The Demon-Slaying Grandmaster

Chapter 345 The First Part of the Taiqing Alchemy

Let's return to the alchemy room in the Tushita Palace.

Laozi instructed Golden Horn and Silver Horn to prepare for alchemy.

After the two brothers made some preparations, Jinjiao took a banana leaf fan and fanned the fire into the Bagua Furnace.

Before long, flames rose from the Bagua Furnace.

Li Jingxiao knew at a glance that this was the Six Ding Divine Fire.

In terms of power, the Six Ding Divine Fire is actually superior to the Samadhi True Fire.

But in terms of destructive power, the Samadhi True Fire is more powerful.

At Laozi's instruction, Li Jingxiao took the brand-new +9 Five Fires and Seven Birds Fan and began to fan himself.

The flames in the Eight Trigrams Furnace quickly blazed up.

Moreover, when the five-colored flames met the Six Ding Divine Fire unleashed by the banana leaf fan, they actually mutually benefited from each other's power.

The flames burned even more fiercely.

Although Laozi mostly used "gentle fire" when refining elixirs, which is also known as the Six Ding Divine Fire.

But he was also a grandmaster of weapon crafting.

Treasures like the Golden Cudgel, the Nine-Toothed Rake, the Seven-Star Sword, and the Purple Gold Bell were all crafted by Laozi.

The Purple Gold Bell ended up in the hands of Guanyin Bodhisattva.

The Bodhisattva himself said that with the Purple Gold Bell in hand, even ten Sun Wukongs could not get close to him.

Of course, it's not that the Purple Gold Bell is truly invincible.

Rather, this treasure can emit 'wind, fire, and smoke'. Monkeys are not afraid of fire, but they are afraid of wind and smoke.

It is evident that Laozi and the Bodhisattva had an extremely good relationship.

When refining the Nine-Toothed Rake, besides Laozi himself and the Eight Trigrams Furnace...

It was also made with the help of the Five Emperors of the Five Directions and the Six Ding and Six Jia.

This weapon wasn't very famous in Pigsy's hands, but the materials used to make it were indeed top-notch.

Unfortunately, while this weapon can be used as a weapon, it is more of a ceremonial object.

It was used as a 'ceremonial vessel' for the Lingxiao Palace.

In other words, Laozi's initial purpose in creating the Nine-Toothed Rake was not for combat.

Pigsy's strength was insufficient, which was a real waste of such a good treasure.

Laozi not only refined elixirs but also crafted weapons.

Alchemy uses gentle fire, while weapon forging requires "fierce fire," or intense fire.

That's why we need to rely on the power of the Five Emperors of the Five Directions and the Six Ding and Six Jia.

Otherwise, melting the rarest and most precious materials in the world wouldn't be so easy.

Now, with Li Jingxiao's Five Fires and Seven Birds Fan, the furnace was ignited with fierce fire when it was lit, and it was completed in just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

In the past, at this pace, it would have taken at least an hour of continuous fanning with a banana leaf fan for Golden Horn and Silver Horn to achieve this.

Not to mention Laozi, even the Golden Horn and Silver Horn brothers, when they saw the Five Fires and Seven Birds Fan in Li Jingxiao's hand...

His eyes were filled with such fervor.

When Laozi personally opened the furnace and put in various materials to begin refining the elixir.

Perhaps because he was in a good mood, he actually started explaining alchemy techniques to Li Jingxiao.

Li Jingxiao was busy following instructions while occasionally fanning himself with the Five Fires and Seven Birds Fan.

While directing the character in the game, he copied Laozi's explanations on alchemy in the sect's scripture pavilion.

Forty-nine days later, Laozi's Nine-Turn Golden Elixir was completed, and he also shared countless techniques and experiences related to alchemy with Li Jingxiao.

It even has the connotation of 'giving away all their knowledge'.

The characters in the game also copied a secret alchemy manual.

Placed on the bookshelf of the library, the secret manual with the four characters "Taiqing Dandao" immediately appeared.

Li Jingxiao carefully read the annotations of "The Upper Chapter of Taiqing Dandao".

When I saw the description that "it combines the best of Laozi's alchemy techniques and can refine five-stage, six-stage, seven-stage, and eight-stage golden pills", I was amazed.

His face lit up with joy.

As for the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, it must be the "Lower Chapter of Taiqing Dandao".

Li Jingxiao didn't expect Laozi to explain the method of refining the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir to him.

Even if you become Laozi's personal disciple, you may not have the opportunity to learn how to refine the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir.

After clicking, countless pieces of knowledge related to alchemy suddenly appeared in my mind.

He hurriedly put away the Five Fires and Seven Birds Fan.

He immediately sat cross-legged in the alchemy room and began to cultivate.

Seeing this, Laozi quickly realized that the boy was meditating and recalling, pondering the Daoist alchemy he had taught him over the past forty-nine days.

He stroked his beard with great satisfaction and nodded, instructing Golden Horn and Silver Horn not to disturb him.

Golden Horn and Silver Horn nodded hurriedly, and their movements became much lighter when collecting the golden pills.

After collecting them, Golden Horn and Silver Horn were pleasantly surprised to find that this batch of golden pills contained three more than usual.

He didn't care about Laozi's instructions at all, and said to Laozi with great joy, "Grandmaster, there are three more golden pills than last time."

Lao Jun's face lit up with joy upon hearing this.

Then a little scheme began to form in my mind.

After these Nine-Turn Golden Elixir are refined, they are usually offered to the Jade Emperor.

Used as a substitute for peaches.

After all, the peaches of immortality were no longer profitable, so in order to maintain the stability of the Heavenly Court, they had no choice but to use golden pills as a substitute.

Moreover, the Golden Core is divided into several levels, with the ninth level being the best and the fifth level being the weakest.

As for Golden Elixir below the fifth level, Laozi stopped refining them long ago.

The reason is simple: below the fifth level, lifespan will not increase.

It's useless to the Jade Emperor and a waste of Laozi's time and energy.

This old man was even less willing to refine Golden Elixirs below the ninth level.

In addition to wasting energy and time, it also wastes precious raw materials.
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If the Queen Mother's Peach Banquet was a top-tier social occasion...

The Jade Emperor's 'Golden Elixir' conference was more of a means to appease newly emerging forces.

He had a company dinner with the Jade Emperor's own confidants.

Therefore, Laozi's importance is self-evident.

But Laozi, as the Taoist patriarch in the Journey to the West world, must also have his own selfish motives.

In his previous life, Pigsy ascended to the celestial realm after consuming a Nine-Turn Golden Elixir.

Their strength may not be that great, but in the Heavenly Court, they are already considered high-ranking.

His official position and post were also extraordinary.

Marshal Tianpeng is one of the Four Saints of the North Pole, on par with Emperor Zhenwu.

He also commanded 80,000 Heavenly River sailors.

He held a high position of power and also commanded troops.

As for the Taoist sect in the Heavenly Court, there is absolutely no doubt that it is the number one power.

So, even if there are three extra Nine-Turn Golden Pills, it's still three extra pills per batch.

For Laozi, this meant at least twenty or thirty more disciples and grand-disciples ascending to the heavens each year.

With more immortals beyond the annual ascension quota, the influence and prestige of the Taoist sects in the human realm will naturally increase.

There are even more examples of people becoming immortals by gaining something without effort.

The more people flock to Taoist practices, the more eager they become.

Moreover, the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir can do more than just allow people to ascend to immortality.

It also has the functions of bringing the dead back to life, repairing all injuries, and granting immortality and eternal youth.

This thing is considered the top-tier red and blue potion.

In the future, when fighting others, I will have three more Nine-Turn Golden Pills on me, which is equivalent to having three more red and blue potions.

The odds of winning are naturally much higher.

How could Laozi not be pleased?

How can I be unhappy?
The way he looked at Li Jingxiao became increasingly kind.

He wondered to himself, "Should I just take him on as my disciple?"

Moreover, I had this idea before, but I hesitated and considered it for so long, simply because I had too many concerns.

But unexpectedly, this kid's strength skyrocketed like a somersault.

If he hesitates any longer, he'll be left behind when his strength rivals that of the most prominent, overtly powerful forces in Heaven and Mount Ling.

Even if someone agrees to take on another apprentice, they won't feel much gratitude.

Even the bond between master and disciple is nothing more than an exchange of interests.

Thinking of this, Laozi suddenly had the idea of ​​taking on a disciple. He planned to give Li Jingxiao a hint when he woke up.

He didn't want to make his status as a Daoist patriarch seem worthless if he had to ask to take on disciples himself.

The Buddha even went so far as to embark on a journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures in order to spread Buddhism to the East.

Jin Chanzi has even been reincarnated 10 times, and he was eaten by Sha Wujing in the first 9 reincarnations.

The skulls were made into necklaces and hung around the neck.

Buddha insisted on continuing.

It is clear that the saying "the law should not be lightly transmitted" is not just a casual remark.

But when Li Jingxiao woke up, the first question he asked was about alchemy.

Seeing that he had "gained something", Laozi had the idea of ​​testing him again.

After all, he truly accepted Li Jingxiao as his disciple and passed on his skills.

Fighting skills and magical powers were merely the basics in Laozi's eyes.

Alchemy was where Laozi truly found his pride and joy.

As for weapon crafting, the most skilled is still Yuanshi Tianzun.

However, Laozi's achievements in weapon crafting are not necessarily much inferior to those of Yuanshi Tianzun.

Therefore, to become Laozi's disciple, one must be skilled in martial arts and Taoist magic.

At the same time, one must also have talent in alchemy and weapon crafting.

Unexpectedly, three whole days passed between Li Jingxiao and Lao Jun as they asked and answered questions.

Li Jingxiao finally understood how to refine the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth-stage golden pills.

Overwhelmed with excitement, when he sat down to meditate again, his mind was focused on the alchemy room in the game.

Li Jingxiao did have the materials for the Five-Turn Golden Elixir.

At the time, the excuse was to help the eldest and second princes of the West Sea Dragon Palace strengthen their weapons.

They entered the treasure vault of the West Sea Dragon Palace and picked out hundreds of rare materials.

In addition, various herbs will also spawn in the game map.

In maps above level 110, many spiritual herbs and roots have begun to spawn.

There are quite a few precious medicines in the game, such as ginseng dolls, thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum, and thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum.

The materials for the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir are actually various spiritual herbs and medicines from the world, along with some auxiliary materials.

Golden cinnabar is essentially a semi-finished product that has already been processed.

Otherwise, in the battle against the One-Horned Rhinoceros King of Jindu Mountain, also known as the Green Ox Demon.

Getting Laozi to let go won't be that easy.

Lao Jun thought that Li Jingxiao's renewed meditation with his eyes closed meant he had gained new insights into alchemy.

He waited with a big smile for Li Jingxiao to wake up.

Unexpectedly, an hour later, Li Jingxiao was in the alchemy room in the game.

After dozens of failures, he finally succeeded in refining three fifth-stage golden pills.

The Fifth-Stage Golden Elixir—extends life by 500 years and instantly restores 50% of health and mana.

Although it only extends lifespan by 500 years, it is far inferior to the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir refined by Laozi, which grants immortality.

But while top-tier big shots might not be interested, mid- to low-level immortals and gods will definitely flock to them.

Not all the immortals and gods in the Journey to the West world are immortal.

Not only are they limited in lifespan, but they also face the "three calamities" every five hundred years.

These are the three calamities: thunder, fire, and wind.

Moreover, no matter how powerful you are or how high your status is, all immortals and gods must face a test that occurs once every five hundred years.

If you fail to survive, even immortals will die.

Why is the Seventy-Two Transformations so famous? Besides the many transformations and Taoist techniques involved, it is also because of its numerous transformations.

It can also help you avoid the three calamities.

Of course, the Thirty-Six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang, as well as other Taoist magic and supernatural powers, can also help one avoid the Three Calamities.

Although Li Jingxiao did not learn the complete Thirty-Six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang.

Or perhaps the Seventy-Two Transformations of the Earthly Fiends, but at this point he was no longer afraid of the lightning tribulation.

Fire and wind were equally helpless against him.

The immortals and the like keep their own Taoist practices so well hidden.

To a certain extent, besides protecting their own status and interests,

It was also a deliberate act of eliminating some cultivators and immortals.

To avoid overcrowding in the Heavenly Court and Mount Ling over time.

Resources will inevitably be depleted faster.

Overall, this approach is actually in the best interests of the vast majority of gods and immortals.

But looking at it from an individual perspective, it's too cruel and cold-blooded.

The Five-Turn Golden Elixir refined by Li Jingxiao can extend lifespan by 500 years, and might even postpone the Three Calamities by 500 years.

If that's the case, Li Jingxiao wouldn't dare to put it out for sale.

It can only be kept secret and used by oneself.

As for telling Laozi, Li Jingxiao thought it over and over and finally decided...

If I were to offer it up myself, Laozi might be the first to object to it.

But Li Jingxiao also wanted to learn the method of refining the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir.

Therefore, it is inevitable to seek help from Laozi.

So Li Jingxiao continued to close his eyes, pretending to meditate.

On second thought, he continued refining the Five-Turn Golden Elixir.

This time he didn't strive for perfection.

Unexpectedly, it was very difficult to refine good pills.

It is even more difficult to produce substandard or defective products.

However, over the course of seven days, the more Li Jingxiao pointed out the flaws in the lotus, the deeper his understanding and proficiency in refining the golden elixir became.

Finally, he managed to refine a fifth-stage golden elixir (incomplete).

It instantly restores 36% of health and mana, increases a small amount of immortal energy, and preserves one's youthful appearance.

After producing the golden elixir, Li Jingxiao finally opened his eyes with a sense of relief.

Seeing Laozi sitting high on the Eight Views Platform, Li Jingxiao quickly got up and bowed to Laozi.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master. I would like to ask for your permission to refine a five-stage golden pill for your appraisal."

Laozi nodded without even thinking.

In his mind, anyone who wanted to become his apprentice had to have a talent for alchemy and weapon crafting.

But just as Li Jingxiao worried, having talent is the foundation, but if Li Jingxiao really can refine the Nine-Turn Golden Pill...

It's hard to say what Laozi was thinking.

After all, if a second person could provide the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother would definitely try to win them over.

If a thankless wretch were to appear, Laozi would suffer a great loss.

Teachers who can truly achieve the goal of "the apprentice is not necessarily inferior to the master" are extremely rare in the world.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the world of Journey to the West is a world of immortals and Buddhas; the darkness and filth within it are no less than those in the human world.

Anyone who thinks too highly of the Jade Emperor or Buddha in this world will die without even knowing how.

Li Jingxiao's purpose was actually quite simple.

If he were to refine the Nine-Turn Golden Pill, he would most likely only use it for himself.

Even women like Baihuaxiu and Ao Xin have many secrets they've been keeping from each other.

Even if it were his own son or daughter, Li Jingxiao would most likely not take out the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir.

Besides, there are other elixirs and peaches of immortality in this world.

Laozi had Jinjiao and Yinjiao give Li Jingxiao a Nine-Turn Golden Elixir.

Li Jingxiao turned around and gave Sun Wukong a Fuling Shouwu pill, then went to see the King of Wuji Kingdom.

Then they blackened that Nine-Turn Golden Pill.

Once one's status and strength are high, the peaches of immortality may just be ordinary spiritual fruits.

Moreover, if their descendants are capable, they can cultivate themselves into immortals.

They lack the ability but force them to become immortals, resulting in more and more children being born. It's impossible to manage them all.

If that were the case, the Heavenly Court would be filled with people from the Li family, and the final outcome would inevitably be their destruction by a joint effort of other immortals and gods.

In the end, Li Jingxiao might even take matters into his own hands and purge the unfilial and unrighteous among his descendants.

(End of this chapter)