Free Web NovelChapter 366: Chapter 235: Guh Niqiang Resigns
The art of alchemy and medicine making is the most rapidly evolving and advancing field.
Thousands of years have passed, and pill furnaces have been upgraded several times. Additionally, changes in the environment led to shifts in types of spiritual medicines, and pill formulas have been optimized through many generations. Furthermore, continual efforts to reduce dan poison, adjust dosages, and change ingredients...
Out of the hundreds of pill formulas left in the collection, only three can still be used and surpass the current ones!
There are none for the Qi Cultivation Stage, one for the Foundation Establishment Stage, and two for the Golden Core Stage. As for Nascent Soul and Primordial Spirit levels, even Guh Niqiang cannot discern them at present.
The current elixirs of the Yunshan Sect can be divided into three categories. The first is their own unique elixirs. For the Qi Cultivation Stage, they still have the "Four Treasures Cleansing Spirit Pill" gifted by Hee Yangchen in the past, for the Foundation Establishment Stage they recently obtained the "Yang Hu Powder" for healing injuries, and for the Golden Core Stage, the injury-healing and foundation-strengthening "Seven Stars Pill" and the poison-purging "Clear Jade Mist Rain Pill".
Second is the standard variety, other than unique elixirs, that are either self-made or purchased. These include aids for cultivation, healing, spiritual recovery, detoxification, etc.
Third is the unique elixirs for the Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment stages, kindly contributed by Fairy Nishang from the Danxia Sect. The supply of these is limited to a few people. Lu Qian also put some of them in the merit points exchange list as incentive rewards.
A true major sect, even if it excels in one area or several, has no weaknesses in other areas. They are well-rounded and fully developed.
For example, the Xuanguang Sect is not known for alchemy, but they gifted the "Four Treasures Cleansing Spirit Pill" readily, indicating they must have even better elixirs in their sect.
In the war reserves captured from Sanshan County, there was also a batch of unique elixirs from the Liyuan Sect found, but unfortunately with no pill formulas.
Thus, Lu Qian set the development approach as mastering the hundred arts of immortal cultivation, tackling each skill one by one, improving levels step by step, spiraling upwards, and ultimately moving forward together.
Significant advancements have been made in spirit medicine cultivation, progress in the alchemy dao is slow, talisman making is steadily advancing, and Lu Qian set the next attack’s direction towards artifact refining, urgently needed by the Yunshan Sect.
The Void-Soaring and Distant-Guarding Divine Ship, the Flying Snake Daoist Soldiers, the puppets for entering the spiritual ore under Lingsha City, and the future artifact refinement of array bases and maps all rely on superior artifact refining skills.
A supremely powerful great sect without weakness in artifact refining skills within its door is unimaginable.
Artifact refining is very challenging, and even now with Tao Boliang and the essence from the Jichuan Profound Monarch’s collection, it will take decades to reach a good level.
But Lu Qian can wait, and so can the nascent Yunshan Sect.
"What’s the good news? You’re smiling so happily."
Lu Qian’s door was pushed open, and through the blazing flames, Guh Niqiang walked in.
As the Golden Core Celestial Tribulation approaches, her spiritual pressure and surrounding flames become increasingly difficult to restrain and often inadvertently ignite the surroundings.
At the zenith must follow the nadir. If she can cross this tribulation and achieve the Golden Core, she will reach a state of perfect clarity and concealment, with spiritual pressure as restrained as a mortal’s.
"It’s Cui Shanyan. His Spirit Cultivation Technique finally succeeded," Lu Qian explained and then sighed, "Next time can you knock before coming in?"
Fairy Nishang raised an eyebrow and her almond-shaped eyes widened, "Why? Worried I’ll catch you doing something naughty with that white snake whore?"
"How could that be? Haven’t I explained many times? She just wanted to use my divine sense to break through a barrier. There’s nothing between us—" Lu Qian hurriedly denied.
Guh Niqiang took a step closer, her eyes already glittering with golden-red flames. "Innocent? When you’ve already been tangled together, still claiming innocence!"
The beauty was angry, her jade-like face drawing near, lips pursed as plump as cherries, and amid the flickering flames, Guh Niqiang’s unique cold fragrance, like Meihua in snow, permeated one’s chest.
She was referring to the last festival. Ji Yunrou, rejected by Lu Qian multiple times, became furious and attempted to play the tyrant; her charm art had become ever more skilled. Lu Qian was caught off guard and overwhelmed by the waves.
Like a snake, they tightly entwined him. Just as Lu Qian regained clarity and was about to break free, Guh Niqiang arrived in a burst of heavenly flames, pale blue fire surged forth, destroying the entire tower floor.
That time, Ji Yunrou molted and fled, Lu Qian broke seven bones, was burnt over his whole body, and had to recuperate for half a month.
"Dear Grannie, haven’t I explained many times," Lu Qian said, breaking into a cold sweat at the memory of that night, "She may have intent, but I had no interest! I firmly refused, stood steadfast..."
The more he spoke, the more convoluted it became, but a rare, playful glint appeared on Guh Niqiang’s face.
Lu Qian looked at her intently, suddenly breaking into a smile himself.
Guh Niqiang truly has changed.
Since she overcame the barrier, pierced through the confusions, she was no longer the Guh Niqiang who only cared about mad battles and was indifferent to everything else.
Her emotions grew richer, and she began to voluntarily embrace various pursuits, to actively chase after the beauties of life.
The truly powerful in this world are never the simple "beasts" but the complex "humans".
"So, have you come here bright and early to catch me cheating or to dig up old accounts?"
A faint blush arose on the flawless face of Guh Niqiang, and she glared at Lu Qian, falling into sudden silence.
Lu Qian suddenly sensed a foreboding feeling.
"I have to leave for a while," Guh Niqiang said with lowered eyes, "To cross my tribulation, I need to return to the Danxia Sect for my master’s guidance, and prepare all the spiritual items needed for the crossing."
Leaving, going back.
Lu Qian paused for a moment, a wave of melancholy surging in his heart.
Indeed, Guh Niqiang’s tribulation was fast approaching.
A year and a half after the Yunshan Sect was established, Guh Niqiang finally sensed the Golden Core Heavenly Tribulation, and now the tribulation was only two years away.
The good news is, Guh Niqiang’s ten-year contract still has two years and three months. If she successfully crosses the tribulation, she could make one last contribution to the Yunshan Sect before her return as a Golden Core Master.
The bad news is, the current Yunshan Sect lacks the capability to support Guh Niqiang adequately in crossing the tribulation.
Even though Jichuan Profound Monarch’s collection contains some insights into tribulation crossing, personal circumstances differ greatly, which cannot compare to the meticulous teachings of Master Chi Yu.
Moreover, tribulation crossing requires a lot of preparation, whether in terms of resources or venue, and the Danxia Sect can provide what the Yunshan Sect cannot.
The Golden Core Celestial Tribulation is extremely dangerous, even with prior celestial-human synchrony sensing and timeline knowledge, only about one or two out of ten succeed. Preparing years in advance is no more than normal.
Therefore, Guh Niqiang’s return to the Danxia Sect to prepare for the tribulation is reasonable and urgently needed.
"When are you leaving?"
Guh Niqiang didn’t look at Lu Qian, "After this festival ends, I will depart."
After a while of silence, Guh Niqiang spoke softly, "Once I see my master, if I have any free time during preparation, I will come back."
After saying that, she turned to leave.
But Lu Qian suddenly reached out, grabbing her.
