Chapter 217

Qi Refining world, Tianquan Island.

Fang Qing used the Dao-Genesis Pearl to dissolve his true core. Right now, he appeared to be nothing more than a regular, ordinary cultivator at the perfection of Foundation Establishment as he walked along the grand streets of the marketplace.

Before long, he stepped into a merchant shop.

From the outside, the shop looked completely ordinary. In reality, it was backed by the Profound Center Sect and held quite a collection of excellent goods. Fang Qing had only managed to catch wind of this place within local circles after revealing his status as an alchemist.

"Ah, so it is Fellow Daoist Xiang!"

The elderly shopkeeper smiled the moment he saw Fang Qing. "Please, come inside the private room for some tea."

The two made their way into a private room and activated the soundproofing restriction.

The old man poured a cup of tea for Fang Qing before speaking. "Has Fellow Daoist Xiang come this time to sell more pills?"

This Foundation Establishment alchemist possessed exceptionally brilliant skill. The second-rank pills he provided were always a notch higher in quality than standard genuine products, containing minuscule pill toxins. The shopkeeper favored him deeply.

"Not quite... I have only come on behalf of my family elder to acquire a few materials and pill formulas."

Fang Qing took a sip of the clear tea and handed over a jade slip.

The old man accepted it with a smile. As his divine sense swept through it, his expression changed instantly. "This... a third-rank water-attribute monster core? Could your family elder be a Core Formation True Personage?"

Fang Qing smiled without saying a word, simply watching the man.

"As for third-rank water-attribute essence core pills, our shop currently has only one in stock."

The old man gritted his teeth. "If you require more, we can transfer stock from other locations, but it will not be very many. For core pills of this nature, every single day they are left sitting is a day their core essence power dissipates. They are almost always refined into equipment or pills as quickly as possible."

"Aside from that, a third-rank pill formula? Or items suitable for a breakthrough at the early Core Formation stage?"

A guess formed in the old man's mind. Could the Core Formation True Personage backing this alchemist already be on the verge of breaking through to the mid Core Formation stage?

Little did he know, Fang Qing was currently harboring his own calculations:

‘Possessing the Devouring Sea Art and the aptitude of a high-grade true core, my cultivation during the Core Formation stage will progress very rapidly. It is time to start preparing the pills and secret techniques that assist in breaking through to the mid Core Formation stage.’

Although his true core's quality meant he would have a forty to fifty percent chance of breaking through to the mid Core Formation stage even without any preparation, to Fang Qing, what was the difference between a forty to fifty percent success rate and a failure?

Naturally, he had to max out all external conditions and achieve the absolute best.

This was not like the Qi Ingestion world, that starved land sparse in spiritual resources. The Eastern Sea cultivation world possessed an abundance of resources, and he intended to fully utilize them.

Otherwise, even if he managed to force a breakthrough to the mid Core Formation stage, an unstable foundation would mean spending years or even decades just consolidating his cultivation.

Maxing out external conditions meant his realm would be firm and secure the moment he broke through. After that, he could swallow massive quantities of monster cores and pills to advance by leaps and bounds.

How could those two paths compare?

"Pills that assist in breaking through to the mid Core Formation stage are considered incredibly rare even among Nascent Soul powers. If you want one, you will likely have to try your luck at the major auctions."

The old man continued, "However, if your elder is willing to join our merchant firm, it is not entirely impossible to obtain one immediately. To be entirely frank with you, our shop belongs to the Azure Pill Chamber of Commerce, which is a major force subordinate to the Profound Center Sect."

‘As expected, these major powers never show any kindness without seeing a profit first. They are all eyeing my body... ptui, vulgar and shameless!’

Fang Qing complained inwardly but simply shook his head on the surface. "My family elder has already joined a sect and sworn an oath, making it impossible to transfer allegiances. Does the shopkeeper have no other way?"

"Well... it is not as if there is no other way. In any case, this matter should become common knowledge in a few days."

The old man stroked his beard and smiled. "Alchemical arts flourish on Tianquan Island. Not long from now, a ‘Pill Origin Grand Assembly’ will be held, widely inviting alchemical talents from all directions to compete in refinement skills. Those who perform exceptionally well will receive substantial rewards. Among those rewards is a pill formula for the ‘Star Core Pill,’ which is suitable for early Core Formation cultivators and possesses the effect of breaking through bottlenecks."

"The Pill Origin Grand Assembly? The Star Core Pill formula?"

Fang Qing grew thoughtful. "Thank you for the reminder, fellow daoist."

He inquired a few more times and learned that this assembly was divided into different sessions for Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Core Formation. There were even many unconventional, niche categories—such as competing to refine specific types of rare pills, or matching skills in water control and fire control.

‘With my alchemical talent, if I enter the Foundation Establishment arena, wouldn't it be an absolute slaughter?’

Fang Qing’s heart stirred.

He had no interest in the rewards for the Qi Refining arena, but the Foundation Establishment session held some excellent items.

After all, the Eastern Sea cultivation world possessed abundant resources, and the Profound Center Sect was fabulously wealthy.

‘But then again... could the Profound Center Sect be lacking alchemists because they need to refine some specific pill?’

‘Or perhaps they are planning to kidnap a few alchemical geniuses to serve as slaves?’

It was not that Fang Qing was overly cautious, but rather that he had been thoroughly traumatized by the traps in the Qi Ingestion world. Whenever he heard of such events, his immediate reaction was to suspect a plot.

‘Should I participate in this Pill Origin Grand Assembly?’

After walking out of the merchant shop, Fang Qing’s mind stirred, and several plum blossom petals fluttered into the air.

‘A minor auspicious?’

‘The divination encountered some resistance. It seems there are calculations from a Nascent Soul old monster involved in this?’

With his current strength, he could match a cultivator at the perfection of Core Formation. Even if he could not defeat them, nobody could stop him if he chose to leave.

“But if I were to run into an old monster at the early Nascent Soul stage, it would be quite troublesome.”

“If they truly lost their temper and let their Nascent Soul leave its physical shell to pursue me through the void, even I would be left completely dumbfounded.”

As he calculated once again, his expression shifted slightly. ‘It seems an old friend is coming?’

...

“Up ahead is Tianquan Island, the holy ground for water-method alchemy under the Profound Center Sect. This year’s Pill Origin Grand Assembly is being held right on this island.”

Dressed in a green cultivator’s robe with striking crimson sleeves, Zhan Hongxiu stood on the deck of a spiritual vessel, gazing out at the distant horizon where the sky met the sea.

In secret, she communicated through her divine sense: ‘Old Turtle, can one truly find top-tier core-formation spiritual materials at this Pill Origin Grand Assembly?’

‘Hehe… naturally. This so-called grand assembly, this old man only needed to catch its scent to know exactly what the Profound Center Sect is planning. It is nothing more than an alchemical ritual. They likely wish to refine some sort of high-rank medicinal pill and need to gather momentum first. By utilizing the opening and failing of thousands of talented alchemists’ furnaces, they can accumulate the unseen potential required for a successful refinement.’

‘This entire playbook is just something my Star Palace played around with and moved past ten thousand years ago.’

‘When the time comes, you can blend in and use a secret method to gather it. With that, you can refine a strand of [Hundred-Fold Pill Qi]. This is a top-tier core formation spiritual item used for achieving a high-grade True Core.’ Old Turtle continued, ‘With this item in hand, you can then enter secluded meditation for eight to ten years, and you will barely manage to form your core.’

Zhan Hongxiu had still not reached the perfection of the Foundation Establishment stage.

This was actually quite normal. After all, although her aptitude was superior to Fang Qing’s and she possessed an innate spiritual body, it had only been a little over fifty years since she achieved Foundation Establishment. On the other hand, it had taken Fang Qing over seventy years to progress from successful Foundation Establishment to the perfection of the realm.

Although his aptitude was poor, his resources had been utterly maxed out.

While Zhan Hongxiu had not enjoyed maxed-out resources, her status as a daughter of destiny meant she frequently encountered extraordinary opportunities. Her resources were similarly far ahead of other Foundation Establishment cultivators. In a way, both of them could be considered textbook examples of the Qi Refining path. It proved that as long as resources were sufficient, even a pig could form a core!

‘But…’

Zhan Hongxiu whispered in her heart, ‘I am not an alchemist. I possess a wood spiritual root!’

‘Simple. This old man will pass down a secret technique to you. By using wood to generate fire, you can disguise yourself as a fire-method alchemist.’

Old Turtle replied, ‘As for successfully refining pills? I am not asking you to actually advance in rank. As long as you pass the preliminary rounds and manage to sneak into the assembly venue, that will be enough.’

‘This…’

Zhan Hongxiu hesitated slightly. Right at that moment, a male Foundation Establishment cultivator stepped onto the deck.

“Brother Wan!”

She took the initiative to salute him. This man was named Wan An. He was of average height, slightly plump with a round face, and wore a welcoming smile that seemed tailored for business. Draped in a somewhat worn brown robe, his cultivation was around the early Foundation Establishment stage. He claimed to be a wandering cultivator who made a living as a traveling merchant.

“Fellow Daoist Zhan…”

Wan An clasped his fists solemnly, his tone carrying a fair amount of respect.

After all, Zhan Hongxiu was a great cultivator at the late Foundation Establishment stage! Her strength far surpassed his own as a mere traveling merchant.

The two had simply crossed paths on the road and boarded the same spiritual vessel together. For some reason, this Fellow Daoist Zhan had been quite warm and friendly toward him, which had left Wan An suspicious and paranoid for several days. Only after confirming that this woman harbored no ill intentions did he gradually muster the courage to associate with her.

After exchanging a few casual remarks, Zhan Hongxiu recalled what she already knew about him: he had started out as a spiritual plant farmer and had luckily achieved Foundation Establishment. This time, he was specifically traveling to Tianquan Island with the hope of befriending a few alchemists. At the very least, he wanted to purchase a batch of pills to transport and sell in other marketplaces, earning a bit of hard-earned profit.

As for why she was being so friendly with this man?

Even Zhan Hongxiu herself was somewhat baffled. She asked in her heart, ‘Old Turtle? Is there something unusual about this person?’

‘Hoho… this lad’s aptitude is mediocre at best. He is destined to remain at Foundation Establishment for the rest of his life, so this old man has no interest in him. However, hidden within his dantian is a dharma treasure… and it seems to bear the traces of an old acquaintance.’ Old Turtle laughed heartily.

‘A dharma treasure?!’

Zhan Hongxiu’s eyes narrowed slightly. ‘For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, that is indeed an extraordinary opportunity. But can a Foundation Establishment cultivator truly command a dharma treasure?’

‘Naturally they cannot. But if that dharma treasure has dropped in rank, turning into a quasi-dharma treasure or a prototype dharma treasure that is roughly equivalent to a peak-grade spiritual tool, then it becomes somewhat possible…’ Old Turtle spoke with a distant, sighing tone. ‘That is a bead known as the [Scenic Wind Pearl]. Back in the day, it was left behind by Master Jingfeng. This figure was a great cultivator at the late Nascent Soul stage. A late Foundation Establishment cultivator like you cannot even compare to him.’

‘A Nascent Soul dharma treasure?’

Zhan Hongxiu could not help but grow a bit more serious. ‘Could it be that this man also carries a strand of Master Jingfeng’s remnant soul attached to his body?’

After all, that was exactly how she had made it this far.

‘Bah! Do you think everyone is like this old man?’

‘Even a human cultivator at the Soul Transformation stage only has a lifespan of two to three thousand years, how could they survive for over ten thousand years?’

Old Turtle was clearly annoyed. ‘If Master Jingfeng still possessed even a single strand of a remnant soul, he would not have allowed this [Scenic Wind Pearl] to become so broken that it continuously dropped in rank, falling all the way from the superior-grade fourth rank down to the quasi-third rank. Still, back in the day, this old Nascent Soul monster dominated the Eastern Sea with his absolute strength. It was said that as long as Soul Transformation experts did not appear, no one could contest him. If you can obtain his inheritance, or even just a small portion of his left-behind blessings, it will be of immense benefit to your future cultivation.’

“What do I need to do?”

Zhan Hongxiu did not waste any words. Having risen from a wandering cultivator background to reach her current heights, she had long outgrown any foolish naivety and was now a fully qualified cultivator of the Qi Refining path. In the eyes of the Qi Refining path, the strong devouring the weak was a fundamental law of heaven and earth. The fact that she intended to let this Wan An keep his life afterward already made her an incredibly benevolent person.

Had she been a standard cultivator of the Qi Ingestion path, she would have forced this Wan An to personally sacrifice and upgrade the dharma treasure before delivering it into her own hands, and then established a family to blood-refine the weapon for her generation after generation.