Alchemy Inheritance

"There were quite a few treasures in the cultivation world that nourished the flesh, but Spirit Wine as cheap and effective as Green Vine Intoxication was rare.

Moreover, its raw ingredients were common throughout the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range, further reducing its cost.

After our Azurewood Sect had marched into the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range for so many years, who knew how many cultivators had been wounded fighting demonic beasts? Although this Spirit Wine could not heal injuries, it could strengthen the body and reduce the chances of being injured.

Especially for Qi Refining cultivators, its affordable price gave it remarkably strong sales.

My Brother Shen earned who knew how many spirit stones from this Spirit Wine every year.

I heard that he obtained this prescription from you and had yet to pay you any compensation.

If Brother Chu were to handle this matter yourself..."

As Wei Zhong listened to him speak, realization dawned on him. So Azurewood Sect's development of the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range had caused Green Vine Intoxication to become so popular.

"Brother Luo, you flatter me. I would need the ability to manage such a matter first. A common man committed no crime, yet he was guilty for possessing jade.

Back then, I was merely a minor Qi Refining cultivator. How could I have had the ability to operate such a business? Fellow Daoist Shen was different. He was originally an Azurewood Sect true disciple, as well as a Foundation Establishment cultivator and an alchemist. It was only right for him to take charge of this matter."

"You were willing to let it go, but my good brother could not rest easy over it."

Wei Zhong secretly laughed. Cultivators valued their state of mind above all else. Shen Yuqi had gained so much from him for nothing—how could he possibly be at peace?

It would have been fine if he had paid the compensation readily back then, but instead he had used a favor as a promise, while Wei Zhong himself had advanced to Foundation Establishment and become his equal.

If this karma could not be settled, it would likely affect his state of mind and, in turn, his Dao Path.

"My friend is probably worrying over how to repay this favor right now."

Wei Zhong began to consider it. Shen Yuqi was an alchemist, and he happened to lack an alchemy inheritance. Could he perhaps start from there?

Thinking back to Liu Di, whom he had killed, that man had also been a first-rank alchemist. Yet Liu Di's Storage Bag had contained no complete alchemy inheritance, only scattered remarks and occasional records of experience.

Such things could not form a new skill on the Status Panel, so there was naturally no question of leveling it up.

After pondering for a while, Wei Zhong said softly:

"I wonder... does Shen Zhenchuan possess any methods of alchemy? It need not be an Azurewood Sect inheritance. So long as it can allow this poor Daoist to step onto the path of alchemy, that will suffice."

Luo Mingyan looked at Wei Zhong in surprise.

"Brother Chu, you want to learn alchemy?

Alchemy was no easy craft to learn. Even with an inheritance in hand, it was difficult to get started without a master's guidance, not to mention the expense of practicing along the way. Even I would feel the pain of that."

Wei Zhong felt somewhat embarrassed.

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Luo. It is simply that I am far too curious about the art of alchemy..."

Seeing Wei Zhong's determination, Luo Mingyan stopped trying to dissuade him, planning to inform his friend of the matter when he returned.

When Wei Zhong saw him fall silent, he knew there was hope. Perhaps Luo Mingyan's visit had not been without the intention of probing for Shen Yuqi's feelings.

"I can pass the message along for you. But since you have set your heart on alchemy, do not neglect the art of Spirit Wine. If this Green Vine Intoxication can advance to the second rank, its market will no longer be limited to Qi Refining cultivators. At that time, who knew how many Foundation Establishment cultivators would come knocking at your door?"

Wei Zhong merely smiled.

"Brother Luo overstates it. How could second-rank Spirit Wine be so easily brewed? Even if I successfully developed a second-rank wine recipe, its cost would likely rise by several levels. At that point, the value of Green Vine Intoxication might not exceed that of the current first-rank Green Vine Intoxication."

Luo Mingyan nodded.

If Wei Zhong could not control the costs, then even second-rank Green Vine Intoxication would be inferior to other, more cost-effective spiritual items in terms of nourishing the flesh. The spirit stones earned from it would naturally be fewer as well.

"However, if Fellow Daoist can brew second-rank Spirit Wine, then even if you earn no spirit stones from it, it will still be enough to build connections. Since you have not joined our sect as a Guest Elder, you must be restricted at every turn. You may as well use Spirit Wine to open up some channels."

Wei Zhong naturally understood the reasoning. In the eyes of the corresponding cultivators, high-rank spiritual items always held greater value than low-rank ones.

Wei Zhong himself had considered using this to establish connections in the cultivation world, but not within Azurewood Sect's territory.

For no other reason than his fear that Azurewood Sect would grow jealous.

Even a mere first-rank Spirit Wine had caught the eye of a Foundation Establishment true disciple. Would second-rank Spirit Wine not alarm Golden Core cultivators?

What if Azurewood Sect used its strength to suppress him?

He was merely a minor Foundation Establishment cultivator. Could he resist? He would probably have no choice but to obediently hand over the wine recipe, brew wine for them, and then be dismissed with a few spiritual items, while all subsequent profits had nothing to do with him.

It would not be good if he acted in secret and killed the Golden Core cultivator who came after him, either. In the cultivation world, the greatest fear in conflict was that the other party had backing: beat the young one, and the old one came; beat the old one, and an even older one came...

Azurewood Sect was, after all, a Golden Core sect. His highest combat power was only at the early Golden Core stage. How could he wipe them all out in a short time...

"I will bear Brother Luo's words in mind."

The two then chatted freely for a while, after which Luo Mingyan took his leave.

Wei Zhong gave him several jars of improved Green Vine Intoxication and instructed him to deliver another jar to Ning CanKun.

"Fellow Daoist Chu is most thoughtful."

Perhaps feeling embarrassed that Wei Zhong had given him gifts while he had come and gone empty-handed, Luo Mingyan took a ganoderma from his Storage Bag.

"This is called Flesh-Eating Ganoderma, a specialty ganoderma of the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range. It does not grow upon decayed spiritwood, but is born within the flesh of dead demonic beasts.

It can absorb both the spiritual energy and vital blood of its host, and it can also be cultivated in an environment rich in spiritual energy.

Let this serve as my congratulations on Fellow Daoist's Foundation Establishment."

Wei Zhong gladly accepted it without refusing.

Watching Luo Mingyan depart, Wei Zhong understood that his path of alchemy had finally found its footing.

Among the hundred arts of cultivation, alchemy and formations reigned supreme. At this moment, the path of alchemy lay right before his eyes, yet he still did not know where to find the path of formations.

Glancing at Black Lake Island, which let wind leak in from every direction, Wei Zhong found this thin layer of warning formation truly shabby, far inferior to Azurewood Sect's grand sect formation.

Start with Azurewood Sect?

Wei Zhong shook his head. How could such a foundational skill be placed in the hands of others?

It seemed he would still have to visit Hanzhu City, or perhaps the even more distant outer prefectures.

But not now. With only early Foundation Establishment cultivation, it was still too early to think about such things. At the very least, he had to wait until the matter of Blood Sea True Lord was settled. With those two senior elders involved, it should not take long.

Wei Zhong returned to the pavilion and entered the grotto-heaven once more. As for the remains of the two men's wine feast, servants would naturally clean them up.

When night fell, Wei Zhong emerged from cultivation again. Within the pavilion, Xie Linghua led a woman into the small building.

The woman wore a light pink gauze dress, her face flushed, as though she had only recently experienced such matters.

She was one of the women the Li family had sent over these past few days, born to the upper ranks of the Li family's various branches. In order to curry favor with Wei Zhong, the Li family had truly been ruthless.

Wei Zhong had no mind to concern himself with such matters, so he left everything to Xie Linghua's decision. If they were willing, they could enter Wei Zhong's pavilion; if not, they could remain on Black Lake Island and seek some work.

Today—no, this month—it was this woman's turn.