novelapdf Chapter 20 True Teachings
Chapter 20 True Teachings
"Second-tier demon core, Azure Dragon Ginseng, Hundred-Year-Old Stone Milk..."
Fang Qing listened intently to the Foundation Establishment Pill formula, pondering, "Apart from the second-tier demon core, the other auxiliary materials aren't particularly rare. At most, the requirements might be a bit higher in terms of age, but there's still hope of gathering them all."
He himself was of average talent, and one Foundation Establishment Pill might not be enough to establish his foundation, so he needed to be prepared.
"Foundation Building has three stages—essence, qi, and spirit. Foundation Building Pills target these three treasures of the human body, mending what is lacking... Therefore, among the auxiliary ingredients, the most important one is the 'Three Talents Flower,' which has the effect of transforming the three treasures, making up for the deficiencies of cultivators, and thus aiding in Foundation Building..."
As Elder Tianding explained in detail, Fang Qing was deeply moved.
"This Foundation Establishment Pill is specifically designed for the Foundation Establishment process, therefore its refining process also involves some of the secrets of Foundation Establishment..."
"Essence, Qi, and Spirit? I have two sets of Qi cultivation techniques; if I master both, it shouldn't be a problem... So, it must be Essence and Spirit?"
"Essence is the body's strength and vital energy; spirit is mental power, even divine consciousness..."
"You could look for relevant body-refining techniques and spiritual awareness techniques..."
Fang Qing was completely absorbed in the music, listening with rapt attention.
In fact, only alchemy using water can produce such a good result.
Because these alchemists can assist Elder Tianding in pre-processing some materials.
Elder Tianding needed their help, so he provided the Foundation Establishment Pill formula and refining method in advance.
If it were fire-based alchemy, the more people involved, the more likely mistakes would occur. Often, it would be a single alchemist doing everything from start to finish, so such a good thing wouldn't happen.
"Today's sermon is over. Half a month from now, the furnace will be opened at Cold Spring Peak."
Several hours later, Elder Tianding flicked his sleeve and transformed into a streak of light, disappearing into the distance, leaving behind a group of alchemists who were still eager for more.
"There are so many requirements and intricacies involved in refining Foundation Establishment Pills; it's indeed very difficult..."
Fang Qing was quite moved.
According to the classification of Qi Refining Path, Foundation Establishment Pill is a second-tier pill. Theoretically speaking, only second-tier alchemists with Foundation Establishment cultivation can attempt to make it.
But there are always extraordinary talents in the world, such as alchemists who can refine second-tier pills while still in the Qi Refining stage!
"If I fail to establish my foundation in the future, I'll probably have to take this path..."
"Wait, there seems to be the ancient Shu region as well, which is something to look forward to... But for some reason, I have a feeling that advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage through the Qi Conversion Path might be even more difficult than successfully establishing the Foundation."
Fang Qing is now considered an expert in cross-border transactions, and he is well aware of the differences between Ancient Shu and Jade Island.
The ancient Shu region is known for its mysterious Taoist practices, but it doesn't have abundant resources for cultivating immortality. Perhaps there are more materials with metal and fire attributes?
As for Jade Island, the specific cultivation techniques are still unclear, but its resources for cultivating immortality are extremely abundant.
"We still have Foundation Establishment Pills to look forward to here, but over there they might not even have pills to help break through to the Dao Foundation stage. How tragic! Wait... there's one material that seems to be relatively plentiful."
Fang Qing thought of the Blood Pill he had seized last time, and then of the massacre of the city by the mutinous soldiers in Ba County, and fell silent...
……
Half a month later.
Cold Spring Peak has been completely sealed off, and all the disciples who did not become advanced alchemists have disappeared.
Fang Qing stood at the foot of the mountain, his expression solemn, looking at the advanced alchemists around him.
Those around him were all newly initiated alchemists, and those above them were mid-grade and high-grade first-level alchemists.
At the spring on the mountainside stood several Foundation Establishment cultivators, who were none other than second-tier alchemists. Among them was Fuyunzi, a middle-aged man with a strong scholarly air.
At the final peak, Elder Tianding naturally reigns supreme over everything.
"Foundation Building Pill refining... Begin!"
With a powerful divine sense transmission, the alchemy project began to proceed in an orderly manner.
"Everyone... assist me in refining the 'Mystic Frost Water'!"
Fang Qing looked at his team leader, who happened to be Xu Wusu.
At this moment, Xu Wusu's expression was solemn, and he formed hand seals.
Streams of spiritual spring water continuously converged and refined...
"drink!"
He also made hand seals and began to control the water.
The "Mysterious Frost Water" that their group is going to refine is one of the three spiritual waters used to process the Azure Dragon Ginseng.
Because the effects of the Azure Dragon Ginseng are too strong, ordinary first-grade spiritual water cannot neutralize it, so specially made spiritual water is required.
According to the formula for the Foundation Building Pill, three different kinds of spiritual water need to be refined in order to perfectly separate and extract its medicinal effects.
These Qi Refining disciples would spend half a month refining about a dou of 'Mysterious Frost Water'. It would then have to be appraised by the second-level alchemists on the mountainside. Only after the quality was deemed acceptable could it be synthesized into second-level spiritual water before the extraction of Azure Dragon Ginseng could begin. This was also the work of those second-level alchemists on the mountainside.
With this layered division, Elder Tianding only needed to deal with the most difficult second-tier demon core and the final fusion of various medicinal properties, which greatly reduced his workload.
Furthermore, several demon cores can be refined together!
Splash!
Fang Qing saw streams of spiritual springs rising, winding and turning, with a strong medicinal fragrance spreading, as if a medicinal spring was soaking the entire Cold Spring Peak.
They worked together, like an old assembly line, and he became the factory worker who tightened screws...
……
a few days later.
"I found it interesting at first, but now it's just boring."
Fang Qing finished processing another batch of "Mysterious Frost Water" and looked at Xu Wusu beside him.
The alchemist was sitting cross-legged, having just recovered his magical power. When he saw Fang Qing looking over, he smiled kindly and said, "Junior brother, your water control technique is truly exquisite. It even gives me a faint sense of the aura of a second-level alchemist. Your future is bound to be limitless."
"No, no..."
In front of a second-tier alchemist, Fang Qing had already converted all his magic power into black water magic power.
In terms of controlling the spring, it is far inferior to when the [Ji Shui] magic was still active.
Of course, because he had been immersed in it before, his water control technique had indeed improved greatly. This kind of improvement in experience would not disappear just because he changed his magic power.
"Oh, right..."
Fang Qing asked the question that concerned him most: "How many pills will be successfully refined this time?"
The question of Foundation Establishment Pills is always a hot topic among these Qi Refining disciples.
Although water-based alchemy takes a long time, one can take a break occasionally during the process.
Several disciples nearby gathered around. Although they were all low-level disciples, they all had connections, and after a little discussion, they figured out most of the truth.
"I have a cousin who works at the Dragon Transformation Pool. It's said that more than a dozen second-tier dragon snakes were transformed in the sect this time! It's just a pity that some of them didn't have demon cores... In the end, only eight were extracted."
One of the disciples from Dan Island spoke up.
"Eight second-tier demon cores..."
Xu Wusu nodded: "Foundation Establishment Pills are second-tier pills. For an ordinary second-tier alchemist, being able to produce one genuine Foundation Establishment Pill from one second-tier demon core is already considered acceptable. Slightly better alchemists can produce one inferior pill in addition to the genuine one... The very few who can produce two genuine Foundation Establishment Pills are second-tier alchemy masters!"
"Our sect's Elder Tianding possesses extraordinary skills. He can reliably produce two genuine items from a single demon core, occasionally an extra inferior one... and sometimes, when he's in good condition, he can even produce three genuine items!"
The other disciples nodded in agreement. One female disciple smiled and said, "The true disciples are too proud to accept inferior pills... I hope Elder Tianding will consistently produce two superior pills and one inferior one. That way, we'll have eight inferior Foundation Establishment Pills to compete for..."
"Although inferior Foundation Establishment Pills can protect you from death if you fail to establish your foundation, the success rate of foundation establishment is lower. We should still strive to become true disciples."
Xu Wusu shook his head, clearly not optimistic about this approach.
"So, this time, the yield will be between sixteen and twenty-four high-quality pills? And at most eight low-quality pills?"
Fang Qing's heart stirred: "How many true disciples does our sect have?"
"Twenty-five, all true disciples of our sect. One will go up, and one will leave, leaving only twenty-five seats."
Xu Wusu was very familiar with this: "Among these twenty-five true disciples, there is a grand competition every ten years. The top ten disciples can be listed as true disciples, there are ten more spots for disciples with amazing cultivation skills, and the last five spots are recommended by the elders' council..."
"Winning the competition and being named a true disciple is something we can't argue with. To be a true disciple of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, one must cultivate a cultivation technique to at least the second or even the second level... Only the last five elders will recommend candidates, alas..."
A female disciple sighed.
Clearly, she has little hope for any of the three.
Fang Qing listened, but seemed to be deep in thought:
"For a sect to develop, powerful combat experts are important, but at the same time, it also needs productive talent... Giving each of them ten Foundation Establishment opportunities is only reasonable."
"The final five elders' nominations, seemingly a blatant backdoor deal, are actually a way to win over the majority..."
In this world of cultivation, those Qi Refining disciples are never the majority!
The majority are cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage or above who wield high-level power!
Everyone has their own selfish desires! Opening this door will actually unite most of the Foundation Establishment elders.
Furthermore, if the talents selected in this way can successfully establish their foundation, they are qualified to be candidates for the position of sect leader of the Azure Sea Sect. They will naturally have trusted advisors and strategists to guide their governance. Just by being able to unite most of the foundation-establishing elders and obtain their votes, they will have few problems governing the sect.
"In this council of elders, the Core Formation elder alone is worth a lot of Foundation Establishment votes, isn't he?"
Fang Qing thought about it and felt that this system of true inheritance was quite reasonable.
Of course, this is quite disadvantageous for him.
There's no question that the five seats available for the Elders' Council vote are even more out of the question.
"Spell battles and alchemy, you say?"
He pondered to himself, how strong could he be without using the methods of Qi cultivation?
"Hmm, if I reach the ninth level in both the Qi Condensation Realm and the Qi Refining Realm, and win the duel, perhaps I have a chance?"
"Besides that, mastering alchemy also offers hope."
"Furthermore... the true disciples are determined to establish their foundation, so those who are over sixty years old, or those who have failed after taking the Foundation Establishment Pill, are generally not allowed to join the competition," Xu Wusu added.
"So, at least twenty-five genuine Foundation Establishment Pills are needed?"
One disciple did the math: "Even if Elder Tianding performs perfectly, he's still short one..."
"Indeed...therefore, after this alchemy session, the sect will most likely launch a 'Great Hunt'..."
Several disciples from Dan Island laughed gleefully: "Luckily, our assistance in refining Foundation Establishment Pills was a mandatory task for the sect, otherwise this would have been truly difficult..."