent!”
All around, the Pill Island disciples offered their congratulations. So wore gloomy expressions, clearly thinking of their own pill-refining ambitions…
“Many thanks to all junior brothers and sisters… This Jade Splendor Spirit Water isn’t very effective for . Everyone who sees it has a share. I only need to keep one gourd.”
Fang Qing stood up and cupped his fists toward the surroundings.
A pill master gifting the first batch of successfully refined pills to fellow Daoists was an ancient custom.
Now that these junior brothers and sisters had received benefits and were also influenced by his “silver tongue,” they imdiately felt that Fang Qing was soone worth befriending.
Li Yusu’s nonsense might not be trustworthy after all!
“Congratulations, Junior Brother Fang, on successfully entering the ranks.”
At this mont, a handso mid-stage Qi Refining disciple with half-black, half-white hair and a faint dicinal fragrance stepped forward, smiling as he congratulated, “I am Xu Wusu…”
“So it’s Senior Brother Xu.”
Sensing that the other party’s true power fluctuations were deeper than his own, Fang Qing quickly returned the salute.
“From observing your technique, although it’s sowhat immature, it is naturally ford—clearly a wild-path practice. Coincidentally, not long from now, the island lord, Elder Tianding, will open a furnace to refine pills. Junior brother should complete certification as soon as possible and follow Elder Tianding. Even learning a little will benefit you for a lifeti.”
Xu Wusu reminded him.
“Mm.”
Fang Qing had the sa plan. At the very least, he needed to report to the sect that he had officially entered the ranks as a pill master.
That way, he would no longer need to leave the sect to take on mandatory missions.
Sending valuable production-type talent to serve as expendable frontline fodder was not sothing a mature power should do.
“These senior brothers and sisters speak so pleasantly. Even soone like Li Yusu only ostracizes and won’t ambush and kill … This place is far better than that rotten place. I really like it here. Best if I can always refine pills within the sect and not go out…”
Pill Island, main hall.
Fang Qing deliberately transford four layers of Black-Water True Power and ca to report in.
He also planned to display his mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation, to avoid pretending to be weak until he truly beca weak and was completely looked down upon.
Pill Island was mainly responsible for managing the sect’s pill masters, and there were quite a few disciples in the hall.
The one in charge of registering newly entered pill masters happened to be an acquaintance of Fang Qing.
“It’s you?”
Gong Susu was sowhat surprised upon seeing Fang Qing.
“That’s right. This junior brother was fortunate enough to refine a pool of Jade Splendor Spirit Water at Cold Spring Peak and has co to report.”
Fang Qing smiled and took out a green-skinned gourd.
He had refined pills in full public view, so his confidence was strong.
“So… this person lay dormant for seven years and can still erupt in a single move?”
“This person isn’t wealthy. He shouldn’t have materials for many furnaces. Could it be that his talent in water-thod pill refinent is truly that high?”
Gong Susu was astonished inwardly, but she still completed the procedures for Fang Qing. “Junior brother, you are now an officially ranked pill master of our sect. In addition to the Administrative Affairs Hall, you can also accept pill-refining tasks here… Seven days from now, the island lord, Elder Tianding, will personally co to the Pill Cauldron Platform to give a lecture…”
“Many thanks for the reminder, senior sister.”
Fang Qing cupped his hands, retrieved his disciple token, and took his leave.
“Heehee… Senior sister, do you feel any regret?”
Beside her, Hua Lingsu watched the scene with two charming dimples appearing on her face.
“Not at all… After all, we have no conflict with this Junior Brother Fang. Only that foolish Li Yusu played his cards openly…”
“Besides, we are disciples of Foundation Establishnt elders. Even if he becos a pill master, so what? Under sect rules, we can’t do anything to him, and he can’t do anything to us either…”
Gong Susu continued, “Right now, I only care about Junior Sister Zhu’er’s cultivation progress.”
“Junior Sister Zhu’er has always been diligent. I do think she has so hope of Foundation Establishnt in the future,” Hua Lingsu said solemnly.
“Foundation Establishnt… essence, qi, and spirit—three gates. Each gate is a whole new world. If only there were a Foundation Establishnt Pill… True Disciple! True Disciple!!”
Strong yearning surfaced in Gong Susu’s eyes.
…
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
Pill Cauldron Platform.
Fang Qing finally t the lord of Pill Island, Elder Tianding.
This Foundation Establishnt cultivator appeared as an elderly man with white brows and beard, wearing a coarse hemp robe with many burn and scorch marks along the edges.
At this mont, his gentle eyes swept over the assembled pill masters as he spoke, “Today… this old man will explain the pill formula for the ‘Foundation Establishnt Pill,’ as well as the techniques and points of attention during refinent… You must all study it carefully. Half a month from now, Cold Spring Peak will be sealed. All ranked pill masters must assist this old man in participating in the sect’s Foundation Establishnt Pill refinent task. This task will count as the completion of one mandatory sect mission…”
“Foundation Establishnt Pill?!”
Many disciples’ eyes lit up. Even Fang Qing subconsciously straightened his back, his eyes shining brightly.
“Foundation Establishnt Pill? It’s actually the Foundation Establishnt Pill?”
After reaching peak Qi Refining, one could attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishnt stage!
Foundation Establishnt cultivators had lifespans nearing two hundred years—roughly equivalent to the rise and fall of an ancient dynasty.
Moreover, their true power was formidable, allowing them to dominate an entire island!
This was the dream of all low-level disciples!
Yet Foundation Establishnt was extrely difficult. Without the aid of a “Foundation Establishnt Pill,” failure often ant death and the dissipation of the Dao, blocking the path of countless talented disciples.
“The Foundation Establishnt Pill formula has only one primary ingredient—a second-tier demon core… The demon core’s demonic power must be full and flawless. Our sect specializes in raising horned serpents, so second-tier demon cores here are primarily water-aspected and most suitable for cultivators practicing water-attribute techniques to establish their foundation… If it is to be used by other peak Qi Refining cultivators, the refining techniques must be correspondingly adjusted…”
Elder Tianding’s voice clearly reached the ears of every disciple.
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