Chapter 137: Chapter 138: Alchemy
Xu Haoyi glanced at everyone, seeing no objections, he gestured with his hand as spiritual light surged.
He saw a transparent spirit shield rise up within the surrounding hall, enveloping everyone.
He then took out a jade talisman, containing the Heavenly Dao Oath, for everyone to swear upon.
Ye Jingcheng touched the Spirit Beast Bag hidden at the corner of his clothes, ready to summon the Tai Cang Turtle at the first sign of danger.
Compared to exposure, his personal safety was clearly more important.
The jade talisman was passed around, and soon everyone had finished making their oaths.
Xu Haoyi once again moved to the center.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today’s topic is how to refine elixirs with pill patterns!"
"Though I am unworthy, I am willing to be the one to throw a brick to attract jade!"
"As everyone knows, all medicines have three parts poison. Even the highest quality elixirs contain erysipelas. This erysipelas, also known as medicinal fire poison, is a mixed poison of fire poison and medicinal poison. Refining an elixir with pill fragrance can reduce some erysipelas, and refining one with pill patterns can reduce it even more significantly!"
"However, alchemy masters capable of refining elixirs with pill patterns are exceedingly rare..." Xu Haoyi introduced calmly.
Ye Jingcheng listened attentively. He had originally thought this alchemy exchange was just a contest of alchemy skills, but it seemed there were indeed inheritances of alchemy techniques involved, a true boon for loose cultivator disciples.
"Throughout history, alchemy methods have been divided into the Fire Refining and Water Refining techniques. The true essence of Fire Refining is melting, while Water Refining’s essence is extraction!"
"Both are about extracting the essence of spiritual medicine, making the pill furnace’s Yun Furnace extremely important. It determines whether the essence can be smoothly and sequentially extracted as desired."
...
Though it was called an exchange, it was actually disciples from the Taiyi Sect who were explaining things.
After an incense stick burnt, all the cultivators were deeply entrenched in it, and the hall was utterly silent.
Those who could obtain the Hidden Dragon Order were not ordinary, almost all were late-stage Qi Cultivation and Tier One High-Grade Pill Masters.
Even Ye Jingcheng felt the journey was worthwhile for this wave of explanations.
The sect’s accomplishments and theories were far superior to other clans.
Once Xu Haoyi finished speaking, it was time for the other cultivators.
Clans’ cultivators went first, and the order was clear.
Disciples from Golden Core Clans were in the second tier, those from Purple Mansion Clans were in the third tier, and Foundation Establishment Clans’ disciples were in the fourth tier.
Finally, it was the turn of the loose cultivator tier.
In these explanations, nearly every cultivator had unique insights.
Disciples from Golden Core Clans also greatly enlightened Ye Jingcheng, bringing him substantial gains.
However, it was unfortunate that all explanations shared a common point: they were not specific, not grounded.
Pure theory, sometimes even mere speculation.
Simply put, despite the array and Heavenly Dao Oath, everyone was still unwilling to reveal their inheritances.
Only Xu Haoyi from the Taiyi Sect provided the best explanation.
When it was Ye Jingcheng’s turn, he briefly explained the Rapid Furnace Technique, which was relatively simple and considered entry-level.
Ye Jingcheng noticed that when sect disciples and clan disciples heard about the Rapid Furnace Technique, they began to lose interest.
Obviously, their clans also possessed this method.
Ye Jingcheng didn’t mind. Compared to being the spotlight, he preferred to be the forgotten green leaves.
Being the focus of the Cultivation Realm is not a role for someone without a robust fate.
Ye Jingcheng didn’t consider his fate to be strong, so he could only remain low-key and cautious.
After Ye Jingcheng, another person behind him spoke. This person was also a loose cultivator.
Their chest heaved, eyes filled with determination:
"Senior Brother Xu, fellow Daoists, I believe the key to refining elixirs with pill patterns lies in the melted medicine. During the melting process, if assisted by arrays to observe more intricately, the probability of the elixir achieving pill fragrance would be greater!"
These words caused everyone to be astonished.
Seeing this, Ye Jingcheng’s eyes also shone brightly.
At the same time, he finally understood the utility of the Hidden Dragon Pavilion.
Sure enough, Xu Haoyi began questioning, and the loose cultivator answered.
For the moment, it was as if there was no one else around.
The benefit to Ye Jingcheng was immense!
Unfortunately, the array patterns were crucial, yet the loose cultivator did not reveal them.
Otherwise, this method would be no less than the Four-Part Alchemy Method.
"May I ask this fellow Daoist, what is your Dao name? My uncle wants to meet!"
"Nameless loose cultivator, Lin Tianyong!" The cultivator replied joyfully, knowing that meeting the uncle in the Hidden Dragon Pavilion had two possibilities: either receiving a treasure reward or obtaining sect entry qualifications.
With the alchemical inheritance in his possession, he naturally wanted to join a sect!
"Alright, everyone, have some tea from the Hidden Dragon Pavilion!" Xu Haoyi noticed everyone was somewhat parched and clapped his hands. A line of female cultivators dressed in purple-red skirts, covered with veils, slowly entered. In their hands, each carried a teapot, offering tea to everyone individually.
The tea’s color was unlike others, presenting a golden hue, appearing like liquid gold.
Ye Jingcheng didn’t drink immediately. He flipped his hand to check while others were drinking, and a Silver Snow Needle appeared and quickly disappeared.
Only then did Ye Jingcheng take a light sip.
The demeanor was quite relaxed, indeed having been tense just now.
Soon, a rich tea fragrance settled in his throat, generating a heroic spirit deep from within.
This tea’s essence was every bit as great as Spring Tea, yet the spiritual energy it contained reached Tier One Upper Grade!
Compared to Red Fragrant Tea, it was several levels higher!
After one sip, Ye Jingcheng couldn’t help but take another.
Unconsciously, the teacup was empty, devoid of even a single drop.
The beautiful female cultivator returned to refill it for those who had finished.
Several of them even deliberately gulped it down like a cow chewing a peony.
It was unclear whether they were drinking tea or hoping to get closer to the female cultivators.
All the cultivators praised this tea endlessly.
"This tea is called Golden Name Tea, for its implied meaning of success. Gentlemen, next is the alchemy segment. We will select the top three in alchemy to meet with the martial uncle, and they can also retain the spirit shadow of the pill furnace!"
"This is an event renowned throughout the world!" As Xu Haoyi finished speaking, he clapped his hands, and doors began to appear one by one on the wall next to them.
Ultimately, there were more than thirty doors.
"Ladies and gentlemen, enter the corresponding Earth Fire Room according to the number on your token. Remember, the duration is two days, and the basic Spirit Pill to refine is the Cyan Spirit Pill!"
"The final judging criteria shall be based on the number of pills with pill patterns and the overall quality of all Spirit Pills!"
"Additionally, do not deceive us with finished pills, or the consequence will be disqualification and a fine of three hundred Spirit Stones as a penalty!"
After Xu Haoyi spoke, Ye Jingcheng felt extremely intrigued.
To him, the Cyan Spirit Pill was an easy task.
Even regarding the pill pattern pills, he felt very confident.
He just wasn’t sure if this pill was arranged by his elder brother’s senior brother, and even the theme seemed like a likely scheme.
Ye Jingcheng followed the number on his token to Earth Fire Room number 36.
Upon pushing open the door, the setting inside was simple, with the guiding array of the Earth Fire half-open, emitting strong firelight.
On the table was a Storage Bag.
Inside the Storage Bag was a Pill Furnace and three sets of spiritual medicines for the Cyan Spirit Pill.
In the next moment, what surprised Ye Jingcheng was that besides the spiritual medicine materials, there were also three freshly refined Cyan Spirit Pills.
The characteristic of these three Cyan Spirit Pills was that they all bore pill patterns and were of excellent quality, with a strong fragrance.
Evidently, this was a backup for Ye Jingcheng, reflecting a lack of trust.
Ye Jingcheng did not back down, and he put the three Cyan Spirit Pills into his sleeve, considering their relevance to the trading event.
Once everything was ready, Ye Jingcheng activated the Earth Fire and began to warm the furnace.
The elixirs began being methodically refined.
As time passed, Ye Jingcheng lifted the furnace lid, and the elixirs were immediately placed into the Jade Bottle.
The pill materials provided by the Hidden Dragon Pavilion were excellent, better even than those supplied by the Ye Family.
Naturally, the refined elixirs were of higher quality.
This made Ye Jingcheng marvel at the benefits of great powers.
Since only one batch was counted, Ye Jingcheng didn’t continue refining.
He walked out directly, as in the evaluation, if the color, quantity, and pill patterns are the same, time is used for comparison.
Ye Jingcheng used the Rapid Furnace Technique, clearly faster than others.
This was an advantage, as by the end of the day, nearly everyone had emerged,
including Li Xiangyu and Li Xiangfei.
Both were extremely satisfied, appearing quite confident.
"Alright, everyone, hand over your spiritual medicines!" Xu Haoyi glanced at the numbers and announced the start of the handover.
This time, Xu Haoyi personally collected them, along with the Hidden Dragon Order.
When he reached Ye Jingcheng, Xu Haoyi couldn’t help but give him an extra glance.
But quickly returned to normal.
"Now, to announce the results!"
"Jin Family’s Jin Haoli, ten pills produced, three with pill patterns, ranked first!"
"Xu Family’s Xu Haoshui, ten pills produced, three with pill patterns, ranked second!"
"Loose cultivator Tang Haobo, nine pills produced, three with pill patterns, five notable for fragrance, ranked third!"
"These three may meet the martial uncle; the results of the others are as follows!"
...
"I feel it’s unfair!"
"How could a loose cultivator refine three pill pattern pills!" Li Xiangyu stood up, his eyes filled with anger.
He heard that the Hidden Dragon Hall had inside connections,
and now he felt that Ye Jingcheng was involved.
Ye Jingcheng watched calmly, as this time the refining process went very smoothly.
As for the three prepared Cyan Spirit Pills, he had already placed them in his Storage Bag.
Seeing Ye Jingcheng full of confidence.
Li Xiangyu regretted speaking!
Xu Haoyi was on good terms with their Li Family.
With a glare from Xu Haoyi, the latter immediately complied.
"Next, you may discuss among yourselves if you wish to organize a small trading event. I will take them to see the martial uncle now!"
Ye Jingcheng discovered through a gap that it was indeed his elder brother’s senior brother.
His heart was immediately reassured.
The trading event seemed unprecedentedly smooth.
Jin Haoli was the first to enter, with Ye Jingcheng being the last.
It was soon Ye Jingcheng’s turn.
The latter examined the Pill Bottle, and the array unintentionally activated.
His gaze became fervent.