This was the first time that Sect Master Song had experienced what it meant to feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.
If they weren't on the University Island of the Nine Mountains Realm, the group behind them would probably be in an uproar.
If looks could kill, I would probably be riddled with holes by now.
He sneered inwardly, thinking to himself: You only saw me kneeling, but you don't know that I was only worried about kneeling not fast enough!
If you don't kneel, you really will die...
The Nine Mountains Sect is truly rewriting the Dao of Alchemy!
The people behind him didn't understand, but he had also participated in the improvement of the elixir, so he naturally knew how rapidly the project was progressing.
Although his alchemy skills were not as profound as Elder Xiong's, he was still a rare Nascent Soul Grandmaster in the Hundred Immortals Alliance.
Alchemy was something he was already quite accustomed to.
Can...
Thinking of those elixirs that were of higher quality, with more Spiritual Qi and less Pill Poison than the last batch.
He still felt like he was dreaming.
The Nine Mountains Sect's measurement and analysis capabilities, combined with the Azure Wood Sect's previous accumulation of Dao of Alchemy, have brought about visible progress in just over ten days!
It's not just the quality of the elixir that has improved.
There's also the alchemy expertise of the Foundation Establishment alchemy disciples of the Nine Mountains Sect.
Even Elder Xiong, along with the Golden Core Grandmasters of the Azure Wood Sect, felt that they were undergoing a complete transformation...
At first, they didn't quite understand, or rather, they couldn't believe it. Later, after thinking it over with Elder Xiong, they came up with an explanation:
Beginners are always the ones who improve the fastest.
However, when viewed through Zheng Fa's lens, they found themselves back to being novices.
Every alchemy technique can be optimized.
How much spiritual energy is used, the duration of the Method Formula, even whether the Method Formula is necessary, or whether there are better options...
Countless questions were raised, analyzed, observed, and solved.
They had similar doubts before, but lacked a systematic approach to resolving them.
But the Nine Mountains Sect can!
Elder Xiong was right about something:
The Dao of Alchemy of the Nine Mountains Realm is a rapidly growing monster.
At least in the eyes of Sect Master Song and Elder Xiong, the Dao of Alchemy of their Azure Wood Sect, and even the Dao of Alchemy of the entire Hundred Immortals Alliance, would either be destroyed or... become part of this monster in the face of such a monster.
Even Sect Master Song believed that if the Supreme Dao, the most skilled in Dao of Alchemy among the Five Sects, could not eliminate the Nine Mountains Sect itself, it would eventually be crushed by the Nine Mountains Sect.
If Azure Wood Sect doesn't want to die, then naturally they must kneel, and even kneel properly and with value in front of everyone!
Senior Sister Zhang looked at Sect Master Song's resolute expression, and then at the surprised, flustered, and bewildered expressions of the other Sect Leader, and smiled inwardly.
This person is shrewd...
"Our Nine Mountains Sect naturally welcomes Sect Master Song's idea." She had long known Zheng Fa's thoughts and knew how to handle the situation. " The Azure Wood Sect is selfless; if we were to hand over the Secret Method to the guild..."
Senior Sister Zhang paused slightly, as if thinking, before stating the conditions she and Zheng Fa had already agreed upon:
"A fifty-year patent right is what Azure Wood Sect deserves."
"Even if the Secret Method is modified, this patent right can only belong to the guild and the Azure Wood Sect. The profit sharing ratio depends on the rarity of the Secret Method and the effectiveness of the improvements, but as the original provider of the Secret Method, the Azure Wood Sect's share of the profits will not be less than 30%."
Upon hearing this, Sect Master Song's face lit up with surprise.
He knew this was a reward for his "unwavering loyalty".
Senior Sister Zhang and he understood that the current Secret Method of the Azure Wood Sect still belonged to the Azure Wood Sect, but what about the improved Secret Method?
In fact, it can already be considered a joint achievement of the Nine Mountains Sect and the Azure Wood Sect.
The more improvements are made, the smaller Azure Wood Sect's contribution may become.
Thirty percent was the reward that Zheng Fa and the Nine Mountains Sect left for the Azure Wood Sect.
It's also a way of rewarding Sect Master Song sensibility—a reward for his goodwill.
"Finally, regarding the responsibilities of the guild leader... our Nine Mountains Sect believes that Sect Master Song is quite suitable."
Sect Master Song was stunned for a moment, clearly genuinely surprised.
The group of Sect Leader were also discussing it animatedly.
Currently, the two major guilds are headed by Senior Sister Zhang in the Talisman Masters Guild and by Madam Xuanhua in the Artifact Refiners Guild.
In other words, Sect Master Song is the only guild leader who is not a member of the Nine Mountains Sect.
The implication was clear to everyone.
"What is Sect Master Song's opinion?"
"We will fight to the death!"
Sect Master Song knew that this was not the time to refuse; the Nine Mountains Sect clearly wanted to portray the Azure Wood Sect as an example of surrender.
As everyone watched Sect Master Song's retreating figure, they had to admit in their hearts: the lower this Sect Leader of the Azure Wood Sect had knelt in their hearts just now, the higher he now stood.
Senior Sister Zhang nodded to Sect Master Song, then turned to the others Humanity's Dao:
"As for what Sect Master Song said about offering technology for modification, our Nine Mountains Sect does not insist."
A collective gasp rippled through the room.
Clearly, this group also fears that this will become the norm.
Sect Master Song chuckled coldly. These fools had no idea what the Nine Mountains Sect was up to...
If we don't offer up our Secret Method now, what use will these people's Secret Method be once the Nine Mountains Sect truly absorbs the Azure Wood Sect's Dao of Alchemy?
They thought the Nine Mountains Sect was benevolent, but Sect Master Song knew... the Nine Mountains Sect no longer cared.
In the Nine Mountains Sect's Dao of Alchemy, there is no place for Secret Method!
Does anyone else have any objections?
Senior Sister Zhang asked with a smile, very kindly.
How could anyone dare to object?
The suggestion made by the previous Sect Master Song, Song, terrified them.
Seeing that they had no objections, Senior Sister Zhang handed over the preparatory meeting to Sect Master Song, asking him to discuss the details, and then hurriedly headed towards the Industrial Development Island.
While the affairs of the Alchemist Guild are important, the most important thing right now is still Junior Brother Zheng...
She flew over the Rainbow Bridge and landed on Industrial Development Island, where she saw Madam Xuanhua standing in front of a Sugar-Hawthorn Pill Cauldron.
Zheng Fa, along with Elder Xiong and the others, held their breath and gazed intently at the External Core within the Pill Cauldron.
" The Yang Five Elements have taken shape!"
"A disciple shouted."
"A miracle pill!"
Elder Xiong flicked his hand, and a pill as clear as a water-blue gem flew into the burning Pill Cauldron.
" The Yin Five Elements are beginning to condense!"
"..."
" The Yin Five Elements have taken shape!"
The room fell silent for a moment, except for the crackling sound of the External Core in the Pill Cauldron.
The External Core was filled with a platinum-gold light, so bright that people couldn't open their eyes. But Senior Sister Zhang, like everyone else, stared at it, unwilling to look away.
" Sect Leader..." Madam Xuanhua's voice was hoarse, as if the words were being squeezed out of her throat:
" Divine Origin Great Pill, verification complete."
"The ' Nine Mountains Golden Core Method ' has been successfully researched."
Zheng Fa seemed unsure what to say. He simply smiled and nodded to Madam Xuanhua, then smiled and nodded to all the disciples of the Golden Core Engineering, before turning back to Senior Sister Zhang and uttering only two words:
It's done.
Senior Sister Zhang looked back at Zheng Fa with gentle eyes.
"Divine Origin Great Pill" was the new name given to this unknown elixir by Elder Xiong and others.
She certainly understood the importance of the Divine Origin Great Pill to the Nine Mountains Sect and to Zheng Fa.
The Nine Mountains Golden Core Method is related to the Heavenly Dipper and Earthly Fiend Transformation. It can be said that without this Divine Origin Great Pill, even if Zheng Fa achieved the Nascent Soul, the fundamental method would not be complete.
Not to mention the development of the Nine Mountains Sect.
For some time now, the Nine Mountains Sect has almost completely ignored everything else. They were aware of the Profound Mystery Sect tactics, but no one cared.
All resources were invested in the research of the Divine Origin Great Pill.
The hundreds or even thousands of alchemy experiments had almost exhausted the accumulated Incense Power offerings during this period.
Not to mention, even with the method of converting spiritual materials to save them, Madam Xuanhua still used up most of the spiritual materials in the Nine Mountains Sect Market after so many experiments.
Outsiders were unaware of the Nine Mountains Sect's accounts.
Senior Sister Zhang clearly remembered that the Nine Mountains Sect's foundation was not deep to begin with, and this large-scale experiment had lasted for too long, causing the Nine Mountains Sect's accounts to be in deficit long ago.
Only then did Senior Sister Zhang understand the importance of this achievement.
He understood even more the joy contained in the two characters "Zheng Fa".
Elder Xiong didn't quite understand this. He just stared at the Pill Cauldron, muttering to himself as if in a dream:
" Premium Spirit Pill..."
"Of the pills in this batch, eighty percent Premium Spirit Pill..."
He looked at his hands, seemingly somewhat disbelieving that he possessed such skill.
These days, everyone has learned about the concept of Premium Spirit Pill...
In the Xuanwei Realm, elixirs are generally divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow, based on their difficulty of refining and rarity. However, each specific elixir is further divided into three ranks: superior, middle, and inferior.
"Premium Spirit Pill" isn't actually the official name—because it's purely based on luck.
Most Alchemist might succeed in refining Premium Spirit Pill this time, but they won't be able to do it again.
If a Alchemist can consistently produce Premium Spirit Pill, it means that their skill in producing such elixirs is unparalleled.
Such Alchemist is one in a million, and Elder Xiong certainly isn't one...
But now he discovers he is!
Moreover, Elder Xiong could foresee that with the Nine Mountains Sect's improved approach, Premium Spirit Pill would not be something that could be refined by luck alone in the future.
He felt a surge of pride in his chest, and although he was standing on the ground, he felt as if he were floating in the air.
" Sect Leader, Venerable Jiao said that no Pill Poison was detected in this batch of Divine Origin Great Pill!"
A disciple rushed over and reported to Zheng Fa.
Zheng Fa nodded to the disciple, took out a Divine Origin Great Pill, and said to Senior Sister Zhang:
"Senior sister, I wish to Nascent Soul Formation."
Everyone immediately looked at Zheng Fa.
Whether or not they were disciples of the Nine Mountains Sect, they were well aware of this Sect Leader Zheng's past.
This person has only been practicing Daoism for a little over nine years!
Is he about to Nascent Soul Formation?
Sect Leader felt himself fall to the ground with a thud.
Ten years to Nascent Soul Formation?
In the presence of someone like that, who could possibly get carried away?
Zheng Fa is still troubled:
"My Spiritual Qi has been accumulated for a long time. If it weren't for waiting for this Divine Origin Great Pill, I could have attempted to Nascent Soul Formation half a month ago."
Elder Xiong's expression stiffened slightly—so I was too slow?
But thinking about it, it seems true. If I had listened to those Foundation Establishment disciples earlier, I probably could have progressed much faster...
Now, not only can he not fly anymore, he also wants to dig a hole and bury himself.
No, isn't Zheng Fa too fast?
Zheng Fa continued, "Now, observing Madam Xuanhua's experiment, when the Yin Five Elements condensed, Yin and Yang harmonized, Five Elements rotated, it even resembled the aura of your Nascent Soul Formation, Senior Sister Zhang..."
Senior Sister Zhang immediately understood. "It can't be suppressed anymore?"
"Yes, if I were to take this Divine Origin Great Pill, I fear I would no longer be able to suppress my cultivation level."
"Moreover, with the < Nine Mountains Golden Core Method > now complete, I no longer need to wait."
Senior Sister Zhang nodded slowly. "You can focus on your Nascent Soul Nascent Soul Formation in seclusion. With me at the Nine Mountains Sect, nothing will happen."
"Seclusion?" Unexpectedly, Zheng Fa shook his head and said, to everyone's surprise, "I don't plan to go into seclusion."
"..."
Everyone else was puzzled, but Senior Sister Zhang suddenly understood. "You want to... use yourself as an experiment?"
"Using the < Nine Mountains Golden Core Method > to Nascent Soul Formation is invaluable experience... Although I can recall it later, with you senior sisters observing and measuring, you might be able to discover some details that I might have missed."
"With this record, future disciples will have a reference when they Nascent Soul Formation."
Elder Xiong opened his mouth. Although he was not a member of the Nine Mountains Sect, he understood what Zheng Fa meant.
Personal experience is ultimately unreliable, especially when there are things like Heart Demon Tribulation that can cause hallucinations in cultivators.
Zheng Fa wanted to condense his Nascent Soul under the Spiritual-Energy Measuring Device, or even under the Void-Piercing Spirit Eye, in order to collect data.
But... there are some risks involved.
Senior Sister Zhang frowned, seemingly disagreeing; clearly, she also felt the risk was too high.
"If our Nine Mountains Sect has spent so many resources and cannot achieve perfection and obtain more data, then we have truly lost out."
"Compared to alchemy experiments, these Nascent Soul Formation experiments are far more valuable. The data from these experiments will be incomparably precious if we want to cultivate Nascent Soul in the future."
"It concerns the First Fifty-Year Plan, Senior Sister, I'm willing to take this risk."
"Besides, what danger could I possibly be in within the Nine Mountains Realm?"
Elder Xiong watched from the side; this Alliance Leader Zheng was known for his caution.
But now, contrary to his usual behavior, he suddenly felt that... even if he couldn't refine Premium Spirit Pill, joining the Nine Mountains Sect seemed like a good option.
"I will protect you."
As before, Senior Sister Zhang continued to tolerate Zheng Fa's "willfulness."
"Also, please wait a few days..."
"Um?"
Senior Sister Zhang turned to look at Madam Xuanhua and Elder Xiong in the arena, and began assigning homework without room for argument. "Within the Nine Mountains Realm, cultivators above the Nascent Soul, first write a summary of your Nascent Soul cultivation... I'll prepare a few contingency plans first."
"..."
Senior Sister Zhang not only tormented Madam Xuanhua and her companion, but she even assigned homework to Sect Master Song, not to mention Jiao Wuji, Blood River Ancestor, and others...
Oh, and her master, True Person Huang, is also sighing and groaning, deep in thought, and occasionally grumbling.
Senior Sister Zhang then led people to set up the site for Zheng Fa's Nascent Soul Formation, installed various observation instruments, and studied corresponding contingency plans.
Zheng Fa waited for these people's summaries, and for a while, he had nothing to do.
He simply took out the Creation Jade Disc and shared the good news with his online followers:
" Xiao Fairy, we have refined the elixir, and I am preparing to Nascent Soul Formation."
Xiao Yuying traveled a long way to explore the Secret Realm for herself. Although the gains weren't particularly important, Zheng Fa still appreciated her sentiments.
Moreover, the Nine Mountains Sect currently needs her, a tomb raider, to replenish its reserves.
Xiao Yuying picked up the Comprehensive Mirror, glanced at the message Zheng Fa had sent, and smiled.
Looking back at the Nine Mountains Sect disciples on her Law Treasure War Chariot, she seemed quite satisfied.
She was the Archaeology teacher of the Nine Mountains Sect, and these disciples could all be considered to have been trained by her. They not only did not cause any trouble in the Secret Realm, but also helped a lot.
I guess I didn't let her teachings down.
Now that Zheng Fa has successfully refined the elixir, she intends to take these disciples back with her and study their gains.
Halfway there, Xiao Yuying suddenly War Chariot and threw out a green scarf.
The veil covered the War Chariot, concealing her and the disciples of the Nine Mountains Sect.
From the outside, it looks like a small green hill covered with grass and trees.
A powerful aura flashed overhead, seemingly oblivious to the strange occurrence beneath their feet.
"A great cultivator..." Xiao Yuying tilted her head back, deep in thought, "That direction, is it the Profound Mystery Sect?"
She was naturally aware that the Profound Mystery Sect was now considered an unstable factor within the Hundred Immortals Alliance.
Does this sect have any Nascent Soul Late Stage stage cultivators?
She was quite certain that the Profound Mystery Sect only had two Nascent Soul, at most the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.
Something's not right...
Xiao Yuying gazed in that direction, a bad feeling creeping into her heart, though she had no idea what had happened at the Profound Mystery Sect.
"Master, are you saying that Vast Sun Mountain is secretly supporting the Profound Mystery Sect?"
Upon hearing the seemingly unintentional revelation from Sect Master Yan within the Tianhe Sect, Xie Qingxue immediately became anxious. "Wasn't an alliance already signed?"
"There is an alliance."
"Then why is Vast Sun Mountain...?"
"All the Vast-Sun Mulberry on Vast Sun Mountain are dead. These days, every one planted dies."
So what?
" Vast Sun Mountain possesses a fundamental cultivation technique, which requires Vast-Sun Mulberry to practice..."
Xie Qingxue was stunned.
She understood the meaning behind this, of course. Now that the Dao Fruit has appeared in the world, if one wants to accumulate power, one cannot do without the fundamental law.
The disappearance of Vast-Sun Mulberry is absolutely unacceptable to the Dao Fruit of Vast Sun Mountain. Now that Vast Sun Mountain Vast-Sun Mulberry Mountain, he will naturally turn his attention to the Nine Mountains Sect.
"But that covenant..."
"Of course, the alliance must be upheld," Sect Master Yan said calmly. "But that alliance has bound our hands and feet, and even more so, it has bound Zheng Fa."
Xie Qingxue pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized, " The Nine Mountains Sect's foundation is too shallow."
"A promising young man." Sect Master Yan stood up and looked towards the door. "Those who have attained Dao Fruit must not attack each other. We still have Spirit Transformation and those Nascent Soul."
"The Profound Mystery Sect was originally under the Hundred Immortals Alliance... It was also an offshoot of Vast Sun Mountain. In fact, the Profound Mystery Sect now probably has many Nascent Soul Spirit Transformation of unknown origin."
Xie Qingxue immediately understood that this was the same as the relationship between Venerable Tongming and the Supreme Dao.
Those so-called Spirit Transformation Nascent Soul of unknown origin are probably just a side story from Vast Sun Mountain.
"Who can we fool... Zheng Fa is, after all, Dao Fruit. Surely he can handle a Profound Mystery Sect?"
"Isn't there still Vast Sun Mountain?"
"... Do they really want to break the alliance and start a war with the Nine Mountains Sect?"
"Of course I don't want to, but preserving the Profound Mystery Sect and using it to hinder the development of the Hundred Immortals Alliance isn't difficult."
Xie Qingxue understood that this was true. The Xuanwei Realm had all sorts of methods. With the resources of the Five Sects, even without making a public appearance, they could still cause great trouble for Zheng Fa and the Hundred Immortals Alliance.
Are we just going to sit idly by and watch them do this?
Sect Master Yan looked at Xie Qingxue: "Who isn't afraid of another Founder emerging?"
"..."
Xie Qingxue's eyes widened.
"There are too many doubts about Zheng Fa's Dao Fruit," Sect Master Yan said quietly. "Even if he possesses the combat power of a Dao Fruit cultivator, his Golden Core cultivation is genuine. His weaknesses are obvious: cultivation level and influence."
" The Hundred Immortals Alliance is inherently weak. If internal strife arises, it will fall behind at every turn. How will it compete with Vast Sun Mountain in the future?"
"That's not all. Ideally, Zheng Fa should be so busy dealing with things that No-Mind focus on his cultivation..."
"When the alliance expires in the future, it will be easy for Vast Sun Mountain to obtain the Fusang Wood."
Xie Qingxue was stunned, then heard Sect Master Yan say again:
"For us, the Six-Sect Pact is only temporary, and it's even uncertain whether they will become enemies or friends in the future. Besides, it's better for the Five Sects to divide Xuanwei than for the six factions to do so."
"If Vast Sun Mountain can hinder Zheng Fa and the Hundred Immortals Alliance's development, this... is in the best interests of our Five Sects."
Xie Qingxue looked at her master and heard Sect Master Yan say:
"It's not that simple to maintain the title of one of the Six Sects."
Xie Qingxue remained silent.
Sect Master Yan continued, " Our Founder was the same way back then..."
" Founder?"
"After our Founder earned the title of the strongest Golden Core in history, every step he took was arduous, from Nascent Soul Spirit Transformation... through Human Tribulation."
"Now it's Zheng Fa's turn."
(End of this chapter)