Chapter 419 : The Alchemist's Breakthrough

Eldrin Chen returned to Spirit Isle Lake and began studying the Meridian-Tempering Pill Formula collected by the Chen Clan, setting out to research a new alchemical technique.

With his current level of alchemical skill, researching a low-tier pill formula was not particularly difficult.

However, for a Second Rank Low-Grade body-tempering pill to be able to increase the strength of a cultivator's meridians by thirty percent after they had already been tempered to their limit during the Vital Essence Refinement stage was already considered quite remarkable.

Without elevating the pill's grade, enhancing its efficacy through the principles of balancing primary, secondary, and auxiliary ingredients and adjusting their ratios was a step of significant difficulty.

To deduce the Meridian-Tempering Pill Formula, Eldrin Chen even employed Enlightenment Tea, utilizing the tea's effect of focusing the spirit and aiding enlightenment to comprehend the formula.

He labored ceaselessly for an entire year, continuously refining the formula, gradually increasing its potency until it finally reached a fifty percent improvement.

"This should be the limit," he murmured to himself.

Eldrin Chen gazed at the completed formula before him, a whisper escaping his lips.

Through his relentless research, this newly perfected Meridian-Tempering Pill could now increase the meridian strength of a cultivator at the Great Perfection stage of Vital Essence Refinement by fifty percent.

Having reached this point, any further attempt to enhance its efficacy would be exceedingly difficult to achieve, unless the pill's grade itself was elevated. Official source: https://audio-novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

In truth, even among many top-tier Golden Core Immortal Clan [a powerful clan with cultivators at the Golden Core stage], the treasured Second Rank Low-Grade [a classification for cultivation resources, pills, or techniques] Meridian-Tempering Pill Formula [a recipe for a pill that strengthens a cultivator's meridians] they possess likely only enhances meridian strength by thirty to forty percent at most.

For Eldrin Chen to deduce a Meridian-Tempering Pill Formula with fifty percent efficacy was a feat that could be considered peerless across the land, not inferior to the Meridian-Tempering Pill Formula held by an Infant Soul Immortal Clan [a supreme clan with cultivators at the Infant Soul stage].

After creating the pill formula, Eldrin Chen personally fired up the alchemical furnace to refine a batch of Meridian-Tempering Pill.

Gazing at the pills adorned with faint violet patterns, he murmured with a smile, "These pills are veined with purple. Let them be called the Purple Vein Meridian-Tempering Pill."

With the pills successfully refined, Eldrin Chen journeyed to Green Chariot Mountain and summoned three cultivators preparing for Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [the process of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage without external aids].

Upon meeting the trio, he distributed the Purple Vein Meridian-Tempering Pill and instructed, "Take these and test them. Let us see by how much they can fortify your meridians."

The three accepted the pills and consumed them on the spot.

While one might hesitate to ingest a new pill concocted by an ordinary alchemist, Eldrin Chen was no ordinary practitioner; he was a Fourth Rank Superior Grade [a master-level classification for alchemists] alchemist.

For a pill master of such exalted rank to create a Second Rank Low-Grade pill with severe side effects would be nothing short of a monumental jest.

As expected, no mishap occurred. After consuming the pills, the three entered secluded cultivation for a full three days. Upon emerging, their eyes shone with delight: "The resilience of our meridians has increased by a full fifty percent!"

"That is good."

A look of joy appeared on Eldrin Chen's face. With his meridians strengthened by fifty percent, and the Formation further enhancing his physical body and meridians by another fifty percent, the combined effect was nearly equivalent to using a Foundation Establishment Pill [a rare pill that aids in solidifying a cultivator's foundation].

The Foundation Establishment Pill could double the strength and resilience of a cultivator's meridians, and it also had the effect of tempering their Vital Energy [the foundational life-force energy cultivated within the body], making it more docile.

Although during the process of Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [the arduous path of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm without external aids], the Vital Energy would become extremely volatile, having one's meridians strengthened twofold would undoubtedly mitigate much of the backlash.

Having reached this conclusion, Eldrin Chen said, "Go into seclusion and attempt your Foundation Establishment [the crucial realm where a cultivator solidifies their foundation for the path ahead]. I will observe the results."

"Thank you, Patriarch."

The three nodded, immediately entering the Formation [a mystical array that channels and focuses ambient energies] to begin their assault on the Foundation Establishment realm.

Not long after they entered, Old Patriarch received word and hurried over. "How are the effects?" he asked eagerly.

"It can increase meridian strength by fifty percent," Eldrin Chen replied, then added with a smile, "Now we shall see how it performs when used in conjunction with the Formation."

Old Patriarch nodded in agreement, and together with Eldrin Chen, they waited anxiously outside the Seclusion Chamber [a specially prepared chamber for undisturbed meditation and cultivation].

In the blink of an eye, three months rushed by. Three figures emerged from the Formation, their auras severely depleted. "Patriarch," they said, their voices heavy, "we have failed you."

The Old Patriarch sent his divine sense probing into their bodies, and a look of wild joy spread across his face. "Merely a severe depletion of vitality, with some fissures in your spiritual meridians," he declared.

"Injuries such as these require only five years of recuperation to heal completely."

With this thought, the Old Patriarch's expression turned grave as he addressed the trio. "The matter of this Formation and the elixirs [spiritual pills used for cultivation]—you must not breathe a word of it to anyone. Should you do so, I will personally see to your execution."

"We understand," they replied in unison.

The three hurriedly nodded and swore a solemn Inner Demon Oath [a binding vow where breaking it invites demonic tribulation upon one's soul]. Original English translation available at www . audio-novel.com.

Still feeling it was insufficient, the Old Patriarch condensed a wisp of sword intent from the Golden Light Blazing Fire Sword and implanted it within each of them. His face was a mask of solemnity. "This formation and these pills concern the very survival of our clan. I leave this trace of sword intent within you."

"Should you dare to reveal this secret, even if you flee to the Horizon Sea's End, you will not escape the peril of having your Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] utterly extinguished."

The faces of the three paled to a deathly white. They hurriedly swore oaths again and again, pledging their lips were sealed.

Seeing their terror, Eternal Profound Chen offered a measure of comfort. "Set your minds at ease. So long as you guard this secret, this strand of sword intent will never be triggered."

"Moreover, the sword intent [the conceptual essence and power imbued within a sword technique] contained within this Golden Light Blazing Fire Sword is exceptionally profound and arcane. If you can fully comprehend it, your combat prowess will undoubtedly stand out among your peers in the future."

Only then did the three of them nod, letting out a slight sigh of relief.

Eldrin Chen watched them calmly. After they finished speaking, he finally said, "You may withdraw for now."

"Yes."

After the group departed, Old Patriarch also looked on with a helpless expression and said, "I implanted the sword intent without considering their feelings beforehand. Next time something like this happens, it would be best to explain it in advance."

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. They have enjoyed the clan's benefits and resources, so naturally, they must also shoulder the corresponding responsibilities,"

Eldrin Chen said with a smile. Happily, he took Eternal Profound Chen by the arm and poured him a cup of tea. "Uncle, you needn't be overly concerned. Although the effects of this Formation and the elixirs [spiritual pills used for cultivation] are impressive, they are ultimately only useful for low-level cultivators."

"Given our current strength, even if word were to spread, it wouldn't cause us any significant trouble."

Eternal Profound Chen nodded in agreement. While the Formation and the elixirs were astonishing, they held almost no utility for high-level cultivators.

Every Infant Soul Immortal Clan [a clan with cultivators who have reached the Infant Soul stage] under heaven possesses its own hidden depths and foundations. If these two treasures were considered separately, they might not necessarily surpass what an Infant Soul Immortal Clan possesses by a significant margin.

Particularly the Meridian-Tempering Pill [a pill that refines and strengthens the body's meridians], while rare, is not necessarily beyond the research capabilities of high-ranking alchemists to create something comparable.

It is this Spirit-Gathering Path-Protection Formation [a formation that gathers ambient spiritual energy to protect a cultivator's cultivation path] that is exceptionally uncommon, and its ability to stack effects with the Meridian-Tempering Pill is what ultimately reduces the backlash so significantly.

Thinking of this, Old Patriarch said with delight, "Requiring only five years of recuperation to recover means that for most cultivators with Three Spiritual Roots [a common but moderate innate talent for cultivation], there are roughly two opportunities to attempt Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [the process of building one's cultivation foundation without external aids]."

"Those with Dual Spiritual Root [a superior innate talent with two spiritual roots] or Variant Spiritual Root [a rare and powerful mutated spiritual root] cultivate faster and can attempt the breakthrough multiple times before their Vitality [the foundational life force of a cultivator] begins to decline around the age of sixty."

"With this treasure, within a century, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their foundational cultivation stage] in our Chen Clan could increase severalfold. Future's potential will far surpass that of an ordinary Immortal Clan [a clan with a lineage of cultivators]."

Eldrin Chen also revealed a look of joy. The combination of the Spirit-Gathering Path-Protection Formation and the Purple Vein Meridian-Tempering Pill [an enhanced version of the Meridian-Tempering Pill] would undoubtedly forge an unshakable foundation for the clan, nurturing a multitude of Foundation Establishment and Violet Sanctum [the cultivation stage following Foundation Establishment] experts for the Chen Immortal Clan.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen added, "To refine the Purple Vein Meridian-Tempering Pill, we still require the Second Rank Low-Grade Spirit Herb [a plant imbued with spiritual energy] known as the Purple Vein Flower [a spirit herb with distinctive purple veins]."

"Our reserves of this Purple Vein Flower in the Clan Treasury are not plentiful. We will need to stockpile more in the future." This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel`com.