amaotonovel Chapter 1388 2 years
Chapter 1388 2 years
Chapter 1388 Twenty Years
Seven days later.
The stone door to the cave slowly opened.
The Ink Dragon Boat soared into the sky, transforming into a swift streak of dark light that pierced the sky above Kui Xing Island. Along the way, cultivators wielding various magical artifacts all paled upon sensing the powerful and distinct pressure of the Core Formation stage. They hurriedly slowed their artifacts, respectfully retreating to the sides of the road, heads bowed, not daring to show the slightest negligence, lest they inadvertently offend this senior expert.
Only when the dark light completely disappeared from sight did they dare to activate their magical artifacts again and continue their journey with lingering fear.
The dark light did not fly towards the bustling Tiandu Street, but instead flew straight towards Xiaohuan Island, an inconspicuous little island on the outskirts of Kuixing Island.
Xiaohuan Island is not large, and the villages inhabited by ordinary people on the island are also quiet. At the center of the island, a mountain called Xiaohuan Mountain is shrouded in a thin layer of white mist all year round.
This fog wasn't naturally formed; it was a maze set up by the owner of the mountaintop cave. Curious mortals once wandered into the mountains, quickly losing their way, seemingly going in circles, until finally collapsing from exhaustion. Miraculously, when they awoke, they found themselves unharmed at the foot of the mountain.
After several repetitions, the rumor that "a celestial master resides in Xiaohuan Mountain, and mortals are not allowed to trespass" spread across the island, and no one dared to approach that mysterious mountain peak anymore.
Ignoring the maze at the foot of the mountain, the Molong Boat pierced through the mist and landed steadily outside the simple and unadorned cave on the summit of Xiaohuan Mountain.
The cave's stone gate was already open, and Han Li, dressed in a green robe, stood waiting at the entrance. His expression remained calm, but a hint of complexity could not be concealed in the depths of his eyes. Upon seeing the Mo Long Boat land and Qin Hao's figure appear, Han Li immediately stepped forward, clasping his hands in a fist salute: "Congratulations, Senior Brother, on condensing your Golden Core! The path to the Great Dao is within reach!"
Qin Hao nodded with a smile and put away the ink dragon boat: "It's been many years since we last met. Junior Brother's cultivation has progressed rapidly, and you have already reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Judging from your refined aura and solid foundation, I believe that after some time, with dedicated preparation, you will also be able to step onto the path of Golden Core."
Upon hearing this, Han Li gave a helpless, bitter smile and shook his head, saying, "Thank you for your kind words, Senior Brother. However... Senior Brother also knows that I have a pseudo-spiritual root. I exhausted all my energy when I was building my foundation. This Core Formation stage is a hundred or a thousand times more difficult than Foundation Building. With my aptitude, I'm afraid that forming my Core will be fraught with difficulties and my future will be bleak..."
Seeing the worry in Han Li's eyes, Qin Hao's smile widened, and he said with certainty, "Junior brother, why belittle yourself? Although pseudo-spiritual roots are not easy to obtain, they are not a dead end. I have come here today to lend you a helping hand."
Han Li was taken aback at first, then his eyes lit up with surprise: "Could it be...could it be that Senior Brother has something that increases the chances of forming a Core..."
Before he could finish speaking, he saw Qin Hao simply smiling at him. He instantly realized what was happening, quickly stepped aside to make way, and said eagerly, "Senior Brother, please come in! I recently acquired some excellent 'Mist-Hidden Spirit Tea,' and I was just about to invite you to taste it!"
The cave dwelling was simply furnished with a table, two chairs, and a futon—that was all—yet it reflected Han Li's consistent cautious style.
Qin Hao sat down at the stone table, and Han Li immediately and deftly took out the tea set and began to brew spiritual tea. The aroma of the tea was fragrant and refreshing.
However, Qin Hao did not wait for the tea to be brewed. As soon as he sat down, he took out a warm white jade bottle from his storage bag and gently placed it on the stone table in front of Han Li.
Han Li stared at the jade bottle, his heart pounding uncontrollably. He took a deep breath, carefully picked up the bottle, and uncorked it. Instantly, a rich, almost overwhelming medicinal fragrance, imbued with a strange Daoist charm, filled the entire stone chamber. Just one whiff of it made him feel his mind clear and his internal energy subtly stirring.
Han Li's pupils contracted sharply, and he exclaimed in shock, "This...this is the Dust-Clearing Pill?!"
Qin Hao picked up the spiritual tea that Han Li had just offered, took a small sip, and savored the faint spiritual energy and elegant fragrance contained in the tea: "What do you think of this, Junior Brother? Does it meet your expectations?"
Han Liqiang suppressed his overwhelming joy, and as if holding a priceless treasure, he solemnly put the stopper back on the bottle and held it tightly in his hand: "Senior brother, this Dust-Clearing Pill is extremely rare and priceless! I... I am truly grateful! However, one cannot accept a reward without merit. I know the value of this pill and dare not accept such a great favor for nothing."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "I have recently been traveling in the nearby seas and have been fortunate enough to find some spiritual herbs that are still of decent age. Although they are not as precious as the Dust-Descending Pill, they are still auxiliary materials for refining pills for the Core Formation stage. I wonder if Senior Brother needs them?"
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a dozen spiritual herbs of various shapes and vibrant energy appeared on the stone table. These herbs were all over five hundred years old and came in many varieties. They were the auxiliary ingredients needed to refine pills such as the "Solidifying Essence Pill," which were suitable for cultivators in the early stages of Core Formation.
Clearly, Han Li had prepared all these spiritual herbs in advance, and this is precisely the biggest difference between the Chaotic Star Sea and the Tiannan Immortal Cultivation World.
The pill formulas in the Chaotic Star Sea all use the inner cores of demon beasts as the main ingredient, with other spiritual herbs playing only an auxiliary role. Naturally, the pill formulas are no secret, and the prices are so cheap that people doubt their authenticity.
"Junior brother, you're too kind." Qin Hao didn't refuse. With a wave of his sleeve, he put all the spiritual herbs on the table into his storage bag. These spiritual herbs were of excellent quality, enough for him to refine several batches of "Solidifying Essence Pills".
With the transaction complete, the atmosphere between the two became even more harmonious. Qin Hao put down his teacup and began exchanging cultivation insights with Han Li.
While it was called an exchange, Qin Hao was actually instructing Han Li. Drawing on his own experience of forming his core and the advantages of spiritual sense gained from cultivating the "Great Evolution Technique," Qin Hao explained in simple terms how to hone one's magical power, refine one's spiritual sense, and comprehend one's realm in the late Foundation Establishment stage, preparing for core formation.
Han Li sat upright, listening intently, occasionally raising cultivation questions that had long troubled him. Qin Hao answered each one, often hitting the nail on the head with just a few words, giving Han Li a sense of sudden enlightenment. Throughout the process, Han Li was more like a humble student, silently accepting Qin Hao's guidance.
An hour later, the exchange came to an end. Han Li stood up, bowed deeply to Qin Hao again, and said with utmost sincerity, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother! The key points you mentioned earlier have been clarified by you today, like the clouds parting to reveal the sun. I am deeply grateful!"
His admiration for Qin Hao had grown even stronger at this moment; these pointers were in no way less valuable than the Dust-Clearing Pill.
Qin Hao smiled and waved his hand, gesturing for Han Li to sit down: "Junior brother, you're being too polite. We've known each other since childhood, and together we've entered the world of cultivation, faced the dangers of the demonic invasion, and finally managed to settle down in this Chaotic Star Sea. We've shared hardships and entrusted each other with life and death; this friendship is extraordinary. Supporting each other and seeking the Great Dao together is only natural."
Hearing this, Han Li felt a surge of warmth in his heart. In the treacherous world of cultivation, it was truly rare to find a senior brother like Qin Hao who treated him with such sincerity. He picked up his teacup and said solemnly, "Senior brother is absolutely right. I was being presumptuous. I'll offer you this cup of tea instead of wine as an apology for my earlier formality!"
Qin Hao laughed heartily and picked up his teacup as well: "Haha, that's more like it! We're brothers, there's no need to stand on ceremony."
The two smiled at each other and drank the spiritual tea in their cups in one gulp. Their friendship deepened with the aroma of the tea.
Setting down his teacup, Qin Hao's smile faded, and his expression turned serious. He looked at Han Li and asked, "Junior Brother, did you hatch those two Blood Jade Spider eggs deep in the Tiannan Spirit Stone Mine last time? How are they progressing?"
Han Li was slightly taken aback, not expecting Qin Hao to suddenly ask this.
Qin Hao nodded, but did not explain directly. Instead, he took out a fragment of a scroll that exuded an ancient and weathered aura from his storage bag—the very fragment of the Void Heaven Palace map that he had obtained from killing the Yue Empress in the Yue Kingdom's palace.
“Junior brother, to be honest, I recently found a clue about this item in an extremely ancient book. This item is no ordinary object; it is a fragmented map leading to a secret realm called the ‘Void Heaven Palace’!”
"According to that ancient book, the Void Heaven Palace was left behind by an ancient powerful being. The palace contains countless secret treasures, cultivation techniques, and spiritual materials, making it a veritable treasure trove! Among them, the most precious and coveted by countless cultivators is the ancient miraculous pill—the 'Heaven-Mending Pill'!"
"Bu Tian Dan?"
After hearing Qin Hao describe the miraculous effects of the Heaven-Mending Pill, Han Li suddenly stood up, his eyes wide open, his breathing becoming rapid, staring intently at Qin Hao: "Senior Brother! You...you're telling the truth? The Heaven-Mending Pill...can really improve spiritual root aptitude?"
His voice trembled uncontrollably. Han Li had suffered greatly from his flawed, pseudo-spiritual root aptitude, a lesson etched into his memory! During his Foundation Establishment stage, while others might succeed with just one or two Foundation Establishment Pills, he had practically consumed them like candy, barely managing to succeed despite a near-death experience. And this was only Foundation Establishment! The obstacles posed by his pseudo-spiritual root would only grow stronger at each subsequent stage—Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Deity Transformation… the success rate would only become increasingly slim! The Heaven-Mending Pill, a legendary supreme divine pill said to be able to defy fate and improve or even reshape a cultivator's spiritual root aptitude, was practically a tailor-made hope for him!
Qin Hao understood Han Li's excitement. He nodded slowly and pointed to the fragmented map of the Void Heaven Palace on the table, saying, "That's right. According to the ancient texts, the Heaven-Mending Pill is hidden in the innermost core of the Void Heaven Palace, inside a supreme treasure called the 'Void Heaven Cauldron.' This Void Heaven Cauldron cannot be opened by ordinary means. To open the Void Heaven Cauldron and retrieve the treasures within, the Blood Jade Spider, an ancient and exotic species, is the key!"
As soon as Qin Hao finished speaking, Han Li patted the spirit beast pouch at his waist without hesitation. A flash of light appeared at the pouch's opening, and two spiders, each the size of a palm and radiating a faint chill, emerged. They moved swiftly; one leaped lightly onto Han Li's head and settled firmly, while the other landed on his shoulder. Its eight small, red eyes darted around curiously, scrutinizing Qin Hao opposite it, and hissing softly. These were the two Blood Jade Spider larvae.
Looking at the two incredibly intelligent little creatures, Qin Hao's eyes showed a hint of satisfaction, but he immediately became serious and said, "Junior brother, you will need to put a lot of effort into nurturing these two Blood Jade Spiders in the future. To successfully obtain the Heaven-Mending Pill, the Blood Jade Spiders are crucial; they need to reach at least the level of a fifth-grade demon beast to have any chance of success!"
"Level 5?!" Han Li's excitement froze instantly. He shook his head with a wry smile: "Senior brother, level 5 demonic beasts! Those are comparable to Core Formation cultivators! I... I'm still far from reaching Core Formation, and I can barely protect myself. To raise these two little guys to level 5... this... this is really..."
He felt that his hope had just been ignited when it was doused with a bucket of ice water.
Seeing Han Li's dejected look, Qin Hao smiled faintly: "Junior brother, if we were in the resource-scarce and monster-scarce Tiannan cultivation world, trying to cultivate the Blood Jade Spider to level five would be a pipe dream, almost impossible. But don't forget where we are now, junior brother. This is the Chaotic Star Sea! What is the one thing that is most abundant in the vast and boundless outer sea? Monster resources!"
"As long as we hunt down demonic beasts, extract their essence, blood, and demon cores, and make them into high-grade Spirit Feeding Pills, and consistently feed them to cultivate them to the level of fifth-grade demonic beasts, although it will be time-consuming and laborious, it is by no means impossible!"
Seeing the renewed hope in Han Li's eyes, Qin Hao threw out another crucial piece of information. A slight smile played on his lips, tinged with mystery: "Besides, junior brother, I don't think I've ever revealed to you the exact time when the Void Heaven Palace will open its gates once, have I? How do you know that the time we've given them isn't enough to cultivate them to level five?"
Upon hearing this, Han Li's eyes lit up, as if two bright lamps had been lit in the darkness! He eagerly asked, "May I ask, Senior Brother, when exactly will the Void Heaven Palace open?"
"Based on the scattered records in ancient books about the movement of stars and the cycle of restrictions, I roughly estimate that it will be at least another hundred years before His Highness Xutian can open it again!"
"A hundred years!" Han Li murmured, repeating the number, his eyes growing brighter and brighter. A hundred years! For mortals, that's a lifetime, but for a Foundation Establishment cultivator whose lifespan has greatly increased, especially for someone like him who is about to break through to the Core Formation stage, this is definitely a period of time that he can strive for!
With the Dust-Subduing Pill and his senior brother's guidance, if he can successfully form his core, his lifespan will skyrocket to five hundred years. A hundred years is enough time for him to do many things! Raising two level-five demonic beasts is difficult, but not impossible!
A surge of fighting spirit ignited within Han Li. He abruptly looked up at Qin Hao, his eyes unwavering: "A hundred years is more than enough! Senior brother, rest assured, I will do everything in my power, sparing no expense, to cultivate these two Blood Jade Spiders to level five! Count me in for the trip to the Void Heaven Palace!"
"Good! With your words of reassurance, Junior Brother, I am relieved. The Void Heaven Palace is extremely dangerous and unpredictable; it is not something one person can conquer alone. We, your fellow disciples, will need to work together to explore this ancient secret realm!"
With the business concluded and the tea finished, Qin Hao, having achieved his goal, decided not to linger and took his leave. Han Li escorted him to the cave entrance. The Ink Dragon Boat once again transformed into a streak of dark light, soaring into the sky and disappearing into the distant horizon in an instant.
Han Li stood there, gazing at the direction where the escape light disappeared for a long time. His eyes were filled with complex emotions: gratitude, determination, but even more so, deep envy for those who had reached the Core Formation stage and were able to roam freely in the world.
"Now that I have entered the late stage of Foundation Establishment, it is time to cultivate the Three Revolutions Rejuvenation Technique."
Only when no trace remained did Han Li withdraw his gaze, turn back to his cave, and tightly close the stone door. Inside the cave, he sat cross-legged on a futon, his eyes becoming incredibly sharp and focused. He carefully took out the jade bottle containing the Dust-Clearing Pill, stroking its warm surface, feeling the immense medicinal power contained within, and silently chanted in his heart:
"With the special effect of the Three Revolutions Rejuvenation Technique increasing the chances of forming a Golden Core, coupled with the 'Dust-Subduing Pill' and other methods to assist in forming a Golden Core, even with a pseudo-spiritual root, I am determined to achieve the Great Dao of the Golden Core!"
Just as Han Li was in seclusion, making his final push to form his core, Qin Hao, piloting the Black Dragon Boat, had already returned to Tiandu Street, the most bustling area of Kui Xing Island.
The AI has already deduced the materials needed to draw talismans for the three intermediate and advanced spells that Qin Hao has learned.
Compared to intermediate-level talismans, intermediate-level high-level talismans require much more precious materials. For example, to ensure the success rate of drawing the Sky-Piercing Golden Blaze Slash Talisman, ordinary spirit ink cannot be used. Instead, the essence blood of a level-five demon beast, the Golden Horned Rhinoceros, must be used. The Thousand Machine Armor-Splitting Talisman requires the inner core of a level-five demon beast, the Golden Crystal Silkworm, to be ground into powder and mixed into the spirit ink. The Sky-Splitting Talisman even requires the heart blood of a level-five wind-attribute demon beast, the Azure-Winged Eagle.
Of course, it's not entirely impossible to draw without these, but the success rate would be pitifully low. According to the AI's calculations, the chance wouldn't even reach 0.5%.
No wonder mid- to high-level talismans are so precious in the cultivation world of Tiannan.
However, while these materials are quite valuable in the Chaotic Star Sea, they are not particularly rare. As long as you are willing to spend the money, you can buy them from some large merchants.
The purchases completely emptied Qin Hao's pockets, even including the thirty-odd mid-grade spirit stones he had just obtained from killing Elder Gu.
However, touching the storage bag filled with rare materials, Qin Hao felt a sense of anticipation and satisfaction. These materials were enough for him to attempt to draw dozens of intermediate and advanced-level talismans.
If successful, his combat effectiveness will experience a qualitative leap!
With his bountiful harvest, Qin Hao returned to his cave dwelling on Tianzhu Peak. He instructed Yanli and Yuanyao that he was going into seclusion to create talismans and should not be disturbed unless necessary, before heading straight into the innermost private talisman-making stone chamber.
Inside the stone chamber, a large jade talisman stand was as smooth as a mirror. Qin Hao sorted the materials he had purchased and neatly arranged them on both sides of the talisman stand.
He first took out the materials needed to draw the "Golden Blaze Slash Talisman": specially made light gold talisman paper mixed with a small amount of "golden sand", a small bottle of golden rhinoceros blood essence that emitted a sharp golden light, and several auxiliary materials used to mix and stabilize the spirit ink.
Qin Hao focused his mind and circulated the Great Evolution Technique within his sea of consciousness. His divine sense, like the most precise engraving knife, clearly outlined the spell model of the "Heaven-Piercing Golden Radiance Slash." He took out a drop of golden rhinoceros essence blood and dripped it into an inkstone made of high-grade spiritual jade. The essence blood, like molten red gold, emitted a violent metallic aura.
Qin Hao carefully added a few drops of "Condensing Essence Dew" and a pinch of "Star Pattern Powder." As he mixed, the color of the spirit ink gradually changed from crimson gold to dark gold, and the violent aura was cleverly restrained and guided.
He spread out a sheet of pale gold talisman paper, his brush dipped in spiritual ink. The moment he put pen to paper, his consciousness was highly focused, perfectly synchronized with the AI's assisted deduction.
The tip of the pen glided across the talisman paper, making a soft "hissing" sound, as if countless tiny golden blades were cutting through it.
Each rune requires the infusion of pure magical power and a sharp divine sense. The strokes of the brush are sometimes expansive and powerful, like the clash of swords and the thunder of horses; at other times, they are sharp and swift, like the cleaving of knives and axes.
Golden light flowed across the talisman, and a sharp intent capable of cleaving through the heavens slowly coalesced. As the last stroke was made, the golden light on the talisman suddenly receded, and all the runes merged into one, forming a dark golden sword mark pattern that seemed capable of tearing through space, silently imprinted on the talisman.
The "Golden Blaze Slashing Talisman" was complete! Qin Hao's forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat, but his eyes shone with excitement.
After a brief moment of rest, Qin Hao began to tackle the more complex "Thousand Machine Armor Splitting Talisman." He took out a golden silkworm inner core the size of a pigeon egg, shimmering with tiny golden rays.
This object was exceptionally hard. Qin Hao spat out flames from his palm, carefully burning the surface of the inner core. Once it softened slightly, he immediately used a specially made jade pestle to grind it rapidly in a jade mortar.
The temperature of the alchemy fire, the grinding force, and the speed all need to be precisely controlled by the intelligent brain. The slightest carelessness will damage the structure of the inner elixir or cause energy to dissipate.
It took a full half hour to obtain a small pinch of golden powder that shimmered with starlight and was as fine as dust.
The preparation of the spirit ink is even more meticulous. Using "earth vein stalactite" as the base liquid, it is slowly infused with the inner elixir powder of the golden silkworm. The moment the powder is incorporated, the base liquid churns violently, as if countless tiny golden needles are pricking it.
Qin Hao used his divine sense, like a net, to forcefully suppress and channel it. In the end, he obtained a pool of spiritual ink that resembled flowing golden sand, radiating a heart-palpitating tearing sensation.
When drawing, the talisman brush feels incredibly heavy. Each stroke must outline countless intricate, complex, and nested miniature rune structures on the talisman paper, simulating the effect of golden armor shattering and bursting forth.
With his spiritual energy greatly depleted, Qin Hao focused intently, his talisman brush swiftly tracing patterns on the specially made silver talisman paper, leaving behind fine, mysterious golden lines.
As the final stroke was completed, the entire talisman seemed to be covered by an invisible, golden armor that could burst open at any moment. A flash of light appeared and then vanished, returning to stillness. Another mid-to-high-level talisman was born!
Finally, there was the most difficult and material-demanding "Sky-Splitting Talisman." Qin Hao carefully took out the small jade bottle containing the heart's blood of the Azure-Winged Eagle. The moment the seal was broken, a faint yet extremely pure wind elemental energy, carrying spatial fluctuations, dissipated. The heart's blood was pale blue, like liquid jade, with tiny vortexes seemingly flowing within it. This blood was highly valuable and must be used as soon as possible.
To concoct spirit ink, one must dilute the heart's blood with "ethereal water." The process must be quick and precise... ultimately yielding a small pool of vibrant green spirit ink with subtle ripples within.
Drawing the Void Rift Talisman requires an extreme level of control over divine sense and magical power.
The talisman brush is dipped in ink and applied to specially made, almost transparent "Wind Shadow Gauze" talisman paper.
Qin Hao felt as if he were walking a tightrope on a cliff, his mind highly focused, guiding the tip of his pen to draw mysterious trajectories on the talisman paper, trajectories that seemed capable of cutting through space.
The patterns on the talisman paper appeared and disappeared, sometimes clear and sometimes blurry, causing subtle distortions in the surrounding air.
As the last stroke was painstakingly made, all the patterns vanished instantly, and the talisman returned to calm.
"Done!" Qin Hao let out a long sigh of relief; his back was soaked with sweat. Drawing this talisman was even more exhausting than fighting a cultivator of the same level.
For the next month, Qin Hao was completely immersed in talisman creation. Failures were inevitable, especially with the Sky-Splitting Talisman, which had the lowest success rate. However, with the precise deductions of the AI and the powerful divine sense aided by the Great Evolution Technique, he ultimately succeeded in drawing over one hundred mid-to-high-level talismans! Among them were over forty Sky-Piercing Golden Radiance Slash Talismans, over thirty Thousand Machine Armor-Splitting Talismans, and nearly thirty Sky-Splitting Talismans!
On the stone table, talismans of various colors, shimmering with spiritual light, were piled up like a mountain, radiating energy fluctuations that made one's heart tremble.
Qin Hao looked tired, but his eyes were unusually bright. With a thought, the "Ten Thousand Talismans Treasure Record" that was being nurtured in his dantian transformed into a golden light and flew out, hovering above the stone table.
With a flick of his hand, the pages of the Myriad Talismans Manual moved without wind, emitting a soft golden light that enveloped all the talismans on the stone table. Like a whale inhaling water, hundreds of talismans transformed into streams of light, orderly disappearing into the pages of the Myriad Talismans Manual. The light from the manual seemed to solidify even further.
Feeling the powerful talismanic energy surging within the Myriad Talisman Treasure Record, Qin Hao felt a surge of pride. Although the Myriad Talisman Treasure Record currently only amplifies the power of talismans by 5%, this is just the beginning! A natal magic weapon will continuously grow and strengthen as its master's cultivation improves and it is nurtured over a long period.
He couldn't help but imagine that when he advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, the power of the Myriad Talisman Record would inevitably increase. If he could nurture it to the level of a Spirit Treasure or even higher, and combine it with the massive number of high-grade talismans incorporated into it... at that time, the myriad talismans would be unleashed simultaneously, destroying the heavens and the earth! Even a great cultivator in the late Nascent Soul stage would probably feel his scalp tingle and have to consider whether he could withstand the endless, amplified torrent of talismans!
If he could successfully replicate the legendary top-tier defensive talisman, the "Six Ding Heavenly Armor Talisman"... Qin Hao's eyes blazed with light! That would mean he would possess a defensive trump card powerful enough to withstand a Nascent Soul cultivator! Combined with offensive talismans, he might truly be able to contend with that legendary Nascent Soul cultivator!
Qin Hao opened his mouth and inhaled, and the Myriad Talisman Treasure Record transformed into a golden light and entered his mouth, returning to his dantian to continue to be nourished.
He pushed open the stone chamber door; it was already late at night. He found Yuan Yao and Yan Li, who were cultivating in their respective quiet rooms, and briefly inquired about and checked their cultivation progress.
Yuan Yao had reached the tenth level of Qi Refining, and Yan Li had reached the eighth level; their progress was acceptable. After encouraging the two women and bestowing upon them some pills to enhance their magical power, Qin Hao returned to the talisman-making chamber. This time, he would try his hand at alchemy!
Previously, the pills Qin Hao took, especially those for the Foundation Establishment and early Core Formation stages, were mostly obtained through transactions with Han Li.
He himself had never personally refined any pills. But this was not an obstacle for him. With the aid of the AI, every step of pill refining—the control of the heat, the fusion of medicinal properties, the timing of pill condensation—had already been simulated and deduced thousands of times in his mind, forming the most perfect plan. All he needed was practice.
Qin Hao sat cross-legged in the center of the stone chamber, with a crimson alchemy furnace in front of him, engraved with flame patterns—a high-grade magic artifact alchemy furnace that he had purchased while buying materials.
First, take out the materials needed to refine the "Solidifying Essence Pill": the main ingredient is the inner core of several level-five water-attribute demon beasts called "Azure Water Toads", and the auxiliary ingredients are "Condensing Essence Grass", "Solidifying Root Flower", "Red Essence Ginseng", etc., which were obtained from Han Li and are 500 years old.
With a flick of his finger, a wisp of pure, pale golden alchemical fire shot out from his fingertip and landed precisely at the bottom of the alchemical furnace.
The alchemical fire is no ordinary fire, but a true fire generated by a Core Formation cultivator using their own Golden Core power. It is extremely hot and easily controlled. Under the precise control of the AI, the alchemical fire first gently enveloped the furnace for preheating. The flame patterns on the furnace wall lit up one by one.
Once the furnace reached the required temperature, Qin Hao activated his divine sense, and the furnace lid flew off. Following the pre-planned sequence and timing, he first placed the prepared Azure Toad Inner Core into the furnace.
The fire in the pill instantly intensified, the pale golden flames licking at the inner core, emitting a sizzling sound.
Qin Hao was completely focused, his divine sense acting like the most precise sensor, constantly monitoring the changes in the inner core under the high temperature, and the temperature of the inner core fire was adjusted with the utmost precision.
Under the tempering of the alchemical fire, impurities in the inner elixir are refined, and pure water-attribute energy begins to slowly precipitate out, transforming into a cloud of misty blue liquid.
Next, various auxiliary medicines were added in sequence. With each addition, the temperature and form of the alchemical fire would change accordingly.
Sometimes it requires intense heat for rapid calcination, and sometimes it requires gentle simmering. Qin Hao formed hand seals, and the flames at his fingertips flickered erratically, sometimes like a dragon coiling, sometimes like a lotus blooming, precisely controlling the fusion and reaction of every bit of medicinal power within the furnace.
The aroma of medicine began to permeate the air, gradually becoming mellow and harmonious from its initial murky state. When all the medicinal properties were perfectly blended under the catalysis of the alchemical fire, and the liquid inside the furnace churned, releasing a rich fragrance, Qin Hao's eyes narrowed, and his hand seals suddenly changed!
"Congeal!"
The alchemical fire suddenly subsided, transforming into a thin layer of golden light covering the surface of the medicinal liquid. The temperature inside the furnace dropped sharply. Under the powerful compression of divine sense and the final shaping by the alchemical fire, the churning medicinal liquid rapidly solidified and contracted, eventually splitting into several pills the size of longan fruits, perfectly round, emitting a faint blue light and water-attribute spiritual energy—the Qi-Strengthening Pills!
The furnace lid opened, and five pale blue Qi-Strengthening Pills flew out, landing in the jade bottle in Qin Hao's hand. He examined them carefully; the pills were round and had a pure fragrance, but their color was slightly dull and the patterns on them were not clear enough, indicating they were of low quality.
Qin Hao smiled. His first formal alchemy attempt, and the one he was refining—the Qi-Strengthening Pill, suitable for Core Formation cultivators—had been a complete success: no furnace explosions, no wasted effort, and the pill was successfully formed! If those alchemy masters who had immersed themselves in the art of alchemy for decades or even centuries knew this, they would probably be astonished to the point of their eyes popping out. This success rate was simply heaven-defying!
With the experience of the first success, the subsequent refining went much more smoothly. Qin Hao was like a highly sophisticated alchemy machine, repeating the process of calcination, fusion, and pill condensation with the assistance of the AI.
The second batch produced six pills, with their quality upgraded to mid-grade. The third batch produced even more, seven pills, including two high-grade Qi-stabilizing pills with clear patterns and a rich luster! His control over the alchemical fire became increasingly adept, and his understanding of the fusion of medicinal properties deepened.
Over three months, Qin Hao consumed most of the auxiliary medicines he obtained from Han Li and the inner cores of the demon beasts he purchased, ultimately acquiring more than fifty bottles of Qi-stabilizing pills!
Of these, high-grade pills accounted for 30%, mid-grade pills accounted for 50%, and low-grade pills accounted for only 20%.
Jade bottles stood on the stone table, exuding a refreshing fragrance. Qin Hao nodded in satisfaction. With this batch of pills, coupled with the rich spiritual energy within the cave, it would be enough to support him in advancing his cultivation from the early stage of Core Formation all the way to the peak of the early stage of Core Formation!
With the elixir in hand, Qin Hao went into seclusion once more.
Inside the stone chamber, the hourglass turned silently, and time quietly slipped away during the cultivation.
In the blink of an eye, a full twenty years have passed.