Chapter 678 - 535: The Incident at Yuanhe Mountain (Part 2)

Treasure Pavilion.

Jia Yu held the gourd in his hand, gazing out into the distance from the hall, as the fragrance of wine filled the air.

Recently, he found himself reminiscing more and more, reliving the triumphs and losses of his past.

Ji An entered the hall, just in time to see his unfocused gaze.

"Hey, let’s get to work!"

Jia Yu’s mind returned to his body from the clouds. He placed the wine gourd on the table and quickly stood up, cupping his hands in salute:

"I was recalling some past events, my apologies for neglecting you."

Ji An looked at him seriously for a few moments and said softly:

"It’s rare to see you without a drink during your leisure time."

The gourd was open, but there were no water marks around his lips, which was quite unusual.

"As one ages, it’s inevitable to feel melancholic and forget to drink once in a while."

Jia Yu laughed, several times he had tilted his head to drink, only to put the gourd down as memories resurfaced.

Ji An joked:

"Too idle, you need to find something to do.

I’m here to exchange some herbs and also for a copy of the Pill Formula of Nourishing Yuan Pill."

When idle, it’s easy to let the mind wander, and immortal cultivators are no different. This highlights the importance of having a hobby.

Jia Yu raised his eyebrows and asked:

"Which herbs are you exchanging?"

"All the herbs needed for the Nourishing Yuan Pill except the main ingredient, two sets of them, and I’m handing over some Blood Luo Fruit and Star Soul Grass."

Ji An took out several jade boxes and placed them on the table. These spirit medicines had matured over the past months; if not for cultivating Cyan Lotus Heart-Burning Fire, he would’ve started alchemy already.

Thanks to the effectiveness of the Planting Technique, the harvest of Blood Luo Fruit and Star Soul Grass exceeded two standard portions. Keeping them would be useless, so I’d better hand them over to the Sect.

Jia Yu checked the spirit medicines in the jade boxes and said:

"The quality of these spirit medicines is truly excellent, the best I’ve seen. You can exchange them for fifteen thousand small merits.

Please wait a moment, I’ll fetch the Pill Formula and herbs."

Generally speaking, exchanging for a Pill Formula requires going to the Inheritance Hall, but these kinds of formulas have backups in the Treasure Pavilion, so no need to make another trip to Lingxiao Mountain.

Jia Yu made a hand sign to open the Mimic Array and entered the Secret Vault, returning shortly with several jade boxes in his arms.

He placed the jade boxes on the table and took out a jade slip:

"It’s Sect policy that Golden Core Cultivators don’t need to spend small merits to exchange for inheritances below the Golden Core level, so the Pill Formula is complimentary. Later, you’ll need to leave a Magical Mark.

The herbs are worth thirty-two thousand small merits, please give me your Jade Token.

I’ll first inventory the submitted spiritual objects, then deduct the small merits spent."

Necessary procedures cannot be omitted.

Ji An took out his Jade Token, "You’re still as meticulous as ever, that’s good."

"It’s a habit."

Jia Yu smiled as he accepted the Jade Token and operated it on the Spirit Disc.

Ji An reviewed the Pill Formula and checked the herbs, ensuring no mistakes before storing the jade boxes into the Grotto Void Stone.

Once the transaction was complete, he left a Magical Mark on the Spirit Disc as proof of the Pill Formula exchange.

The two began to chat casually, and after a while, Jia Yu said with a hint of sorrow:

"I’ve submitted an application to the ancestor, a successor will soon arrive for the Treasure Pavilion."

Having spent nearly two hundred years in the Treasure Pavilion, half his life had passed there. His life was nearing its end, and he planned to set down the burden, enjoying a period of unrestrained time.

Ji An remained silent, glancing at Jia Yu’s graying temples, before pulling out a gourd and placing it on the table.

"When will you leave?"

"In about half a month, the successor will be Junior Brother Yue Yunlong. Do you remember him?"

Ji An nodded slightly, "Yue Yunlong from the Beast Taming Hall. I remember he broke through to the Chao Origin Stage a few days before me, and I later even met him here together with Li Yuangong.

Yue Yunlong often visited Red Flame Peak to purchase mulberry leaves and Biluo Fruits. Although I rarely received him personally, we met quite often."

Jia Yu smiled warmly, "Indeed, I wasn’t optimistic about his breakthrough at the time."

"What are your plans for the future?"

"No plans really. I joined the Sect as a child, and I have no family to miss back home, so I plan to spend my remaining days enjoying wine and amusements around the Sect."

Jia Yu took a swig of wine, then changed the topic:

"Why talk about these melancholic things, let’s talk about you!

Although you’ve become a Golden Core Cultivator, when you first try refining the Nourishing Yuan Pill, it is best to learn from an experienced Alchemist. Some small techniques might not be conveyed in the Pill Formula itself."

"That’s a great suggestion. I’ll invite Han Yan tomorrow to Red Flame Peak for a discussion."

"Haha, Junior Sister Han’s ability to refine the Nourishing Yuan Pill is among the very best in the entire Western Continent.

But she is about to leave the Sect for a journey, so she’s been busy with alchemy during this time."

Ji An was a bit surprised, and asked:

"Has she perfected her Five Elements Divine Mansion?"

"Indeed, otherwise why would she need to go out for a journey?

It’s a pity, I won’t be able to witness her breakthrough to the Golden Core."

Jia Yu sighed. Since Han Yan went to Central Continent, her cultivation advanced rapidly, indicating an enlightenment.

Based on her current performance, she definitely has the potential to reach the Golden Core Stage.

...

Next Day.

The sun rose, and the morning mist quickly dispersed in the mountains.

Soon, the golden-red mist roiled at the summit of Red Flame Peak, its color bright and fiery.

However, such oppressive influence was now confined to the peak area, and it disturbed other areas much less than before.

Overall, ever since the spiritual vein of Red Flame Peak was upgraded to Tier Three, it became much more habitable.

Han Yan controlled her spiritual artifact as she flew downward, landing by the Cold Pool.

At that time, Ji An was drinking tea at the stone table. He stood up and greeted:

"Please have a seat, I’ve brewed a pot of top-grade Jade Dew Golden Bud Tea for you to taste."

Han Yan cupped her hands, "I’ll oblige then."

She picked up the teacup, inhaling the aroma, a blissful expression spread across her face.

With a light sip of the spirit tea, her elegant brows furrowed tightly.

Normally, Jade Dew and Golden Teeth Tea has a subtle fragrance, but this cup was rather bitter.

Still, it wasn’t without its benefits, as the warm tea went down, her Sea of Consciousness felt a refreshing coolness.

"Too strong, only a friend like you would be so indulgent."

Ji An smiled, "I went to the Treasure Pavilion yesterday, and heard that you’ve been quite busy with alchemy lately, so I intentionally brewed a strong pot of tea for you."

"Thank you, indeed, it’s something I greatly need."

Han Yan furrowed her brows as she finished the spirit tea and requested another cup, playfully saying:

"In a few months, I will be going out to explore and understand the Five Elements Mutual Generation. Does the ancestor have any advice?"

Ji An smiled, "The Sect Leader must have already instructed you on everything, I have no better advice, but I can offer support in other ways."

He took out several jade boxes and a porcelain jar, then pulled out a talisman glimmering with red light:

"Inside the jade boxes are ten top-grade Bodhi Fruits, along with over a dozen sticks of Soul Incense. The porcelain jar contains two taels of top-grade Jade Dew Golden Bud Tea.

The talisman is a Tier Three Middle Grade Bing Fire Divine Thunder Talisman, given to me by the Sect Leader during my journey, and now I present it to you."

Han Yan couldn’t help but widen her eyes; she hadn’t expected such generosity for just casually mentioning her journey, indeed worthy of someone approaching becoming an ancestor!

"Such generous gifts, I’m afraid I can’t accept them."

The gifts were so abundant, it made her fearful.

"Of course, they’re not for free. I wish to learn the refining of the Nourishing Yuan Pill and hope you can guide me, please don’t hold back.

The Bodhi Tree is a holy tree for Buddhist Cultivators, symbolizing wisdom and enlightenment, enhancing comprehension. I want you to research how to maximize its effects."

Ji An posed an exchange proposal, as Tier Two Top Grade Bodhi Fruits lack potent effects, likely due to incorrect processing methods.

"Are there any other constraints on researching the Bodhi Fruit? Like time limits or expected results?"

Han Yan asked, as she was soon to set off on her journey and wouldn’t have much time to research the fruit’s properties.

"None at all, I’ll continue providing materials, and am willing to offer two taels of top-grade Rain Dew Golden Bud Tea and half a pound of top-grade Cloud Peak Silver Needle each year as research compensation.

All you need to do is to make a Daoist Oath to inform me of any discoveries you make."

This was Ji An’s leisurely move; success would be delightful, and even if unsuccessful, there would be no significant loss.

Research isn’t something that yields results just by desire.

Han Yan earnestly nodded, "Agreed!"

The conditions were lenient, leaving her no reason to refuse. Additionally, her interest in researching medicinal properties was genuine, otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to create pill formulas.