Earth Dragon's Finishing Touch

The night was as black as ink, and all was silent.

The oil lamp's 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 on his bed.

The usual routine: 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."

Lights and shadows shifted as the cold metal platform reappeared. Ning Chuan immediately brought up 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 current Three Main Herbs as the foundation and initiate the pill-refining procedure."

"Command accepted. Analyzing pill formula and materials..."

"Materials meet requirements."

"Constructing simulated pill-refining environment..."

"Estimated point consumption: 50 points (including environmental simulation, energy guidance, and pill formation guarantee)."

"Execute?"

"Execute!" Ning Chuan answered without hesitation.

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 pill-refining procedure initiated.

No physical pill furnace appeared at the center of the platform. Instead, a complex image of a furnace formed from countless specks of light rose into view.

Runes flowed across the furnace body, faintly aligning with some rhythm of heaven and earth.

The three prepared main herbs were lifted by an invisible force and suspended above the Virtual Pill Furnace.

At that moment, 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 the name, it had to be a powerful earth-element creature. After being tempered by the passage of time, its fossil surely contained pure, dense Earth Dragon Qi.

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 Dragon Qi from this fossil and merge 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 (trace), aura of time's accumulation."

"Energy state: Highly inert, extremely condensed."

"Assessment: The Earth Dragon Qi essence may be extracted and merged into the pill liquid. This will greatly enhance the pill's effects of strengthening the foundation and nourishing vitality, as well as reinforcing the physique. There is also an extremely low probability of granting the pill the Dragon Qi Body Tempering trait."

"Risk: Energy fusion difficulty will multiply, and pill formation rate will decrease by 15%. Extracting fossil essence requires an additional 20 points."

"Add this operation?"

Enhanced effects! Dragon Qi Body Tempering!

A sharp gleam flashed in Ning Chuan's eyes. He would gamble!

"Add the operation! Merge 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. Visible strands of pale golden airflow, condensed like liquid gold yet carrying an ancient aura, were slowly drawn out. They gathered within the beam into a thumb-sized golden droplet that radiated a heavy pressure enough to make one's heart tremble.

"Essence extraction complete."

Immediately afterward, the Virtual Pill Furnace blazed with light!

"Step one: Medicinal power extraction!"

An invisible fire seemed to ignite inside the furnace. Under precise energy control, the three main herbs began to soften and melt.

The Polygonatum turned into deep-yellow viscous droplets, the Poria into a milky-white paste, and the Fo-Ti into a reddish-brown fluid streaked with cloud-brocade patterns.

The fragrance of medicine began to spread. Though virtual, it pierced straight into the soul.

Ning Chuan watched with complete focus. The Station's control over the heat was exquisite beyond compare, far surpassing that of any human pill refiner.

"Step two: Medicinal power fusion!"

Under the guidance of an invisible force, the three masses of medicinal liquid with different properties slowly approached and blended together.

The process appeared peaceful, but it was actually perilous. The slightest mistake would cause the medicinal properties to clash, wasting all previous 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 introduced into the pill furnace!

Boom!

The instant the pale golden droplet merged into it, the entire Virtual Pill Furnace shook violently!

The previously balanced medicinal liquid instantly boiled, its color turning profound as a vast force surged wildly within it!

"Warning! Energy conflict! Stability decreasing!"

"Initiating advanced energy harmonization procedure..."

The Station operated at full power. More light particles poured into the furnace, forcibly suppressing and guiding the violent energy.

Ning Chuan's heart rose to his throat, terrified that he would see the furnace explode the next instant.

Fortunately, the Station's capabilities exceeded imagination.

Under its powerful control, the Earth Dragon Essence's violent nature was gradually tamed, and it began to truly merge with the medicinal power of the three main herbs.

The pill liquid eventually stabilized into a dark golden color. A dragon's shadow 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 as all impurities were thoroughly refined away.

A pill the size of a longan, perfectly round and dark gold in color, gradually took shape!

A faint dragon-shaped pattern could be seen coiling around its surface, like a naturally formed pill pattern!

At the very instant the pill was about to fully form.

"Detected optional additional effects:

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 conceals the pill fragrance, preventing its aura from leaking upon formation.

3. Random Spirit Imbuement (cost: 10 points, low success rate): Has an extremely low chance of granting the pill a trace of weak spirituality."

After a brief moment of thought, Ning Chuan chose options one and two. The risk of spirit imbuement was too great; there was no need to rush it.

"Command confirmed. Points consumed: 8. Current points: 40."

A final flash of light passed, and the Virtual Pill Furnace dispersed.

At the center of the platform, a dark golden pill coiled in dragon patterns floated quietly. Not a trace of its aura leaked out, yet it radiated a mesmerizing glow.

"Foundation Establishment Pill (Earth Dragon Foundation Edition) successfully refined!"

"Quality: Supreme."

"Effects: Cleanses marrow and purges impurities, consolidates the Dao foundation, greatly improves physique, slightly enhances Innate Soul Power and Martial Soul potential (also effective on those without Soul Power), with the additional 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 the pill away.

His points were nearly exhausted, but the value of this pill was immeasurable!

He exited the Station, and his consciousness returned.

Holding the slightly warm Foundation Establishment Pill in his hand, Ning Chuan's gaze was firm.

Tomorrow, he would have Xiao He take it!