Translator: AnubisTL
Daoist Qingyang's Pill Refinement technique was exceptionally skilled. Just from his movements, it was clear he had refined countless Foundation Establishment Pills over the years.
One Spirit Herb after another was added to the Pill Refining Cauldron, and the Innate True Fire he controlled surged ever more fiercely.
The essence of the Spirit Herbs was extracted and condensed within the cauldron into a ball about the size of an adult's fist.
The most crucial step in Pill Refinement was fire control. Daoist Qingyang's mastery of this aspect was truly remarkable; he didn't make a single mistake from start to finish.
By the time the extraction phase was complete, a full day had passed. Watching Daoist Qingyang's flawless performance, Li Qing and Liu Hanyue both breathed a sigh of relief, their confidence in this batch of Foundation Establishment Pills growing considerably.
The essence of all the Spirit Herbs had now coalesced into a single ball, bobbing gently within the Copper Pill Refining Cauldron, enduring the scorching heat of the Innate True Fire.
But the Pill Refinement process was far from over.
Daoist Qingyang's technique shifted, and he intensified the Innate True Fire's intensity.
Boom!
Daoist Qingyang then manipulated the massive ball of medicinal liquid within the Pill Refining Cauldron, forcing the medicinal power of the numerous Spirit Herbs mixed within to merge.
After another half-day, the medicinal power of the Spirit Herbs finally coalesced, releasing a rich, fragrant aroma of pills.
Just by inhaling this scent, Li Qing felt a subtle restlessness in his spiritual energy Qi Sea, unable to calm his mind.
At this moment, Liu Hanyue stared intently at the merged medicinal liquid within the Pill Refining Cauldron, her beautiful eyes reflecting the intense flames.
In the next instant, Daoist Qingyang's technique underwent another dramatic shift. He formed a peculiar hand seal, a step that seemed to exhaust his entire focus!
Within the Pill Refining Cauldron, the merged essence of the Spirit Herbs began to split, slowly transforming from a massive sphere into five perfectly round pills, each about the size of a dragon's eye.
This was Daoist Qingyang's unique pill-splitting technique, allowing him to divide the medicinal liquid into appropriate portions for pill formation with the utmost precision.
Of course, the five portions of medicinal liquid didn't guarantee the perfect refining of five Foundation Establishment Pills.
There were several more steps to go, including the final condensation and fire-retraction phases. Any misstep during these stages could ruin the pills. Even a slight miscalculation could turn a Foundation Establishment Pill into dross.
Finally, they reached the most crucial step. Li Qing and Liu Hanyue were not naive enough to believe this batch of pills would yield five perfect Foundation Establishment Pills.
Even the most skilled Pill Refiners rarely achieved such a high success rate. Generally, a batch of Foundation Establishment Pills that produced two or three usable pills was considered a good result.
At this moment, even the usually composed Li Qing couldn't help but feel nervous. His heart rate quickened slightly, his Vital Energy began to stir, and a faint rumbling sound echoed within him.
But he quickly suppressed his anxiety.
"If I succeed, it's my fortune. If I fail, it's my fate," Li Qing murmured to himself, his mind suddenly becoming remarkably calm.
Beside him, Liu Hanyue overheard Li Qing's words. Her delicate eyebrows arched in surprise.
With the Foundation Establishment Pills nearly complete, she hadn't expected Li Qing to remain so composed, so utterly unfazed.
Even she couldn't help but clench her fists, her own heart unable to find peace.
After a long time, Daoist Qingyang gradually reduced the intensity of his Innate True Fire, his movements steady and controlled.
The five Foundation Establishment Pills that had been suspended in the Pill Cauldron just moments ago slowly sank to the bottom, sealing the alchemy cauldron.
The previously overwhelming medicinal fragrance that had filled the cave abode also receded, no longer escaping into the air.
After a while, when Daoist Qingyang's Innate True Fire finally extinguished, the Copper Pill Refining Cauldron trembled slightly.
Clang!
This muffled sound shook Liu Hanyue and Li Qing to their core.
The Pill Refinement was complete!
But had it succeeded?!
The two of them stood rooted to the spot, eager to check but still holding back their impatience.
Only when Daoist Qingyang nodded, signaling that they could approach and examine the pills, did Liu Hanyue and Li Qing quickly step forward.
Lifting the lid of the alchemy cauldron, they saw five perfectly round pills resting peacefully inside. However, two of them soon collapsed, turning into two dark, ashy heaps.
The remaining three pills still stood upright in the cauldron, though they were tiny. Yet in Liu Hanyue and Li Qing's eyes, they were more precious than anything else.
Three pills successfully refined!
Li Qing's heart skipped a beat as a surge of wild joy welled up within him. But he quickly noticed that one of the pills had a slightly duller luster, noticeably different from the other two.
"This Foundation Establishment Pill..."
Daoist Qingyang spoke with a hint of apology in his voice. "Fellow Daoists, my abilities are limited. While I managed to refine three pills this time, only two are genuine Foundation Establishment Pills. The third one is of slightly inferior quality."
"I hope you won't blame me for this!"
Hearing Daoist Qingyang's words, Li Qing and Liu Hanyue shook their heads repeatedly, their faces filled with gratitude. "Not at all, Senior! That you succeeded in refining them is already a great favor!"
"How could I dare claim such praise? That we even have three pills is already a stroke of good fortune!"
With these words, Daoist Qingyang finally chuckled and nodded. "Now that the pills are ready, you may take them."
Liu Hanyue nodded slightly and turned to Li Qing. "As we agreed, I'll take two Foundation Establishment Pills, and the third is yours. But since this one is of inferior quality, you don't need to compensate me the remaining spirit stones."
Inferior quality?
Normally, a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill could increase the chances of successfully establishing a Foundation by about 20%. Even if the attempt failed, it could still protect the cultivator's life and ensure their safety.
This slightly inferior Foundation Establishment Pill might only increase the chance of success by 15%, or even as little as 10%.
However, since it originated from the same source, even if the Foundation Establishment fails, it could still protect the cultivator's meridians.
Such a pill, if auctioned, would likely fetch around 2,000 spirit stones.
Considering Li Qing had obtained it in exchange for just three auxiliary ingredients, this deal was undeniably a win for him.
Although Li Qing had considered asking for a perfect Foundation Establishment Pill, he ultimately refrained. Liu Hanyue was unlikely to agree.
Instead, Li Qing nodded and said, "No problem!"
Thus, Liu Hanyue received two normal Foundation Establishment Pills, while Li Qing took the slightly inferior third one.
Feeling the faint warmth radiating from the pill's surface, Li Qing smiled contentedly.
Regardless, he now had a chance to attempt Foundation Establishment and survive the process.
Even if he failed, he wouldn't suffer a setback in cultivation or damage his Vital Energy.
"Thank you for your help, Senior Qingyang. If you ever need anything in the future, just let me know!" Li Qing said gratefully.
Liu Hanyue's emotions were also far from calm. She had begun plotting and scheming for a Foundation Establishment Pill long ago, but unexpected setbacks had plagued her efforts, causing significant losses for her family.
By now, many of the Junior Disciples in the sect had already achieved Foundation Establishment, yet she remained stuck in the Qi Refining Realm.
This was a testament to the immense pressure she had endured over the years. Behind her back, both her clan members and fellow disciples had undoubtedly whispered countless criticisms.
Now, at long last, her wish had been granted.
"Senior Qingyang, I will never forget this favor!" Liu Hanyue's voice trembled slightly as she clasped her hands in a formal bow.
"Hahaha, Fellow Daoists, you're being too polite. I won't say much more. May you both achieve success on the Immortal Path!" Daoist Qingyang chuckled lightly.
This time, his assistance in pill refinement had yielded considerable rewards. Leaving aside the compensation, these two favors were truly invaluable.
Setting aside Li Qing for now, Liu Hanyue's favor alone was exceptionally precious.
With her talent and the Foundation Establishment Pill, she was now virtually guaranteed to achieve Foundation Establishment. Coupled with her status as a member of the Liu Clan and a disciple of the Heavenly River Sect, this favor became even more valuable.
Having obtained the Foundation Establishment Pill she needed, Li Qing was preparing to take his leave when he noticed that Liu Hanyue seemed reluctant to depart. This piqued his curiosity.
Standing rooted to the spot, Liu Hanyue hesitated for a moment before biting her lip and speaking. "Senior Qingyang, I intend to consume the Foundation Establishment Pill and attempt my breakthrough right here at the Azure Radiance Pool. Would you be willing to act as my Guardian for the next few days?"
Hearing this, Senior Qingyang frowned slightly, as if calculating something.
Li Qing was also taken aback, but then he realized that the Azure Radiance Pool was quite far from both the Heavenly River Sect and the Liu Clan. Even at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, Liu Hanyue would naturally worry about encountering unexpected dangers. Choosing to break through here wasn't surprising at all. After all, the Azure Radiance Pool was Heavenly River Sect territory, and with Liu Hanyue's status, setting up a cave abode for secluded cultivation here would be no problem.
But if she had been cultivating in seclusion here for a year without any trouble, why would she need a Guardian now?
"To be honest," Liu Hanyue said gravely, her expression serious, "while collecting auxiliary ingredients recently, I sensed some unusual resistance, though I wasn't certain. I suspect remnants of the Shi Clan of Medicine King Ridge might be targeting me, trying to sabotage my Foundation Establishment. That's why I didn't continue collecting the remaining ingredients and came directly to the Azure Radiance Pool to catch them off guard."
"Of course, this is just a possibility. I might be mistaken. But whether or not anyone attacks later, I'm willing to offer an additional reward!"
This turn of events was completely unexpected by both Li Qing and Daoist Qingyang. They had no idea there was such a hidden truth behind it. No wonder she had chosen to directly hire someone to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill rather than gather the remaining auxiliary ingredients herself.
Daoist Qingyang chuckled. "The Shi Clan of Medicine King Ridge has already been destroyed, leaving only a few remnants still lurking in the shadows."
"In that case, this old man will act as your Guardian this time. Consider it a favor to the Heavenly River Sect."
With his Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation, he naturally wasn't worried about the Shi Clan remnants posing any real threat. This was a deal he could definitely afford to make.
Hearing Daoist Qingyang's agreement, Liu Hanyue brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and turned to Li Qing. "Fellow Daoist Li, I'd also like to ask you to act as my Guardian this time. I'll offer you a suitable reward afterward. How does that sound?"
Li Qing hesitated, weighing the pros and cons of the situation.
It was clear that Daoist Qingyang would be the main force in this Guardian duty, and the Shi Clan remnants posed no real threat. Li Qing could simply stick close to Daoist Qingyang and join in the beating of the fallen dog.
After a moment of consideration, Li Qing nodded and agreed, deciding to follow Daoist Qingyang and share in the spoils.
"No problem!"
(End of the Chapter)
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