How Many Pills?

Inside the mansion, Su Junsong smiled gently as he watched the Azure-Winged Cloud Eagle fly away.

"This Fang Tianyu is quite a character; he even came to inform me," he thought to himself.

Su Wen's expression had lost its usual arrogance, and instead carried a hint of doubt:

"Big brother, Zhou Ning wouldn't have really hooked up with them, would he?"

Zhao Ruoxue comes from the Aristocratic Clan that Core Formation stage, while Fang Tianyu is True Disciple of the Azure Mystic Sect with High-Grade Spirit Root. He is almost guaranteed to reach the Foundation Establishment, and even Core Formation is not out of the question.

Su Junsong muttered to himself, "It's probably to avoid suspicion."

Su Wen couldn't understand.

Fang Tianyu took off again from Luyou Island.

He was too lazy to make this trip; if he were to meet anyone, it would be the Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Su Household.

However, Gu Xiangning said that this alchemy process would take quite some time, and asked the Su Household to arrange accommodations.

He then changed his mind.

Ye Menglong commented, "Young Master Su Household is indeed a talented man; his manners and conduct are quite refined."

Zhao Ruoxue said, "My cultivation has reached the Qi Refinement Perfection and I've been on the Foundation Establishment for the past two years."

"He's just average, but I haven't had a chance to meet Su Yuanye," Fang Tianyu said with considerable regret.

Su Yuanye successfully Foundation Establishment at the age of thirty, which would make him one of the best even within a sect.

However, the other party is already a senior, and probably wouldn't bother to meet him.

Upon realizing this, Fang Tianyu felt a slight sense of urgency.

Even if he doesn't go to the Azure Ruins Secret Realm, he has no shortage of Foundation Establishment Pill materials. But is Foundation Establishment the end of cultivation?

They're just big ants.

The difference Foundation Establishment Foundation Establishment is greater than the difference between a human and a dog; without resources, they are still just roadside creatures.

That's why he risked entering the Azure Ruins Secret Realm to make a fortune and pave the way for his cultivation after Foundation Establishment.

The Azure-Winged Cloud Eagle was very fast; in less than a quarter of an hour, it flew 120 li and arrived at Bamboo Creek Island.

Zhou Ning was studying second-tier spirit jade at home when he saw several figures land on the spirit sculpture outside the courtyard. One of them Gu Xiangning, whose hair was as long as a waterfall.

He smiled and darted outside the courtyard, "You arrived faster than I expected."

Gu Xiangning at the figure in black, her eyes filled with joy. "I just went to Luyou Island, otherwise I would have gone even earlier."

Fang Tianyu was a shrewd man. Observing Gu Xiangning's expression at this moment, he glanced at Ye Menglong and secretly shook his head.

Ye Menglong is also extraordinary. He initially pursued Gu Xiangning, but after meeting Gu Xiangning's friend Zhao Ruoxue, he was immediately amazed by her Celestial Person and turned to pursue Zhao Ruoxue instead.

That's a fucking genius!

"This is True Disciple Senior Brother Fang, Senior Brother Ye, Junior Sister Zhao..." Gu Xiangning introduced them one by one.

Zhou Ning invited them into his humble abode for a chat.

He offered some sweet fruit and tea, and they chatted casually, getting to know each other.

After an incense stick had burned, Fang Tianyu suddenly asked, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, how are your alchemy skills now? I've heard you can refine the Three Flowers Pill."

Zhou Ning: "Three pills have been formed."

"Alright, alright!" Fang Tianyu didn't waste any time and took out an ancient Jade Slip.

Zhou Ning took it, placed it between his eyebrows, and probed it with his Divine Sense. It turned out to be a Pill Formula called "Essence Continuation Pill".

He was slightly surprised; judging from the age of the Pill Formula, it was probably an ancient one.

These kinds of Pill Formula are not like the common Qi-Benefiting Pill or Spirit Essence Pill; they are relatively rare and often require Spirit Stone to purchase.

This person presented it to him just like that; that's really generous of them.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, are you confident?" Fang Tianyu asked.

He didn't realize that he was already feeling a little uneasy when he said those words.

Cultivators have limited Law Power, especially those who Qi Refining.

Using Law Technique and controlling Law Artifact consumes a great deal of Law Power.

Some special Law Artifact, such as fans, can deplete up to 30% of the Spiritual Qi with a single wave.

Once the Law Power in the Dantian is exhausted, even a mortal expert can kill the cultivator.

Qi Refining cultivator may need one or two hours to recover through meditation.

Using Spirit Stone and ordinary pills will be faster.

The Essence Continuation Pill is even faster; after taking it, a small portion of one's Law Power can be restored in ten breaths, and the rest is fully restored within a quarter of an hour.

This will definitely be a great help to him in his battles in the Azure Ruins Secret Realm.

Zhou Ning read through the Pill Formula and was quite surprised. The Essence Continuation Pill seemed to be a very low-cost version of the Minor Essence Recovery Pill.

Moreover, the refining method is largely similar to that of the Minor Essence Recovery Pill, only much simpler.

"It is possible to refine them, but the requirements for the spiritual materials used in making these pills are quite high."

They want both Rock Elm Fruit, second-tier Demon Beast marrow, and Spirit Spring Liquid...

"I have prepared ten portions of spiritual materials. How long will it take Fellow Daoist Zhou to complete the pills, and how many pills will you be able to make?" Fang Tianyu asked with burning eyes.

Zhou Ning secretly admired them, thinking, "As expected of cultivators from a sect, they're really rich!"

According to his estimate, the value of one main ingredient is probably no less than two Spirit Stone. This person has really gone all out!

"Making ten within twenty days should be no problem," Zhou Ning gave a conservative answer.

Fang Tianyu was taken aback. "Brother Zhou, are you trying to trick me? Can you really do that much?"

He had prepared himself mentally beforehand. Based on the success rate of the Aristocratic Clan Alchemist, he would be satisfied if he could produce seven or eight pills, since it was Pill Formula that had never appeared before.

As for ten pills, only a sect's Alchemist could produce them; an ordinary first-level Alchemist probably couldn't do it.

Zhou Ning hadn't expected that he had overestimated the Alchemist of this world.

However, once he had said it, he had no intention of changing it.

This person has an extraordinary background, and with Gu Xiangning as his guarantor, he doesn't mind showing off a little and making friends with him.

Zhou Ning, brimming with confidence and a hint of arrogance on his face, declared, "How can any other Alchemist compare to me?"

"Born into poverty, Zhou was a fisherman on the lake. He had no lineage, no master, and was entirely self-taught, following the Pill Formula step by step to where he is today!"

"If the success rate of pill formation is insufficient, how can one become Alchemist? One would likely have become someone's servant long ago!"

These words were spoken with great conviction.

Gu Xiangning felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this, almost able to imagine the arduous days Zhou Ning had spent figuring out alchemy. If only she had known, she should have sent more spiritual materials...

Zhao Ruoxue, however, curled her lip, her voice icy cold. "Anyone can brag."

Ye Menglong was the same way. "Fine, if you're so capable, then produce the pill!"

Ultimately, Fang Tianyu made the decision to have Zhou Ning refine the pills.

However, he had one condition: he had to watch from the sidelines and keep an eye on the progress.

Zhou Ning knew he had some concerns, so she agreed.

It's just a pity that I can't skimp on the pills like I did with the Su Household.

After memorizing the Pill Formula, Zhou Ning began refining the pills.

He didn't use the young lady's Falling Blood Pill Furnace, firstly because it was too new and he wasn't familiar with it.

Secondly, since it was the young lady's first time, it should be enjoyed alone; it wouldn't be appropriate to do it in front of everyone.

He lit the Fire-Gathering Array, and the small spiritual flames shook their heads and tails.

With a wave of his hand, he summoned the Cloud-Pattern Pill Furnace to suppress the small fire.

He successfully cleansed the impurities from the Rock Elm Fruit in the first batch, leaving a faint medicinal fragrance and even infusing it with the marrow of Demon Beast.

As a result, when the herb was added, the medicinal liquid suddenly became turbulent, with a "sizzling" sound, thick smoke rose up, and it turned into medicinal residue.

Ye Menglong, who had been holding his breath nearby, suddenly felt the tension in his heart snap.

Gu Xiangning was equally nervous for Zhou Ning.

Zhao Ruoxue subtly curled the corners of her mouth.

Zhou Ning was speechless. Was this woman crazy?

Fang Tianyu, however, was mentally prepared and reassured her, "It's alright, it's just the first batch!"

Zhou Ning nodded and said, "Let's only refine one batch today. I've gained some insights, so we'll refine a second batch tomorrow."

He planned to use the [Divine Cauldron Inner Landscape Scripture].

The next day.

Zhou Ning had indeed made great progress, successfully fusing the Nourishing Grass, but when he added the Spirit Spring Water, it emitted black smoke once again.

After gaining insight, he started the third batch, but then ran into trouble again with the spiritual spring water step.

Three batches of spiritual materials had already been wasted, and even Fang Tianyu's eye twitched, but he remained calm.

Zhao Ruoxue's lips curled into a sarcastic smile, and her tail was practically wagging.

They clearly don't believe he can succeed; if he fails again, they'll probably be gossiping about him behind his back.

Zhou Ning frowned; there was an oversight in the Pill Formula, a detail that hadn't been mentioned.

He couldn't say it now, otherwise it would only be seen as an excuse and would anger the others.

So he said, "The temperature of the spiritual spring water is not high enough; it needs to be mixed with cold water first. Luckily, I have a few portions of Cold Dew."

After saying that, he started refining directly. This time it went very smoothly. He successfully fused the ingredients and even condensed a pill, although it was an inferior pill.

Fang Tianyu waited for several days and finally saw results. He was overjoyed and kept calling Alchemist Zhou ".

Zhou Ning felt equally confident. He used the [Divine Cauldron Inner Landscape Scripture] to deduce the next steps a few more times, and then the project took off.

Seven days later.

Zhou Ning began refining the fifth batch.

Before he even began his cultivation, Zhao Ruoxue, dressed in a light pink silk dress, with skin as white as snow but a face ashen as a corpse, began to speak again, her small mouth as cold as frost:

"If you fail today, you will need to produce two pills for each subsequent batch."