A Year (Please Bookmark)

A moment later.

Hua Lian sailed away in his boat.

As for the suggestion to go fishing, not only did Fang Qing refuse, even Zha Zhu was not particularly interested.

Li Yusu, on the other hand, seemed quite intrigued. Hua Lian did not mind and simply took him aboard.

A month later.

The sect's great fishing fleet returned. It was said that the haul had been good, though sect disciples had likewise suffered casualties.

For Fang Qing, it merely meant that Cold Spring Peak had received another major assignment to refine Foundation Establishment Pills.

Li Yusu also returned safely. It was said that he had gotten along well with Hua Lian's crew, gained quite a bit, and arranged to head out to sea with them again next time.

As for Fang Qing?

He kept taking on assignments to refine Jadeflower Spirit Water, then occasionally tried his hand at refining Ginseng Green Spirit Water. Without exception, every attempt failed.

"It seems... I need to find a chance to leave the sect, then launder this large batch of Jade Qi Ginseng..."

Fang Qing pondered in secret.

As long as he left the sect, he could claim that luck had led him to discover a predecessor's cave dwelling and obtain a large sum of spirit stones.

Then he could lavishly purchase materials for Ginseng Green Spirit Water, spend it all improving his alchemy, and no one would covet his wealth.

Time flowed like water, and the years flew like a shuttle.

Before he knew it, a year had passed.

Cold Spring Peak.

"Combine!"

Fang Qing manipulated the water of the Spirit Spring, forming a massive vortex. Countless jade-green spiritual lights could vaguely be seen separating and merging within it...

"Fall!"

A moment later, drops of jade-green spirit water condensed at the Spirit Spring site, forming a shallow layer.

"Rise!"

Fang Qing changed his hand seals again. With his [Ji Water] Dharma power circulating, his Water Control Art had reached an astonishing level. He vaguely controlled six vortices, refining pills in all of them at once.

"Collect!"

In the end, every drop of emerald-green Ginseng Green Spirit Water was gathered by Fang Qing's pill-collecting art and stored inside a green-skinned gourd.

"Whew... I finally succeeded once." He let out a long breath, opened the gourd, and dripped a drop into his mouth, savoring it slowly. "Mm... slightly bitter, authentic, though the quality is a little lacking. But this is the first pool, so that is understandable. From now on, I will not need to buy those outrageously expensive auxiliary spirit pills from the sect..."

As an expert in refining Ginseng Green Spirit Water, he naturally knew the production cost of this batch of medicine. Pill Hall was simply ripping people off.

And even so... some disciples still had to queue for it!

That was the arrogance of an alchemist!

"My success was not merely the result of accumulated experience... I also have Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art to thank. After getting started with this Secret Treasury Domain cultivation art, my physique and spirit rose rapidly... Though I am still far from completing the first stage, my body refinement has entered the First-Order Low Grade. I can now trade blows with an Early Qi Refinement cultivator using my flesh alone... With a stronger spirit, I can control the medicinal properties more precisely. Coupled with a good Water Control Art and massive spending, I finally succeeded once..."

Fang Qing shook the green-skinned gourd, smiling brightly. "After I finish this gourd of spirit water, my Dharma power should break through..."

His Breath-Nourishing Dao cultivation had been stuck at Qi Ingestion Third Layer for a year. This time, he should be able to borrow the power of medicine and charge straight into Qi Ingestion Fourth Layer!

As for his Black Water Dharma Power, perhaps he could try reaching Qi Refining Fifth Layer?

"Sure enough, compared with painstakingly relying on cultivation alone, taking pills is much faster..."

A profound feeling welled up in Fang Qing's heart.

He returned to his cave dwelling, but had not rested long before receiving a sound-transmission talisman.

"Oh? It is actually this person? It is time to lay the cards on the table, then?"

Fang Qing nodded, opened the gates of his cave dwelling, and saw a Qi Refining cultivator with half-black, half-white hair and a lean, refined face walk inside. It was Xu Wusu!

"Haha... congratulations, Junior Brother. You successfully refined Ginseng Green Spirit Water."

Xu Wusu smiled and cupped his hands. News of this had already spread throughout Cold Spring Peak, but the fact that he had come so quickly showed that he was a man of purpose.

"I was merely lucky. During my last assignment, I discovered a Rogue Cultivator's cave dwelling and obtained a sum of spirit stones, allowing me to buy large quantities of spirit herbs and improve my craft."

Fang Qing smiled faintly.

The so-called "Rogue Cultivator's cave dwelling" was naturally his means of laundering the profits from trade between the two worlds.

And the resources of a few Qi Refining cultivators would not attract much attention in the sect at all.

Only a few of Fang Qing's friends repeatedly marveled at his good fortune.

"This is fate at work as well... If cultivators like us wish to grow rich overnight, we have no choice but to venture outside and run into opportunities. Yet those opportunities are often accompanied by danger. It is far better to stay in the sect refining pills, planting Spirit Grain for the sect, or raising fish..."

Xu Wusu likewise thought that Fang Qing had stumbled into a stroke of dogshit luck, and the smile on his face deepened. "However, Junior Brother, after purchasing materials for Ginseng Green Spirit Water, that inheritance from a predecessor should be nearly spent, should it not? First-Order Low Grade and First-Order Mid Grade spirit water are manageable enough, but First-Order High Grade spirit powders and even spirit pills... each batch is enormously expensive. Even I would ache with pain after failing once."

"Yes... it is a pity I cannot receive guidance from a famous master."

Fang Qing sighed.

Pill Island had quite a few alchemy disciples, but there were exceedingly few Second-Order alchemists qualified to accept disciples.

He had always felt that there had definitely been some under-the-table maneuvering behind Li Yusu's ability to become Clouddrift Adept's disciple!

"Entering the tutelage of a Second-Order alchemy master would naturally be best. But if that does not work out, you could also join our Five Dragons Society, and we could exchange experiences with one another..."

Xu Wusu finally revealed the dagger behind the map. "Would Junior Brother be willing?"

"Five Dragons Society? Could it be the Five Dragons Society founded by Senior Brother Five Dragons Child?"

Fang Qing's expression showed mild surprise, while relevant information immediately surfaced in his mind.

Five Dragons Child was a Pill Island disciple. He studied under a Second-Order alchemy master and had already reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer!

Judging by his ambitions, he was surely aiming for the next decade's True Disciple position, perhaps even a Foundation Establishment Pill!

"Precisely!"

Xu Wusu took out an alchemy book. "This Five Dragons Alchemy Classic was written by Senior Brother Five Dragons Child, then later passed down to me... I think it would suit Junior Brother even better."

"It seems Senior Brother Five Dragons Child has resolved to compete for True Disciple? I wonder whether it will be through battle arts or alchemy?"

Fang Qing let out a breath and asked.

"Alchemy, naturally... With the cooperation of people like us, we can make Senior Brother Five Dragons Child's alchemy improve by leaps and bounds. He can already refine First-Order High Grade spirit pills. If he improves for another ten years, he should reach Quasi-Second-Order, perhaps even Second-Order..."

Xu Wusu said, "Senior Brother Five Dragons Child has promised that once he achieves Foundation Establishment, he will certainly assist us in achieving Foundation Establishment as well..."

Fang Qing was speechless inwardly, yet his expression became exceedingly solemn. "Senior Brother Five Dragons Child is truly so generous? We are all in the same sect, and with his reputation as assurance, I naturally believe him."

In truth, he saw through Five Dragons Child's intentions at once. He merely wanted to gather a large amount of Spirit Assets to deepen his alchemy.

Whenever unity and sacrifice were emphasized... those below were the price to be paid!

"But it does not matter to me! I have nothing else but abundant resources... Trading resources for an First-Order High Grade alchemist's insights and guidance is not much of a loss..."

Fang Qing accepted the Five Dragons Alchemy Classic, then spoke again. "I have heard that to advance to Second-Order skill, one must possess divine sense... Has Senior Brother Five Dragons Child perhaps succeeded?"

"Not yet..."

At the mention of this, Xu Wusu's expression became somewhat unpleasant. "However, we searched everywhere for ancient formulas and found several ancient pill formulas suitable for helping Qi Refining cultivators increase their spiritual sense. We are currently gathering people to decipher and improve them. Although several main ingredients are already extinct, if we can find substitutes that retain even a portion of their efficacy, that will be enough."

"In this matter, this little brother is willing to contribute what modest strength he can."

At these words, Fang Qing's eyes immediately lit up.

Possessing divine sense during the Qi Refining stage! That was also his pursuit!

Though he had Horse-Head Vajra Protector Divine Art, there was no guarantee it would work. Having another option would be better.

The main ingredients of these ancient pill formulas might be extinct, but that was only the situation here in the Lesser Vast Sea.

Perhaps the more distant Eastern Sea Cultivation Realm—or even the mainland—still had the relevant spirit plants. It was simply that the cost of transporting them here was beyond what Qi Refining cultivators could afford.

Or perhaps... the vanished main ingredients could be found in Ancient Shu!

"Haha, with Junior Brother Fang joining our Five Dragons Society, we will be like a tiger that has grown wings."

Xu Wusu laughed heartily.

"There is one more matter in which I would like to ask Senior Brother for help."

Fang Qing took a sip of mountain spring water and suddenly spoke.

"Oh? Go on..."

Although Xu Wusu felt that Fang Qing had rather many requests, he still assumed a listening posture.

"After advancing to a First-Order Mid Grade alchemist, I increasingly feel that I need a spirit pool of my own in order to better grasp the medicinal properties and water properties... Constantly switching Spirit Springs is not a solution either. I want to install a Spirit Spring source in my cave dwelling, but I cannot find a suitable geomancer or formation master..."

Fang Qing voiced his helplessness.

In reality, he simply wanted a more private place to refine pills, rather than being watched by everyone every time.

For example, this time, the moment he successfully refined Ginseng Green Spirit Water, everyone knew about it, and Xu Wusu came knocking.

This time was fine, since Ginseng Green Spirit Water was an ordinary kind of medicine.

But what if next time it was something rarer?

"Mm... building your own Spirit Spring? That will not be cheap either... First, it requires approval from Pill Hall. After all, you need to draw in a water vein, which concerns changes to the island's main water vein... Besides that, there are the fees for hiring a formation master and geomancer, as well as the cost of constructing the spirit pool itself... You cannot manage it without at least a hundred spirit stones."

Xu Wusu shook his head. "Everyone wants a private Spirit Spring, but before reaching First-Order High Grade alchemist, very few can afford to build one."

"As for the spirit stones, I will find a way to gather them myself. I only ask Senior Brother to introduce a reliable geomancer..."

Fang Qing said.

He had actually possessed the capital long ago, but he could not get through Pill Hall's approval process. Without those connections, he might be stalled for a very long time.

However, if he left it to the Five Dragons Society, it would be manageable. Five Dragons Child was a First-Order High Grade alchemist and had cultivated deep roots in Pill Hall for many years, so he could certainly get the procedures approved.

The same went for geomancers and formation masters. Fang Qing did not know a single one.

"Even if I have to be the fool paying extra spirit stones, as long as the matter gets done, it will still be worth it."