Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 248-257 Ascending to the Throne of True Inheritance, Leaping into the Torrent (5000 words)

"The competition is in half a month. I wonder how Cunxiao is preparing?"

In the Miaoyan Palace, Taiyi was somewhat absent-minded, and the azure true essence condensed into a furnace in front of him.

Inside the furnace, a pill floated and sank, its surface radiance gradually shifting from radiant to inward.

The old Taoist priest would occasionally flick his five fingers, and the true essence flames in the alchemy furnace would naturally change according to his will.

He was refining a mind-stabilizing elixir.

With only one month to prepare for the competition, Li Cunxiao, being the least experienced of the three, naturally needed to decide on the theme of the competition well in advance if he wanted to perform reasonably well.

However, when his disciple chose the Tranquilizing Pill, Master Taiyi was actually somewhat disappointed.

There was no other reason than that fifth-grade pills were beyond what he thought Li Cunxiao could achieve. It was already remarkable that he could refine a near-successful failed product in a month.

The other two, Li Siqi and Ye Shuyi, are both alchemists who have refined fifth-order pills and have studied fifth-order pills, including the Tranquilizing Pill.

Choosing this topic is a huge disadvantage. In Taiyi's view, the best choice would actually be a third-tier elixir.

On the one hand, Li Cunxiao had previously refined second-tier pills, so he could quickly reach the threshold of third-tier pills;
Secondly, third-tier pills are relatively simple, meaning their potential is not high. Even if Li Siqi and Ye Shuyi were to come, they wouldn't be able to pull off any fancy moves, and even if they lost, it wouldn't be a very embarrassing defeat.

But Li Cunxiao unexpectedly chose the calming pill in the end.

“In the past, Cunxiao always sought to be cautious in his actions and would never act without certainty.”

"After arriving at Louguandao, he seemed to have acted somewhat rashly. Was it because he suddenly assumed a high position, or because the external situation was too tense?"

Taiyi sighed, reached out and grabbed, the azure cauldron transformed into a stream of energy that dissipated into his body, leaving only a jade-bead-like pill in his palm.

There was no fragrance of the elixir in the nose, because all the medicinal power was locked inside, without the slightest leakage.

Holding the pill in his left hand, he picked up a brush from the table with his right and continued writing on the Xuan paper.

This stack had already accumulated to the thickness of a thumb, and the top sheet had a title written in large characters: "A Glimpse into the Refining of the Mind-Stabilizing Pill".

These are the "key points" and "exercises" that Taiyi Zhenren prepared for Li Cunxiao.

"If a disciple has a problem, the master should do his best. Am I wrong? Oh well, whatever, I have to teach my own disciple, even if it means tears."

The old Taoist priest said this, but his expression didn't show much helplessness; instead, it carried a faint smile.

Anyway, since the special training has already been given to his apprentice, if he loses, there will be no excuse. Li Cunxiao should then learn from his mistakes and wholeheartedly follow him to study the art of alchemy.

As long as you can refine the elixir well, everyone in the world will treat you as an honored guest. Isn't that much better than fighting and killing?
Of course, force is also important; the lesson of a child carrying gold through a busy market is well-known. However, the "Nine-Turn Flowing Pearl Nine Elixir Scripture" combines alchemy and martial arts, making it easy to master both.

In short, the cultivation of true Taoist skills should be given top priority.

As for the practice of the Buddha's principal deity, Taiyi felt it was not too late to start after breaking through the barrier of enlightenment.
"Sigh, I've put in so much effort, but this brat doesn't come to me for guidance. He just keeps to himself and refines pills. What kind of progress can he make?"

Taiyi picked up a stack of manuscripts, walked briskly out of Miaoyan Palace, and arrived at Li Cunxiao's courtyard a moment later.

In the martial arts training ground, Mu Cha was practicing his fist and foot techniques when he heard the servant disciple announce his arrival. He had just finished his practice when the old Taoist priest walked in.

"Mocha, where's Cunxiao? Is he still refining pills?"

"Yes," Mucha said, a hint of worry in his eyes.

"You've come at the right time. My brother hasn't come out for three days."

It's definitely hit a bottleneck.

Taiyi understood, secretly chuckling to himself that he had arrived at the perfect time.

After several twists and turns, the two arrived at the alchemy room. The old Taoist priest shook the "Essentials of Refining the Mind-Stabilizing Pill" in his hand, cleared his throat, and was about to speak when the door creaked open.

Li Cunxiao held three small jade bottles, his eyes filled with weariness.

For a martial artist on the Heavenly Ladder, going three days and three nights without sleep is nothing, but if one were to refine pills for three days and three nights in a row, the consumption of true essence and spirit would be extraordinary.

"Master?"

"Cunxiao, you've succeeded? Something's not right, it doesn't feel right."

Taiyi Zhenren sniffed and frowned.

The elixir aura in the room had not yet dissipated. Based on his experience of most of his life, he could tell how well the elixir had been formed simply by smelling it.

However, the medicinal properties in this scent were not as strong as those of a typical calming pill; it seemed to be missing something. It gave the impression that it had been successfully refined, yet it felt somewhat unfamiliar.

Weird.

"I was just about to have my master check its quality, and you've come at the perfect time."

Li Cunxiao reached out and handed over the jade bottle, and Taiyi instinctively handed over the manuscript in his hand:
"These are my notes from when I was refining the Mind-Stabilizing Pill. Take a look at them; they might give you some inspiration."

Old notes?
Li Cunxiao looked at the brand-new ink marks and chuckled to himself, thinking what an arrogant old man he was.

As I turned to the first page, the contents of the paper came to mind, instantly resonating with the reading and practical experience I had accumulated over the past few days. They collided and interacted within me, generating new insights.

If it were him in the past, he would probably have needed to take the manuscript back and study it carefully for half a month before he could understand it, and then another month or two before he could fully comprehend it.

But now, in less than a quarter of an hour, he has completely absorbed and understood the essence of the manuscript.

Furthermore, combining the new prescription with the practice over the past two weeks, Li Cunxiao has come up with some new ideas to make the "new" calming pill even more perfect.

"Even my master's early manuscripts are unique and full of wisdom. These few dozen pages of essential knowledge are far superior to ten volumes of alchemical texts."

He naturally flattered the old man, and then Taiyi Zhenren smiled proudly and criticized his disciple for being too flamboyant and obsequious.

Li Cunxiao, on the other hand, had to show a humble and sincere attitude, explaining that he really wanted to improve, that he had benefited greatly from seeing the manuscript, and that his words came from genuine emotion.
However, in reality, Taiyi Zhenren remained unmoved by Li Cunxiao's praise.

His expression shifted from confusion to contemplation, then to shock, before he finally swallowed all three pills from the three bottles in one gulp.

"Master?!"

Li Cunxiao and Li Mucha were startled, but the old Taoist simply gestured for them to be quiet, while he closed his eyes, as if he were trying to comprehend something.

After a quarter of an hour, Master Taiyi opened his eyes, his expression complex, a mixture of joy, relief, and disbelief as he looked at his disciple.

"You improved the pill formula?"

"You detected it?"

"You reduced the ingredients; it should have been nearly twenty medicinal herbs, including stalactite, cinnabar, and silkworm excrement. How did you manage that?"

The old Taoist priest was filled with mixed feelings, little did he know that Li Cunxiao was also quite surprised.

With the help of the Vajra, the new formula for the Mind-Stabilizing Pill, while not completely unrecognizable, has undergone significant changes.

The key point is that although the raw materials were indeed changed, the combination of different medicinal properties still resulted in the same final effect.

However, Master Taiyi only took one bite, and the medicinal properties were completely restored and recombined in his stomach. Considering the similarities between different medicinal materials, the calculations and permutations required to do this are undoubtedly astronomical.

Moreover, the medicinal herbs he mentioned corresponded perfectly to the improved prescription.

Li Cunxiao was completely convinced.

The more powerful the vajra, the more progress it brings, and the more he can appreciate the amazing abilities of masters like Taiyi.

He now fully understands that those who can become grandmasters are among the best of the hundreds of millions in terms of talent and perseverance, and none of them should be underestimated.

“Master is absolutely right. These past few days I’ve been studying pill formulas and I feel that although the Tranquilizing Pill is a fifth-grade pill, some of the refining methods are too complicated and difficult. So I was thinking, is there a way to simplify it?”

Li Cunxiao has refined no less than ten batches of calming pills in the past few days. He has fully grasped the knowledge and insights gained from the deductions and made them his own.

At this point, the various drug properties, proportions, and techniques will be analyzed one by one, explaining the ideas for improvement.

Master Taiyi was obsessed with alchemy. As he listened to his disciple's detailed explanation, he felt a new perspective open up in his mind. At the same time, a sense of accomplishment in teaching alchemy and nurturing people welled up in his heart. For a moment, he felt joyful in body and mind, as if he were about to ascend to heaven.

After Li Cunxiao finished speaking, Taiyi Zhenren deduced from his line of thought, and the two of them simply started discussing it on the spot.

Only Mucha had clear yet blank eyes, and stood there blankly for half an hour.

Only when the discussions around him finally subsided did his eyes regain their liveliness.

"It's noon already? So fast? Master, you've worked hard to give me your guidance. I'll go arrange a vegetarian meal right away, and let my elder brother have a drink with you."

Mokcha fled as fast as he could, his footsteps waking the two from their reverie.

Taiyi exhaled softly, and his emerald green true essence condensed into three azure dragons, each holding a jade bead in its mouth—the three calming pills. "Your improved idea is excellent. To be honest, I can't think of a better method for the time being."

Li Cunxiao reached out and took it, secretly alarmed.

The Lingzhu Method is particularly skilled in alchemy. Half a month ago, he was already able to refine an improved calming pill. He recently went into seclusion simply to test the limits of his abilities. These three pills are the best he can currently produce.

Having opened the furnace more than ten times, he was extremely familiar with every pill he produced. This was evident from the pills themselves; compared to before they were consumed, these three pills showed almost no change.

Such a performance can only prove that the old Taoist's alchemy skills have reached a superb level, capable of transforming already formed pills into essence, disassembling and recombining them, without any deviation in medicinal properties.

In other words, with his vast knowledge and experience in alchemy, Master Taiyi could deduce the formula for any pill almost flawlessly once he took it—of course, this only applied to low- to mid-level pills like the Mind-Stabilizing Pill.

Divine pills like the Four Divine Pills exist in other holy lands as well, but they have unique ingredients and methods. Even if you can taste the difference, it's useless.

"Logically speaking, with your knowledge and experience, you are not qualified to deduce a prescription."

Taiyi Zhenren suddenly thought of a possibility and switched to telepathy:

"You had another epiphany in the dragon boat?"

Li Cunxiao knew that his master had misunderstood that he had comprehended the "Dongxuan Scripture," but unfortunately, his relationship with the spirit of the artifact was not yet that close.

Perhaps only after defeating either Demon Lord Yang Ying or Wen Zhongzi, a master-level human demon, can we truly reach the core of the spiritual treasure.

".almost."

Seeing that his disciple's answer was vague, Taiyi Zhenren thought it was because the matter of Lingbao was of great importance and the matter of recognizing a master was very secret, with few written records, so his disciple might not know much about it either, and he didn't think much of it.

At this moment, looking at the young man before him, he felt only immense satisfaction.

My skills have finally been passed on to someone!
"I originally thought you would learn a lesson in this competition, but I didn't expect it would be Siqi who gets the lesson. It seems you won't need this manuscript."

"How can you say that Master's loving care and earnest teachings are useful or not?"

Li Cunxiao carefully put the manuscript away, a gesture that warmed the old Taoist's heart, causing wrinkles to appear on his face with a smile.

"You rascal! Come on, I'm in a good mood today, have a drink with this old man. By the way, there's also news about your master."

During this time of conversation, Mucha had already had vegetarian food and wine prepared. After inviting the two to sit down, he only ate a few bites before standing aside with a wine pot, ready to pour wine for them at any time.

Watching this scene, Li Cunxiao couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion, realizing that "his child has grown up."

Louguandao was a stage for him to showcase his talents, but his elder brother's dazzling brilliance would also cast a deep shadow, and as the younger brother, he was destined not to have an easy life.

In just a few months, Li Mucha has made visible progress in both martial arts skills and interpersonal relationships.

Precociousness comes at a price. But in such chaotic times, precociousness is far better than dying young; at least Li Cunxiao has changed his mindset.

Rather than waiting for the future to torment Li Mucha with blood and fire, it's better to hone him now.

In the midst of a torrent, if one cannot take root in the earth early on, one will ultimately be shattered to pieces.
"After the headmaster returned last time, that bald monk knew you were safe in Louguan Dao, so he couldn't stay idle and went out to act as a living bodhisattva."

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Taiyi Zhenren finally remembered Qici's whereabouts and pulled a letter from his sleeve.

Li Cunxiao unfolded it, and what came into view was a piece of handwriting with jagged, unrefined strokes.

The letter was brief, simply expressing the master's concern for his disciple's cultivation and offering encouragement.

Then came a recounting of what I had seen and heard during this period, all within the Gyeonggi Province area; in short:

awful.

Bones are exposed in the wild, and no rooster crows for a thousand miles. If only one person out of a hundred survives, the thought breaks one's heart.

The land was desolate and barren; villages and towns were destroyed, and bandits and soldiers roamed freely; wives and daughters were sold, and children were exchanged for cannibalism.

It can be said that wherever the great monk went, desolation was everywhere, and there was hardly any place that could be considered lively.

It was the time for spring plowing, but the imperial court and the puppet Qi regime sent troops to destroy each other's grain reserves.

The farmers either died or fled, leaving behind uncultivated land and seedlings left to fend for themselves.

Just reading these words makes a certain repressed feeling grow and spread in my heart.

The letter concluded by saying that Li Yisheng, the Prince of Jin in the north, had been making frequent moves recently, and had clashed with Zhu Quanzhong, the Prince of Liang, in several small-scale battles.

Qi reminded Li Cunxiao that in addition to focusing on his martial arts training, he should also pay attention to world affairs while in the center of the vortex of Gyeonggi Province, otherwise he would inevitably suffer in the future.

"finish watching?"

Taiyi saw his disciple silently put the letter away, and without saying anything more, continued:

"Judging from the three pills you've refined, the outcome of this competition is already a foregone conclusion."

"As for the improved elixir formula, what are your plans?"

"Please enlighten me, Master," Li Cunxiao composed himself and became calm again.

"Fewer raw materials and simpler steps mean more output, especially for pills like the Tranquilizing Pill, which can directly affect the number of True Form Martial Artists. Its importance is self-evident."

"It can be said that whether it is the imperial court, the puppet Qi regime, or any other power in the world, they will all be eager to obtain this improved calming pill."

"However, with the protection of Louguandao, we don't need to worry about them forcing their way in for the time being, or rather, we should say the opposite."

"With this prescription, any force will have to think twice about Louguandao, and you will become someone people will compete to win over."

As Taiyi Zhenren spoke, he gave his disciple a deep look:
“Cunxiao, with your current alchemy skills, even if you only use the original formula, you will not be at a disadvantage in this competition, and it will still prove your strength.”

"But you still brought out the improved formula, so what you want must be more than this."

"Master," Li Cunxiao exhaled.

"Great chaos is imminent; the current state of affairs offers no opportunity for people to bide their time and conceal their abilities."

"I want to use the improved formula for the Tranquilizing Pill to advance to the True Disciple level and seize the position of Azure Dragon Pavilion Master—is that enough?"

Taiyi seemed to have a lot to say, but in the end he simply picked up his cup and drank it all in one gulp.

"That's enough. There might be much more than you imagine."

After finishing his vegetarian meal, Li Cunxiao got up to see Taiyi off.

Just before leaving, the old Taoist priest suddenly stopped in his tracks, his voice low and deep.

"Immersing oneself in the alchemy furnace and ignoring worldly affairs may seem like a closed-off life, but it also saves one from many troubles."

"But jumping into the torrent and becoming a trendsetter may allow you to ride the waves, or you may be swallowed up by them."

"Think about it more."

Li Cunxiao bowed deeply until the footsteps disappeared. When he looked up, the old Taoist priest was no longer in sight.

He strolled back to his room, where the servants were cleaning up the mess of cups and plates, while Li Mucha sat to the side, recording expenses in the ledger.

No one dared to tamper with the future true disciple, especially since this inner disciple had a close relationship with the Azure Dragon Sect Master.

To covet a single elixir could ruin one's future and even cost one's entire family their lives. No sensible handyman disciple would do such a thing.

Even so, Li Mucha still diligently recorded the expenses in this small courtyard and earnestly learned how to be a housekeeper.

“They wouldn’t dare, you don’t need to do that”—Li Cunxiao wouldn’t say such a thing. He just silently watched his younger brother’s serious expression for a while before returning to the secret cultivation room.

Having informed Taiyi about the elixir formula, there was no need to worry about the rest.

They only need to wait for the competition in half a month to make a name for themselves; as for the outcome, that is no longer a matter to consider.

Only the words of the True Man Taiyi still echoed in his mind, and the words in Qici's letter also rose and fell with them.

Li Cunxiao closed his eyes, and the medicinal power of the Four Gods Elixir, catalyzed by his true essence, climbed up his spine even faster.

The five lumbar vertebrae have been refined; all that remains is to break through the first barrier at the coccyx and transition from spring to summer.

At that time, the ice and cold will melt, the river will flow swiftly, and it will travel a thousand miles in a day.

"Master, who leaps into the torrent and rides the waves, it's not that I don't want to hide in my little building and not care about the passing of time."

"Disciple is already in the midst of the torrent."

(End of this chapter)