Immortality: Starting with the Fruit of Taiyin

"Huh, Han Cheng?"

"It's been a long time since I've seen you."

After walking a few steps out of the meditation room, Wang Xuan was somewhat surprised to find that he had seen a fellow villager he hadn't seen in a long time in the Dan Pavilion.

Compared to him, Han Cheng was a few years older and had started cultivating several years earlier.

However, it wasn't until a few years ago that the other party finally reached the fourth level of Qi Refining.

It took him ten years to reach the mid-stage of Qi Refining, and that was still considered upper-tier among low-grade spiritual roots.

This obvious difference is a true reflection of the reality that many places in the cultivation world rely solely on innate talent.

After struggling to break through his cultivation level, he seemed to have finally given up on the path of cultivation.

Han Cheng ultimately chose to marry and have children to continue his bloodline.

And the woman he married... seemed to be a member of a collateral branch of the Han family with a mid-grade spiritual root, from a family that had been wiped out during the Core Formation stage.

The couple got along fairly well after marriage, and they placed all their hopes for immortality on their next generation.

"Haha... Brother Wang, it has indeed been a long time."

"Compared to your ease, I'm never free for a moment."

With a bright smile, Han Cheng spoke warmly, yet maintained a composed demeanor.

Perhaps it was the news of his wife's pregnancy that made him grow a short beard before he even turned thirty, and he no longer looked like the young man he once was.

"What freedom? It's nothing but going with the flow... But you, what brings you here?"

Wang Xuan shook his head with a smile and asked in return.

"Yes, you probably already know about this."

With a sigh, Han Cheng began to explain.

"The conflict between the Huang family of Meishan and my Han family has reached a point where it must be resolved. If we don't tear off the mask and fight, we can only try to mediate."

"The Lu family sent a direct descendant to Baihe Market for this purpose. It is said that although this person's spiritual root is only of the upper grade, he is a rare genius in the art of talismanic arts... Many people from the clan came for this matter."

Wang Xuan nodded slightly, indicating that he did indeed know about the matter, but not in as much detail as Han Cheng had described.

Of the four arts of immortality, the way of talismans is the least important, not only because it is common, but also because it is not very attractive to cultivators of the same level.

Aside from a few functional talismans and talisman cultivators who condense their natal true talisman, ordinary second-tier low-grade talismans are nothing more than large fireworks in the eyes of those in the mid-to-late stages of Foundation Establishment.

In contrast, second-tier low-grade pills and formations are a different story.

In the world of cultivation, the strong are still respected.

Talismans are not very useful for cultivators at the higher realms, which means that although this path can be profitable, the social status is not as high as that of one's peers.

Only when one reaches the third or fourth rank, and can create automatically triggered defensive talismans, teleportation talismans, and even barrier-breaking talismans, will this master be truly valued and barely be placed on par with array masters and alchemists.

However, to be fair, for the renowned Core Formation family, the Lu Clan of Mysterious Talismans, to call someone a genius in the art of talismans, that direct descendant of the Lu Clan must have a slight chance of becoming a third-tier talisman master.

Otherwise, although a superior spiritual root is extraordinary, it is not qualified to mediate the conflict between the two immortal clans on behalf of the Core Formation family, just like the former true disciple of Nanhua.

"Brother Han is right."

"With the arrival of the elite clan's prodigy, it's time to make proper preparations."

"The Huang family of Meishan harbors wolfish ambitions; the Lu family will surely deliver a fair verdict."

Without changing his expression, Wang Xuan exchanged a few more pleasantries with a smile before parting ways with Han Cheng.

This is not something a guest retainer from outside the family should be involved in.

As for the specific outcome, let the Han family discuss it themselves.

……

Time flies, and several days have passed.

On this day, as usual, I completed my teaching duties.

Because of the upcoming arrival of people from the Lu family, Wang Xuan should no longer need to come here to instruct on alchemy for some time.

He walked out of the underground fire chamber and came to the front hall of the Dan Pavilion.

This place is usually very quiet, but today seems to be an exception.

Inside the Pill Pavilion, a young man in black robes dragged a blood-smelling monster corpse out of a storage bag, seemingly talking to a servant of the Pill Pavilion.

Wang Xuan subconsciously glanced at him a few more times, because the boy was carrying a heavy, enormous black ruler, or rather, a black greatsword, on his back.

A weapon of this size, not yet stored in a storage bag, looks a bit like a magic weapon used by body cultivators...

"...Fellow Daoist, I'm sorry."

With a look of shame on his face, a waiter whispered an apology from a short distance away.

"We don't have this kind of elixir here. If you really need it, please describe its effects, and I can get you a similar elixir."

"Even if we still can't find the type you're looking for, we'll still take this monster's corpse..."

"No? Never mind then."

"This is the last one. Looks like I'll have to try my luck in the Immortal City..."

Somewhat disappointed, the black-robed youth shook his head and refused.

The monster's corpse was both a reward and a raw material for the elixir he needed.

So since the pills he wanted aren't available here, they naturally can't be sold here.

But the Immortal City... he's not really suited to go there right now.

I'm so sorry.

The waiter apologized again in front of the boy.

"But this guest..."

"We've never heard of the 'Jade Marrow Yang-Subduing Pill' you requested. It's probably not a common elixir. Why don't you choose a similar one?"

"Furthermore, if the corpse of a first-tier demonic beast is left out for too long, it may lose its value..."

He bowed slightly, but this time, the waiter's words betrayed a hint of dissatisfaction.

This rogue cultivator didn't specify what type of pill he needed, but insisted on having a "Jade Marrow Yang-Descending Pill".

However, the cultivation world is vast and boundless. There may be tens of thousands of different prescriptions for a single elixir that can dispel miasma throughout the entire Southern Cliff cultivation world.

Even the famous Foundation Establishment Pill has more than a dozen actual refining methods, and its effects also vary. It's just that everyone calls it by the same name.

Aside from those extremely common elixirs, normal customers just state their needs, not their names.

"You don't need to worry about that. I have my own plans."

Seeing the waiter's dissatisfaction, Ye Yan didn't tolerate it.

He snorted coldly and turned to leave.

If he didn't really need this kind of pill, why would he have gone to this deserted pill store to ask about it... However, just as he put the monster's corpse back into his storage bag, he paused, as if he had heard a sound.

"Um?"

With a slight change in expression, Ye Yan turned around and met Wang Xuan's gaze.

"...Please, fellow Daoist."

A hint of suspicion flashed in his eyes, after all, Wang Xuan looked too young.

However, Ye Yan still stepped forward and bowed.

"May I ask if you are a master alchemist, and have you ever heard of the Jade Marrow Yang-Subduing Pill?"

"Jade Marrow Yang-Subduing Pill?"

Wang Xuan's eyes flickered slightly; he had thought he had misheard what the servant had said earlier.

It wasn't until Ye Yan repeated himself that he was certain that the other person was referring to this kind of pill.