Shengui Changsheng: Start from Zhenwuwei and add some points to cultivate immortality

The morning light was like a veil, and the thin mist between the green peaks resembled flowing ice silk, enveloping the entire valley in a hazy glow. Dewdrops rolled on the blades of grass, each drop like a crushed star, refracting a rainbow of light. The mountain breeze rustled through the treetops, as if nature were whispering secrets.

Fu Shaoping, dressed in a plain white robe, stood in the middle of the mountain path. His robes fluttered gently in the breeze, and the medicine pouch at his waist swayed softly with each step, producing a delicate, tinkling sound, like a natural melody. He stood with his hands behind his back, and with a light tap of his fingertips, a clover slowly rose from the soil, hovering in mid-air and rotating gently. Dewdrops on the clover swayed, shimmering in the morning light.

"Look at this 'Azure Spirit Grass', everyone." His voice was clear and melodious, like a mountain stream or birdsong in the forest. "Those leaves with broken or intermittent veins are poisonous, while those with intact veins can be used in calming pills." As he spoke, his fingertips moved slightly, and the leaves of the clover unfolded and closed in mid-air, their veins clearly visible.

The students gathered around; the jade slip shimmered, recording every word Fu Shaoping had said. Li Zhaoyang stood on tiptoe, craning his neck to examine it closely, then suddenly pointed deep into the grass: "Instructor! There's a purple light there!"

Following Li Zhaoyang's gaze, everyone saw a faint blue glimmer appearing and disappearing in the morning mist, like the brightest star in the night sky. Nangong Wan lightly flicked her sleeves, pale blue spiritual energy coiling around her fingertips like threads, and pointed at the plant in mid-air. Her movements were elegant and composed, as if she were not identifying a herb, but rather playing a silent melody.

“A Cold-Hearted Orchid.” Her voice was as cold as shattered ice. “The stems have barbs, and the stamens are adorned with faint ice patterns.” As she spoke, a burst of cold air suddenly erupted from her fingertips, and the pale blue flower instantly frosted over, the ice patterns on the petals shimmering with a chilling light in the sunlight. “Mistaking it for a Nine-Leaf Orchid for medicinal purposes will cause the fiery pills to freeze and rupture your meridians.” She frowned slightly, a warning glint in her eyes.

Li Zhaoyang scratched his head, his eyes full of curiosity: "What if we encounter a guardian beast?"

Before the words were finished, a low growl suddenly echoed through the forest, shaking the leaves. A crimson-eyed wolf demon leaped out of the bushes, its sharp claws gleaming coldly, and a foul stench wafted towards them. The wolf demon was agile, its eyes flashing with bloodlust, clearly regarding the group as prey.

Fu Shaoping remained expressionless as a small bronze sword flew from his sleeve. The moment it was drawn, the crimson patterns on its blade lit up, emitting a clear, resonant sword cry that echoed through the valley. Hearing the sword's cry, the wolf demon retreated in fear, a flicker of terror in its eyes. Finally, the wolf demon vanished in a wisp of black smoke, leaving only a few withered leaves swirling in place.

"The sword, tempered by the fire of alchemy, can subdue ordinary demonic beasts." Fu Shaoping sheathed his sword with fluid, effortless movements. However, he noticed that Nangong Wan shook his head slightly, seemingly not entirely agreeing with the previous approach.

Nangong Wan moved gracefully, her delicate hand flicking out a shimmering white pill. The pill traced a beautiful arc in the air, accompanied by a rustling sound from the treetops. A red-eyed monkey leaped down from the tree, nimbly catching the pill, a hint of human-like joy flashing in its eyes. With the pill in its mouth, the monkey swiftly dug a clump of Evening Primrose from the soil—each leaf tip adorned with silver stars, shimmering in the sunlight.

“Exchange for the Spirit-Crossing Pill.” Nangong Wan chuckled, her voice like a spring breeze across a lake. “All things have a spirit; taking by force will only breed enmity.” Her eyes gleamed with wisdom, as if she were teaching her students a deeper truth.

The students were stunned. Some whispered among themselves, "So that's how it can be done!" and "Instructor Nangong is truly unfathomable."

Li Zhaoyang secretly tugged at Fu Shaoping's sleeve, his eyes filled with longing: "Instructor, could you give me your sword to observe?" His fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of his clothes, revealing his inner trepidation and anticipation.

"The Azure Lotus Sword has recognized its master for many years." Fu Shaoping glanced down at the young man, a hint of gentleness flashing in his eyes. He reached out and ruffled Li Zhaoyang's hair, the movement as gentle as stroking a kitten. "We'll talk about it after you reach Foundation Establishment." His voice was deep and firm, carrying an unquestionable tone.

A mountain breeze swept by, bringing with it the roar of a distant waterfall. The murmuring water, like celestial music, cleansed the souls of all. Nangong Wan suddenly pointed to the edge of the cliff: "There's a hundred-year-old Vermilion Fruit tree there, but..."

“But we have miasma to protect us!” Li Zhaoyang said first, and everyone burst into laughter. The laughter echoed through the valley, dispelling the previous tension.

Nangong Wan smiled slightly, a sly glint in her eyes: "That's right, the Vermilion Fruit grows beside the miasma swamp; ordinary people will be poisoned if they get close." She paused, then added, "However..." She took out a jade slip of emerald green from her sleeve and tossed it gently.

The jade slip unfurled in the air, transforming into a three-dimensional image. In the image, a century-old vermilion fruit emitted an alluring red light, surrounded by eerie purple miasma. However, within the miasma, several transparent butterflies fluttered gracefully, their wings shimmering with strange runes.

“These are ‘Purifying Butterflies,’ which feed exclusively on miasma,” Nangong Wan explained. “They possess purifying power, protecting those who harvest them from the miasma.” Her voice was soft, yet every word was precious.

Fu Shaoping picked up the conversation: "Tomorrow we'll go pick the Vermilion Fruit, but," he glanced at everyone, "each of you needs to refine a batch of 'Heart-Clearing Pills' first, just in case."

The students exchanged bewildered glances, then became excited again. Li Zhaoyang, in particular, rubbed his hands together eagerly: "Rest assured, Instructor, I will definitely refine the best Qingxin Pill!"

Just then, something slipped from Li Zhaoyang's sleeve—a small, blood-red plant with eerie black patterns faintly visible on its leaves. All eyes turned to him, and the atmosphere instantly froze.

"This is..." Fu Shaoping's eyes narrowed, and he swiftly reached out to capture the blood-red grass in his palm. He twitched his fingertips slightly, and a wisp of true energy probed into the grass, his expression immediately becoming solemn.

"Blood Bodhi," Nangong Wan's voice deepened, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes. "Legend has it that this thing grows near the lair of demonic beasts, tainted by demonic energy for a thousand years, and is now cursed."

Li Zhaoyang's face turned deathly pale: "I...I didn't know it was a Blood Bodhi; I just found it on the edge of a cliff."

Fu Shaoping put the Blood Bodhi into the jade bottle, his expression solemn: "Let's leave this matter aside for now." He turned to the other students: "That's enough for today's herb gathering. Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), we will head to the location of the Vermilion Fruit Tree." His voice was steady and powerful, attempting to soothe the uneasy emotions of the group.

On the way back, a mountain breeze began to rise, dispersing the morning mist and the gloom in everyone's hearts. However, Li Zhaoyang remained silent with his head down, his hand tightly gripping the jade hoe he used for gathering herbs, his knuckles turning white from the force.

Fu Shaoping noticed the boy's unusual behavior and said softly, "Li Zhaoyang, come with me." His voice was gentle yet authoritative.

The two arrived at a secluded cliff edge. Fu Shaoping took out a cyan pill and handed it to Li Zhaoyang: "Take this; it will temporarily suppress the Blood Bodhi's curse." His gaze was as deep as a pool, his emotions unreadable.

Li Zhaoyang took the pill, hesitated for a moment, and then swallowed it in one gulp. The pill melted instantly in his mouth, and a cool sensation traveled from his throat straight into his dantian, gradually calming the restlessness within his body.

"Thank you, instructor." Li Zhaoyang's voice was choked with emotion.

Fu Shaoping patted the boy on the shoulder: "On the path of cultivation, unexpected events are inevitable." He paused, then added, "But why did you go to such a dangerous place?"

Li Zhaoyang lowered his head, his voice barely audible: "I...I want to refine the best elixir, to live up to the expectations of the instructors, especially Instructor Nangong." Upon hearing this, Fu Shaoping's eyes flashed with satisfaction. He looked up at the distant mountain peaks, the setting sun casting a golden glow on them: "The path of cultivation values ​​perseverance." His voice was deep and powerful. "Tomorrow, when we gather the Vermilion Fruit, you will come with me."

Li Zhaoyang looked up abruptly, a flicker of surprise and disbelief in his eyes: "Really?!"

“Of course.” Fu Shaoping smiled slightly. “However, you must promise me one thing.”

"Please speak, instructor!"

"No matter what happens, you must obey orders and not act on your own." Fu Shaoping's gaze was sharp as a sword. "This is an ironclad rule."

Li Zhaoyang nodded solemnly: "I agree, instructor!"

Afternoon sunlight slanted through the carved window lattices, casting dappled shadows on the blue brick floor. Inside the alchemy room, a three-foot-high flame rose from the bronze cauldron, its tongues licking the cauldron's surface and emitting a low hum. Nangong Wan stood before the cauldron, her moon-white dress spotless, a black jade shovel dancing nimbly between her fingers. Purple Ganoderma powder poured down like a purple galaxy, transforming into wisps of blue smoke within the cauldron.

"The initial fire nourishes like spring." Her voice was as gentle as a spring breeze across a lake. With a light twist of her wrist, a faint white mist rose from the cauldron. Tiny specks of spiritual energy could be vaguely seen swimming in the medicinal liquid within the mist, like fireflies in the morning light. "The medium fire tempers like summer." She suddenly increased the speed of her wrist rotation, and the medicine shovel struck the cauldron wall, producing a crisp tinkling sound.

Boom! A blinding red light suddenly erupted from the cauldron, the medicinal liquid churning violently, almost overflowing its rim. Fu Shaoping stood beside the cauldron, his expression unchanged, and pointed his fingertips together. Azure flames, like a dragon, surged from his palm, instantly enveloping the entire cauldron. The moment the flames touched the cauldron, they emitted a sizzling sound, and sparks flew everywhere.

"The final flame is as steady as an autumn pool." Fu Shaoping's voice was calm as still water, yet the flame at his fingertips transformed into a golden dragon, swirling and dancing around the cauldron. His robes fluttered without wind, and the stray hairs on his forehead flickered in and out of focus in the light of the flames. "If you add the thousand-year-old snow ginseng now, the medicinal liquid will glow with a golden light." He stared intently into the cauldron, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Student Wang Tieshan frantically grabbed the snow ginseng, his pale face filled with tension. His fingers trembled slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. As he approached the cauldron, his arm suddenly trembled violently uncontrollably, and the ginseng branch snapped in half with a "crack" and fell into the cauldron.

"Not good!" Nangong Wan waved her hand, and Su Ling flew out like a white snake, diverting thirty percent of the firepower. Su Ling drew a graceful arc in the air, and the strong wind it generated extinguished all the sparks around the cauldron. The flames gradually turned azure, and twelve golden pill phantoms slowly emerged from inside the cauldron, shining as brightly as stars.

"It's done!" Li Zhaoyang couldn't help but cheer, his eyes gleaming with excitement. However, before his cheers could even fade, the lid of the cauldron suddenly popped open with a "bang." A burst of light shot into the sky, and twelve Soul Nourishing Pills floated in the air, their surfaces covered with fine cracks, as intricate as a spider web.

With a flick of her wrist, Nangong Wan sent the pills falling into a jade plate as if they were obedient children. She sighed softly, "The timing was a fraction off." She lightly touched one of the pills, the cracks becoming even more visible in the sunlight. "These pills can strengthen the foundation and nourish the vital energy, but they won't increase cultivation level," she said, her voice calm yet tinged with regret.

Fu Shaoping suddenly picked up a pill and put it in his mouth with a graceful and composed movement. The students gasped in surprise, and Li Zhaoyang's eyes widened in astonishment: "Instructor!"

Fu Shaoping smiled without speaking, and suddenly a phantom image of a pill appeared on his forehead. The pill flowed like a living thing, emitting a faint golden light, disappearing in an instant. He swallowed the pill, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned: "The taste is not bad." After saying that, he waved his sleeve, and the flame in the pill room was extinguished instantly, leaving only a wisp of green smoke rising.

Nangong Wan frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes. She stepped forward and lightly touched Fu Shaoping's forehead with her fingertips: "You—" She swallowed the words back and turned to the other students: "What did you see during today's alchemy session?"

Li Zhaoyang answered first: "The initial fire is like spring, the middle fire is like summer, and the final fire is like autumn!" His voice was loud and clear, and his eyes shone with a thirst for knowledge.

“Not bad.” Nangong Wan nodded slightly. “Alchemy is like playing chess; once a move is made, there’s no going back.” She paused, then added, “Wang Tieshan, tell me, why did your hand tremble at the crucial moment?”

Wang Tieshan lowered his head, his voice barely audible: "Disciple...disciple was too nervous."

“Nervousness stems from a lack of self-confidence.” Nangong Wan’s voice suddenly turned stern. “In the cultivation of alchemy, mental state comes first. If you don’t even have this much composure, how can you achieve the Great Dao?” Her gaze was like a knife, staring directly into Wang Tieshan’s eyes.

Wang Tieshan trembled, pressed his forehead against the medicine cauldron, and said in a tearful voice, "This disciple knows his mistake!"

Seeing this, Fu Shaoping coughed lightly: "Nangong, too much of a good thing is bad." His voice was not loud, but it softened Nangong Wan's gaze a little.

Nangong Wan took a deep breath, her expression returning to calm: "Although I have made some progress in alchemy today, there are still shortcomings." She pointed to the illusory image of the pill floating in the air, "A true superior Soul Nourishing Pill should be as perfect as the autumn moon." With that, she waved her hand, and the illusory image of the pill turned into specks of golden light and dissipated into the air.

Li Zhaoyang pondered, "Instructor, how can one control the heat to such a precise degree?"

Fu Shaoping smiled mysteriously: "A calm mind brings coolness." His voice was deep and magnetic. "Tomorrow, I'll take you somewhere."

"Where?" the students asked in unison, their eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Fu Shaoping, however, kept everyone in suspense: "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed." He turned and walked towards the entrance of the alchemy room, his robes fluttering. "That's all for today. Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), gather here precisely."

After Fu Shaoping left, Nangong Wan gave a few more instructions before dismissing the students. The students left the alchemy room in twos and threes, but Li Zhaoyang stayed behind.

"Instructor," he hesitated for a moment before asking, "that pill... is it really alright?"

Fu Shaoping stopped and turned to look at him: "You care a lot?"

Li Zhaoyang nodded: "This disciple is worried about the efficacy of the medicine." (End of this chapter)