A Deal with Si Wangshu
Lu Ping didn't hesitate for long.
When Si Wangshu took away the formula for the Spirit-Boosting Pill, he left behind an incomplete formula for the Heaven-Mending Lesser Rejuvenation Pill as compensation.
This round of assessment involves Pill Formulas for improving the quality of Spirit Roots.
Si Wangshu's every move back then, seemingly casual, may have been laying the groundwork for today's events.
Lu Ping chose B.
[You chose B.]
[You take out a Jade Slip and push it in front of Si Wangshu.]
"Senior sister, the incomplete Pill Formula you gave me back then was the Heaven-Mending Minor Restoration Pill."
The main ingredient was originally the Nine-Orifice Spirit Embryo Root, which has long since become extinct.
"I used Void-Aperture Jade Marrow to supplement some of the pharmacological effects."
[Si Wangshu finally stopped moving.]
She picked up the Jade Slip and scanned it with her Divine Sense.
[The hall fell silent.]
[After a moment, Si Wangshu put down the Jade Slip and tapped the table with her fingertip.]
"Have you mastered it?"
[You did not reply.]
Silence is the answer.
Si Wangshu has been looking at you for a long time.
"Upgraded from Low-Grade Spirit Root to a mid-grade one?"
[You nod.]
She put the Jade Slip away.
"I'm taking this Pill Formula with me. Name your price."
[That's exactly what you've been waiting for.]
You stood up and bowed respectfully.
"Please help me find a Pill Formula, senior sister."
"Severed-Fate Hehuan Powder"
Si Wangshu finally raised her head.
"This is an Earth Grade Poison Pill, specifically designed to damage the foundation of female cultivators."
"What do you need this for?"
[Earth Grade Poison Pill.]
[Hehuan Powder]
These two words together don't seem like a legitimate need at all.
[But Si Wangshu didn't immediately turn hostile.]
She's just waiting for your answer.
[The Pills you've encountered before are categorized into high, medium, and low grades, with an even higher grade above that. These can all be considered Pills within human reach.]
[Above that are Earth Grade and Heavenly Grade, which are considered to have achieved the power to seize the creation of heaven and earth.]
[You didn't make excuses; instead, you spoke calmly.]
"Someone has been poisoned by this."
"If I had the Pill Formula, I could deduce the antidote based on the properties of the herbs."
Si Wangshu nodded, not pursuing the matter further.
"Hard to find."
"The 'Severed-Fate Hehuan Powder' involves the Aphrodisiac Path, the Poison Path, and the transfer of Dao foundations."
"There is no official circulation of [this item] in the Azure Dragon Upper Domain Realm."
"Take your time looking, we'll see what happens when we find it. If we really can't find it, we won't force it."
[Si Wangshu puts away the Jade Slip.]
"I'll help you find the Pill Formula the 'Severed-Fate Hehuan Powder'."
But I must remind you.
"Those who have been poisoned by this are unlikely to be ordinary people."
"Anyone capable of using this kind of poison is unlikely to be simple."
[You nod.]
"I understand."
[You didn't mention any other conditions.]
[The Heaven-Mending Minor Restoration Pill is, after all Earth Grade Pills.]
Even if it only improves Low-Grade Spirit Root, it's enough to subtly change the advantage of lower-level cultivators for a Lineage.
[It could even allow certain offspring from collateral branches who were originally ineligible for inclusion in the main lineage's genealogy to be re-entered.]
The value of this thing far exceeds a mere verbal promise to "help find the Pill Formula."
[Si Wangshu naturally understood.]
She took out two Jade Slips and placed them on the table.
"These are two Pill Formula extremely potent poisons."
["The Spirit-Chaos Lure."]
"Spirit-Winding Thread."
"While not as potent as the Severed-Fate Hehuan Powder,' both involve toxicity entering the meridians, corroding the foundation, and latent eruption."
"Since you want to deduce the antidote, take a look at these first; they should be helpful."
She paused.
"Calculate the advance payment."
[Look at those two Jade Slips.]
[Pill Formula for a top-grade poison.]
[Even within a small, Border Region sect like the Greenwood Sect, this would already be considered a treasure of the sect.]
[They are indeed useful to you.]
[You put away the two Jade Slips and bowed respectfully again.]
"Thank you, senior sister."
Si Wangshu said nothing more.
[She walked out of the Main Hall.]
[The Azure Flying Boat ascended into the sky, transforming into a streak of light, and departed from the Greenwood Sect.]
[You stand before the palace gate, watching the Azure Flying Boat sail away.]
[After the Flying Boat disappeared, you turned and returned to your cave abode.]
The two Jade Slips left behind by Si Wangshu are placed on the alchemy table.
[The Spirit-Chaos Lure.]
[Spirit-Winding Thread.]
[Two Pill Formula top-grade poison pills.]
[This is not Border Region specialty like Spirit-Eroding Powder or Mind-Erasing Powder.]
[The former requires the Marrow-Chaos Vine, the Vein-Reversing Sand, and the Breath-Concealing Flower Sap.]
[The latter requires White-Soul Silkworm Thread, Nether-Sense Grass, and Moonlit Dew.]
[Each medicinal herb was so expensive that it silenced the Greenwood Sect warehouse.]
After reviewing the inventory ledgers, you discover a very real problem.
[It's not that Greenwood Sect is short of money.]
[Greenwood Sect is not qualified to buy these medicinal herbs.]
[You used Shen Yuerong's connections.]
Three months later, the first batch of medicinal herbs was delivered to the Greenwood Sect.
[But you didn't open the oven immediately.]
[A top-grade poison, not the Spirit-Eroding Powder or the Mind-Erasing Powder.]
[Spirit-Chaos Lure disturbing spirits into the meridians.]
[The Spirit-Winding Threads coil around the Divine Sense.]
[If this Poison Pill is ruined during the refining process, the loss will not only be due to the loss of medicinal materials.]
[They might even send your cave abode, Pill Furnace, and even you yourself away.]
[Even Heavy Tomato User website) can't always defend themselves, such as during their first attempt at the Mind-Erasing Powder.]
You glanced at the old Pill Furnace beside you.
[It accompanied you in refining many elixirs.]
[But this time, it clearly doesn't deserve to Overtime.]
[You retrieve the Moon Palace Fire-Devouring Furnace.]
[Four-Legged Green Toad lay on the furnace, its belly shrouded in dark red flames.]
[Law Treasure -Grade Pill Furnace]
[Options pop up.]
[A: Continue using the old Pill Furnace to refine top-grade poisons; trust in the loyalty of our long-time employees.]
[B: First refine the Moon Palace Fire-Devouring Furnace, then refine the Spirit-Chaos Lure and the Spirit-Winding Thread.]
[C: Hold a farewell party for the old Pill Furnace and announce its glorious retirement.]
Lu Ping looked at A and fell silent.
I do have an emotional attachment to the old Pill Furnace.
But feelings can't put food on the table.
If a top-grade Poison Pill is ruined during the refining process, at best the medicinal materials will be wasted, and at worst the Alchemist will be ruined as well.
Moreover, the Moon Palace Fire-Devouring Furnace is already in hand.
Not using Law Treasure Pill Furnace to refine top-grade poisons is like being given the latest iPad by your company, but only good for covering instant noodle bowls.
Lu Ping chose B.
[You chose B.]
[You have sealed all the medicinal herbs you sent into your Storage Ring.]
[Then, you close the cave abode's Restriction and begin refining the Moon Palace Fire-Devouring Furnace.]
[You probe your Divine Sense into the furnace.]
[The Law Treasure's spiritual energy immediately reacted.]
The old crack deep within his Dantian throbbed with pain from the shock.
You paused for a moment.
[In my past life, I had just been discharged from the hospital when a message popped up in the company group chat: "The project still needs your debriefing."]
[The cultivation world is pretty much the same.]
[Your Dantian is cracked, and the Law Treasure still requires you to submit its refining progress.]
You have taken one Peach Blossom Meridian-Calming Pills.
[Overtime work effective.]
[My I Love Working is now in effect.]
[The Artisan Spirit takes effect.]
[Refining progress has begun.]
The spirituality of the Moon Palace Fire-Devouring Furnace is more difficult to reconcile than you imagine.
[It is, after all, Law Treasure.]
Even a low-grade Law Treasure is not something Foundation Establishment cultivator can refine casually.
[You use the Southern Bright Separation Fire to warm and maintain the furnace's belly daily.]
[Then, using Divine Sense, one step at a time, imprint the mark.]
[The Four-Legged Green Toad on the stove initially kept its eyes closed.]
Three months later, the first Azure Toad opened its eyes.
Six months later, the second Azure Toad exhaled a wisp of dark red fire.
[Nine months later, the Fire-Swallowing Patterns inside the furnace finally began to resonate with your Southern Bright Separation Fire.]
[Age 41, 23 years of service.]
[Trait being generated...]