The night was as black as ink, and all was silent.
The oil lamp's faint glow gradually dimmed. Listening to the steady breathing of his parents and little sister from the next room, Ning Chuan closed his book, blew out the lamp, and lay back down on his bed.
The usual process: he closed his eyes, sank his consciousness into his mind, and connected once more to the vast Heavens Trash Station.
"Enter Station. Spiritual Body Entry."
Light and shadows shifted, and the cold metal platform reappeared. Ning Chuan immediately summoned the status panel:
"Station Master: Ning Chuan" "Soul Power: Level 25" "Points: 118" "Current Materials: Centennial Polygonatum Essence x1; Centennial Poria Essence x1; Centennial Fleeceflower Root Essence x1; Ancient Earth Dragon Lizard Vertebra Fossil x1; Spirit-Conducting Metal Ingot x2..."
His gaze swept over the three main herbs for the Foundation Establishment Pill and the grayish-white Earth Dragon Lizard fossil. Ning Chuan took a deep breath and decided to use his points tonight to have the Station refine the pill.
"Station, based on the Foundation Establishment Pill formula recorded in Ten Thousand Herb Appraisal, use the three available main herbs as the foundation and begin the alchemy process."
"Command accepted. Analyzing pill formula and materials..." "Materials meet requirements." "Constructing simulated alchemy environment..." "Estimated point cost: 50 points (including environment simulation, energy guidance, and pill completion guarantee)." "Execute?"
"Execute!" Ning Chuan did not hesitate.
Fifty points hurt, but compared to the value of a Foundation Establishment Pill, it was worth the investment.
"Command confirmed. Points consumed: 50. Current points: 68." "Simulated alchemy process initiated."
No physical pill furnace appeared in the center of the platform. Instead, a complex image of a pill furnace formed from countless motes of light rose into view.
Runes flowed across its body, faintly conforming to some rhythm of heaven and earth.
The three prepared main herbs were lifted by an invisible force and suspended above the Virtual Pill Furnace.
Just then, Ning Chuan caught sight of the Ancient Earth Dragon Lizard Vertebra Fossil in the storage area, and a bold thought suddenly sprang into his mind!
An Earth Dragon Lizard—just from its name, it had to be a powerful earth-element creature. Its fossil had settled through the ages and surely contained pure, dense earth essence.
The main herbs of the Foundation Establishment Pill already leaned toward the earth element, emphasizing the virtue of bearing all things. If he could extract the earth essence from this fossil and blend it into the pill...
"Station!" Ning Chuan immediately added, "Analyze the energy attributes of the Ancient Earth Dragon Lizard Vertebra Fossil. Assess the feasibility and effects of extracting it and incorporating it into the Foundation Establishment Pill!"
"Analyzing..." "Target: Ancient Earth Dragon Lizard Vertebra Fossil." "Attributes: Pure earth element, dragon lineage element (trace), aura of time's accumulation." "Energy state: Highly inert, extremely condensed." "Assessment: It is possible to attempt extracting its Earth Dragon Qi essence and incorporating it into the pill liquid. This will greatly enhance the pill's 'foundation strengthening' and 'body reinforcement' effects, and there is an extremely low chance of granting the pill the 'Dragon Qi Body Tempering' trait." "Risk: Energy fusion difficulty will increase dramatically. Pill completion rate will decrease by 15%. Extracting the fossil essence requires an additional 20 points." "Execute additional command?"
Enhanced effects! Dragon Qi Body Tempering!
A sharp light flashed in Ning Chuan's eyes. He would gamble on it!
"Execute the additional command! Incorporate the Earth Dragon fossil essence!"
"Command confirmed. Points consumed: 20. Current points: 48." "Beginning extraction of Earth Dragon Lizard fossil essence..."
An earthen-yellow beam enveloped the Earth Dragon Lizard fossil. Strands of pale golden energy, condensed like liquid gold yet carrying an ancient aura, were visibly drawn out. They slowly gathered within the beam, forming a thumb-sized golden droplet that radiated a heavy, heart-palpitating pressure.
"Essence extraction complete."
Immediately afterward, the Virtual Pill Furnace blazed with light!
"Step One: Medicinal Power Extraction!"
Invisible flames seemed to ignite within the furnace. Under precise energy control, the three main herbs began to soften and melt.
The Polygonatum turned into a thick, dark-yellow liquid; the Poria became a milky-white paste; and the Fo-Ti transformed into a reddish-brown fluid streaked with cloud-brocade patterns.
The fragrance of medicine began to spread. Though virtual, it pierced straight into his soul.
Ning Chuan watched with complete focus. The Station's control over the heat was exquisitely precise, far beyond that of any human alchemist.
"Step Two: Medicinal Power Fusion!"
Guided by an invisible force, the three masses of medicinal liquid with different properties slowly drew near and merged.
The process looked peaceful, but it was actually dangerous. The slightest mistake would cause the medicinal properties to clash, wasting all prior effort.
Like the most precise instrument, the Station adjusted every fraction of energy to ensure perfect fusion.
At that moment, the droplet of Earth Dragon Qi essence was drawn into the pill furnace!
Boom!
The instant the pale golden droplet fused in, the entire Virtual Pill Furnace shook violently!
The previously balanced medicinal liquid instantly boiled. Its color deepened, while a vast force rampaged back and forth within it!
"Warning! Energy conflict! Stability decreasing!" "Activating advanced energy harmonization protocol..."
The Station operated at full capacity. More motes of light poured into the furnace, forcibly suppressing and guiding the violent energy.
Ning Chuan's heart rose into his throat, fearing that the next moment, he would witness the furnace explode.
Fortunately, the Station's capabilities exceeded all imagination.
Under its powerful control, the violent Earth Dragon Essence was gradually tamed and began to truly merge with the medicinal power of the three main herbs.
The pill liquid's color finally stabilized into dark gold. Dragon shadows seemed to swim within it, while its aura became incomparably dense and mellow.
"Step Three: Pill Condensation and Formation!"
Under extreme heat and pressure, the fused pill liquid began to contract and condense, while all impurities were completely refined away.
A pill the size of a dragon's eye, perfectly round and dark gold in color, gradually took shape!
A faint dragon-shaped pattern could be seen winding around the pill's surface, like a natural pill pattern!
Just as the pill was about to fully form—
"Additional effect options detected: 1. Pill Pattern Solidification (cost: 5 points): Permanently solidifies the dragon-shaped pill pattern, enhancing the pill's spirituality. 2. Medicinal Power Inwardness (cost: 3 points): Completely contains the pill fragrance, preventing its aura from leaking upon completion. 3. Random Spirit Imbuement (cost: 10 points, low success rate): There is an extremely low chance of granting the pill a trace of weak spirituality."
After a brief thought, Ning Chuan chose options one and two. The risk of Spirit Imbuement was too great; there was no rush.
"Command confirmed. Points consumed: 8. Current points: 40."
A final flash of light passed, and the Virtual Pill Furnace vanished.
At the center of the platform, a dark-golden pill wrapped in dragon patterns floated silently, leaking no aura at all as it emitted an intoxicating glow.
"Foundation Establishment Pill (Earth Dragon Foundation Establishment Variant) successfully refined!" "Quality: Supreme." "Effects: Cleanses the essence and marrow, strengthens one's foundation, greatly improves physique, slightly enhances Innate Soul Power and Martial Soul potential (also effective on those without Soul Power), and includes the 'Dragon Qi Body Tempering' effect (weak)."
It had succeeded! And it was a supreme-grade Foundation Establishment Pill!
Ning Chuan forcibly suppressed his wild joy and carefully put away the pill.
His points were nearly depleted, but the value of this pill was immeasurable!
He exited the Station, and his consciousness returned.
Ning Chuan held the faintly warm Foundation Establishment Pill in his hand, his gaze resolute.
Tomorrow, he would have Xiao He take it!
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