A mortal cultivating immortality can nurture spirit beasts.

Lin He used his divine sense to examine the two pill formula catalogs and found that they used level-five demon cores as the main ingredient. Hong Fu sighed and said...

"These two pill formulas were discovered while exploring ancient ruins. It seems that in ancient times, there were quite a few high-level demonic beasts in Tiannan. However, the situation is completely different now. High-level demonic beasts are extremely rare, and the value of these two pill formulas has greatly decreased."

Lin He then understood why Hong Fu had so readily offered two pill formulas. In the original novel, Lei Wanhe had exchanged a pill formula for a 600-year-old spiritual herb.

A level-five demon core is worth only one to two thousand spirit stones in the Chaotic Star Sea, but in Tiannan, its value increases by a factor of ten.

Even if we could find enough level-five demon cores, the cost of refining them would be prohibitive for most cultivators. Therefore, the value of these two pill formulas is only for alchemists' reference.

"I had originally planned to take the opportunity to go to the Chaotic Star Sea to purchase the three essential items for Core Formation: Snow Spirit Water, Heavenly Fire Liquid, and Dust-Subduing Pill, as well as various pill formulas to improve cultivation. Now it's much easier."

Lin He also looked at the other items, which were some decent top-tier magic artifacts and some basic high-level talismans. However, he already had quite a few high-level talismans and no shortage of top-tier magic artifacts, so he chose the spirit beast formation and the two Foundation Establishment Pill formulas.

Hong Fu was somewhat surprised that he insisted on having the pill formulas, but since she could get rid of these two formulas, she naturally wouldn't refuse. This transaction could be considered a win-win situation for everyone.

Taking advantage of the other party's good mood, Lin He casually asked about the whereabouts of the master craftsman who could refine magical artifacts. He had been looking for someone to refine the level-four demon beast materials he had into a top-tier magical artifact.

"If you want to forge top-tier magical artifacts, you can go to Madam Xu. She is a master artifact refiner and now runs a shop in the market of the Hidden Moon Sect. You just need to find an opportunity to go there and ask her."

Having just obtained two Jade Spirit Flowers, Hong Fu hurriedly returned to prepare for alchemy. Although Dong Xuan'er was somewhat unwilling, she had no choice but to leave with Hong Fu. Before leaving, she threw a flirtatious wink, but Lin He naturally ignored it.

Lin He returned to his room, set up an isolation array, and then began to take stock of his spoils.

His trip to the Tianxing Sect market was very fruitful. He not only used the materials from the Ink Dragon to forge a top-tier magic weapon, but also killed Xu Yan and obtained the Azure Fire Blade and the Spirit-Concealing Veil.

He helped Xin Ruyin many times, even using a thousand-year-old spiritual herb for it, but the gains were equally huge. He not only obtained a simplified version of the Inverted Five Elements Formation from Xin Ruyin, but also learned the basics of formation from her, and even received a promise to improve the Inverted Five Elements Formation.

On the way back, they killed the fat old man and the thin old man, as well as the spirit puppet clone of the Xu family patriarch. They obtained the top-grade magic weapon Green Ruyi, the top-grade magic weapon Fire Spirit Sword, the magic treasure Golden Rain Sword, and various magic weapons, talismans, and materials. Among them, they obtained more than eighty mid-grade spirit stones, which can be described as a very fruitful harvest.

He then exchanged a fragmented cultivation technique, a jade slip containing various spirit beast formations, and two Foundation Establishment pill formulas from Hong Fu.

Lin He took out the jade slip containing the spirit beast formation and handed it to Xin Ruyin, asking her to study it carefully. Although he had just entered the field of formations, his research was still very superficial, and he would need to rely on her help.

Then, using his privilege as the garrison commander, he disposed of the batch of magical artifacts he had obtained from the fat and thin old men, earning another thirty-odd mid-grade spirit stones.

"While we still have a relatively abundant supply of spirit stones, we can try changing our cultivation method first."

Spring goes and autumn comes, and a year has passed in the blink of an eye. Inside the portable space...

Lin He sat upright in mid-air, shirtless, circulating his internal energy. Bathed in the starlight, beams of starlight shone on him, merging into his body as the energy circulated, making Lin He's body appear extremely mysterious.

"Finally, I've completed the fourth level of cultivation!"

This technique has a supernatural power every three levels. Lin He casually made a hand seal, and a layer of golden armor immediately appeared on his body. It was the Golden Armor Technique!

The Golden Armor Technique is not very powerful now, only able to withstand high-grade magic weapons, but as the level of cultivation increases, its power will also increase, and its potential should not be underestimated.

After entering the fourth level, Lin He did not stop. Instead, he began to apply the body-tempering elixir made primarily from fifth-level demon cores. The elixir worked extremely well with the starlight, making Lin He's cultivation of this technique twice as effective with half the effort.

Over the past year, he has successfully bred ten level-five spirit beasts, almost exhausting all his spirit stones.

Sure enough, once the spirit beasts reached level five, they immediately broke free from his control. Some even became so ferocious that they tried to devour their master. Naturally, they were trapped by the Inverted Five Elements Array that Lin He had set up earlier, and with the help of various other means, he killed them. He obtained ten complete level five demon beast materials and ten level five demon cores.

Five of the demon cores were used for alchemy, and the other five were used to prepare body-tempering elixir. In just one year, Lin He's cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds, and he completed the fourth level of the Star Refining Golden Yuan Technique in one fell swoop. He estimated that he would be able to reach the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage in about a year.

Lin He waved his hand and returned to his room. He put on his clothes and went out. Huangfeng Valley had already sent a Foundation Establishment cultivator to meet him.

After the handover, Lin He was supposed to return to Huangfeng Valley according to regulations, but he planned to use the time in between to do something else.

Inside the market, a small shop selling array formations was bustling with activity. Xiao Mei was so busy serving customers that she didn't have time to rest, and Xin Ruyin, the shop owner, was also busy running around.

Upon seeing Lin He arrive, Xiao Mei greeted him excitedly. Xin Ruyin even announced that she would close the shop immediately and stop doing business. This displeased several cultivators, and some complained angrily. However, no matter what, they dared not make any other overstepping moves. After all, they all knew that this small shop was protected by a Foundation Establishment stage senior, and the few people who had caused trouble here before had all met with terrible ends.

Xin Ruyin smiled slightly. This past year had been the most comfortable she had ever been. Not only could she continue to study formations, but she also opened a shop in Huangfeng Valley Market. With Lin He protecting her, no one dared to bully her.

Upon seeing Lin He, Xin Ruyin immediately brewed tea for him and then handed him a jade slip. "I have thoroughly studied the jade slip you gave me a year ago. The annotations on the formation and my insights are all in this jade slip. In addition, the improved version of the Reversed Five Elements Formation will take another three years to complete."

Lin He nodded, then suddenly said, "These things aren't urgent. Pack your things, and I'll take you to the Hidden Moon Sect!"