Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Foundation Establishment Pill Exposed, Alchemist Zhuang's Guarantee
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"Profound Ice Jade Marrow?!"
Chen Jianghe knew of this natural treasure. It was one of the three main ingredients for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill and was extremely rare south of the Tongtian River.
It came from the depths of the far northern ice abyss and had many conditions for harvesting. It couldn't be touched by ordinary iron or common magical artifacts, or it would instantly turn to dust.
It had to be excavated during the month of Gui Water using an ice-attribute magical artifact.
Truly a rare find.
The Profound Ice Jade Marrow, like the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit, had three major effects.
First, it solidified the pill's foundation. Its nature was cold but not piercing, allowing it to suppress the rampaging spiritual energy within the body during Foundation Establishment, thus preventing the danger of one's body exploding.
Second, it moistened the Sea of Consciousness, nourishing it to prevent one's spiritual sense from collapsing under the impact of spiritual energy during a breakthrough.
Third, it opened the three passes, clearing the blockages in the Ren and Du meridians as well as the central meridian, allowing spiritual energy to circulate through the great heavenly cycle on its own and laying the foundation for future cultivation.
The last time they crowdfunded the pill refining, Chen Jianghe had guessed they might have substituted the Profound Ice Jade Marrow, though he didn't know what they used as a replacement.
But this showed just how rare the Profound Ice Jade Marrow was.
It was truly hard to imagine that Gao Peiyao would give Yun Xiaoniu such a valuable gift upon her departure.
Back then, Yu Daniu had helped Gao Peiyao buy a high-grade defensive magical artifact, borrowing over two hundred spirit stones from various sources.
This time, Gao Peiyao had repaid him with a piece of Profound Ice Jade Marrow.
This could be considered a small investment with a huge return.
A piece of Profound Ice Jade Marrow had a market price of twelve hundred spirit stones, and at auction, it usually sold for over fifteen hundred.
"It seems Gao Peiyao wants Xiaoniu to take the same path as me, crowdfunding the pill refining."
Foundation Establishment Pills were hard to come by.
Even as a Foundation Establishment disciple of the sect, Gao Peiyao would find it difficult to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill. Getting a piece of Profound Ice Jade Marrow was already an incredible feat.
The meaning of Daniu's letter was clear.
He wanted him to help Xiaoniu plan and keep an eye out for opportunities to crowdfund pill refining in Qinghe Market City.
Yu Daniu trusted Chen Jianghe without reservation.
Otherwise, he would never have revealed the news about the Profound Ice Jade Marrow.
This was a natural treasure that could lead to one's death.
"Xiaoniu is already forty-four this year. It's indeed time to plan for the Foundation Establishment Pill. Since he wants to crowdfund the refining, he might as well join me."
He had a low-quality Foundation Establishment Pill, but he wouldn't use it lightly. It was his last resort.
If he could get a better, genuine Foundation Establishment Pill, he certainly wouldn't choose the low-quality one.
"I just don't know if Ruan Tieniu can get his hands on a Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit."
The most difficult part of refining a Foundation Establishment Pill was still the Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit. Everyone knew where it grew.
But very few dared to go there.
Fusang Cliff, three hundred miles deep in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range, wasn't occupied by just one second-tier demonic beast. Even a team of three Foundation Establishment cultivators would likely not return.
Immediately, Chen Jianghe wrote a reply to Yu Daniu. The wording was subtle, but it conveyed his attitude.
He would take care of Yun Xiaoniu's crowdfunding for the pill refining.
Once there was progress on the matter, Chen Jianghe would send a message for Yu Daniu and Yun Xiaoniu to come to Qinghe Market City together.
As for why the father and son didn't crowdfund in Mirror Moon Market City?
The reason was simple.
Mirror Moon Market City had only been established for a little over twenty years. Its foundation was shallow, and it probably didn't even have a single second-tier, low-grade Alchemist.
How could they even talk about crowdfunding the refining of a Foundation Establishment Pill?
After replying to the letter, Chen Jianghe continued his seclusion. He planned to visit Alchemist Zhuang at the end of the year.
He didn't know about the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe that Ruan Tieniu had traded with Alchemist Zhuang.
Therefore, he needed to ask if the three main ingredients for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill were the same as in the conventional recipe.
Or if they could only use a substitute for the Profound Ice Jade Marrow.
Time flowed on.
Late in the twelfth lunar month.
After drawing a mid-grade Five Elements Escape Talisman, Chen Jianghe put away his wolf-hair brush and materials.
He got on his bed, sat cross-legged, and circulated the Myriad Waters True Scripture to recover his magical power.
Seven hours later, his magical power was fully restored.
But he didn't get up. Instead, he rested his mind, trying his best not to let the drawing of talismans damage his soul essence.
Earning spirit stones was important.
But his own condition was even more important.
Three more days passed. His spirit was full, and as he slowly opened his eyes, he felt refreshed and clear-headed.
"It seems my spiritual sense has grown stronger."
Chen Jianghe felt his spiritual sense had become more imposing, so he immediately released it.
Ten breaths later.
A look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face. The range of his spiritual sense had reached seventy-two feet!
It had increased by twelve feet in two years.
"How could it have improved so much?"
Chen Jianghe was puzzled. He hadn't taken any Spirit Nurturing Pills or first-tier Spirit Nourishing Liquid.
Nor had he cultivated any spiritual techniques.
Logically, it shouldn't have improved so quickly.
"Could it really be because of drawing talismans?"
Chen Jianghe felt something was off. There were so many Talisman Master cultivators, yet he had never heard of drawing talismans being able to significantly enhance one's soul essence and strengthen spiritual sense.
But if it wasn't because of drawing talismans, then there was only one other possibility.
It was related to Xiao Hei's improvement.
In these two years, Xiao Hei had devoured twenty-four late-stage first-tier demonic beast cores, and his cultivation had improved significantly.
If the spiritual platform's imprint could feed back the improvement in Xiao Hei's soul essence, then the strengthening of his spiritual sense came from Xiao Hei's cultivation improvement.
Seventy-two feet.
This far exceeded the spiritual sense strength of a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator.
Although it couldn't compare to those ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators who had access to spiritual cultivation techniques, it had undoubtedly strengthened his foundation.
When he cultivated spiritual techniques in the future.
With a solid foundation, his rate of improvement would also increase.
He got up and walked out of the room. He first glanced at Xiao Hei and Maoqiu and saw that Xiao Hei had finished cultivating.
He was basking in the sun with a look of utter resignation.
As if he had lost all hope in life, with no fun to be had.
"Did I work Xiao Hei too hard in his early years? To the point where he developed a habit of never being idle."
Chen Jianghe muttered to himself.
Although it was a very good habit, having a "life is meaningless" expression whenever he was idle was a bit much.
"Xiao Hei, your cultivation has improved quickly these past two years, hasn't it!"
"You're asking the obvious."
Xiao Hei floated lazily on the water's surface, his four limbs pointing to the sky. He gave Chen Jianghe a sidelong glance, then squinted his beady eyes.
He then put on a lazy and content posture.
"Uh...?"
Chen Jianghe could tell the laziness and contentment were an act; the feeling of life being meaningless was real.
To think Xiao Hei even knew how to hide his feelings now.
"How much longer until Maoqiu finishes cultivating?" Chen Jianghe glanced at Maoqiu at the bottom of the pool.
Its snow-white fur glowed with a faint green light. With each breath, it devoured the surrounding spiritual energy.
Devouring flesh and blood, breathing in spiritual energy.
This method of cultivation improvement was naturally slow, not as fast as devouring spirit cores.
The demonic beasts in the Wandering Immortal Mountain Range improved their cultivation very quickly. Not only did they have natural treasures to devour,
but they also had the spirit cores of their dear companions to absorb.
In this way, their cultivation speed was naturally very fast.
"Soon, in a day or two," Xiao Hei sent a telepathic message.
A few breaths later.
Xiao Hei leaped out of the pool, stood upright in front of Chen Jianghe, and asked, "Who exactly wants to stew me? What's his cultivation level?"
At this point, Xiao Hei was already the size of two millstones.
Standing upright, he was about eight feet tall, a full head taller than Chen Jianghe.
"A Foundation Establishment cultivator, equivalent to a second-tier spirit beast. So you must work hard. Only by becoming a second-tier spirit beast can you escape your fate."
"A Foundation Establishment cultivator? No wonder we had to run. You're no match for him at all."
Xiao Hei turned and went back into the pool, somewhat disappointed in Chen Jianghe.
"..."
Chen Jianghe was stunned.
He said that as if he could beat a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
If it weren't for you, would I have run...
Wait, how did I start believing the lie I told to motivate Xiao Hei?
Chen Jianghe shook his head, casting the white lie from his mind. It seemed one really couldn't tell too many lies, or they'd end up fooling themselves.
Two days later.
Maoqiu finished cultivating.
Chen Jianghe put both Xiao Hei and Maoqiu into the spirit beast space, then began to process the demonic beast parts at home.
This time was better; they were all small to medium-sized demonic beasts.
It only took him three trips to deliver them all to the Demonic Beast Workshop. In total, he sold them for one hundred twenty-six spirit stones and ten spirit grains.
That was fifty spirit grains more than the previous year.
Not bad, he could buy another pot of spirit tea at the Qingping Teahouse.
Although the spirit tea at Qingping Teahouse was a bit bitter, it wasn't as bitter as the lives of low-level cultivators. Every time he savored it, he would find a hint of sweetness in the end.
He didn't go home from the Demonic Beast Workshop but turned into Fushou Alley and arrived at Fuju Residence, number 136.
"Out?"
Passing by Ji Wujin's courtyard gate, he glanced over and saw the 'Out' sign hanging on it.
At a time like this, Ji Wujin wasn't working hard on his body tempering but was out wandering around. Was he really not afraid of the news about him having a Foundation Establishment Pill leaking?
That was a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill.
It was only because of his calm and conflict-averse nature. Otherwise, he would definitely have staked out Ji Wujin and found partners to set up an ambush.
For the upper-echelon cultivators of Qinghe Market City.
They might not lack spirit stones, but they lacked Foundation Establishment Pills!
Especially genuine ones.
Perhaps the Puppet Master was bold due to his high skill. He stopped thinking about Ji Wujin and knocked on Alchemist Zhuang's courtyard gate.
This time, half an incense stick's worth of time passed.
When Chen Jianghe knocked on the door ring for the second time, the gate slowly opened, revealing Jiang Ruxu's extremely reluctant face.
"Ah?!"
The moment Jiang Ruxu saw it was Chen Jianghe, her expression changed dramatically. Joy filled her face as she respectfully stepped forward.
"I'm sorry, Senior Chen, I wasn't targeting you. Please, come in."
Chen Jianghe frowned.
He followed Jiang Ruxu into the courtyard, somewhat puzzled.
Jiang Ruxu had always been cheerful and lively, her face always bright with an animated joy. Why was she so reluctant just now?
It seemed she didn't want to open the gate.
"What's going on?" Chen Jianghe asked.
His good relationship with Alchemist Zhuang was known throughout Qinghe Market City.
In fact, their current friendship was quite good, and they also had their prior agreement.
This meant he would be in contact with Jiang Ruxu and Zhuang Xinyan for the next few decades.
"Fellow Daoist Chen."
Just then, Alchemist Zhuang walked out of the pill refining room. He was startled for a moment upon seeing Chen Jianghe, then a smile appeared on his face.
"I'll let Master explain it to Senior," Jiang Ruxu pouted.
*Knock, knock-knock~*
The door ring sounded.
But Chen Jianghe saw that both Alchemist Zhuang and Jiang Ruxu acted as if they hadn't heard a thing. One went straight into his own room.
The other cheerfully invited him into the guest hall.
"Alchemist Zhuang, what happened?" Chen Jianghe asked, confused.
"Sigh~"
Alchemist Zhuang first glanced at the courtyard gate, then sighed helplessly and said, "The news that I refined a Foundation Establishment Pill has leaked."
"What?"
Chen Jianghe's heart skipped a beat.
The news of Alchemist Zhuang refining a Foundation Establishment Pill had leaked. What did this mean?
The fact that he possessed a low-quality Foundation Establishment Pill must have also been exposed.
In other words.
He had now become the focus of many people's attention. As long as he didn't use the low-quality pill to attempt Foundation Establishment.
Then leaving Qinghe Market City would attract a lot of attention from other cultivators.
"How did this happen?" Chen Jianghe asked with a frown. "Who leaked the information?"
"Only myself, Xinyan, Ruxu, you, Ruan Tieniu, and Ji Wujin knew about the pill refining."
"Ruxu wouldn't spread it, and Xinyan hasn't left the courtyard."
"Fellow Daoist, you should understand. Given that it concerns that special Foundation Establishment Pill recipe, I would never leak any information about refining the pill."
Alchemist Zhuang looked helpless.
Chen Jianghe nodded. He believed what Alchemist Zhuang said. That recipe could cost him and his granddaughter their lives.
He definitely wouldn't spread it.
Ruan Tieniu was even less of a fool.
If the news got out, he would be the first one captured and soul-searched.
Besides, Ruan Tieniu had failed his Foundation Establishment and was thinking about a second attempt. He had even more reason not to leak the news.
"It's Ji Wujin!" Chen Jianghe said.
Alchemist Zhuang nodded. Only Ji Wujin could have possibly leaked the information.
"Ji Wujin hasn't reached Foundation Establishment yet. He's just a ninth-level Qi Refining Puppet Master. What good would leaking the news do him?"
Alchemist Zhuang's words sent Chen Jianghe into deep thought.
Likewise, Alchemist Zhuang couldn't understand Ji Wujin's actions either.
Now that the news of him refining a Foundation Establishment Pill had leaked, everyone in the market city knew he was a second-tier Alchemist.
And a newly promoted one at that.
The price for refining second-tier spirit pills would surely be cheaper, which attracted many cultivators to seek his services.
Basically, several cultivators would come every day.
At first, Alchemist Zhuang would still open the door and explain to people that he hadn't refined a Foundation Establishment Pill and wasn't a second-tier Alchemist.
But how could those cultivators believe him?
After it happened many times.
Alchemist Zhuang simply stopped opening the door, letting those cultivators knock a few times before they eventually gave up and left.
It was true that he could refine second-tier spirit pills.
But he wasn't a fool.
If he started refining second-tier spirit pills for people at a low price now, he would offend the other second-tier Alchemists in the market city.
He didn't have many years left to live. He couldn't bring hatred upon his granddaughter and disciple.
Even if he were to refine second-tier spirit pills for others, he would have to wait until the Second-Tier Alchemist Exchange Conference, after he had paid his respects to all the other second-tier Alchemists.
They would set the prices, and then he could talk about refining pills.
The Second-Tier Alchemist Exchange Conference was held once every ten years. The next one was in four years.
During this period, Alchemist Zhuang could only refine first-tier spirit pills for people. As for second-tier spirit pills, he could only refine them privately for friends.
As for privately helping those other cultivators?
Would that still be considered private?
Could any secrets be kept?
"No, it might not be Ji Wujin. His courtyard gate still has the 'Out' sign on it."
Chen Jianghe thought for a moment and said to Alchemist Zhuang, "If it were Ji Wujin, the news that he has a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill would surely attract prying eyes. He wouldn't dare to leave his home."
"Not Ji Wujin?"
Alchemist Zhuang frowned.
Then who else could be so familiar with the crowdfunding of the pill refining?
"No matter who leaked the news, Fellow Daoist, it's best you don't leave Qinghe Market City before you reach Foundation Establishment."
Alchemist Zhuang said with concern.
Chen Jianghe nodded.
Although the components of this concern were complex, it was still concern, a worry for his safety.
"By the way, there's another matter I'd like to ask Alchemist Zhuang, but it's a bit presumptuous, so I hesitate to speak."
"Oh? Fellow Daoist, feel free to say whatever is on your mind. The friendship between us has long since surpassed a simple transaction."
Alchemist Zhuang looked at Chen Jianghe curiously, then spoke solemnly.
His friendship with Chen Jianghe had indeed deepened considerably and couldn't be described by the simple word 'transaction'.
He had entrusted both his granddaughter and disciple to Chen Jianghe, which showed his trust in him.
"Very well, then. If I am being impudent, I hope Alchemist Zhuang will forgive me."
Chen Jianghe paused, then asked, "I'd like to know if the recipe Ruan Tieniu traded had any changes regarding the Profound Ice Jade Marrow, one of the three main ingredients."
Alchemist Zhuang was taken aback by the question.
He hadn't expected Chen Jianghe to ask about the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe, something he considered the foundation for his family's revival.
Naturally, the fewer people who knew about it, the better.
Alchemist Zhuang fell into thought, seemingly conflicted about whether to tell Chen Jianghe. After all, it concerned the future safety of his granddaughter and disciple.
Seeing Alchemist Zhuang's silence.
Chen Jianghe didn't press the issue but waited quietly.
Yun Xiaoniu was a nephew he valued greatly. To allow Yun Xiaoniu to join the next crowdfunding, he had no choice but to brazenly ask Alchemist Zhuang.
Even if Alchemist Zhuang didn't tell him, it wouldn't strain the relationship between them.
After half a quarter-hour.
Alchemist Zhuang first cupped his hands and said, "Forgive me, Fellow Daoist. This concerns the future of the Zhuang family, so I must be cautious. It's not that I don't trust you not to spread it."
"Alchemist Zhuang, you're being too serious. Please rest assured, I will absolutely not reveal a single word."
Chen Jianghe said with a chuckle, "After I reach Foundation Establishment, I still have to protect Fellow Daoist Jiang and Fellow Daoist Zhuang for thirty years. Why would I ask for trouble?"
Hearing this, Alchemist Zhuang felt even more at ease.
"You are aware of the three main ingredients for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill: Purple Cloud Vermilion Fruit, Profound Ice Jade Marrow, and Illusory Heart Grass."
"There are many recipes for the Foundation Establishment Pill, but most of them alter or reduce the supplementary ingredients to simplify the refining difficulty."
"The recipe that Ruan Tieniu traded to me, however, involves a change in the main ingredients, allowing for substitutes with similar effects."
At this point, Alchemist Zhuang looked at Chen Jianghe solemnly and said, "The substitute for Profound Ice Jade Marrow is a second-tier ice-attribute spirit core."
"Then if one has Profound Ice Jade Marrow, can it still be used to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill with this recipe?"
Chen Jianghe asked quickly.
"Haha... Of course, it can. And the effect will be better, the success rate will be higher, and the quality will also improve."
"Fellow Daoist must understand that a substitute is just a substitute. It cannot compare to the original required spiritual item."
Alchemist Zhuang laughed heartily, explaining the pharmacology of the Dao of Alchemy to Chen Jianghe.
Chen Jianghe didn't understand pharmacology, but he understood that a Foundation Establishment Pill refined with Profound Ice Jade Marrow would have better effects and higher quality.
Alchemist Zhuang was able to refine a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill using a second-tier ice-attribute spirit core as a substitute.
So if he used Profound Ice Jade Marrow, would there be a chance of refining two pills?
Since he planned to help Yun Xiaoniu with the crowdfunding, he would certainly try to secure a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill for this favored junior.
Although, when one's physical body and spirit were not at their peak, the effects of a genuine and a low-quality Foundation Establishment Pill were the same.
They were just for saving one's life.
The rest depended on luck.
But luck was a matter of metaphysics. An extra ten percent 'success rate' would also psychologically boost one's confidence in successfully reaching Foundation Establishment.
"What? Fellow Daoist, you have Profound Ice Jade Marrow on you!" Alchemist Zhuang asked in surprise.
Towards Chen Jianghe, Alchemist Zhuang was both surprised and curious.
A mere Fishery Farmer from back then had actually developed to this point, not only being able to organize the crowdfunding for a Foundation Establishment Pill,
but also obtaining hard-to-find spiritual items multiple times.
It was simply unbelievable.
"You could say that," Chen Jianghe thought for a moment and nodded at Alchemist Zhuang.
"Could this Profound Ice Jade Marrow be related to Fairy Peiyao?" Alchemist Zhuang asked curiously again.
"Uh~ That is indeed the case."
Chen Jianghe wasn't lying to Alchemist Zhuang.
Yun Xiaoniu had the Profound Ice Jade Marrow, so his only path was to crowdfund the pill refining.
Therefore, it was as good as being in his own hands.
As for its connection to Gao Peiyao? The connection was huge. It was the valuable gift Gao Peiyao had given to Yun Xiaoniu.
"Mm~ Good, very good!"
When Alchemist Zhuang heard that the Profound Ice Jade Marrow came from Gao Peiyao, his face instantly bloomed into a wide smile, his dense wrinkles creasing like a flower.
In his heart, he felt that he had still underestimated the relationship between Chen Jianghe and Gao Peiyao.
It was definitely more than just childhood friends.
"Fellow Daoist, rest assured. If we can gather the other two main ingredients, with this Profound Ice Jade Marrow, I guarantee I can refine two genuine Foundation Establishment Pills."