Cultivation begins with alchemy and collecting runes.

Inside the market area.

Li Xiuyuan quickly packed his luggage and arrived at the accommodation arranged by Lingbao Pavilion.

It's more like a celestial abode than my previous residence.

There are small bridges and flowing water, pavilions and towers, and even two or three beautiful maids, elderly stewards and servants.

It is rich in spiritual energy, at least a mid-grade first-order spiritual vein.

Li Xiuyuan casually found an excuse to dismiss all the maids and servants.

After all, he had many secrets of his own, and he could not allow others to pry into them.

Inside the room, Li Xiuyuan was flipping through the "Detailed Explanation of Alchemy" given to him by Du Wuxin, which contained detailed records of the easiest first-grade low-level pills to master: Qi Nourishing Pill, Rejuvenation Pill, and Healing Pill.

These three categories cover improving cultivation, restoring magical power, and healing injuries.

These are the three types of low-grade pills that are moderately priced, have the widest appeal, and the lowest cost in the market.

Du Wuxin put a lot of thought into his book, "Detailed Explanation of Alchemy".

"It seems we can't repay Senior Brother Du's kindness enough!"

Li Xiuyuan sincerely expressed his gratitude, saying that he would definitely repay Senior Brother Du for his kindness and support when the time was right.

The pills he needs to submit to Lingbao Pavilion this year include these three types plus Qingxin Pill.

"When I first started refining the Mind-Clearing Pill, I focused on perfecting my proficiency with it."

"After obtaining runes to improve cultivation, other pills can be refined. Prioritizing one aspect over the other is the only way to fully utilize the characteristics of the cheat system."

……

The next day, Li Xiuyuan came to Lingbao Pavilion and took away this year's Qingxin Pill ingredients.

He hung a notice of seclusion outside the courtyard and returned to the alchemy room to begin refining pills.

With a goal and a plan in mind, Li Xiuyuan was full of energy. He went to the alchemy room that had been prepared in advance, lit the fire, and started the furnace.

They began refining elixirs.

"Sizzle sizzle sizzle!"

Flames rolled inside the furnace, and his movements were fluid and graceful.

"Boom!"

A plume of black smoke billowed from the alchemy furnace, clearly indicating that the furnace of pills was ruined.

[Clarity Pill +1]

【Qingxin Dan (Minor Completion), 50/300】

Despite failing to refine the elixir and not producing any runes, Li Xiuyuan was not discouraged.

"Again!"

Other alchemists might rest for a while after failing to refine an elixir once, but he, with his exceptional talent, didn't need to at all.

The failure did not discourage Li Xiuyuan; instead, he became even more focused and continued to tend the furnace.

First-tier pills not only consume more materials and mana, but more importantly, the alchemy process is much more complicated, and the difficulty far exceeds that of the previous Bigu pills.

Brush brush!

As the alchemy furnace continued to emit black smoke and sway, all nine attempts at alchemy failed.

Finally, on the tenth time, Li Xiuyuan decided to use the [Heart-Clearing Pill] rune, and a fragrant aroma of the pill wafted out.

"It's done!"

Li Xiuyuan smiled broadly, and couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at the alchemy room filled with the aroma of elixirs.

A year ago, he was still a down-on-his-luck fire-tending boy in the Dan Ding Sect. In just one short year...

He is now not only at the third level of Qi Refining, but has also become an external alchemist of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns! It's all fate.

In the days that followed, Li Xiuyuan returned to his favorite life of staying at home.

Every day, they practice alchemy, refine their qi, and train their bodies, moving forward together as a three-pronged approach.

Aside from occasionally going out to purchase alchemy materials, in the eyes of everyone at Lingbao Pavilion, Li Xiuyuan was an ascetic cultivator obsessed with alchemy.

……

The next two months.

Li Xiuyuan wished he could divide the twelve hours of each day into eight parts, practicing Qi cultivation during the day, refining pills at night, and then practicing body exercises all night long, which would also help alleviate the boredom of refining pills for a long time.

His hard work paid off.

With a mid-grade first-tier spiritual vein and spiritual stones for cultivation, his Qi cultivation level visibly increased little by little.

Efficiency is at least twice as high as before.

The spiritual energy within my dantian is becoming increasingly abundant, and I am still far from reaching the bottleneck.

The progress of refining the Heart-Clearing Pill is also increasing, but much slower, since refining a first-grade low-level pill consumes too much of his mana.

【Qingxin Dan (Minor Completion), 200/300】

[Cleansing Heart Pill [White Rune] Cleansing Heart Pill Technique x3 (Refinable)]

Li Xiuyuan's wallet was getting thicker and thicker, and with his wealth, he naturally wouldn't be stingy.

The daily consumption of low-grade demon beast meat greatly accelerated the improvement of the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) due to the abundant Qi and blood.

[Yi Jin Jing: Old Tree's Roots (Minor Success), 200/300]

[Yi Jin Jing [White Rune]: Increases Qi and Blood by 5 (Refinable)]

Having mastered the first move, Li Xiuyuan began exploring the second move: Iron Bridge Locking Tendons.

The core of this move is "tendons and bones, blood and qi shield" to strengthen the shoulders, back and arms, and give the tendons and bones the characteristic of "force absorption". When mastered, it can withstand the claw attacks of mid-stage Qi Refining monsters and the slashes of low-level magic weapons.

The Qi and Blood Condensation Shield requires extremely high levels of Qi and Blood from the cultivator, at least four thousand jin of Qi, comparable to a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

He needs to consume forty to fifty catties of demonic beast flesh and blood every day. If he only practices his skills without replenishing his body, it will lead to a deficiency of qi and blood. At best, it will damage his vital energy; at worst, it will cause his qi and blood to decline and his lifespan to be shortened.

He didn't have much lifespan to begin with, so he couldn't afford to waste it so carelessly. Naturally, he valued the spiritual nourishment he received.

Li Xiuyuan would occasionally visit the stalls of independent cultivators to buy monster meat or spiritual items to replenish his qi and blood.

He saw a vendor displaying several Blood-Activating Grasses, but the price was five spirit stones, half the price of last month.

"Is the price of this elixir still rising?"

Li Xiuyuan asked casually.

The vendor sighed, looking sullen, and said, "There are fewer and fewer safe places to gather herbs in the mountains. A few days ago, another group of herb gatherers encountered a demonic beast and suffered heavy casualties. Nobody dares to go deeper into the mountains."

Li Xiuyuan didn't ask any further questions, nodded, and left.

The reduced production of various spiritual materials has led to an increase in the price of elixirs, and this will not change before the Upper Sect begins its pioneering work.

The price of pills that enhance qi and blood is sky-high, and he wants to refine them himself.

It can satisfy one's own needs for body tempering and also make a fortune.

But even a skilled cook can't cook without rice; he had neither a recipe for body-refining pills nor any spiritual items for body-refining.

They have no choice but to rely on cheap, low-grade monster meat to make a living.

In the year that followed, Li Xiuyuan made plans.

If you can obtain runes through alchemy, body refinement, or other methods, prioritize using them to improve your cultivation level.

Given his nature, he wasn't in a hurry.

But now the environment inside and outside the market is becoming increasingly turbulent, and he can no longer wait.

Although he doesn't cause trouble, trouble always finds him.

The situation in the cultivation world is constantly changing.

With the sects about to open up new lands, all the major powers are already gearing up to seize the initiative in plundering spiritual resources and lands.

Li Xiuyuan still preferred to take the initiative and was unwilling to be at the mercy of others.

……

A month later.

Li Xiuyuan finally welcomed the long-awaited harvest day.

Thanks to his decisive action, his proficiency with the Qingxin Dan improved rapidly.

【Qingxin Dan (Minor Completion), 270/300】

[Cleansing Heart Pill [White Rune] Cleansing Heart Pill Technique x5 (Refinable)]

He stared at the five [Heart-Cleansing Pill Technique] runes that had appeared during this alchemy session, and felt a surge of excitement.

His previous [Heart-Clearing Pill] and [Heart-Clearing Pill Technique] allowed him to consistently refine mid-grade Heart-Clearing Pills.

This time, the five [Heart-Clearing Pill Techniques] mean that he can refine five more mid-grade Heart-Clearing Pills.

According to the latest purchase price in the market, five mid-grade Qingxin Pills are worth fifteen spirit stones.

With the addition of the one hundred low-grade Qingxin Pills he had accumulated over three months, his wealth had reached a new level.

This truly achieved the record of one hundred and sixty spirit stones!

……

Inside the training ground.

Under Li Xiuyuan's control of his magic power, a cyan magic sword flew up, down, left, and right, making all sorts of attack moves.

Brush brush!

This is the mid-grade sword technique [Yi Wood Sword Technique] that he exchanged at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.

Spending thirty merit points is equivalent to completing a level D mission.

After several months of alchemy, body tempering, and qi refinement, Li Xiuyuan felt somewhat bored.

He decided to break the monotony of his life and accepted the alchemy task from Lingbao Pavilion: to refine three mid-grade Qingxin Pills.

He happened to possess the [Heart-Cleansing Pill Technique], so he went to the Spirit Treasure Pavilion to refine a batch of pills and exchanged them for this sword technique after completing the quest.

He was so poor before that he couldn't even afford the lowest grade flying sword, let alone a mid-grade sword technique.

But things are different now; I can finally indulge in the youthful passion of wielding a sword and slaying enemies.

brush!

Under Li Xiuyuan's control, the Green Bamboo Sword drew a streak of green light and struck the several-foot-thick sheet of iron.

Simply shave off a corner of the sheet metal.

"Well, I've finally gotten the hang of controlling the [Yi Wood Sword Technique], but it's a little sluggish and not smooth enough when I'm using the magic sword to attack."

Li Xiuyuan put away the Green Bamboo Sword, took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped it, cherishing it greatly.

His consciousness penetrated deep into his sea of ​​consciousness, and he opened the panel to take a look.

[Immortal Lord: Li Xiuyuan]

Lifespan: 30/37

[Spiritual Root: Mid-grade Fire Spiritual Root (Twelve Strands of Fire Spiritual Aura)]

[Realm: Qi Refining Level 3: 15/100]

[Cultivation Technique: Lesser Yuan Refining Fire Technique, Advanced Level: 91/100]

[Spells: Fireball (Minor Mastery) 190/300, Fire Control (Minor Mastery) 280/300]

[Cultivation Skills: [Cultivation Skills: Bigu Pill (Perfect)], Weapon Refining (Beginner) 30/50]

[Yi Jin Jing: Old Tree's Roots (Minor Success), 245/300]

【Beast Taming Technique (Beginner), 6/50】

【Qingxin Dan (Minor Completion), 270/300】

【Yi Wood Sword Technique (Beginner), 1/50】

Li Xiuyuan couldn't help but sigh, "It's so comfortable to develop in a peaceful and stable environment."

"During this period, by refining a large amount of demon beast meat, the Yi Jin Jing combined with the [Qi and Blood Boost] has increased my strength to 1,500 jin, not far from 2,000 jin. The improvement in body refinement has increased my lifespan by two years, which is the most important thing."

"After refining a few more batches of Tranquilizing Pills, I'll break through and advance to the next level. I hope to get a rune that directly increases my mana."

……

Five days later.

The last batch of Qingxin Pills has been refined.

Since Li Xiuyuan broke through to the third level of Qi Refining, and with his increasingly proficient fire control techniques,

The quality of the Qingxin Pill refined by Li Xiuyuan is showing a steady improvement.

In these five days, besides obtaining two "mixed mana" items,

They also obtained ten low-grade Cleansing Pills.

Including the 110 Qingxin Pills he had, he could pay off the Lingbao Pavilion's share for this quarter.

He still has 90 Qingxin Pills left over.

With the addition of five mid-grade Qingxin Pills, he still had a hundred spirit stones left.

Within Shanyang Market, the prices of all kinds of goods remained high. Taking advantage of the price increase, Li Xiuyuan secretly sold some low-grade Qingxin Pills at the market for scattered cultivators.

Having earned over fifty spirit stones, he planned to sell some more Qingxin Pills.

Pang Dehai's recent purchases of elixirs have become increasingly intense, even surpassing his purchases of spiritual rice and magical artifacts.

This is simply a result of the increasingly dire external situation.

It is said that a Foundation Establishment Cave has appeared in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains, and many independent cultivator groups and Qi Refining families have engaged in fierce competition for it.

Elixirs and talismans, being rapidly consumed items, play a significant role in cultivators' adventures and fierce battles.

Sometimes, an opponent might be able to turn the tide of life or death by having one more Qi-restoring pill or one more 'Golden Light Talisman' than you.

Out of consideration for their relationship, Li Xiuyuan gave him some Qingxin Pills.

He was still working at Lingbao Pavilion after all, otherwise it wouldn't make sense.

……

One night.

After refining the last batch of pills for the day, Li Xiuyuan took out the pale blue Qingxin Pill.

Seeing the three shimmering white runes floating above his sea of ​​consciousness, he couldn't hide his joy.

【Qingxin Dan (Dacheng) 300/500】

【Cleansing Heart Pill [White Rune]: Mixed Mana (Refinable)】

【Clear Mind Pill [White Rune]: Clear Mind Pill Technique (Refinable)】

【Cleansing Heart Pill [White Rune]: Mixed Mana (Refinable)】