According to the contributions made by the Chen family, they were initially entitled to only two Spirit Nourishment Pills. However, Jiang Linglong generously gave Elian four pills, leaving the remaining three to be distributed among the other three families.
Her two disciples, under her personal tutelage, had no shortage of ordinary third-rank pills. This effectively allocated their share to Elian.
After completing the Spirit Nourishment Pills, Jiang Linglong turned to refining the Law Essence Pills. These pills, which grant a Purple Mansion cultivator thirty years of cultivation progress, were notably challenging to refine, even among third-rank high-grade pills.
Jiang Linglong spent seven days crafting them, producing five pills in total.
"Producing five pills in one batch," Elian remarked in surprise, inspecting the pills.
"Your alchemy skills are already at the pinnacle of a fourth-rank low-grade alchemist."
Jiang Linglong shook her head with a faint smile in her bright eyes.
"If not for spending years preparing to complete my spiritual root, I might already be a fourth-rank mid-grade alchemist."
"Take two of these Law Essence for yourself," she continued.
"Leave one for Su Mingwei, and let the Xu and Yang families trade for the remaining two with spirit stones."
Elian nodded. The spoils from their campaign against the Golden Core-level demon forces were indeed bountiful. The four major Purple Mansion clans received a wealth of treasures, and the newly crafted third-rank pills ensured their prosperity for decades. In a single campaign, they had secured gains equivalent to a century's worth of typical earnings.
However, these gains were hard-won. The collective contributions of all involved were only a fraction of Jiang Linglong's own efforts. Law Essence Pills, which save cultivators thirty years of cultivation, are valued at no less than 80,000 spirit stones each and were no longer freely distributed.
With the Law Essence Pills complete, Jiang Linglong moved on to her most important task: refining Golden Core Pills.
She took out the demon king's core and the Heavenly Heart Flower, her expression solemn.
"I hope to produce two pills this time."
Jiang Linglong had promised Yan Ziji that she would give the demon king's core to her. However, with the addition of the Heavenly Heart Flower, she now had the means to refine a Golden Core Pill for Yan Ziji. If the process yielded only one pill, it would be a loss; if it yielded two, she would effectively gain an additional pill.
Golden Core Pills are valued at a minimum of one million spirit stones, often selling for as much as two million. Successfully crafting an extra pill would provide a substantial financial cushion, easing her resource constraints following her Golden Core breakthrough.
As Elian watched and assisted with the preparation of auxiliary ingredients, his expression grew serious. The refinement process for fourth-rank pills was incredibly complex, and his role was limited to handling the simpler tasks.
Even with Jiang Linglong's enhanced spiritual power, it took three months to refine the demon core into a concentrated medicinal liquid. Including the preparation of the Heavenly Heart Flower and other auxiliary ingredients, the process spanned nearly six months before yielding four portions of medicinal liquid.
What surprised Elian was that Jiang Linglong decisively merged the four portions into two, greatly enhancing their potency. Despite losing some to evaporation under the refining flame, the remaining liquid quickly began to solidify.
Noticing Elian's astonishment, Jiang Linglong calmly explained, "This is the combined pill method. Merging medicinal liquids increases the success rate. You can try using this technique when refining high-grade pills in the future."
With that, she focused her energy once more, carefully condensing the two merged liquids. Finally, with a soft hum, the pill furnace trembled, and two radiant, golden pills emerged.
"Success," Jiang Linglong said, storing the pills in a treasure box. She leaned against Elian's chest with a gleeful smile.
Producing two pills in one batch effectively earned her two million spirit stones, a massive relief to her financial pressures.
Elian, wrapping his arm around her slender waist, couldn't help but notice the soft, graceful curves of her figure against him. Publicly, she exuded the unapproachable aura of an immortal goddess, but in private, she was far more alluring.
(Thou shalt wander in confusion, for the juicy details shall elude thee eternally!)
...
After refining the two Golden Core Pills, Jiang Linglong and Elian returned to the spiritual pool cave.
As they entered, they found a stunning woman clad in a regal purple gown standing quietly with a serene smile. It was none other than Yan Ziji, who had been waiting for some time. When she saw them arrive together, a flicker of an unreadable emotion crossed her bright eyes.
Jiang Linglong's close friend, a fellow Golden Core ancestor, clearly had something to discuss. Elian tactfully prepared to leave.
"I'll go handle some matters. You two talk," he said.
Jiang Linglong nodded with a smile.
"Alright, I'll come find you later."
Elian gave a slight bow to Yan Ziji and departed from the cave.
As soon as he was gone, Yan Ziji took Jiang Linglong's arm and asked eagerly, "How did it go?"
"Two pills. I didn't disappoint," Jiang Linglong replied with a smile, producing one of the Golden Core Pills.
Yan Ziji took it and couldn't hide her delight. Still, she hesitated for a moment before saying, "You don't have anyone suitable for the other pill. Why not sell it to me as well?"
Jiang Linglong's brow furrowed slightly as she considered the situation. She recalled the state of the Purple Abyss Sect, a renowned women's sect. Founded over 800 years ago, it attracted numerous female cultivators from across six countries.
Yan Ziji had joined the sect two centuries ago and risen to become its leader, supported heavily by the previous sect master. Moreover, she had a younger cousin, Ling Ji, a cultivator with a Wind spiritual root who had already reached the False Golden Core stage at just over 200 years old. (False, so just a bit and she will reach Golden Core realm)
It was clear Yan Ziji intended to secure the second pill for her cousin. Seeing this, Jiang Linglong agreed to sell it for two million spirit stones, prioritizing her friend over other potential buyers.
Having obtained the treasures, Yan Ziji couldn't resist teasing her.
"I've heard you've taken a liking to a Purple Mansion cultivator."
"I wondered who could catch your eye, and it turns out to be none other than the famed Sword Immortal of Bianzhou Region."
"No wonder," Yan Ziji continued, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Who wouldn't be moved by Chen Nian Elian? His appearance is otherworldly, and his swordsmanship is unmatched. If not for you, I might have made a move myself."
Jiang Linglong's lips curved into a faint smile.
"You wouldn't stand a chance."
"How do you know I wouldn't?" Yan Ziji retorted, feigning indignation.
Jiang Linglong's expression didn't waver as she replied matter-of-factly, "You're not as good-looking as I am."
"You… hmph!"
...
65+ chapters ahead on patreon: patreon.com/David_Lord
I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D