Free Web NovelChapter 365: Chapter 235: Guh Niqiang Resigns
The art of alchemy and pharmacology is the fastest evolving and most advancing.
Over the millennia, the pill furnaces have been upgraded several times. Along with environmental changes, the types of spiritual medicines have also changed, and the pill formulas have been optimized through countless generations. Coupled with ongoing efforts to reduce dan poison, adjust dosages, and alter medicinal materials...
Among the hundreds of pill formulas left in the collection, only three are still usable and can surpass the current ones!
None for the Qi Cultivation Stage, one for the Foundation Establishment Stage, and two for the Golden Core Stage. As for those for the Nascent Soul and Primordial Spirit, even Fairy Nishang cannot identify them for now.
The Yunshan Sect’s elixirs can now be divided into three categories. First, the unique elixirs they refine themselves. For the Qi Cultivation Stage, there’s still the "Four Treasures Purifying Spirit Pill" once gifted by Hee Yangchen, for assisting cultivation. For the Foundation Establishment Stage, they recently acquired the "Yanghu Powder" for healing injuries, and for the Golden Core Stage, there’s the "Seven-Star Pill" for healing and fortifying the body, and the "Clear Jade Mist Rain Pill" for detoxification and miasma prevention.
Second, apart from unique elixirs, are the common ones they either refine or purchase. These include those used for assisting cultivation, healing, restoring the spirit, detoxification, etc.
The third category is the unique elixirs for the Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment Stages, provided as a friendly donation by Fairy Nishang from the Danxia Sect. These are limited in quantity and can only supply a few people. Lu Qian even added some to the merit points exchange list as incentive rewards.
A true major sect may specialize in one or several areas, but it never has any weak spots in other fields. It can be said to be fully developed.
For example, the Xuanguang Sect is not known for alchemy, but it freely gifted the "Four Treasures Purifying Spirit Pill," implying that their sect must have something even better.
In the captured war supplies from Sanshan County, a batch of unique elixirs from the Liyuan Sect was also found, unfortunately without any pill formulas.
So, Lu Qian’s development strategy is the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation, successively tackling each aspect, gradually improving level by level, making progress in a spiral manner, ultimately advancing in unison.
Currently, there has been considerable progress in spirit medicine cultivation, slow advancement in the alchemy dao, and steady progress in talisman production. Lu Qian thus set the next stage’s focus on artifact refining, which the Yunshan Sect urgently needs.
The Void-Soaring and Distant-Guarding Divine Ship, Flying Snake Daoist Soldiers, puppets capable of entering underground spiritual ore mines in Lingsha City, and even the future refining of the Array Base and Array Map, all rely on exceptional artifact refining skills.
A truly extraordinary sect’s internal artifact refining skills surely cannot be weak.
Artifact refining is highly challenging. Even with Tao Boliang and the essence of the Jichuan Profound Monarch’s collection, it would take decades to reach a decent level.
But Lu Qian can afford to wait, and the nascent Yunshan Sect can also afford to wait.
"What’s the good news? Why are you smiling so happily?"
Lu Qian’s door was pushed open, and amidst the intense blaze, Guh Niqiang walked in.
As the Golden Core Celestial Tribulation approached, her spiritual pressure and surrounding flames became increasingly difficult to control, often igniting everything around her inadvertently.
Intensely prosperous things eventually decline. If she can overcome the tribulation this time and achieve the Golden Core, she will reach a state of perfect clarity without leaks, with spiritual pressure retracted like a mortal.
"It’s Cui Shanyan; his Spirit Cultivation Technique finally succeeded," Lu Qian explained before sighing, "Can you knock next time before you come in?"
Fairy Nishang raised her brows, her almond-shaped eyes wide open: "What? Worried I would interrupt your good deeds with that licentious snake and wanton woman?"
"How could that be, haven’t I explained it many times? She merely wants to borrow my divine sense to break through barriers. She and I are absolutely innocent—" Lu Qian hurriedly denied.
Guh Niqiang stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with golden-red fire, "Innocent? Rolling in bed and still innocent!"
When a beauty gets angry, the jade-like face comes close, the lips compressed tightly like cherry, amidst the flickering flames, a unique cold fragrance like plum blossoms in the snow permeates the chest and lungs.
She referred to the previous festival event. Ji Yunrou, having been repeatedly rejected by Lu Qian, was enraged and attempted to force herself onto him. Her Charm Art grew more exquisite, and with Lu Qian momentarily dazed, he was pinned by a surge of waves onto the couch.
With a slippery body wrapping around him, Lu Qian regained clarity, ready to struggle. At that moment, Guh Niqiang’s fiery blaze surged skyward, and a pale blue flame erupted, destroying the entire level of the tower.
That time, Ji Yunrou molted away to escape, while Lu Qian broke seven bones and was severely burned, requiring half a month’s recovery.
"Oh, great aunt! Haven’t I explained countless times?" Recalling that night, Lu Qian broke into a cold sweat, hurriedly pleading, "Though she had intentions, I didn’t! I firmly resisted, unyielding and steadfast..."
The more he explained, the messier it got, yet a mischievous smile, unprecedented, appeared on Guh Niqiang’s face.
Lu Qian stared at her intently, suddenly smiling as well.
Guh Niqiang, truly is different now.
Ever since she broke through joints and saw past confusions, she was no longer the same Guh Niqiang who was uninterested in everything except fighting to the death madly.
The emotions within her grew richer, and she began actively venturing into various matters, pursuing the beauty of life.
In this world, truly strong beings are never simply "beasts," but complex "humans."
"So, coming here early in the morning, are you here to catch an affair or dig up old accounts?"
A faint blush appeared on Guh Niqiang’s flawless face, she glared at Lu Qian, then suddenly fell into silence.
Lu Qian suddenly had a foreboding feeling.
"I have to leave for a while." Guh Niqiang looked down, "To cross the tribulation, I need to return to the Danxia Sect, seek guidance from my master, and prepare all the spiritual materials needed for the tribulation."
Leaving, returning.
Lu Qian was momentarily stunned, a wave of loss swelling within his heart.
Yes, Guh Niqiang’s tribulation was fast approaching.
A year and a half after the establishment of the Yunshan Sect, Guh Niqiang finally sensed the Golden Core Celestial Tribulation, and now, the tribulation was due in two more years.
The good news is, Guh Niqiang’s ten-year contract still had two years and three months left. This means if she successfully survives the tribulation, she could assist the Yunshan Sect one last time before leaving, with the status of a Golden Core Master.
The bad news is, the current Yunshan Sect does not have the capability to provide Guh Niqiang with sufficient support for crossing the tribulation.
Even though the Jichuan Profound Monarch’s collection contains some insights into crossing tribulations, personal circumstances vary vastly, and how can it compare to the meticulous guidance of Master Chi Yu?
Moreover, a lot of preparations are needed for crossing the tribulation, whether in terms of materials or location, what the Danxia Sect can offer, the Yunshan Sect cannot.
The Golden Core Celestial Tribulation is incomparably dangerous. Even knowing the timeline through Celestial-Human Synchrony in advance, only about one-tenth to one-twentieth succeed. Preparing years ahead is nothing but normal.
Thus, Guh Niqiang returning to the Danxia Sect to prepare for the tribulation is reasonable and urgently necessary.
"When will you go?"
Guh Niqiang did not look at Lu Qian: "I will leave once this festival is over."
After a moment of silence between them, Guh Niqiang softly added, "Once I’ve seen my master, as soon as I have any free time during preparations, I will come back."
Having said that, she turned to leave.
Lu Qian suddenly reached out, holding her back.
