Cultivation: I can solidify equipment attributes

Upon returning to Liangzhou, Li Yuan did not rush to deal with the spoils from the ambush in Mozhou.

He laid out a rubbing of the northern supply route map on the table, and at the same time pulled up the data accumulated by Dark Insight during this period of passive monitoring, comparing them one by one.

The route map marked three transit points. The first was on the northeastern outskirts of Ghost Mist Forest, the second was in a hilly area on the northern edge, and the location of the third was rather vague, only marked "near the Mystic Stone Mine".

According to the monitoring data from Dark Fiend Insight, there is indeed a persistent source of demonic energy signal on the northern edge of Ghost Mist Forest. The signal strength is not high, but it is extremely stable, unlike the intermittent fluctuations of a temporary stronghold, and is more like a fixed facility that has been operating for a long time.

The location of the signal source matches the height of the marker for the third transfer station on the route map.

Li Yuan overlaid the two sets of data and drew a circle on the map.

It is located on the northern edge of Ghost Mist Forest, about 140 miles from the market town.

That night, at midnight.

With the stealth and stealth fully activated, Li Yuan left the market and advanced at full speed along the northern route.

Before half an incense stick's time had elapsed, the target area appeared within the perception range.

This was an open area where hills met woodland. The surface was covered with low shrubs and gravel, looking no different from the wilderness on the outskirts of Ghost Mist Forest. But once Dark Insight pierced through the surface, the scene beneath was completely different.

Mining site.

Between ten and thirty feet underground, a crisscrossing network of mine tunnels stretched out. The tunnels were quite extensive, with the main passages about two feet wide and the branch lines as dense as a spiderweb. Judging from the remaining mining traces on the tunnel walls, this mine was originally used to extract Xuan Stone. Xuan Stone was a common auxiliary material for array formations; its quality was generally low, but its usage was extremely high, making it a major consumable in the cultivation world.

The shallow layers of the mine have been excavated and abandoned. But in the deepest layer, about thirty feet underground, the structure of the mine tunnels has changed significantly.

The naturally formed mine tunnels have been reinforced. The walls have been recast with some kind of black material, and the ground is paved with spirit-guiding copper pipes, with a magic-powered lighting array embedded at intervals.

The forward base that the Dark Abyss has modified.

Li Yuan adjusted the perception precision to the limit and carefully scanned the interior of the base.

Thirteen groups of demonic energy signals. Two groups were in the late Foundation Establishment stage, five in the mid Foundation Establishment stage, and six in the early Foundation Establishment stage. The number of people was considerable, but the overall combat strength was not outstanding, and there were no Golden Core cultivators present.

The base is laid out in a long, narrow shape, extending along the deepest main mine tunnel. The front section is a warning zone, the middle section contains living quarters and supply warehouses, and the rear section is a construction area.

Li Yuan's attention was focused on the end.

At the end of the construction area, the mine tunnel connects to a naturally formed rock fissure. The fissure runs from north-northwest, pointing directly towards the heart of the Ghost Mist Forest.

The Dark Abyss is widening this rift.

At the construction site, several mages could be sensed using magic and tools to gradually widen the crack from less than a foot to a passable width. Based on the current progress, it was estimated that a passage large enough for one person to pass through would be completed in about ten days.

Once the passage is completed, the Dark Abyss will be able to bypass all the surface defenses of the Ghost Mist Forest and directly penetrate the inner ruins area from underground.

This is far more covert and dangerous than advancing on the surface.

Li Yuan hovered above the mine for a moment, memorizing the base's layout, personnel configuration, and construction progress.

He did not make a move.

Thirteen demonic cultivators could be easily wiped out in one go. However, destroying this base would expose the extent of their control over the northern front. Once the Dark Abyss discovers infiltration of the northern front, they will immediately change all contact codes and supply routes, rendering all previously intercepted intelligence useless.

At this stage, intelligence is more important than resources.

This base, if left intact, will be a continuous source of intelligence.

As Li Yuan prepared to leave, his sensory network swept across an abandoned mine tunnel in the shallow part of the mine. At the end of the tunnel lay several pieces of discarded ore waste, their edges rough and their gray-black surfaces covered with fine crystalline particles.

The perception of words within a three-foot radius was triggered.

Li Yuan frowned. He was more than twenty feet away from the pile of waste, not within three feet of it. But the sensory signal was indeed there, though extremely weak, almost negligible.

He lowered his body, using earth-遁术 (earth-遁术 is a technique used in Chinese fantasy novels) to pass through the rock layers and silently approach the pile of waste ore.

Once the distance is reduced to within three feet, the panel pops up.

[Equipable item detected: Mystic Stone (Complete)]

[Equipment Attribute Preview: Demonic Energy Condensation (Green)]

[Effect: Increases the refinement of demonic energy by 30%]

[Preview of Permanentization Requirements: One second-tier magic spell must have reached the beginner level (not yet met)]

Green attribute. Increases the concentration of demonic energy by 30%.

For demonic cultivators, this stone is a treasure. However, Li Yuan currently knows no demonic magic, and the conditions for making it permanent cannot be met.

This mysterious stone is valuable, but it's not a priority.

Li Yuan put the Xuan Stone into his storage bag, deciding not to equip it for now. He would make a plan later when he had demonic energy spells.

He left the mining area via the same route and returned to the market without a sound.

After returning to the stone house, Li Yuan took out the exquisite alchemy furnace.

He had been reflecting on his previous failure to refine the Heavenly Origin Pill for several days. He had a clear understanding of the reason for the failure: the weaving speed of the spiritual energy condensation field could not keep up with the window of concentration of the medicinal liquid, causing the spiritual energy lines to deviate and accumulate beyond the tolerance range.

The medicinal materials were the second batch of Tianyuan Dan raw materials purchased from Yunyangfang Market.

The alchemy furnace is lit.

The first step, the second step, the third step...

The fourth step.

Spiritual energy core.

Li Yuan took a deep breath and simultaneously probed his divine sense into the furnace.

Spiritual energy threads shot out from her fingertips, their speed increasing by a full 30% compared to last time. The first, second, and third threads landed precisely. The fourth through sixth threads followed closely behind, with the spacing error controlled within a hair's width.

The entire process was flawless.

A very faint hum came from inside the furnace. It was the unique resonance of spiritual energy when the pill was being formed.

Li Yuan maintained a stable output from the core condensation field, waiting for the final window of core condensation.

After about half a cup of tea, the buzzing gradually subsided.

He withdrew his spiritual connection and cut off the output of spiritual energy.

Lift the furnace lid.

A perfectly round pill lay quietly at the bottom of the furnace. The pill exhibited a pattern of pale gold and milky white interwoven, with a restrained luster on its surface. The medicinal properties were perfectly sealed within the core of the pill, without the slightest leakage.

A low-grade, third-tier Heavenly Origin Pill. Successfully completed.

Li Yuan took the pill out of the furnace and held it on his fingertips.

A panel pops up.

[Equipable item detected: Heavenly Essence Pill (Complete)]

[Equipment Attribute Preview: Consolidation of Vitality (Blue)]

[Effect: Golden Core solidification increases by 30%; Spiritual energy recovery speed increases by 50%]

[Preview of Permanentization Requirements: Golden Core cultivation level reaches mid-stage (not yet met)]

Blue entries.

The Golden Core's solidification has increased by 30%, providing a direct and lasting benefit to the current stage of cultivation. The spiritual energy recovery speed has increased by 50%, meaning recovery time after battles and alchemy is significantly reduced.

The condition for permanent enhancement is the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, which cannot be achieved in the short term. However, the affix effects take effect immediately after equipping the item, so you can just leave it running and nurture it gradually.

"equipment."

[Equipped: Heavenly Essence Pill (Complete)]

[The Long-Term Interest Guarantee (Blue) is in effect]

The phantom of the Heavenly Origin Pill disappeared into the equipment slot.

The moment it took effect, a faint halo appeared on the surface of the demonic energy golden core in the dantian. The rotation speed of the golden core remained unchanged, but the energy released with each pulsation became more concentrated. The recovery speed of spiritual energy also increased significantly, and the spiritual energy consumed in the meridians was being replenished at a visible rate.

Li Yuan wiped the alchemy furnace clean and put it into his storage bag.

Then the panel displayed the last message.

[Alchemy Skill: Level 3, Beginner (0/200)]

Third order.

The leap from the second-stage perfection to the third-stage entry point was far more difficult than any breakthrough within the second stage. However, the strength of his divine sense at the Golden Core stage, the bonus from refined cultivation after the pill was completed, and the valuable experience gained from that failed attempt together propelled him across this threshold.

From this moment on, he officially became an alchemist capable of refining third-tier pills.

Although he is only at the beginner level, there is still a lot of room for improvement in the success rate and quality of pills. However, the fact that he has reached the third-level beginner level means that his level in the field of pill refining has reached a level that most Golden Core cultivators can only dream of.

Li Yuan stood up and stretched his stiff shoulders and neck.

The sky outside the window was already bright, and the faint sounds of the bustling market could be heard.