Mortal Cultivator: Lin Tianzun

Chapter 70: Barrier Breaking Pill is Complete, Sword Points to Forming Pill

Lin Fan knew better than anyone that achieving Dan was a life-or-death calamity on the path to immortality. This step was like walking a tightrope on a cliff; the slightest mistake could plunge him into an abyss of no return, a complete loss. Although he had already made up his mind to fight tooth and nail, he needed to ensure impeccable preparations. Only then would he have a better chance of grasping that elusive glimmer of hope.

With this thought in mind, the Barrier Breaking Pill mentioned in the Ancient Alchemy Classics flashed through his mind like a ray of light. This elixir was truly miraculous, immensely helpful in breaking through the bottleneck of Dan Formation, potentially increasing the success rate by 30%. Coincidentally, he had been able to find all the rare and precious medicinal herbs needed to refine the Barrier Breaking Pill from his extensive collection.

Recalling the past, Lin Fan had ventured alone into the Blood Forbidden Land. That place was a living hell, teeming with danger. Demonic beasts raged like a tide, their sharp fangs and claws gleaming coldly in the darkness, ready to ruthlessly snatch his life at any moment. His fellow cultivators also harbored sinister intentions, appearing cheerful and cheerful on the surface, yet secretly plotting and scheming. The battles, open and covert, never ceased.

He fought desperately in a vortex of blood and fire, surviving countless dangers before finally retrieving those precious spiritual plants. Afterward, he relentlessly shuttled between the markets of the seven major sects, meticulously searching every shop, even the most obscure corners. He turned those unremarkable shops upside down, as persistent as a treasure hunter.

After much hard work, Lin Fan had a sufficient supply of spiritual medicines. Just in case, he had already used the Taiqing Jade Purification Bottle to ripen several batches of herbs for refining the Barrier Breaking Pill, waiting for the right moment to begin refining the pill.

But then, Lin Fan suddenly realized that he had already practiced for sixty years. During these long years, his nerves had been constantly tense, and he was exhausted both physically and mentally. Now, with a rare moment of respite, it was time to relax. So, he planned a three-month rest period for himself. During these three months, Lin Fan decided to completely cast aside the burden of practice and fully enjoy this rare leisure time.

He built a simple bamboo pavilion beside the spiritual spring behind his cave. Every morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed down, he would sit quietly in the pavilion, brewing a pot of fragrant tea made from roasted spiritual grains. The steaming aroma of the tea would rise, its rich fragrance spreading across his tongue, slowly sliding down his throat, warming his heart and completely immersing him in this moment of tranquility.

In the afternoon, he leisurely strolled through the spiritual fields, watching the medicinal herbs he had carefully tended sway gently in the breeze, as if whispering of vitality and vigor. Occasionally, he reached out to touch the leaves, feeling the delicate touch and the vibrant vitality contained within, and his heart became increasingly calm.

At night, the moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow. Lin Fan lay on the lawn outside his cave, gazing up at the star-filled sky, his thoughts drifting. He recalled his journey from Earth, from a humble cultivator at the fifth level of Qi training, to where he is today. The thrilling adventures, the life-or-death battles, the encounters with like-minded individuals—every detail flashed through his mind like a movie.

During this time, Lin Fan would occasionally visit the mortal market, weaving through the bustling crowds and experiencing the daily grind of life. The ups and downs of life, the myriad flavors of life, all gave him a unique perspective and made him cherish this rare tranquility and warmth even more.

For Lin Fan, these three months of relaxation were not only a physical rest, but also a spiritual retreat. He knew that after this short vacation, he would once again plunge into the intense preparations for the Core Formation Stage, where an even more daunting challenge awaited him.

Three months flew by in a flash. During this brief respite, Lin Fan had greatly relaxed both physically and mentally. Now, he was ready to devote himself to the preparations for his Core Formation.

He first set his sights on refining the Barrier Breaking Pill. Before refining the pill, he traveled to Tainan Market and purchased a top-tier alchemy furnace. To ensure success, he then rented an alchemy room at Yuelu Temple. Then, Lin Fan solemnly unloaded the furnace and placed it securely. It stood firmly on the ground, like a stable hill, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.

Next, he pulled out the long-ripened elixirs from his storage bag. These elixirs varied in form, some shimmering with strange light, dazzling like stars; others exuding a refreshing aroma, relaxing and soothing. Following the sequence prescribed in the Ancient Alchemy Classic, he slowly placed the first elixirs into the cauldron. Instantly, a faint blue flame, fueled by his spiritual power, erupted within. Its temperature was incredibly high and steady, precisely enveloping the elixirs and beginning to refine them.

As time passed, the elixir, tempered by the flames, gradually transformed into a thick liquid, emitting bursts of rich medicinal fragrance. Lin Fan was completely focused, his eyes fixed on the changes within the cauldron. He quickly formed hand seals, adjusting the spiritual power output and the flame temperature. He knew that every step of the alchemy process was crucial; the slightest mistake could ruin the entire furnace of elixirs.

He then added the second elixir. The two medicinal properties intertwined within the cauldron, producing a miraculous reaction. The liquid within the cauldron began to swirl like boiling magma, emitting an increasingly intense medicinal fragrance that stirred the spiritual energy within the cave. Beads of sweat formed on Lin Fan's forehead, but his gaze remained resolute, and the hand seals he formed became increasingly fluent.

Lin Fan added the remaining spiritual herbs one by one, carefully adjusting his spiritual power and flames according to the changes in the medicinal properties of each one. The long and arduous refining process, during which he failed three times, was like a hammer, hammering at his confidence, but he never gave up.

At this moment, the liquid within the alchemy cauldron gradually condensed into round pills. Lin Fan held his breath and slowly opened the cauldron. A rich aura washed over him, and he saw the Barrier-Breaking Pills resting quietly within, their surfaces gleaming with a mysterious luster, as if proclaiming their extraordinary power. "Success!" Lin Fan shouted excitedly, his voice echoing throughout the alchemy room. He carefully removed the Barrier-Breaking Pills and placed them in a specially crafted jade box. These five Barrier-Breaking Pills, the embodiment of his hard work and hope, would provide a powerful boost as he reached the Core Formation Stage.

Lin Fan, returning to his cave, knew the importance of forming his elixir, and dared not slack off. He raised his hand and unleashed a spell. In an instant, the magic circle surrounding the cave glowed brightly, and spiritual patterns intertwined and shone, forming an indestructible defensive barrier that firmly protected the cave and isolated it from any outside interference.

Lin Fan then arrived at the already well-prepared secret chamber. The spiritual energy here was exceptionally rich. The walls were inlaid with densely packed mid-level spirit stones, emitting a soft glow. These mid-level spirit stones, numbering over a hundred, continuously provided the chamber with spiritual energy. Lin Fan sat cross-legged on the cushion in the center of the chamber, took a deep breath, and slowly closed his eyes, beginning his three-year arduous meditation practice.

During these three years, Lin Fan immersed himself in a state of deep cultivation, his consciousness seemingly detached from his body, merging with the heavens and the earth. The spiritual energy within his body surged endlessly through his meridians, each cycle akin to a profound tempering of his body. Under his full power, the Nine Revolutions Sword Technique unleashed astonishing power. Spiritual energy surged like a surging tide, impacting his meridians and dantian wave after wave, continuously strengthening and expanding them.

Time flew by, and three years passed in a flash. One day, the once cloudless blue sky suddenly changed color. A vast, dark, oppressive cloud, as if sweeping down from the Nine Netherworlds, had quietly enveloped Lin Fan's cave abode. These clouds were thick and oppressive, each one seeming to contain the power to annihilate heaven and earth.

At the same time, silver lightning danced wildly among the dark clouds like mad snakes, and dazzling flashes of lightning streaked across the sky, instantly illuminating the world as bright as day. Deafening thunder followed one after another, and the roar was endless, as if it was about to shatter the entire world.

Even more astonishing was the fact that spiritual energy from all directions began to converge frantically, centering on the desolate mountain where Lin Fan stood. It roared and swirled, gradually forming a massive vortex tens of miles in diameter beneath the dark clouds. Like a ravenous giant beast, this vortex sucked in all the spiritual energy within a 200-mile radius.

Meanwhile, Lin Fan, in the cave's secret chamber, was at the critical juncture of his core formation. He could clearly sense the terrifying phenomena of the heavens and earth outside, and understood that this was a resonance between heaven and earth triggered by the core formation process. He dared not even slightly lose focus, completely immersing himself in the circulation and condensation of his spiritual energy.

As the external spiritual energy vortex spun frantically, more and more spiritual energy was drawn into the cave, pouring into Lin Fan's body. A thumb-sized golden elixir in his dantian rapidly expanded, swelling to the size of a fist in the blink of an eye. Lin Fan knew this was the infusion of spiritual energy from heaven and earth. If he could hold on, he would successfully form a elixir, which would bring him endless benefits. After all, the infusion of spiritual energy from heaven and earth only occurred after a breakthrough to a major realm. It was a rare opportunity, and Lin Fan persevered with his tenacious will.

Within a 200-mile radius of Yellow Maple Valley, the sudden celestial phenomenon struck like a hammer, shattering the usual tranquility. Suddenly, everyone was startled, leaving their cave dwellings and gazing in the direction of the changing weather.

The cultivators' forms and expressions varied widely. Some of the younger disciples looked bewildered, completely unaware of what was happening, while others were filled with wonder and envy. This magnificent celestial phenomenon of the Core Formation stage was the embodiment of an unattainable dream, inspiring them to forge ahead on their path to immortality. One young Qi Refining disciple, his face flushed red, clenched his fists, and muttered to himself, "One day, I too will trigger such a phenomenal phenomenon!"

Most of the cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage, who were slightly more advanced in their cultivation, were stunned. While stunned by the scene before them, they were also secretly assessing the strength of this cultivator who was about to reach the Core Formation stage. They knew that a cultivator who could cause a celestial phenomenon of this magnitude would surely shine brightly in the world of immortal cultivation in the future.

At that moment, Patriarch Linghu of the Yellow Maple Valley had already fixed his gaze firmly on the area shrouded in dark clouds. As one of the Valley's pillars, he knew every potential cultivator within the valley intimately and was eager to discover who possessed such prowess, causing such a stir in the heavens and earth. "Quickly, investigate who is achieving Dan-forming here!" He turned to his trusted disciple, his tone filled with anxiety.

Several Jindan-stage veterans in the valley, including Chen Minghui and Red Buddha Patriarch, were also captivated by this unusual sight. Chen Minghui stroked his beard, a flicker of relief in his eyes. "Could this be my disciple?" Red Buddha Patriarch, the beautiful middle-aged woman, also looked towards Lin Fan's cave, her eyes filled with curiosity and inquiry.

A month passed in a flash. During this month, Lin Fan immersed himself in cultivation day and night, finally solidifying his realm and successfully joining the ranks of Jindan-stage masters. The weak figure of the past, bullied by others, was gone. Now, he exuded a powerful yet restrained aura, like a quietly rising star, making his mark in the vast starry sky of immortal cultivation.

Lin Fan now faced a new and challenging road: collecting magical weapon materials and refining his own magical weapon. He knew it would be no easy task, and the road ahead would be filled with thorns and difficulties.

(End of this chapter)