96: Chapter 96 Late Foundation Establishment Stage Divine Sense!

Ye Changge returned to his room and sat cross-legged, taking out the third-grade Medicinal Pill he had obtained from the Bandit Cultivator's Storage Pouch.

The Medicinal Pill was pale gold, with faint cloud patterns swirling on its surface, emitting pure and gentle fluctuations of Spiritual Qi. Without further hesitation, he tilted his head back and swallowed it.

Upon entering his abdomen, the pill melted instantly, transforming into a massive yet gentle warm current that quickly dispersed into his limbs and bones, finally gathering in his Dantian Qi Sea. It blended seamlessly with his own Foundation Establishment Second Layer Spiritual Qi, slowly pushing against the barrier of his cultivation.

Ye Changge focused his mind and circulated the Yin Yang Creation Art, guiding this pure medicinal power through a complete cycle to refine it carefully.

Several days passed quietly.

On this day, Ye Changge in the quiet room suddenly opened his eyes. A flash of tangible essence seemed to flicker in his pupils before they returned to their usual depth.

He let out a long breath of stale air; his aura was even more condensed and profound than it had been several days ago.

"This third-grade Medicinal Pill is truly extraordinary..." Ye Changge muttered to himself with a hint of satisfaction. "The medicinal power is long-lasting and mellow, nourishing my Divine Soul and Physical Body; it actually took me a full four or five days to completely absorb and refine it."

With a slight movement of his mind, his Divine Sense silently unfurled like mercury spilling across the ground. One zhang, two zhang, ten zhang... The range covered by his Divine Sense expanded rapidly, far exceeding his limit during the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment.

The whispered conversations of Cultivators on the market streets, the shouts of shop assistants, and even the subtle breathing of Spiritual Qi from Spiritual Plants in distant courtyards were all clearly reflected in his mind.

Late Foundation Establishment Stage Divine Sense!

Although his cultivation remained at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer, the nourishing effect of this Medicinal Pill on his Divine Soul was extremely significant, allowing his Divine Sense strength to take a step forward first and steadily cross the threshold of the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.

The strengthening of his Divine Sense had immense benefits for his combat insight, control over Talisman Arrays, and even the precise handling of Alchemy and Talisman crafting.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yurou, who had just returned to the backyard of her "Hundred Herbs Pavilion" after purchasing a batch of medicinal Materials, felt her delicate body tremble, and the jade box in her hand almost slipped from her grasp.

A powerful and unfamiliar fluctuation of Divine Sense, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly swept across her courtyard, causing her heart to tremble violently.

"This is... Late Foundation Establishment Stage Divine Sense!" Xiao Yurou's face turned slightly pale, her heart filled with suspicion and unease. "When did my small shop offend such an expert? Could it be trouble caused by that previous batch of Medicinal Pills?"

She subconsciously tightened her grip on the Storage Pouch at her waist, which contained a few life-saving Talismans and a defensive Magical Artifact.

But soon, she realized that although the Divine Sense was powerful, it held no malice and showed no intent to lock onto or investigate her. It was merely like a gentle breeze passing by, fleeting, more like the unconscious stretching of a Cultivator's Divine Sense after a Breakthrough.

"Phew..." Xiao Yurou breathed a sigh of relief, patted her full chest, and gave a self-deprecating smile. "It seems I overthought it. It must be some Senior passing by who just happens to be staying nearby; having just made a Breakthrough, they must have accidentally let their Divine Sense expand."

She steadied herself, remembering that she still needed to discuss Alchemy matters with Fellow Daoist Ye, who was temporarily staying in the backyard quiet room. She composed herself, went to the door of Ye Changge's Pill Refining Room, and gently knocked.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, are you refining pills? May I come in?" Xiao Yurou's voice returned to its usual gentleness.

Inside the room, Ye Changge had already retracted his Divine Sense. Upon hearing this, he said, "Shopkeeper Xiao, please come in. I am not refining pills."

Xiao Yurou pushed the door open and entered. She saw Ye Changge sitting on a prayer mat, his demeanor calm and composed.

For some reason, although the young man before her did not possess stunning handsomeness, Xiao Yurou always felt an indescribable, gentle aura surrounding him, like a spring breeze. It made one feel favorable towards him at a single glance and unconsciously relax.

"What is it, Shopkeeper Xiao?" Ye Changge asked when he saw her in a daze.

Xiao Yurou finally came back to her senses, her cheeks slightly warm. She hurriedly took out a Storage Pouch and a jade slip, saying solemnly, "Senior, I have gathered a few portions of the medicinal Materials required for the 'Ice Heart Essence Pill' formula you gave me earlier. It's just... the Alchemy technique for this pill seems quite exquisite, and the Materials are precious. I... I really have no confidence in refining it alone, and I am anxious. I wonder if Senior could... could you open the furnace with me? I am willing to pay Spirit Stones as a reward!"

As she finished, her voice grew lower, filled with pleading.

Ye Changge shook his head slightly upon hearing this.

Xiao Yurou's heart sank immediately upon seeing this.

But then she heard Ye Changge say, "No need for Spirit Stones. Since the medicinal Materials are prepared, I will refine a batch myself. Shopkeeper Xiao, you may watch from the side, and if there is anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me at any time."

Xiao Yurou was stunned at first, then overjoyed. She hurriedly bowed and said, "Thank you, Senior! Yurou is deeply grateful!"

"It is nothing," Ye Changge waved his hand. "Xiao Zhi has also helped me quite a bit during these days."

He took the Storage Pouch, took out the medicinal Materials one by one, and placed them on the jade table beside him.

Most of these medicinal Materials carried cold attributes; the main ingredient, "Ice Soul Ling," was entirely crystalline, emitting traces of cold air.

Ye Changge's technique was skillful. Spiritual Qi flickered at his fingertips as he pared, cut, roasted, or baked the ingredients. In just a moment, he had properly processed all the auxiliary Materials that needed pre-treatment, and the main ingredient had also undergone the necessary Spiritual Qi stimulation.

His movements were smooth and flowing, extremely precise, causing Xiao Yurou's beautiful eyes to shine with amazement as she watched from the side.

Subsequently, a gentle pill fire surged from his palm to preheat the Pill Furnace, and he fed the processed medicinal Materials into the furnace one by one in a specific order and timing.

At the same time, he clearly explained the key points of pre-treatment, the relationship between the order of adding medicinal Materials and the heat, as well as the subtle techniques of guiding Spiritual Qi.

Xiao Yurou had long since taken a prayer mat and was respectfully kneeling behind Ye Changge's side, listening extremely intently, afraid of missing a single word. She would occasionally nod gently, a look of sudden realization appearing on her face.

After all the medicinal Materials had been added and the furnace fire had turned into a stable, low heat for nurturing, Ye Changge stopped explaining and said, "The next step is the tedious work. You just need to keep the heat steady and let the medicinal power slowly fuse and condense. It will take about two hours. There are not many difficulties here."

After speaking, to Xiao Yurou's surprise, he took out a stack of blank Talisman paper, a Talisman brush, and Spiritual ink, and began to focus on crafting Talismans on the desk beside him!

With one hand controlling the fire to nurture the Pill Furnace and the other holding the brush to craft Talismans, he divided his attention, yet everything was orderly and not in the slightest bit chaotic.

Xiao Yurou's shock was beyond measure. Dual Cultivation of Alchemy and Talismans! And looking at the proficiency with which he handled the medicinal Materials and crafted the Talismans, he clearly had profound attainments in both paths! What kind of astonishing talent and energy did this require? Even more rare was that he could divide his attention under such circumstances, remaining as steady as Mount Tai! Who on earth was this person?

Time passed slowly amidst the slight crackling of the pill fire and the rustling of the Talisman brush. After nearly an hour, Xiao Yurou had been staring intently at the Pill Furnace, sensing the changes in the medicinal power within. Seeing that the Fusion was nearing completion, she couldn't help but whisper a reminder: "Fellow Daoist Ye, it seems... is it almost time to form the pill?"