Li Yaozu sat cross-legged opposite the Sword Venerable. It was no wonder the world placed such heavy importance on fortuitous encounters.
The Sword Venerable had failed four times to break through to the Body Integration realm.
Li Yaozu made a trip to the Sword Pavilion, and the Sword Venerable's final trace of Dao Rhyme from failing to ascend to Body Integration was used to forge Spiritual power for Li Yaozu.
"You have laid a solid foundation. Although your aptitude is poor, you have nurtured your sword year-round, obtaining a Sword Physique and possessing a Sword Heart."
The Sword Venerable's four attempts yielded only half the required laws.
He dispersed the Sword Heart laws Li Yaozu had forged over the years since leaving the snowy plains into the Void Refinement Space.
In just a few days, the Void Refinement Space was filled with various powers of laws, which then transformed into individual swords that pierced into the Void Refinement Space.
Everyone's dharma methods have their own stark differences, and the same goes for their Dao Hearts.
Those swords appeared perfectly ordinary, yet they emitted a faint, obscure killing intent.
The swords trembled slightly, imperceptible to the naked eye, revealing ordinary iron garments hidden within their ordinary blades.
The Sword Venerable said in surprise, "Hidden killing intent. This is a second-tier Void Refinement Dao that blends Metal-attribute, killing intent, and flaw-finding laws. You've hidden your strength deep in your sword bones."
"He's the best at pretending!"
Inside the sword box, a beauty sat on a flying sword, swinging her legs.
Her face was calm, yet it was as if she were roaring out of the box.
It wasn't the first time he had been seen through. Li Yaozu said in a deep voice, "A gentleman holds back and dares not exhaust his limits, to guard against vile characters."
The Sword Venerable remained silent for a moment.
"Grasp this opportunity well. Use my remaining Dao Rhyme to forge your Void Refinement realm, so you can head to Deston Prefecture.
Regarding the matter at the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems, please ask the Li Clan not to take offense."
Hearing this, a look of realization dawned upon Li Yaozu.
As the Sword Venerable dispelled the barrier of the Body Integration Great Dao within the Sword Mountain, many disciples were also able to leave the mountain.
Among them, Li Yaozu saw the figure of the Sword Master, Fang Yunyu.
During the trip to the Mountain of Esoteric Stratagems back then, among the various factions of the Immortal Suppression Department, the Sword Master ran the fastest.
In truth, Li Yaozu didn't take it to heart.
After all, one of Sword Left and Sword Right sacrificed themselves, while the other's Dao Heart was damaged.
It was only human nature for the Sword Master to lead his people away to flee and preserve their strength.
However, it was inevitable that the various factions of the Immortal Suppression Department would distance themselves from the Sword Pavilion.
At the very least, Zhangsun Buhuo and Jiang Tianjun harbored grudges.
"This junior understands."
Li Yaozu merely nodded slightly.
.......
"So that's how it is. The Sword Venerable saved that final trace of Dao Rhyme just for A'Zu."
Li Wei took in everything happening at the Sword Pavilion.
Under the Dao Rhyme of the Sword Venerable, the number of longswords piercing into A'Zu's Void Refinement Space was increasing.
Li Wei didn't disturb him.
He then returned to Merit City and murmured,
"Regarding the matter in Deston Prefecture, the Heavenly Principle Hall is monitoring the helpers they've invited.
A mighty dragon cannot suppress the local snake; that is the territory of the Imperial Protectors Guard, so we must play by their rules.
If Bi Shihu and the Yun Clan make a move, we are acting in self-defense, which makes sense logically.
But if they want to make a move against our Li Clan, we have to give them the opportunity to do so first."
"The initiative is in our hands."
As his words fell, Li Wei arrived at Yaoqing's location.
Smoke drifted from the pill furnace, and a massive amount of Grade 4 and Grade 5 natural treasures floated in the air around her.
Li Yaoqing sat cross-legged, concocting pills with a rare earnestness.
Even the "Heavenly Fire Divine Tree" gifted to Yaotie by his mentor had been lent to Li Yaoqing for pill refinement.
In contrast, over at the Spirit Gathering Cauldron, Li Yaotie was laughing heartily, holding a hammer in one hand and the "Golden Chapter of Enlightenment" in the other as he forged artifacts.
Li Yaoqing's expression was grave. The higher the grade of the pill, the harder it was to refine.
Concocting a furnace of "Void-Breaking Pills" in two years was only achieved under the extraordinary effects of the Heavenly Fire Divine Tree and her Divine Art; otherwise, it would have taken much more time.
At the same time.
During the period Li Yaoqing was concocting pills, the older generation of the clan suddenly fell silent.
[Year 815]
Another three years passed.
Following the scent of medicine, Li Wei arrived beside Li Yaoqing.
He saw Li Yaoqing open the pill furnace with a face full of apprehension, revealing the pills inside radiating golden light.
Even after several snaps of the fingers had passed, the afterglow of golden light still lingered on the pills.
There were six patterns on the pills. A total of two pills!
Li Yaoqing was overjoyed.
"Old Ancestor, it's a success! I concocted two pills in one furnace! I'm already familiar with the refinement process for this kind of pill; the next furnace will only take two years!"
[Your descendant, Li Yaoqing, has concocted a furnace of Grade 4 Spiritual Pills: Six-Revolution Heavenly Rainbow Spirit-Gathering Pills (Mid-Grade)]
[Consuming one can increase cultivation base by 500 years.
Being a mid-grade spiritual pill, the cultivation increase remains unchanged.
It will take just under ten years to expel the impurities from the body, though the time required varies from person to person.]
"Good, good, good!"
Li Wei was overjoyed.
In the Ancestral Space, everyone except the three clan members refining the "Void-Breaking Pills" and Li Yaozu in the Sword Pavilion was gathered together.
Hearing the efficacy of the "Six-Revolution Heavenly Rainbow Spirit-Gathering Pill," everyone's eyes lit up.
In truth, when Li Yaoqing was a Grade 5 Apothecary and Alchemist, she could also concoct pills that increased one's cultivation base.
However, those pills could only increase it by a few decades.
For their current realms, it was just a drop in the bucket; it wasn't even as good as the living Qi they had snatched from Tian Xing.
But after Li Yaoqing became a Grade 4 Alchemist, everything began to undergo a qualitative change!
"Five hundred years of cultivation base."
Li Dalong let out a long sigh, looking at those two pills with complex emotions. Within a tiny pill lay more than half of the lifetime he had lived.
Li Yaoqing had never thought she could concoct such a divine pill. Having actually done it, Li Yaoqing's voice trembled.
"I can still make seven more furnaces of this kind of pill. With Yuanshang continuously purchasing natural treasures in the Imperial Capital, there will be even more.
Once I become more proficient with the refinement method, the yield will increase, and the grade will be higher."
"High-Grade Six-Revolution Heavenly Rainbow Spirit-Gathering Pills will have even better efficacy.
If they reach Top-Grade, the medicinal effect might even increase by half, providing at least seven hundred years of cultivation base."
"There are also Holy Spirit Pills. One pill grants at least eight hundred years of cultivation base..."
Hearing this, the clan members' eyes widened.
They realized that the clan's era of popping pills had arrived.
"Dalong, time to take your medicine." Unable to suppress the excitement in her heart, Xu Cuihua blurted out a sentence, as if possessed by ghosts and gods.
Li Dalong pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice,
"You and I are currently leading zombies and Hell Layer I: The Silence Maw Ghosts to march into Hell Layer II: The Rending Vows.
As you are also undergoing a transformation, I must guard you. There will be more spiritual pills; let the children eat these."