Re-smelting the Furnace

Communicating his intent to the Origin Cauldron, he caused the cyan glow at its mouth to dissipate, revealing a golden treasure seed and a crimson treasure seed bobbing within.

[Origin Treasure Seed · First-Layer]

[Spirit Snatch: 9/100]

[Fire Crow Treasure Seed · First-Layer]

[Spirit Snatch: 6/100]

"Six months have passed, and the [Origin Treasure Seed] has only snatched nine points of spirit. Although it is extremely slow, compared to the nearly thirty years it took to accumulate a first-layer treasure seed before, I don't know how much faster this is!"

Perhaps it is related to my cultivation level advancing to the third layer of Qi Refining? The more powerful the cultivation, the denser the vital blood, and the faster the Spirit Snatch?

Lin Changheng watched the golden treasure seed, estimating to himself.

At this rate, he could complete the Spirit Snatch in five years and obtain a second-layer Origin Treasure Seed.

If his cultivation level rose further, he could shorten this time even more.

"But with my miscellaneous spirit roots, wanting to polish the bottleneck and break through into the mid-stage of Qi Refining will likely take five years as well. Once my spirit root rises another wisp to become a low-grade spirit root, not only will the bottleneck loosen, but the accumulation of mana and the time to break through will also shorten; about four years is a reasonable range."

Generally speaking, the cultivation world sets sixty years as the limit for Foundation Establishment.

Unlike mortals, their energy and physical strength begin to decline after the age of forty.

Cultivators have longer lifespans, but they are not eternally evergreen; after the age of sixty, they face various problems such as the depletion of vital energy and blood, the loss of origin, and the decay of the physical body.

Before the age of sixty, if they are not injured, a cultivator's appearance and physical state will not change significantly.

But after sixty, they will age rapidly and visibly.

Skin sagging, hair turning white, spines hunching...

For someone like Lin Changheng with miscellaneous spirit roots, the issue is not whether they can reach Foundation Establishment, but whether they can break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

It is very easy for them to be trapped before the mid-stage bottleneck for their entire lives.

This is the fate of many low-level rogue cultivators and family cultivators.

Therefore, at the original Immortal Seed Spirit Testing Assembly, why did the sect families look down on "miscellaneous spirit roots," why were the Foundation Establishment families indifferent, and why did only the Qi Refining families extend an olive branch?

The key reason lies right here.

It is not that those with miscellaneous spirit roots cannot reach Foundation Establishment—they can—but the probability is so low that it is outrageous.

In the cultivation world, apart from the two universally recognized "laws of spirit roots" that cannot be changed, anything else can happen, and there are many miracles!

The sect families are not stupid; they can distinguish between panning for gold in gold and panning for gold in sand!

The expenditure of energy and resources is not proportional, making it not worth the cost!

So they set a rule to simply not touch them.

"For a long time to come, I must focus on cultivating the [Fire Crow Treasure Seed] or other new treasure seeds."

"The [Origin Treasure Seed] requires time to simmer, but other treasure seeds do not; as long as they are obtained, they can be upgraded immediately, and the spirit root will benefit as well."

"Right, there is also alchemy..."

Thinking of this, Lin Changheng's eyes flickered.

In the half-year since his awakening, he had not practiced alchemy again, and the materials provided by the Xu Family remained untouched in the shop. Now, it was time to give it a try.

Six opportunities!

Moreover, tomorrow is Master Mo's day off, and the alchemy room will be empty, which is just right.

The next day.

Lin Changheng slept until the sky was bright before getting up.

With a full spirit and in good condition, he stepped into the Xu Family Alchemy Shop.

"Brother Lin, morning!"

A young mortal girl from the Xu family without spirit roots was cleaning, her cheeks flushed, and she greeted Lin Changheng obediently when she saw him.

"Morning."

Lin Changheng, being kind to others, nodded with a smile, then immediately asked, "Is the shopkeeper in?"

"In the storeroom."

Xu Ruolan pointed behind the door slanted from the counter.

"Many thanks."

Without looking at Xu Ruolan's excited expression again, Lin Changheng waited directly at the entrance of the storeroom.

In the Xu Family Alchemy Shop, Master Mo is the chief, overseeing alchemy matters, while the shopkeeper handles the supply of medicinal herbs and the sale of finished pills.

When it came to status, Master Mo's word was law; even if there were objections, the shopkeeper would have to nod and comply.

"Oh, Changheng! Are you waiting for this old man here?"

After Xu Qianyou finished counting the medicinal herbs, he locked the door and turned around to see Lin Changheng watching him with a beaming smile, prompting him to ask immediately.

"That is exactly right!"

"Shopkeeper, since Master Mo is taking his day off today and I have gained some insights into the art of alchemy, I have come to collect some herbs to put them to the test. Sorry to trouble you!"

Lin Changheng deliberately put on an eager, raring-to-go expression.

"That's the spirit! You're only thirty, Changheng; you have a long life ahead of you and plenty of time. Why spend your days frowning and shrouding yourself in gloom?"

"Even if we take a step back and say you fail at alchemy, it's no matter. You can hone your techniques just like the disciples of the Xu family. Once you retire from 'Land Reclamation,' I'll ask the clan to find you a beautiful woman to settle down with. Your life wouldn't necessarily be any worse... wouldn't you agree?"

Xu Qianyou had been the shopkeeper at the Xu Family Shop in Zichuan Market for nearly twenty years. Having known Lin Changheng for a decade, he had offered him guidance time and time again.

Seeing him finally show signs of enlightenment now, his old heart felt deeply comforted.

"Many thanks, Shopkeeper."

Lin Changheng expressed his deep agreement, nodding repeatedly before continuing, "But the dust has not yet settled. Until the very end, we cultivators must not give up easily!"

"If I truly have no affinity for the path of alchemy, I will indeed have to rely on you, Shopkeeper, to find me a wife—the kind you can't chase away even if you tried. When that time comes, I hope you won't find me a nuisance..."

Hearing this, Xu Qianyou stroked his beard and shook his head with a chuckle, "You, oh you!"

He immediately turned to the business at hand, "You still have six portions of materials left for your alchemy attempts. How many do you intend to refine this time?"

"Six portions!"

Lin Changheng looked the shopkeeper straight in the eyes, his voice ringing with conviction.

"Six portions?" Xu Qianyou was stunned and confirmed once more.

"Six portions! Please, fetch me six portions of materials."

"Very well! Wait here."

Xu Qianyou scrutinized him carefully for a few moments, seemingly infected by his determination and bold spirit, before turning to retrieve them.

He solemnly placed the six portions of materials for refining the Crimson Flame Pill into Lin Changheng's hands. Watching him turn resolutely toward the alchemy room in the backyard, Xu Qianyou's lips parted, but in the end, he said nothing, letting out only a long, heavy sigh.

As time turns and the seas change into mulberry fields, how many lofty ambitions have been blocked by the word "talent," and how many have exhausted their lives in vain!

It was a pity that Changheng had spent ten years of struggle on the wrong path.

Otherwise...

Alas!

At this moment, Lin Changheng was unaware of the shopkeeper's thoughts; he had already lit the fire in the furnace.

The flames dancing within the furnace reflected upon his face, his eyes tightly shut, devoid of sorrow or joy, his body motionless.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes.

In his mind, he had already simulated the entire process of refining the Crimson Flame Pill once more, without a single error.

"Furnace heating complete."

Lin Changheng cast the medicinal herbs into the furnace one by one, his hands forming the Refining Wash pill-seal, using his spiritual power to continuously scour them—this was the "wash."

At the same time, he employed the Fire Control Art at the base of the herbs, the tongues of flame flickering as he performed the "refining."

After more than thirty pill-seals, an hour had already passed.

The medicinal herbs inside the furnace were now of unparalleled purity, emitting a faint, lingering fragrance under the glow of the fire.

Next came the liquefaction, the blending of the herbs, and the subduing refinement...