Immortality begins with upgrading buildings

Chapter 113 First-Rank High-Grade Alchemist

The handwriting was completely different, as if it was written by several different people.

The top line reads: "I am the first master of this cave dwelling, my Dharma name is Qingpin. As I pass away, looking back on my life, I am truly as poor as ever. Even though I spent my entire life, I was unable to establish a foundation. What a regret!"

The second line reads: "Damn it, poor old man, your Dharma name is no good. If your Dharma name were 'Taoist of Wealth and Rank,' you might have already successfully established your foundation by now."

The handwriting in the remaining third line is similar to that in the second line, so it should be from the same person, but the tone is quite different.

"I've exhausted all my resources to purchase another mid-grade Foundation Establishment Pill from Medicine King Valley. My life or death hinges on this..."

I wonder if this senior succeeded... Ji Yuan looked down again.

This line of text is extremely short.

"I, Feng Zhitao, have come to leave this message today, having completed my foundation-building and opened my island!"

Upon seeing this, Ji Yuan's eyes lit up. This house had actually produced someone who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage; it seemed they had some good fortune after all.

There was a last line of writing, which looked very new, suggesting it was written recently.

"I was originally a wandering cultivator from the Jin Kingdom. I was valued by my seniors and joined the sect when I was already in my eighties. Now, I have been living in fear for twelve years and have accomplished nothing. I fear that I will soon pass away."

I have nothing left in this life but my alchemy insights, which I have placed in a drawer in my alchemy room, hoping to provide some help to those who come after me.

I'm leaving.

Ji Yuan stood in front of the wall, staring at the rows of characters, speechless for a long time.

The words may not have captured the person, but they have preserved their entire life.

Of the four seniors, only one has successfully established his foundation... This should be considered quite good on Dragon Hatchery Island.

Ji Yuan let out a long breath and then went to the alchemy room again. There was only one table and one drawer. He opened it and naturally saw a badly worn book inside.

He glanced at it briefly.

The book contains alchemy experience ranging from low-grade to high-grade, and at the end, there is a blank page with the words "Foundation Building Pill" written on it.

But there was no content at all.

First-grade superior quality... Ji Yuan is currently stuck at this threshold, unable to refine a first-grade superior quality pill.

Perhaps my chance to break through in the Dao of Alchemy lies right here!

Ji Yuan was overjoyed, never expecting that living in a courtyard would bring such an opportunity.

No, it's not just this courtyard; many courtyards should have these opportunities passed down from their predecessors, which is one of the great charms of the immortal sects.

Many things that are extremely difficult to obtain elsewhere are readily available here.

After collecting the alchemy tips, Ji Yuan went to the backyard again. He glanced at the words left on the wall... Regardless of whether he succeeded in establishing his foundation, he had to leave a message there for future generations when he left.

As for what to keep, Ji Yuan hasn't decided yet.

My mindset will probably be different then.

He walked in the backyard, where there happened to be a small pond. Now there was no need to dig a fishpond.

However, Ji Yuan is not allowed to raise fish in this Water Dragon Sect. As long as he can activate the building effects, he can get a basic living allowance every day.

To raise pigs and fish, you have to go to Misty Island.

However, in this corner, we can build two fences, which can then be used as a pigsty and a chicken coop for receiving welfare benefits.

Ji Yuan arrived at the backyard house with a heart full of fantasies. In addition to the bedroom and bathroom, there were two other empty rooms... the Enlightenment Room and the Talisman Room were ready.

As for the kitchen in the back, Ji Yuan also checked it. After confirming that there were no problems, he then brought up the control panel.

All building effects can be enabled with a single click.

The sun had already set, and according to the time displayed on the panel, it was already evening. Therefore, the concentration of spiritual energy in the front and back rooms increased by 3%.

"call--"

Feeling the effects of the abundant spiritual energy, Ji Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Cultivation, this is cultivation!

Such great results shouldn't be wasted.

He then released Tu Yue from his storage bag, instructing her to collect the water dew from the fishpond, and then to go to the kitchen to find some firewood and fence off the pigsty and chicken coop in the backyard.

After receiving the minimum living allowance, it's time to clean up the house.

This is a place that someone else has lived in. Even though Ji Yuan has activated the [Cave Dwelling] effect and removed the dust and such, it still needs to be tidied up.

Throw away what should be thrown away, burn what should be burned.

After cultivating for only a few hours, Ji Yuan felt that his dantian had been replenished again, and all the previous losses had been recovered.

He infused his spiritual energy into the Water Dragon Sect's robe, triggering the dust-removing effect, and his entire body immediately became clean.

Great, this way we can skip the washing up process.

Even though it was his first day joining the Water Dragon Sect, Ji Yuan didn't waste any time. He temporarily ended his cultivation and went to the Enlightenment Room in the backyard.

This was the first place he had Tu Yue clean, so the room had already been thoroughly cleaned.

The old man's belongings and such were all cleaned up by Ji Yuan with a single fireball spell.

He took out the futon left by Yue Zhu from his storage bag again, sat down cross-legged, and then took out the alchemy manual he had just obtained and examined it carefully.

There isn't much difference between refining a high-grade first-tier pill and refining a mid-grade first-tier pill.

Apart from the initial processing of the medicinal materials.

The subsequent steps are all three: fusion, impurity removal, and pill formation.

However, these three steps were extremely difficult, especially the step of removing impurities.

Ji Yuan initially only had one recipe for a high-grade pill called the Spirit Gathering Pill, so if he wanted to break through to the next level of high-grade alchemist, he could only use this one.

It's not that he didn't go to collect them.

However, pill formulas, like talismanic arts, are the specialty of each alchemist and their livelihood.

How could it possibly be put up for sale?

Unless he kills someone to steal the pill formula, Ji Yuan wouldn't do such a thing... but he did it anyway. The Blood Burning Pill formula and the Pure Void Pill formula that he has now were obtained by killing Yue Zhu.

The refining method for the Blood Burning Pill is even more complicated than that for the Spirit Gathering Pill, and there's no way to do that for now.

However, the refining method of Qingxu Pill is simpler than that of Juling Pill.

Therefore, Ji Yuan planned to first use the Qingxu Pill to become a high-grade alchemist, and then use the experience of refining the Qingxu Pill to nourish the Juling Pill, so as to achieve his goal of refining a high-grade Juling Pill.

Now, of course, we should first take a look at this senior's alchemy insights.

Ji Yuan wasn't in a hurry; he just slowly read through the first page.

He didn't even overlook the insights of low-grade alchemists, reading and pondering them, and occasionally taking out his alchemy furnace to try them out.

For example, the hand seal for condensing elixir recorded in this manual is quite good.

It is said that it can slightly increase the probability of condensing the elixir.

After reading the entire book of reflections, it would be a lie to say that Ji Yuan was not moved, especially since it was done in the Enlightenment Room.

He pondered the matter repeatedly for about half an hour, and when he felt he had grasped it sufficiently, he took out the materials for refining the Qingxu Pill and began preparations.

The main ingredients of Qingxu Dan are Anhuncao (a type of herb), Nanhanshuishi (a type of stone), and Wuweizi (a type of fruit), while the auxiliary ingredient is Yinhuai wood charcoal ash.

Ji Yuan had already solved the process of processing herbs back on Misty Island.

Now it can be extracted directly.

Starting with the "Fire Separation Technique," Ji Yuan summoned a ball of crimson flame and manipulated it to float below the alchemy furnace.

Then comes the process of waiting for the furnace to warm up.

Because this batch of medicinal herbs contained Southern Cold Water Stone, a higher temperature was required. Ji Yuan warmed the furnace for a full ten breaths before throwing the Southern Cold Water Stone into the furnace.

Moreover, the refining process of this stone took even longer. Ji Yuan spent almost half the time it takes to burn an incense stick before he saw that the stone had turned completely red before he used a pestle to grind it into powder.

After slightly reducing the fire, they then added the calming herbs.

Otherwise, if the temperature from refining the Southern Cold Water Stone had been used, the Soul-Soothing Grass would have instantly turned into charcoal.

After waiting for a while, until the calming herb turned into a medicinal liquid and fused with the powder of the southern cold water stone, Ji Yuan then threw out the schisandra fruit.

After the main ingredient was refined, he added the charcoal ash from the yin locust tree.

Once the medicinal herbs are added in sequence, the process of refining the medicinal liquid begins. As long as there are no problems in the initial processing of the herbs, there should be no issues with this step.

All you need to do is simmer it over a low flame.

Turn the heat up to high only when the liquid turns amber.

As the flames surged, the medicinal liquid inside the furnace was continuously burned and evaporated, leaving only the purest part.

Following the time recorded in the prescription, Ji Yuan used the martial fire to temper the pills for five breaths before unleashing the Frostbite Technique.

The Southern Cold Water Stone is present, and the calcination with strong fire must not be prolonged, otherwise the medicinal properties will be severely lost, and the elixir will become waste.

With a hissing sound, a wisp of white steam appeared from the entire alchemy furnace.

Ji Yuan felt a pang of heartache watching this. What was rising up wasn't some white mist at all; it was clearly his own spirit stones!

The process of removing impurities is the most damaging part of the alchemy furnace.

But there was nothing he could do. Just like how drawing talismans damages the talisman brush, or refining weapons damages the furnace hammer, it couldn't be without any damage at all... A layer of black impurities quickly condensed on the surface of the medicinal liquid. After waiting for a few breaths, Ji Yuan slowly opened the furnace again to raise the temperature.

The liquid elixir was suspended in the air, and the furnace temperature rose again.

The black impurities on the surface of the elixir fell off, and Ji Yuan quickly used the elixir-condensing hand seal he had just learned to divide the elixir into four portions.

The Pure Void Pill, one furnace contains four pills.

It's done...it's done!

Ji Yuan watched helplessly as the pill was already formed, but at the last step, he made a fatal mistake... and the pill shattered.

But he showed no impatience; on the contrary, he was extremely delighted.

This time, he saw a glimmer of hope for success, and he also knew the reason for his failure: his lack of proficiency in the pill-condensing hand seals... So, I'm only lacking a bit of experience to be a top-grade alchemist.

As long as I persist in refining, it won't be long before I become a first-grade high-level alchemist.

However, the hand seal for condensing the elixir, which he learned from the alchemy insights, accelerated this process.

With this thought in mind, Ji Yuan calmed down and went over the alchemy steps he had just performed several times in his mind.

Then he began to form the hand seals for condensing the elixir, over and over again.

Only after he had mastered the handprints did he take out the medicinal herbs and start the furnace again.

This time he became more and more skilled. Ji Yuan was careful every step of the way until half an hour later... He looked at the two light blue pills in his hand, which were still emitting a faint fragrance.

I can finally put my mind at ease.

If you can refine even one high-grade pill, you can call yourself a high-grade alchemist.

Not to mention, with the aid of the [Alchemy Room], once you learn a pill-refining technique, your success rate will greatly increase.

With this thought in mind, Ji Yuan couldn't help but glance at the panel again.

The Level 2 [Alchemy Room] has the ability to automatically learn the refining technique for "Foundation Building Pills".

One of the essential requirements for upgrading the [Alchemy Room] to level 2 is to refine a second-tier pill called "Water Spirit Pill".

I am now a first-grade high-level alchemist.

The next step is to become a second-tier alchemist.

Victory... is just around the corner!

……

Liancheng Mountain.

The headquarters of the Water Dragon Sect.

Sang Zhongyuan and Chu Jingtong used patrol as an excuse to arrive at the edge of the camp.

As soon as he got there, Sang Zhongyuan cursed.

"Damn it, if it weren't for that brat Ji Yuan, we wouldn't be in this mess! Don't wait until I get back, I'll definitely kill him!"

The thought of how he had thanked him profusely before leaving made Sang Zhongyuan feel a burning pain on his face.

Chu Jingtong glanced at him and said, "If you're looking for death, don't drag me into it."

"By the way, remember to tell me before you make a move, so I can distance myself from you."

"No, Lao Chu, what do you mean by this?!"

Sang Zhongyuan stopped in his tracks, looking at his old friend in disbelief. "Are you crazy or stupid? Haven't you been framed by Ji Yuan?"

Chu Jingtong, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, chuckled and said, "Framed? Speaking of framed, weren't we really framed by those two Foundation Establishment cultivators? Logically speaking, Ji Yuan was also framed by them, but Ji Yuan had a powerful backer and escaped, while we didn't, so we were sent here."

"But why do you think it was Ji Yuan who framed us, instead of those two Foundation Establishment cultivators?"

Sang Zhongyuan was momentarily speechless.

Chu Jingtong sighed, "Fine, I'll tell you. It's because those two are Foundation Establishment cultivators, while Ji Yuan is just a Qi Refining cultivator, nothing more."

"So what if it is?"

Sang Zhongyuan muttered to himself.

Upon hearing this, Chu Jingtong sighed even more.

"Old Sang, think about it carefully. When Ji Yuan took out that token... let's call it the token for now, what was the reaction of those two Foundation Establishment cultivators?"

"this……"

"Old Sang, I'll ask you again, who is the biggest backer for the two of us in the Water Dragon Sect?"

Sang Zhongyuan was speechless.

"A token that commands such fear and respect from even a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Water Dragon Sect—how powerful do you think Ji Yuan's influence is within the Water Dragon Sect?"

Chu Jingtong continued to press for answers.

"Alright, alright, I understand what you mean. Tell me what to do!"

Sang Zhongyuan waved his hand impatiently.

"Simply put, focus on surviving, then reap the rewards, increase your strength, and once you return to the Water Dragon Sect, go and thank Ji Yuan... Remember, it must be a genuine thank you!"

Chu Jingtong said with certainty, "Of course I will go. Whether you go or not is up to you."

"Thank you? Are we supposed to offer our faces up to him and let him hit us again?" Sang Zhongyuan was not happy about this.

Chu Jingtong shook his head, then chuckled slightly:

"Didn't we just say we had no backing in the Water Dragon Sect?"

"In that case, the mountain behind the mountain is our mountain behind the mountain."

Sang Zhongyuan's eyes widened. "What if Ji Yuan doesn't acknowledge it?"

"It's okay, whether he admits it or not is not important. What's important is... that others will admit it, and that's enough."

(End of this chapter)