126: Chapter 126 An Initial Exploration of the Path of Alchemy

Not long after Ye Tian left, two powerful auras descended upon the place where they had just fought.

But other than a corpse on the ground, they found nothing else. Although suspicious, they did not linger for long.

The three of them galloped all the way until they saw the majestic mountain gate of the Liuli Xuan Sect from afar; only then did their tense hearts relax slightly.

After handing over their mission tokens, submitting the collected Spirit Medicine and the Yao Beast Materials they had hunted to the Mission Hall, and receiving a fairly substantial amount of contribution points, the three parted ways outside the Mission Hall.

Liu Ruyan and Leng Feng both needed to return to heal their wounds and digest the insights gained from this trial, especially after witnessing the true strength Ye Tian had unleashed; both of them were deeply shocked.

After all, before meeting Ye Tian, both Liu Ruyan and Leng Feng believed their own talent to be quite good, and the results given during the entrance examination confirmed this.

But seeing the strength Ye Tian unleashed today, they realized the gap between themselves and a true Genius. However, they were not ordinary Disciples after all, and their Heart-Nature was quite steady. Especially Leng Feng—when he looked at Ye Tian, his eyes were filled with fervent Battle Intent, without a shred of jealousy.

Ye Tian returned alone to Courtyard No. 71 of the Yi Class and closed the courtyard gate.

He then sat cross-legged in the quiet room. He did not immediately begin to Cultivate, but instead carefully reviewed the battle in the swamp.

During the battle with the vice leader of the Iron Eagle Gang, Chen Hezhi, although he had gained the upper hand by relying on a Heaven Rank movement technique like the Taixu Star-Shift Steps, he had only won by catching him off guard.

If he were to encounter an enemy in the future who also mastered Heaven Rank Cultivation Techniques, he might find it difficult to gain any advantage in an equal situation.

Moreover, Chen Hezhi's sinister and bizarre Rotting Tendon and Bone-Eroding Poison Technique had left a deep impression on him.

Although his Stellar True Essence could resist and purify the poison to a certain extent, the feeling of his true essence being corroded and his Meridians being eroded still left him with lingering fears.

"If not for my Physical Body having been long tempered by the Dragon Elephant Art, with vigorous Qi and blood, and a resistance to toxins far exceeding that of ordinary people, I fear the residual poison from that poisonous palm would have been enough to make me suffer."

Ye Tian inspected his body internally and discovered that there were still some extremely subtle hidden injuries remaining in his Meridians, which would require the consumption of true essence to slowly nourish and repair.

He couldn't help but think of the subsequent Cultivation Techniques of the Dragon Elephant Art.

The Secret Manual explicitly stated that if one could Cultivate to the sixth level, the Physical Body would undergo a qualitative change, with Qi and blood surging like a dragon and elephant. Not only would strength increase explosively, but it would also form a unique body that is "immune to all poisons," making it difficult for ordinary poisons to cause any harm.

By then, poison techniques like Chen Hezhi's would likely struggle to even corrode his skin.

"Unfortunately, the sixth level of the Dragon Elephant Art requires the Qi and blood strength and true essence quality of the True Martial Realm to support cultivation."

Ye Tian sighed, a trace of longing flashing in his eyes.

The True Martial Realm, where True Qi takes form and the martial path reaches divinity—that was a brand-new Realm and his current goal.

"Cultivation improvement must be gradual; it cannot be rushed. But Physical Body strength might be further improved through external assistance."

Ye Tian thought of Medicinal Pills for tempering the body.

The Sect's Medicine Hall must have such pills for sale. If he could supplement his efforts with the power of Medicinal Pills, perhaps he could make his Physical Body tougher on his current foundation, and his ability to resist special attacks like poison techniques and dark energy could also be improved.

Thinking it, he acted.

After adjusting his breath, Ye Tian got up and headed to the Medicine Hall located in the East District of the Outer Sect.

The Medicine Hall was the main place for Outer Sect Disciples to exchange for Medicinal Pills and medicinal Materials; its scale was not small, and a large number of people came here every day.

Stepping into the Medicine Hall, a thick medicinal fragrance assailed his nostrils.

In the huge hall, countless crystal counters were placed, displaying all kinds of jade bottles and wooden boxes, labeled with the names and effects of the Medicinal Pills.

Many Disciples stopped at the counters to inquire, and the attendant Disciples were busy receiving them.

Ye Tian walked directly to the area labeled for "Body Tempering and Bone Forging" Medicinal Pills.

His gaze swept over the counter; a dazzling array of Medicinal Pills was on display: "Low Grade Yellow Rank · body tempering pill," suitable for laying the foundation in the Qi Gathering Realm, 50 contribution points.

"Medium Grade Yellow Rank · Bone Strengthening Pill," which can strengthen bones, effective for the Early Stage of the Ningyuan Realm, 200 contribution points.

"High Grade Yellow Rank · Golden Body Pill," suitable for the Middle Stage of the Ningyuan Realm, can slightly improve Physical Body strength, 500 contribution points.

... Looking at the higher ranks: "Low Grade Profound Rank · Dragon and Tiger Bone Forging Pill," has miraculous effects for the Late Stage of the Ningyuan Realm, can significantly enhance Qi, blood, tendons, and bones, contribution points... 3,000!

"Medium Grade Profound Rank · Hundred Refinement Golden Body Pill," the medicinal power is overbearing, requires the Peak of the Ningyuan Realm to attempt, 8,000 contribution points!

... Seeing the prices later on, the corners of Ye Tian's mouth twitched slightly.

He had completed a Grade A mission, risked his life, and only obtained 1,500 contribution points.

A single Low Grade Profound Rank Medicinal Pill effective for the Late Stage of the Ningyuan Realm cost 3,000 points!

This was simply robbery!

He was not willing to give up and asked the attendant Disciple if there were any higher-grade or more cost-effective Body Tempering Medicinal Pills.

The attendant Disciple glanced at him, saw that his aura was only at the Fourth Level of Yuan Condensation, and formulaically recommended the High Grade Yellow Rank Golden Body Pill, informing him that the medicinal power of Profound Rank pills was too violent and should not be easily attempted by anyone below the Late Stage of the Ningyuan Realm, otherwise there would be a danger of the body exploding.

Ye Tian felt helpless.

For his current Physical Body, the effect of the Golden Body Pill was negligible.

And the Profound Rank Medicinal Pills that were truly useful to him were ridiculously expensive.

The speed at which he accumulated contribution points could not keep up with his consumption.

"If I could buy the medicinal Materials and refine them myself, the cost would probably be much lower, right?" This thought suddenly popped into Ye Tian's mind.

He had also taken a look at the prices of medicinal Materials just now; compared to finished Medicinal Pills, they were indeed several times cheaper.

The medicinal Materials for one furnace of Dragon and Tiger Bone Forging Pills only cost about 500 contribution points. If he could successfully refine three or five pills, he would make a huge profit.

Refining pills himself, being self-sufficient!

This would not only solve the problem of the source of Medicinal Pills, but if he could master it, he could even earn a large amount of contribution points by selling Medicinal Pills to support his subsequent, even greater demand for cultivation resources!

But... Alchemy was an extremely profound and complex skill that required talent, inheritance, and a lot of practice; it was by no means easy.

Where could he go to learn it?

Was there a place in the Sect to teach Alchemy?

Ye Tian stood in the noisy Medicine Hall, lost in thought.

Among the people he knew, Liu Ruyan and Leng Feng were clearly not skilled in this.

Ren Qianyang had a straightforward personality, but he didn't seem to know much about the Dao of Alchemy.

After thinking it over, one candidate emerged in his mind: Chen Feng!

This veteran Outer Sect Disciple with a steady and upright personality had been in the Sect for a long time, so his connections and knowledge should be broader; perhaps he would know some ways.

Thinking of this, Ye Tian immediately withdrew his gaze, turned around, and left the Medicine Hall, heading to the area where Chen Feng usually was active.

He was in luck; by the Martial Arts Arena under the Golden Flame Peak, he found Chen Feng, who was guiding several familiar Junior Brothers in their cultivation.

"Junior Brother Ye?" Chen Feng was slightly surprised to see Ye Tian, then smiled.

He admired Ye Tian's strength and character. "Is something the matter?"

Ye Tian bowed and went straight to the point: "Senior Brother Chen, please forgive the intrusion. I have been cultivating recently and feel that my physical strength is insufficient, so I wanted to find some Body Tempering Medicinal Pills for assistance. However, the price of Medicinal Pills in the Medicine Hall is exorbitant, and I am short on funds. Therefore, I had the idea of learning Alchemy myself. I wonder if Senior Brother knows where one can learn the Dao of Alchemy within the Sect?"

"Learning Alchemy?"

Hearing this, a look of surprise flashed in Chen Feng's eyes. He looked Ye Tian up and down and smiled, "Junior Brother Ye, you have quite the ambition! The Dao of Alchemy is vast and profound, and it is extremely consuming of mental energy and time. Ordinary Disciples don't even have enough time to Cultivate, so few are distracted by other things. However..."

He paused and showed a thoughtful look, "If we talk about who in the Sect is most proficient in the Dao of Alchemy and might possibly guide outsiders, it would be Elder Xie of the Hundred Herb Garden."

"Hundred Herb Garden? Elder Xie?" Ye Tian's spirits lifted.

"Yes." Chen Feng nodded and explained, "Elder Xie has a somewhat... eccentric temperament. He has lived in seclusion in the Hundred Herb Garden at the back of the Sect for many years, obsessed with cultivating Spirit Medicine and researching Pill Formulas, and does not see outsiders easily. He is not an instructing Elder, so there is no fixed path of instruction like in the Artifact Refining Hall or the Talisman Pavilion. Wanting to learn Alchemy from him depends entirely on fate and talent. It is said that he occasionally allows Disciples he finds pleasing to do some chores in the Herb Garden. Only if they can show sensitivity to medicinal properties or have talent for Alchemy will he give some guidance."

Chen Feng looked at Ye Tian and sincerely reminded him: "Junior Brother Ye, the Dao of Alchemy is difficult, and Elder Xie has a rather stubborn temper. If you have the heart to try, you can go to the Hundred Herb Garden to try your luck. But remember, do not force it. If it doesn't work out, it is better to focus on the martial path. After all, your talent for the martial path is truly stunning."

He said this from the bottom of his heart; the strength Ye Tian had displayed made him admire him sincerely.

Ye Tian kept Chen Feng's reminder in his heart and bowed in thanks: "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Chen! I understand and will act according to my ability."

Bidding farewell to Chen Feng, Ye Tian had a direction in his heart.

Hundred Herb Garden, Elder Xie... regardless of success or failure, he had to give it a try.

If he could step onto the Alchemical Path, it would undoubtedly be like adding wings to a tiger for his martial path cultivation.