Chapter 266: Lesser Circadian Star Aperture
After returning from Wangtian Pass, Su Yan directly began secluded cultivation on Cold Shadow Peak.
A total of three Alchemy Manuals, all third-order high-grade incantations; for an ordinary person to cultivate them, it would probably take years of immersion to fully master them.
But Su Yan was different from ordinary people.
The Fierce Insect Cauldron brought the ability of One Proof Eternal Proof, and in the process of continuously correcting refining techniques, his progress was visible to the naked eye, faster than any personal guidance.
Besides this ability from the Fierce Insect Cauldron, Su Yan had already mastered Basic Alchemy, Five Elements Alchemy Technique, Nine Dragon Pill Seal, and Gu Dan Jue, these several Alchemy Manuals.
Although their qualities varied in level, all could reach Transformation Realm, and their understanding of alchemy had penetrated deep into Su Yan’s bone marrow.
It could be said that at this moment, even among third-order alchemists, Su Yan was outstanding.
The reason for exchanging three third-order high-grade alchemy arts was to push his alchemy skill further, to refine all three types of third-order high-grade pills into super grade quality.
Su Yan took a large batch of medicinal herbs from Nangong Hong Yue’s hands, mainly blood crystals and other materials.
Right on this Cold Shadow Peak, starting with the third-order red gu cauldron borrowed from Nangong Hong Yue, he began refining Blood Yuan Pills and Blood Bone Pills and other basic pills for Sacred Insect Dao.
With Flame Armored Scorpion assisting, Su Yan used 《Divine Fire Pill Art》《Floating Fragrance Pill Art》《Return Spirit Pill Art》 these three pill arts to continuously refine.
In this way, more than half a month passed in a flash.
Each batch formed at least seven pills; even just getting started, refining these first and second-order pills could achieve 100% perfect quality rate, and the super grade rate started at one in ten.
After half a month, the three alchemy techniques had gradually reached Great Accomplishment realm, with pill formation reaching eight per batch, and super grade rate around two or three in ten.
In just half a month, over a thousand pills formed, and the medicinal herbs were completely consumed.
In Cold Shadow Peak City, Yang Lun personally led a team to open a Sacred Insect Dao shop in the city to serve Su Yan, collect intelligence, and make connections.
After handing the pills to them, Su Yan thought to get another batch of medicinal herbs to continue practicing.
But Yang Lun showed a troubled expression; with the sect great war pressing, their many medicinal herbs were collected in batches, and now they surprisingly couldn’t keep up with Su Yan’s refining speed for the time being.
Yang Lun wanted to risk going out to bring a batch, but Su Yan refused him.
Instead, he sought out Yuan Hong and Xiang Ge.
In the room, sandalwood incense lingered; around the black round wood table, Su Yan, Yuan Hong, and Xiang Ge sat encircling it.
“Kid, what do you want with us?”
Xiang Ge looked puzzled, glancing at Su Yan for a good while; in his impression, Su Yan was someone who rarely troubled others.
Yuan Hong had a similar expression, but his tone was much more concerned: “Nephew Disciple, do you need any help?”
“Two Martial Uncles, you should have quite a lot of medicinal herbs on hand, right?”
Xiang Ge showed a surprised expression, then a look of realization: “You’re short on cultivation medicinal herbs; tell me, if you need, I’ll give you some from my side.”
Heavenly materials and earthly treasures refined into pills is best, with the highest utilization rate.
But it’s not always possible to refine them into pills, nor always able to gather a pill prescription.
Sometimes, directly consuming heavenly materials and earthly treasures is the norm.
Xiang Ge was generous, giving as he said; with a slight flash of light from his storage ring, three heavenly materials and earthly treasures appeared: Jade Ganoderma, Dragon Cry Fruit, Silver Star Flower.
“All third-order low-grade, but good spirit herbs for accumulating true essence and cleansing golden cores…”
Xiang Ge was about to introduce them to Su Yan when Su Yan interrupted him.
“Martial Uncle, give me your medicinal herbs, and I’ll refine them into pills for you, how about that?”
At Su Yan’s question, Xiang Ge subconsciously said: “What pills to refine, you can—wait, you know this skill?”
Xiang Ge’s eyes widened, and Yuan Hong also had a face full of doubt.
He said: “Learning medicine refining is good, but third-order heavenly materials and earthly treasures probably need a third-order alchemist to handle well, otherwise…”
Su Yan clanged a token shaped like a pill cauldron onto the table.
The crisp sound immediately drew the gazes of Xiang Ge and Yuan Hong.
At first glance, both men’s pupils contracted, looking as if they had seen a ghost.
Beast King Sect Pill Refining Pavilion’s third-order alchemist token.
“You, what relation do you have with that old man Deng Rongqiu to get his token?”
Su Yan rolled his eyes at him, saying grumpily: “The real deal, mine.”
Yuan Hong tugged his beard, pain from his cheek reminding him this wasn’t a joke or a dream.
Xiang Ge’s eyes went dark, nearly slapping his thigh; damn, if Tiger Old Man found out…
Fine, better not return to the mountain gate for a while.
Su Yan put away the token, opened the skylight to speak plainly, and directly said: “I newly exchanged for three alchemy manuals, now at Great Accomplishment realm; to practice to Transformation Realm, I still need to practice more challenging pills.”
Challenging pills ≈ third-order pills.
The two exchanged a glance, finally understanding why Su Yan came to them.
Third-order materials—who in this city has enough stock, if not them.
Xiang Ge spotted the blind spot: “What about your master?”
Su Yan had a matter-of-course look: “Who directly uses their own master’s heavenly materials and earthly treasures for practice? She’s second to last.”
No need for Su Yan to say, the last place was definitely Su Yan himself.
Xiang Ge’s eyes narrowed slightly: “Kid, you’ve got good stuff hidden, I don’t believe your over three million contribution points didn’t exchange for good things.”
If he couldn’t refine pills, he’d definitely prioritize exchanging for pills.
But this guy can refine pills and specifically exchanged for higher-order alchemy arts.
The answer was self-evident.
Su Yan didn’t hide it, saying: “Blood Refining Golden Pill, Spirit Condensing Golden Pill, Dragon Scale Body Strengthening Pill—these three third-order high-grade pills, I can refine into super grade quality, equivalent to half a level higher pill rank.”
Yuan Hong and Xiang Ge sucked in cold air, eyes gleaming with excitement, nothing left but envy.
Third-order high-grade raised half a level, almost half-step fourth-order pills.
One such pill down, not just ten or twenty percent stronger medicinal effect, but all-around enhancement.
And look how he picks pills, that’s what you call tailored.
Blood Refining Golden Pill for nurturing contracted beasts, continuously refining contracted beast bloodlines, strengthening foundations.
Dragon Scale Body Strengthening Pill for body tempering, solidifying Dan Qiao Realm martial artist physical body foundation; Spirit Condensing Golden Pill condenses spirit and strengthens soul, a good medicine preparing for future Divine Soul Golden Core condensation.
“Good nephew disciple”
“Speak human”
Xiang Ge showed a fawning smile: “Since you’re preparing to refine these pills, do you think we might…”
Pill masters are hard to find, especially third-order pill masters who can refine super grade.
“All the heavenly materials and earthly treasures in my little vault for your practice.”
Su Yan glanced at him: “Xiang Martial Uncle, though it’s practice for me, I’ll proportion your heavenly materials and earthly treasures by medicinal property, refine into auxiliary cultivation third-order pills; though not as good as the three I mentioned, third-order low-grade is guaranteed.”
Yuan Hong waved to push Xiang Ge: “Go go go, shameless one wanting to take advantage of the junior. For practice pills, per batch, Nephew Disciple, just take commission per pill master’s rules. As for the three pills, I’ll collect the heavenly materials and earthly treasures myself, hand to Nephew Disciple to refine; per batch, just guarantee one super grade pill, how about it?”
Yuan Hong was generous; generally, pill commission isn’t low, between one-third to half.
Xiang Ge interjected: “That’s not what I meant for Fat Yuan, same for me.”
Su Yan pondered a moment, then said: “Practice is me asking two Martial Uncles for help, how can I take such heavy commission; one per batch is fine. As for the three pills, one in three for commission, how about it?”
“Fine”
The two agreed without thinking.
Damn, where’s this nephew disciple, this is their dearest pill daddy.
The two were straightforward and trusted Su Yan, promptly emptying their little vaults: from third-order heavenly materials and earthly treasures to second-order spirit herbs, in a blink over a hundred stalks.
Normally, they definitely wouldn’t have that many second-order herbs on hand.
But now it’s wartime; as long as they take down the opponent, the treasures in opponent’s storage rings are theirs nine times out of ten.
Accumulated, naturally considerable.
Su Yan took all per the list; in a few days, Xiang Ge and Yuan Hong these two brothers left Cold Shadow Peak.
Either attacking Demonic Sect occupied territory, or ambushing opponent’s Dan Qiao Realm True Persons; with intent against unprepared, striking ruthlessly, results abundant for a time.
Several mountain peaks around Cold Shadow Peak had many sieges lifted.
But their actions also alerted Long Qiushui to the issue.
In a few days, she sent over her heavenly materials and earthly treasures too, throwing Su Yan a line: “Half each.”
With three Dan Qiao Realm backing, resources on hand suddenly became plentiful.
As Su Yan said, he directly proportioned third-order heavenly materials and earthly treasures by medicinal property, forming temporary nameless pills, all third-order pills; some with matching properties could even become third-order mid-grade pills.
So-called pill master isn’t just following pill prescriptions like a gourd to claim being a great pill master.
Deeply knowing medicinal properties, able to proportion medicines mutually into pills—that’s a pill master.
As for pill prescriptions, they are tempered thousands of times, constantly refined; only when pill effects stable, refining techniques and formation methods stable, will they circulate in the world for ordinary pill masters to refine.
Su Yan’s proportioning all relied on skill, refining process allowing no sloppiness.
In this way, also due to using alchemy techniques, Su Yan’s three alchemy arts progressed rapidly.
Less than seven days, first alchemy art reached Transformation Realm.
Then five days, four days, alchemy arts successively completed, all reaching Transformation Realm level.
Techniques reached Transformation Realm; Su Yan rested one day, casually asked about Xiang Ge and Yuan Hong’s situations.
The two were diligent, but raw materials for the three golden core pills weren’t easy to gather.
He directly opened the furnace to refine, sequentially producing the three pills.
This refining lasted over half a month.
Seed Aperture Pill: ten batches, total 81 pills formed, 41 perfect quality, 40 super grade.
Blood Refining Golden Pill: ten batches, total 84 pills formed, 52 perfect quality, 32 super grade.
Dragon Scale Body Strengthening Pill: ten batches, total 88 pills formed, 45 perfect quality, 43 super grade.
Spirit Condensing Golden Pill: ten batches, total 90 pills formed, 64 perfect quality, 27 super grade.
Over three hundred pills total; any one released could sell for tens of thousands of origin stones or over ten thousand contribution points. Super grade even more priceless.
“Underestimated the refining difficulty of third-order high-grade pills.”
Su Yan shook his head slightly, regulated his breathing, then put away all the pills.
The later the refining, the harder to concentrate energy, so super grade formation rate still declined.
However, with this super grade formation probability, with his alchemy skill, he could probably already be considered a fourth-order alchemist.
“First try Seed Aperture Pill”
Su Yan took out a super grade Seed Aperture Pill, without hesitation, directly swallowed it into his abdomen.
Seed Aperture Pill melted in the mouth; a thread of clear spiritual feeling followed the throat into the abdomen, then spread throughout the body.
Spiritual power flow instantly turned into shocking waves, continuously surging through his meridians, at rushing speed searching for minor star apertures in the body.
Su Yan wasn’t taking Seed Aperture Pill for the first time, but this one’s medicinal effect was clearly stronger, and the intense pain brought to the body also continuously increased.
The more Seed Aperture Pills taken, each additional one makes the body star aperture resonance stronger, greater pressure on meridians.
Ordinary martial artists before Dan Qiao Realm, able to tolerate three or four is already impressive.
Entering Dan Qiao, First Heaven only has about ten star apertures.
Su Yan’s physical body strong, bone structure solid; previously already opened twenty star apertures.
Now opening more, the pain no less than muscle and bone shattered.
Veins on his forehead slightly bulged, face faintly flushed red; pain from the body came like his bones were struck and broken.
His figure motionless, completely enduring the pain.
About a quarter-hour passed; surging spiritual power found the place to pour, one star aperture gradually formed, located beside the True Essence Golden Core.
Su Yan opened his eyes, body true essence surging several percent, aura continuously strengthening.
“One Seed Aperture Pill, the opened star aperture much larger than before. Body true essence also grew at least thirty percent.”
Joy showed in his eyes; the later star apertures planted, the more emphasis on solidifying foundation, turning into star chart to communicate with nature.
Pure amplification would decline, but now still increasing thirty percent shows super grade’s extraordinary effect.
“Continue”
Su Yan rested briefly, then continued taking; consecutively took fifteen, planted star apertures reaching thirty-six, cooperating with Heavenly Gang number.
Minor star apertures forming their own circuit, scattered between upper, middle, lower three dantians, remotely sensing each other, faintly seeming to build a star chart.
Su Yan knew this was just illusion; among three dantians, only True Essence Golden Core lit, Qi and Blood Golden Core and Divine Soul Golden Core not formed; current resonance not real.
But future promising; just his physical body strength now insufficient to continue planting apertures.
He stopped, then took Dragon Scale Body Strengthening Pill and Spirit Condensing Golden Pill, continuously tempering his body and soul.
This cultivation lasted over a month.
During this, Xiang Ge and Yuan Hong finally gathered one set of raw materials, handed to Su Yan.
Su Yan in spare time from cultivation refined them all into pills for them: eight per batch, over half super grade.
Su Yan took one in three; even so, the two were overjoyed, took the pills, and went out again.
Compared to the two, Su Yan’s cultivation progress was truly terrifying; clearly Dan Qiao Realm First Heaven realm.
Just the abyss-like aura, even Second Heaven martial artist standing before him would first doubt if their own realm was wrong.
Qi and blood rolling, true essence like sea.
Not yet entered Poison Dragon Valley to get Poison Dragon True Person’s inheritance, to further temper body.
Just with current physical body strength, Su Yan felt he already reached the threshold of Dan Forms Eight Revolutions.
And at this moment, in Cold Shadow Peak City, Yang Lun quietly sent news: “Tianshui Sect, Huoyun Sect, Tieying Sect besieging Yanwu Mountain Range; three great tribes gathered, already critical moment.”
The timing had arrived.
