Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather.

Chapter 903: Refining the Sacred Wood Cauldron
Baiyun Immortal City, Wanbaohang.

Yang Zhengshan, dressed in a pine-patterned Buddhist robe, appeared calm and relaxed at Wanbaohang's shop.

"Greetings, Guest Minister Yang!"

"Greetings, Guest Minister Yang!"

When the shop assistants saw Yang Zhengshan, they all bowed and greeted him.

Yang Zhengshan smiled amiably and nodded in return to everyone.

"Oh, what brings Guest Elder Yang here! Haha~~"

Just then, a fat man with big ears came forward and laughed loudly.

"Manager Lin, it's been a long time!" Yang Zhengshan greeted the man.

Lin Zhaoheng was a newly appointed shop manager at Wanbaohang last year. He worked under Zhong Lixia and was quite familiar with Yang Zhengshan.

"Is Guest Master Yang here to see Steward Zhongli?" Lin Zhaoheng asked as he led Yang Zhengshan upstairs.

"Well, I have a small matter I'd like to discuss with Steward Zhongli!" Yang Zhengshan said casually.

The two went up to the third floor and arrived at the door of Zhongli's study.

Before they could knock, the door opened automatically, and Zhongli Xiayi's voice came from inside, "Come in!"

Yang Zhengshan entered the study and immediately saw Zhong Lixia dressed in a gorgeous palace gown.

She wore a bright red brocade palace gown, embroidered with a golden phoenix holding a pearl, with a fox fur collar, and draped with a peacock feather shawl. Her hair was styled in a high bun adorned with a red gold filigree phoenix hairpin and a jade hairpin. She sat serenely behind her desk, her radiance shimmering, her noble air overflowing from her graceful brows and the swaying gold and jade.

For some reason, Zhongli Xiayi's attire never resembled that of a cultivator; rather, it was more like that of a concubine from some imperial dynasty.

Her attire has always been gorgeous and elegant.

"Sit down!" Zhong Lixia looked up, revealing a gentle face.

Yang Zhengshan didn't stand on ceremony and casually sat down at the tea table.

Lin Zhaoheng immediately stepped forward to serve him tea.

Zhong Lixia emerged from behind the desk, her lotus-like steps as graceful as a willow swaying in the breeze, yet each step was dignified.

"What do you want from me?"

"There is something I need to do." Yang Zhengshan reached out and placed the porcelain bottle in front of her.

Zhong Lixia took the porcelain bottle with some doubt and opened it. When she saw the pills inside, her bright eyes immediately lit up.

"High-quality Demonic Yuan Dan!"

Lin Zhaoheng exclaimed in surprise.

“That’s right, I just finished making this, hehe, it’s still warm!” Yang Zhengshan chuckled.

Zhong Lixia looked at Yang Zhengshan with delighted surprise.

In recent years, Yang Zhengshan has proven his alchemy skills with the Demon Essence Pill. Although Yang Zhengshan only provided Wanbaoge with one Demon Essence Pill, it was a genuine Demon Essence Pill.

However, the Demon Essence Pill that Yang Zhengshan provided before was only of low grade, but now Yang Zhengshan actually took out a high grade Demon Essence Pill.

This is truly a big surprise.

The significance of a superior-grade demon essence pill is extraordinary.

This means that Yang Zhengshan is only one step away from refining the top-grade Demon Essence Pill, and that he could refine it at any time.

Wanbaohang has more than a dozen second-tier alchemists, all of whom can refine Demon Essence Pills. However, only the two seventh-tier alchemist guests can refine high-grade Demon Essence Pills.

In the entire White Cloud Immortal City, there are only these two alchemists who can refine high-grade demon essence pills.

In other words, Wanbaohang's alchemy skills are the highest in Baiyun Immortal City.

Yang Zhengshan's ability to refine high-grade demon essence pills means that he has become one of the most respected alchemists in Baiyun Immortal City.

Although Zhongli Xiayi valued Yang Zhengshan highly, she did not expect that Yang Zhengshan would refine a high-grade demon essence pill so quickly.

"Congratulations, Guest Elder Yang!" Zhong Lixia looked at Yang Zhengshan with favor.

"Yes, yes, congratulations, Guest Master Yang! Guest Master Yang truly lives up to his reputation as a master of alchemy! Congratulations, Guest Master Yang!" Lin Zhaoheng looked at Yang Zhengshan with great enthusiasm, his large face beaming with a smile as bright as a flower.

"Congratulations to you, congratulations to you!" Yang Zhengshan said with a smile.

After offering her congratulations, Zhong Lixia held the porcelain bottle tightly, somewhat reluctant to let go.

“This Demon Essence Pill!” She looked at Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan smiled and said, "I would like to exchange it for a spiritual material!"

Zhong Lixia's eyes lit up again, "No problem, from the treasure vault, I'll give you any third-tier spiritual material you want, and I'll cover the contribution points!"

High-grade Demon Essence Pills are extremely rare. Wanbaohang used to have two alchemists who could refine high-grade Demon Essence Pills, but the output of these two alchemists was pitifully low.

It might take ten years to refine even one.

It's not that their skill level is lacking; it's just that refining high-grade demon essence pills is extremely difficult.

Yang Zhengshan's success in refining a high-grade demon essence pill this time was partly due to luck, but mostly due to the assistance of the Golden Crow Eight Trigrams Furnace.

As for Zhong Lixia, this high-grade demon essence pill is likely to allow her to break through and advance to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

This is exactly what Yang Zhengshan wants: to exchange a high-grade demon essence pill for a third-tier spiritual material, and with the contribution points he has accumulated over the years, he can also exchange for another spiritual material.

In other words, he can now gather all three third-tier spiritual materials needed to refine the Divine Wood Cauldron.

"Then thank you very much for your care, Steward Zhongli!" Yang Zhengshan stroked his beard and smiled.

"It's just a matter of mutual benefit, nothing more than taking care of someone!" Zhong Lixia put the porcelain bottle into her storage bag, as if afraid that Yang Zhengshan would return.

Lin Zhaoheng stared longingly at the vanished porcelain bottle, feeling incredibly distressed.

This is a top-grade demon essence pill!

He wants it too!
……

After leaving Zhongli Xiayi, Yang Zhengshan easily made his way to Wanxiang Tower and exchanged two Xuan Tie tokens from the treasure vault.

He then took the Xuan Tie token to the treasure vault.

It was still that same aged elder, and still that simple black stone table.

Yang Zhengshan selected a piece of high-grade third-level sandalwood heartwood and a large section of mid-grade third-level golden-patterned bamboo.

Golden-veined bamboo has a rough, tortoise-shell-like skin covered with spiral-shaped patterns. This bamboo thrives on the spiritual energy of metals and stones, and its texture is extremely hard, making it suitable for crafting defensive magical artifacts.

Having obtained the three kinds of spirit wood, Yang Zhengshan couldn't wait to return to the Spirit Source Land.

On Lingquan Mountain Plain.

Yang Jizhen received Yang Zhengshan's summons and rushed over.

"Ancestor!"

"Haha, come with me and take a look at these!" Yang Zhengshan pulled Yang Jizhen's arm and walked into the study.

Yang Jizhen was somewhat taken aback by his eagerness, but he still obediently let Yang Zhengshan pull him along.

Upon entering the study, three spiritual materials were placed on the desk.

"This is!"

Yang Jizhen was taken aback at first, then stepped forward with a face full of excitement.

“Third-tier spiritual materials!” He reached out and gently brushed his hand over the banyan heartwood, sandalwood heartwood, and golden bamboo.

Yang Zhengshan asked, "How is it? Can these three spiritual materials be refined into a divine wood cauldron?"

He needed Yang Jizhen to refine the Divine Wood Cauldron.

In terms of material selection, he also followed Yang Jizhen's requirements.

As for the steps and procedures for refining the Divine Wood Cauldron, Yang Jizhen had already begun to study them long ago.

It can be said that ever since Yang Jizhen successfully established his foundation, he has been researching the crafting of the Divine Wood Cauldron. In fact, in order to practice, he has crafted several magical artifacts and treasures that are very similar to the Divine Wood Cauldron in recent years.

Yang Jizhen considered for a moment and said, "We might need some second-tier spiritual materials! Ancestor, I'll go and prepare them first!"

“Yes, if you need any spiritual materials, just ask Jade Capital City. If Jade Capital City doesn’t have them, you can come to me and I’ll go out and look for them!” Yang Zhengshan said.

Refining a magic weapon is no easier than refining a batch of demon essence pills, especially a natal magic weapon with many requirements. Not only does it need to be tailor-made, but all aspects also need to be considered as much as possible.

This is a huge test for Yang Jizhen.

Third-tier spiritual materials are not easy to obtain, especially since they are Yang Zhengshan's natal magic treasure. He must be extremely cautious and go all out.

However, compared to third-tier spiritual materials, second-tier spiritual materials are easier to obtain. Yang Zhengshan personally made a trip to Baiyun Immortal City to buy several kinds of second-tier spiritual materials.

Subsequently, Yang Jizhen spent more than a year perfecting the steps for refining the Divine Wood Cauldron.

Two years later, everything was ready.

On this day, Yang Zhengshan, Yang Jizhen, and Ma Qiuyan arrived together at the Dan Hall of Flaming Mountain.

Flaming Mountain not only has the Pill Hall, but also the Weapon Refining Workshop.

Because refining weapons also requires the assistance of earth fire.

However, this time Yang Jizhen needed the help of the True Fire of the Sun to refine the Divine Wood Cauldron, so the refining took place in the Pill Hall.

Not only does it require the true fire of the sun, but this refining process also requires the water of transformation.

Inside the Pill Hall, Yang Jizhen inspected each piece of spiritual material while discussing matters with Ma Qiuyan.

"The Myriad Trees Rejuvenation Array needs to be inscribed on the bottom of the cauldron. Once I have finished forging the cauldron, you need to inscribe the Myriad Trees Rejuvenation Array immediately!"

"The Yi Wood Prison Formation is based on the Three-Legged Formation, which stands in a tripod formation. When carving the Yi Wood Prison Formation, you must be careful not to affect the Myriad Trees Rejuvenation Formation!"

"Finally, there is the Withering and Flourishing Formation. This formation needs to cover the entire body of the cauldron and connect to the core of the divine cauldron! You need to find the right moment to connect the formation to the core of the divine cauldron!"

As Yang Jizhen spoke, he continued to demonstrate.

In fact, he and Ma Qiuyan had said these things countless times and even rehearsed them many times, but when the time came, they still had to go through them all from the beginning.

For weapon refiners, formations are indispensable.

Every weapon refiner is also an array master. Of course, the arrays that weapon refiners are good at are used on magical artifacts and treasures. The arrays on magical artifacts and treasures emphasize the compatibility and connection between each other.

There are a total of 130 formations on the Divine Wood Cauldron, most of which are basic formations. There are only three core formations: the Myriad Wood Rejuvenation Formation, which is mainly for restoration; the Yi Wood Prison Formation, which is mainly for defense; and the Withering and Flourishing Formation, which is mainly for the Withering and Flourishing Technique.

Other formations such as the Ruyi Formation, the Spirit Gathering Formation, the Spirit Absorption Formation, and the Soul Restriction are all basic configurations.

Yang Zhengshan watched them talking non-stop and laughed, "Alright, don't be so nervous. Relax, it doesn't matter if you fail!"

He knew that Yang Jizhen and Ma Qiuyan were under considerable pressure, after all, this was to refine his natal magic weapon.

"Ancestor!" Yang Jizhen smiled somewhat awkwardly.

"Just do your best, don't force it!" Yang Zhengshan reassured him.

These three spiritual materials were hard-won, and it would be impossible for Yang Zhengshan not to care about them. Moreover, they were his natal magic treasures, and these magic treasures would accompany him for a long time to come.

However, he did not want Yang Jizhen and Ma Qiuyan to be under pressure because of this, nor did he want them to suffer a blow because of their failure.

It wasn't that he couldn't find someone else to forge the Divine Wood Cauldron; there were many second-tier weapon refiners in Wanbaohang, most of whom were better at refining than Yang Jizhen. However, he still chose to have Yang Jizhen refine it.

Firstly, because Yang Jizhen was absolutely trustworthy, and secondly, because he wanted to give Yang Jizhen a chance to gain experience.

Whether it's weapon crafting or alchemy, the most important thing is to keep trying.

Learn from repeated failures and find the path to success.

For Yang Jizhen, refining the Divine Wood Cauldron is a rare opportunity. If he succeeds in refining it and its grade reaches the middle level, Yang Jizhen's weapon refining skills will definitely improve significantly.

There's no need to explain why it's not of the highest quality.

Because natal magic items have growth potential, a low initial quality may affect the upper limit of the natal magic item, but this defect is not insurmountable.

What Yang Zhengshan needs now is to refine the Divine Wood Cauldron. Even if it's only a second-grade low-level cauldron, he can make do with it.

Yang Jizhen took a deep breath to calm his tense emotions and said, "Ancestor, let's begin!"

"Ok!"

Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly, then turned to look at Jinwu, "It'll be up to you now!"

"Caw caw, Master, don't worry, I will do my best!" the Golden Crow cried.

"That's good!"

Yang Zhengshan sat cross-legged next to the Golden Crow, his soul connected to the core of the Spirit Source Land.

He also had a mission. During the refining process, he not only had to find the right moment to release the water of transformation, but also had to promptly imprint his divine soul imprint on the core of the magic weapon. At the same time, he also needed to protect Yang Jizhen to prevent any danger from occurring.

Once the three were in place, Yang Jizhen first used spiritual fire to refine and shape all the spiritual materials.

Azure flames enveloped the spiritual materials, melting each piece of metallic spiritual material into liquid, and then cooling it to solidify.

At the same time, Ma Qiuyan put her two fingers together and used them as knives to inscribe various array patterns on the formed spiritual material.

The two worked together very well, clearly having practiced a lot during this period.

Yang Zhengshan sat in meditation with his eyes slightly closed and his face calm.

He didn't keep a close eye on it, as that would put more pressure on Yang Jizhen and Ma Qiuyan.

One hour passed, then two hours passed.

One by one, the spiritual materials were refined to their basic form.

Yang Jizhen took out a Spirit Gathering Pill and swallowed it, then continued processing the spiritual materials.

At this moment, Yang Zhengshan spoke, his lips trembling slightly, and syllables came out of his mouth, a soft chanting sound.

"The Supreme Star, ever adaptable... Wisdom clear and pure, mind at peace..."

He was reciting the Pure Heart Mantra, but he wasn't reciting it to himself; he was reciting it to Yang Jizhen and Ma Qiuyan.

The Purification Mantra has the effect of purifying the mind and body, eliminating distracting thoughts, and calming the mind. It should be of some use to Yang Jizhen and Ma Qiuyan now.

Sure enough, as the chanting began, wisps of Taoist charm emanated from Yang Zhengshan's body, enveloping Yang Jizhen and Ma Qiuyan, and their expressions immediately became calm.

Although they were still focused on refining the incantation and did not notice the incantation being chanted by Yang Zhengshan, they were still affected by it.

Several more hours passed, and Yang Jizhen suddenly shouted, "Fire!"

The Golden Crow, which was already prepared, immediately opened its mouth and spat out a mouthful of golden solar fire in front of Yang Jizhen.

woohoo~~
The temperature inside the hall instantly soared, the intense heat seemingly setting the three people's robes ablaze.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Yang Jizhen and Ma Qiuyan's foreheads.

(End of this chapter)