Cultivating Immortality Through a Hundred Lifetimes in Both Realms

"165,500 Yuan Stones are probably not enough to support my attempt to break through to the second-tier high-grade alchemist level."

The cost of the medicinal materials for refining a second-grade high-quality pill is far higher than that for a second-grade mid-quality pill, and the time cost is also doubled.

It usually takes at least one to three months to refine a batch of second-grade high-quality pills.

If each batch of pills takes three months to refine, then the furnace can only be opened four times a year.

The time and cost of refining third-tier pills are even higher.

The time span for refining a single batch of third-grade pills is often measured in years.

"The cost of medicinal materials and time required to become a second-tier high-grade alchemist is enormous."

"Otherwise, nine out of ten alchemists wouldn't stop at the mid-grade level of the second tier."

Thinking of this, Jiang Yun sighed softly.

He took out the jade slips containing the formulas for the Yin-Yang Cloud and Rain Pill and the Heart-Clearing Enlightenment Pill, and read the formulas from them.

Then, using the prescription, the cost of each medicinal herb is calculated.

As for the other type of pill formula, it is recorded in the Wanling Pill Manual, which Jiang Yun already knows by heart.

There are three types of second-tier mid-grade pill formulas, and the cost of each pill is different.

"Judging from the prescriptions, there are the Myriad Spirits Pill, the Yin-Yang Cloud and Rain Pill, and the Mind-Clearing and Enlightenment Pill."

"Of these three types of pills, the Yin-Yang Cloud and Rain Pill has the lowest cost, costing only 2200 yuan stones per serving."

"The Wanling Pill is the next best, requiring 2500 Yuan Stones. The Qingxin Mingwu Pill has the highest cost, requiring 2700 Yuan Stones per serving."

After some calculation, Jiang Yun discovered that if he bought one portion of each of the three types of pills, the total cost would be 7400 yuan stones.

So, 165,500 yuan stones can only buy 22 portions of medicinal herbs.

"Twenty portions of medicinal herbs are hardly enough to help me break through to the second-tier high-grade alchemist level. They're not even enough for me to practice with."

Jiang Yun couldn't help but shake his head.

The cost of breaking through to the second-tier superior alchemist is enormous, probably requiring an investment of 500,000 yuan stones.

This cost is only for Jiang Yun; an ordinary alchemist would probably need 700,000 shi (a unit of dry measure).

Of course, this is under the condition of choosing to use the Panacea, Yin-Yang Cloud and Rain Pill, and Mind-Clearing and Enlightenment Pill.

If you choose three kinds of pills that are not very useful, but are still considered to be of the second-tier high-grade quality, to try to become a second-tier high-grade alchemist, then the cost will naturally be greatly reduced.

However, doing so wouldn't make much sense for Jiang Yun.

"For second-tier high-grade alchemists, just like second-tier high-grade weapon refiners and talisman masters, advancement is still extremely difficult."

"Such a huge cost investment alone would deter most mid-grade second-tier alchemists."

"Therefore, even in Maple Leaf City, there are very few second-tier high-grade alchemists."

"Among the forty-nine workshops, each workshop has only one or two second-grade high-level alchemists, and my Ningyuan workshop doesn't even have one."

Thinking of this, Jiang Yun's eyes lit up.

Since there are so few second-tier high-grade alchemists, there must be quite a few alchemy tasks for second-tier high-grade pills in the Foundation Establishment Hall of the Mission Hall.

In general, the person who issues the alchemy task will provide medicinal materials.

Jiang Yun can obtain medicinal herbs to advance to the second-tier superior alchemist level by accepting missions.

However, there are certain risks involved in doing this. If you fail to complete the task by the deadline, you will have to compensate for the contribution points.

"I don't know when I'll be able to save up 500,000 shi (a unit of dry measure)."

"First, use this 160,000 shi to purchase 22 portions of medicinal herbs for practice."

"Once you are familiar with the refining of second-grade high-quality pills, go to the mission hall to accept pill refining missions."

Jiang Yun thought for a moment.

In order to save time, advance to the second-tier superior alchemist as soon as possible, and start preparing for the attempt to become a third-tier alchemist, I can no longer waste time.

Otherwise, by the time he has saved up 500,000 shi (a unit of currency), he will be at least 140 years old.

He only started trying to become a second-tier high-grade alchemist at the age of 140, and even after successfully advancing, he was still not successful.

If you want to break through to the third-tier alchemist level in the future, there will definitely not be enough time.

Unless one can form a cinnabar or condense a false cinnabar.

"Let's do it this way. Even if we're unlucky and have to pay out contribution points, we'll still save fifty or sixty years."

"This deal is worthwhile no matter how you look at it, and besides, I have enough contribution points to compensate."

Having made up his mind, Jiang Yun picked up two storage bags, got up, and left the cave.

Of course, he had to go find the clan chief, Zhou Hongde.

It's best to leave the task of procuring medicinal herbs to the clan chief.

After all, such a large family naturally has a wider network of connections than Jiang Yun.

Jiang Yun spent his entire life in seclusion cultivating and refining elixirs, rarely interacting with people, so his network of connections was certainly not as extensive as that of the clan leader.

He might run into a trap if he were to purchase the medicinal herbs worth 160,000 shi himself.

"Greetings, Chieftain."

Jiang Yun bowed and then presented the two storage bags to Zhou Hongde.

"What is this?" Zhou Hongde asked in confusion.

"A second-grade mid-level pill worth 60,000 yuan stones, and over 100,000 low-grade yuan stones," Jiang Yun explained.

"Oh?" Zhou Hongde immediately perked up and asked, "Offered to the family?"

Jiang Yun quickly shook his head, "I want to break through to the second-tier high-grade alchemist level. I would like to ask the clan leader to use these spirit stones to help me purchase medicinal herbs, about twenty-two or twenty-three portions."

"Aiming to become a second-tier high-grade alchemist?" Zhou Hongde stood up, his expression moved. "Are you confident?"

"Of course I'm confident." Jiang Yun nodded, then changed the subject, "But twenty-odd portions of medicinal herbs are far from enough. If we had eighty or ninety portions, it would definitely be successful."

Zhou Hongde pondered for a long time, then suddenly asked with a serious expression, "If I had ninety portions of medicinal herbs, what would be my chances of advancing to a second-tier high-grade alchemist?"

"At least 80%!" Jiang Yun said confidently.

"If you are truly so confident, I can make the decision to procure the remaining seventy portions of medicinal herbs for you," Zhou Hongde said solemnly.

"really?"

Jiang Yun was quite surprised to hear this.

It's clear that the clan leader is preparing to invest in him again.

"Really!" Zhou Hongde said in a deep voice, "But there's one condition you have to agree to."

"What are the conditions?" Jiang Yun asked.

"Second-tier high-grade alchemists, weapon makers, array masters, and talisman masters are important talents, and are extremely valuable in any family or sect."

"The Zixiao Sect's Pill Hall recruits second-tier high-grade pill masters and guest elders every year," Zhou Hongde explained slowly.

"If you successfully advance to the second-tier superior alchemist, you will need to become an offering at the Alchemy Hall of the Purple Cloud Sect."

"If you pass the examination for a second-tier high-grade alchemist in the Alchemy Hall of the Zixiao Sect, you can become an honored elder or guest elder of the Alchemy Hall."

"At that time, as long as you are in the Pill Hall, my Zhou family will not have to pay 1,500 contribution points every year."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun began to ponder it carefully.

The clan chief's words were very clear.

A second-tier superior alchemist can join the Zixiao Sect's Alchemy Hall as long as they pass the assessment.

At that time, the Zhou family will no longer need to pay contribution points to the Zixiao Sect every year.

As a retainer of the Pill Hall, Jiang Yun only needed to refine pills for the Zixiao Sect.

"So it turns out that a second-tier high-grade alchemist can join the Zixiao Sect's Alchemy Hall."

"The Pill Hall is located in the Purple Cloud Sect, where one can enjoy cultivation through a third-tier spiritual vein."

"Furthermore, it's impossible to plan for the Golden Core Dao technique within the family, but joining the Purple Cloud Sect's Pill Hall might be an option."

After weighing the pros and cons, Jiang Yun quickly made a decision.