Chapter 302. Lighting the Furnace for Alchemy

In truth, the low-tier resources from Tianxu Lake held little practical value for either of them. They had been converted into spirit stones and contribution points, deposited into the clan treasury. When the need for spirit stones arose, they could simply draw from the clan reserves.

For Lyra (Person Name) and Eldrin (Person Name), the most valuable resource remained the 5 Elements Essence Qi.

After this great war, the Heaven's Ruin Alliance had truly become the undisputed ruler of the 3 provinces. As the alliance leader and deputy leader, the 2 naturally enjoyed their privileges.

From now on, whenever they required the 5 Elements Essence, all the great families under the Heaven's Ruins Alliance and every single cultivator would have to prioritize selling their harvested 5 Elements Essence to the 2 of them.

Moreover, this proportion must be no less than 50 percent of the total output, and the price shall not exceed the market floor rate—specifically, 80,000 spirit stones for 50,000 wisps.

When Lyra (Person Name) first formed her Golden Core, the 5 Elements Essence in Chu Kingdom (Location) was in severe shortage. The 2 even had to pay a premium of 14,000 spirit stones to acquire just 50,000 strands of 5 Elements Essence.

With this base price privilege, the 2 would save over a million spirit stones during their Golden Core stage—no small sum by any measure.

Moreover, this would allow the Heaven's Ruins Alliance to monopolize the trade of 5 Elements Essence across 3 provinces—an excellent opportunity for both stockpiling and selling.

In previous years, the primary reason for the price premium on 5 Elements essence was the successive exploitation by middlemen at every level.

For instance, when the Chen Family transported the 5 Elements Essence to Celestial Ruins Mountain (Location) back in the day, the acquisition price for 50,000 strands was merely 7,000 to 8,000 spirit stones, yet the profit from selling them at Celestial Ruins Mountain (Location) reached as high as around 2,000 spirit stones.

In truth, rogue cultivators and individual clan members didn't actually obtain much in the way of spirit stones, with over 50% of the profits being claimed by various factions.

For instance, the 5 Elements essence produced by a clan cultivator would be requisitioned by the clan at a price of 5 spirit stones, only to be resold in the market for 7 spirit stones.

After paying the market taxes, the purchasing family’s cost rose to 8 spirit stones. When resold across provinces and commanderies to either Zi Mansion cultivators or merchants hoarding the item, the price became 10 spirit stones.

When merchants sell to high-level cultivators in need, the price can rise by 1 or 2 coins. If a high-level cultivator is in urgent need, they may even add a few percentage points to the profit margin.

Later, the Tianxu Alliance began purchasing directly from the source, eliminating all intermediaries entirely. This allowed cultivator families to sell their 5 Elements Essence straight to the alliance, saving the 2 a fortune in spirit stones.

Achieving this was an immensely difficult task, requiring not only overwhelming power to suppress all local powers, but also formidable public credibility.

These local powers refer to the major Foundation Establishment and Purple Manor immortal clans. In fact, the trade of 5 Elements essence across various prefectures and commanderies is now fundamentally controlled by these Foundation Establishment and Purple Manor clans.

Although the annual profits may not appear substantial—for instance, after over a century of development in Yu County, the annual yield of 5 Elements Essence now amounts to merely 20,000 spirit stones—this century-long enterprise ultimately represents an asset valued at 2,000,000 spirit stones.

The combined profits from all intermediate stages amounted to at least several 100 1000 spirit stones. Prominent Purple Manor clans like the Yu, Chen, Pan, and Meng families all held stakes in these ventures. While Foundation Establishment clans couldn’t directly partake in the profits, they still received a share of the tax revenues.

This was merely the business of a single commandery. If 1 were to account for the 3 provinces and 9 commanderies, it would amount to an annual trade worth 100,000 spirit stones. Over a century, the total would reach as high as 10,000,000 spirit stones, with profits numbering in the millions.

This immense profit and market had, for years, been controlled by over a dozen Purple Manor immortal families and more than a 100 Foundation Establishment immortal clans across the 3 provinces. With interests so intricately intertwined, even the former Sunflare Sect lacked sufficient credibility to secure control over this enterprise.

Thus, dealing with these local powers was exceptionally challenging—even a Golden Core family would find it difficult to intervene.

Fortunately, Eldrin and Lyra now possessed formidable strength and enjoyed an impeccable reputation within the Celestial Ruins Alliance. Their leadership had enabled the alliance's great immortal clans and rogue cultivators to reap substantial benefits.

Within the alliance, even false core elders like Xavier and Fang Qingmei still had their sights set on the pair's Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object).

Putting aside their lack of strength and limited say in matters, even if they were to break through to the Golden Core Realm, they would still owe favors to Lyra and Eldrin. After all, if the Golden Core Formation Pill were to be publicly auctioned, it could fetch a premium of at least several 100 1000 spirit stones.

The reason for giving them priority in purchasing it at the price of 2,000,000 spirit stones was precisely because they were internal members of the Celestial Ruins Alliance. Countless cultivators from the outside world coveted this opportunity so intensely that they would have gladly traded places with them.

Now, Eldrin, having led the Chen Clan cultivators to thoroughly cleanse the Jade Lake of Abyss of its Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion-level demonic beasts, handed over the trivial matters to Caleb and the clan’s Foundation Establishment cultivators for handling.

While ordering the acquisition of the 5 Elements' essence, he began refining various elixirs with Lyra (Person Name).

Lyra was crafting Dharma Essence Pill (Spiritual Object) and other upper-middle-tier third-grade elixirs, while Eldrin focused on refining Foundation Establishment Pill (Spiritual Object) along with lower-middle-tier third-grade pills.

With his quasi-Fourth Rank alchemy skills, his success rate in refining upper-middle-grade Third Rank pills, while not particularly low, was certainly no match for Lyra's.

Over the years, he had assisted Lyra (Person Name) in refining a considerable number of high-tier pills, making it unnecessary to hone his techniques with these upper-middle-grade third-tier pills anymore. To truly advance his alchemy skills, refining fourth-tier pills would be far more effective.

For now, there was no opportunity to refine a fourth-tier pill. It would be better to focus on producing Foundation Establishment Pills (Spiritual Object) and lower-third-tier pills to help ease some of Lyra's (Person Name) burden.

During this beast tide, the Heaven's Ruin Alliance harvested a total of 16 Purple Mansion demonic beast cores and plundered 5 stalks of Purple Marrow Fruit from various spiritual mountains.

To refine these pills, Lyra dispatched her avatar to stand guard at Sky Ruin Lake, while the 2 of them deliberately returned to Mount Qingyang. There, they harnessed the power of the fourth-order subterranean fire vein to conduct their alchemy.

This refinement of the Foundation Establishment Pill (Spiritual Object) was led primarily by Eldrin (Person Name), with Aunt Qingwan and Chen Silas (Person Name)—both third-tier low-grade alchemists—assisting him in handling the supplementary ingredients.

Eldrin refined the Foundation Establishment Pill while imparting alchemical insights to the 2.

This demon core belonged to the Crimson Flame Qi (Spiritual Root) Python, containing intense fiery spirituality that posed significant harm to cultivators during their Foundation Establishment phase.

"With my level of cultivation, I could naturally use magic power to forcibly separate the flame's spiritual essence. However, your cultivation bases are insufficient. If you wish to refine this inner core into a Foundation Establishment Pill (Spiritual Object), you'll need to neutralize its spiritual essence with either Essence of Renshui or Essence of Kuishui."

Eldrin’s words paused briefly, then he couldn’t help but chuckle softly. It suddenly occurred to him that Lyra had once spoken these very same words to him.

He shook his head and continued refining the elixir.

20-1 batches of Foundation Establishment Pill (Spiritual Object) were consecutively refined. With the assistance of 2 others, Eldrin (Person Name) had achieved the remarkable pace of completing 1 batch every 3 days, yet the entire process still consumed a full 2 months to finish.

After successfully refining the Foundation Establishment Pill (Spiritual Object), Eldrin (Person Name) breathed a sigh of relief. Upon careful counting, he discovered he had produced 127 Foundation Establishment Pills (Spiritual Object).

Chapter 1 The biting cold wind howled through the mountain pass, carrying with it the scent of blood and decay. A lone figure stood amidst the swirling snow, his black robes tattered and stained crimson. This was Lin Feng, once the most promising young disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect, now a fugitive hunted by the entire cultivation world. He clutched a shimmering, palm-sized crystal in his hand – the last of his spirit stones. "Only 32,000 spirit stones left," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "And my cultivation has regressed to the third level of Qi Refining. How can I possibly survive the coming winter, let alone seek revenge?" Memories, bitter and sharp, flooded his mind. It had been 1 100 years since the great calamity struck the Falling Star Continent. For thousands of years, the major sects had maintained a fragile peace, but that was shattered when the Shadow Demon Sect launched a surprise attack on the Azure Cloud Sect. Countless disciples perished, their souls scattered to the winds. Lin Feng, then a core disciple possessing the rare Heavenly Spiritual Root, had barely escaped with his life, thanks to his master's final, desperate act. A dozen or so pursuers were closing in, their auras faintly discernible through the blizzard. Lin Feng's eyes, once bright with ambition, now held only a cold, hardened glint. He knew he couldn't face them head-on. His gaze fell upon the ancient, weathered spatial ring on his finger – his only inheritance from his master. With a thought, he summoned a single, crumbling yellowed scroll. It was the "Primordial Chaos Genesis Scroll," a cultivation method legendary even in ancient times, said to have been left by an immortal who ascended millennia ago. For over a 100 years, Lin Feng had studied it in secret, but its profound and abstruse concepts remained largely incomprehensible. Now, with his back against the wall, he had no other choice. "Since the orthodox path has abandoned me, what use is there clinging to its doctrines?" A trace of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. He bit his fingertip, and a drop of sparkling blood essence fell onto the scroll. *Whoosh!* The scroll erupted with a blinding golden light, countless ancient, cryptic characters swirling out and imprinting themselves directly into his mind. An immense, primordial power, vast and desolate, surged through his meridians, tearing through them like a raging flood. The pain was excruciating, as if his very soul were being ripped apart. He gritted his teeth until they bled, his veins bulging grotesquely on his forehead. Just as he felt his consciousness was about to be completely erased by this terrifying power, the mysterious pendant hanging on his chest, a memento from his parents, suddenly grew warm. A gentle, clear energy flowed out, soothing his ravaged meridians and guiding the chaotic power. After what seemed like an eternity, the golden light gradually subsided. Lin Feng opened his eyes, and a sharp, almost tangible gleam shot forth, causing the falling snow around him to evaporate instantly. He felt the spiritual energy between heaven and earth swarming towards him, entering his body of their own accord. He had not only fully recovered his cultivation but had broken through directly to the ninth level of Qi Refining! Furthermore, his spiritual sense had expanded dramatically; he could now clearly perceive the 20-some pursuers still several miles away, their every movement laid bare before him. A faint, cold smile touched his lips. He reached out, and a longsword shrouded in black and red mist appeared in his hand – the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure). "Since you're so eager to die," Lin Feng whispered, his voice now carrying an icy, authoritative tone, "then I shall grant your wish." His figure flickered and vanished from the spot, leaving only a faint, dissipating ripple in the spatial fabric. Outside the mountain pass, a group of cultivators clad in the uniforms of the Shadow Demon Sect were carefully scanning the area. The leader, a burly man with a scarred face, suddenly frowned. "Strange, that kid's aura has completely disappeared." Before his voice faded, a chilling voice echoed behind them. "Looking for me?" The scar-faced man spun around in horror, only to see a black-robed youth standing not 10 steps away, a blood-red longsword held casually in his hand. It was Lin Feng, but his aura was now profound and unfathomable, sending a shiver down their spines. "Kill him!" the scar-faced man roared, suppressing his panic. Over a 100 black talismans shot towards Lin Feng, accompanied by several glowing magical instruments. The combined force was enough to pulverize a small mountain. But Lin Feng didn't even move. He simply raised the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure). A terrifying black and red sword aura, thick as a pillar, swept forth. Where it passed, the talismans disintegrated into dust, and the magical instruments shattered with mournful cracks. "This... this is impossible!" the scar-faced man's eyes widened in disbelief. "You were clearly severely injured! How could you..." "Ants," Lin Feng interrupted coldly. The sword aura intensified, enveloping the entire group. In an instant, their protective spiritual shields shattered like glass. Miserable shrieks filled the air, but were quickly cut short. When the sword light faded, only the scar-faced man remained, kneeling on the ground, his body covered in wounds, his face a mask of utter terror. "Spare... spare me..." he begged, kowtowing frantically. "I... I was just following orders!" Lin Feng looked down at him, his expression indifferent. "Tell me, what is the Shadow Demon Sect's next move?" "They... they have sent Elder Mo Wu (Person Name). He... he is a Foundation Establishment expert! He's stationed at the Northern Frost City, coordinating the search for you..." the scar-faced man stammered, desperate to save his life. "Mo Wu..." Lin Feng's eyes grew even colder. He remembered this name. It was this man who had personally killed his Senior Brother Wang. "Thank you for the information." Lin Feng's voice was devoid of emotion. A flash of sword light. The scar-faced man's pleas ceased abruptly. His body slumped to the ground, lifeless. Lin Feng sheathed his sword, his gaze turning towards the distant horizon. Northern Frost City... a place he needed to visit. But before that, he needed to consolidate his newfound power and fully comprehend the mysteries within the "Primordial Chaos Genesis Scroll." He took 1 last look at the carnage around him, then transformed into a beam of light, streaking towards the depths of the endless snowfields. A new chapter of his journey was beginning. The path of cultivation was long and treacherous, filled with countless trials and tribulations. But now, armed with an ancient legacy and a heart forged in vengeance, Lin Feng was ready to face it all. The wind and snow soon covered the traces of the battle, as if nothing had ever happened.