Primordial Era: Elixir of Qi Transforms into Form, Controlling the Pharmacology of the World

"Merit is internal, fortune is external." Ling Dan said silently, as he had a good understanding of merit and fortune within the primordial world.

"That's right... Merit is for internal use, while fortune is for external use. Therefore, you must not use the merit you have gained this time to improve your cultivation or your aptitude," Laozi warned again.

"My master said I wouldn't act recklessly. Now that I've accumulated so much merit, will other cultivators be wary of me?" Ling Dan asked, asking the question she most wanted to know.

"That's natural. Being able to gain merit is a contribution to the primordial world. If you kill someone who has great merit, you will bear immense karma, and karma can affect cultivation and enlightenment. In severe cases, it can even attract divine punishment."

Besides, killing someone who has performed great deeds will greatly diminish one's own fortune and cause the prehistoric world to reject and despise them. Therefore, prehistoric cultivators rarely harm those who have performed great deeds." Laozi stroked his beard as he spoke.

Ling Dan smiled upon hearing this.

Ling Dan held the pills and said, "Laojun, I plan to distribute the three pills I created so that more cultivators can better exorcise demons. In this way, I should be able to gain more merit after the demon-exorcising war ends."

"That's natural. However, it takes a lot of time for elixirs to circulate. After all, cultivators in the prehistoric world are wary of each other," Laozi said, stroking his beard.

"Don't worry about that, I've already figured out how to promote it." Ling Dan didn't think much of it and turned to refining pills.

Regardless of the method, the prerequisite is a large quantity of elixirs.

Ling Dan passed the pill formula to Laozi, asking him to help refine the pill.

It has been refined for a thousand years, yielding countless elixirs.

Especially with the advancement of alchemy, the speed of pill formation has become increasingly faster.

Of course, Ling Dan also refines a few pills of different qualities, with the most being pills from grade one to grade three, followed by pills from grade three to grade six, and the fewest being pills of grade six or higher.

It has been refined for a thousand years, and tens of thousands of pills have been stored up.

Ling Dan thought to herself, "The next step is to distribute these pills to those rogue cultivators so they can better exorcise demons. In this way, I can also accumulate more merit."

……

The primordial wilderness, the western settlement.

Ling Dan carried pills that could clear demonic energy, intending to find some cultivators tainted by demonic energy to experiment on.

Unexpectedly, many independent cultivators arrived here, each one on guard.

Ling Dan was also frustrated, unsure how to communicate.

However, as they walked, they ran into acquaintances.

The Taoist priest recognized Ling Dan and said with a smile, "Little fellow, I remember your name is Ling Dan, the disciple of Fellow Daoist Taiqing. How did you get here? Could it be that Fellow Daoist Taiqing abandoned you?"

"No, Master exorcised the demon and, worried about my safety, settled me here," Ling Dan said earnestly, while also warily watching the group.

Ling Dan was well aware that back then, many guests of Zixiao Palace wanted to capture her and keep her captive.

Ling Dan stepped back slightly, getting closer to Lao Jun, before she felt relatively at ease.

Laozi flicked his whisk, protecting Ling Dan, and looked at the Zixiao Guest before him: "Are you Fellow Daoist Hongyun, and Fellow Daoist Zhenyuan?"

Hongyun laughed heartily, looking at Laojun before him: "Interesting, you are the incarnation of Fellow Daoist Taiqing, aren't you? That makes sense, Fellow Daoist Taiqing treasures his disciple so much, naturally he would leave behind protective measures."

Lao Jun didn't refute, but admitted: "That's right, I manifested myself to protect Ling Dan's safety. However, seeing that you two fellow Daoists are tainted with demonic energy, you must have just returned from exorcising demons."

"Alas... Not long ago, I fought with a demonic cultivator. Although I killed him, before he died, he used a secret technique to transform into a formless demon, which merged into my body and became a demon in my heart. Although I managed to extinguish a portion of it, its core is ultimately difficult to eradicate. I can only return temporarily and prepare to go into seclusion to destroy it." Zhen Yuanzi sighed softly.

Hongyun, surrounded by demonic energy, sighed deeply, "The demonic path created by Rahu is truly bizarre. Now, after so many years of inheritance, it has become even more unpredictable. We are helpless against this death trap."

Ling Dan watched their exchange, also shocked: "Senior Hongyun, with your cultivation levels, could you also be corrupted by demonic energy and fall into demonic possession?"

Hongyun looked at Ling Dan with a wry smile: "That's natural. Since the demon-slaying began, quite a few Zixiao guests have fallen into demonic possession. The demonic path created by Luo Hou is not that simple."

"Sigh... If they were at their peak, it wouldn't be a problem. But if they're both severely injured and then corrupted by demonic energy, it's hard to say what will happen," Zhen Yuanzi sighed.

Ling Dan thought for a moment, then took out some pills: "Senior Hongyun, Senior Zhenyuan... you are also entangled in demonic energy. Although you are capable of suppressing it with your cultivation, you can try the Demon-Exorcising Three Pills I made. They can quickly clear the demonic energy from your bodies."

"The Three Elixirs for Exorcising Demons?" Hongyun asked, puzzled.

Lao Jun stroked his beard, looked at Hong Yun, and laughed, "Not bad... Ling Dan has an extremely high talent for alchemy. He created demon-repelling pills that target the essence, qi, and spirit, so they are known as the Three Demon-Repelling Pills. These three pills correspond to the essence, qi, and spirit, clearing away the demonic energy contained within them. You can give them a try."

Hongyun looked at Laojun, then at Xiaolingdan, and laughed heartily: "Alright, I have long heard of Fellow Daoist Taiqing's method of alchemy and have wanted to try it for a long time. Today, I will try the pills made by his disciple."

Hongyun didn't doubt Ling Dan at all; instead, she accepted the pill quite readily.

Looking at the pills Ling Dan brought, he scanned them, smelled a faint medicinal fragrance, and a slight surprise appeared on his face.

With Hongyun's cultivation level, he could naturally sense the purifying Daoist essence contained within the elixir.

Without hesitation, he ate it.

Zhen Yuanzi did the same, swallowing it whole.

As they consumed it, the small amount of demonic energy surrounding Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi's bodies was gradually cleared away.

A short while later, Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi snapped out of their reverie.

Hongyun's expression changed, a slight smile appearing on her face: "It's working! The demonic energy I was previously tainted by is gradually being purified with the pills."

Zhen Yuanzi stroked his beard, his voice filled with shock: "Me too. Relying on the Purifying Heart Pill, I severely damaged the inner demon within me. After a little cultivation, I was able to completely purify this inner demon. Little Ling Dan, the pills you refined are truly effective."

"Impressive... I never expected that Fellow Daoist Taiqing's disciple could refine such a pill." Hongyun smiled, then turned to look at Xiaolingdan, gradually approaching: "Xiaolingdan, I've known Fellow Daoist Taiqing for many years. His disciple is also my junior. So please give me a few more."

As Hongyun approached, Ling Dan unconsciously took a few steps back: "Senior Hongyun... I've refined a lot of these pills. Giving you some is no problem, but you can help me spread the word. I want to use these pills to trade for something."

"Trading pills? That's a small matter. I'll introduce you to some fellow cultivators later." Hongyun said with a smile, looking at Ling Dan.

Ling Dan nodded, surprised that things had gone so smoothly.

Soon after, with the help of the Five-Turn Heart Purification Pill, Body Purification Pill, and Qi Purification Pill provided by Ling Dan, Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi were able to completely purify the demonic energy in their bodies.

Subsequently, with the joint promotion of Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi, Lingdan's pills began to become very popular.

Some cultivators who had been corrupted by demonic energy finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Now, there's no need to worry about becoming possessed by a demon!

……

After numerous transactions, many cultivators departed.

Ling Dan returned to her grotto to organize her gains.

Lao Jun stroked his beard, looked at Ling Dan, and said wearily, "Little Ling Dan... since you want merit, then focus on refining pills. Only by refining more Demon-Slaying Pills, so that more cultivators can rely on them to hunt down more demonic cultivators, can you gain more merit."

"Laojun, I know all of this. Next, I will focus on refining pills, and on the side, trade with many low-level rogue cultivators to collect more spiritual herbs. Then I will identify the medicinal properties of these spiritual herbs, record them, and compile them into an illustrated guide." Ling Dan had thought before that there were so many spiritual herbs in the primordial world that even Laozi could not recognize them all.

If we could collect all the spiritual herbs in the primordial world, compile them into a book, and also annotate the medicinal properties of each type of spiritual herb.

That would make alchemy or the creation of elixir formulas much easier in the future.

Upon hearing this, Laozi smiled and said, "That's a good idea; we can give it a try."

"Then I'll continue refining pills. After that, I'll use the pills and rely on those rogue cultivators to find spiritual herbs." Ling Dan didn't think much of it and prepared to refine pills.

In the blink of an eye, hundreds of years have passed.

Nowadays, cultivators come and go, flocking into this settlement.

This is because there is a palace here that sells many kinds of elixirs.

"Give me a third-grade Purification Pill," a cultivator said, his body stained with a little demonic energy and baleful aura, indicating that he had just returned from hunting demonic cultivators.

"The Three-Turn Purification Pill requires enough spiritual herbs in exchange. Did you bring the herbs?" a young Daoist asked, bewildered.

"Don't worry, all the spiritual herbs are here." The cultivator didn't hesitate and skillfully took out the spiritual herbs and handed them to the young disciple.

The young Taoist took the magical artifact containing the spiritual medicine, examined it briefly, and then took out a medicine box containing the Heart-Cleansing Pill.

Upon obtaining the Purifying Heart Pill, the cultivator immediately consumed it, and the demonic energy within his body quickly dissipated.

"Such a powerful medicine! The inner demons that had evolved from being tainted by demonic energy have all been purified. Moreover, with the purification of the inner demons, my cultivation has improved, and my overall cultivation level has also advanced. Haha..." The cultivator laughed, not thinking much of it, and turned to leave, preparing to recuperate for a while before continuing to hunt down demonic cultivators.

One cultivator did this, and so did the others, taking out numerous spiritual herbs to trade with the young Daoist.

Although some rogue cultivators might have wicked thoughts, they all became obedient when they learned that Ling Dan was backed by Taiqing Laozi.

Now, inside the palace, the Four Symbols Cauldron burns with elixir fire, sweeping away numerous spiritual herbs.

Ling Dan manipulated the alchemical fire, burning the spiritual herb to extract its essence, sensing the changes in its medicinal properties: "So that's how it is... This unknown spiritual herb contains a kind of Geng metal energy. The changes in its medicinal properties are also relatively sharp, containing an aggressive nature... Tiger Girl, remember this..."

As Ling Dan spoke, a white tiger picked up a special jade slip and, relying on its divine sense, imprinted the appearance, characteristics, and changes in medicinal properties of the medicinal herb onto it.

This white tiger was acquired by Ling Dan from a powerful being.

Because of his extraordinary background and good aptitude, he was kept by Ling Dan as a mount.

……

Tiger Girl selected an unknown herb from among many spiritual herbs and put it into the Four Symbols Cauldron.

Ling Dan continued refining the medicine and analyzing its medicinal properties.

Ling Dan traded with countless cultivators using Cleansing Heart Pills, Cleansing Body Pills, Cleansing Qi Pills, and so on.

This group included Zixiao Ke, independent cultivators, and low-level independent cultivators. Countless spiritual herbs were traded from them.

Some of the miraculous medicines, whether from Laozi or Ling Dan, were completely unheard of.

Ling Dan put many spiritual herbs into the Four Symbols Cauldron to refine and temper them, and to comprehend the changes in their medicinal properties.

Afterwards, she will imprint the crystals on the stones. Once she has collected enough, Ling Dan will compile them into a book.

Ling Dan has already thought of a title for the book: Compendium of Materia Medica.