He bought three sets of ingredients for Qi Gathering Pills, spending a total of twelve Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
After adding the cost of purchasing the Pill Formula, Yu Changsheng was left with only forty-one Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
There were many elixirs available to aid cultivation during the Qi Refining Stage. The most common were Spirit Gathering Pills, Qi Gathering Pills, and Spirit Enhancent Pills. Spirit Gathering Pills were the cheapest; a small bottle of six cost just over a hundred Spirit Coins.
The Qi Gathering Pill was an enhanced version and thus more expensive, with a small bottle of six selling for over twenty Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
As for Spirit Enhancent Pills, a single one was worth over a dozen Spirit Stones.
Therefore, with three sets of ingredients, succeeding with just one would be enough to earn back the cost of materials—a profit of more than fivefold!
This made Yu Changsheng marvel, ’Alchemists really make a damn fortune.’
’Of course, if your Alchemy skill is terrible, it’s also a damn good way to burn through your cash.’
Since he didn’t have a Pill Furnace, he went to the main peak’s Alchemy Hall to rent one. It cost three Lower Grade Spirit Stones a day and ca with its own Array and Earth Fire. When a user ran out of Magical Power or grew tired during Alchemy, the Array would automatically activate to stabilize the Fla.
Typically, Qi Refining Cultivators who rented the rooms would exhaust their Magical Power after four hours of Alchemy. The Array gave them a second chance to continue; otherwise, they would have to find soone else to assist them.
This was the awkward predicant for Alchemists at the Qi Refining Stage.
The Three-coin Fire Refining Technique, however, was different. Unlike other Alchemy thods that emphasized speed and urgency, its demand on one’s Magical Power was low. It could be sumd up in a single word: slow.
Yu Changsheng found the Blue-robed Steward, paid the Spirit Stones, and entered an Alchemy Room.
The Alchemy Room’s layout was very plain. In the center was a pit surrounded by a small Array, within which stood a copper Pill Furnace. Judging by the ash below it and the faint dicinal fragrance lingering inside, it was clear that disciples frequently used it for Alchemy.
Yu Changsheng summoned the Red Snake King and instructed, "When I’m performing Alchemy later, if I run out of Magical Power, you’ll take over and breathe a few flas. Rember not to make them too fierce; a gentle fla will do."
"?"
The Red Snake King’s eyes widened, a virtual question mark seeming to pop into existence above its head.
’I can breathe fire, sure, but making a Demon Beast act as an Alchemy Boy? Isn’t that a bit much?’
Yu Changsheng seed to guess its thoughts. He patted the snake’s head and said,
"It’s fine. You’re a big, mature Red Snake King now. You need to learn how to help your master with Alchemy."
"When we’re done, I’ll let you have a couple of extra pills."
At this, the Red Snake King perked up, raising its head and giving a nod before positioning itself to stand guard by the Pill Furnace.
Yu Changsheng took out the ingredients one by one, laying them out in front of the Pill Furnace. He sat down, feeling a little nervous.
’It’s fine. There’s a first ti for everything.’
’Even if the Alchemy fails, it’s only a loss of a few Spirit Stones.’
He ford a hand seal and, using the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique, shot a stream of Fla to land beneath the Pill Furnace.
’First, add the supplentary ingredients. Use a Slow Fire to render them into a dicinal liquid...’
With a sweep of his hand, Yu Changsheng sent several herbs flying into the Pill Furnace. When the heat was just right, he added the main ingredients, closed the lid, and shut his eyes to carefully control the Fla.
’Slowly. The fire must not be rushed.’
’Empty your mind. Let the properties of the Spiritual dicines combine on their own.’
Beside him, the Red Snake King stared for six straight hours until its eyes were sore, but there seed to be no change in the Pill Furnace.
It glanced over at its master, who sat there with his eyes closed in quiet repose.
’Is he really performing Alchemy? Or just taking a nap!’
Growing bored, it lay down, its eyes still flicking toward the furnace every now and then.
’This Alchemy really is slow...’
Another four hours passed before Yu Changsheng slowly opened his eyes. With a sweep of his hand seal, the Fla beneath the Pill Furnace flared from a Slow Fire into a raging inferno.
"With principles aligned, the golden pill is refined. Let steaming fire and water breach every gate..."
"Form!"
As he withdrew the Magic Technique, the dicinal liquid inside the Pill Furnace coalesced. A bright light flashed from within the inferno, and a dense wave of Spiritual Qi washed over him.
POP!
The lid of the Pill Furnace flew open, revealing six Qi Gathering Pills. Each one was perfectly round and full, and bore a single Pill Pattern!
Seeing this, Yu Changsheng retracted his Magical Power, his face breaking into a wide, joyous smile.
’This technique is truly amazing! Even with my ager Magical Power, I could complete the entire process. It didn’t consu much, and I don’t feel tired at all!’
With his proficiency in the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique and his understanding of the Tier Two Alchemy Dao, refining Tier One Qi Gathering Pills was no challenge at all. It was only because this was his first ti—and he was a little nervous—that he hadn’t produced more. Otherwise, he might have increased the yield by several more, perhaps even reaching the perfect maximum of ten pills!
’I just wonder how effective they are.’
Yu Changsheng took out a Jade Bottle he had prepared earlier, placed the elixirs inside, and then turned his gaze to the Red Snake King.
The Red Snake King imdiately slithered over, blinked, and opened its mouth wide.
It had an expression that clearly said, "Feed ."
"Go on, eat. You worked hard standing guard for so long."
Yu Changsheng smiled and tossed a Qi Gathering Pill into its mouth.
The Red Snake King didn’t even chew, just swallowed it whole. While the effect wasn’t as invigorating as a Spirit Enhancent Pill, it still brought a pleasant sensation.
[You have successfully fed a Red Snake King. Consud: Qi Gathering Pill x1. Reward: 18 Essence Points, a trace amount of Magical Power.]
And "trace amount" was no exaggeration. It was nothing compared to a Spirit Enhancent Pill; Yu Changsheng barely felt a thing as it entered his body.
’No wonder there’s such a huge price difference between Qi Gathering Pills and Spirit Enhancent Pills. An ordinary Qi Refiner could probably consu several bottles of these and still not advance to the next Realm.’
Yu Changsheng shook his head, slightly disappointed.
He much preferred the sensation from the Spirit Enhancent Pills, where the increase in Magical Power was tangible.
He dreaded to think what effect the even lower-grade Spirit Gathering Pills would have.
After the Red Snake King finished digesting the pill, Yu Changsheng fed it another one. This Qi Gathering Pill was one he had gotten from Luo Lesheng. Its quality was even worse than the ones he had refined—it didn’t even have a Pill Pattern—and it only yielded 12 essence points.
’Ti to get back to Alchemy. I still have twelve hours left.’
Yu Changsheng reignited the fire and began to focus on the Magic Technique.
After a total of nine shichen had passed, he had refined the remaining two sets of ingredients into pills. The Pill Formation Success Rate was absurdly high, partly due to his Tier Two Alchemy Dao and partly thanks to the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique.
After packing everything away, Yu Changsheng returned the Red Snake King to his Inner Realm and pushed open the door of the Alchemy Room.
Outside, the Blue-robed Steward saw him and said with a stern face, "You went over by three shichen. That’ll be an extra Spirit Stone."
"Of course, of course. My apologies for the trouble, Steward," Yu Changsheng said with a smile, handing over two Spirit Stones.
Many Outer Disciples needed to use the Alchemy Rooms, and the Blue-robed Steward had only let a re servant disciple like him use one for a day because he had accepted a gift previously. Now, not only had he used it, but he had also gone over by three shichen. That was just asking for trouble.
Fortunately, no Outer Disciples had co looking for a room that morning. The Blue-robed Steward silently accepted the Spirit Stones, his expression softening considerably as he asked,
"So, how did it go? Any success with your first attempt at Alchemy?"
"Sigh... what success? I lost everything. It was all just a tribute to the Pill Furnace."
Yu Changsheng put on a heartbroken expression and sighed.
"That’s normal. You’ve only been learning Alchemy for a month. If you ask , you should attend more lectures before trying again. Starting before your skills are sharp is an easy way to lose everything you have."
"I wasn’t trying to scam you last ti," the Blue-robed Steward said earnestly. "Gongsun Alchemist’s Technique truly is the most suitable for Qi Refining Cultivators like you. Don’t be put off by his slow lectures. If you can grasp even a sliver of its essence, you’ll benefit for the rest of your life."
Yu Changsheng nodded quickly and smiled. "Gongsun Alchemist’s lectures are too profound for . I think I’d rather just learn by doing. It’s the only way I’ll really get the hang of Alchemy."
The Blue-robed Steward shook his head. "Fine, suit yourself. Go on."
"You’ve got plenty of Spirit Stones, anyway. If you want to burn them on Alchemy, be my guest."
Yu Changsheng smiled and left the Alchemy Hall.
Little did he know, no sooner had he left than Gongsun Yang himself arrived at the very sa Alchemy Room.
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