Cultivating Immortality Through a Hundred Lifetimes in Both Realms

The year before the Blood Moon, Jiang Yun had already consumed four second-tier Danwen Fire Essence Pills, condensing the liquid mana in his dantian into fourteen drops.

In the past nine years, whenever Jiang Yun refined a second-tier pill with pill patterns, he would immediately consume and refine it.

Now, the liquid mana in his dantian has been condensed to thirty drops.

"Thirty drops of liquid mana are enough to complete the early stage of Foundation Establishment. If you condense one more drop of liquid mana, you can break through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment."

"I have already consumed thirty-six of the five second-tier low-grade pills of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Only four earth pills remain."

"I will go into seclusion for a year to refine these four second-tier Earth Element Pills."

Jiang Yun took out a pill with a Danwen Earth Element Pill from the jade bottle and swallowed it like a candy, beginning to refine and absorb its medicinal power.

"The second-tier Yuan Dan with Dan patterns is indeed extraordinary in medicinal power."

"Otherwise, refining forty ordinary second-tier Yuan Pills would only barely raise my cultivation level to the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage."

Jiang Yun was full of energy when refining the elixir.

This is the day he's been waiting for.

Instead of consuming ordinary second-tier Yuan Pills, he only consumes second-tier Yuan Pills with pill patterns, all in order to break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage in one fell swoop.

After all, there are five types of second-tier Yuan Dan (representing metal, wood, water, fire, and earth), and only eight of each type can be consumed. Continuing to consume them will lead to drug resistance.

There are a total of forty pills. The effect of refining the pills with pill patterns is definitely more obvious than that of refining the pills without pill patterns.

Furthermore, pills with cinnabar patterns are considered the finest among pills, possessing not only strong medicinal power but also low toxicity.

"An ordinary second-grade low-level Yuan Pill can be sold for five hundred Yuan Stones, while one with pill patterns can be sold for six hundred and fifty Yuan Stones."

"Forty second-grade low-level pills with decorative patterns, totaling 26,000 yuan stones."

"Although it's called cultivating by taking pills, it actually consumes spirit stones. My wealth in this life is much greater than in the last."

Jiang Yun's mind raced, and soon the effects of the pill began to take hold.

He immediately banished all distracting thoughts and began to concentrate on refining the elixir and absorbing its medicinal power.

……

He secluded himself in his cave to cultivate, oblivious to the passage of time.

Before we knew it, a year had passed in the blink of an eye.

After refining and absorbing the last second-tier Earth Element Pill, Jiang Yun successfully condensed the thirty-first drop of liquid mana.

"Thirty-one drops of liquid magic power have been successfully condensed."

"Breakthrough to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage!"

At this point, all forty second-tier pill-patterned Yuan Pills had been refined.

As Jiang Yun had expected, he did not encounter any bottlenecks and broke through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment in one fell swoop.

If you want to continue taking pills to improve your cultivation level, you will need to take other pills.

Because the five types of Yuan Dan (original pills) – metal, wood, water, fire, and earth – only have first-tier high-grade and second-tier low-grade levels, and there are no second-tier mid-grade Yuan Dan.

Jiang Yun looked inward at his dantian and saw thirty-one drops of liquid mana quietly suspended in his dantian.

"The magical power of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage and the early Foundation Establishment stage is not even on the same level."

"Without external assistance, a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the early stages will suffer a crushing defeat against a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the middle stages."

The most noticeable characteristic of breaking through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment is a surge in mana.

Secondly, due to the cultivation method, the Qi and blood are also greatly improved, and the physical strength is further enhanced.

However, the physical changes were not obvious.

"Most cultivation techniques have a body-refining effect. As long as your cultivation level increases, your physical body will also be strengthened, but the degree of strengthening is very small."

"If you want to cultivate your physical body, you must specifically practice body-refining techniques."

"Cultivating the physical body is too much of a waste of time and energy; there's no need to do it in this lifetime."

After Jiang Yun finished examining his dantian, he opened his eyes, got up, and stretched his muscles and bones.

After breaking through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, I discovered that my Qi and blood had greatly improved, and my physical body had also been strengthened.

"Oh right, and divine consciousness too!"

"Upon breaking through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, one's divine sense will also increase."

With this in mind, Jiang Yun took out the cave token and deactivated all the magic arrays.

Without the obstruction of the formation, a powerful divine sense spread out from the cave.

It stretched for fifty zhang, then one hundred zhang, and finally stopped at one hundred and thirty-five zhang.

"The spiritual strength is 135 zhang, which is 23 zhang more than before."

"After breaking through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, I never expected my divine sense to increase by twenty-three zhang."

"In this way, we can control one more magic weapon, and we can better unleash its power, making alchemy much easier."

Jiang Yun was overjoyed to see that his spiritual strength had reached 135 zhang.

He reactivated the magic array and stepped out of the cave.

"Greetings, Elder!"

Outside the cave, Zhou Ze, who was in charge of managing the medicinal fields, saw Jiang Yun appear and immediately bowed to greet him.

"These medicinal herbs have matured over the years through accelerated processing."

"You harvest all the mature spiritual herbs; I want to use them to refine mid-grade second-tier pills."

Jiang Yun looked in the direction of the medicinal herb field.

More than ten years ago, thirty seeds of second-grade mid-level spiritual herbs were planted in this small medicinal field.

Now, ten years later, only nine medicinal herbs have matured.

Jiang Yun paid a price to accelerate its growth; otherwise, it would have taken another ten years to mature.

"Cultivating medicinal herbs is not a simple matter."

"Without resources to accelerate ripening, the growth cycle of medicinal herbs is generally very long."

Jiang Yun shook his head inwardly, then flashed away from the cave to find the clan leader, Zhou Hongde.

"Yes, sir!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ze began to busy himself in the herb field, carefully picking the mature medicinal herbs.

The reason Jiang Yun accelerated the ripening of these mature medicinal herbs was because the herb was called "Ningyuan Ginseng".

When Jiang Yun bought the medicinal herb seeds, the shopkeeper told her...

Ningyuan Ginseng is a key ingredient in the refining of Ningyuan Huiqi Pill, a mid-grade second-tier elixir.

So Jiang Yun bought some seeds of the Condensing Yuan Ginseng and prepared to refine a second-grade mid-level pill.

Now that his cultivation has broken through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, it's time for him to start refining second-tier mid-grade pills and strive to become a second-tier mid-grade alchemist.

He went to find the clan chief for only one purpose.

That is to ask for the recipe for a second-grade mid-level pill.

"Although there are mature Qi-Condensing Ginseng in the medicinal field, there is no formula for the Qi-Condensing and Qi-Returning Pill."

Jiang Yun did not have any formulas for second-tier mid-grade pills.

He sought out the clan chief and asked, "Clan chief, I wish to refine a mid-grade second-tier pill. Does the clan possess a formula for a mid-grade second-tier pill?"

"Cough." Zhou Hongde took a sip of tea and almost choked. He knew that Jiang Yun's initiative to come to him was definitely not for anything good.

"A mid-grade second-tier pill formula..." Zhou Hongde put down his teacup and stared at Jiang Yun, then asked in surprise, "You've broken through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage?"

"I've refined forty Yuan Pills and absorbed over ten mid-grade Yuan Stones," Jiang Yun said calmly.

"In addition, the Crimson Flame Burning Gold Technique allows for rapid progress in cultivation, and I unknowingly broke through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage."

Zhou Hongde nodded upon hearing this.

They were unaware that Jiang Yun was already capable of refining the pill patterns of a second-grade low-level pill.

The credit for Jiang Yun's breakthrough to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage goes to elixirs and cultivation techniques.

"It seems that my cultivation of the Crimson Flame Burning Gold Technique is indeed progressing rapidly."

Zhou Hongde pondered for a moment, then instructed, "Next, you must consolidate your cultivation and refine your magical power."

"I know," Jiang Yun nodded. "Clan leader, about the second-tier mid-grade pill formula..."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Hongde raised his hand and rubbed his forehead, seemingly quite troubled by the matter.

After a long pause, he said thoughtfully, "The recipes for each type of second-tier mid-grade pill require 1,500 contribution points to exchange."

"I know you want to break through to become a mid-grade second-tier alchemist, but let's wait until you've refined the pill patterns for a low-grade second-tier pill."

Jiang Yun gently shook his head. "How difficult is it to refine the pill patterns for a second-tier pill?"

"Why don't you let me refine some mid-grade second-tier pills sooner? That way, Zhou's Pill Shop's business will be even more prosperous."

Zhou Hongde seemed somewhat tempted.

Over the years, Jiang Yun has continued to refine second-grade low-level Yuan Pills for the family, and the Zhou family's pill shop business has become increasingly prosperous.

The net profit increased from three to four thousand yuan per stone per year to five thousand yuan per stone per year.

If there are second-tier mid-grade pills for sale, there will be a net income of at least seven thousand yuan stones per year.

After pondering for a long time, Zhou Hongde finally suggested, "How about this, the family will provide you with a mid-grade second-tier pill formula."

"As for the medicinal materials needed to break through to the second-tier mid-grade alchemist level, you will have to bear the cost yourself."

Jiang Yun had known this outcome all along.

After all, he is currently only a second-tier low-grade alchemist and has never refined a second-tier mid-grade pill.

To advance to the second-tier mid-grade alchemist level, one needs to successfully refine three types of second-tier mid-grade pills with a success rate of over 70%.

During this period, countless batches of medicinal herbs will be wasted, resulting in enormous costs that even Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot afford.

When Jiang Yun was trying to become a second-tier low-grade alchemist, he spent more than 7,000 spirit stones and exchanged them for 60 portions of medicinal herbs from the clan leader.

To break through to the second-tier mid-grade alchemist level this time, I need at least ninety portions of medicinal herbs.

Three kinds of pills, and thirty portions of medicinal materials for each kind.

Ordinary alchemists simply cannot afford such enormous costs.

Without sufficient capital, it is difficult to make progress in the art of alchemy.

"Alright." Jiang Yun agreed, but requested, "Three mid-grade second-tier pill formulas, one of which must include the Qi Condensation and Recovery Pill."

"I planted some Qi-condensing ginseng in the medicinal herb field, which can save some of the cost of alchemy."

"Fine, fine!" Zhou Hongde said impatiently, "You can go down now. I'll send someone to deliver the pill formula to your cave after I get it."

"Thank you, clan chief."

Jiang Yun smiled, said goodbye, and left.

When attempting to become a second-tier low-grade alchemist, the clan only provides second-tier low-grade fire element pills, wood element pills, and earth element pills.

In recent years, in order to improve his cultivation level, he has needed to consume second-grade low-level Golden Essence Pills and Water Essence Pills.

Therefore, Jiang Yun had previously come to Zhou Hongde to ask for the recipes for the second-tier Golden Essence Pill and Water Essence Pill.

This time, they came again to ask for two mid-grade second-tier pill formulas, and three of them at that. No wonder Zhou Hong was getting impatient.

"This is a bottomless pit!"

After Jiang Yun left, Zhou Hongde shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"This time it's a mid-grade second-tier pill formula, will the next one be a high-grade second-tier pill formula, and the one after that, will it be a third-tier one...?"

"A third-tier alchemist? That's impossible."

Zhou Hongde shook his head inwardly at this thought.

Becoming a second-tier low-grade alchemist during the Qi Refining stage is quite common among alchemy geniuses.

It is extremely rare, even among geniuses in the art of alchemy, to be able to advance from the Foundation Establishment stage to the third-tier alchemist.

He didn't think Jiang Yun could do it.

Unless Jiang Yun successfully forms his core and uses his core-forming cultivation to attempt to become a third-tier alchemist.

"To form the Golden Core—how incredibly difficult that is!"

Zhou Hongde sighed, then sent a message to Ye Hongyi.

"What is it?" Ye Hongyi bowed first, then sat down opposite Zhou Hongde.

"Just now, Zhou Yun asked me for a second-grade mid-level pill formula. He wants to break through to become a second-grade mid-level alchemist."

Zhou Hongde explained, "Go to the Treasure Exchange Pavilion later and exchange for the formulas for three kinds of second-tier mid-grade pills."

"This is a good thing, why are you looking so gloomy?" Ye Hongyi asked with a smile.

"You don't know the hardships of being in charge until you've managed the household yourself." Zhou Hongde shook his head, sighed, and didn't say anything more, instead offering his advice:

"Exchange for three kinds of second-tier mid-grade pill formulas, one of which must be the Qi Condensation and Recovery Pill."

Ye Hongyi nodded slightly and asked, "What about the other two?"

"The other two..." Zhou Hongde said thoughtfully, "What do you think of the Youth Preservation Pill and the Purple Gold Barrier Breaking Pill?"

"Yes, the Youth-Preserving Pill will keep one's appearance forever, and will often be sought after by female cultivators," Ye Hongyi agreed.

"The Purple Gold Breakthrough Pill can increase the probability of breaking through from the early stage of Foundation Establishment to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment by 40%."

"Both of these pills, including the Qi-Gathering Pill which quickly restores mana, are selling quite well in the market."

Zhou Hongde nodded and took out the family token, asking Ye Hongyi to exchange it for these three second-tier mid-grade pill formulas.

……

On the other side, Jiang Yun left the Zhou family and went to the West Market of Ningyuanfang.

He intends to purchase some low-grade medicinal herbs on this trip.

The medicinal materials needed to refine first-grade mid-level and first-grade high-level pills!

"Now I am in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage and a second-tier low-grade alchemist, and I can also refine pill patterns."

"You can take out the recipes for the first-grade superior Qi-boosting pills, as well as the first-grade mid-grade pills, Qi-nourishing pills and Qi-condensing pills from the Qiankun Cultivation World, and put them in the Treasure Exchange Pavilion to earn contribution points."

Jiang Yun possesses four first-tier mid-grade pill formulas from the cultivation world: Qi Nourishing Pill, Qi Condensing Pill, Spirit Benefiting Pill, and Miasma Repelling Pill.

In addition, there is the formula for the first-grade superior elixir, the Qi-boosting pill.

He had the idea of ​​selling pill formulas to earn contribution points very early on.

Now, his cultivation level and alchemy skills are far beyond what they used to be, and he can start selling his alchemy formulas at the Duibao Pavilion.

"The Divine Energy Elixir and the Miasma-Dispelling Elixir are not very popular in the cultivation world of Qiankun."

"Qi-boosting pills, Qi-nourishing pills, and Qi-condensing pills—these are the only three types of pills."

"One first-grade superior item and two first-grade mid-grade items can be presented all at once without seeming abrupt."

Having made up his mind, Jiang Yun began to visit various pharmacies in the West Market to purchase medicinal materials for refining Qi-Boosting Pills, Qi-Nourishing Pills, and Qi-Condensing Pills.

These are all first-tier pills, and they don't cost many spirit stones.

Out of caution, Jiang Yun did not buy all the medicinal herbs from one shop.

After purchasing the medicinal herbs, he returned to the Zhou family and went directly to the alchemy hall to begin refining pills.

As a second-tier low-grade alchemist who can also refine pill patterns, refining first-tier pills is now a piece of cake for him.

Jiang Yun purchased three sets of medicinal materials for the three types of pills and successfully refined them all.

In the end, five Qi-Boosting Pills, seven Qi-Nourishing Pills, and seven Qi-Condensing Pills were obtained.

After refining the pills, Jiang Yun found a jade slip and recorded the formulas for the three pills on it.

He carried these elixirs and jade slips containing their formulas.

Jiang Yun returned to the Duibao Pavilion in Ningyuanfang.

The manager of Duibao Pavilion was still the familiar Qiu Jiantian.

Qiu Jiantian is still in charge here, which means he is still at the Foundation Establishment stage.

This year, Jiang Yun is fifty-four years old and has reached the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

Now that I've met Qiu Jiantian, I can finally call him a fellow Daoist.

Senior? What senior? That's an old term!