Starting with warding off evil and disaster, one can ascend to immortality after countless tribulati

He clenched his fists and exhaled a satisfying breath.

Jiang Ming has a profound understanding of his current physical condition.

In a battle between people of the same realm, if he didn't use magic, Jiang Ming could remain invincible with just his fists.

Of course, it's unlikely that you can fight someone of the same cultivation level without using magic...

In the world of cultivators, physical strength is important, but it ultimately pales in comparison to the terrifying power of magic.

Taking out the ancient painting, Jiang Ming silently activated the Yin-Yang Ritual Music Harmony Ode. As spiritual power surged in, the evil spirit of the willow tree instantly came to life.

Although he didn't speak, his exhilarating mood was impossible to hide.

"Stop secretly enjoying yourself. Within a month, I need you to help me improve my cultivation techniques and master supernatural powers and spells as much as possible." He calmly gave his instructions.

The willow tree, in a sinister, anthropomorphic shape, curled up into a ball. Seeing Jiang Ming's displeasure, it stretched out its body ingratiatingly and smiled apologetically.

"Then, Master will give me treasures to nourish my essence, right?"

"Never mind that, treasures aren't so easy to obtain."

Don't worry, no matter what, I will not treat you unfairly.

"When I have money, I'll definitely feed you the finest wood-elemental treasures." Having become familiar with the correct way to activate evil spirits, Jiang Ming immediately started making promises.

Fortunately, he had accumulated enough credit, and after only a few seconds of hesitation, the willow wood evil spirit began to practice its techniques.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ming was not idle either. After getting dressed, he sat cross-legged on the ground, set up the alchemy furnace, and started refining pills.

The key to cultivating at the fifth level of the Qi Absorption Realm lies in expanding the spiritual energy in the dantian. This is why the Qi Replenishing Pill and the Yuan Consolidation Pill are of paramount importance.

The large quantity of spiritual herbs that Jiang Ming purchased this time were the raw materials for two kinds of pills.

The yield of pills produced on the first attempt is usually not very high. Conservatively estimated, it is about two pills per batch. But even so, it is still much more cost-effective than buying pills.

One Qi-replenishing pill costs ten spirit stones, while the Qi-stabilizing pill is even more expensive, costing twenty spirit stones.

The raw materials of more than two hundred spirit stones are enough to refine ten batches of pills.

No wonder most alchemists are wealthy; with such exorbitant profits, it's hard not to earn spirit stones.

Jiang Ming opened the furnace lid, took a deep breath, summoned a flame from his palm, and silently adjusted the subtle fluctuations in temperature.

In a short while, the furnace walls turned red, and waves of heat swept over us.

He took out the Qi-gathering Grass and threw it into the furnace. Under Jiang Ming's focused refining, the medicinal herb's roots and stems gradually exuded juice, which was as smooth and moist as solidified fat.

As the remaining auxiliary ingredients were refined in turn, a pool of spiritual liquid at the center of the furnace gradually condensed and took shape under the steaming flames.

Once the furnace temperature reached its maximum, Jiang Ming waved his hand and closed the furnace.

With a crisp sound, the liquid medicine suddenly split into two parts, which rapidly solidified under the high temperature, and the surface shone with an amber luster.

After a moment of quiet waiting, I eagerly opened the furnace lid and saw two round pills lying leisurely inside, their patterns faintly visible and their fragrance permeating the air.

Taking out the Qi-replenishing pill, Jiang Ming looked at it with affection for a moment, like a loving mother.

Seeing that the bottom of the pill was slightly burnt, he immediately threw the Qi-replenishing pill aside in annoyance.

A classic mistake, a standard zero!

The first batch appeared to be finished, but in reality, it was sent away.

No matter how good the shape is, it's just a facade; the medicinal effect is reduced by at least 90%.

Consuming this elixir will not only provide minimal benefits, but may even introduce a certain amount of toxicity.

……

Have you ever practiced alchemy? Some things are taken for granted!

After failing three times in a row, Jiang Ming's complexion was unusually ruddy. Reflecting on his mistakes, he felt a bit like someone regretting their exam results.

What should have been a leisurely and effortless process is now a hurried and frantic affair.

This absolutely cannot continue!

Come forth, my unparalleled wisdom!

After a short rest, Jiang Ming urgently stopped the evil spirit in the willow wood and solemnly instructed, "Stop cultivating your skills and come help me refine some pills."

I'm making an exception and allowing you to use the body depicted in the painting.

As Jiang Ming lifted the seal, the willow tree evil spirit happily escaped from the ancient painting.

Looking at the familiar body and recalling the past, Jiang Ming took a step back with some apprehension.

"Master, it's more interesting outside. Can you let me out more often in the future?" She blinked expectantly, gave a charmingly wicked smile, and pleaded with her eyes wide open.

"From now on, your name will be Yang Liu. Whenever I call this name, you can come out." He answered patiently.

The willow wood evil spirit was immediately overjoyed and quickly sat cross-legged next to Jiang Ming, assisting in the alchemy process in a soft and charming tone.

After a while, Jiang Ming looked at the four excellent Qi-replenishing pills in the furnace and smiled contentedly.

After so many failures, I finally broke even!

"Master, are you tired? Let me serve you so you can rest..." She snuggled closer, her voice sweet and alluring. Yang Liumu licked his lips mischievously, his eyes filled with affection.

"You still dare to tempt me? Go inside, you evil spirit!" Jiang Ming glanced back at her, his expression changing in an instant.

After capturing the willow in the ancient painting, recalling her earlier guidance, a clear spring seemed to flow through my mind.

The next few batches of pills yielded substantial results.

I am also a genius in alchemy!

With a satisfied smile, Jiang Ming finished his busy day by refining all the cold spiritual herbs into warm pills.

This time, he collected a total of ten Qi-strengthening pills and twenty Qi-replenishing pills, earning a full 100% profit after deducting costs!

……

Time flies, and a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

During this period, Yang Liumu, the evil spirit, focused on cultivating his techniques, while Jiang Ming refined pills to improve his cultivation.

Compared to spirit stones, the absorption rate of pills is indeed much faster.

The effect of one Qi-replenishing pill is comparable to absorbing twenty spirit stones.

The Guyuan Pill is even more exquisite; it can not only expand the dantian and qi sea, but also lock the unrefined medicinal power in the body.

After being refined and processed several times, it not only absorbed all the medicinal power, but also made Jiang Ming's foundation more stable.

Most importantly, with the support of massive resources, Jiang Ming's cultivation has reached the mid-stage of the fifth level of the Qi Consumption Realm!

Compared to the initial stage, the fire in the palm of his hand is clearly much stronger.

Of course, this is also related to Yang Liu mastering another spell.

The new magical ability is called Soul Devouring.

The ability to devour and refine all living things with the fire in the furnace is less lethal compared to the Great Furnace.

However, it also has great benefits in actual combat.

This supernatural power can be used at will, subtly eroding external spiritual energy and turning it into one's own, achieving the effect of slowly boiling a frog in water and gradually weakening the enemy.

That's not all. Its most valuable and ingenious use is its ability to target evil spirits associated with the wood element!

Using this technique, Jiang Ming was even able to extract Yang Liu's original essence.

Of course, without a better alternative, Jiang Ming would never dig his own grave and harm his extraordinary comprehension.

Fire overcomes Wood.

In that case, the Soul Devourer should also be able to target the evil spirits of the Great Forest Tree. From this perspective, Zhou Yi should know all of Madam Zhou's secrets.

Recalling their previous conversation, Jiang Ming gradually formed a guess in his mind, and became more and more certain of it.

Zhou Yi himself stated that his cultivation in the furnace and on the fire had reached its limit, and there was no possibility of further progress.

The reason he took a concubine in his later years was perhaps to take advantage of the evil spirits on Madam Zhou and convert them to the Great Forest Tree!

As I was pondering this, I suddenly heard footsteps outside the door...