Chapter 140: Dao Pill

"Above the Earth-rank alchemist, there is indeed a Heaven-rank alchemist. If I'm not mistaken, the Human-rank alchemist is one who can refine pills for ordinary cultivators, while the Earth-rank alchemist is one who can refine pills for immortals. I wonder what is special about the Heaven-rank alchemist?" Han Li nodded thoughtfully and asked again.

"The distinction between Human-rank and Earth-rank alchemists is roughly as you described. As for the Heaven-rank alchemist, also known as the Dao Alchemist, they hold the highest status in the immortal world. The sole criterion is whether one can refine a Dao Pill." Mo Guang said slowly.

"What is a Dao Pill, and how does it differ from other pills?" Han Li was startled and pressed further.

"A Dao Pill is a pill that contains the power of the laws of heaven and earth." Mo Guang replied.

"Contains the power of laws... Could it be that after taking this pill, one can directly comprehend the power of laws?" Han Li's heart stirred, as if he had thought of something.

"In the immortal world, those who have transcended tribulation and become immortals seek to master the power of laws to achieve true immortality through two main methods: one is by cultivating various techniques and scriptures, constantly comprehending over long years, and eventually perhaps having a chance to grasp the power of laws... The second is to use spiritual materials containing the power of certain laws of heaven and earth to refine a Dao Pill and take it to gain insight." Mo Guang continued expressionlessly.

"Does the Dao Pill have such an effect? Wouldn't taking a Dao Pill save tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years of bitter cultivation and enlightenment?" Han Li's heart was already in turmoil, but after taking a deep breath, he spoke calmly.

"Not exactly. Even if one is fortunate enough to obtain a Dao Pill, the chance of comprehending the related law power is extremely low. Nevertheless, it greatly benefits future comprehension of the relevant laws." Mo Guang shook his head.

"This probability of comprehending law power should be related to the grade of the Dao Pill." Han Li said after a moment's deliberation.

"Naturally. Generally speaking, a Dao Pill certainly contains law power, but a pill containing law power is not necessarily a Dao Pill. The specific criterion is whether, after successful refinement, the pill surface presents the legendary Dao patterns, and the number of Dao patterns determines the grade of the Dao Pill." Mo Guang explained eloquently.

"Dao patterns... Do you know how many patterns the highest-grade Dao Pill has?" Han Li silently noted this and continued asking.

"At most nine Dao patterns, that is, a nine-grade Dao Pill, which is almost a legendary thing. Even a one-grade Dao Pill is a spiritual object that seizes the wonders of heaven and earth, extremely precious and rare in the immortal world." Mo Guang said.

"I see... No wonder Heaven-rank alchemists hold such high status in the immortal world." Han Li nodded.

"I know that Fellow Daoist Han was already a skilled alchemist in the spirit realm. Asking this today, I suspect you have some thoughts about becoming a Heaven-rank alchemist. However, as far as I know, among a thousand Human-rank alchemists, one might eventually become an Earth-rank alchemist, and among a hundred thousand Earth-rank alchemists, not one may become a Dao Alchemist. As for Heaven-rank alchemists who refine high-grade Dao Pills, they are even rarer." Mo Guang said with apparent meaning.

"Hehe, alchemy relies on experience. The heavenly spiritual materials containing law power are already extremely rare; where would one find so many materials to practice on?" Han Li smiled faintly, looking unsurprised.

"That is indeed one reason. Another is that Dao Pill recipes are equally rare, and almost all are held by the major powers in the immortal realm. Celestial alchemists in the immortal realm, like alchemy grandmasters in the spirit realm, mostly depend on the major powers. Outside, they are rarely seen." said Mo Guang.

Han Li frowned slightly upon hearing this.

"By the way, there is another rumor about Dao Pills: that Dao Pills are naturally formed, and the same Dao Pill recipe can only be comprehended by a certain number of celestial alchemists. Once the number is reached, no one else can learn to refine that Dao Pill." Mo Guang added, recalling something.

"Is that so? That sounds too mysterious." Han Li was taken aback.

"No one has verified the truth of this rumor, but people would rather believe it than risk ignoring it. Generally, once someone obtains a Dao Pill recipe, they are extremely unwilling to pass it on unless necessary." said Mo Guang.

Han Li gave a wry smile. He fully agreed on this point, as he would do the same.

"That's all I know about Dao Pills and celestial alchemists. I hope it helps you, Fellow Daoist Han." Mo Guang said indifferently, then his form flickered as he prepared to merge into the shadows.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Mo Guang. Wait a moment, I have another question." Han Li suddenly remembered something and called out to Mo Guang.

"Oh? What else, Fellow Daoist Han?" said Mo Guang.

"It's about immortal essence stones. I'd like you to explain them to me." Han Li said.

"Ah, immortal essence stones are good things. They can quickly replenish immortal spiritual power in battle and also be used to speed up cultivation. They are scarce everywhere." said Mo Guang.

"No wonder they can be used as currency. But does it take a long time to condense one immortal essence stone?" Han Li asked.

"That varies from person to person. Generally speaking, a True Immortal at the late stage can condense one in a year, a mid-stage True Immortal needs ten years, and an early-stage True Immortal needs over a hundred years." Mo Guang said after a moment's thought.

"A hundred years..." Han Li frowned.

The teleportation array required five immortal essence stones. He had originally planned that if condensing one didn't take too long, he could do it himself with some effort. Now it seemed that path was unfeasible.

"What I just mentioned refers only to low-grade immortal essence stones. Like spirit stones, immortal essence stones are divided into four grades: low, medium, high, and top-grade. High-quality immortal essence stones can generally only be condensed by high-level immortals." Mo Guang continued.

"Besides needing continuous infusion of immortal spiritual power, are there any other restrictions?" Han Li said.

"During the condensation of immortal essence stones, cultivators cannot cultivate, so unless forced by circumstances, no immortal is willing to do such a thing that benefits others at their own expense. Therefore, in the immortal realm, regardless of the grade, the quantity of immortal essence stones is very small and extremely precious." Mo Guang said.

Han Li slowly nodded, but inwardly he was bitterly smiling.

If that was the case, his hope of exchanging for immortal essence stones was probably slim.

Seeing Han Li lost in thought, Mo Guang said nothing more, and with a flicker of his shadow, he merged into Han Li's shadow and disappeared.

...

Late into the night, the bright moon hung in the sky.

Above the peak of Youyang Mountain, a streak of light suddenly burst forth, like lightning, and vanished in a flash.

Before long, in a remote sea area tens of thousands of miles away, a figure emerged, hovering above the sea surface.

This person, tall and dressed in a green robe, was none other than Han Li.

His eyes were bright as stars. He reached out and grabbed something from his chest, then tossed it high into the sky. He then parted his lips and began to silently chant.

With the sound of incantations, the small bottle suspended in the air began to tremble violently, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the surrounding sea area started to become restless.

A greenish spherical light curtain began to expand little by little, spreading in all directions, and the waves on the sea surface began to surge secretly...

In the blink of an eye, seven days and seven nights passed.

As a tiny crystal grain and the now nearly transparent small bottle slowly descended from the high sky, the sea surface completely returned to a calm state.

Having taken a Guiyuan Pill in advance, he was not reduced to skin and bones as in previous times, but his expression was still quite haggard. After receiving the two treasures, he immediately flipped his hand to take out an emerald green jade bottle, poured out a Wangyuan Pill, and put it into his mouth.

At first, he felt a coolness in his throat, but as the pill slowly entered his abdomen, the coolness soon turned into a warm current, flowing through his limbs and bones, eventually converging into his dantian.

His dantian merely warmed slightly, and then he felt the speed of absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth suddenly increase. An endless stream of spiritual energy entered his dantian, subsequently transforming into streams of extremely pure immortal spiritual power.

Earlier, when he heard Steward Lu say how extraordinary high-grade pills were, he hadn't felt much about it. But after taking this one, he found it truly vastly different from the pills he had taken before.

After all, a pill that could greatly increase the speed at which a True Immortal realm cultivator recovered immortal spiritual power in a short time—if taken while condensing immortal essence stones, it could enhance the condensation speed. Its preciousness could well be imagined.

After sitting in place to regulate his breathing for a moment, Han Li's body rose with a flash of light, shooting rapidly toward Black Wind City.

When Han Li's figure reappeared in the main hall of Thousand Herbs Hall, Steward Lu, who was attending to a regular customer, spotted him at once. He was somewhat surprised at first, but quickly excused himself to the customer and came over to greet him with a beaming smile.

"Senior graces us with your presence; I failed to welcome you from afar, failed to welcome you..." he said, cupping his hands in salute and smiling.

"I bought some pills from you earlier, and after taking them, the effects were quite good, so I thought I'd come have another look," Han Li said with a slight smile.

"Senior is always most welcome at our hall. Please, follow me." Steward Lu's smile grew even wider as he promptly led Han Li upstairs again.

It was not much different from the previous days; the fifth floor was equally quiet, with no guests besides a few attendants.

"I wonder, Senior, whether you wish to purchase more Wangyuan Pills or try some other medicines?" Upon reaching the fifth floor, Steward Lu asked.

"No rush. I still have a few questions to ask, and then I'll see which medicine to buy." Han Li said calmly.

"Please ask, Senior." Steward Lu was slightly taken aback, then nodded.

"Your esteemed shop's medicines not only dissolve extremely quickly but also have extraordinary effects. This must be closely related to the quality of the spiritual herbs used and the alchemy skill of the alchemist, I presume." Han Li inquired.

"Indeed. It seems Senior is also an expert in the Way of Alchemy." Steward Lu smiled.

"I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I once dabbled in some alchemy techniques." Han Li waved his hand.

"May I ask, Senior, what grade of alchemist are you?" Upon hearing this, Steward Lu seemed somewhat surprised and quickly asked.

"To be honest, I have previously been in a remote area, working behind closed doors, and have never compared skills with outside alchemists. Since I happened to come here today, I would like to ask your esteemed shop to have an alchemist test me, so that I can ascertain my true alchemy level." Han Li said, feigning embarrassment.