Chapter 157 - 120: The Opportunity for Crowdfunded Alchemy

Chapter 157: Chapter 120: The Opportunity for Crowdfunded Alchemy

So, he absolutely had to get his hands on a Foundation Establishment Pill.

"I know a little about it." Chen Jianghe suppressed his excitement, trying his best not to be overwhelmed by the thought of the Foundation Establishment Pill.

He really did know a bit about the Foundation Establishment Pill Formula.

Of course, only a little.

It was Alchemist Zhuang who had told him that the conventional Foundation Establishment Pill Formula had three main materials and thirty-six auxiliary materials.

"I have a Foundation Establishment Pill Formula."

Ruan Tieniu didn’t speak these words aloud. Instead, he solemnly sent them to Chen Jianghe via voice transmission.

"Yes, and Alchemist Zhuang has one too."

Chen Jianghe calmed down a bit at this.

If it was just the Foundation Establishment Pill Formula, there was no need to get excited. After all, a pill formula alone was useless.

The key was having the main materials to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill.

"It’s different. The one Alchemist Zhuang has is the conventional Foundation Establishment Pill Formula. Mine is another version."

Ruan Tieniu looked at Chen Jianghe, his expression serious, and continued via voice transmission.

"The conventional Foundation Establishment Pill Formula has three main materials and thirty-six auxiliary materials. But the one I have, while it also requires three main materials, only needs twenty-one auxiliary materials."

"And it doesn’t require Profound Ice Jade Marrow."

Hearing this, Chen Jianghe’s expression changed drastically.

Even for someone as composed as him, it was hard to avoid getting overly emotional at this moment.

’Twenty-one auxiliary materials?’

’Alchemist Zhuang said the Celestial South Sect’s Foundation Establishment Pill Formula only needs twenty auxiliary materials. The fewer the auxiliary materials, the simpler the refining technique, and the easier it is to succeed in alchemy.’

’Most importantly, the main materials for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill had also changed. This likely meant the requirements for the main materials were lower.’

"What about the Purple Mist Red Fruit?" Chen Jianghe asked.

"Of the three main materials, the Purple Mist Red Fruit and Illusion Heart Grass haven’t changed. Only the Profound Ice Jade Marrow is different."

"However, I’ve heard that Puppet Master Ji in the Marketplace has a Purple Mist Red Fruit."

"Brother Ruan, are you saying you have the other two main materials?"

Chen Jianghe was stunned. ’How could a Demon Hunter possibly gather two of the main materials for refining a Foundation Establishment Pill?’

Each main material for refining a Foundation Establishment Pill was incredibly valuable, worth at least one thousand Spirit Stones.

"You could say that," Ruan Tieniu nodded.

"Why look for Alchemist Zhuang? He’s just a High-Grade Alchemist, but the Foundation Establishment Pill is a Tier Two Spirit Pill," Chen Jianghe asked.

"He successfully refined a Lifespan Extension Pill for someone."

Ruan Tieniu’s eyes glinted as he sent via voice transmission, "The Foundation Establishment Pill is also a Tier Two Lower-Grade Spirit Pill. He has a high chance of success, and hiring him doesn’t cost many Spirit Stones."

Chen Jianghe fell silent.

He hadn’t expected Alchemist Zhuang to be hiding his skills so well. He could actually refine a Lifespan Extension Pill, which was a Tier Two Entry-Level Spirit Pill.

In other words, Alchemist Zhuang had the foundation to become a Tier Two Alchemist.

’No wonder he wasn’t interested in the Lifespan Extension Pill. It seems he must have already taken one.’

’It’s a shame his life is nearing its end. Otherwise, with his Alchemy Skills, he would be treated as an honored guest even if he joined the Hundred Treasures Tower.’

Chen Jianghe glanced at Ruan Tieniu, knowing what the other man wanted from him.

But he was wondering how he could get in on this crowdfunded alchemy session.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

If he missed it, there was no telling when he’d encounter another chance for a crowdfunded alchemy.

Most importantly, all three main materials were accounted for.

Although the Purple Mist Red Fruit was in Ji Wujin’s hands, Ji Wujin had no reason not to participate in the alchemy.

Consuming the Purple Mist Red Fruit by itself had its benefits, but the difference was immense compared to refining it into a Foundation Establishment Pill.

"Brother Ruan, are you collaborating with anyone else?" Chen Jianghe asked.

Hearing this, Ruan Tieniu naturally understood what Chen Jianghe was thinking and immediately shook his head.

"Can I buy a share?"

"You can. As long as Brother Chen can gather the remaining twenty-one auxiliary materials, I have no objections."

"However, it must be within five years."

"Five years?" Chen Jianghe looked puzzled. Since the main materials were already gathered, it was naturally better to perform the alchemy as soon as possible.

Why wait five years?

Although the auxiliary materials were rare, they could still be bought as long as one had Spirit Stones.

The moment he thought of buying in, he had already decided to borrow Spirit Stones from Gao Peiyao and Yu Daniu.

He disliked asking for help.

But this opportunity was too rare to miss.

"There is one more main material that I need three years to obtain."

Ruan Tieniu paused, then added, "Also, in five years, I will miss the optimal window for Foundation Establishment."

As soon as he said that, Chen Jianghe understood.

The main material he hadn’t obtained yet must be the Illusion Heart Grass, which probably needed another three years to mature.

Missing the optimal window for Foundation Establishment in five years.

That meant Ruan Tieniu must have just reached fifty years of age.

Although any time before sixty was considered the optimal window for Foundation Establishment, cultivators would choose to do so before fifty-five if possible.

Because that way, they could preserve their youthful appearance.

Achieving Foundation Establishment at sixty would basically mean being stuck with a middle-aged or even older appearance.

"Alright," Chen Jianghe asked. "How should I gather the auxiliary materials?"

"I will give you an illustrated guide to the twenty-one auxiliary materials, but you must swear an oath not to reveal its contents to a third person."

"I agree," Chen Jianghe said.

After he swore the oath, Ruan Tieniu took out a prepared Jade Scroll and handed it to Chen Jianghe.

He swept his Divine Sense over it.

It only contained the illustrated guide for the twenty-one auxiliary materials, with no mention of the main materials or refining steps.

"Good. I will speak to Alchemist Zhuang about the alchemy matter. I hope that in three years, Brother Ruan, you will be able to obtain that main material."

"Rest assured, Brother Chen."

Afterwards, Chen Jianghe left the Qingpin Tea House. He was in a hurry to get back and calculate the value of these auxiliary materials.

Gazing at Chen Jianghe’s departing figure, a sorrowful look appeared on Ruan Tieniu’s face once again.

’Brother Fengg, I must thank you for your Foundation Establishment Pill Formula and the Tier Two Ice Spirit Core. It’s just that you weren’t as useful as Chen Jianghe, so I had to send you on your way first.’

’My three brothers have gone down to keep you company, so I imagine you won’t be lonely.’

A crowdfunded alchemy session usually involves no more than three people.

Because if the alchemy is successful, one furnace will produce three Foundation Establishment Pills at most. After that, it’s just a matter of their quality.

Ruan Tieniu sought out Alchemist Zhuang because he also needed to trade the Foundation Establishment Pill Formula with him.

In other words.

Hiring Alchemist Zhuang for the alchemy was something they would all chip in Spirit Stones for.

But when Ruan Tieniu gave the Foundation Establishment Pill Formula to Alchemist Zhuang, he intended to charge Alchemist Zhuang Spirit Stones for it.

This was equivalent to selling the Foundation Establishment Pill Formula to Alchemist Zhuang, with the condition that he could not sell it to any other Pill Masters in the future.

Alchemist Zhuang was a Tier One High-Grade Alchemist who could refine Tier Two Entry-Level Spirit Pills, which meant he definitely didn’t possess a special Foundation Establishment Pill Formula.

This way, Ruan Tieniu’s Foundation Establishment Pill Formula could be sold for a good price.

After all, this was a Foundation Establishment Pill Formula that could be passed down as a family legacy. Any Pill Master would be tempted.

——

Chen Jianghe didn’t go to see Alchemist Zhuang first. Instead, he returned home, took out the *Qinghe Magazine*, and committed its contents to memory.

Then, he examined the illustrated guide to the twenty-one auxiliary materials that Ruan Tieniu had given him.

Four Water Attribute Spiritual Materials, five Earth Attribute Spiritual Materials, three Gold Attribute Spiritual Materials, three Fire Attribute Spiritual Materials, and six Wood Attribute Spiritual Materials.

Eighteen of them were common spiritual materials that could be bought from the Spiritual Material Shops in the Qinghe Marketplace, costing around three to four hundred Spirit Stones.

The other three were not available in the Qinghe Marketplace, but were sold in the Immortal Sect Marketplace and would cost around six hundred Spirit Stones.

He could ask Gao Peiyao to help him buy those three special auxiliary materials when the time came.

In other words, the total value of the twenty-one auxiliary materials was around one thousand Spirit Stones.

Within five years, he would need to save up at least twelve hundred Spirit Stones to join this crowdfunded alchemy.

Right now, he only had three hundred ninety-seven Spirit Stones and forty grains of Spiritual Sand.

He still needed to buy Black Pig Hide, Spiritual Ink, as well as Body Refining Techniques and the auxiliary resources required for Body Refining.

Even if he crafted Middle-Grade Five Elements Escape Talismans with a Talisman Success Rate of thirty percent, it would barely be enough to cover his cultivation needs.

Saving up Spirit Stones would likely be impossible.

Unless his success rate for crafting Middle-Grade Five Elements Escape Talismans reached forty percent, there was no hope of gathering the twenty-one auxiliary materials within five years.

’This chance for a crowdfunded alchemy is too rare. I can’t miss it, no matter what.’

’If I really can’t save up enough Spirit Stones by then, I’ll have no choice but to ask Daniu and Gao Peiyao for help.’

Even with his long lifespan, he couldn’t just turn away an opportunity that had fallen right into his lap.