I Tame Beasts by Feeding

Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Sanwen Fire, Stillness

"A Foundation Establishment Pill?"

Gongsun Yang looked a bit awkward. "You know my Spirit Root is rather poor. I traded the batch of three elixirs I refined for a three-pattern Foundation Establishment Pill, so I don’t have any left right now."

"But don’t worry. You’re at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer now. By the time you reach the Qi Refining Peak, I will definitely gather the materials for a Foundation Establishment Pill, refine it, and help you reach Foundation Establishment!"

Gongsun Yang declared resolutely.

Yu Changsheng gave a sheepish laugh.

’It’s not for me, I just wanted to get one for Yu Taoran,’ he thought. ’But is Master planning on taking care of my Foundation Establishment Pill as well?’

’That’s not bad, I guess—it’s free. But I’m cultivating so fast, I might reach Qi Refining Peak in just a year or two. Can Master really get everything ready in time?’

"Ahem."

"Master, that’s not what I meant."

Yu Changsheng coughed a few times and said, "It’s for my grandfather. After this last battle, if he doesn’t reach Foundation Establishment, I’m afraid he’ll pass away within ten years. That’s why I wanted to ask for one for him."

"I see."

"In that case, he’ll need a Foundation Establishment Pill with at least two Pill Patterns."

Gongsun Yang mulled it over for a moment before saying, "Leave this to me. Some Golden Core True Masters have Foundation Establishment Pills saved for their juniors. If I can’t gather the materials in the next few years, I’ll swallow my pride and go ask for one."

"Thank you, Master!" Yu Changsheng was deeply moved.

"Hahaha, come, join me for some Alchemy. Let’s see how much you’ve improved recently. The sect will be holding an Alchemy Conference for the younger generation soon, and I might be able to recommend you for it," Gongsun Yang said with a smile, stroking his beard.

"An Alchemy Conference?" Yu Changsheng asked curiously.

"That’s right. The conference was started by a Tier Three Alchemist from Jade Cauldron Peak. It’s been going on for a hundred years now, held once every five years to help everyone improve their Alchemy."

"There are no restrictions on which Inheritance Peaks can participate; anyone who knows Alchemy can join. As my Direct Disciple, you can skip the open qualifiers and enter the preliminary rounds directly."

"Don’t underestimate this Alchemy Conference. Although I’ve been teaching you carefully, your attainments in Alchemy still fall short of others. Talent alone can’t make up for that gap; it requires time."

"However, I have high hopes for you. If you can place in the top three, you’ll be able to choose any Tier Three Lower Spirit Grass from the sect. You could even pick a main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill. It would save you a fortune in Spirit Stones!"

Gongsun Yang’s words made Yu Changsheng’s heart race.

The main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill—Jade Marrow Mushroom, Purple Monkey Flower, and Celestial Spirit Fruit—each cost several thousand Spirit Stones. Not only that, but they were often unavailable at any price. Older specimens could even sell for over ten thousand!

So, driven by the thought of getting something for free if he could, Yu Changsheng was very tempted.

Just then, Gongsun Yang added, "What’s more, the materials for the elixirs you refine during the conference are provided for free. After you’re done, you only need to hand over half of what you make."

"By the end of the conference, you can walk away with at least a thousand Spirit Stones’ worth of elixirs."

"Alright, Master. I’ll participate," Yu Changsheng said.

"Good. Let’s go. Today, I’ll teach you how to refine the Blood Returning Pill for healing," Gongsun Yang said with a smile.

In the Alchemy Room, the Pill Fire ignited.

Yu Changsheng closed his eyes, patiently controlling the Pill Fire. The flame was steady and slow, as if it were brewing something.

He continuously adjusted the heat of the Pill Fire while placing the various supplementary ingredients into the Alchemy Furnace.

Beside him, Gongsun Yang watched in silence with a smile.

A quarter of an hour later, the Pill Fire finally went out. Yu Changsheng calmly extinguished the flame, took a Blood Returning Pill from the Alchemy Furnace, and tossed it into his mouth.

A few of these Blood Returning Pills had a single Pill Pattern. They were effective for replenishing qi and blood and healing injuries.

A moment later, a warm current flowed down his throat and spread throughout his limbs. Since he had no injuries, it dispelled his fatigue instead!

Yu Changsheng’s spirits lifted. His eyes focused as he carefully savored the changes within his body.

"As an Alchemist, you must consume the elixirs and experience their effects. Only then can you fully understand their medicinal properties."

"Only by doing this will you be more meticulous the next time you perform Alchemy."

Saying this, Gongsun Yang also picked up a Blood Returning Pill and ate it.

The elixir dissolved into liquid in his mouth. He smacked his lips and smiled. "Mm, not bad. For your first time refining this, the medicinal properties are all perfectly fused. You truly are talented!"

"It’s because Master is a good teacher," Yu Changsheng said humbly.

Even though Gongsun Yang knew it was just a polite remark, he still enjoyed hearing it. A smile touched his lips as he said, "Let’s end here for today. Go back and review the process. I think you’re about to enter the second stage of the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique: ’Static Fire’."

"Understood. I will take my leave then."

Yu Changsheng left the Alchemy Hall and returned to his wooden cabin. He opened his status panel and glanced at the proficiency of his Three-coin Fire Refining Technique.

’It’s barely over two thousand. The three flames of the Sanwen Fire—’Slow Fire,’ ’Static Fire,’ and ’Void Fire’—each represents a qualitative leap.’

’Even though Master said I’m close to reaching ’Static Fire,’ to be honest, I don’t even have a clue where to start. I might not succeed even with a few more months.’

’The Three-coin Fire Refining Technique needs another eight thousand proficiency points to break through. If I break through to Mastery, will that help me reach Static Fire sooner?’

Yu Changsheng mulled it over, gazing at his thirty-thousand-plus essence points. He was always tempted to add some points.

’No, I’m saving this to add points to the Refining God Technique.’

’How about it... just one last time.’

’Eight thousand isn’t much. That’s only four days’ worth of feeding!’

’One last time, I swear it’s the last time!’

In the end, Yu Changsheng couldn’t resist the temptation and added the essence points to his Three-coin Fire Refining Technique.

Compared to the one hundred thousand needed for the Refining God Technique, he couldn’t pass up an improvement that was right within his grasp.

As expected, when you start using essence, you never have enough!

The moment the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique broke through, Yu Changsheng’s mind, thoughts, and actions suddenly fell silent.

He slowly closed his eyes, and it was as if his surroundings could no longer disturb him.

’So this is ’stillness’!’

After adding the points, his previously jumbled thoughts became much clearer, and he gained a preliminary understanding of the mystery of ’stillness.’

Now, transforming this understanding into Static Fire would only be a matter of a few days.

"Wonderful," Yu Changsheng said with a smile.

The next day, after he finished his work in the Beast Garden, Elder Wei, who had always left him to his own devices, suddenly looked his way.

’This kid... he seems a little different. This feeling is a bit like...’

Elder Wei quickly shook his head, dismissing his own unrealistic thought. ’Cultivators, in the end, are just pursuing the various Daos. The Immortal Path is long; how many people truly understand the meaning of the word "immortal"?’

In his eyes, Yu Changsheng was just a Qi Refining Cultivator with a bit of Beast Taming Talent. He was still a hundred and eight thousand li away from having a so-called immortal aura.

’I probably just slept for too long and am a bit groggy after waking up.’

Elder Wei found an excuse for himself and chuckled. As he was laughing, he suddenly paused.

’Speaking of which, this kid is really patient. He took the Thousand Thoughts Slash to cultivate and hasn’t come to ask me a single question. Don’t tell me he plans to master the basics all by himself?’

’That’s a Foundation Establishment Level magic, after all. Hehehe.’