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Xunuo suddenly understood. The last time he took the Minor Rejuvenation Pill, he felt its potency was stronger than that of the Unity Pill. It seemed he had developed a resistance to the Unity Pill.
Lin Jianfeng thought for a moment and said, "However, the ingredients of the Minor Rejuvenation Pill are the same as those of the Great Pill. They are exceptionally precious to us Foundation Stage Cultivators. Moreover, I invited Alchemist Xu here specifically to ask him to refine the Great Pill. If this succeeds, I can promise to provide ten sets of ingredients for the Minor Rejuvenation Pill as a gift to Alchemist Xu."
Upon hearing this, Xunuo understood Lin Jianfeng, the Valley Master, intended for him to be involved in this matter. However, Xunuo knew that the deeper he got entangled in this affair, the harder it would be for him to extricate himself. He had an innate aversion to staying in Chaotic Valley. Yet he also recognized that although Lin Jianfeng spoke politely, it was not a mere suggestion.
After a brief pause, Xunuo replied, "I am but a novice in magic and can only assist others with Alchemy."
Lin Jianfeng nodded and said, "I am aware of your limitations in magical power. Therefore, during this time, you must not only work closely with the other two Alchemists to improve your skills but also strive to enhance your cultivation level as quickly as possible. Even if you cannot break through again, you should aim to reach the peak of the ninth layer. I will provide you with every convenience and assistance in this regard."
As he spoke, Lin Jianfeng produced two packets of Spiritual Tea and handed them to Xunuo. He continued, "These two packets of Spiritual Tea should be enough for you to advance another level. However, you must collaborate diligently with the other two Alchemists; this will inevitably affect your cultivation progress, which is something I find regrettable."
Xunuo did not expect Lin Jianfeng to be so generous in providing him with such a substantial amount of Spiritual Tea. Realizing there was no way to decline further, he clasped his hands and said, "With such kindness from the Valley Master, I will do my utmost."
Lin Jianfeng smiled silently for a moment before taking out the formula for the Great Pill and handing it to Xunuo, instructing him to study it carefully at home. He solemnly reminded him that this was a complete formula and must not be shared with anyone else.
Feeling anxious, Xunuo left.
Lin Jianfeng sat quietly in the pavilion for a while before suddenly summoning a silver Flying Sword and disappearing into thin air.
Moments later, deep within Mountain Valley, Lin Jianfeng's figure appeared in a vast hall.
The hall was enormous, measuring over a hundred feet in both length and width. A chilling wind swept through it, devoid of any hint of spring warmth; it felt like stepping into another world. At each entrance of the hall sat two burly Cultivators in peculiar postures. They wore gray robes that made their bodies appear unusually bulky. Sitting on the ground with their arms hanging at their sides and palms flat against the floor, they closed their eyes with talismans affixed to their faces.
The Mud Pill Palace stood open with a Purple Triangular Flag inserted within.
Their exposed hands and faces were an iron-black color, emanating an odd mixture of herbal and decaying scents. They clearly did not appear human but radiated an intense wave of magical power.
Lin Jianfeng paid them no mind. He sheathed his silver Flying Sword and adjusted his long robe as he walked deeper into the hall. Pushing open a back door revealed a spacious corridor. Lin Jianfeng stepped into it; it was not long before he emerged at its other end into a small medicinal field that had returned to vibrant springtime conditions filled with rich Spiritual Energy that invigorated his senses.
The medicinal field, covering an area of two acres, was entirely enveloped by a magical array. On one side of the stone wall, there was a wide cave. Lin Jianfeng entered the cave and sat down opposite an Azure Robed Elder.
The Azure Robed Elder had grizzled hair and appeared to be in his sixties. However, his face was grotesque and fierce, with a complexion that was half red and half blue, resembling a demon from the underworld. Lin Jianfeng glanced at the Azure Robed Elder, sighed softly, and closed his eyes to enter a meditative state.
Half a day later, the Azure Robed Elder opened his eyes. He raised his hand and pointed to his Mud Pill Palace, his face gradually glowing red, but the muscles on his face twisted in agony. Cold sweat poured down him, indicating extreme pain. After a moment, the Azure Robed Elder sighed heavily, his body swaying slightly as he struggled to stabilize himself. Once he managed to sit upright, he began to perform hand seals to recover.
Lin Jianfeng shook his head and said softly, "The backlash from my junior brother is becoming more frequent. With my prolonged seclusion, I fear I may not be able to hold on much longer."
Upon hearing this, the Azure Robed Elder opened his eyes slightly. His breath unsteady, he replied, "Over the years, thanks to you supporting the situation, but with our senior brother nearing his exit from seclusion, we can only hope that he brings us some hope."
Lin Jianfeng nodded and after a moment of silence said, "This time I plan to attempt refining a Great Pill."
The Azure Robed Elder's eyes lit up. "Do you have confidence?"
Lin Jianfeng forced a smile and replied, "Junior Brother Guo Huai is joking. How can a Foundation Stage Practitioner dare to speak of confidence when refining a Great Pill? However, time is running out for us; we cannot afford any more delays. Although this Alchemist has low cultivation, he possesses remarkable skills in Alchemy. He has managed to produce pills for two consecutive years, and this time the quality is exceptional."
The Azure Robed Elder exclaimed softly, "In that case, there is some hope."
Lin Jianfeng took out the Unity Pill refined by Xunuo and handed it to the Azure Robed Elder.
The Azure Robed Elder examined it closely. After a while, he nodded and said, "The pill's quality is acceptable. What is the Alchemist's cultivation level?"
Lin Jianfeng replied, "He just advanced to the ninth level."
Hearing this, the Azure Robed Elder shook his head slightly. Lin Jianfeng also furrowed his brows as if hesitating.
Suddenly, Lin Jianfeng's eyes widened as he looked toward a certain spot in the valley.
The Azure Robed Elder stood up, invigorated, and released his Divine Sense. The two of them joyfully exclaimed, "The Senior Brother has emerged from seclusion."
With a flick of his wrist, the Azure Robed Elder summoned a Blue Flying Sword, ready to rush out and greet the Senior Brother.
Lin Jianfeng smiled and said, "Guo Shidi, wait! The Senior Brother is already on his way."
They did not have to wait long. Outside the medicinal field, the formation rippled, and a Gray Robed Man appeared out of thin air within the Cave. This man was tall and slender, clad in gray robes, with a pale complexion that matched his attire. Upon seeing him, Lin Jianfeng and Guo Huai's initially excited expressions suddenly froze.
They both took a step back in unison.
Lin Jianfeng's face turned serious as he spoke slowly, "The Senior Brother has been in seclusion for ten years and has actually gone to practice the Method of the Undead."
Guo Huai stared intently at the Gray Robed Man and coldly remarked, "Could it be that the Senior Brother does not know that practicing the Method of the Undead means no longer being human? Memory and consciousness gradually fade away, becoming no different from a walking corpse. In the end, one is merely a creature that knows only how to kill, unable to be controlled or refined into Reanimation."
Lin Jianfeng snorted coldly. "It may not even compare to Reanimation. A Reanimation can still reincarnate; however, a corpse's soul dissipates significantly, leaving no chance for reincarnation."
In stark contrast to their tense demeanor, the Gray Robed Man sat down on a Meditation Cushion and calmly waved his hand at them. "Do not be alarmed, my younger brothers. I would never resort to such self-destructive actions. It has been nearly five hundred years since our sect faced calamity and the three of us escaped. If we had the protection of our sect, with our talents, we might have hoped for Golden Core advancement. Now, if we hide here, though we may temporarily survive, we will find it difficult to advance further and remain trapped at the Foundation Establishment Stage for hundreds of years. Moreover, all three of us have undergone Possession twice; if we do not make any progress soon, we will be buried in foreign soil."
"Lin Shidi has good fortune; he has been cautious during Possession. To this day, he has suffered little disturbance from host souls and still holds a glimmer of hope for advancement. Guo Shidi and I have devoted most of our energy to suppressing our host's consciousness and have lost any chance for further progress."
At this point, the Gray Robed Man glanced at Guo Huai.
Guo Huai's expression darkened immediately. He coldly replied, "Even if I ultimately die, my soul can still enter reincarnation; there remains some hope. It is far better than having my soul scattered and losing all hope."
The Gray Robed Man shook his head slightly. "While it may sound like that, it is merely self-deception. After countless reincarnations, who knows whether one will become a pig or sheep or even a human or beast? There is no possibility of returning to the path of cultivation. Although the Method of the Undead does not originate from our sect, there was once a senior who ascended through it. I do not seek reincarnation; I only wish to grasp this life’s fleeting vitality. I am willing to risk my soul scattering to tread that perilous path."
Upon hearing this, Guo Huai's expression changed. He suddenly asked, "Did Senior Brother find the Soul Nurturing Pearl?"
The Gray Robed Man nodded and pulled out a string of beads hanging around his neck. Lin Jianfeng and Guo Huai's eyes nearly popped out at the sight.
The Gray Robed Man smiled and pointed to one of the beads, which was the size of a thumb and shone with a dark luster. "This one is the Soul Nurturing Pearl; the others are for preserving appearances and protecting corpses."
Disappointment immediately showed on Lin Jianfeng and Guo Huai's faces. However, they still clasped their hands and said, "Congratulations, Senior Brother. The Main Road is promising."
The Gray Robed Man's face twitched a few times. After closing his eyes and thinking for a moment, he said, "I will spend ten years initially refining my physical body to prevent Corpse Qi from leaking. After that, I will need your help to restore my corpse using Essence Blood. Otherwise, I can only show myself as Reanimation for my entire life, which would be extremely inconvenient."
Lin Jianfeng replied, "This matter, Junior Brother will certainly do his best."
The three then sat on their Meditation Cushions and began to converse.
It turned out that these three came from the same Cultivation sect known as the Strange Person Sect, which specialized in the art of Reanimation. When disciples reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, they would be assigned a Reanimation to refine and command. Reanimation involved extracting the soul from a specially constituted body and refining it with special materials in a place of extreme yin.
Advancing in Reanimation cultivation was difficult; it could take thousands of years to level up even once. However, regardless of how strong or powerful a Reanimation was, it far surpassed other Cultivators of the same level in terms of physical strength and magical power. Once a Reanimation recognized its master, it was difficult for others to seize control unless the original owner fell. Even then, it would take several years for the original imprint to dissipate before someone else could refine it again, and it had to be done using the same method. Otherwise, that Reanimation would drop one or even several levels. Due to their long lifespans, Reanimations became heirlooms for certain Sects.
When first refined, a Reanimation's body would be freshly dead with coagulated blood and stiffened limbs appearing purplish-black. After adding various materials, the Reanimation would become even darker. At this stage, it was referred to as a Black Corpse. The physical bodies of Foundation Stage Practitioners were impure with too many impurities; thus, any Reanimation made from their bodies would also appear black. This lowest-grade Black Corpse corresponded to the cultivation level of Foundation Stage Practitioners.
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