Reviewing Pill Formulas

After leaving the Mite'er Family headquarters, Gu He did not call for Xiao Yi Xian, who was touring the Imperial Capital with Ya Fei. He merely instructed Teng Shan to send Xiao Yi Xian back once they had tired themselves out. After returning to the residence the Mite'er Family had provided for him, Gu He began another day of staying indoors.

First, he took stock of Teng Shan's Ring filled with medicinal ingredients. In total, there were ingredients for six batches of Imperial Pills, eighteen batches of Spirit Dou Pills, three batches of Spirit Melting Pills, two batches of Soul Clearing Pills, two batches of Sect Breaking Pills, and six batches of Primal Bone-Shaping Pills. He had taken away nearly half the materials used by the Imperial Capital's major top families to refine Sixth-grade pills. The prices of materials for Sixth-grade pills would likely remain high for quite some time; after all, scarcity drove up value.

After placing these ingredients together with another Ring containing medicinal ingredients, Gu He began organizing the pill formulas he had acquired in the Imperial Capital. For Sixth-grade Pill Formulas, he had obtained the formulas for the Calamity Breaking Pill, Spirit Melting Pill, Earth Spirit Pill, Soul Clearing Pill, and Azure Nether Longevity Pill. For Seventh-grade Pill Formulas, he had obtained two complete formulas: the Low Seventh Grade Instant Qi Pill and the Mid Seventh Grade Plain Heart Pill, as well as an incomplete formula for the Mid Seventh Grade Yin Yang Life Soul Pill.

Gu He could not help but laugh. With these pill formulas and medicinal ingredients enriching his collection, he was finally no longer a pauper among Sixth-grade Alchemists. His wealth was nearly comparable to that of some Sixth-grade Alchemists from major families.

Gu He picked up the formula for the Azure Nether Longevity Pill. This was considered one of the most precious formulas among Sixth-grade pills. Although it came with many restrictions, such as a person being able to take only one in their lifetime, its ability to extend one's lifespan by nearly ten years was real. Who would ever complain about living too long? Pills capable of extending lifespan were exceedingly rare even across the entire Dou Qi Continent. Even in the original story, Xiao Yan had not encountered many pills that could directly extend one's lifespan, even after becoming an Emperor-grade Alchemist.

Unless one cultivated to the Dou Di realm, everyone would eventually face the end of their lifespan. If one achieved a breakthrough before their allotted years ran out, their lifespan would naturally increase somewhat. But if they could not break through, they could only obediently return to the earth. At such a time, if a pill that could extend one's life by ten years were placed before someone, many would surely be willing to hand over most of their family fortune to its holder. External possessions could be earned back after they were gone, but one's life belonged only to oneself, and there was only one of it. Perhaps one could use those extra years to successfully break through. Then not only would one's lifespan increase greatly, but one's strength would also advance tremendously.

Thus, on the Dou Qi Continent, pills that extended one's lifespan were even more sought after than pills that directly increased one's strength.

Gu He pressed the pill formula to his forehead and slightly closed his eyes. Soul Power spread from between his brows, entered the formula, and rapidly memorized the refining techniques and fire-control methods contained within.

When Gu He withdrew his Soul Power from the formula, his mind felt slightly dazed, though he was not overly exhausted. Memorizing a Sixth-grade Pill Formula would not place too much burden on the soul of a Sixth-grade Alchemist like him. Moreover, pressing the formula against his forehead reduced some of the soul's expenditure. When he opened his eyes, the formula on his forehead had silently turned into a pile of powder.

So it really was only a Shell Scroll, Gu He thought. As its name implied, a Shell Scroll was a backup copy of a pill formula that could only be read once. Once it had been read, the residual Soul Power upon it would be completely worn away. Its counterpart, the Main Scroll, was a pill formula that could be read repeatedly, as the Soul Power inscribed upon it could be preserved for a long time.

He mocked himself for hoping it would be a Main Scroll. He knew perfectly well how precious Main Scrolls were. In the original story, Fama had spent five years producing a Shell Scroll of a Peak Fourth-grade Pill Formula. Of course, given Gu He's current alchemy realm, he had reason to suspect that Fama had only occasionally remembered to re-inscribe that formula, resulting in such a long span of time. Still, it was enough to demonstrate the value of pill formulas. Most of these formulas had likely been obtained by Fama during his travels across the Dou Qi Continent when he was young. How could they possibly have Main Scrolls?

Gu He took some water from his Ring and washed his face. Once the powder had been removed, he carefully recalled the Azure Nether Longevity Pill's refining method several times. After confirming that he would not forget it, he pressed the Soul Clearing Pill formula to his forehead.

When Gu He withdrew his Soul Power, his mind felt somewhat heavy. After examining two Sixth-grade Pill Formulas in succession, even the soul of a Sixth-grade Alchemist like Gu He was somewhat fatigued.

Enduring the waves of exhaustion pounding against his mind, Gu He recalled the Soul Clearing Pill's refining method. Once he confirmed that he would not forget it, he sat cross-legged on the bed and began cultivating the Nameless Mantra to restore and strengthen his Soul Power.

Time passed amid this alternation. By the time Xiao Yi Xian returned in the evening, Gu He had already memorized four Sixth-grade Pill Formulas. Only the Calamity Breaking Pill and the Seventh-grade Pill Formulas remained unread.

"Xian'er, did you have fun today?" Gu He asked with concern as he watched Xiao Yi Xian step down from the carriage.

"Mhm. Sister Ya Fei took me to lots of places: teahouses, restaurants, and shops. There were so many beautiful clothes in the shops." Xiao Yi Xian's eyes lit up at the end.

Even girls could not resist the temptation of beautiful clothes! Gu He sighed inwardly.

Yet what he said was entirely different. "Then spend more time shopping tomorrow and pick out more clothes. Once we return to the Small Valley, who knows when we'll be able to come again?"

"Master, you're the best!" Xiao Yi Xian happily hugged Gu He's arm.

Gu He affectionately rubbed her head. After the carriage driver carried some of the things Xiao Yi Xian had bought that day into the house, he went inside with her.

As he watched Xiao Yi Xian happily explain each item she had bought, Gu He felt that this was how an underage girl ought to be. While they were in the Imperial Capital, he would let her be happy for a while.

Gu He decided not to urge her to cultivate today. Once they returned to the Small Valley, he would have her catch up on her progress. Her constitution was destined to prevent her from living like an ordinary girl.

After leaving Xiao Yi Xian's room, Gu He returned to his own. After setting up several warnings around the room, he sat cross-legged on the bed and continued studying the pill formulas.

For this final Calamity Breaking Pill formula, Gu He decided to study it carefully, because he would need it soon to break the Serpent Seal Curse inflicted upon Ice Emperor Hai Bodong. Yet when he saw the formula's first prerequisite, Gu He nearly cursed aloud. The alchemist actually had to possess Heavenly Flames.

How harsh could the requirements for refining this pill possibly be? Heavenly Flames were not so easily obtained. Even if Heavenly Flames ranked fourth and below on the Heavenly Flame Ranking were not unique, there were absolutely no more than a hundred Heavenly Flames in the entire world combined. And that was after excluding the large portion controlled by the Ancient Race. There were likely fewer than ten Heavenly Flames wandering outside and possessed by non-Ancient Race members. Those ten Heavenly Flames were scattered across the vast Dou Qi Continent. It could be said that if Hai Bodong had not happened to encounter Xiao Yan, a man blessed with tremendous fortune, and if the Jia Ma Empire had not happened to possess a Heavenly Flame, then he would never have been able to obtain the Calamity Breaking Pill.

Gu He could not help rubbing his forehead. It had been several years since he had read that novel, and he had forgotten some of the less important details. Since refining the Calamity Breaking Pill required Heavenly Flames, it seemed his plans would need to be adjusted.