Soul-Nourishing, Qi-Refining Spiritual Medicine

Not long after, Fang Shu met the Lone Pavilion Master in the council hall.

The innkeeper, seeing him approach, looked surprised and asked, "What brings you out of seclusion?"

"Greetings, Master." Fang Shu made no attempt to conceal his greetings; after the formalities, he went straight to the point:

"This disciple has already completed the second kalpa of cultivation and has come to report my progress to Master, and to request Master to impart his experience in transcending kalpas."

Upon hearing this, the Lone Pavilion Master's expression changed slightly.

A clear look of surprise appeared in her eyes as she murmured to herself, "I didn't expect you to actually catch up, and so quickly at that. I thought..."

After muttering a few words to himself, the Lone Pavilion Master suppressed his surprise and then appeared in front of Fang Shu. His withered, claw-like hand reached out and touched Fang Shu's body.

With a whoosh, the old woman somehow managed to make Fang Shu's Qi and Blood surge up on its own, thick and strong, reaching a height of three zhang, standing fiercely in the council hall like a beacon fire.

"Okay, okay!"

The old woman touched the bones, looked at the billowing Qi and Blood, and said with delight, "Solid bones and muscles, abundant Qi and Blood, without any weakness! You truly live up to your reputation, never disappointing your master."

The other party praised it highly.

Fang Shu cupped his hands and said softly, "It's all thanks to Master's guidance and care."

Upon hearing this, the Lone Pavilion Master smiled even more broadly, and she narrowed her eyes slightly as she said, "The favors I've given you aren't enough for you to cultivate to the third tribulation so quickly."

The old woman could tell at a glance that Fang Shu still had the effects of the medicine in his body, and he looked quite plump and strong.

Upon hearing this, Fang Shu remained silent, only lowering his eyes.

The Lone Pavilion Master was just Fang Shu's matter seriously. She even suspected that the young man might be deliberately hinting at giving her more benefits.

"Now that you have already reached the second tribulation stage and your cultivation is of good quality, it is indeed time for you to break through to the third tribulation, the sooner the better."

The Lone Pavilion Master spoke as she paced through the hall, then suddenly sighed softly:

"I originally thought that you would need to cultivate for a while before you could reach the second tribulation, and it might even be too late before the Spring Examination."

So the plan is to find you a calming and brain-nourishing medicine in another fifty or sixty days, to help you accumulate energy to perfection, break through the bottleneck and refine your Refining Qi, so that you can go up the mountain.

It's a pity you're here too early, far beyond my expectations. And that Qin Min fellow just recently broke through to the third tribulation and demanded supplies."

Upon hearing this, Fang Shu's heart sank.

Good heavens, is he going to be late again, watching Qin Min take all the supplies from the inn while he doesn't even get leftovers?

However, Fang Shu remained calm and did not speak immediately.

Fortunately, the Lone Pavilion Master changed his tone the next moment, a half-smile playing on his lips:

"It seems like you're the only one who'll benefit greatly from this."

She stared intently at Fang Shu face, she wiped the smile from her lips and continued with a stiff expression:

"There aren't many precious medicines in the hall suitable for those undergoing tribulation or for calming the mind and nourishing the brain, but I do have a spirit medicine here that can directly nourish the soul."

"A soul?" Fang Shu looked up in surprise.

In the first of the six trials for Immortal cultivator, the entire Refining Essence stage involves Qi and Blood, tendons, and bones, focusing on strengthening the body. The concept of soul and spirit is quite unfamiliar to Immortal cultivator Refining Essence.

The Lone Pavilion Master asked, "Do you still remember the specific name of the third tribulation? What was it called?"

Fang Shu immediately replied:

The third tribulation of the Immortal cultivator is called "Dull Ears and Clouded Eyes," also known as "Dreamless and Light-Sleeping."

Those who successfully complete this process will experience a significant increase in their eyesight, hearing, and even intuition. They will be able to maintain their energy levels with only three hours of sleep a day, and may even go seven days without sleep, thus overcoming the drowsiness.

These kinds of Immortal cultivator, even when they are old and weak, will not become deaf, blind, or senile; instead, they will retain extraordinary memory and the ability to multitask.

The Lone Pavilion Master nodded in satisfaction.

"Indeed, the process of undergoing and refining in the third tribulation is related to the senses and the mind; therefore, the 'fat' it refines is not the 'fat' of human fat, but the 'fat' of brain fat."

After a pause, the other party added:

"This brain fat, also known as brain ointment, refers to both a physical substance and an intangible substance, and is generally used to describe the mental accumulation of Immortal cultivator."

After passing the third tribulation, the focus shifts from increasing Qi and Blood and qi to accumulating brain fat and developing the spiritual light within the mind. If one's accumulation reaches its peak and the spiritual light bursts forth, then the soul and spirit can condense, True Qi can stir, and essence and qi can interact, thus achieving the status of Spirit Immortal.

Fang Shu listened to the other person's instruction in the hall, he experienced waves of enlightenment.

After chewing for a moment, he tentatively spoke:

According to Master, ordinary elixirs for Refining Essence mainly involve accumulating so-called "brain fat," but accumulating brain fat is for the purpose of better nurturing the soul.

Therefore, directly consuming medicine that nourishes the soul is a top-down approach, which is more effective in nourishing the body.

The Lone Pavilion Master looked at him with an expression of "this young man is teachable," then nodded reservedly. "Indeed."

At this moment, Fang Shu didn't stand on ceremony and quickly cupped his hands in greeting:

"What merit or ability do I possess to receive such a secret elixir for the soul from my master?"

The Lone Pavilion Master lowered his eyelids. "What, you don't dare to take it?"

Fang Shu didn't hesitate at all, nor was he embarrassed; he immediately said:

"Thank you, Master!"

This reaction made the Lone Pavilion Master chuckle.

Without hesitation, she took out a wooden box from her sleeve, without asking Fang Shu to retrieve it from the Medicine Hall or the basement.

"This medicine is called 'Whale-Whisker Soul-Nourishing Incense,' a strange name, but it is actually a secret spice of the Immortal Sect. The method of taking it is to burn it into smoke, hold it in the stomach, and then let it rise back up and enter the brain."

The Lone Pavilion Master explained in detail, "You should divide this medicine into two portions. Use one portion during your tribulation, and the other portion after you've passed it. Do not show it to others, lest you incur their envy and resentment."

"Yes, Master." Fang Shu nodded, indicating that he understood.

Immediately, the Lone Pavilion Master threw the wooden box to Fang Shu.

Fang Shu held the wooden box, pondering what the other person had just said, and asked, "A secret recipe from the Immortal Sect, spirit medicine? Could this medicine be something Master brought back when he went down the mountain? Is it a medicine used by Refining Qi Immortal cultivator? Does Master still have any in stock...?"

The Lone Pavilion Master grinned.

"You guessed wrong, kid. I couldn't bear to buy this medicine back in the day."

Its medicinal effects are to strengthen the body's foundation and promote longevity, making it most suitable for children like you or elderly people.

This is a reward from the Immortal Sect my years of nurturing talent for them, so that my cultivation will not decline in this place with its scarce Spiritual Qi, causing me to age prematurely and die young.

Fang Shu's stunned expression, the Lone Pavilion Master casually gave another brief introduction.

The owners of the various Daoist temples in the town trained Daoist children for the Immortal Sect for two reasons: first, to enjoy a life of leisure in the town, and second, to obtain longevity-enhancing items from the Immortal Sect.

She clicked her tongue and said, "Every time I manage to raise a Refining Qi disciple or a disciple with overlooked Spirit Root, I receive a medicine similar to Whale-Whisker Soul-Nourishing Incense. If one day, a disciple sent up the mountain can Foundation Establishment, I've heard that a true life-extending medicine will be bestowed upon them, extending their lifespan by ten years!"

Even the Lone Pavilion Master couldn't help but show envy and longing when he said this.

Fang Shu muttered to himself, "Foundation Establishment disciple, huh..."

Such Earth Immortal being was not only a figure to a mere Refining Essence like him, but also to the Lone Pavilion Master —a true Divine Immortal being, unattainable and beyond reach.

Immediately, Fang Shu composed himself, refrained from boasting, and simply performed a deep bow, saying:

"This disciple will certainly enter the sect to Refining Qi, and will not fail Master's kindness, and will help you obtain another batch of spirit medicine!"

The Lone Pavilion Master snapped out of his reverie, smiled, and nodded. "Not bad, not bad."

Then, the old woman asked Fang Shu if he had any preparations or ideas for undergoing the tribulation, and tested him on the spot to see if he had overlooked anything.

In the end, the Lone Pavilion Master stopped talking and only explained:

"Take your medicine properly, but don't be stingy or hoard it; what you ingest is truly yours."

Furthermore, the earlier one cultivates the soul, the sooner one can refine one's Divine Sense.

Some people can even cultivate their Divine Sense before they begin Refining Qi, making it easier to Refining Qi and other skills; others can only cultivate it after they have started Refining Qi, making them a laughingstock.

Fang Shu pondered the term "Divine Sense" in his mind, quite surprised that someone could actually cultivate this thing during the Refining Essence stage.

He then bowed again, and with a sense of accomplishment, walked out of the council hall.

We arrived outside the hall.

Fang Shu then realized that there were already people waiting outside the hall, but they hadn't entered because someone was talking inside.

Two people arrived, Fang Shu recognized them quite well; they were Qu Yan and Fu Shier.

The two opponents did not enter the hall. Due to the design of the hall, the voices inside could not be heard from outside, but a vague figure could be seen.

Therefore, Qu Yan and Fu Shier only saw Fang Shu's three-zhang-high plume of Blood Qi smoke rising in the hall, which they could not ignore, but knew nothing else.

Upon Fang Shu emerge, both men were astonished. They had never imagined that Fang Shu was now qualified to undergo tribulation and break through his cultivation barrier.

Fang Shu ignored the two of them, simply nodded, and left.

Even after Fang Shu had walked far away, Qu Yan and Fu Shier couldn't tear their gaze away, and forgot that they needed to hurry into the hall to find Master Du.

Both the man and woman were in a daze.

After finally regaining their senses, the two looked at each other, both feeling that their cultivation had been wasted on something trivial.

Qu Yan muttered to himself, "Hmph! What's with the attitude? He can't even greet people properly."

Once I obtain the secret elixir, my own qi Qi and Blood will also reach three zhang (approximately 10 meters).

With her mind wavering, Fu Shier suppressed the urge to chase after Fang Shu.

She then pulled Qu Yan along, and together they walked into the hall, hoping to obtain medicine from the Lone Pavilion Master so that they could also cultivate their Qi and Blood to the full extent, and try their luck in the gradually emerging Spring Examination.

Unfortunately, to this day, both of them are still 60-70% away from Bandit Cultivator the Second Tribulation.

Therefore, their request was immediately rejected by the Lone Pavilion Master, who scolded them to polish it properly.

After scolding him, the Lone Pavilion Master frankly said that the inn was really short of top-quality medicines recently, as Qin Min had taken most of them. Even Fang Shu had not been able to obtain any medicines.

This left Qu Yan and Fu Shier with no choice but to leave the council hall dejectedly.

Stepping outside the hall, the two men looked dejected, and a complex mix of emotions welled up in their hearts towards Qin Min. However, since she had already cultivated to the third tribulation and would soon be joining the sect, they dared not say anything more.

Among them, Qu Yan's expression shifted, and suddenly a mocking smile appeared on his face:

"This guy surnamed Fang has always been overshadowed by Junior Sister Qin Min. Neither we nor he have obtained the precious medicine."

This guy's losses are bigger than yours and mine!

Upon hearing this, although Fu Shier vaguely sensed that her husband had been somewhat petty, there was no doubt that her displeasure lessened considerably.

The two whispered a few words to each other before going their separate ways.

As they left, news of Fang Shu's "Fang Shu" at the Lone Pavilion Master's place spread quickly.

Even his second uncle Yu Le, had heard about it.

This prompted his second uncle Yu Le, to write a note and slip it into the quiet room while delivering the goods, as a gesture of comfort.

Fang Shu's expression turned slightly strange upon learning of this.

He ignored the matter and continued to immerse himself in seclusion, meticulously refining his skills.

Soon, in his Dao Register, the realm column clearly showed:

[Can withstand the tribulation (97% chance)]