Wanfa Daojun, starting from the Little Cloud and Rain Technique

Chapter 550 Refining the Golden Core

The thin-faced cultivator got up and left; he felt uncomfortable staying any longer. Dao Xuan Zhenren got up, said "Congratulations," and also took his leave.

Master Qingfeng stood up, solemnly cupped his hands, and said:
"My Daoist name is Qingfeng. May I ask how you should address me, fellow Daoist?"

The greatest asset of an artisan is their superb skills, and they hold high-level artisans in high regard for whom there is no conflict of interest.

Ji An returned the greeting with a cupped hand, "My Daoist name is Xuanqing. I greet the True Person."

"Haha, fellow Daoist, you're not a cultivator from the Central Continent, are you?"

Although it was a question, Master Qingfeng was quite certain that the other party came from another continent.

"I come from the Western Continent and have come to the Central Continent for travel. I just arrived today by merchant airship."

I went to rent a cave dwelling today and learned that certified craftsmen could get a discount, so I came here.

Ji An was very frank. Because this publicly available information could be easily found with a simple search.

Being honest about unimportant matters can earn you points and make it easier to gain the favor of others.

The two chatted for a while, then Master Qingfeng took out a yellow jade tablet and said:
"Please leave your magical imprint, fellow Daoist. This is to create a unique authentication jade token for you. It will be ready in a quarter of an hour."

The jade tablet is a semi-finished magical artifact; it will be complete once the magical imprint is sealed.

The certification association issues and replaces a large number of jade plaques every year, and the craftsmanship for making ritual implements is very sophisticated.

Ji An left a magical imprint, and Master Qingfeng called in the stewards who were waiting outside and gave them instructions:
"Make it into a Tier 3, 4-star talisman crafting jade tablet. Also, send over the fee paid by Fellow Daoist Xuanqing."

"Yes, sir," the steward said, taking the jade token and leaving with envy in his heart. Cultivators are judged by their cultivation level, while craftsmen are judged by their skills.

With the certification of a third-tier, four-star talisman maker, it's easy to integrate into the Golden Core cultivator circle of Cloud Sea Immortal City.

After the two sat down, Ji An asked:
"Fellow Daoist, I wish to purchase a talisman inheritance, but I do not know where I can buy one?"

He felt that he only knew one calming talisman and was too unqualified, so he felt embarrassed when he went out to socialize.

"Good inheritances are almost impossible to buy. These are all summaries of other people's experience, and cultivators will subconsciously keep them to themselves."

If you simply wish to draw more types of talismans, that's easy enough.

Ji An cupped his hands in greeting, "Please teach me, fellow Daoist. After I settle down in a few days, I'd like to invite you to the best restaurant for a few drinks."

"Haha, fellow Daoist, you flatter me. It's just a matter of a few words."

Also, I don't like drinking alcohol. If you have any good tea, please let me try it.

"Definitely. Once I've rented the cave dwelling, I'll invite you to come and visit."

"It's my wish, but I don't dare to ask for my ear."

Master Qingfeng stopped keeping everyone in suspense and explained:
"Fellow Daoist, you can come to the association to accept the task of drawing talismans. After accumulating enough contributions, as long as you sign an agreement and swear an oath not to reveal the method of drawing talismans, you can exchange it for the method of drawing talismans."

Ji An nodded, "We'll discuss this in detail in a few days."

He realized that the Certification Association had been united by major powers in Zhongzhou to form a platform, and there were countless conflicts of interest involved.

However, it is undeniable that the platform also brings benefits to certified monks.

After a while, the steward returned the jade token and thirty high-grade spirit stones, which Master Qingfeng inspected and then handed over.

Ji An took the jade pendant and examined it carefully. He could see three talisman pens and four five-pointed stars shining inside.

Master Qingfeng smiled and said, "The pattern inside this jade tablet will only light up when it is in your hands. It is said that the creators of this set of magical restrictions were several Nascent Soul True Monarchs."

"Good means."

Ji An could only say that if the cultivation world wanted to implement anti-counterfeiting measures, it would be quite easy.

He stored the jade tablet and spirit stone in the Void Stone, then stood up and said:

"I still need to get certified as an alchemist, so I won't bother you any longer. See you later."

"See you later," Qingfeng Zhenren's eyes gleamed, for pills could directly enhance a cultivator's cultivation level.

Compared to other craftsmen, alchemists are more popular, especially those with superb skills.

The rules for certifying alchemists are the same, but the fees are much higher. Ji An paid 1,200 high-grade spirit stones.

Certified alchemists need to actually refine pills. The Golden Elixir belongs to the category of third-tier pills, and this is the only third-tier pill formula that Ji An knows.

He asked on a whim and was surprised to be granted permission, though the deposit was ridiculously high.

If the refining process fails, the spirit stones will be wasted.

There were also three examiners. The chief examiner was a female cultivator with a dignified and elegant appearance, exuding a powerful aura as someone who had been in a high position for many years.

Her eyes were bright and sparkling, and she was very approachable.

The female cultivator's voice was pleasant, "This material can be used to refine two pills. You can refine them all at once, or you can do it in two batches."

As long as you successfully refine a Golden Core of ordinary quality, you can be certified as a third-tier, one-star alchemist.

Now, let's begin.

Ji An coughed lightly and said:
"I have another question: Is there a time interval between certifications for alchemists?"

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, if I fail to obtain certification this time, can I immediately apply for certification again?"

“Of course, as long as you have enough high-grade spirit stones, we can prepare many sets of materials for you until you can no longer afford them.” Ji An chuckled, “Then I’m relieved.”

The first time you try to refine a Golden Core pill, you only have two chances, and there's a high chance of failure. When I tried to refine a Primordial Essence Pill, I only succeeded on the third try.

Although his alchemy skills have improved a lot, he doesn't think he can succeed in two tries.

Ji An arranged the materials, took out the Fire Crane Danyang Furnace, and activated the Azure Lotus Burning Heart Flame.

The moment the three-colored flames appeared, the examiners all let out a low gasp.

The Heavenly Spirit Fire and their own inner fire are completely different flames, and none of them were lucky enough to obtain the Heavenly Spirit Fire.

Ji An had studied the sect's research on the properties and pharmacology of medicinal herbs countless times on the flying boat. Although he was encountering some spiritual herbs for the first time, he had a basic understanding of their medicinal properties.

Over the years, the constant nourishment from Jade Dew Golden Tooth Tea and the Soul Nourishing Pendant, coupled with the passive increase in his divine soul brought about by the improvement of his cultivation, allowed him to reach a new level of control over flames.

The refining of spiritual herbs and essences proceeded without incident. Some of the herbs were not perfectly refined, but they were still usable.

He carefully reviewed the steps of refining the Golden Core and made contingency plans for possible situations before beginning the final refining process.

Ji An divided the divine essence into two parts, then entered a state of complete concentration. His eyes were fixed on the alchemy furnace and the medicinal herbs at hand, with nothing else in sight.

Perhaps due to his excellent condition and powerful spiritual energy, the refining process went quite smoothly this time.

He always managed to anticipate the impending events in the medicinal liquid, thus preventing the Qinglian Burning Heart Fire from occurring in advance.

They encountered several crises, but overcame them all with ease, as if divinely aided. The various medicinal liquids blended perfectly together, and the impurities naturally precipitated out.

The runes inside the Fire Crane Danyang Furnace were moving at an extremely fast speed, leaving behind blurry afterimages.

The wings of the flamingo on the furnace body shone with a strange, blazing white light, and the fire spirit in its beak resembled a crimson sun.

Soon, they reached the final step of alchemy—condensing the liquid into a pill.

Ji An watched all this without joy or sorrow, as three flying dragons formed from blue, red, and white smoke appeared inside the alchemy furnace.

As the flames subsided, the elixir gradually began to solidify. The flying dragon coiled around the elixir and swam rapidly. With each circle it swam, gray impurities fell off. The color of the elixir became crystal clear, like fine jade, as the flying dragon swam around and around.

A stream of five-colored mist—black, blue, red, yellow, and white—spewed out from the mouth of the dragon carved on the stove lid, and a delicate fragrance instantly filled the room.

Ji An used his telekinesis to lift the furnace lid, and the pale golden pill rose into the air, spinning rapidly.

There are three cloud patterns on it, which appear and disappear as the pill rotates.

He picked up the jade bottle, filled it with the elixir, and laughed:
"The alchemy went well this time."

Successfully refining a Golden Core on the first try is something to be proud of!

With that, he presented the jade bottle to the person in charge.

The female cultivator took the jade bottle, poured the pill into her pure white hand, and examined it carefully. "A top-quality Golden Core pill, and the best of the best."

She handed the pills to the other examiners and said softly:

"Is the Azure Lotus Heart-Burning Flame that you are using, fellow Daoist?"

She doesn't possess the spiritual fire of heaven and earth, but she has a very profound understanding of it.

"Yes," Ji An readily admitted. The identity of an alchemist possessing the spiritual fire of heaven and earth increased his status and was the key factor that distinguished him from ordinary alchemists.

Under the certification association's model, his identity allows him to receive more tasks and more easily obtain formulas for Golden Core level pills.

"It's really enviable."

The elegant female cultivator sighed, rose, and cupped her hands in greeting:
"My Daoist name is Feiyun. I greet you, fellow Daoist."

Her attitude represents approval.

Ji An returned the greeting and smiled gently:

"My Daoist name is Xuanqing. It is an honor to meet such a noble and dignified master."

"Although I know you're just being polite, I'm still very happy."

"You're overthinking it, I'm just telling the truth."

From the occasional spiritual pressure emanating from her, Ji An could sense the female cultivator's power; she was at least a Golden Core Stage 4 cultivator.

Master Feiyun looked at the two Golden Core cultivators on his left and right and said:
"Fellow Daoist Xuanqing has refined a Golden Core and also possesses the Azure Lotus Heart-Burning Flame. I suggest that his alchemist rank be set at the third rank, two stars. What do you all think?"

No one likes to do things that offend people, and since there were precedents for such a suggestion, the other two examiners agreed.

"agree!"

Ji An pointed to the remaining document and said:

"Can I take it with me?"

"Of course, the assessment is over."

Upon hearing the reply, Ji An felt that leaving behind four talismans when he was certified as a talisman maker made him look foolish.

He quickly stored the divine essence into the Void Stone and clapped his hands in satisfaction.

Master Feiyun took out a jade tablet and invited Ji An to leave his magical imprint. He then instructed his steward to make the jade tablet.

About half an hour later, Ji An received his second certified jade pendant.

(End of this chapter)