71: Chapter 71 Spirit-Nourishing Pill

It was time to refine pills.

He took out three Jade Slips—yunling pill, ningzhen pill, and jinyuan pill. Sending his Divine Sense inside, he committed the ingredients, heat control, and techniques for the three Pill Formulas to memory.

The yunling pill, a Rank Two Medium Grade pill, used "yunling grass" as its main ingredient, supplemented by over ten other materials like "baijie root" and "frost dew flower." Once refined, it could accelerate the Cultivation speed of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Currently at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, he was in dire need of this pill.

The ningzhen pill, a Rank Two High Grade pill, used "Ningzhen Fruit" as its main ingredient, supplemented by "Jade Marrow Ganoderma," "Gold-thread Orchid," and others. It could purify spiritual power and compress one's Foundation, laying the groundwork for Core Formation. This pill was extremely difficult to refine, requiring high levels of Divine Sense and heat control.

The jinyuan pill, a Rank Three Low Grade pill, used "Gold Element Ginseng" as its main ingredient, supplemented by "Purple River Cart," "Dragon Saliva Fruit," and others. It was a High Grade Medicinal Pill for those in the Golden Core Stage to consolidate their cultivation and accelerate progress. While he had no immediate use for it, he could prepare it beforehand and refine it after his future Core Formation.

Yun Ming opened his eyes, having formed a plan in his mind.

He would start with the yunling pill first.

He retrieved the ingredients from his naxu ring—these had been bought conveniently at the Bao Dan Pavilion. Although they cost quite a few Spirit Stones, they weren't expensive compared to the Pill Formula itself. yunling grass, baijie root, frost dew flower... the ingredients were laid out one by one before him, a faint medicinal fragrance filling the room.

Then, he took out a Pill Furnace.

Yun Ming took a deep breath and pressed his palm against the furnace body.

A wisp of true fire surged from his Dantian, flowing down his arm and into the Pill Furnace. The furnace body gradually warmed, and the internal temperature slowly climbed.

Once the furnace reached the appropriate temperature, he gestured with his hand, guiding the first ingredient into the furnace.

The refinement of the yunling pill had begun.

In the pursuit of immortality, one loses track of time.

Yun Ming sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, the residual heat of the alchemical fire still lingering around him. The lid of the ash-blue Pill Furnace before him had been removed, revealing six Medicinal Pills lying quietly at the bottom.

The pills were the size of longans, completely turquoise in color, with faint cloud patterns floating on their surfaces. This was a sign of successful pill formation—though the pill clouds were thin, they were clearly visible.

yunling pill.

Rank Two Medium Grade.

Yun Ming exhaled a long breath of turbid Qi, a hint of a smile appearing on his face.

A month had passed.

During this month, he had hardly stepped outside, guarding the Pill Furnace day and night. The first batch was ruined, the second barely produced three low-quality pills, the third, the fourth... until today's seventh batch, which finally produced six High Grade yunling pills.

He reached out to take the pills, holding them in his palm to examine them closely.

The medicinal fragrance was crisp. With just one breath, he felt the spiritual liquid in his Dantian tremble slightly, as if in joy.

More importantly, the successful creation of these six pills meant he had truly stepped over the threshold of a Rank Two Medium Grade Alchemist.

From now on, he was no longer a bottom-tier Alchemist who could only refine spring return pills to scrape by.

Yun Ming placed the six pills into a jade bottle and applied a Spirit-Sealing Talisman to the opening before standing up to stretch his stiff limbs. After sitting for a month, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would feel sore all over.

He pushed open the door and walked into the courtyard.

The sunlight was perfect, spilling onto the half-withered old locust tree and casting mottled shadows on the ground.

Yun Ming turned and walked back into the main room, crouching before the "nest" built from Top-Grade Spirit Stones and Spirit Soil in the corner.

The Red-Feathered Luan Egg lay quietly on the Spirit Soil. Its pale golden shell was a bit brighter than a month ago, and that winding crack... seemed to have really shrunk a tiny bit?

Yun Ming leaned in for a closer look and reached out to gently stroke the shell; it was as warm as ever.

"It seems this nest wasn't built in vain," he murmured. "Spirit Stones plus Spirit Soil really can nourish life. Hatch quickly and let me see what you actually are."

A faint, indistinct cry came from within the egg, as if in response.

Yun Ming smiled, tidied up, and divided the six yunling pills into two portions—three for his own cultivation and three to sell for more ingredients. He took stock of his remaining materials; the yunling grass was completely gone, and only some fragments of baijie root remained. He indeed needed to buy more.

He changed into clean robes and pushed the door open to head out.

Arriving at the Bao Dan Pavilion once again, it was still the same familiar building, still bustling with people.

Before long, the same green-skirted maidservant from last time approached with a beaming smile. Her gaze fell on Yun Ming, and she froze for a moment before her smile widened. "Senior, I haven't seen you for a month, and your complexion looks even better. Has something good happened?"

Without saying much, Yun Ming took out the jade bottle containing the three yunling pills and handed it over. "Help me check how much these three pills are worth."

The maidservant took it and pulled out the stopper, a medicinal fragrance wafting out. Her eyes lit up, and after examining them carefully for a moment, she said in surprise, "Is this... the yunling pill? Rank Two Medium Grade, and of excellent quality! Did you refine these yourself, Senior?"

Yun Ming nodded slightly.

The maidservant gasped, her gaze toward Yun Ming shifting once more. A Rank Two Medium Grade Alchemist was already a figure of some standing in this market. Her attitude became increasingly respectful as she made a careful estimation and quoted a price.

Yun Ming nodded in agreement, and the maidservant carried the jade bottle to the back hall for the settlement. Before long, she returned with a Storage Pouch and handed it to Yun Ming.

"Please take a look, Senior."

Yun Ming swept his Divine Sense inside; the amount was correct, so he put it away. He wasn't in a hurry to leave and casually asked, "Has anything happened recently?"

The maidservant was startled. "Senior means...?"

"Just this past month," Yun Ming said. "In the market, the Cangxuan Immortal Sect, or the surrounding area—is there any news?"

The maidservant understood and, after a thought, said, "There are indeed a few things."

She began to count them off on her fingers. "First, at Mount Cangmang, three hundred miles to the north, a phenomenon appeared a few days ago. It's said that a Secret Realm is about to open. A Golden Core True Person went to investigate and estimated it to be a Golden Core Secret Realm. Lately, many Fellow Daoists in the Foundation Establishment Stage have been preparing, hoping to try their luck once the Secret Realm opens."

Yun Ming raised an eyebrow. "A Golden Core Secret Realm?"

"Yes," the maidservant nodded. "Second, the Cangxuan Immortal Sect will start recruiting Immortal Sprouts in six months. People will come from several nearby major kingdoms—Tianfeng, Yunlan, and Ziyang. The market will be quite lively then. If you want to collect any medicinal herbs or Pill Formulas, Senior, you might come across some good things then."

Yun Ming's heart stirred.

In six months, the Cangxuan Immortal Sect would recruit Disciples. With Cultivators from the surrounding kingdoms gathering then, perhaps... he could find out news about Great Qian?

He suppressed his thoughts and continued listening to the maidservant.

"Third, a Golden Core True Person has passed away." The maidservant sighed, her tone tinged with lament. "He was a Loose Cultivator surnamed Mo, known as Immortal Master Mo. I heard he was in seclusion for twenty years trying to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, but unfortunately, he failed. His Lifespan ran out, and he was found dead in his Immortal Cave a few days ago. Alas, the Nascent Soul stage is difficult, harder than climbing to the heavens."

Yun Ming fell silent.

Nascent Soul.

True Lord Luoxia was a Nascent Soul. That Old Ancestor of the Heavenly Demon Hall was also a Nascent Soul. For those lofty existences, one wrong step meant death and the end of their Dao.

The maidservant added, "There's also some miscellaneous news, mostly rumors. For instance, some say they saw a demonic Cultivator committing crimes in a mountain to the west, and others say a treasure has appeared at the bottom of a river to the east, glowing at night—all baseless stories, just things to hear and forget."

Yun Ming nodded, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "Have you ever heard of a country called 'Great Qian'? Or a Sect called the 'Sunset Glow Sect'?"

The maidservant was stunned, thought about it carefully, and shook her head. "Great Qian? Sunset Glow Sect? I haven't heard of them. Where are you from, Senior?"

Yun Ming smiled and did not answer.

He turned and left the Bao Dan Pavilion.

No matter. When the Cangxuan Immortal Sect recruits Disciples in six months, there will be many people; perhaps he could find some clues then.

He walked along the bluestone street, passing through the bustling crowds, all the way back to the quiet residential area on the east side. Turning the corner of the alley, he saw the small courtyard he was renting from a distance—

In front of the courtyard gate, a figure was sneakily peeking around.

The person was wearing a gray robe and had a small, thin build. He paced back and forth in front of the gate, occasionally standing on his tiptoes to peer over the courtyard wall, then retracting his neck like a thief and looking around, for fear of being discovered.

Yun Ming's footsteps halted, and he narrowed his eyes.

He lightened his steps and approached silently.