Chapter 240 State of Combat
On the shady side of the mountain, Ji An assumed a stance and began practicing the techniques of the Golden Jade Bone Body.
With every gesture, a series of explosions echoed through the air.
His muscles and skin were like a precious furnace, forging and tempering his internal organs.
White mist rose above his head, and his surging blood and qi flowed like a great river washing over every inch of his body.
"Oh!"
Ji An exhaled, releasing a faint blackish-red mist, which was the impurities accumulated in his body.
As the foul air was expelled, he felt his body become lighter.
Ji An slowly curled his tongue up and pressed it against his lower jaw, performing a set of punches to calm his breathing.
He felt the changes brought about by the body-refining technique, and the toughness of his internal organs increased even more. He was not far from breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage of body-refining cultivator.
Ji An flew back to his cave and used the Spring Breeze and Rain Technique to make raindrops fall. He took a comfortable shower.
The moisturizing scent filled the air, and fatigue seemed to be relieved more quickly.
He discovered that the tricks of the cultivation method were not in vain. Since his skin's resilience had reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment, his Qi and blood only needed to nourish his internal organs, saving him a lot of time.
There is indeed no wasted journey in this world; every step counts.
Ji An changed into a Taoist robe and walked out of the cave feeling refreshed.
He practiced the Green Wood Everlasting Spring Technique in the morning, which also had some body-tempering effects. He believed this was another reason why body-refining techniques could progress so rapidly.
He summoned his flying shuttle and soared down to the foot of the mountain.
The golden eagle swooped down from the sky, screeching beside the shuttle, its golden crest standing on end, motionless in the wind.
After the shuttle landed, it gained altitude and flew towards the Red Cloud Pine Forest.
Ji An put away the shuttle, and saw Lan Bei leisurely playing in the pool.
It leaves a thin layer of ice wherever it goes.
Huang Xuan stepped forward and said:
"Uncle-Master, I just returned from the General Affairs Hall."
All the other materials for Shenyuan are easy to obtain, but the quantity of the main ingredient, Fire Cloud Ginseng, is insufficient; only fifty-six plants were exchanged.
I bought some more from other spirit farmers, but I only managed to gather eighty plants.
Given the current situation in the sect, finished pills are even harder to obtain than medicinal herbs.
Disciples who are capable of cultivating spiritual herbs have long since signed agreements with alchemists to ensure a stable supply.
Ji An frowned slightly and said:
"Then I'll make do with this for now, and you continue looking for sources of medicinal herbs."
Medicinal herbs take time to grow, and as the number of cultivators increases, the shortage of medicinal herbs becomes more and more obvious.
This is due to the special circumstances during the outbreak of the demonic disaster; a larger base of cultivators is needed to provide greater protection.
Huang Xuan pursed his lips and said with a wry smile:
"Uncle-Master, I have inquired about the supply of medicinal herbs."
If we can maintain a stable long-term demand for medicinal herbs, we can sign an agreement with Ling Nong.
If we only buy in small quantities, we can only rely on luck.
With a stable supply of medicinal materials, the growth of a new alchemist not only faces difficulties in terms of skills, but also in terms of the shortage of medicinal materials.
Without enough opportunities to practice, alchemy apprentices with low talent will be the first to be eliminated.
Ji An pondered for a moment, then took out two communication talisman swords, entered information into each, and activated them.
If the materials for Qi Refining stage pills are already so scarce, the materials for Foundation Establishment stage pills will probably be even more difficult to obtain.
"I'll figure out how to handle the medicinal herbs for alchemy; you don't need to worry about it."
“Okay,” Huang Xuan nodded. He spent most of his time on Crimson Flame Peak and his social circle was limited to a few nearby spiritual veins. Purchasing spiritual herbs was beyond his ability to handle.
As dusk fell, Zeng Rui piloted his flying shuttle and landed on the cold pool.
Ji An noticed that the other person's steps were a little unsteady and teased:
"Junior brother, please take care of your health."
The other person had faint dark circles under their eyes and a slightly bluish complexion, clearly indicating excessive indulgence.
It's good to have many children and build a family, but trying too hard to have more children can shorten your lifespan.
Zeng Rui grinned:
"I have no intention of making any further progress in my cultivation; I'm going to enjoy myself now."
He lowered his voice and said self-deprecatingly:
"If I could be as courageous and diligent as my senior brother, I would certainly strive to reach the Great Dao."
Now I understand my own limitations and have stopped dreaming of becoming an immortal. Dreams always have to end.
He was nearly sixty years old when he finally succeeded in establishing his foundation, leaving him no time to break through to the Chaoyuan stage.
There's no hope of trying any harder, so you might as well give in to your own desires.
Ji An sighed softly. If he too had no hope of cultivation, he would most likely make the same choice.
Having a firm resolve is one thing, but if all efforts are in vain, even the most steadfast resolve will crumble.
Zeng Rui raised his voice slightly and laughed:
"Senior brother actually tried alchemy, he's really multi-talented."
A few days ago, a batch of Fire Cloud Ginseng happened to ripen in my medicinal herb garden, and I brought it here especially for my senior brother.
Fire Cloud Ginseng is the main ingredient for refining Ginseng Essence Pills. With his skills, he can grow a batch every three years.
"Junior brother, you've really helped me a lot. How many Fire Cloud Ginseng do you have?"
Ji An smiled broadly. When he sent the message sword, he didn't expect the other party to have one in hand.
"I can only sell two hundred plants to my senior brother; the rest have been reserved by an alchemist."
"Two hundred plants have already exceeded my expectations. What is the current price of Fire Cloud Ginseng?"
"Twelve spirit stones per plant, the price has increased considerably compared to before."
Zeng Rui replied that the sect had recruited more disciples, and the prices of Qi Refining stage pills and related medicinal materials had also increased significantly.
Ji arranged for twenty-four mid-grade spirit stones to complete the transaction.
"Senior brother," Zeng Rui glanced around furtively, then pulled out a folded piece of white paper and transmitted his voice:
"This contains a description of a type of elixir. Its refining difficulty should be similar to that of the Ginseng Essence Pill. Are you confident that you can refine it?"
The text describes a precious medicine that combines the benefits of dragon and tiger. He currently has eight concubines, and he simply cannot manage them without taking some medicine.
He originally wanted to ask other alchemists, but he was a little embarrassed because Senior Brother Ji was a quiet person and would definitely not talk about it with others.
Ji An unfolded the white paper and flicked it lightly with his finger.
He was quite knowledgeable about pharmacology and recognized that the medicinal herbs were all warming and tonifying kidney yang and replenishing qi and blood, and a smile appeared on his lips.
He folded the white paper again and whispered:
"It's not difficult to refine pills. All you need to do is gather the medicinal materials and give them to me, Junior Brother."
He paused, then said:
"Every medicine has some toxicity. Taking pills can only relieve the problem temporarily. Junior brother, you might as well go to the Transmission Hall to exchange for a body-refining method."
That kind of cultivation method doesn't focus on physical attacks, but only on cultivating qi and blood.
"Smack!"
Zeng Rui suddenly slapped his thigh, grinning lewdly:
"That's right, how come I didn't think of that? Thank you for reminding me, Senior Brother. I'll go to the Transmission Hall tomorrow."
He took out more than a dozen packets of medicinal herbs and said:
"I'm entrusting the matter of refining the medicine to you, senior brother. These medicinal herbs are enough to refine ten batches. May I ask how much it will cost?"
Body-refining techniques cannot be mastered overnight; this medicine still needs to be refined.
Ji An pondered for a moment and said:
"Give me twenty spirit stones."
The difficulty of refining this elixir is similar to that of the Yellow Sprout Elixir.
He could help for free, but that would make his help seem too cheap.
Zeng Rui took out a spirit stone and solemnly said:
"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother. When can we come to collect the pills?"
"I will send you the communication talisman sword in about five days once it is completed."
Ji An beckoned Huang Xuan over and instructed him:
"Bring two jars of the finest mulberry wine."
Mulberry wine has a warming and nourishing effect, and it is beneficial to drink it regularly.
Zeng Rui rubbed his hands together and smiled broadly.
"Hehe, I can't accept that."
Two jars of top-grade spirit wine, worth at least seven or eight spirit stones.
After Zeng Rui left, Ji An said:
"Huang Xuan, in addition to the Fire Cloud Ginseng, give me two hundred more portions of the ingredients for the Ginseng Essence Pill."
The main ingredient is hard to find, but the supply of other medicinal materials is relatively sufficient.
The next day.
Ye Changqing rode the flying shuttle to Crimson Flame Peak and hovered above the Cold Pool.
He squinted, watching the various lights shimmer in the mulberry field.
I was mesmerized by the emerald green wood elemental light, the yellow earth elemental light, the pale black water elemental light, and the wisps of golden light falling from the sky.
He didn't practice the Evergreen Spring Technique, but he knew that being able to absorb so much spiritual energy during cultivation meant that Junior Brother Ji's understanding of the technique must have reached an extremely profound level.
"There is hope for the Yuan Dynasty!"
He murmured something softly, his feelings quite complicated.
It is a cause for celebration that a promising talent for the Chaoyuan stage has emerged within the sect, but the thought that each day of one's own life is one in a day brings a strange sense of bitterness.
Once he calmed down, he controlled the shuttle to descend slowly.
Xia Yuhan walked over with light, graceful steps, and bowed respectfully.
"Uncle Ye, the spiritual tea is ready. Would you like to sit in the living room or outside?"
She noticed the other party's flying shuttle when it reached Crimson Flame Peak, and immediately lit the stove to boil water.
"It's fine to sit outside; you can see more of the scenery."
Ye Changqing sat down at the stone table and continued:
"Give me a pot of pine nut wine, I don't feel like drinking tea today."
"Uncle-Master, please wait a moment. I'll go get the wine. Let's drink tea and wine together."
At noon, Ji An finished his cultivation and returned to the cold pool:
"Senior brother, I've kept you waiting."
On the table, a jar of wine was already empty.
Ye Changqing, his eyes blurry with drunkenness, said:
“Junior brother, you asked about the medicinal herbs yesterday. The talisman sword can't hold too much information, so I'll make a trip to tell you myself.”
Currently, several to a dozen battles break out daily between cultivators and small groups of demonic beasts on Mingfeng Mountain.
The sect has tightened the exchange of various medicinal materials; unless one accepts a refining task from the sect, one cannot exchange for medicinal materials.
Not only us, but other sects and families are also experiencing a decrease in their supply of medicinal herbs.
The medicinal herbs in the Diligent Work Hall are all needed for Foundation Establishment stage pills.
A bad feeling rose in Ji An's heart, and he asked:
"I'm learning how to refine pills. Can I exchange them for medicinal herbs?"
Without medicinal herbs to practice with, one cannot improve in alchemy.
Ye Changqing shook his head and transmitted his voice:
"Junior brother, the sect has entered a state of war preparedness, and all materials that may affect the war are under control."
If an alchemist's success rate in refining pills is less than 60%, they cannot receive pill-refining tasks from the Hall of Diligent Work.
Previously, when sects issued alchemy tasks, they only accepted a specified number of pills, which meant a success rate of 40% was required.
Now, the alchemy task requires submitting more pills, and a success rate of over 60% is necessary.
Of course, refining elixirs also yields more contribution points.
Ji An leaned forward slightly:
"Senior brother, could you please make an exception?"
(End of this chapter)
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