Chapter 97

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Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Although she had indeed successfully refined all the commonly used Foundation Establishment pills in Medicine King Valley, a long time had passed, and even she herself had grown somewhat rusty.

She might as well take advantage of the ample time now to brush up on these fundamentals and raise her pill refinement success rate, aiming to pass the examination in a single attempt.

The Pill Alliance's Datong Commandery covers no small area; its internal situation is likely similar to Huineng Commandery.

She could also take the opportunity to purchase more pill formulas to store away — Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment pills are never too few, Golden Core and Nascent Soul pills never too many.

Shen Yao's mind crackled with all sorts of calculations, mainly to prepare for the worlds to come.

The cultivation world differs from the previous few worlds; the benefits and gains it can bring are a hundredfold richer.

Past this village, if you want to find another shop like this, I'm afraid you'll have to wait.

Time flowed like water, passing hurriedly amid Shen Yao's closed-door cultivation and pill refinement.

The various magic artifacts custom-ordered earlier with money and goods had already been delivered more than half.

From the top of her head to the soles of her feet, not a single spot that could hold a magic artifact was left unused.

There was even a Weapon Refinement Master who thought outside the box and forged a magic artifact remarkably like a strand of hair.

Normally one only needs to blend it into the hair; when danger strikes, activating it makes it swiftly turn into a black long whip, and the raw materials used for the whip all have a shielding effect, making it hard for ordinary people to detect.

Tsk tsk

"The Weapon Refinement Masters here are truly clever," Shen Yao fiddled with the delivered magic artifacts — silver needles that seemed to multiply instantly when thrown, a long sword that could split and merge, a bracelet used to hold plant seeds for activation.

The Weapon Refinement Masters of the cultivation world truly have nothing they can't conceive and nothing they can't craft.

After the two of them left Huineng Commandery and headed for Datong Commandery, another seven years passed.

The earlier estimate of three to five years was still too optimistic; on the road to departure, Shen Yao swiftly put these magic artifacts through several live combat drills.

Therefore Shen Yao was very satisfied with the Weapon Refinement Masters' works, even if they were two years late.

As the proverb says, good food is not afraid of being late.

Moreover, she could reap another windfall to replenish her increasingly depleted private stash.

"Truly good people, ah"

Gazing at a group of cultivators collapsed on the ground, alive or dead unknown, Shen Yao sighed; a few talisman papers down, and the surroundings were clean and tidy once more.

She and Fu Hengyan turned and departed on the handkerchief-shaped flying magic artifact, the two rushing tirelessly toward the next stop.

The journey took roughly three months; Shen Yao and Fu Hengyan arrived at Datong Commandery.

The character "Tong" takes the meaning of "universal peace under heaven"; the several commanderies under the Pill Alliance all bear names with a flavor of embracing the world and saving all living beings.

But this is also related to the Pill Alliance's background — its founding ancestor was an old do-gooder; even though the Alliance has developed for many years with growing power and internal disorder, on the whole it has not deviated from its founding core.

Shen Yao and Fu Hengyan's landing point this time is the central city of Datong Commandery, Shouchun.

It is connected to a pill formula long lost alongside the Pill Alliance, and bears the character "Shou," involving lifespan.

"The Longevity Spring Pill, a pill that can increase lifespan, returning spring and preventing aging.

Only the formula was lost ten million years ago, and the Pill Alliance has still not been able to find it to this day."

Fu Hengyan spoke up, mentioning it in a low voice before the two entered Shouchun City.

Shen Yao shook her head, "Even if this formula were preserved to this day, it would not be easy to refine.

Throughout history, matters involving lifespan have all been regarded as acting against heaven.

Moreover, the refinement of some lifespan pills would inevitably involve lifespan raw materials.

On the Xuantian Continent, heavenly materials and earthly treasures that can increase lifespan are not many; otherwise it would not have caused such an uproar when a single Spirit Fruit of Yuan Increase was put forth at the Yunzhong City Exchange Conference.

Don't think the Spirit Fruit of Yuan Increase ending up in Shen Yao's hands was easy — that's only because Fu Zening is too strong, and the Tianjian Sect behind Shen Yao is a colossus.

Swap in another small sect, and who knows, they might have been forcibly seized by certain people.

The two chatted as they entered the city, and conveniently walked into a medicine shop to purchase pill formulas, a pill furnace, and finished pills.

They learned that three months later there would be an Alchemist rank examination.

Shen Yao and Fu Hengyan simply chose a small courtyard and rented it long-term with Lingyu Stones.

In the following days, Shen Yao devoted herself wholeheartedly to preparing for the examination.

Fu Hengyan, on Shen Yao's behalf, helped by going out to purchase various pill refining materials.

If not, the secret realms in the surrounding mountains of Datong Commandery would not lack them either.

Occasionally, Fu Hengyan actually looked even busier than Shen Yao by a few degrees.

Fortunately both of their preparations proved useful; Shen Yao participated in the Alchemist rank examination three months later.

Over the course of seven days, she very smoothly obtained the wooden plaque of a First Rank Pill Refiner.

"Half a year from now is the next examination; remember to come on time to participate."

The cultivator in charge of registration nodded at Shen Yao, then turned to greet the next person.

Shen Yao held the wooden plaque — no larger than a palm, rectangular overall, engraved with a pill furnace mark — and returned to Fu Hengyan's side.

Fu Hengyan pointed at the crowd gathered behind him, "That group of people are all going to Changmeng Marsh."

The Second Rank Pill Refiner examination will certainly test a pill called the Dream Departure Pill.

The main raw materials for the Dream Departure Pill are the Soul Departure Grass and Dream God Fruit in Changmeng Marsh.

Shouchun City sells few of the relevant materials; if Shen Yao wants to practice in advance, she can only rely on herself to personally pick and gather them.

"The timing doesn't conflict; let's go together," counting as belated practical training.

Shen Yao had never experienced it before; she didn't expect that coming to Datong Commandery she would actually get to experience it.

But, how should I put it?

Overall it was still fairly peaceful, and no internal strife broke out over spiritual objects along the way, yet they still ran into quite a few incidents where people turned hostile.

Under Fu Hengyan's protection Shen Yao suffered no spillover, but after this episode she only moved about with Fu Hengyan, no longer joining anyone else's team.

Experiencing it once was just that; better to do whatever feels most comfortable.

Another half year passed, and Shen Yao took part in the Second Rank Pill Refiner assessment.

A one-month period, during which she had to refine the several pills stipulated by the assessment regulations.

Shen Yao got through this stage with no real danger and smoothly obtained the Second Rank Pill Refiner wooden plaque.

Phew—

"The next Pill Refiner rank assessment is in one year, but the difficulty is very high."

Because it already exceeds her own cultivation realm, she can only rely on her pill-refining art to supplement it.

"Not afraid, we'll prepare in advance."

"Can only do that."

"..."

Regrettably, Shen Yao is not a genius; the rank assessment one year later did not go as she wished.

It was still her cultivation realm that limited her development; pills others could form in one try took Shen Yao two or even three attempts.

No choice, Shen Yao could only keep signing up for the next Pill Refiner rank assessment while popping pills to raise her cultivation.

Of course, during this time Shen Yao was also familiarizing herself with some other relatively unfamiliar pill formulas.

Some pill formulas might be useless in the Cultivation World, but that doesn't mean they'd be useless in Other Worlds.

Such a rare chance to focus on pill refining without needing any excuse — Shen Yao naturally wouldn't miss it.

She stayed another year in Datong Commandery; this year Shen Yao worked very hard, one could say she exerted herself to the utmost.

And that wooden plaque inscribed with Third Rank was likewise recognition of Shen Yao's efforts.

From First Rank to Third Rank, Shen Yao spent nearly three years.

Besides these visible advances, Shen Yao's own cultivation realm also improved.

Fu Hengyan even suggested Shen Yao directly choose closed-door cultivation in the Cave Abode outside Shouchun City.

"With this harvest, the possibility of breaking through Foundation Establishment Late Stage in one go is very high."

Cultivation advancement is certainly beneficial to oneself.

Shen Yao thought it over, then nodded agreement to Fu Hengyan's suggestion.

And this closed-door cultivation of Shen Yao's — when she emerged again, five years had passed.

The trees outside the Cave Abode were lush; Fu Hengyan looked at Shen Yao, now at Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and felt delighted.

Shen Yao circled around Fu Hengyan once, then asked about the children's situation.

When they first arrived in Datong Commandery, whether it was Jinxiu and Linlang in closed-door Core Formation at Tianjian Sect, or Fu Zexuan's party of three in the depths of the Endless Sea, there had been no latest news.

Now Shen Yao has been in Datong Commandery for eight years, and the situation has new changes.

"Jinxiu and Linlang have already successfully formed cores, currently stabilizing their cultivation in the sect.

Xuan'er and the others are still in the Endless Sea, among them Ning'er is already Golden Core Late Stage."

Fu Hengyan recited the children's situations, then turned his gaze to Shen Yao, "Around Datong Commandery there are Jiuzhen and Wuding two Commanderies, respectively administered by Qingmu Sect and Hunyun Sect."

The implication: Shen Yao can pick one she wants to go to.

Shen Yao: Huh?

"Jiuzhen Commandery actually exists amid boundless forest seas," quite fitting Qingmu Sect's characteristics.

After all it's Qingmu Sect; the name sounds like it constantly deals with forests, flowers and grasses.

In fact, what Qingmu Sect excels at truly is planting-related matters.

This sect has always been peaceful and docile in the Cultivation World; basically no one crosses them, because large quantities of Spirit Flowers, Spirit Grasses and such rely on Qingmu Sect to cultivate them for bulk purchase.

Truly offend Qingmu Sect, and they might not give you a quick death, but they can launch sustained soft-knife attacks.

It's said a sect in Dongzhou once offended Qingmu Sect's Sect Master.

Then Qingmu Sect cut off their Spirit Rice for several years, causing the sect's cultivator numbers to plummet and everyone to flee.

"Such a situation is somewhat absolute; Tianjian Sect for instance can be self-sufficient.

It's just that Qingmu Sect is indispensable; each sect's Spirit Fields are limited in number.

For a sect like Qingmu Sect with superior geographical location and exclusive planting techniques, one should still try to maintain good relations."

Completely unnecessary to offend them, especially since Qingmu Sect always follows mutual benefit principles, faithful practitioners of 'you're good, I'm good, everyone's good'.

Shen Yao looked at the open Spirit Plant Shops around, couldn't help but go in with Fu Hengyan to take a look.

As she looked, Shen Yao couldn't control her determination to buy.

Like the various flavored Spirit Rice for daily eating — Dragon Pattern Spirit Rice, Bi Jing Spirit Rice, Long Persimmon Spirit Rice, Xingying Spirit Rice — as long as they had stock, she bought them all.

Also some strange niche Spiritual Plants, with special flavors, bizarre effects, extraordinary appearances, and so on.

Shen Yao missed none of them; anyway she had Spirit Stones to be willful, buying all the way in a lavish spree, and Shen Yao once again experienced the preferential treatment she'd had back in Rong City.

When she had filled the several Storage Bags she'd freed up, Shen Yao and Fu Hengyan picked a landing spot.

A Small Courtyard grown from a kind of Spiritual Mushroom, similar in function to Qingrong Tree Fruit.

But this Spiritual Mushroom has an advantage: it can be directly refined for one's own use.

This is simply more useful than Qingrong Tree Fruit; you know Qingrong Tree Fruit still needs to be paired with Qingrong Spirit Tree — without Qingrong Spirit Tree as foundation, Qingrong Tree Fruit cannot take shape.

Even if Qingrong Tree Fruit later forms, once cut down it just becomes an ordinary Tree House, unable to enlarge or shrink.

Shen Yao's space is only so big; it simply cannot hold a grown Qingrong Tree Fruit.

But the Spiritual Mushroom is different; once refined it can be large or small, entirely as the mind wishes.

The only shortcoming is that it consumes too much spiritual power.

However, Shen Yao is not afraid; she has spirit stones and can use her money capability.

She bought a pile of spiritual mushrooms and put them into her storage bag, and by the way smuggled a few into her space.

Congratulations are in order; her space now has only two small grids free, the rest are already loaded full.

Items from other worlds that were originally placed separately were also all moved into storage bags when opportunity arose to save space.

Now Shen Yao's space, at a glance, is densely packed full of storage bags.

The storage bags' spaces vary in size and quantity, but what can be guaranteed is that as long as they are placed into the space bound to her soul, the storage bags are all full.

"System, these are still not enough; we must seize the opportunity to buy and collect more.

Not afraid the space is loaded full, only afraid the space has nothing to load."

Shen Yao perfectly embodied a stockpiler's mindset; regardless of whether these goods are useful or not, buying them and putting them in her own home is certainly without mistake.

Moreover, these goods are all valuable; any single one taken out is worth a fortune.

Holding such a mentality, Shen Yao, having arrived in Qingmu Sect territory, bought even more crazily.

She thought Fu Hengyan would persuade her, but unexpectedly Fu Hengyan aided the tyrant and helped her buy together.

Shen Yao:...?!!!

Shen Yao stared blankly at Fu Hengyan's operation, and finally happily joined in.

Hm, Fu Hengyan should not have discovered her problem? Shen Yao was somewhat uncertain, and in her mind called out the system to hurry and help her confirm.

System, '...'

"Host rest assured, the system exists only within the host's consciousness; Fu Hengyan cannot possibly notice."

The system spoke with absolute conviction, and was completely confident in itself.

Shen Yao, having finished listening, secretly rolled her eyes in her heart, feeling the system being like this was just setting up a target; who knows when it might capsize.

"Are you certain? Otherwise the two of us cannot withstand those big shots' search spirit technique."

Mainly Shen Yao; search spirit is very painful, simply harder to endure than torture.

Shen Yao dares guarantee that if she undergoes search spirit she will be unable to hold back and will confess everything cleanly.

So facing the search spirit threat, the best countermeasure is to not give them the opportunity.

The system naturally understands their shortcomings; once again using its own clumsy function to probe Fu Hengyan's mental state, the system breathed a sigh of relief, "Rest assured, rest assured, he really does not know the host's situation.

We two have been cautious in speech and conduct for many years, never overstepping boundaries; it is still very safe."

Shen Yao raised an eyebrow, thinking in her heart that although the system occasionally acts somewhat improper, in this aspect it has always been rigorous.

Since it emphasizes this so much, then Fu Hengyan indeed has not discovered her problem.

Good, good; not discovering is best.

Shen Yao happily continued to devote herself to the great undertaking of buy-buy-buy, completely unaware of Fu Hengyan's helpless yet pampering gaze upon her.

Truly undefended, sigh

It is precisely because of this that he is unwilling to have his master invite the patriarch to leave the mountain.

Shen Yao is his dao companion, and also his wife; this life will not change.