Foundation Establishment Pill (Please Bookmark)

Azure Sea Sect.

Cold Spring Peak.

Fang Qing found a spring eye.

This spring eye lacked spiritual energy and had not entered any grade, yet under the sensing of his Winnowing Basket Water Dharma power, it carried a vigorous vitality. Using it to combine medicinal ingredients was an excellent choice.

"Sure enough, there is still much to be uncovered from this Winnowing Basket Water imagery..."

Fang Qing had originally only planned to use his Mid Qi Refinement cultivation to attempt Water-Method Alchemy once more.

But today, on a sudden inspiration, converting his Winnowing Basket Water Dharma power had brought an additional surprise.

Smack!

He slapped the storage pouch at his waist, and three jade boxes flew out. Inside were Qi-Replenishing Herb, Spirit-Unifying Flower, and Jadeflower Treasure Fish juice—all materials for refining Jadeflower Spirit Water.

After successfully practicing Qi Ingestion, Fang Qing had mingled through the many markets of Ba Commandery in the Ancient Shu World, buying low and selling high as a profiteer between two worlds. He had scraped together a batch of Contribution Points, then spent them all on alchemy notes, raw materials, and the like, preparing to spend heavily to improve his alchemy skills.

"Go!"

Fang Qing first extracted the Qi-Replenishing Herb.

He circulated a water-controlling art, causing the Spirit Spring to rise into a vortex.

This time, Fang Qing felt an obvious difference. Many of the obscure points that had troubled him in the past now yielded like bamboo splitting beneath his Winnowing Basket Water Dharma power.

Though he was still using the Profound Origin Triple Cycle technique, it somehow carried the flavor of Six-Whorl Flying Stars.

"Winnowing Basket Water is also called Fountain Water. Since spirit springs fall under it, has my control over spring water greatly increased?"

Fang Qing faintly came to an understanding.

At this moment, his condition could not have been better. After handling the Qi-Replenishing Herb, he began refining the Spirit-Unifying Flower and Jadeflower Treasure Fish juice.

Next came the fusion and nurturing of the various medicinal liquids...

The flaw of Water-Method Alchemy was that it took a long time—far longer than Fire-Method Alchemy.

After a long while, the Spirit Spring before Fang Qing had completely turned into a medicinal pool, faintly giving off an unusual fragrance.

"Very good. At this stage, I only need to slowly wait for the medicinal properties to settle, then carry out the final extraction of the spirit water."

Fang Qing let out a long breath. A trace of excitement shone in his eyes as he sat cross-legged and began silently waiting.

"According to the alchemy texts, this step takes two to three days. Fortunately, I don't need to watch the furnace fire day and night like with Fire-Method Alchemy... but it still consumes a great deal of energy."

"Eh? This medicinal fragrance?"

"Its color is emerald, its aura clear and pure... It seems that pool of spirit medicine is about to succeed. It should be Jadeflower Spirit Water. I wonder which senior brother or sister refined it?"

Cold Spring Peak was a public area, and there were quite a few Pill Island disciples. Someone immediately noticed the anomaly and exclaimed in amazement.

"That person... seems to be Fang Qing?"

"Oh? That disciple who came in through the back door?"

"Shh... If he can refine First-Order spirit water, he can already be considered a graded alchemist. His status will be vastly different in the future. We should be more careful—disaster can come from one's mouth."

"Tsk tsk... I heard this man has some bad blood with Li Yusu, a disciple under Master Clouddrift Adept? Li Yusu's luck has not been very good, though. He was said to have gone into seclusion to break through the Mid Qi Refinement bottleneck, but failed and damaged quite a bit of his vital energy..."

"Li Yusu? He should have a mid-grade spirit root, right? Yet he was actually trapped by a minor bottleneck in Mid Qi Refinement? It seems his mediocre aptitude was assessed rather generously..."

The discussions around him were not concealed at all, and every word entered Fang Qing's ears.

"I didn't expect to hear news of Li Yudan as well?"

Hearing that man had failed to break through, Fang Qing felt quite pleased. He stood and cupped his hands in salute in all directions. "Fellow disciples... this pool of spirit water has not yet been fully refined. Please spare this junior brother for now. Once the spirit water is complete, I will certainly repay you."

"Haha... We'll move farther away, then. We must not disturb the pill aura of the Spirit Spring."

For some reason, the senior brothers and sisters all felt Fang Qing's words made perfect sense, and they gave him a certain amount of space.

Fang Qing watched coldly from the side, knowing that his advantage of the tongue had taken effect.

"Mm. Those whose cultivation is higher than mine and whose wills are more resolute... have greater resistance to words."

"And... verbal persuasion must ultimately rest on actual benefits or one's fists. If I promise valuable treasures in return, the persuasive power of my advantage of the tongue will rise considerably..."

Two days later, Fang Qing's eyes lit up. He formed hand seals with both hands, sending streams of Dharma power into the medicinal pool before him.

The once-clear medicinal pool had now separated into several distinct layers.

The uppermost layer was jade-green, and merely catching a faint whiff of it made the Dharma power within one's body stir slightly.

"As expected, it is medicine that enhances Dharma power..."

Fang Qing smiled and took more than ten small green-skinned gourds from his storage pouch.

These small gourds were only the size of an infant's fist, small enough for an ordinary person's palm to fully close around them. They were containers specially made for holding spirit water.

"Rise!"

He pointed with a hand, and a stream of Jadeflower Spirit Water flew out, falling into one green-skinned gourd. It quickly filled it, and Fang Qing stoppered it.

A moment later, twelve green-skinned gourds were arranged in a row.

This was another trait of Water-Method Alchemy. Though it took a long time, it produced a great quantity!

"Congratulations, Senior Brother, on your successful refinement!"

All around him, the Pill Island disciples offered their congratulations. Some wore gloomy expressions, clearly reminded of their own great alchemy endeavors...

"Thank you, junior brothers and sisters... This Jadeflower Spirit Water is of little use to me. Those who see it get a share. I only need to keep one gourd."

Fang Qing stood and cupped his hands toward the surroundings.

It was an old custom for alchemists to give the first batch of successfully refined pills to their fellow cultivators.

Now that these junior brothers and sisters had gained benefits and were affected by his advantage of the tongue, they immediately felt Fang Qing was someone worth befriending.

Li Yusu's wild claims might not be trustworthy after all!

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Fang, on successfully entering the ranks."

At this moment, a Mid Qi Refinement disciple stepped forward. He had handsome features, half-black and half-white hair, and carried the fragrance of medicine about him. Smiling, he congratulated Fang Qing. "I am Xu Wusu..."

"So it is Senior Brother Xu."

Fang Qing sensed the other man's deeper fluctuations of Dharma power and hastily returned the salute.

"Though your technique is somewhat immature, it is seamless and natural. It must be an unorthodox self-taught method, yes? As it happens, before long, Elder Tianding, the island master of our Pill Island, will open his furnace to refine pills. Junior Brother, you should complete your certification as soon as possible, then follow Elder Tianding. Even if you only learn a little of the surface, it will benefit you for a lifetime."

Xu Wusu reminded him.

"Mm."

Fang Qing had the same plan. At the very least, he had to report to the sect that he had formally entered the ranks and become an alchemist.

That way, he would no longer need to leave the sect and risk his life for mandatory missions.

Sending valuable production-oriented talent to serve as cannon fodder was not something a mature power should do.

"The senior brothers and sisters here speak pleasantly. Even someone like Li Yusu only excludes me; he would not rob and kill me... This place is far better than that lousy place. I really like it here. It would be best if I could keep refining pills within the sect and never go out..."

Pill Island, main hall.

Fang Qing had deliberately converted four layers of Black Water Dharma Power before coming to report.

He planned to reveal his Mid Qi Refinement cultivation while he was at it, lest playing the pig to eat the tiger eventually turn him into an actual pig and have others look down on him completely.

Pill Island was mainly responsible for managing the sect's alchemists, and there were quite a few disciples in the main hall.

The person in charge of registering newly ranked alchemists happened to be an acquaintance of Fang Qing's.

"It's you?"

Gong Susu was somewhat surprised upon seeing Fang Qing.

"That's right. This junior brother was fortunate enough to refine a pool of Jadeflower Spirit Water at Cold Spring Peak, and has come specifically to report it."

Fang Qing smiled and took out a green-skinned gourd.

He had refined the medicine in full public view, so he was very confident.

"I never expected... after lying dormant for seven years, this man could erupt in a single day?"

"This man lacks wealth. He should not have had enough materials to refine many batches. Could his talent in Water-Method Alchemy truly be this high?"

Gong Susu was astonished inwardly, but she still completed Fang Qing's procedures. "Junior Brother, you are now a graded alchemist of our sect. Aside from the Palace of Miscellaneous Affairs, you may also accept alchemy missions here... Seven days from now, Elder Tianding, the island master of Pill Island, will personally come to the Cauldron Altar to give a lecture..."

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister."

Fang Qing cupped his hands, retrieved his disciple token, and took his leave.

"Hee hee... Senior Sister, do you feel any regret?"

Beside her, Hua Lingsu watched this scene, two lovely dimples appearing on her face.

"Not at all... After all, we have no conflict with Junior Brother Fang. Only that foolish Li Yusu directly laid all his cards on the table..."

"Besides, we are disciples of Foundation Establishment elders. Even if this man becomes an alchemist, what can he do? Under the sect rules, we cannot do anything to him, and he can do even less to us..."

Gong Susu said, "Right now, I only care about Junior Sister Zhu'er's cultivation progress."

"Junior Sister Zhu'er has always been diligent. I believe she truly has some hope of Foundation Establishment in the future." Hua Lingsu spoke solemnly.

"Foundation Establishment... The three barriers of essence, qi, and spirit—each barrier is a whole new heaven. If only I had a Foundation Establishment Pill... True Disciple! True Disciple!!"

A powerful longing appeared in Gong Susu's eyes.

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

Cauldron Altar.

Fang Qing finally met Elder Tianding, the master of Pill Island.

This Foundation Establishment cultivator appeared as an old man with white beard and brows. He wore a hemp robe, its edges marked with many traces of smoke and scorching flames.

At this moment, his gentle eyes swept across the alchemists as he spoke. "Today... this old man will explain the pill formula for the Foundation Establishment Pill, as well as the techniques and precautions needed in its refinement... You must study it carefully. In half a month, Cold Spring Peak will be sealed. All graded alchemists must assist this old man in carrying out the sect's Foundation Establishment Pill refinement mission. This mission will count as completion of one mandatory sect mission..."

"Foundation Establishment Pill?!"

Many disciples' eyes lit up. Even Fang Qing subconsciously straightened his back, his eyes shining. "Foundation Establishment Pill? It is actually the Foundation Establishment Pill?"

After Qi Refinement Great Completion, one could attempt to enter the Foundation Establishment Realm!

Foundation Establishment cultivators had lifespans nearing two hundred years—nearly comparable to an ancient dynasty's rise, decline, and destruction.

What was more, their Dharma power was formidable enough for them to dominate an entire island!

This was the dream of every low-ranking disciple!

But Foundation Establishment was difficult. Without the aid of a Foundation Establishment Pill, failure meant death and the dissipation of one's Dao, stumping countless genius disciples.

"The Foundation Establishment Pill formula has only one main ingredient: a Second-Order Demon Core... The Demon Core's demon power must be full and flawless. Our sect excels at raising Horned Serpents, so the spiritual power of Second-Order Demon Cores is mainly water-aligned, making them most suitable for Foundation Establishment by cultivators who practice water-element techniques... If it is to be consumed by other Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivators, the refinement technique must undergo corresponding changes..." Elder Tianding's voice reached every disciple clearly.