Cultivating Immortality Through a Hundred Lifetimes in Both Realms

Seeing that Jiang Yun seemed to be pondering, Zhou Hong pressed further, "So? Do you agree to this condition?"

"Joining the Pill Hall of the Purple Cloud Sect would be of immense benefit to both me and my family," Jiang Yun said solemnly. "I naturally agree."

"Good." Zhou Hongde stroked his beard and nodded, then chuckled, "In that case, the family will provide you with the remaining eighty portions of medicinal herbs."

"Eighty portions?"

Jiang Yun's expression shifted.

He only had enough of his possessions to buy twenty-two portions of medicinal herbs, which was seventy portions short of the ninety required. However, the clan chief said he would provide the remaining eighty portions.

"This attempt to become a second-tier high-grade alchemist cannot be failed!" Zhou Hongde said solemnly. "Since you are 80% confident of success with 90 portions of medicinal herbs, I will give you 10 more portions."

"Excellent!" Jiang Yun said confidently, "One hundred portions of medicinal herbs will definitely help me become a second-tier high-grade alchemist!"

Seeing that Jiang Yun was confident, Zhou Hong felt somewhat relieved.

Jiang Yun chose three types of pills to help him break through to the second-tier high-grade alchemist level. With more than 160,000 spirit stones, he could only purchase 22 sets of medicinal materials.

So, one hundred portions of medicinal herbs would require at least 740,000 spirit stones.

The family needs to contribute 580,000 yuan stones to help Jiang Yun break through to the second-tier high-grade alchemist level.

Using such a large number of elemental stones naturally carries a great risk.

If Jiang Yun successfully advances to the second-tier superior alchemist and joins the Zixiao Sect's Alchemy Hall, then spending these spirit stones will not be a loss.

However, if Jiang Yun fails to advance, it will be a huge loss for the family.

In short, this is a high-stakes gamble.

Zhou Hongde secretly breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "What are the three types of pills you chose to use to break through to the second-tier high-grade alchemist level, and why are they so expensive?"

"The Panacea, the Yin-Yang Cloud and Rain Pill, and the Mind-Clearing and Enlightening Pill," Jiang Yun replied.

"I see." Zhou Hongde nodded upon hearing this. "Tell me the formula, and I'll procure one hundred doses of the medicinal herbs for you within six months."

"Thank you for your trouble, Chieftain."

Jiang Yun told Zhou Hongde about the three prescriptions so that he could procure the necessary medicinal materials.

The clan chief provided the medicinal herbs and prescriptions on the previous two occasions when he asked him to, so he naturally didn't need the prescriptions.

The three prescriptions for the medicinal herbs were all provided by Jiang Yun, and the clan leader was unaware of them.

If I don't know the prescription, how do I obtain the medicinal materials?

Therefore, Jiang Yun needed to tell Zhou Hongde the prescription.

After Zhou Hong learned the formula, Jiang Yun bowed and took his leave.

Before leaving, Zhou Hongde whispered, "Don't be obsessed with alchemy all day long. Spend more time with your mother for the next six months."

Jiang Yun was taken aback, then said in a deep voice, "Okay."

It would take half a year to procure the medicinal herbs, and Zhou Hong's meaning was clear: he wanted Jiang Yun to spend more time with her family.

Now, Zhou Zongxiao, Zhou Zongyao, and Zhou Zongting are all over a hundred years old and could pass away at any time.

Jiang Yun felt heavy-hearted.

Non-vegetation, ruthless Practice makes perfect.

He did not sell the "Azure Phoenix Heart-Protecting Mirror," a top-grade protective artifact bestowed upon him by the clan chief years ago. Instead, he gave it to his mother, Zhou Zongting, in this life for protection.

However, over the years, he has indeed devoted himself to cultivation and alchemy, neglecting family matters and romantic relationships.

Zhou Hongde's words had just awakened him.

It will take another six months to procure the medicinal herbs.

Instead of spending the next six months in seclusion for spiritual practice, it would be better to return to daily life and spend more time with family.

With this in mind, Jiang Yun bid farewell to the clan leader and did not return directly to the cave. Instead, he went to visit Zhou Zongting and stayed at Zhou Zongting's residence.

A few days later, Jiang Yun and Zhou Zongting went to visit their third uncle, Zhou Zongxiao, and fourth uncle, Zhou Zongyao.

The whole family gathered in the hall for a meal, enjoying themselves immensely.

"Your fourth uncle and I don't have much time left; we probably won't live for many more years."

At the dinner table, Zhou Zongxiao toasted Jiang Yun.

"After we leave, please take good care of your younger brother and sister."

Jiang Yun smiled and said, "Definitely, definitely."

Zhou Zongxiao and Zhou Zongyao are his third uncle and fourth uncle, respectively.

Thirty-two years ago, the two of them married and had children, ensuring the continuation of their family line.

These children, aren't they Jiang Yun's younger brothers and sisters?

However, the age difference between these younger brothers and sisters and Jiang Yun's age is quite large.

After dinner, the three Zhou siblings, Zhou Zongxiao, Zhou Zongyao, and Zhou Zongting, gathered together to reminisce about the past, while Jiang Yun sat to the side listening.

Jiang Yun learned this from their conversation.

It turns out that when they were young, the three of them, along with Zhou Zongcheng and Zhou Zongxian, had all risked going out of the city to do missions, just to earn contribution points.

In an environment like the mystical world of cultivation, even direct descendants of a family need to venture out of the city.

Unless one possesses a special skill and achieves a certain level of success in the various arts of cultivation, one can avoid venturing out of the city.

……

The days passed by.

For the past six months, Jiang Yun did nothing but spend time with his family and did not even cultivate. He lived like an ordinary person for half a year.

On this day, Jiang Yun, Zhou Zongxiao, Zhou Zongyao, Zhou Zongting, and others gathered together for a meal as usual, enjoying the delicacies of the cultivation world.

Suddenly, the clan chief Zhou Hongde descended from the sky.

Seeing this, Zhou Hongde smiled and said, "They're all here."

Upon seeing this, Jiang Yun and the others were about to stand up and pay their respects when Zhou Hongde waved his hand and walked straight to the table to sit down.

He looked at the fresh and tender dish on the table and smiled, "It's been a long time since I've had these spirit bamboo shoots. You don't mind that I've come uninvited, do you?"

Everyone quickly shook their heads with smiles.

So Zhou Hongde joined them and ate with Jiang Yun and the others.

At this moment, Zhou Hongde was no longer the head of the Zhou family, but the father of Zhou Zongxiao, Zhou Zongyao, and Zhou Zongting, and also the grandfather of Jiang Yun.

After the meal, Jiang Yun and Zhou Hongde went to the courtyard.

He knew Zhou Hongde wouldn't come looking for him for no reason.

Now, half a year has passed, and those one hundred portions of medicinal herbs should have been prepared.

"One hundred portions of medicinal herbs have been prepared." Zhou Hongde took out three storage bags and handed them to Jiang Yun, saying with some reluctance, "Use them sparingly, and make sure you successfully advance to the second-tier superior alchemist."

"Don't worry, Clan Chief." Jiang Yun accepted the three storage bags and said with a smile, "I certainly won't let you down."

"Good!" Zhou Hongde nodded, pleased. "In the second storage bag, I have prepared a second-grade high-quality pill furnace for you."

"That's perfect."

Jiang Yun was preparing to purchase a second-grade high-quality alchemy furnace himself, but he did not expect the clan leader to be so thoughtful.

A second-tier superior-grade alchemy furnace is priced the same as a second-tier superior-grade magic weapon, starting at least at eight thousand yuan stones.

However, compared to medicinal herbs worth six or seven hundred thousand yuan stones, this amount of yuan stones seems insignificant.

"Hmm." Zhou Hongde pondered for a moment, and seeing that there was nothing else to say, he slipped away.

With the medicinal herbs in hand, Jiang Yun prepared to go to the alchemy hall to refine pills in ten days.

"With six months of leisure time, it's time to start refining elixirs."

"First, refine the Yin-Yang Cloud and Rain Pill to familiarize yourself with the refining of second-grade high-quality pills."

Ten days later, in the alchemy room of the Zhou family's alchemy hall.

Having not touched the alchemy furnace and medicinal herbs for half a year, Jiang Yun first refined a batch of second-grade mid-level Qi Condensation and Recovery Pills.

After getting familiar with it for a while, he began to try refining second-grade high-quality pills.