Chapter 99: Second-order Beast Essence Pill
Cai Peng handed over the pill prescriptions, a total of three sheets, all recorded on old beast hides.
Su Yan glanced over them, recognizing the text on them.
First-order High-grade pill Five Aggregates Pill, with Five-colored Fruit as the main material; once ingested, the five aggregates remain undigested for three months, releasing strands of medicinal potency to stimulate qi and blood to strengthen the internal organs.
First-order High-grade pill True Essence Pill, with White Jade Ginseng as the main ingredient, supplemented by various medicinal herbs; the pill transforms into true essence, enhancing cultivation.
The first two types of pills were for use on Spirit Nurturing Realm Martial Artists, enhancing cultivation and strengthening the body.
If the Five Aggregates Pill is used properly, at the Great Accomplishment of Blood Moving Realm, it can refine the five viscera in advance, accelerating the speed of breakthrough.
Once entering Spirit Nurturing Realm, nurturing the internal organs and meridians becomes of utmost importance, so the effect of this Five Aggregates Pill is not bad.
Actually, this True Essence Pill seems simple, and there are two or three methods of refining it, with the main ingredient replaceable based on medicinal properties.
The core lies in converting medicinal potency into true essence to nourish the body for cultivation.
“How did you get them?”
Su Yan asked casually.
Cai Peng replied: “Obtained from several lone martial world travelers.”
They were in the business of robbery to begin with, so finding things on martial world travelers was not unusual.
However, Su Yan just smiled, not believing these were things they had plundered in the past few days.
Compensation or giving up the struggle?
First-order High-grade prescriptions were precious enough, and for a faction, they could continuously produce pills, of no small value.
Although he had only glanced roughly, both True Essence Pill and Five Aggregates Pill had good effects.
Moreover, these two prescriptions were just a lead-in; what they truly wanted to offer Su Yan was actually the third prescription—Second-order Low-grade Beast Essence Pill.
“Using feral beast bone blood as the main material, supplemented by White Jade Ginseng, dragon bone vine, and other materials to refine into pills, which can nurture feral beast demonic essence and accelerate bloodline growth.”
Feral beasts have strong strength, their innate bloodlines granting them even greater power and talent.
But they also have limitations; the more powerful the feral beast bloodline, the longer the time needed for growth.
If resources are insufficient, sometimes a martial artist spends a lifetime without necessarily raising a feral beast to Great Accomplishment.
Beast King Sect is famous for raising feral beasts as war pets, not just because they can contract them, but because their martial arts cultivation manuals include secret techniques that promote mutual growth, along with various corresponding pills.
“How many portions of medicinal herbs have you prepared?”
At Su Yan’s question, Cai Peng’s pupils visibly contracted sharply, his body lowering further: “Time was rushed; we only prepared one and a half portions of medicinal herbs, and still need to collect more.”
He knew Su Yan had seen through the meaning of offering these things: a request for forgiveness.
Those dead subordinates, though they surely had thoughts of escaping insect egg control.
But the true instigators were still these five Spirit Nurturing Realm leaders.
If it had succeeded, they would scatter like birds and beasts, immediately fleeing the place so Su Yan couldn’t find them.
But now that it had failed, there needed to be an explanation.
“Continue collecting; I’ll stay here for a few days. Also, gather clear information on the various families in Yun Cang Town.”
“Yes, Mister.”
Cai Peng breathed a sigh of relief, as did Ding Meng, Yang Kun, and the others.
Since Su Yan continued to give orders, it proved they were still useful.
The group placed all the items outside Su Yan’s room, then departed separately, going down the mountain to gather information as Su Yan instructed.
“Red Gold, Black Cloud Steel, threaded iron—three thousand jin of first-order ore; if not robbed from Tian Feng Weapon Shop’s mining team, then they must have another stash.”
Looking at the spoils before him, Su Yan smiled, then immediately released the Jade Beetle.
【Jade Beetle 215/400（Mature Stage）】
The Jade Beetle had been continuously devouring metal while also consuming Blood-Strengthening Pills and the like, so its growth speed was not slow.
With so much first-order metal now, it should be enough for it to reach Metamorphosis Stage.
“Second-order Beast Essence Pill should help Insect Tamers a lot, but with only one and a half portions of medicinal herbs, it’s not suitable for practice; instead, using Five Aggregates Pill and True Essence Pill for practice is more appropriate.”
【Second-order Insect Master 97/1000】
【Trait: Insect Bone Armor Body】
【Insect Realm: 100 cubic meters】
【White Bone Poison Centipede 131/200(Growth Stage）】
【Red Armored Mad Scorpion 173/200(Growth Stage）】
【Blood Locust 241/400(Mature Stage）】
During this time, whether White Bone Poison Centipede or Red Armored Mad Scorpion had been continuously devouring Blood-Strengthening Pills, Poison Dragon Pills, and such, so their growth speed was naturally not slow.
But compared to their previous progress, it had naturally slowed somewhat.
As strength increased, the medicinal potency needed by Insect Tamers naturally became higher as well.
Just Blood-Strengthening Pills alone were somewhat insufficient to keep up with demand.
On the contrary, the Blood Locust, not yet having undergone metamorphosis, had gained ample growth under the supplementation of Blood-Strengthening Pills and large amounts of feral beast flesh and blood, already not far from Metamorphosis Stage.
Su Yan summoned all three insects together, letting them devour the feral beast blood food prepared by Cai Peng and the others.
Then he took out the alchemy furnace, lit the charcoal fire, and prepared to refine pills.
“This time we harvested quite a few medicinal herbs; plus those collected by Cai Peng and them, it should be enough to refine several furnaces of Five Aggregates Pills and True Essence Pills.”
“True Essence Pill mainly nurtures true essence, with spirit herbs like White Jade Ginseng that supplement vital energy as the primary materials; perhaps we can adjust the herbs to refine a few more furnaces.”
Pill refining requires prescriptions; some are exquisite, and any slight error in heat control or herbs can lead to failure.
But some pills have simple functions and less strict requirements on raw materials, like Blood-Strengthening Pills or True Essence Pills.
With a thorough knowledge of herbology and solid alchemy skills, one can refine comparable pills by adjusting herb ratios.
The medicinal potency and effects may differ slightly, but they absolutely won’t be waste pills.
His herbology ability had reached Great Accomplishment, and Basic Alchemy was at Great Accomplishment level; refining first-order pills was naturally no issue.
The furnace fire blazed, and Su Yan placed the alchemy furnace on it; soon the temperature conducted into the furnace.
Su Yan skillfully followed the prescription, adding the corresponding medicinal herbs into the alchemy furnace, continuously burning them to remove impurities.
In the blink of an eye, three days passed; aside from eating and sleeping, he devoted all his energy to pill refining.
His pill refining techniques became increasingly proficient, and the refined pills naturally became more effective.
On the first day, he refined three furnaces of Five Aggregates Pills: one furnace with 5 pills, the next two with 7 and 9 pills respectively.
On the second day, two furnaces of Five Aggregates Pills and three furnaces of True Essence Pills.
On the third day, he adjusted a new True Essence Pill formula and refined four more furnaces, consuming about seventy to eighty percent of the medicinal herbs.
“35 Five Aggregates Pills, 74 True Essence Pills—enough to use for a while.”
Su Yan finished packaging the pills, his eyes bright and spirit refreshed.
【Basic Alchemy: Transformation Realm】
Three days of continuous pill refining pushed Basic Alchemy from Great Accomplishment to Transformation Realm.
Pill refining techniques, heat control, skills—the most basic and solid foundations flashed through his mind one by one; it seemed that with Basic Alchemy reaching Transformation Realm, his hands had become even more flexible.
In Yun Cang Town, even Xu Zhongdao could not match his pill refining now.
“To advance pill refining further, it should be like Blood Qi Arrow—evolving special techniques from the foundation.”
Alchemy skill extends from the foundation of martial arts; the more prosperous martial arts development, the more techniques in alchemy naturally.
This was beyond doubt.
However, for Su Yan, refining Second-order Low-grade Beast Essence Pills was already more than sufficient now.
“Lord.”
From outside the room came the voice of Jiao Yang Sou Yang Kun.
“Come in.”
Yang Kun pushed open the door, respectfully carrying a box of medicinal herbs and placing it before Su Yan.
The room full of medicinal fragrance made Yang Kun’s expression change slightly, his heart shocked.
This medicinal fragrance… such impressive alchemy skills; besides Hundred Herbs Hall, is there another pill master like this around Yun Cang Town?
He lowered his head slightly, so Su Yan couldn’t see the change in his expression, vaguely guessing at Su Yan’s true identity—perhaps from Hundred Herbs Hall or another faction.
“These are the medicinal herbs collected down the mountain in the past two days; combined with those handed to Lord before, it’s about four portions for Beast Essence Pills.”
“Well done.”
Su Yan nodded slightly; this collection speed was acceptable.
Jiao Yang Sou Yang Kun continued: “New information from down the mountain: Little Mountain Association, Seven Blades Martial Arts School, and Golden Ape Martial Arts School have withdrawn from the mountain guarding rights contest in Ancient Forest Mountain. Golden Ape Martial Arts School has no time to seize a second mountain guarding right; Little Mountain Association and Seven Blades Martial Arts School seem to be due to some promise.”
Su Yan looked up slightly at Yang Kun, thinking to himself: ‘This news has already started spreading?’
“When does Ancient Forest Mountain open?”
“It’s said to be five days from now.”
When Su Yan came out, the exact opening time of Ancient Forest Mountain hadn’t been set, but now it seemed a decision had been reached.
He knew Golden Ape Martial Arts School wasn’t joining the Ancient Forest Mountain contest, but even Seven Blades Martial Arts School not going was somewhat unexpected.
Though thirty disciples had died, Long Qidao shouldn’t be so cowardly.
“Any other news?”
“Half a month from now, Hundred Thieves Cave has a trade fair for greenwood martial artists.”
“Trade fair?”
Su Yan became interested and asked: “Tell me in detail.”
Jiao Yang Sou Yang Kun had perhaps guessed Su Yan would be interested in this news, so he explained in particular detail.
He said: “The Greenwood Trade Fair is a black market trade organized by bandit leaders from several major mountain peaks. Led by Tiger Head Mountain’s Bone-Faced Tiger King Wang Tiangong, along with Hundred Thieves Cave’s Earth-Digging Rat Lin Xiao and San Die Stream’s Crimson Spotted Leopard Du Erniang, they gather greenwood folks from various places to sell things that can’t easily be laundered in the open world.”
Everyone lived by robbery; many things like ore, spirit herbs, gold and silver were relatively easy to sell.
Find an identity, use a middleman, flow them into Yun Cang Town or nearby county towns, and they could be exchanged for gold and silver, pills, etc., laundering the stolen goods.
But some things were too distinctive; once sold, everyone would know the victim.
In such cases, they dared not sell easily.
Besides this reason, another was that some things couldn’t be easily valued in money.
Though they could be exchanged for cash, the money couldn’t buy what they wanted, so they were worthless either way and just sat in storage.
This Greenwood Gathering gave everyone a chance to sell and see if they could find something useful.
If Tiger God Temple City was the righteous path’s market, then the corresponding Greenwood Gathering was the black path’s market.
“All participants are greenwood folks?”
“Mostly.”
Jiao Yang Sou Yang Kun explained: “The Greenwood Gathering is initiated by the three bosses issuing calling cards; black path factions receiving calling cards attend the location specified. Entry requires one hundred taels of silver. Generally, it’s famous greenwood people, at least Spirit Nurturing Realm to participate. But some with close ties to greenwood also get the news.”
Hearing this, Su Yan understood that no matter how grand the Greenwood Gathering’s name, it was just a fence stolen goods gathering.
Under such benefits, some with public identities would likely be tempted and find an excuse to check it out.
“Lord, calling cards have been sent to Grindstone Mountain; do you want to go see?”
“Go.”
Su Yan’s eyes flickered: “Come with me then.”
“As you command.”
After reporting, Jiao Yang Sou was about to exit the room.
Su Yan raised his hand and tossed out two bottles of Five Aggregates Pills and True Essence Pills.
“You five divide them among yourselves.”
Jiao Yang Sou was stunned, then immediately nodded: “Many thanks for Lord’s reward.”
Jiao Yang Sou exited and closed the door, leaving Su Yan alone in the room.
“The greenwood gathering should have some good stuff; Jade Beetle and Blood Locust are about to metamorphose—hope the molting materials aren’t too tricky.”
Muttering to himself, Su Yan rested briefly, refreshed his spirit, and reignited the charcoal fire, placing the alchemy furnace on it.
Having prepared for several days, now with herbs gathered, he naturally refined Beast Essence Pills without delay.
Second-order Low-grade pills required true essence coordination in refining, no room for carelessness.
Though it was Su Yan’s first time refining them, Transformation Realm Basic Alchemy made his control of the furnace and handling of herbs smooth and flawless.
His true essence continuously flowed into the medicine furnace, bit by bit merging into the herbs, adjusting their properties.
As time passed, true essence consumption grew; Su Yan swallowed True Essence Pills, refined the true essence to replenish, and continued refining Beast Essence Pills.
Fully an hour later, as firelight rose and the alchemy furnace shook slightly.
The first furnace of Beast Essence Pills was finally refined.
Thumb-thick emerald-green pills emitted a faint glow, with rich medicinal fragrance spreading throughout the room.
Rustle rustle rustle
In an instant, White Bone Poison Centipede, Red Armored Mad Scorpion, Blood Locust, and Jade Beetle had all gathered.
Feral beast instincts made them realize these four freshly made pills were treasures.
Su Yan smiled: “Eat up, eat up.”
He tossed the four pills in his hand toward the four insects; they raised their heads and swallowed the pills in one gulp.
The medicinal potency dissolved in their bodies, continuously activating their bloodlines.
After more than ten minutes, first the White Bone Poison Centipede and Red Armored Mad Scorpion’s auras suddenly changed; their forms and carapaces became slightly thicker.
Both successfully accumulated enough growth from Growth Stage to enter Mature Stage.
Strength greatly increased; power and defense saw massive changes, appearance unchanged but aura more ferocious and cold.
Another half hour passed, and the Jade Beetle and Blood Locust at the breakthrough verge both changed, entering Metamorphosis Stage together.
【Jade Beetle 0/2（Metamorphosis Stage）】
【Metamorphosis: Iron-Eating Armored Lizard skeleton, one jin Gold-Silver Marrow】
【Blood Locust 0/3（Metamorphosis Stage）】
【Metamorphosis: Second-order feral beast blood marrow, Red Blood Crystal, Marrow-Sucking Leech】
