Chapter 113: Chapter 114: You Can Come Anytime
After leaving the Stone Bamboo Forest and parting ways with Ye Jingli, he did not return to his courtyard but headed towards the Treasure Pavilion.
He wanted to exchange some Spirit Medicines for the Antitoxic Pill and Ice Purity Pill, and secondly, he wanted to get some high-grade Insect-Repelling Powder.
Agreeing to go to the Five Poison Peak, relying solely on Ye Xingyu and Ye Xingqun was not enough. He wasn’t accustomed to placing his fate in others’ hands unless he was certain the other party had a Tier Two Spirit Beast.
But this was unlikely.
So he remembered his Hidden Spirit Armor. As long as he got some Insect-Repelling Powder, he could use the Earth Escape Skill to hide underground and cover himself with the Hidden Spirit Armor to evade most pursuers.
After all, he still had the Blue Feather Boots he got from Li Muzhen of the Li Family, speed was also his advantage.
Plus, with his three Spirit Beasts, he could ensure some survival means.
Following the bluestone path, it took less than half an hour for Ye Jingcheng to reach the Treasure Pavilion.
The Eighth Elder, Ye Haiping, was still there, studying the Array Jade Talisman.
Due to the recent dispatch of another group of cultivators to the Taihang Mountain Range by the clan, the Treasure Pavilion appeared a bit deserted.
"Eighth Grandpa, I want to exchange for some high-quality Insect-Repelling Powder!" Ye Jingcheng said.
The Insect-Repelling Powder was somewhat similar to Beast-Repelling Powder. The latter was made from the excrement of powerful Demon Beasts mixed with some herbs, while the former was ground from the carcasses of powerful Spirit Insects and mixed with spirit medicines that emit spreading scents.
The majority of Spirit Insects in this world are still inclined to avoid harm and seek benefits, so the Insect-Repelling Powder will surely work well on the Five Poison Peak.
"You’re going to the Five Poison Peak?" Ye Haiping seemed a bit surprised.
After all, in his view, Ye Jingcheng should be preparing for the hatching of the Spirit Snake and focusing on his cultivation.
"Aren’t you registered with the Pill Pavilion and also became a lecturer who earned five hundred Contribution Points?"
Ye Haiping was full of puzzlement; while others might have reason to take risks, he could not fathom why Ye Jingcheng would have a reason for such adventures.
"Eighth Grandpa, here’s the thing: I’m going with Uncle Xingqun and Uncle Xingyu!" Ye Jingcheng replied.
"Jingcheng, you already have enough Spirit Beasts, don’t be too rash!" Ye Haiping clearly thought that after seeing Ye Xingqun’s Black Wood Ant, Ye Jingcheng wanted to have a Spirit Bee.
Ye Jingcheng also realized that Ye Xingqun and Ye Xingyu probably hadn’t mentioned this to the clan.
After all, although there were Five Poison Bees, the likelihood of a Wu Du Ascendant’s abode being there was very small.
Even if there was an abode, the chance of treasures being left behind was minimal.
Even cultivators who set up abodes in perilous places to avoid enemies would rarely leave treasures there.
In such places, the likelihood of perishing is even greater.
To be honest, if Ye Jingcheng were facing the risk of perishing, he would return to his homeland and seek a quiet and beautiful valley.
Not a Poison Valley, spending endless days with poisonous insects, ultimately not leaving a complete cadaver.
"Eighth Grandpa, your grandson understands these!" Ye Jingcheng nodded with a respectful look.
But his gaze remained determined.
Seeing this, Ye Haiping didn’t say much, instead looking at Ye Jingcheng:
"You are adept with the Beast Communication Pattern, so before you leave, pay a visit to your Fourth Grandpa!" Ye Haiping suggested without further words and then proceeded to retrieve some Beast-Repelling Powder.
This time he took it from a drawer behind the counter and stored it in a special White Jade Spirit Box.
"This is Beast-Repelling Powder made from the toxic horn of a Tier Two High-Grade Black Rhinoceros Insect, effective against most Spirit Insects!" introduced Ye Haiping.
Ye Jingcheng was extremely satisfied, handing over his Clan Token; this was exactly the type of Beast-Repelling Powder he wanted.
"Remember not to release it on the Lingyun Peak!" Ye Haiping deducted eighty Contribution Points from Ye Jingcheng’s account and reminded him again.
And Ye Jingcheng nodded, then exchanged for some spirit medicine as well.
Feeling a bit insecure, he also exchanged for an Array Disc.
This Array Disc was expensive. He exchanged for only a Tier One Middle-Grade Trapping Array, costing him 280 Contribution Points.
If it were a Tier One High-Grade Trapping Array, it would cost seven or eight hundred Spirit Stones, rivaling top-grade spiritual artifacts.
The Contribution Points in the Clan Token were once again nearly depleted.
Leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Ye Jingcheng headed towards the pavilion of the Fourth Elder, Ye Haiyun!
Lingyun Peak was large, with only about a hundred Ye Family members scattered along the mountain, making it quite sparse.
Ye Haiyun’s pavilion was located halfway up the mountain, nearing the Alchemy Pavilion.
This pavilion was a two-story building with plenty of Spirit Land cultivated in front of it.
Inside, many spirit medicines were planted, with a Spirit Gathering Array continuously gathering spiritual energy.
Ye Jingcheng even saw an Earthworm raising its head inside, staring at him.
Except Ye Jingcheng couldn’t actually see where the eyes of the Earthworm were, he couldn’t even determine if it was looking at him with its behind.
The Ye Family had a dedicated Spirit Medicine Garden but also allowed their cultivators to develop Spirit Land individually on the mountain.
Ye Jingcheng had also dreamed of this, but let alone having time to manage it, he didn’t even have any good plots in front of his small courtyard.
Developing Spirit Land requires a year of watering with Spirit Water, another year of spiritual energy gathering with the Spirit Gathering Array, and finally setting up a Defense Array. He certainly did not have the time or energy for this.
In fact, Ye Haiyun didn’t have time either, but as the Fourth Elder of the clan, he had the authority to assign tasks and hire the clan’s early-stage Qi Cultivation medicine boys to help manage.
Such privileges were something Ye Jingcheng would evidently have to wait until his strength increased further, or until he could refine Tier One Top-Grade Elixirs, to enjoy.
A Sound Transmission Talisman flew in, and soon, an elderly man dressed in a white robe appeared.
Ye Haiyun looked even older.
This appearance made Ye Jingcheng extremely worried.
This is not a good omen.
"Fourth Grandfather, I have some questions recently and would like to ask for your guidance!" Ye Jingcheng spoke.
Although Ye Haiping had sent him to seek help, he didn’t have the face to ask right away.
Previously, Ye Haiyun had said he could guide him once every three months, so Ye Jingcheng decided to use it this time.
He indeed had accumulated several questions.
"Alright, come in!" Ye Haiyun nodded and led Ye Jingcheng inside.
In the courtyard, there was a giant Spiritual Apricot Tree, which bore many apricot fruits.
Each of these apricots was a vivid green, seemingly ripe.
They emitted the spiritual energy of Tier One Middle Grade Spirit Fruits, a level higher than the Jade Dew Fruits.
"If you want to eat them, you can come more often in the future, but there’s a test, and if you don’t pass it, you can’t come!" Ye Haiyun continued.
Then he led Ye Jingcheng to sit under the Spiritual Apricot Tree.
Ye Jingcheng took out some Spirit Tea and started brewing. After pouring a cup for Ye Haiyun, he began asking questions.
The Spirit Tea emitted steam, rising halfway into the air, leaving a faint mist on the apricots.
Ye Jingcheng began asking his questions.
Ye Haiyun answered each one.
The more he answered, the more satisfied he became with Ye Jingcheng, who was earnestly studying Pill Formulas, the Secondary Furnace Technique, and the Four-Part Alchemy Method.
Many of his insights and doubts wouldn’t be asked if he wasn’t attentive.
"Fourth Grandfather, what if I mix Red Dragon Fruit, Falling Flame Grass, and Red Ganoderma for alchemy?" Ye Jingcheng suddenly asked after finishing his previous question.
This question instantly stumped Ye Haiyun.
He fell into deep thought, his eyes profound, seemingly off in a trance.
The spirit medicine Ye Jingcheng mentioned was the main ingredient for the Red Flame Pill, meant to enhance the bloodline and cultivation of the Red Flame Fox!
It surely would work well for other Fire Attribute Spirit Beasts.
This time, he aimed to gradually increase his ability to create pill formulas. If the reaction were too intense, he would create opportunities in the future; if it were manageable, creating pill formulas wouldn’t be impossible.
The future value of his Red Flame Pill and Golden Scale Pill would be immense since only he could refine them.
"No good, these three spirit medicines are too intense; cultivators cannot withstand them!" Ye Haiyun shook his head.
"Fourth Grandfather, how about if only demon beasts consume it?" Ye Jingcheng asked again, causing Ye Haiyun to fall into thought once more.
He didn’t even drink his tea.
His eyes were filled with spiritual light and desire.
"Let me think about it, guidance for today ends here. Be careful on your trip to Five Poison Peak!"
"This is the Cyan Heart Mirror, you can borrow it temporarily, and remember next time, don’t beat around the bush!" Ye Haiyun added.
This suddenly made Ye Jingcheng feel a bit awkward, realizing that Ye Haiping had evidently transmitted to Ye Haiyun.
Yet at the same time, he felt moved!
The Cyan Heart Mirror was Ye Haiyun’s renowned treasure, and lending it was an immense favor!
The Cyan Heart Mirror could not only stabilize individuals and beasts but also reveal poisonous miasma and fog!
It’s a major weapon at Five Poison Peak!
Ye Jingcheng accepted the Cyan Heart Mirror, stepped aside, and took out some Blood Jade Spirit Rice, a three-foot-long Red Spirit Fish, and the last of the Lush Forest Boar Beast Meat.
He made three dishes of Spiritual Cuisine and placed them under the apricot tree.
Ye Haiyun was still pondering, while Ye Jingcheng retreated outside.
At that moment, a Spirit Talisman flew out, landing in Ye Jingcheng’s hand.
"In the future, you can come anytime!"
Ye Jingcheng bowed once and exited the courtyard!
His worries about the trip to Five Poison Peak notably lessened.
As long as he found Water Cloud Grass and other auxiliary medicines in the future, he could refine the Jade Qilin Pill!
Ye Jingcheng returned to the courtyard and embarked on an extended session of alchemy this time.
He was refining Ice Purity Pill and Antitoxic Pill!
The Ice Purity Pill was a Tier One High-Grade Spirit Pill, and the Antitoxic Pill was a Tier One Middle-Grade Spirit Pill, neither particularly difficult to refine.
Ultimately, over four days, he refined two furnaces of Antitoxic Pill and two furnaces of Ice Purity Pill.
The Antitoxic Pill reached ten pills, with two having pill patterns, while Ice Purity Pill yielded seven pills from one furnace and eight from another!
They were entirely sufficient for their journey.
Additionally, Ye Jingcheng spared a day for refining Qi Recovery Pill, a spirit pill that restored spiritual energy, yielding only six pills.
Once all preparations were complete, Ye Jingcheng equipped the Jade Ring Rat with a Spirit Talisman Launcher, preparing multiple spirit talismans.
During testing, the Jade Ring Rat’s timid nature made the effect rather mediocre, useful only as a slight improvement.
Finally, with a day remaining to adjust to the best state, a spirit ship departed into the sky amidst a frosty morning and silver attire.
It headed straight towards the Taihang Mountain Range!