The Jing Family's Scheme
Successfully mastering the first two levels of the Soul-Concentrating Spike Cultivation Method is no easy feat.
Cultivators must take Earth Spirit Pill and Heavenly Spirit Pill separately, as these two pills are key to cultivating this Cultivation Method.
These two kinds of elixirs are necessary for the Divine Sense Blade to condense and take shape.
The main ingredients of the Earth Spirit Pill are the soul and Essence Blood of the Tidal Demon, both of which Song Wen possesses. The other auxiliary ingredients are also not difficult to find.
The pill is not difficult to refine; Song Wen is 70% confident that he can refine it successfully on the first try.
In comparison, the refining conditions for the Heavenly Spirit Pill are extremely demanding.
First, its main ingredients are nine cultivators with the Soul Source Body at the Qi Refining Stage.
Secondly, the Alchemy must be made from living people. The human medicine must be fresh-faced and full of spirit just before entering the Pill Furnace.
Finally, it takes nine third-level Alchemist eighteen days to refine the pill.
None of these three conditions can be easily met.
The second rule, in particular, requires that once the human medicine is captured, elixirs must be refined as quickly as possible.
Even prolonged imprisonment can damage the physical body and soul of the medicine, leading to the failure of Alchemy.
It is fair to say that, given Song Wen's abilities, it would have been virtually impossible for him to refine the Heavenly Spirit Pill.
Only a powerful family like the Xing Family could refine this elixir.
Song Wen suddenly remembered that Gan Hong had once revealed that Xing Liren was planning to refine a kind of 'miracle pill', which required the cooperation of nine third-level Alchemist.
"Could it be that Xing Liren refined the Heavenly Spirit Pill?"
Song Wen then conceived the idea of infiltrating among the nine Alchemists to help Xing Liren refine the Heavenly Spirit Pill, and then seizing the pill in the process.
But he quickly rejected the idea.
In Xing Xinxin's memory, the Xing Family's Alchemy Chamber was located in the central part of the Xing Family's residence.
As a cultivator in the Golden Core Early Stage, there was absolutely no way he could obtain the Heavenly Spirit Pill from within the Xing Family; on the contrary, he would lose his life for it.
Moreover, the Heavenly Spirit Pill has far-reaching implications, and if it were to spread, it would severely damage the righteous image of the Xing Family.
If Rogue Cultivator like Song Wen Alchemist were to get involved, it wouldn't be a good thing.
He would likely be imprisoned by the Xing Family for life, becoming Alchemy slave to refine pills for the rest of his life, never to step out of the Xing Family again.
Unable to think of a way to obtain the Heavenly Spirit Pill, Song Wen put the matter aside and decided to refine the Earth Spirit Pill first, cultivate the first level of the Cultivation Method, and then make further plans.
Song Wen changed his appearance and disguised himself as a Rogue Cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
He returned to Fangzhu City and rented a new cave abode.
Song Wen no longer intends to use the identity of 'Wei Ding'.
If Shan Yue harbors resentment and is determined to take revenge, she can easily find the cave abode she visited by following Wei Ding's trail.
Fangzhu City, North City.
Inside a magnificent palace.
In the palace hall, a graceful and elegant woman sat regally on a low couch.
The woman's brows were furrowed, her face bearing deep sorrow and anger.
A man flew into the lobby.
The visitor was Xing Liren.
"Mother, why did you summon me so urgently?"
The woman was Xing Liren's mother, Jing Feiyao.
She was born into the Jing Family, one of the five major powers in the Sea of Disorder. Her marriage to Xing Gaohan was a political alliance between the two Lineage.
Jing Feiyao was not favored by Xing Gaohan, but given the power of the Jing Family behind her, Xing Gaohan had no choice but to treat her with due courtesy.
Jing Feiyao spoke with a mournful expression and a trembling voice.
"We just received news from the Ancestral Shrine Hall that your sister's Soul Lamp has gone out."
Xing Liren's expression was stiff, his face filled with disbelief.
"This is impossible! How could Xin Xin be dead?"
Jing Feiyao said, "The Ancestral Shrine Hall is responsible for keeping the Soul Lamp of the clansmen, so it's impossible for them to make a mistake. I've also tried to contact Xinxin multiple times using the Message Jade Slip, but I haven't received a reply."
Xing Liren clenched his fists tightly, veins bulging, "Who? Who killed her?"
Jing Feiyao said, "The Ancestral Shrine Hall has not yet identified the murderer. Xin Xin was last seen two days ago. Then, she left the Dark Star Black Market alone and has been missing ever since."
Xing Liren angrily said, "The Ancestral Shrine Hall is full of useless people. Relying on them, I'm afraid we'll never find the murderer who killed Xinxin."
Jing Feiyao said, "Granny Jin did provide some clues. The night before Xin Xin disappeared, Xin Xin asked her to make a deal with a Golden Core cultivator, but the deal fell through. Granny Jin suspects that Xin Xin's death is related to that Golden Core cultivator."
Xing Liren asked in a deep voice, "Any clues about that Golden Core cultivator?"
Jing Feiyao said, "Granny Jin only knows that the other party is a Golden Core Early Stage, skilled in using Thunder Method. They are trading a demonic Cultivation Method, <Corpse King Blood Refinement Art>."
Xing Liren, "I understand, I will definitely find the real culprit."
After saying that, he turned to leave, but then he heard Jing Feiyao say something else.
"Liren, how are your preparations for refining the Heavenly Spirit Pill going?"
Xing Liren shook his head and said, "We haven't gathered all the Alchemist yet."
"How many more Alchemist are we missing?" Jing Feiyao asked.
"We have found five third-tier Alchemist so far, and we are still missing four," Xing Liren.
Jing Feiyao asked, "The Spell Arts Tournament is approaching, what are your plans?"
Xing Liren remained silent for a moment before speaking, "I plan to try my luck on other islands."
Jing Feiyao said, "Third-tier Alchemist are rare, and finding four in a short time will be difficult. Moreover, getting them to travel long distances to Fangzhu Island to Alchemy for you will be even more challenging."
Xing Liren looked at his mother with suspicion, wondering what her purpose was in bringing this up.
Jing Feiyao continued, "In this matter, your uncle can lend you a hand."
Xing Liren frowned but did not respond immediately.
His maternal uncle was naturally a member of the Jing Family.
Why would the Jing Family help him for no reason? His uncle must have some ulterior motive.
As the direct descendant of the Xing Family's patriarch, Xing Liren already possesses a powerful enough backer and does not need to rely on the Jing Family for support.
Being too close to the Jing Family might lead to being framed and accused of colluding with foreign tribes.
Xing Liren shook his head and said, "There's no need to trouble you with this matter, Uncle. I can handle it myself."
Jing Feiyao said, "Liren, your mother knows you have concerns. But sometimes you have to be flexible and assess the situation. News has come from Cloud Sky Peak that Xing Yixuan recently advanced to the Peak Golden Core Stage."
Cloud Sky Peak is part of the Xing Family, located in the North City of Fangzhu City, but it is not of the same lineage as Xing Liren.
Xing Wenyao, the Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator from the Xing Family, is the ancestor of the Cloud Sky Peak lineage.
Xing Liren narrowed his eyes slightly, revealing a thoughtful expression.
Xing Yixuan is a genius of the Cloud Sky Peak lineage. She is about the same age as Xing Liren, but she has already advanced to the Peak Golden Core Stage. This puts considerable pressure on Xing Liren, who aspires to become the next leader of the Xing Family.
Xing Liren pondered for a moment, then asked.
What are your uncle's conditions?
A smile appeared on Jing Feiyao's face.
"Your uncle wants the <Soul-Concentrating Spike> Cultivation Method."