One day, Wei Zhong sat atop a cliff beside Black Lake Island, forming hand seals.
A rapidly spinning vortex churned in the lake below. As Wei Zhong's hand seals quickened, the vortex spun ever faster.
Suddenly, Wei Zhong stopped his movements and struck his chest. At once, he sprayed out a mouthful of essence blood, which fell into the swirling vortex.
Wei Zhong rose to his feet, his hands held in a grasping motion as he lifted them upward.
"Rise!"
A black pearl the size of a fist flew out from within and landed in Wei Zhong's hand.
A smile appeared on Wei Zhong's face.
"The Yuan Water Pearl has finally been completed."
Over these past days, Wei Zhong had sat rigidly on this cliff, failing no fewer than five times before finally condensing the prototype of this secret treasure.
The essence blood he had expended had turned Wei Zhong's face pale, but fortunately, he had succeeded.
Luckily, he had chosen this second-rank spirit land. Otherwise, relying solely on the spiritual power within his body, who knew when he would have managed to refine it successfully?
Feeling the Yuan Water Pearl's intimate connection with him, one that far surpassed those of spirit beasts and magical artifacts, Wei Zhong thought, Is this the secret treasure recorded in the Spring Autumn Water Refining Art? It truly is extraordinary.
Wei Zhong could sense that as he circulated his cultivation art, the Yuan Water Pearl also absorbed the surrounding spiritual qi and water energy, strengthening itself in tandem.
If it were tempered continuously like this, the Yuan Water Pearl's power would grow ever greater. Once Wei Zhong entered the Core Formation realm, he could further refine it into his own Natal Magic Treasure.
Water Refining Art, Water Refining Art... Could it be that this water is what it refines?
Wei Zhong casually tossed the Yuan Water Pearl from his hand, and it immediately blasted a hole into the hard mountain rock.
The Yuan Water Pearl has only just been refined. It still isn't heavy enough.
Wei Zhong picked it up and flicked his sleeve. The black water pearl vanished at once.
Looking toward the shimmering lake in the distance, Wei Zhong murmured, "After all these days, Luo Mingyan should have delivered the message. The alchemy methods should be sent over soon."
Sure enough, before long, two streaks of light arrived.
They revealed the figures of Luo Mingyan and Shen Yuqi.
Wei Zhong's hearty voice immediately rang out from within Black Lake Island. "You two have come from afar. Please, come in quickly."
The two men cupped their hands and descended into the courtyard.
As usual, there was a banquet, spirit wine, and spiritual food.
After chatting idly for a while, the three began discussing business.
Shen Yuqi spoke first. "I heard that Fellow Daoist Chu is interested in alchemy methods. I have specifically brought two alchemy arts this time."
As he spoke, two Jade Slips flew from his sleeve and hovered in the air.
Wei Zhong was somewhat surprised. He examined the two methods one by one. One Jade Slip contained a conventional fire-refining alchemy method, capable of reaching the second rank. The other was rather unusual—it was an unorthodox water-refining alchemy art.
"Of these two alchemy arts, one is to repay the favor from the Green Vine Intoxication matter. For the other, I wish to trade it for Fellow Daoist's improved Green Vine Intoxication recipe."
When Shen Yuqi had heard Luo Mingyan say that Green Vine Intoxication had already been improved to the peak of the first rank, he had been overjoyed. The ordinary version of Green Vine Intoxication already generated enough profit to offset his alchemy expenses. How much more formidable would an upgraded version be?
Thus, he had specifically chosen two alchemy methods to exchange for the wine recipe in Wei Zhong's possession.
After years of training, Shen Yuqi had successfully advanced from a first-rank alchemist to the second rank. His research into the medicinal properties of all kinds of spiritual herbs was also exceptionally profound. Coupled with the time he had spent brewing spirit wine, he could be considered half a brewing expert.
It was not impossible for him to rely on the foundation of his second-rank alchemy arts to advance it into a second-rank wine recipe himself.
The value of such a cheap body-tempering substance, one that nearly shattered the common sense of the cultivation world, was unimaginable.
Without the slightest hesitation, Wei Zhong took out the improved Green Vine Intoxication recipe he had prepared long ago and handed it to Shen Yuqi.
At worst, he only needed to spend some time improving the recipe again and raising it to the second rank, so he did not feel much reluctance. Naturally, he would not tell the two men before him that.
Shen Yuqi accepted the recipe and swept it with his divine sense, astonishment appearing on his face.
"I never imagined such marvelous techniques existed. Fellow Daoist Chu is truly a brewing genius!"
Over the years, Shen Yuqi had also tried to improve the wine recipe. Yet either he failed and reduced its medicinal effect, or he increased its medicinal effect slightly while greatly raising the cost, losing Green Vine Intoxication's advantage of low cost and high returns.
Now that he saw Wei Zhong's improved formula, he found it simply exquisite beyond words.
"Not at all. Fellow Daoist Shen flatters me."
Yet Wei Zhong was thinking that cultivators in this world primarily cultivated spiritual arts because they possessed abundant resources for them.
By comparison, resources for body refinement were scarce. As a result, all sorts of treasures needed for body refinement, such as spiritual pills and spiritual liquids, were extremely expensive.
That was precisely why Green Vine Intoxication was so valuable.
It seemed that he would have to be more cautious once he created second-rank Green Vine Intoxication in the future.
After both sides put away the items they desired, they raised their cups and began drinking freely. When the matter was concluded, Luo Mingyan handed over a golden invitation.
Wei Zhong accepted it and asked in confusion, "What is this?"
The latter smiled. "Our sect's First Disciple, Yao ZhengSheng, has successfully formed his core. He has specially invited Fellow Daoist to attend the Core Formation Grand Ceremony one month from now."
Wei Zhong's heart shook upon hearing this. A Core Formation cultivator had already emerged among this generation of Azurewood Sect disciples?
Seeing Wei Zhong lost in thought, Luo Mingyan cupped his hands. "Then Fellow Daoist Shen and I shall take our leave. We will meet Fellow Daoist again at the Azurewood Sect's mountain gate before long."
Wei Zhong returned the gesture. "One month from now, Chu Zhong will certainly attend."
The two immediately transformed into twin streaks of light and departed Black Lake Island.
Watching their retreating figures, Wei Zhong recalled the First Disciple who had formed his core, and bitterness stirred within him.
His aptitude was poor. He did not know when he would have any hope of Core Formation. Time, time—what he needed most was time.
A streak of black light flew from Wei Zhong's sleeve, crossed the cliff of Black Lake Island, and fell into the nearby Sea Moon Lake. Sensing the black pearl that bore its master's aura, Da Jin drove away all the surrounding water beasts and guarded it nearby.
Wei Zhong entered the grotto-heaven, swallowed medicinal pills, and began his arduous cultivation.
The Yuan Water Pearl in the lake simultaneously began absorbing spiritual qi and lake water to replenish itself.
Whenever cultivation grew dreary, Wei Zhong would take out the alchemy methods he had just acquired and ponder them carefully, or enjoy a bout of utmost bliss with the maidservants on the island.
The Li family.
"Clan Head, the Yan family has withdrawn from Mian Ya Mountain."
Li Ren was overjoyed upon hearing this. Mian Ya Mountain was located on a peninsula within Sea Moon Lake.
It produced abundant spiritual herbs that did not rank even as first-rank materials, making it exceptionally suitable for raising first-rank spirit beasts.
It had originally belonged to the Li family, but after the Li family suffered a severe blow years ago, it had been seized by the Yan family.
The Yan family had occupied it for more than a decade, yet now it had returned to the Li family's hands so easily.
Li Ren understood that it was not the Li family's strength that had forced back the Yan family. It was entirely due to the Li family's Guest Elder, Senior Chu Zhong.
Thinking of the people who had recently visited Black Lake Island, they were two true disciples of the Azurewood Sect—figures who ordinarily would not even lower their eyes to glance at a force like the Li family.
Yet they had visited Black Lake Island several times. Senior Chu's strength was truly unfathomable.
"Quickly send more beautiful women from the clan."
Who knew what sort of misunderstanding Li Ren had developed about Wei Zhong to give rise to such thoughts?
Seeing the many newly arrived women, Wei Zhong asked Xie Linghua in confusion, "Why has the Li family sent so many women over?"
Xie Linghua smiled upon hearing this. "Who told Master to be so kind-hearted, keeping so many women on Black Lake Island? The Li family must think Master is a lustful man."
Wei Zhong rubbed his nose, somewhat embarrassed. Although there were many women on Black Lake Island, including Xie Linghua, only three had actually entered into such relations with Wei Zhong.
The others merely worked on the island and handled its affairs.
It was simply because their treatment was better than it had been in the Li family that so many had remained.
Wei Zhong instructed Xie Linghua, "Keep things somewhat under control. With so many people, Black Lake Island cannot accommodate them all.
"Also, notify the Li family that this poor Daoist is not a man who lives for lust. Rather than doing this, they would do better to provide Black Lake Island with some spiritual herb seedlings. We are sorely lacking them here."
"Yes, Master!"
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