Chapter 103 Lao Hei, we have hope of building a foundation
It's still that manor.
It’s still the same yard.
There were three new pills on the table.
The so-called new elixir is the innovation made by the alchemist on some of the original elixir recipes.
But innovation can fail.
This situation is not uncommon in the alchemy world. All alchemists have an innovative heart.
Take the simplest Qi Condensing Pill for example. In fact, it has also gone through many versions of improvements. After countless generations of innovations by alchemists, the current mainstream Qi Condensing Pill recipe was created.
The elixir is naturally created, and is discovered by a skilled hand.
Many elixirs were created by chance, and the alchemists then worked their way back based on the medicinal materials to refine them.
Chu Ning finished reading the notes of the second-grade alchemist that Qin Shan gave him, and followed what the second-grade alchemist said in the notes.
If one does not have a spirit of innovation, one will stop at the second level and will not be able to break through to the third level, let alone the higher levels of alchemy.
Because innovation means having a strong understanding of the three major elements of alchemy.
So it doesn't mean that only innovation can lead to a breakthrough to the third level, but daring to innovate means that one's attainments in alchemy have reached perfection.
Three pills, Chu Ning took a look, wow.
Two poison pills and one good medicine.
Without thinking, Chu Ning chose the good medicine.
In the secret mirror, the name of this elixir is shown: the Spirit-Extending Pill.
The function is to increase spiritual awareness.
Definitely good stuff.
Just by looking at those medicinal herbs, Chu Ning was sure that such a pill would probably cost thousands of spirit stones in the outside world.
Anything that helps spiritual awareness is priceless.
The only way to get this opportunity is to try the medicine yourself.
However, this elixir has a name on the Secret Mirror, so why does it become a new elixir here?
A new elixir must be one that no one has ever made before.
"It's true that you are stupid. The world of immortal cultivation is so big. Just because this elixir has never appeared in this area doesn't mean it doesn't exist in other places."
The voice of the black snake sounded in Chu Ning's mind, and Chu Ning understood that this was the truth.
But then Chu Ning had another doubt in his mind. Logically speaking, the elixir related to spiritual consciousness should be tried by a strong person who has established his foundation? Is it that the elixir slave does not have a strong person who has established his foundation?
Putting his doubts deep in his heart, Chu Ning selected the elixir and looked at the remaining five people.
However, Chu Ning did not see Yang Ming among the people who were testing the elixir this time, and he didn't know whether this person was dead or did not come to participate this time.
After several trials of the elixir, Chu Ning had some understanding of the number of elixir slaves in Wenjin Sect. There were about thirty of them. Each time, only six elixir slaves were chosen to test the medicine, and the rest would wait for the next time.
As for not participating every time, it is not allowed either. If he does not try the pill for several times in a row, Wen Jinzong will force him to take the pill.
After Chu Ning picked out the pills, the remaining two pills were also picked up by others.
Still take it on the spot.
Chu Ning would not reveal the fact that he had cultivated his spiritual consciousness, so he also knew how to demonstrate the effect of this spirit-expanding pill.
He recounted his reaction when he broke through to the late stage of Qi Condensation and his spiritual consciousness appeared.
The truth is that his consciousness has always existed since that time, but Chu Ning lied about the effect of the pill, saying that after taking the pill, he fell into a mysterious state and was able to sense every blade of grass and tree around him, but this state only lasted for a quarter of an hour before disappearing.
…
…
In the backyard, Bao Huining listened to Huang Fei's report with a look of satisfaction on his face.
"This person is only at the Qi Condensation stage and has not yet cultivated his spiritual consciousness. Taking this pill will naturally not increase his spiritual consciousness, but it will allow him to feel the wonderful effects of spiritual consciousness in advance."
"Uncle Bao, you have successfully refined the elixir that increases spiritual awareness. From now on, you will be the most respected among the second-grade alchemists in the sect."
Huang Fei flattered him. This kind of elixir that can increase spiritual awareness is very attractive to those who are strong enough to build a foundation.
“Haha, this old man also got this elixir by chance. I spent a lot of time thinking about it and didn’t expect it to be useful for spiritual consciousness.”
Bao Huining did not hide the joy in his eyes, just with this one pill, he secured his position as the chief second-grade alchemist.
Neither Qiong Liangyou nor Zhang Junming will be able to compete with him.
"When I refine a batch of pills next time, I will give you three."
Huang Fei was overjoyed to hear this. The sect was very generous to the alchemists. All the materials for alchemy were provided by the sect, and only half of the refined pills needed to be handed over to the sect, and the rest was left to the alchemists to deal with.
"Disciple thanks Uncle Bao." Huang Fei quickly expressed his gratitude, and then smiled and said, "Chu Ning seems to have some good fortune with Uncle Bao. Uncle Bao tried the elixir several times, and he always got the good medicine. I am a little envious of him."
"Chu Ning? Are you talking about the guy who tested the pill?"
Bao Huining didn't know who Chu Ning was, but he could infer from Huang Fei's words that he was the person who had just eaten his new pill.
Among the three people, only this person survived. Thinking about the competition between himself, Qiong Liangyou and Zhang Junming, it seemed that this person tested his pill, and a smile appeared on his face.
"What you said does make some sense."
If there are still cultivators who believe in the illusory metaphysics, they must be the alchemists.
There is a saying in the alchemist circle: 90% depends on strength, and 10% depends on luck.
Sometimes when you're unlucky, even though there's clearly nothing wrong with the medicinal materials, the control of the fire, and even the furnace, the elixir still goes wrong in the end.
The key is that no reason can be found.
Sometimes, you clearly feel that something is wrong, but in the end the elixir is still there, and you can even get a top-quality elixir.
Although this is a low-probability event, an alchemist will make a lot of pills in his lifetime. After encountering this three or five times, everyone gradually agrees with this statement.
Of course, this is a probabilistic event, which refers to the refining of elixirs of the same grade. A first-grade alchemist refines first-grade elixirs, and a second-grade alchemist refines second-grade elixirs. If the level is lowered, there will be no such metaphysical saying.
Take a bath, burn incense, and pay attention to the weather...
This has become a necessary procedure for many alchemists before refining some important elixirs.
It is said that some extreme alchemists would find a virgin female cultivator to consummate their marriage with before making the elixir.
Anyway, in order to improve the so-called luck of achieving elixir, every possible means will be used.
"My nephew has investigated Chu Ning. He became an alchemy slave because of an unexpected disaster. He is also an alchemist."
Huang Fei added that what he said was not entirely to help Chu Ning.
Uncle Bao is in a good mood now, so let's talk about some metaphysical topics in the circle. If Uncle Bao really thinks Chu Ning can help his fortune, then I would be catering to his wishes.
Even if Master Bao didn't have this idea, it wouldn't be a big loss to him. At most, he would just fail to flatter someone.
If Uncle Bao agreed, then he would have a closer relationship with Uncle Bao and at the same time, he would have done Chu Ning a favor.
Bao Huining said calmly: "What implicated you?"
"It's related to that person..."
Huang Fei briefly explained the situation, specifically mentioning Qin Shan's act of repaying his gratitude in the market town, and Chu Ning's final act of killing Wang Hu in the street.
Huang Fei even revealed that Wang Hu had embezzled money and withheld profits. If Chu Ning were here, he would be shocked at the thoroughness of the investigation.
In fact, Huang Fei only conducted a simple investigation, and the reason why he knew about Wang Hu's embezzlement was because Wang Hu was arrogant and domineering. He did not hide the matter, and he found out about the kickbacks by asking a medicinal herb merchant.
"Well, call Chu Ning here so I can meet him."
"yes."
Huang Fei left quickly, and arrived almost as Chu Ning entered the yard.
"Senior Huang."
Seeing Huang Fei, Chu Ning saluted respectfully.
"Uncle Bao wants to see you, come with me."
"Deacon Bao wants to see me?"
Huang Fei looked calm. Chu Ning did not dare to neglect him. While following Huang Fei, he was thinking about why Deacon Bao wanted to see him.
Deacon Bao is the second-grade alchemist who tried the elixir twice.
The status of the deacon of Wenjin Sect is second only to the elder, but the elder refers to the inner sect elder, not the outer sect elder.
The so-called outer sect elders are just a nicer title. After all, they are people who came here during the foundation-building period, so it is not appropriate to call them disciples.
But within Wenjin Peak, the inner disciples ignored the outer elders, and even the outer elders had to smile when they saw the inner disciples.
If an inner sect disciple of the sect wants to become a deacon, he must be in the late foundation-building stage, with the exception of alchemists.
As long as one is a second-grade alchemist, even if he has not reached the late stage of foundation building, he can serve as a deacon.
The deacon has a lot of say in Jin Zong, which means that this meeting may very well be related to whether he can get rid of his identity as a Dan slave.
Seeing Chu Ning lowering his head, Huang Fei could guess what Chu Ning was thinking at the moment, and said, "You have also made pills, so you should know some interesting things in our circle, such as bathing, burning incense, and observing the sky and time."
Chu Ning did not stop, with a look of gratitude on his face: "Junior understands."
Bathing, burning incense, observing the weather and determining the time.
It's just some metaphysics stuff.
The notes of the second-grade alchemist he read often mentioned matters of this kind. In his notes, the senior described these mysterious theories of making elixirs at great length, and even warned later generations that it is better to believe in them than not to believe in them.
Take the senior who took notes for example. Every time before he refined some important elixirs, he would go to a city and ask someone for directions. If the other party answered that he didn't know, it meant that the recent month was not suitable for refining the elixir.
Chu Ning was speechless at first, but now after Huang Fei's reminder, he realized that the alchemists really believed in this.
At the same time, he also understood why Deacon Bao wanted to see him. Did he think that he could bring him luck? In other words, if he wanted to save himself, the best way was to make the other party believe in this illusory metaphysical theory.
当初和老黑说一直试丹挺不错的，那不过是楚宁自己打趣的话语罢了。
就算能够分辨哪些是毒丹，哪些不是毒丹，可万一运气倒霉的连着几次全都是毒丹没的选，那不还得完蛋。
原本他还想着，要不要伪装自己对丹药有一种特别的直觉，能够判断这丹药是否有毒。
可现在得到了提醒，那就得改变思路了，得往玄学这条路上面靠。
……
……
再次进入庄园，这一次黄飞直接带着楚宁来到了后院。
“包师叔，楚宁带到。”
“晚辈见过包执事。”
楚宁恭敬行礼，包会宁眯着眼睛看向楚宁，打量了好一会后，才淡淡道：“两次选丹，你都是第一个挑选，可是看出了什么？”
正戏来了。
如果没黄飞的提醒，自己肯定回答是从丹药的气味还有颜色判断出来了一些。
但既然是玄学的话……
“晚辈也不知道，只是突然就觉得那颗丹药没问题，具体怎么个情况，晚辈有些形容不上来，那种感觉就是一瞬间的。”
楚宁表情半迷茫半诚恳，这才符合玄学气运之说。
包会宁沉吟，楚宁这种描述不清的话语反而让他更加认可了气运之说。
气运。
本就是虚无缥缈不可言状的。
“听黄飞说，你也是炼丹师？能炼什么丹？”
“晚辈学过几年炼丹术，目前能炼制凝气丹。”
“嗯，许多炼丹师都是以凝气丹起步，凝气丹是何品质？”
“中品。”
楚宁的回答让包会宁眸子一凝，一旁的黄飞则是有些诧异，能够炼制出中品凝气丹，这天赋不算差了。
“既如此，黄飞你给他安排一个丹炉，无事的时候也可以炼丹。”
“多谢包执事。”
表示了感谢之后，楚宁便是退去。
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黄飞有些犹豫的看了包会宁，最后还是决定开口说出来：“师叔，您真觉得楚宁和您炼丹之间有气运联系？”
虽然这话刚开始是他说的，但他现在必须得让师叔自己承认，否则一旦不是，只怕师叔会怪罪到自己头上来。
“并不确定。”
“那师叔为何不试验一下？”
“气运之说玄之又玄，若是人为干预，很可能会事与愿违，这事情得讲究顺其自然。”
包会宁摇摇头，随即意味深长道：“再者是又如何，不是又如何？”
黄飞沉吟了片刻，眼睛一亮：“弟子明白了。”
他原本的设想是包师叔拿出丹药试验楚宁，但显然师叔觉得这样有违气运自然一说。
还不如保持原样，有丹药时候叫楚宁自己来挑，若每次师叔炼出丹药，楚宁都能感应的到是良药还是毒丹，那不需要试验就能证明了。
若是感应不到，楚宁吃下毒丹也就死了。
“这是师叔我近年来炼丹心得，你且好好参悟，等到五长老出关，若是能入五长老的眼，二品炼丹师指日可待。”
包会宁拿出一本笔记，黄飞如获至宝接过。
所谓五长老就是他们问今宗唯一一位三品炼丹师，也是金丹期的强者。
五长老每隔五年就会挑选宗门里有天赋的炼丹师收为记名弟子，像包会宁三人就是五长老的记名弟子，因此才以师兄弟相称。
“不止是你们想要被五长老收为记名弟子，我也想成为五长老的真正弟子。”
看着黄飞欣喜若狂离去的背影，包会宁眼神同样有着精光，他们这些记名弟子，不能称呼五长老为师傅，只能称呼为长老。
说白了，他们这些记名弟子其实只是五长老为了给宗门培养一些炼丹师而挑选的，并没有当做真正弟子。
五长老这么多年真正只收了一位弟子，只是那位没这福分，入山林采摘药材不幸被妖兽所害，自那以后五长老就没再收过弟子了。
若要成为五长老的亲传弟子，那就必须有足够的炼丹天赋。
“若真是我的运气之子，那就帮你一把又何妨。”
……
……
次日。
有问今宗的弟子收来了丹炉。
这些弟子看向楚宁的表情有些古怪，身为丹奴还能炼丹的，这情况他们还是第一次见到。
但这是包执事的吩咐，他们自然不敢反对。
看着丹炉和药材，楚宁也是觉得自己的遭遇有些离奇。
所以自己现在是丹奴又兼被禁锢的炼丹师咯。
“老黑，你说我要是炼制出来了上品凝气丹，问今宗会不会去掉我的丹奴身份，让我加入问今宗？”
楚宁看着丹炉，这丹炉算不上好，但用心一点还是有可能炼制出上品凝气丹的。
“只会炼制一种丹药还不够，如果能够多炼几种丹药都能达到上品，这条路还真走得通。”
天才，尤其是炼丹天才，在任何一个宗派都是受欢迎的。
“其实我们以前走错路了，只想着隐藏实力，然后苟着发展到后面一鸣惊人，可这模式在梁朝还好一些，毕竟长生果的能量足够，再加上燃血功的帮助。”
“但现在这条路行不通了，就像这一次遭遇到的秦山的无妄之灾，还有那几个被剑气直接淹没的修士，都说明了一点，若是没有靠山很容易就莫名其妙死了。”
楚宁仔细反思了来到问今城后的行为举止，发现自己走入了一个极端。
总觉得有着充足的寿命，就可以不着急慢慢发育了。
却忽略了修仙界的强者寿命也不是梁朝那些武者可以比的，在梁朝那么短短几年都能遇到无双门的事情，那在修仙界动不动几十上百年中，遇到的事情只会越来越多。
最主要的是，在修仙界要想越级太难了，燃血功又无用了，而且修士们的手段众多，就像这次秦山事件，想跑路都跑不掉。
最好的办法就是给自己找一个厉害的靠山，背靠大树慢慢发展。
但厉害的靠山可不是那么好找的，没有点天赋谁会愿意当你的靠山。
加入宗门也是一样，天赋不行，只是一个普通弟子，还要执行宗门任务，同样会有危险。
如果自己炼丹天赋不错的话，走炼丹天才这条路是最合适的。
第一点，炼丹师身份地位高，在宗门可以受到重视。
第二点就是炼丹师人脉圈子广，任何一位修士除非迫不得已，否则不会得罪一位炼丹师的。
“趁着这个机会好好提升一下炼丹术。”
既然有了药材，楚宁便是开炉炼丹，他倒是不那么讲究玄学。
不过也说不准，很多东西都是入了行之后，越往后越信的。
没准以后他也会沐浴焚香，根据四时变化来炼丹。
起火，温炉。
这是炼丹第一步。
若是一个崭新的炼丹炉，一般需要温炉半个月。
不过问今宗给的明显是用过的，炉底还有不少灰烬，楚宁只是温养了几个时辰便算完成了。
温炉这一步完成之后，楚宁开始把药材投入炉中。
炼丹刚开始不用盯着，尤其是凝气丹这种低级丹药，只有在丹药快要成型的时候，控制火候盯着就行了。
楚宁也没浪费时间，盘腿修炼起燃血功。
燃血功这门功法上限就是筑基，但他现在没有更好的功法，只能是将就着练着。
他这边练着，黑蛇也是一样，蛇信吞吐，灵气一进一出，不断吸收炼化。
如此两个时辰后，楚宁炼化完今天长生果给的灵气低保，目光看向丹炉，这一看却是愣住了。
在他的脑海中，多出了一段信息，关于这丹炉里凝气丹。
“老黑，我们要发了。”
楚宁神情很是激动，一旁的老黑整个身子也是不断的在地上拍打着，因为那段信息他同意也是接收到了。
显密镜竟然能够显示出丹药成型状况。
只要是炼丹师就明白这代表着什么，这代表着他只要控制好火候，丹药就绝对能够炼成，不会有失败率。
如丹药炼制到一半，需要猛火，到了三分之二又需要改为文火……越是高级的丹药操作就越复杂。
若是控制的好，没准还能炼制出来极品丹药。
低级丹药，许多炼丹师都能控制火候，因为可以用神识直接查探。
但若是用上地火，那是天生地养自然之火，是能焚烧神识的，在神识无法完全窥探的情况下，就只能靠熟练度和炼丹师的直觉了。
另外，越好的丹炉也是隔绝神识效果越强的，因为讲究一个纯粹，不允许任何外物入丹炉，怕影响到丹药效果。
三个时辰后，开炉。
十颗碧绿色的凝气丹完好无暇的出现在丹炉中。
没有任何材料的浪费，而且都是上品。
楚宁和黑蛇一人一蛇从上往下俯视着这十颗凝气丹，呼吸都有些急促。
“什么显示秘密，这都是小伎俩，这显秘镜就是炼丹神器。”
“发达了，以后高级上品丹药，可以当糖丸吃了。”
黑蛇也很兴奋，上品丹药完全可以弥补修炼难度增加的部分。
“Although the Qi Condensation Pill is not as good as the Yuan Condensation Pill, that refers to the ordinary Qi Condensation Pill. If it is a top-grade one, it will be inferior to the Yuan Condensation Pill. And if we can refine a top-grade Qi Condensation Pill, its effect will be higher than the Yuan Condensation Pill.”
"Start refining, start refining, and build your foundation as soon as possible!"
Chu Ning was working madly on refining the elixir, and at this moment all the alchemists in Wenjin Sect were also madly improving their alchemy skills.
Because the fifth elder is about to come out of seclusion.
Every time the Fifth Elder comes out of seclusion, he will at least accept one registered disciple, and no one wants to miss this opportunity.
…
…
Three months later.
The Wenjin Peak was filled with the fragrance of elixir. All the inner disciples of the Wenjin Sect and above knew that this was the elixir that the Fifth Elder had refined. However, they did not know what kind of elixir the Fifth Elder had refined.
What these people didn't notice was that within this pervasive fragrance of elixir, there was also another subtle and different scent.
“Huh!”
From a heavily guarded area in Wen Jinfeng, where the fragrance of the elixir was the strongest, a voice of surprise was heard, but then silence returned.
In the yard, Chu Ning and Heishe stared at the emerald green pill in front of them.
Top-grade Qi Condensing Pill.
When the elixir becomes top quality, it will emit a strange light.
Finally it was done.
The next moment, Chu Ning suddenly grabbed the top-grade Qi Condensation Pill and hid it in his arms, and the black snake also hid itself in a flash.
Someone is coming.
…
PS: Brothers, do you think I am suppressing the protagonist? Do you think that I am ignoring the protagonist's chance? Also, please change the update time to two chapters of 6,000 words per day, which is equivalent to 12,000 words. If it is 2,000 words, it will be six chapters, and if it is 3,000 words, it will be four chapters.
The update time is changed to one chapter in the morning and one chapter in the afternoon, and additional chapters are calculated separately. There is no other way. The subscription is low, so I can only merge the big chapters, otherwise there will be no recommendation.
It’s not too much to ask for a monthly ticket for such an update.
(End of this chapter)