Day and night tour

Chapter 426 Human Pill
"The White Deer Alchemist?"

Upon hearing this name, Zhou Xuan felt something was amiss.

Within Taoism, there are various terms such as Taoist priest, Feng Shui master, Qi cultivator, alchemist, and hermit.

Although they all respect the Tao and advocate naturalness and harmony, they each have their own distinct characteristics.

Take alchemists for example. These people pursued alchemy, numerology, and alchemy in order to achieve immortality.

"Your main hobby in life is alchemy?" Zhou Xuan asked.

"Where can one find the elixir of immortality? The white deer emerges from the Yellow River. Since I dare to call myself a Taoist alchemist, my method of alchemy must be extraordinary."

The voice emanating from "Cantongqi" grew increasingly deep and resonant, carrying a hint of arrogance.

The White Deer Alchemist further stated, "The art of alchemy is divided into two schools: one is the elixir of human qi, and the other is the elixir of human refinement. I named myself White Deer because I am kind-hearted and cannot bear to commit indiscriminate killing."

Upon hearing the name "Ren Dan" (人丹), Zhou Xuanguang had already guessed most of the alchemy methods of the Maha Temple.

But he couldn't help but ask, "Master, does refining elixirs require committing acts of killing?"

"It was originally unnecessary, but the world is going to the dogs and people's hearts are no longer what they used to be."

The White Deer Alchemist explained: "Master, alchemy is divided into Qi Pills and Human Pills. How are Qi Pills made?"
Only by using mountain rocks as a furnace, human energy as the fire, and the wishes of all living beings as the material, can one refine an elixir.

The White Deer Alchemist said, "This elixir can be taken directly, but at the same time, it can also be exchanged with the heavens and earth for things such as a person's lifespan."

"Is this the kind of elixir you're refining?"

Zhou Xuan asked.

"That's natural."

The White Deer Alchemist said, "Throughout my life, I have been refining elixirs for the heavens, accumulating the spirit and power of the people of Huangyuan. Now that I have obtained the elixirs, I am just waiting for the heavenly beings to come and collect them."

"I have been supplying elixirs to the people of the heavens for over a thousand years. Although my reputation is not widespread, most of the deities of the heavens know that there is an extremely skilled alchemist on Cloud Deer Mountain in Huangyuan Prefecture."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan wondered why Bai Lu Fangshi, who had been working with such a long-standing client and whose client was someone from the heavens, had ended up in such a state, transformed into a book and hidden in Mr. Ye's main hall for hundreds of years.
"It's all because of that evil monk, Master Lu Xue."

The White Deer Alchemist was furious and wanted to tell Zhou Xuan all about the centuries-old hatred.

"Master Lu Xue, I don't know why, but he is just a monk, yet he can comprehend the Taoist alchemy method. He knows how to refine human pills."

How is the elixir of immortality refined?

Zhou Xuan asked.

"The elixir is made by using the spirits of the dead as fire, the desolate and wicked land as a furnace, and human bones, blood, skin, and flesh as materials."

The White Deer Alchemist clearly disapproved of the "human elixir" refining method; when he spoke, he was gritting his teeth, filled with deep-seated hatred.

Zhou Xuan suddenly asked, "Which is more effective, the Qi Pill or the Human Pill?"

"Uh... Ren Dan..."

The White Deer Alchemist remained silent for several breaths before finally having to bite the bullet and reveal the answer.

"..." Zhou Xuan.

Zhou Xuan then asked, "Which has a shorter refining cycle, the Qi Pill or the Human Pill?"

"Uh... Ren Dan..." Bai Lu, the alchemist, had lost all his hatred and was now filled with embarrassment.

Zhou Xuan asked again, "Which is easier to obtain: the materials for the Human Elixir or the Qi Elixir?"

Bai Lu, the sorcerer, wanted to refuse to answer Zhou Xuan's question. He really wanted to advise Zhou Xuan, "Master, please stop asking, please stop asking."

But once someone asks a question, you still have to answer it.

He said reluctantly, "The ingredients for Qi Pills require human energy and willpower, things that even the gods covet. As for the ingredients for Human Pills, they are simply one person after another."
"Three-legged toads are hard to find all over the world, but two-legged people are everywhere. As long as you're ruthless enough, the entire world's population can be your elixir."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan clapped his hands together and said, "Then I understand. It means that between two thousand and one thousand years ago, you were the celestial supplier of elixirs."
But from about a thousand years ago until now, the supplier of celestial elixirs has changed; it's the so-called demonic monk you mentioned, the Venerable Lu Xue.”

"Hmm..." The White Deer Taoist did not deny Zhou Xuan's slightly "frivolous" statement.

Although the language is a bit rough, the principle is sound.

Zhou Xuan continued, "Your conflict with that demonic monk was actually a battle over the Human Elixir and the Qi Elixir. You lost the battle, didn't you?"

"Ah."

"The reason you can't compete is because your Qi Pill isn't strong enough, right?" Zhou Xuan calmly analyzed. "The materials are hard to find, the refining cycle is long, and the effect is not as good. You're lacking in every aspect. It's only natural that those people in the sky would help Master Lu Xue take the throne and then try to kill you."

Given that neither production volume nor quality was superior, it was normal for Bai Lu Fangshi, this "red-hat alchemist," to be removed from his post.

“But sir, that’s not how I see it.”

The White Deer Alchemist was finally about to argue.

Zhou Xuan really wanted to hear what he had to say, so he asked, "What are your thoughts?"

"If we consider a timeframe of ten or fifty years, then Qi Pills are indeed inferior to Human Pills. The effects of Qi Pills take an extremely long time, like a babbling brook."
The effects of the elixir are powerful and overwhelming, like a vast, surging wave crashing down upon you.

"However, if we place the time on a scale of hundreds of years or thousands of years, the advantages of Qi Pills become extremely obvious."

Qi pills originate from human willpower and can "exchange things with heaven" without harming one's original energy. Moreover, although the effects of Qi pills are weak, they are long-lasting. A single pill can still be effective after hundreds of years.

But what about the Human Elixir? It's inherently a yin and evil substance. In the early stages, its effects are like a vast ocean, but it will damage one's own vital energy.

Moreover, the effects of the elixir are not long-lasting and require long-term consumption. The blood energy, malevolent energy, and depleted energy contained within the elixir will then accumulate in the body.

The White Deer Alchemist looked heartbroken and said, "The long-term use of human pills in the Jing Kingdom has already shown its drawbacks. Just think about the behavior of those gods in the heavens."

His arrogant and unrestrained nature, and his extreme tyranny, if this evil trend is not stopped, I fear that this beautiful land will be turned into a dead land and a cursed place..."

Zhou Xuan also had a deep understanding of what the White Deer Taoist had said.

Since arriving in the Kingdom of Jing, the impression left on him by the gods of the Kingdom of Jing is that there are really no good people, especially ancient gods like "Gong Zheng", who is full of evil intentions.

On the contrary, Li Changxun, a newly ascended god-level being, although he has weaknesses in his personality, is, overall, a perfectly normal person.
He doesn't have any grand ambitions, but he's not domineering, harmful, or selfish.

Now, after hearing what the White Deer Alchemist said, Zhou Xuan roughly understood that it was because Li Changxun was in the heavens and had not consumed many human pills, his aura was not disturbed too much, and he did not lose much of his humanity.

"So, the Human Elixir is actually draining the fortune of the Jing Kingdom?" Zhou Xuan asked, frowning.

The White Deer Taoist sighed and said, "Gods are also human, and even celestial gods still have human nature. As long as they are tainted by human emotions, they are bound to be short-sighted, only looking at what is in front of them and not caring about what will happen after they die."
The calamity of the human pill has endangered the state of Jing; Bai Lu can only place her hopes on the Great Master.

It's another huge hat.

Zhou Xuan wasn't afraid of being labeled, since he already had a "Witch God" to cover for him. However, getting the Jing Kingdom to love the "Qi Pill" and hate the "Human Pill" would be a huge undertaking, requiring immeasurable time and manpower.

He sighed deeply, then suddenly spread his arms wide, making a "big" shape, and said,
"Master Bai, there's a saying I don't know if you've heard: 'Prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain, a very, very large mountain.'"

The people in the heavens of the Well Kingdom have been consuming 'human pills' for a long time and have become dependent on their effects. If you suddenly say you want to switch to qi pills, who can accept that?
Moreover, even if it were possible to exchange it, given the limited production and quality of Qi Pills, supply far exceeds demand. How could a small cup of water quench the thirst of those who have been taking pills for a long time?

Zhou Xuan revealed the hidden worries in the heart of the White Deer Taoist.

In fact, Zhou Xuan had considered the principles he was talking about. The elixir of life had become an unstoppable trend, and anyone who stood in the way was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, destined to be crushed to pieces.

However, the White Deer Taoist was still eager to win over Zhou Xuan, this rising star, and said...

"Master, please reconsider. In the realm of Jing Kingdom, human pills are rampant, but no one knows how to refine Qi pills."
That's why Qi Pills have become a scarce commodity. If you, Master, have a way to get all the important figures in the Jing Kingdom to accept Qi Pills, then you... will become a sought-after figure that all the important figures will be vying to curry favor with.

Is it really that popular?

Zhou Xuan said, "Besides, what's the use of being a high-ranking official? You used to be a high-ranking official too, but in the end, your official hat was removed, and you became a book, hiding everywhere, not daring to even show your face. Of course, I don't mean to make fun of you. I have a close friend who had a similar experience to you."

In the Kingdom of Well, no matter how popular you are, you're nothing more than a chamber pot for the heavenly beings. They'll take you out when they need you, and kick you off the bed when they don't.

“Sir, you are not like me.”

The White Deer Alchemist said, "In your book, you mentioned that the power of will in Mingjiang Prefecture was concentrated and the ancient tree and golden bell were restored. Later, with your book 'Mingjiang Zoroastrian Fire Record,' you once again gathered overwhelming power of will and restored one-third of Mingjiang Prefecture. That immense power of will is coveted even by the gods. The most needed materials for refining Qi Pills are popularity and power of will. You have no shortage of these materials; they are easier to find than for a person with two legs."

These words were quite enlightening.

Zhou Xuan also came to his senses.
Yes,

How was Bai Lu Fangshi ousted back then? Wasn't it because the materials for Qi Dan were hard to find, and he couldn't provide value that matched "Ren Dan"?

If Zhou Xuan could continuously provide Qi Pills and consistently outnumber Human Pills, then he wouldn't just be a chamber pot; he would be a highly sought-after figure in the Jing Kingdom.
It smells really, really good.

"After several batches of pills, I will gain the support of celestial beings, which will extend my safety period and give me more time to grow."

"I must say, it broadened my horizons."

Zhou Xuan had a sudden thought and said to the White Deer Alchemist, "White Alchemist, no matter how you explain it, I don't know how to refine pills."

"I can teach you, as long as you drive Master Lu Xue out of this Maha Temple?"

Zhou Xuan smiled, pointed his finger in the air, and said, "White Alchemist, White Alchemist, your map of Yan is too long. Finally, the true colors are revealed. You've been waiting for me here all this time."

To put it bluntly, the White Deer Taoist priest wanted Zhou Xuan to regain control of the situation.

“This Maha Temple is now connected to White Deer Mountain, treating it as a giant melting pot. The mountain’s fortune has been overdrawn by 90%. If it continues to be overdrawn, the mountain will die, and I, as the mountain spirit, will also perish.”

The White Deer Alchemist stated his conditions, saying, "Master, I would like to exchange the precious scriptures on alchemy for your help in reclaiming White Deer Mountain."

"It's not that I can't help you with this, but... Master Bai, what are the effects of your pills? I only heard you paint a picture of the cake, but you didn't reveal any specifics. Could you explain it to me in detail?"

In business, the key is mutual benefit.

People are willing to risk their lives for a business, but nobody wants to lose money.

"I dare not speak of anything else, but the Qi Elixir can 'exchange things with Heaven,' and can bring your friend's life back."

You mean Mu Hua?

"Correct."

The White Deer Alchemist said, "Your 'Book of Will' also requires human willpower to fulfill your wishes, but you often have a surplus of willpower. This surplus willpower can be used to refine elixirs, and then 'exchange with Heaven' for other things."

"Besides saving Mu Hua, does it serve any other purpose?" Zhou Xuan asked again.

The White Deer Taoist said, "When I entered your shop today, I sensed that Mr. Xunlongyun seems to be lacking in offerings."

“He used to be a nine-stick incense burner, but later his body was crippled and he lost his cultivation. A few days ago, although I used red ginseng to restore his body, it was still not enough to restore his peak incense burning.”

Zhou Xuan explained everything in detail.

The White Deer Alchemist said, "Then the benefits of elixirs will become apparent—Qi Elixir nourishes the body, and if there were a corresponding 'Fragrance Gathering Elixir,' the missing incense energy would be replenished if Mr. Yun took it."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan was overjoyed.

Leaving aside the future effects of this Qi Pill, the mere fact that it can save Mu Hua and restore Yun Ziliang's cultivation is enough to tempt Zhou Xuan to reclaim Yunlu Mountain in exchange for the White Deer Alchemist's alchemy manual.

"It's just about taking back Yunlu Mountain, right? Take it back! That evil monk has dared to bully Bai Fangshi, we won't stand for it!"

Zhou Xuan said with great pride, and the weight on the White Deer Taoist's heart was finally lifted.

"However, Master Bai, you've been nothing more than a walking alchemical text all these years. How come you're so well-informed? You know everything I've done?"

The White Deer Alchemist said very frankly, "That's because I am a Qi Elixir Alchemist. I am extremely sensitive to the large-scale appearance of human desires. I have a good eye for seeing and hearing about desires."

"So here's the question."

Zhou Xuan said, "You have a pair of good eyes that can see the power of wishes, but I went blind when I entered the Maha Temple."

He recounted the strange events that had occurred not long ago.

He used the method of "breathing like a tortoise for a thousand years" to tour the entire Mahakasyapa Temple, but he still couldn't find the so-called Master Luxue.

That's one point.

Now, Zhou Xuan has entered a state of "being in harmony with the heavens," and can see all the "spirits" in the world, but he still cannot see Master Lu Xue.

"If that Master Lu Xue is really inside this demon tower, how come I can't see him? Am I blind or what?"

Zhou Xuan said this.

The White Deer Taoist immediately asked, "Master, that demonic monk occupied my mountain; he is the 'Mountain Spirit.' However, he has insights into both Taoism and Buddhism and has placed restrictions within the tower. Even when you entered the 'Heavenly Union' technique of the magician, you still couldn't see him."

"Then how can I see him?"

Zhou Xuan said.

The White Deer Taoist said, "I will reveal myself as a 'Mountain Spirit' and enter this tower to break the restrictions. He will then have nowhere to hide. However, if I reveal myself, we will be able to see him, and he will be able to see us."

"That's alright, the key is that we need to see him first."

You can only shoot arrows if you see a target; if there's no target, what are you shooting at?
After Zhou Xuan finished speaking, the white deer sorcerer said, "Then, sir, I will enter the 'Spirit Realm' and make that demonic monk reveal himself."

"please."

Zhou Xuan immediately spoke.

……

The "Cantongqi" that had been dancing around Zhou Xuan in the secret realm turned into nothingness and then drifted towards Zhou Xuan's body, as if it had also entered that strange world.

"Master, after you 'became one with Heaven,' the world you see is the Spirit Realm. The Spirit Realm is the world where those 'spirits' truly live."

"This world is an illusion for humans, but for the 'spirit,' this world is real."

The White Deer Hermit appeared at the Maha Temple disguised as a middle-aged Taoist priest. After explaining to Zhou Xuan, he added, "Therefore, Master, to slay the demonic monk, it can only be done within the 'Spiritual Realm.' It might not be appropriate for just the two of us."

"It's not just the two of us. Just let me see the evil monk, I have helpers."

Zhou Xuan had two gold tokens in his arms.

He can ask the sorcerer god for help.

According to the engineers, gods, celestial beings, and wills are all beyond the human realm; they belong to the "spirit."

The Witch God is one of the Four Heavenly Venerables, so he must be a "spirit" and must be able to enter this "spirit realm".

"Then I will go and break that restriction."

As the White Deer Taoist finished speaking, he immediately rammed his head against the wall of the Mahayana Temple.

The impact didn't make a sound; instead, it blended in very gently, somewhat like... water merging into water.

The White Deer Taoist priest merged with the tower, and the tower seemed to be infused with vitality. The "raven bird" reliefs on the walls were no longer statues, but truly came to life, fluttering in the sky.

"Ah! Ah!"

After the raven cried out, it flew towards the alchemy furnace in the center of the tower. Inside the furnace, flames blazed high, and the surging fire dragons illuminated the tower in a fiery red.

“Master, those ravens are the fire used to refine human elixirs.”

After the White Deer Taoist shouted, a muffled sound came from inside the tower.

"You have a path to heaven but choose not to take it, and you have no way to get to hell but insist on going through it. Zhou Xuan of Mingjiang Prefecture, I'm not going to bother you because of the Bitter Ghost Chief, but you've come looking for trouble yourself."

"If I were to kill you again, Lu Xingzhou would have nothing to say."

"You wicked monk, you only reveal your voice, not your true face. Are you going to keep hiding?" Zhou Xuan said mockingly.

"I am not a demonic monk, my name is Fish Bodhisattva, the Wrathful Fish Bodhisattva..."

(End of this chapter)