Primordial Era: Apprenticeship Under Laozi, I Forge Mythical Golden Elixirs

"Out of the three thousand Great Daos, which one wasn't forged through hardship?" Laozi asked calmly.

"Yes, yes, yes," Yuanshi teased, "but how many times has this happened now? I don't see you practicing much usually, but you never slack off on alchemy."

Tongtian chuckled, "Isn't it because Big Brother has so many elixirs recipes? I bet that kid Luo Xuan hasn't even learned half of them yet."

"But Big Brother, your Taiqing Palace will probably collapse if it explodes a few more times, right?"

Laozi maintained his serene expression. "Third Brother, you've guessed wrong. Luo Xuan has already learned seventy to eighty percent of my elixir recipes."

"So quickly?" Yuanshi and Tongtian exchanged glances.

Yuanshi's eyes darted around, and he chuckled, "Fortunately, high-grade five-turn elixirs take about a year or so to refine. Otherwise, Kunlun Mountain wouldn't have any peace."

"But with explosions like this every few days, it's hard for us to cultivate."

Laozi narrowed his eyes and pondered, "This is indeed a problem."

Yuanshi said righteously, "Big Brother, let Luo Xuan come to my Yuqing Palace. I'll teach him about seniority and respect."

What is Second Brother trying to do? This won't do!

Seeing this, Tongtian couldn't sit still either. "Big Brother, my Shangqing Palace is sturdy. Let Luo Xuan come to my place!"

Their intentions were clear, and Laozi said exasperatedly, "Let's just have Luo Xuan stay in Taiqing Palace."

"I'll tell you the truth, Luo Xuan is currently refining six-turn elixirs. He should be able to produce them soon."

Yuanshi and Tongtian looked at each other and took a deep breath.

"He truly is a monstrous talent!"

Since their birth, they had never seen any being among the myriad races of the Primordial Era with talent like Luo Xuan's.

Taiqing Palace.

Thick black smoke billowed out from the doors and windows.

"Cough... cough cough..."

Outside the main gate of Taiqing Palace, Luo Xuan coughed repeatedly, tears streaming down his face.

Luo Xuan looked disheveled.

His face and clothes were covered in dark gray smudges.

Only after the black smoke dissipated did Luo Xuan return to Taiqing Palace.

Ever since Luo Xuan broke through to Grand Unity Golden Immortal, his Primordial Pill Body had finally revealed its miraculous properties.

First, there were the Spiritual Roots around Taiqing Palace.

Even though Luo Xuan had no intention of cultivating them, the Spiritual Roots around Taiqing Palace grew rapidly under the nourishment of his Primordial Pill Body.

Their effects were even better than ordinary Spiritual Roots.

The elixir-like Immortal Power within his body could also assist in alchemy.

Elixirs refined with the Elixir Qi from within his body always emitted a special aroma.

Although their grade remained the same, these elixirs were often superior to others.

Furthermore, the system's classification had changed.

It had changed from the original "high," "medium," and "low" grades to "Supreme Grade," "High Grade," and "Low Grade."

There was also "Exceptional Grade," which didn't exist before.

He wondered if it was because Luo Xuan could refine six-turn elixirs and qualified for it.

Some Exceptional Grade elixirs even possessed previously non-existent effects.

Even Laozi, upon learning of this, lamented that Luo Xuan was born to refine elixirs.

However, when Luo Xuan began refining six-turn elixirs, he encountered an obstacle.

To this day, Luo Xuan had been refining six-turn elixirs for over several hundred years.

He had failed a total of ninety-four times.

No matter how Luo Xuan refined them, they always fell just a little short.

"Where exactly is the problem?"

"Could it be the influence of the Elixir Qi?"

Luo Xuan muttered to himself, then shook his head.

There was no doubt that the Elixir Qi could make the elixirs more refined.

If there were side effects, they would have manifested already; there was no need to wait until now.

Luo Xuan clasped his head with both hands, staring intently at the Alchemy Furnace.

After a long examination, Luo Xuan couldn't find any issues with the Alchemy Furnace.

Then, Luo Xuan poured out the dregs from the Alchemy Furnace.

Within this pile of dregs, a rough, pitted prototype of an elixir could still be faintly seen, emitting a faint fragrance.

"Where exactly did I go wrong..."

Luo Xuan's fingers continuously sifted through the dregs of the medicine, muttering to himself.

He was so engrossed that he didn't even notice when Laozi and the others entered Taiqing Palace.

Laozi examined the pile of waste residue and mused, "In this batch of elixirs, you used too much Fire Grass."

"Also, your technique when refining the Verdant Heart Vine was incorrect, and the heat was too high..."

Luo Xuan looked troubled, "But those are almost the same as in the elixir formula?"

Laozi smiled faintly, "All things have spirits, and elixirs are no exception."

"When you reach a six-revolution elixir, no matter how faint, it possesses its own sentience. Sense its emotions, and then control it."

"Elixirs have spirits... elixirs have spirits..."

Luo Xuan paused slightly, repeating the words.

Finally, Luo Xuan's eyes lit up again, becoming as brilliant as stars.

Only then did Luo Xuan snap back to reality and quickly turn around, saying, "Thank you, Master!"

Laozi nodded slightly, not angered by Luo Xuan's earlier inattentiveness.

Instead, he felt gratified by Luo Xuan's dedication.

Just as Luo Xuan was about to start refining another batch of elixirs, he suddenly seemed to remember something.

"Oh right, Master, how is Shouyang Mountain doing now? How is the Old Ancestor?"

Laozi was taken aback by the question and chuckled, "I've been on Kunlun Mountain and haven't paid much attention to Human Race affairs. How would I know?"

Luo Xuan looked surprised, "Master hasn't gone to the Human Race to preach?"

Based on the timeline, the establishment of the Human Religion should be happening soon.

Could it be that he was so engrossed in alchemy that he lost track of time?

"Preach?" Laozi was stunned.

Seeing Laozi's expression, Luo Xuan smiled and said, "It's nothing then."

Luo Xuan turned and began to refine the elixir.

Laozi, however, stood still.

A flash of inspiration seemed to strike him.

Luo Xuan's words echoed in his mind, again and again.

He felt closer and closer to that moment of enlightenment.

"Yes, it's preaching!" Laozi's eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light.

He looked at Luo Xuan, wishing he could hug him, and said, "Luo Xuan, you will stay in Taiqing Palace for the next few days. Don't go out unless absolutely necessary."

"Only come out when you can refine a six-revolution elixir. I probably won't be on Kunlun during this time."

"You can freely consult any of the texts within Taiqing Palace."

Luo Xuan, seeing the excited Laozi, vaguely guessed what was happening. "Master, are you going to the Human Race?"

"Indeed."

Laozi showed a heartfelt smile before transforming into a gust of clear wind and disappearing from the great hall.

"My Dao is complete!"

Laozi's voice resonated across Kunlun Mountain, then gradually faded.

Chapter 30: A Pillow Delivered When One is Sleepy

As Laozi's voice grew distant.

Yuanshi and Tongtian flew out of the Three Pure Ones Hall, looking utterly bewildered.

Tongtian scratched his head and asked, "Second Brother, where is Eldest Brother going?"

Yuanshi shook his head, "I don't know."

Tongtian continued, "What did Eldest Brother mean by that just now?"

Yuanshi still shook his head, "I don't know."

That phrase, "My Dao is complete," seemed to express the pent-up frustration Laozi had felt for years.

Having reached the Quasi-Saint realm, their next step on the path to Dao was Sainthood.

Yet, for years, they hadn't found the opportune moment. How could he suddenly have an epiphany?

Yuanshi looked down in the direction of Taiqing Palace.

At that moment, Luo Xuan stepped out of the doors and watched Laozi heading towards the Human Race.

His face fell, and he no longer felt like refining elixirs.