Chapter 639: Nascent Soul Elixir Complete!

In the alchemy chamber, the green fire of the Phantom Flame Serpent, under Qin Ming's control, continuously shifted in temperature.

Once all preparations were complete, Qin Ming reopened the furnace to refine the elixir.

He flicked his finger, and over a hundred rare auxiliary ingredients floated and rotated around the five primary components of the Nascent Soul Elixir.

The formula and principles of the Nascent Soul Elixir were firmly etched in his mind, having been repeatedly deduced and refined countless times.

Any single one of these spiritual ingredients could spark a bloody battle among Nascent Soul elders.

Especially the five primary components—outside the control of forces above the Nascent Soul realm, they rarely surfaced in the outside world.

Qin Ming had exerted tremendous effort to gather them all.

Only with the help of Su Yuqing and Hua Tianxiong in sourcing them could he have assembled them; alone, he might have waited until the end of time.

Even in the ancient cultivation world, a lone Golden Core cultivator without clan resources, Dao lineage, or Nascent Soul mentor support had virtually no chance of independently gathering such a Nascent Soul opportunity.

Yet Qin Ming had accomplished it—even the 【Nascent Soul Elixir Formula】 was grown by his own hands.

He, a full Golden Core grand cultivator, spent his days bent over the soil, tilling the earth.

One could say he poured in countless hours of blood, sweat, and effort. "This Nascent Soul Elixir is no ordinary fourth-rank elixir—it is among the supreme spiritual medicines of the cultivation world."

"This elixir embodies the transformation of the Dao, enabling Golden Core cultivators to shatter their cores and give birth to a Nascent Soul, taking that most critical step."

"Its difficulty is the highest I have ever encountered in my alchemical career."

"In the entire cultivation world, the number of alchemists who can successfully refine this elixir is vanishingly small."

"Most Nascent Soul sects still rely on ancient inherited formulas for the Nascent Soul Elixir."

"Today, alchemists capable of refining it are virtually nonexistent."

Qin Ming's vast spiritual sense manipulated hundreds of ingredients, then, following the method, extracted the medicinal essence.

Boom! The temperature in the alchemy chamber surged abruptly; a staggering wave of heat slammed into him.

The Devouring Heaven Poison Flame, now a top-tier third-rank heavenly spirit fire, could barely sustain the refining of this fourth-rank Nascent Soul Elixir.

After days of precise flame control, Qin Ming had stripped the medicinal essence from every single ingredient.

Long after, a luminous, shimmering medicinal liquid, radiating astonishing spiritual energy, appeared before Qin Ming.

So far, everything had proceeded successfully.

Thanks to his prior experience refining the Ice Heart Jade Soul Elixir, the most difficult steps had passed smoothly.

Up to this point, the alchemy had been relatively smooth.

Qin Ming narrowed his eyes and continued refining; the Four Seasons Divine Light, like scattered stars, fell into the furnace, initiating the core-forming stage.

Puff! A muffled thud came from the Wind-Thunder Cauldron, followed by black smoke—his first attempt had failed.

Qin Ming's expression remained as calm as still water; his inner state did not waver.

After all, the Nascent Soul Elixir was not something easily refined in one attempt; according to the formula, even top-tier fourth-rank alchemists of ancient times often failed during its refinement.

Still, wasting one set of ingredients stung him deeply.

These top-tier spiritual ingredients were all hard-won.

Fortunately, his reserves were still sufficient.

After cleaning the furnace, Qin Ming summoned the dregs into his hand and examined them closely—there was nothing to discern; all had turned into poison residue.

Immediately after,

Qin Ming, having summarized the failure of his previous attempt, began his second refining.

This cycle repeated…

Time passed slowly, day after day.

Two months later.

Qin Ming stepped out of the alchemy chamber, his face gloomy, seeking fresh air and a change of mood.

"Where exactly was the problem?"

"Why did the core-forming always fall just short?"

"Su Yuqing's deciphered Nascent Soul Elixir formula should be flawless."

"This is truly baffling."

Qin Ming paced slowly through the Small Spirit Realm, brow furrowed, pondering the critical flaw in his alchemy.

Moments later,

He reached the lakeside at the center of the Small Spirit Realm and saw the Devouring Heaven Rat holding a bamboo pole, fiddling with something.

The Devouring Heaven Rat spotted Qin Ming approaching and instantly sprang to its feet, grinning.

"Master, you've emerged? Has the divine elixir been refined yet?"

"Not yet—just short. What are you doing?" Qin Ming shook his head.

The Devouring Heaven Rat raised the bamboo pole. "Lately, with nothing else to do, I've been fishing for clams."

"Fishing for clams?" Qin Ming frowned.

The Devouring Heaven Rat beamed, then whispered mysteriously: "I discovered a spiritual clam in the lake—it contains a pearl. Though it holds no spiritual energy, it's stunningly beautiful; at night, it glows with seven-colored radiance."

"I'm collecting some to give as a gift when I next meet Little Silver Fox. Hehe."

Qin Ming was speechless—he hadn't expected this creature to still be fixated on Little Silver Fox. "Oh?"

"After waiting for days, the damn thing finally bit!"

As he spoke, the Devouring Heaven Rat's eyes lit up with excitement; it yanked hard on the pole.

A large clam was pulled onto shore.

Instantly, it eagerly pried open the shell—inside lay a crystal-clear, luminous black pearl, radiating enchanting light, breathtakingly beautiful. Qin Ming watched this scene.

In the depths of his mind, a sudden flash of insight struck him! In an instant,

He recalled a seemingly insignificant line from the 【Source Dao Alchemy Classic】, a note marked by Su Yuqing in the corner.

"When an old clam holds a pearl, the pearl forms because its spirit and qi remain undispersed!"

"Water must not dry, fire must not cool; guard against the slightest deviation, focus the mind, bathe and nurture gently."

Suddenly, Qin Ming understood—he finally knew why he always failed at the core-forming stage.

"After the medicinal liquid takes shape, it must undergo prolonged vaporization and gentle nurturing, fully fusing and condensing the essences of all ingredients."

"I was too hasty before."

"Hahahaha! So that's it!"

He clapped his hands and laughed.

Qin Ming, having grasped the key, felt an immense sense of relief; he absentmindedly patted the Devouring Heaven Rat's head. "You've done a great deed. Here's your reward."

He tossed the Devouring Heaven Rat a jar of spirit wine, then plunged back into the alchemy chamber to refine the Nascent Soul Elixir.

The Devouring Heaven Rat, utterly confused, stood frozen, clutching a jar of Demon Flame Wine and the giant clam.

…

Inside the alchemy chamber, Qin Ming banished all distractions.

With newfound clarity, his refining now flowed effortlessly.

After about a month, Qin Ming completed the earlier steps, successfully fusing the medicinal liquid within the furnace and forming the core.

He then reduced the intensity of the Devouring Spirit Flame and began the long process of slow vaporization and nurturing.

Two more months passed.

Qin Ming's spiritual sense stirred—he sensed the core-forming had succeeded.

He immediately activated the alchemical incantation, intensifying the refining; a black pearl, nurtured over time, gradually grew larger, turning golden-orange, descending into the center of the furnace.

Within the cauldron, the black pearl appeared.

Externally, the Four Seasons Divine Light; internally, the Devouring Spirit Flame—performing the Mao-You Zhou Tian seal.

Hum~ A celestial melody echoed through Qin Ming's alchemy chamber, accompanied by the resonance of bells and drums.

Above the alchemy furnace, a spiritual force brimming with the essence of the Dao suddenly manifested!

The next instant,

This Daoic spiritual energy burst from the cave, forming in the sky above the Small Spirit Realm a vision of celestial palaces and pavilions, where fairy maidens danced, ribbons fluttered, and celestial flutes and pipes played eternal, ethereal music.

Such a breathtaking heavenly phenomenon appeared in the world.

It drew the attention of the Devouring Heaven Rat and the other three beasts within the Small Spirit Realm, all of whom stared dumbfounded at the heavens. "It's done! He's refined it again!"

"This aura, this omen—damn! Master must have refined some incredible divine elixir!"

As it gazed skyward, it forgot its bamboo pole had been swept away by the water. Inside the cave, Qin Ming's eyes gleamed with excitement; he reached out and summoned a golden-orange elixir, its body adorned with fourteen Daoic runes, radiating the aura of Daoic creation, into his palm.

"This is the Nascent Soul Elixir—the very elixir that haunts the dreams of countless Golden Core cultivators!"

The elixir's fragrant aroma flooded Qin Ming's nose and mouth, instantly invigorating his spirit! After all his turmoil across Great Jin, wasn't this the moment he had waited for?

The refinement of the Nascent Soul Elixir meant the path to the Nascent Soul realm now lay open before him.

Qin Ming now possessed both spiritual elixirs needed to break through to the Nascent Soul realm.

Though only one elixir was successfully refined, his chances of breaking through were still substantial.

First, he possessed a flawless Golden Core, granting him a 20% success rate by default.

Second, his Green Emperor Wood Sovereign Holy Body had reached minor completion; when absorbing spiritual energy, its efficiency would be extremely high.

Third, with his life-plant, the Yin-Yang Mystic Vine, as a major aid, success was virtually assured.

"I now have the Nascent Soul Elixir and the Elixir to overcome Heart Demons."

"Next, I must refine the treasure to withstand the Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation."

Yet, according to what Qin Ming learned from Yue Lingyan, the human Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation was terrifyingly powerful.

Ordinary treasures could not withstand it; even the slightest misstep would cause instant annihilation beneath heavenly wrath.

Must be cautious! And the higher a cultivator's talent, the more likely they are to incur heaven's envy.

Thus, depending on the cultivator's talent, the Nascent Soul Tribulation they face will vary accordingly.

A cultivator's Nascent Soul Tribulation is not merely the previous thunder tribulation—it also entails the four calamities of earth, wind, water, and fire.

Even the most ordinary Four-Nine Tribulation unleashes a full thirty-six heavenly tribulations.

Without reliable magic treasures or methods to protect oneself and deflect the tribulation, it is nearly impossible to survive such trials.

Not to mention the Six-Nine Tribulation, or even the legendary Nine-Nine Tribulation, which requires enduring ninety-nine tribulations in total. Qin Ming had already given this deep thought—given his current talent and the existence of his term-based divine advantage.

At the very least, he must prepare for the Six-Nine Tribulation, just in case.

"Sigh! I never thought I'd become so outstanding that I'd now be struggling over which tribulation to face."

Yet he possessed numerous top-grade magic treasures, all nurtured within his life-spirit plant, Yin-Yang Mystic Vine.

He intended to upgrade that Blood Pagoda pseudo-spirit treasure into a true fourth-rank spirit treasure.

Then, everything would be utterly secure.

Qin Ming sighed, then placed the Nascent Soul Elixir into a jade vial and stored it in his storage bag.

Inside the storage bag.

The Qingyang Old Devil, noticing no movement outside for months, sneered triumphantly: "Hmph! Boy, you didn't listen to an elder's advice—you're reaping the consequences."

"Seems you only managed to brew the 'Ice Heart Jade Soul Elixir' by sheer luck."

"But this Nascent Soul Elixir is different—without my guidance, luck alone could never succeed."

"Hehehe!"

The Qingyang Old Devil had already begun imagining how soon Qin Ming would grovel before him, begging to learn his alchemical secrets.

But before he finished laughing, his face froze.

Clang! Another exquisitely crafted jade vial was tossed into the storage bag.

Qingyang Old Devil barely sensed it, then turned pale, his entire worldview shaken: "Nascent Soul Elixir?!"

He knew that even in his prime, if he brewed it himself, it would take at least a year or two.

The failure rate was astonishingly high.

"If I recall correctly, this boy has never brewed Nascent Soul Elixir before, has he?"

"This boy must be the reincarnation of some ancient immortal who possessed another's body! Otherwise, how could this be?"

Repeatedly shattered in his assumptions, Qingyang Old Devil's conviction grew stronger.

"But so what if you have Nascent Soul Elixir?"

"I admit your alchemical skill is extraordinary—but without tools to survive the tribulation, it's all empty air."

"I don't believe it."

Yet the next moment.

In Qingyang Old Devil's stunned expression.

Qin Ming pulled from deep within his storage bag a primal demonic pearl radiating thick demonic energy.

"Primal demonic energy…" Qingyang Old Devil could no longer remain calm.

He urgently shouted at Qin Ming: "Young Master Qin!! Give this old man a chance to speak!"

"You're preparing to break through to the Nascent Soul realm, aren't you?"

"Let me say just one word."

Hearing this, Qin Ming raised an eyebrow, pondered briefly, then took out the wooden box containing his spiritual body and dropped it to the ground.

"What else do you have to say?"

Qingyang Old Devil chuckled nervously: "Young Master Qin, please calm down. I just noticed you hold a primal demonic pearl—within it lies a trace of primal demonic energy, an exceedingly rare substance in heaven and earth!"

"I observe your physical body brimming with vital energy, your body refinement so brutal it surpasses even fourth-rank transformed great demons."

"Yet under the Nascent Soul Tribulation, even such a formidable body may not withstand it."

"But with this primal demonic energy, Young Master Qin, if combined with your body refinement technique, it might push your flesh to its ultimate peak."

"You might even endure the tribulation with your body alone."

"Hehe! If Young Master Qin seeks demonic body refinement techniques, I possess several powerful demonic arts you may study and emulate."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ming did not grow angry—he found the old devil's viewpoint somewhat reasonable.

He had indeed been considering this very matter, and had been analyzing its feasibility.

But this was only a last resort he would consider if pushed to the brink.

Now, with so many trump cards, he had no need to risk it—should he cultivate demonic arts and suffer qi deviation, the cost would far outweigh the gain.

"You have some merit in your words. Let me think on it further."

Qingyang Old Devil flattered: "Hehehe! Young Master Qin is a man of great fortune. In my view, attaining the Nascent Soul realm is merely a matter of time. Should you need this old man's aid, just say the word."

"This old man stands ready at your command."

Beside them, the Shitian Rat watched their exchange, eyes flickering, suddenly gripped by an inexplicable sense of crisis.

Qin Ming, meanwhile, took from the primal demonic pearl the fourth-rank alchemy inheritance, "The Demon's Art of Crafting," and began studying it.

He intended to use the fourth-rank demonic demon sage's core to fully elevate the Blood Pagoda pseudo-spirit treasure to the fourth-rank spirit treasure level.

Seeing Qin Ming possessed a fourth-rank demonic demon sage's core, Qingyang Old Devil fell silent for a long while.

After Qin Ming returned to his cave.

Within the Small Spirit Realm.

The Shitian Rat pulled out his black steel fork, narrowed his eyes, strode to Qingyang Old Devil's wooden box, and kicked it hard, sending it rolling far away.

The jolt inside sent Qingyang Old Devil reeling, dizzy and disoriented.

"Rat! What do you mean?!" Qingyang Old Devil raged.

The Shitian Rat tapped the wooden box with his black steel fork, sneering:

"Hmph! Old man!"

"You came here just to compete for favor, didn't you?"

"Not a chance! Don't you know who came first?"

"I warn you once: if you dare speak another word, I'll scatter your soul to the winds!"

Then, the Shitian Rat urinated on the wooden box before leaving, satisfied.

"."

Inside the box, Qingyang Old Devil wanted to cry but could not, letting out a mournful sigh: "A dragon stranded in shallow waters is mocked by shrimp; a tiger fallen to the plains is bullied by dogs!"

(End of Chapter)