Chapter 58: Chapter 54: Elixirs, Discovery

"Will there be any trouble? If it's dangerous, then forget it."

Upon hearing the words 'Elixir Hall,' Chu Zheng immediately spoke up. If there were elixirs available, it would indeed be an added bonus; if not, it wouldn't be a significant loss.

If it meant risking Fu Quanliang's life, then it really wouldn't be worth it.

"This matter isn't difficult; several of the attendants in the Elixir Hall are old friends of mine, from the same batch when we joined the sect. There's no major problem," he said.

Fu Quanliang shook his head. If it were really dangerous, he wouldn't consider doing it.

No matter how experienced an alchemist was, a one-hundred percent success rate could never be guaranteed.

Generally speaking, if three portions of ingredients yielded two successful batches of pills, with about a seventy percent chance, then one is considered a qualified alchemist.

For a large sect like the Phantom Spirit Sect, the number of waste elixirs produced daily was astonishingly high.

On normal days, these waste elixirs were ground into powder and used to fertilize the medicinal fields; a small portion missing would go unnoticed by anyone.

About alchemy, the 'True Elixir Dao Comprehension' that Song Lingqing provided contained much information, and Chu Zheng had read some content over the past few days and gained some understanding.

The subject of alchemy was complex. It did not demand high qualifications, but the requirements for talent and perceptiveness were incredibly high.

This was different from possessing Immortal Bones. Those with high-quality Immortal Bones might not have a talent for alchemy, while those with lower-quality Immortal Bones might be surprisingly gifted in alchemy.

To go from an attendant to a qualified alchemist, one needed at least decades of nurturing, essentially built upon countless spiritual medicines, making their value extremely high.

Loose cultivators and smaller sects couldn't afford such a vast expense on spiritual medicines and could not cultivate alchemists on their own.

Elixirs that increase cultivation are basically monopolized by the large sects, which is also a major source of revenue for the major Immortal Sects.

Thus, it's almost unheard of for a loose cultivator to become an alchemist. If there were any, they would have broken away from a large sect.

Currently, Chu Zheng was a First Order Repair Master. For Zeroth Order elixirs, those used in the Nourishing Power Realm, repair cost him nothing.

When he advanced to the Second Order, it would be the same for the elixirs used by cultivators in the Spirit Spring Realm.

......

......

Renting a spirit beast also required contribution points. Fu Quanliang's visit this time was for Chu Zheng's sake, and he did not choose to take a spirit beast but merely wandered around briefly before quickly leaving.

In Tong Jinshan's eyes, this took on another meaning.

Couldn't afford the contribution points.

"Ten years since entry, and still not at the Nourishing Power Perfection. I see his future development as essentially limited; at best, he enters Spirit Spring and gets a minor official position. With no powerful family backing, finding a Dao companion in the sect might be hard, likely will need to look in Illusory Spirit City."

Watching Fu Quanliang's retreating back, Tong Jinshan shook his head and then a hint of smugness appeared on his face. "My son, only twenty-six this year, is already at the ninth level of Nourishing Power Realm; he might have a chance to enter the path and become an Outer Sect Elder in the future."

As he spoke, his gaze shifted toward Chu Zheng and his tone suddenly changed:

"Why don't you come with me to Illusory Spirit City someday? I know quite a few friends there, could help arrange a matchmaking for you. With your appearance, you'd match even the families of high standing, and being so young, you'd definitely find someone suitable."

Although odd-jobbers can't bring families into the sect, setting up a family outside has no restrictions. As long as one settles in Illusory Spirit City, the Phantom Spirit Sect still permits annual family visits and gives a few days off.

Chu Zheng's current state genuinely worried Tong Jinshan, fearing he might take the wrong path and ruin his life.

Meanwhile, Chu Zheng, still pondering over the elixirs, was somewhat absent-minded and did not pay attention to what Tong Jinshan was saying, merely responding absently a few times.

"Well, that settles it then," said Tong Jinshan, satisfied as he walked away.

Chu Zheng returned to the straw hut and began his daily cultivation.

The Qi-refining Technique was proving exceptionally smooth for him; at this rate, in another month, he would be able to step into the mid-stage of Spirit Transformation.

Up to now, he had spent less than half a year on his cultivation journey, and in terms of cultivation level, he was no weaker than those cultivators of the Immortal Sect who had trained for several or even dozens of years.

The speed was already fast, but Chu Zheng still felt some urgency.

If his strength were sufficient, he wouldn't need to consider these twists and turns and could, like the Ancient Qi Refining Masters, roam the four seas and visit various Immortal Sects to enhance his own foundation.

Sticking to one place had become exceedingly dull; even the company of these Spirit Beasts could not alleviate his growing boredom with the location.

If it weren't for the books that Song Lingqing had brought him, Chu Zheng's days would have been even more formless.

......

......

Fu Quanliang moved quickly, and in just three days, he returned to the Spirit Beast Garden. S~eaʀᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

On his back, he carried an entire large bag of Spiritual Medicine.

The Waste Elixirs were mostly misshapen, looking merely like clumps of soil wrapped in plant roots and stems, along with unidentified scales and fragments.

Chu Zheng scanned them one by one, and soon detailed information began to appear before him.

[Hundred Herbs Elixir (Zeroth Order/Incomplete)]: Made from a hundred kinds of ordinary herbs, strengthens kidneys and nourishes essence, strengthens muscles and veins; ruined due to excessive heat during refining (repairable).

[Bone-healing Elixir (First Order/Incomplete)]: Can reconnect broken bones within half an hour, restoring them as before, ruined because one less stalk of Black Blood Grass was used (repairable 0/2).

[Vitality Scattering Powder (Zeroth Order/Incomplete)]: Dispels bruises, detoxifies blood, activates limbs and bones, speeds up recovery of injuries, ruined due to incorrect dosage of ingredients (repairable).

[Spirit Revitalizing Pill (Second Order/Incomplete)]: Can restore 50% of a Second Order creature's mana within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea; ruined because Primordial Serpent Bone was added too late and the heat was unbalanced during Solidifying Pill stage (repairable 0/100).

......

"Has the Phantom Spirit Sect had any major conflicts recently with others?"

Seeing information popping up continuously, Chu Zheng gradually realized something was off; many of these elixirs were for healing injuries and quickly replenishing mana.

For the Immortal Sect, these kinds of elixirs were akin to strategic reserve resources. Such extensive production was either because of a conflict with other Immortal Sects or because there was a significant action brewing.

"Where did you get this information from?"

Fu Quanliang appeared somewhat surprised, "I also found out not long ago; it was an attendant from the Elixir Hall who told me. Now, most likely, many Inner Sect Disciples still don't know about it."

"What happened?" Chu Zheng's gaze sharpened, as he had suspected.

"It's still because of Sister Song."

Fu Quanliang sighed lightly, "This time, during the Great Tournament of Ten Thousand Sects, the sect lost a High Quality Immortal Bone from one of our Immortal Seedlings. Several Supreme Elders were extremely enraged and after discussion, decided to wage full-scale war against Night Light Pavilion and Earth Dragon Sect, demanding justice."

"A war?"

Chu Zheng was slightly taken aback, his first reaction being that it was impossible. If the Phantom Spirit Sect truly had such conviction, the situation of the Song Family couldn't possibly have reached this point.

"Indeed, the Sect Leader has already summoned the Sect-Defending Divine Treasure, the Illusory Spirit Treasure Mirror, and sent a message to the Tai Xu Holy Land, requesting the Holy Land's arbitration."

Fu Quanliang wore a grave expression, "Considering the time, the emissary from the Holy Land should be arriving soon."