Chapter 236: First Foray into Immortal Pills

Half a month later.

In the middle of the Bell Cry Mountain Range, there was a uniquely shaped solitary peak. Its summit and base were bulging and full, while the waist was cinched like a woman's slender waist, giving it the appearance of a huge gourd with large ends and a narrow middle.

Because of this, the peak was named "Gourd Peak." Like Dragon Riding Peak, it was also one of the most important peaks in the entire Candle Dragon Sect.

Gourd Peak was not steep, rising less than a thousand zhang. At its base, there was a high-quality spirit spring that nourished all life on the peak, keeping the vegetation lush and green all year round, like spring eternal.

Outside the peak, an extremely tight defensive formation was constantly active. Therefore, any elder or disciple within the sect, whether inner or outer, had to enter through the teleportation hall at the foot of the mountain.

The reason for such strict protection was simple: almost all the pills in the Candle Dragon Sect originated from this peak, and the alchemists nurtured by the sect lived here year-round.

On Gourd Peak, the Earth Alchemists, who could refine pills for immortals, naturally held the highest status.

Ordinarily, for a cultivator at the early True Immortal stage, following normal cultivation speed, it would take at least a hundred years or up to tens of thousands of years to open one immortal aperture. Moreover, the further one progressed, the harder it became. But with the aid of pills matching one's cultivation level, this time could be greatly shortened.

However, refining such pills required spirit herbs that were tens of thousands of years old as main ingredients, and even the auxiliary ingredients were rare and expensive. All these materials combined could only produce one batch of pills. Even for an experienced Earth Alchemist, without dozens of attempts, the success rate was pitifully low.

This was why only large sects or major powers could cultivate Earth Alchemists.

At this moment, Han Li walked out of the Proximity Transmission Pavilion near Gourd Peak, arrived at the foot of the mountain, and entered a golden double-eaved hall.

This hall was closely connected to the formation enveloping Gourd Peak and was the only entrance and exit to the peak.

After verifying his identity, Han Li stepped directly into a teleportation array in the center. With a flash of white light, he vanished from the spot.

Soon, he appeared in a vermilion hall at the peak.

The hall's furnishings were no different from a market pharmacy, with counters in front and shelves behind. However, the shelves holding Earth-grade pills were all marked with obvious restrictions.

There were few people in the hall. Besides two managing elders, there were only a few inner sect elders in robes who had come to purchase pills.

Seeing Han Li enter, one of the managing elders, a tall, kindly-looking middle-aged man, stepped forward and asked, "I am Ye Nanfeng, manager of this Immortal Medicine Hall. May I ask what you need, friend?"

"I am Li Feiyu. I wish to purchase some pills to aid in cultivation," Han Li said with a cupped-fist salute.

"So it's Friend Li. Then let me recommend a few pills for you..." Ye Nanfeng said with a smile.

"Much obliged," Han Li nodded.

"For your current cultivation level, the most suitable pill for advancement is the 'Unification Pill.' Each bottle contains ten pills and costs only two hundred contribution points. If you require higher efficacy, the 'Imperial Spirit Pill' will not disappoint. However, it is slightly more expensive, costing five hundred contribution points per bottle, also ten pills," Ye Nanfeng introduced.

Although Han Li had mentally prepared himself, he was still startled by the prices.

He had previously completed three routine steward-level tasks, and his current contribution points were less than five hundred. These pills were indeed quite expensive.

"The Imperial Spirit Pill is not cheap at all," Han Li said with a wry smile.

"Naturally. Within the entire sect, only Master Hu Yan can refine the Imperial Spirit Pill, and the quantity is quite limited," Ye Nanfeng explained with a smile.

Upon hearing the name "Master Hu Yan," Han Li's mind flashed to that slovenly old man in gray-white robes who always carried a gourd of wine.

Could this man be a high-level Earth Alchemist?

"Friend Li, if neither suits you, the 'Spring Rain Pill' is also suitable. It is cheaper than the Imperial Spirit Pill and more effective than the Unification Pill, offering the best value for money," Ye Nanfeng said, noticing Han Li's distraction.

"May I ask, Elder Su, does this Immortal Medicine Hall sell pill formulas?" Han Li suddenly asked.

"This... Could it be that Friend Li intends to refine pills yourself?" Ye Nanfeng was taken aback and asked instinctively.

"Oh, it's like this. I happen to know a newly advanced Earth Alchemist who agreed to help me attempt pill refinement if I can provide the formula and ingredients," Han Li explained.

Ye Nanfeng hesitated, a look of wanting to speak but holding back on his face.

Seeing this, Han Li knew the other was probably thinking of advising him that buying pills directly would be more cost-effective than purchasing formulas and materials for someone else to practice.

"The formulas for the Unification Pill and the Spring Rain Pill are available for sale. Only the Imperial Spirit Pill formula cannot be sold without Master Hu Yan's permission," Ye Nanfeng finally changed the subject, perhaps mindful of their shallow acquaintance.

"How many contribution points are needed for these two formulas?" Han Li asked.

"The Unification Pill formula costs fifty contribution points, while the Spring Rain Pill formula costs one hundred and fifty," Ye Nanfeng replied.

Han Li hesitated, pondering which formula would be more economical to purchase.

"Elder Li, you might first take a look at the ingredients used in the two pill formulas before deciding which one to purchase." Ye Nanfeng said with a smile, reminding him.

"Then I'll trouble you." Han Li nodded.

Ye Nanfeng swept his hand across the void, and after a flash of green light, a blue book emerged.

He opened it, briefly searched through it, and then handed it to Han Li.

After receiving it, Han Li examined it and found that it recorded the list of ingredients needed for the Spring Rain Pill.

"One fifty-thousand-year-old Qilong Grass, three five-thousand-year-old Duanhai Flowers, a handful of Fengshi Sand, seven three-thousand-year-old Youluo Fruits..." Han Li pointed at these names and silently recited them one by one.

He noticed that among the total of fifteen spiritual medicines, there were very few ordinary ones; most were high-grade spiritual medicines of considerable age, and the youngest required at least three thousand years.

"Elder Ye, how are the spiritual herbs in the Immortal Herb Pavilion sold? Are they also exchanged for merit points?" Han Li asked after a moment's thought.

"No, except for some extremely rare spiritual herbs of great age that must be paid for with Immortal Origin Stones, the others can be purchased with either Immortal Origin Stones or top-grade spirit stones." Ye Nanfeng shook his head and said.

"How many spirit stones would it take to purchase all the ingredients for one batch of the Spring Rain Pill?" Han Li continued to ask.

"The main ingredient, Qilong Grass, must be paid for with Immortal Origin Stones, costing seven Immortal Origin Stones. The remaining spiritual herbs total about two thousand top-grade spirit stones, though they can also be paid for with Immortal Origin Stones." Ye Nanfeng said after a brief pause.

Han Li was secretly shocked upon hearing this; at this price, even if he spent all the Immortal Origin Stones and top-grade spirit stones on him, he could not buy more than a few batches of the pill's required ingredients.

He was about to turn the page with his fingers when Ye Nanfeng reminded him:

"The Unified Origin Pill is listed a bit earlier. Elder Li should be able to find it by flipping back a few pages."

Han Li did as he was told and flipped the book back two pages, and sure enough, he saw the list of spiritual herbs for the Unified Origin Pill.

When his eyes fell on the first line of the pill formula, which read "One fifty-thousand-year-old Zhuling Grass," he raised an eyebrow slightly.

This herb was the main ingredient for refining the Unified Origin Pill, and he had some planted in the spiritual herb garden within his cave dwelling. Moreover, he had already cultivated several plants, all of which were of roughly the same age, just enough for use.

He continued to look at the more than ten auxiliary spiritual herbs listed afterward, but his luck was not as good; they were all herbs he had never cultivated.

"Aside from the Zhuling Grass, how many spirit stones are needed for each of the other spiritual herbs?" Han Li asked.

"If we exclude the main ingredient, Candle Lingzhi, the other spiritual medicines would cost one thousand two hundred top-grade spirit stones." Ye Nanfeng replied.

Han Li listened and made up his mind.

This time, having bought the pill formula, he was attempting to refine an Earth Pill for the first time and had no idea how many spiritual medicines he would waste. Choosing the more expensive Spring Dew Pill formula would certainly not be cost-effective.

"Then I'll take the Unified Origin Pill formula." Han Li said after deciding.

"Alright, please give me your token, fellow Daoist." Ye Nanfeng said.

Han Li flipped his hand and took out his elder token, handing it over. The latter deducted fifty merit points from it, then returned the copied pill formula and the token together.

"Additionally, I want to purchase all the other spiritual medicines needed to refine the Unified Origin Pill, except for Candle Lingzhi, ten portions of each." Han Li immediately took the pill formula, examined it carefully for a moment, and then spoke.

With all his current savings, buying these spiritual medicines would leave him with almost nothing.

After the transaction was complete, Han Li took his leave and left Gourd Peak, heading straight back to his cave dwelling.

……

Three months passed in a flash.

During this time, Han Li hardly ever left his secret chamber, devoting himself entirely to studying the pill formula, carefully pondering every detail of its refinement, and mentally rehearsing the process thousands of times.

Although he already had considerable experience in alchemy, different pill ingredients involved vastly different nuances during refinement, and these differences were often key factors leading to failure.

Thus, he intended to thoroughly understand the pill formula before attempting the refinement.

Only today did he finally decide to make his first attempt at refining the Tongyuan Pill.

Inside his secret chamber, on the low table behind the cushion, sat an incense burner holding a long, grayish-green incense stick, its tip glowing with a red ember, from which curled wisps of blue smoke, releasing a faint fragrance that calmed the mind.

Han Li sat cross-legged on the cushion with his back to the table. After closing his eyes and sitting quietly for a while, he slowly opened them again, his mind completely focused, free of any distracting thoughts.

On the ground before him lay a purple copper furnace about a foot in diameter, engraved with patterns of flames and ancient runes. Beside it was spread a piece of blue brocade, on which were arranged a dozen or so spiritual herbs, including Zhuling Grass.

This furnace was something he had obtained from the Xianyuan Beast's cave dwelling. Although its grade seemed ordinary, it should suffice for refining the Tongyuan Pill at this stage.