Chapter 333 : Alchemy and Artifact Crafting, Processing Gains

"That is indeed a brilliant approach."

Eldrin nodded slightly. This move not only allowed him to secure 2 spirit mountains and their ley lines, but also conveniently extended a favor to Xavier.

Having just formed his Golden Core, Xavier (Person Name) now found his family impoverished to the bone—so destitute they couldn't even gather sufficient spiritual energy for cultivation.

Although Earth Lion Ridge, Green Sun Mountain, and Celestial Ruin Lake were all fourth-grade spiritual veins, both Green Sun Mountain and Celestial Ruin Lake belonged to Lyra (Person Name) and Eldrin (Person Name). He had contributed little to Earth Lion Ridge and had no right to claim it, let alone the fact that his breakthrough to the Golden Core realm had left him deeply indebted to both of them.

If he could come to guard the 4-rank spirit mountain in Yan Kingdom (Location), not only would he resolve his cultivation’s spiritual energy issues, but he would also receive an annual salary of 50,000 spirit stones. He would be overjoyed at such an offer and would hardly be in any hurry to refuse.

For the Tianxu Alliance, once they secured a fourth-tier spiritual mountain in Yan Kingdom, their influence would extend into the region, enabling numerous Golden Core and Purple Mansion immortal clans to join their ranks.

These forces would become the reserve strength of the Celestial Ruins Alliance, potentially proving useful in the days to come.

At this thought, Eldrin spoke again, "I obtained a Void Gem (Spiritual Object) from the Yuan Clan. Should we set up a teleportation formation to link this spirit island with Mount Qingyang?"

Mount Qingyang lay approximately 2.7 million li away from this spirit island. With the short-distance Teleportation Array Disk (Magic Treasure) capable of spanning 3 million li, connecting the 2 locations was more than sufficient.

Lyra's eyes lit up upon hearing about the Void Gem, yet she shook her head. "The Yan Kingdom lies deep in the heartland, safeguarded by the Zhenjun of the Ji Clan. It's far safer than the Chu Kingdom."

"This Teleportation Array Disk (Magic Treasure) we shall deploy at Lion Ridge, first forging the Heavenly Ruins Lake, Lion Ridge, and Green Sun Mountain into an unbreakable triad."

"As for the 2 spirit islands here in Yan Kingdom (Location), let's have Xavier (Person Name) oversee them for now. We shall make proper arrangements after we acquire the Void Gem (Spiritual Object) in the future."

Hearing her words, Lin Xuan felt a weight lift from his heart. He had initially worried that the sect would demand he sever all ties with the mortal world. After all, the path of cultivation often required letting go of worldly attachments. But to his surprise, the sect showed such tolerance. "Thank you, Senior Sister," Lin Xuan said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. He knew that this arrangement was likely due to her intervention. The woman in the white dress waved her hand lightly. "No need for such formalities. From today onward, you are a disciple of our Profound Sky Sect. Remember, the path of cultivation is long and arduous—you must remain steadfast in your heart." With that settled, Lin Xuan followed her out of the hall. Outside, several disciples were already waiting, their expressions a mix of curiosity and respect. They had all witnessed Lin Xuan’s performance during the selection and knew that this new junior brother was anything but ordinary. "Junior Brother Lin, I am Zhang Tian, an inner sect disciple," a young man in a blue robe stepped forward and introduced himself with a smile. "Senior Sister Yun has instructed me to take you to get familiar with the sect." Lin Xuan nodded in acknowledgment. He could sense that Zhang Tian’s cultivation had reached the Foundation Establishment realm—a level far beyond his current abilities. As they walked, Zhang Tian began explaining the rules and layout of the sect. "The Profound Sky Sect is divided into the Outer Court, the Inner Court, and the Core Court. New disciples like you will start in the Outer Court. Only by reaching Foundation Establishment can you advance to the Inner Court." Lin Xuan listened attentively, memorizing every detail. He knew that this was where his new journey would begin. "The Outer Court has 9 peaks, each with its own unique characteristics. The first peak focuses on sword cultivation, the second on alchemy, the third on formations..." Zhang Tian pointed toward the distant mountain ranges as he spoke. "Your assignment will depend on your innate spiritual roots and aptitudes." After a brief tour, Zhang Tian brought Lin Xuan to a secluded courtyard. "This will be your residence from now on. Cultivators value tranquility, so each disciple has their own private space." The courtyard was simple but elegant, surrounded by lush bamboo groves. The spiritual energy here was noticeably denser than in the mortal world. Lin Xuan took a deep breath, feeling the energy surge within his body. "Rest well today. Tomorrow, you will go to the Assignment Hall to receive your identity token and beginner’s resources," Zhang Tian reminded him before taking his leave. Once alone, Lin Xuan finally allowed himself to relax. He gazed at the unfamiliar yet breathtaking scenery around him, a mix of emotions swirling in his heart. He had officially stepped onto the path of cultivation. He thought of his younger sister, Lin Xue, and a determined glint flashed in his eyes. No matter how difficult the path ahead, he would keep moving forward. The next day, Lin Xuan arrived early at the Assignment Hall. The hall was already bustling with people—some there to receive resources, others to take on missions. A stern-looking elder sat behind a long table, his eyes sharp as he recorded the information of each disciple in front of him. When it was Lin Xuan’s turn, the elder glanced at him briefly. "Name?" "Lin Xuan." The elder flipped through a ledger, his expression shifting slightly. "So you’re the 1 with the mutated spiritual roots that everyone’s talking about." He took out a dark jade token and a storage pouch, handing them to Lin Xuan. "This is your identity token and your monthly resources: 100 spirit stones and 3 Qi Gathering Pills." Lin Xuan accepted them respectfully. Just as he was about to leave, the elder spoke again. "Wait. Since you have mutated spiritual roots, the sect leader has made an exception for you. You may choose any of the 9 peaks to begin your cultivation." This was an unexpected privilege. Lin Xuan pondered for a moment before replying, "I choose the first peak—the path of the sword." The elder nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. He recorded Lin Xuan’s choice and waved him off. Leaving the Assignment Hall, Lin Xuan ran into several disciples who had entered the sect with him. Among them was a young man with an arrogant demeanor, surrounded by a group of followers. "Hey, aren’t you the 1 with the mutated spiritual roots?" the young man said, blocking Lin Xuan’s path. "I heard you come from a mortal background. Do you even know how to use spirit stones?" His followers burst into laughter, their mockery evident. Lin Xuan remained calm. He had encountered plenty of such people in the mortal world. "I may not know much, but I’m willing to learn," he replied evenly. The young man snorted coldly. "Arrogant. Let me see what you’re made of!" With that, he reached out to grab Lin Xuan’s storage pouch. But before his hand could make contact, Lin Xuan sidestepped effortlessly, causing the young man to stumble forward. "You!" Enraged, the young man was about to strike again when a cold voice interrupted. "What’s going on here?" Everyone turned to see Yun Mengxin, the woman in the white dress, standing nearby. Her expression was icy. The arrogant young man immediately paled, lowering his head in fear. "Senior Sister Yun, we were just... just exchanging greetings." Yun Mengxin’s gaze swept over them. "The sect forbids internal conflict. If anyone dares to break this rule, don’t blame me for being merciless." Her words were calm, but the pressure she exuded made everyone tremble. The arrogant young man and his followers quickly apologized and scurried away. "Are you alright?" Yun Mengxin asked, turning to Lin Xuan. Lin Xuan shook his head. "I’m fine. Thank you, Senior Sister." Yun Mengxin nodded. "Focus on your cultivation. Don’t waste your talent on petty conflicts." After she left, Lin Xuan tightened his grip on the storage pouch. He understood that no matter where he was, strength was the only true guarantee of respect. Returning to his courtyard, Lin Xuan took out the jade token and the storage pouch. According to Zhang Tian’s instructions, he infused a trace of spiritual power into the token. A stream of information immediately flowed into his mind—the basic cultivation method of the Profound Sky Sect, the "Profound Sky Art." He then opened the storage pouch. Inside were 100 shimmering spirit stones and 3 jade bottles containing the Qi Gathering Pills. Lin Xuan sat cross-legged and began to meditate, following the method described in the Profound Sky Art. As he circulated his spiritual power, the spirit stones around him gradually dimmed, their energy flowing into his body. Time passed unnoticed. When Lin Xuan opened his eyes again, night had fallen. He could feel that his spiritual power had grown significantly—he had officially stepped into the first level of Qi Refining. A faint smile touched his lips. This was only the beginning. Over the following days, Lin Xuan immersed himself in cultivation. During the day, he attended sword practice at the first peak; at night, he meditated to refine his spiritual power. His progress was astonishing—in just 1 month, he had reached the third level of Qi Refining. Such speed left even the elders stunned. Mutated spiritual roots were indeed extraordinary. On this day, Lin Xuan was practicing sword techniques in the bamboo forest when Zhang Tian suddenly arrived. "Junior Brother Lin, the sect is about to begin the quarterly Outer Court competition. All new disciples must participate," Zhang Tian said with a smile. "This is a great opportunity. The top performers will receive generous rewards." Lin Xuan’s eyes lit up. He had heard about the competition—not only were there spirit stones and pills as prizes, but the top 3 would also earn the chance to enter the Secret Realm of Stellar Reflection. "I will prepare," Lin Xuan said, determination in his voice. Zhang Tian patted his shoulder. "I have high hopes for you. But remember, the competition is fierce. Some disciples have been cultivating for years, and their foundations are solid. Don’t take it too hard if you don’t win—view it as a learning experience." After Zhang Tian left, Lin Xuan gripped his training sword tightly. He knew this competition would be his first real test in the world of cultivation. That night, Lin Xuan sat in meditation when suddenly, the mysterious bronze mirror in his chest grew warm again. A new message appeared in his mind—a complete set of sword techniques called the "9 Celestial Sword Art." This was clearly far superior to the basic sword techniques taught at the first peak. Lin Xuan was both shocked and thrilled. It seemed the bronze mirror would reveal more secrets as his cultivation advanced. Without hesitation, he began practicing the 9 Celestial Sword Art. The first move alone was incredibly profound, requiring the coordination of spiritual power and sword intent. After an entire night of effort, Lin Xuan finally grasped the basics of the first move. As he executed it, a faint sword light flashed, slicing through several bamboo trees in front of him. Such power far surpassed that of the basic sword techniques. Confidence welled within him. With the 9 Celestial Sword Art, he had a real chance in the upcoming competition. In the days that followed, Lin Xuan practiced even more diligently. Apart from his daily duties, he spent all his time in the bamboo forest, honing his sword skills. The quarterly competition was fast approaching, and the entire Outer Court was abuzz with anticipation. Everyone was curious—how would this disciple with mutated spiritual roots, who had only been cultivating for a short time, perform? Lin Xuan paid no attention to the gossip. He focused solely on improving his strength. Finally, the day of the competition arrived.

The group moved past the topic, and the old clan leader asked again, "What should we do with the Deng family's mortals?"

"This matter is simple." Lyra contemplated calmly for a moment before saying, "I shall have my disciples establish a Tianxu Sect here, taking root among mortals to carry on our legacy."

"That can be arranged, but the Deng family's mortals must change their names and surnames."

Eldrin smiled faintly and said, "After all the Deng Clan cultivators vanished, dealing with the remaining mortals became a simple matter."

As long as they are made to adopt a few dozen surnames, then within a mere century—after a couple of generations when the elders have passed away—they will completely forget the Deng Immortal Clan.

And new cultivators, nurtured from the age of 6, would all become disciples of the Tianxu Sect with just a little guidance.

Lyra no longer accepted disciples. She entrusted the affairs of the Celestial Ruins Sect to her followers, knowing these individuals would eventually become a valuable force under her command.

The group quickly settled the Deng family's affairs with a few brisk exchanges before departing from Yan Kingdom.

The spoils from the previous battle at Earthlion Ridge had yet to be fully assimilated. With Eldrin and Lyra needing to refine pills and forge artifacts to process portions of the acquired treasures, they naturally couldn't afford prolonged delays.

1 month later, the 2 returned to Chu Kingdom (Location) and reported their mission of guarding Yan Kingdom (Location) to Xavier (Person Name).

Suddenly blessed with this enviable assignment, Xavier was overjoyed and ecstatically accepted the task.

After the Golden Core cultivator to guard Yan Kingdom was finalized, a substantial number of low-to-mid-level cultivators would still be required to fully activate the 2 spirit veins. However, such matters would naturally be handled by the Chen Immortal Clan and Lyra’s disciples and followers, leaving no need for the 2 to concern themselves further.

Eldrin and Lyra returned to Mount Qingyang, gathered resources to refine the Teleportation Array Disk, and subsequently deployed the teleportation formation at Earth Lion Ridge.

Only then did the 2 of them breathe a sigh of relief. With the teleportation array successfully established, the security of the next several spirit veins would be greatly enhanced.

The 2 of them rode the teleportation formation, instantly returning to Green Sun Mountain, and then proceeded to the Underground Fire Artifact Refining Chamber, ready to begin digesting some of the gains from this battle.

Their mission on this trip was quite weighty. Aside from several fourth-rank spirit pills, they also needed to refine a number of highly valuable third-rank elixirs to maximize cost efficiency.

"This time, we shall have our hands quite full."

Within the Tier-4 Earthfire Chamber, Lyra (Person Name) spoke with a gentle smile.

Eldrin (Person Name) also smiled. This kind of harvest-induced busyness was the most blissful form of labor.

He retrieved 2 pieces of Celestial Star Jadeite (Spiritual Object) and declared, "Let us first refine these Celestial Star Jadeite (Spiritual Object) into fourth-tier jade boxes and vials, which will serve to contain fourth-tier spirit pills."

"Very well."

Lyra nodded, then retrieved a piece of Celestial Star Jadeite (Spiritual Object) and placed it into the alchemy furnace.

As a special type of magic treasure, the fourth-tier storage jade box was not particularly difficult to refine. Working alongside Lyra (Person Name), Eldrin (Person Name) successfully crafted both artifacts in just half a month.

A jade box, with an interior space of merely 3 feet, could hold 3 Grade 4 spirit herbs.

Lyra took the Nirvana Fruit (Spiritual Object) and carefully placed it inside the container. With this vessel preserving its medicinal efficacy, they would be able to refine the legendary Nirvana Pill once their alchemy skills advanced further.

With this Nirvana Elixir in hand, the 2 of them would have an extra layer of security in the future.

There was also a jade vial capable of holding 10 Grade-4 spirit pills, though it could only store pills of the same type. It served as a superior vessel for containing Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object).

"With these 2 treasures, the efficacy of spiritual pills and medicines can be increased by 3 100 years."

"When I have successfully refined the Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object), there will be no need to rush its sale."

After successfully forging 2 storage treasures, Eldrin said joyfully,

The Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object) was exceptionally precious. According to Eldrin (Person Name)'s estimation, after the Battle of Earthlion Ridge, it would likely be nearly 1 100 years before another demon core could be obtained.

The Chen Clan's Purple Manor housed quite a few cultivators. It was estimated that within 1 or 2 sexagenary cycles, cultivators like Lior (Person Name), Qing Wan, Kael (Person Name), Caleb (Person Name), Silas (Person Name), Ethan (Person Name), and Lila (Person Name) would successively reach the Great Perfection of the Purple Manor. Meanwhile, several disciples and grand-disciples under Lyra (Person Name) would also have such needs.

It is better to prepare some Golden Core Formation Pills (Spiritual Object) for them in advance, rather than face the bitter fate of fruitlessly searching for them later and ending up lonely and fading away.

This battle yielded 3 Demon King Inner Cores. Combined with Lyra's alchemical expertise, we should be able to refine at least 10 or more Golden Core Formation Pills (Spiritual Object).

"Begin the alchemical process."

Seeing that the jade box had been successfully forged, the 2 of them wasted no more time.

Lyra retrieved the Golden Lion Mastiff's inner elixir, then procured a stalk of Heavenly Heart Grass, beginning her refinement of the Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object).

This alchemy session was led primarily by Lyra and Eldrin, with 3 or 4 third-tier alchemists including Su Mingwei and Chen Silas assisting in the preparation of the required hundreds of supplementary ingredients.

After more than a month of continuous work, this batch of Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object) was finally completed, yielding 3 Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object).

Lyra stored this pill with the Celestial Star Jade Vial and shook her head, saying, "There are only 3 Golden Core Formation Pills this time. It seems my alchemy technique still has some flaws."

"It's not an issue with your alchemy skills, but rather the Creation Qi within this Golden Lion Mastiff inner core is insufficient."

Eldrin shook his head and spoke calmly.

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