Not Yet Learning the Art of Alchemy, Swallowing It Whole

ps: Chapter 10 had some upload issues and has been revised. It should be viewable after the delay. My apologies, my fault!

According to Xu Yu's previous lecture notes, the Void Return Pill and Life Transformation Pill were extremely advanced elixirs. Even the masters at the peak of the Four Halls couldn't use them; they were meant for those at the Immortal Infant Dao Fruit Realm. Within the entire Taichu Sect, aside from the Sect Master True Lord Huang Long, there were only four ancestors at the Immortal Infant Dao Fruit Realm. One had died of old age decades ago, two were in permanent seclusion and uninterested in worldly affairs, and the last one was nearing the end of his lifespan and was traveling everywhere searching for rare heavenly treasures to refine elixirs for longevity.

A One-Leaf Golden Lotus, it was actually a One-Leaf Golden Lotus! A supreme spirit medicine that even the ancestors of the Immortal Sect were desperately seeking!

Qin Haoxuan was immediately excited, his blood boiling. The lingering sleepiness vanished completely. It seemed he would have to sleep through class again tomorrow, because he had decided to go to the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley tonight to harvest the treasure. With a treasure like the One-Leaf Golden Lotus, it didn't matter if he was looked down upon.

Finally, night fell. After dinner, everyone sat cross-legged to cultivate. Spiritual energy surged around the Purple Seed disciples, their bodies like vast oceans, greedily absorbing spiritual energy. Even Elder Chu marveled at this speed. Was this the talent of Purple Seed disciples!

Around the two Gray Seed disciples, the spiritual energy was also dense, but the absorption speed was clearly no match for the Purple Seed disciples. However, it was still much stronger than for the Weak Seed disciples.

Spirit Field Valley was a place with relatively abundant spiritual energy on Dayu Mountain, and the speed of spiritual energy absorption was far faster than in other places. Yet, Qin Haoxuan could only absorb a very small amount of spiritual energy. Not only could he not compare to the Purple Seed disciples, but even compared to Gray Seed disciples like Zhang Yang and Murong Chao, the difference was like that between heaven and earth.

If Zhang Kuang and the other Purple Seed disciples were as fast as rabbits, then Qin Haoxuan and the other Weak Seed disciples were as slow as snails.

No, if this continued, the gap would widen within three months. By then, neither Zhang Kuang nor Li Jing would let him off easily.

Qin Haoxuan gritted his teeth and decided to cultivate the Great Dao Heart Seed Demon Technique of the Undying Witch Demon.

This demonic technique was a cultivation method of the demonic path. Would cultivating it be dangerous? Qin Haoxuan wasn't sure, but to avoid being left behind by Zhang Kuang and others, and to avoid being easily bullied and suppressed in the future, he decided to take a gamble!

The profound and mysterious text of the Great Dao Heart Seed Demon Technique appeared in his mind. He glanced at the brief introduction: The Great Dao Heart Seed Demon Technique is a supreme technique, passed down from a supreme demon god.

The first chapter of the Great Dao Heart Seed Demon Technique was an advanced technique, vastly different from low-level techniques like the Qi Guiding Technique. It was explained very clearly: although the Great Dao Heart Seed Demon Technique is a demonic cultivation method, it requires the assistance of immortal cultivation methods. If one only cultivates the Great Dao Heart Seed Demon Technique without cultivating immortal sect dao methods, it cannot be successfully cultivated.

After a few attempts, Qin Haoxuan successfully guided the Qi. He felt the spiritual energy of heaven and earth pouring into his dantian like a vast, continuous river, nourishing his Immortal Seed.

A gray-black true qi that had been clinging to Qin Haoxuan's dantian also quietly entered his Immortal Seed along with the massive influx of spiritual energy from heaven and earth.

Qin Haoxuan, whose spiritual energy absorption speed had increased countless times, was overjoyed but immediately stopped. After all, as a Weak Seed disciple, absorbing spiritual energy too quickly would arouse suspicion. However, he noticed that his surroundings were calm and serene, with no sign of surging spiritual energy or even dense spiritual energy.

Qin Haoxuan rejoiced inwardly. It turned out that the Great Dao Heart Seed Demon Technique absorbed spiritual energy so discreetly that it wouldn't be noticed. In fact, this was common to all advanced techniques. If they were like the low-level Qi Guiding Technique, wouldn't the sect's ancestors cause the heavens and earth to change color and storms to arise like the end of the world when they absorbed spiritual energy?

Continuing to cultivate the Great Dao Heart Seed Demon Technique, Qin Haoxuan's spiritual energy absorption speed was many times faster than using the Qi Guiding Technique. It was even subtly on par with Gray Seed disciples like Zhang Yang and Murong Chao, but there was still a vast difference compared to Zhang Kuang and Li Jing. No wonder every Purple Seed disciple was a favored child of the cultivation world, which further strengthened Qin Haoxuan's resolve to go to the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley to harvest and consume the One-Leaf Golden Lotus.

After cultivating for a few hours, it was deep into the night. The diligent disciples had gradually fallen asleep. While diligent cultivation was important, they were still mortal at this stage. Cultivating without rest and sleep would be counterproductive. Moreover, cultivation was inherently a difficult task, so whether they were strong or weak seed disciples, they fell into a deep sleep as soon as they hit the pillow.

Although Qin Haoxuan was tired, in order to improve his strength as quickly as possible, after everyone had fallen asleep, he possessed the Little Snake and scurried towards the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley.

Although the moon was bright and the stars were sparse tonight, and the weather was clear, the sky near the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley was covered in dark clouds, and the twilight was deep. Even from outside the valley, one could hear the mournful howling of the wind emanating from within.

Having experienced it the night before, Qin Haoxuan plunged in without hesitation.

"You're back again!" As soon as Qin Haoxuan stepped into the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley, the Undying Witch Demon, not far from the entrance, greeted him. Qin Haoxuan ignored it and rushed directly towards the One-Leaf Golden Lotus.

As he approached the One-Leaf Golden Lotus, Qin Haoxuan's heart pounded. This was a spirit medicine used by figures at the ancestor level of the Taichu Sect. If used for alchemy, it could minimize the loss of medicinal power. However, if swallowed raw, more than half of the medicinal power would be lost.

After harvesting the One-Leaf Golden Lotus, Qin Haoxuan decided to swallow it raw tonight. Although it was too extravagant, he didn't know the basics of alchemy, let alone how to refine a treasure like the One-Leaf Golden Lotus.

The idea of asking someone else to refine it and then splitting the pills fifty-fifty flashed through Qin Haoxuan's mind, but he quickly dismissed it. If the secret of him being able to possess the Little Snake and enter and exit the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley were known to outsiders, even the sect's ancestors would become greedy. They would capture him and force him to constantly enter the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley to search for treasures, without giving him any benefit.

To avoid future trouble, let it be wasted. The Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley was so vast, with countless heavenly treasures within, Qin Haoxuan believed that as long as his secret was not exposed, the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley would be his private treasure trove, and he wouldn't be able to eat it all even if he consumed it so extravagantly.

As Qin Haoxuan was about to leave the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley, the Undying Witch Demon, who had been left to the side, became anxious.

"Hey, hey, I say, Little Snake, are you planning to just swallow it like that? Although this Nine-Leaf Golden Lotus only has one leaf, it's still a rare treasure! If used for alchemy, it would benefit you immensely!"

Qin Haoxuan rolled his eyes at him. Possessing the Little Snake, he couldn't speak, but the meaning of his eye-roll was clear – easy for you to say, can you help me refine it?

"That's true. Although you can enter and exit the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley, you are just a snake after all," the Undying Witch Demon muttered to himself after being rolled his eyes at, and sighed.

This One-Leaf Golden Lotus had grown before his eyes hundreds of years ago. It was indeed a rare heavenly treasure. Anyone who obtained it would cherish it as a priceless gem. With the addition of some auxiliary spirit medicines, a batch of excellent pills could be refined. He never expected it to be swallowed raw by this damned Little Snake.

If the Undying Witch Demon could stand up, he would have surely stomped on the extravagant Qin Haoxuan and spat on him fiercely: "Prodigal son!"

Qin Haoxuan couldn't be bothered with the Undying Witch Demon, who hadn't seen a living creature for thousands of years and had become somewhat eccentric. He quickly left with the One-Leaf Golden Lotus.

Watching Qin Haoxuan leave with the One-Leaf Golden Lotus, a sinister smile spread across the Undying Witch Demon's withered face. He muttered to himself, "Heh! Just a little more patience!"

By the time he returned to the dormitory, it was the second watch of the night. Qin Haoxuan, his soul returned to his body, placed the One-Leaf Golden Lotus in a jade box he carried with him. He had purchased it when gathering herbs before. Many spirit medicines would quickly lose their medicinal power and spiritual energy if not properly stored. After a long time, even the most potent spirit medicine would be no different from common grass. Although Qin Haoxuan's jade box was not made of high-grade jade, it could slow down the rate of medicinal power loss.

He walked out of the dormitory area and chose a remote, desolate place. Qin Haoxuan took out the One-Leaf Golden Lotus from the jade box and held it in his hand, examining it carefully. This One-Leaf Golden Lotus was about four inches long, golden all over. A single leaf, no bigger than a thumbnail, shone with a golden light, reflecting the cold moonlight.

"Extravagant, so extravagant!" Qin Haoxuan held the One-Leaf Golden Lotus as if it were a priceless treasure. This small golden plant was like a massive spiritual energy vault. The pills refined from it might help the ancestors, who had been stuck in the Immortal Infant Dao Fruit Realm for a long time, to advance to the Dharma Aspect Realm, or at least extend their lifespan.

Compared to it, the spirit medicines he had dug up before weren't even as good as the roots of common grass. He had initially wanted to admire it for a while longer, but the color of the One-Leaf Golden Lotus had already faded considerably, likely due to the loss of medicinal power. Besides, it wasn't safe to hold such a heavenly treasure in his hand; it was better to swallow it quickly for security.

To avoid any further complications, Qin Haoxuan hardened his heart, disregarding the waste, and brought the One-Leaf Golden Lotus to his lips. He had intended to take a small bite and consume it in several sittings, but as soon as the One-Leaf Golden Lotus entered Qin Haoxuan's mouth, it transformed into a hot, viscous liquid and automatically flowed down his throat.

After the One-Leaf Golden Lotus entered Qin Haoxuan's stomach, he immediately felt as if a ball of fire was burning fiercely in his abdomen, and his body became extremely hot.

Qin Haoxuan immediately sat cross-legged and circulated the only cultivation technique he had practiced, the Qi Guiding Technique, guiding the spiritual energy generated by the One-Leaf Golden Lotus to circulate throughout his body.

As he circulated the Qi Guiding Technique, the fire in his abdomen subsided, and the heat in his body dissipated. The abundant spiritual energy within his body allowed Qin Haoxuan to guide it freely. His previously half-baked Qi Guiding Technique gradually became proficient. While absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and merging it with the spiritual energy within his body, he also nourished his Immortal Seed, which had a small crack. The crack was filled with vibrant green, madly absorbing the spiritual energy Qin Haoxuan sent.

Cultivating without regard for time, Qin Haoxuan spent the entire night processing the Golden Lotus and meditating. The morning sunlight shone on his face, waking him from his pleasant immersion in cultivation.

As soon as he stopped circulating his Qi, the fire in his abdomen reignited, and his body became hot again. It felt as if he hadn't just swallowed a spiritual herb leaf, but a pot of chili soup, a fireball. The heat made his body feel like it would explode. He had to unbutton his clothes and stand bare-chested, letting the cool morning mountain breeze blow on him, hoping it would offer some relief. However, he found it wasn't very effective, only making him slightly more comfortable than before.

At this moment, the aftereffects of possessing the Little Snake also manifested. Waves of sleepiness washed over Qin Haoxuan.

Thus, the scene unfolded: a young man with a weary face, bare-chested and yawning, dragging his heavy steps towards the classroom. His disheveled appearance stunned everyone else. This Qin Haoxuan was truly capable of causing trouble, and he managed to come up with new tricks to attract attention every day. Elder Chu shook his head, sighing that the boy was incorrigible and beyond salvation.

"With this attire, where's the semblance of a cultivator?" Zhang Kuang's sarcastic remark earned a relieved nod from Elder Chu. How could an immortal dress like a farmer?

Qin Haoxuan was hot and sleepy. He knew that Zhang Kuang's current prestige as a Purple Seed disciple was so great that even elders would give him face. He decided not to argue and save himself trouble. Sleep was the most important thing.