Chapter 142: Elixir Formation, Sitting to Transform

After his cultivation breakthrough and successfully condensing the "Lesser Five Elements Spirit Body," Yunhe became addicted to training, unable to extricate himself.

While in seclusion he felt his cultivation grow without limit, with no worry of bottlenecks hindering him; he wished he could simply continue training until the Foundation Establishment stage was complete, then slowly consider the Elixir Formation.

The same thing happened to his Demon Beast Body.

Since gathering a large amount of materials, leaving the secret realm and returning to Huanhu Dao, the Demon Beast Body hunted many metallic demons, barely providing the Cultivator Body with the essence blood needed to condense the Golden Xing Spirit Body's phantom, and then sank into Huanhu Dao for a long cultivation journey.

He first realized that, for reasons unknown, possessing three demon pills allowed him to simultaneously practice three completely different demon-clan techniques.

The "Mounting Mountain Technique," as the foundation of his current cultivation, he does not wish to abandon it for now.

And the technique "Mysterious Demon Cutting Immortal Strategy" obtained from inherited memories, although not exclusive to turtle-type demons, still undeniably possesses great power and uniqueness.

However.

Cultivating this technique has an extremely special requirement.

A life‑born treasure!

To advance the "Mysterious Demon Cutting Immortal Strategy" to a higher realm, one must first forge a life‑born treasure called the "Immortal‑Cutting Strategy."

Therefore, even though Yunhe has already begun learning the "Mysterious Demon Cutting Immortal Strategy," he cannot yet replace the "Mounting Mountain Technique."

However, this so‑called "Immortal‑Cutting Strategy," as a demon‑clan life‑born treasure, is like other demon artifacts—easy to forge, with the difficulty lying in gathering the materials.

But before Yunhe could begin his search, his Cultivator Body's successful breakthrough forced him to enter seclusion again.

Due to the connection between his two bodies, the Demon Beast Body is also about to breakthrough the later part of the Second Stage.

Yunhe has a premonition.

This breakthrough, he expects, will cause him to enter a period of slumber.

It serves both to consolidate his cultivation and, because he underwent the baptism of the "Demon Washing Pool" which transformed his own blood veins, this slumber is needed to let his spirit and demon body align more closely.

Rather than calling it slumber, it is more of an opportunity to more quickly "digest" the inherited elements within his blood veins.

When his cultivation breakthrough occurs and he awakens again, he may reap considerable benefits from the transformed blood veins.

It should be noted.

Among demon beasts, his cultivation progress rate is absolutely extraordinary.

The breakthrough speed of his Cultivator Body is only middle‑to‑high level in the cultivation world.

But the breakthrough speed of his Demon Beast Body in the demon‑beast world can certainly rank among the elite.

Because of this, he needs a period of slumber so his cultivation can settle more quickly.

Two bodies.

One immersed in cultivation, the other sunk into slumber.

Time flies like flowing water.

One year later.

Yunhe reluctantly paused his seclusion training for the time being.

There is no other way.

The materials are exhausted!

He never expected that what would limit his continued cultivation refinement was not the highly prized Elixir in others' eyes, but those auxiliary spiritual plants.

The effect of the Marrow Origin Pill is indisputable.

Although repeated and continuous consumption has increased his resistance to the pill, causing its effect to be less dramatic than the first dose.

Nevertheless, its tremendous contribution to Yunhe's cultivation advancement cannot be denied.

But now the auxiliary spiritual plants are gone, so he must temporarily end his seclusion and go out to purchase spiritual plants.

Nevertheless, it's hard enough to leave seclusion even once.

Before heading out to procure, he politely visited the Technique Pavilion to see his cheap teacher.

Hua Xin, one of the Grand Elders of Elixir Formation of the Qingzong Sect.

"Oh? Late Foundation Establishment?"

While chewing a candied hawthorn inside the Technique Pavilion and idly leafing through numerous techniques, Hua Xin's eyes lit up the moment he saw Yunhe.

"Thanks to the Master's protection, the disciple luckily succeeded in breaking through."

Yunhe chuckled and said.

He also handed over a storage bag filled with assorted candied hawthorns.

Yunhe was well aware of his frugal master's tastes.

He couldn't give any other precious items, but candied hawthorn was plentiful enough to grab by the handful.

Seeing the candied hawthorn Yunhe offered, Hua Xin's eyes brightened further; he took them without hesitation and muttered:

"You've fed my mouth so well that ordinary candied hawthorn no longer appeals to me."

Yunhe could only chuckle at that and said nothing more.

Hua Xin couldn't wait, took out a skewer, took a bite, and displayed a satisfied look.

Then his small face frowned, falling into thought.

"Hmm, but as your master, you've already broken through the late Foundation Establishment, and I haven't really expressed anything yet."

"The Master's protection is the greatest help," Yunhe said sincerely.

His ability to seclude peacefully within the Qingzong Sect for so many years owes entirely to Hua Xin's reputation.

Moreover, back then, Xiao Shanhe of the Spirit Beast Sect, had Hua Xin not been present, would likely have disregarded the relationship between the two Liang sects and, ignoring seniority, have acted against him directly.

These visible and invisible protections, though Hua Xin never mentions them, Yunhe sees them all.

Having such a master who does not meddle with his cultivation, yet silently offers protection, Yunhe is already very satisfied.

"Got it!"

Hua Xin, ignoring what he said, chewed a candied hawthorn and turned his fist into a palm strike.

Speaking, he rummaged through his own storage bag on his own.

Soon he took out a piece of Jade Slip and tossed it to Yunhe.

"This is." Yunhe caught the Jade Slip, showing a puzzled expression.

Huaxin waved her hand and said indifferently:

"As your master, I have some insights from when I broke through to Golden Core back then. I suppose you wouldn't be content to stop at late Foundation Establishment, right? Judging by your age, you're probably still under a hundred years old, with a chance to break through to Golden Core—you must seize it yourself."

Upon hearing that, Yunhe's eyes gleamed.

Golden Core insights!

"Thank you, Master!"

To be honest.

Yunhe truly knew nothing about how to achieve Golden Core.

He didn't know which step to take first when breaking through, or what kind of bottlenecks he might face.

He was basically running blindly toward the Golden Core direction, yet had no idea what awaited him.

But with Huaxin's Golden Core insights, he wouldn't be so clueless anymore.

This is absolutely something money can't buy.

Only through the sect's path, only with the master's guidance, could one possibly obtain it.

Moreover, some Golden Core insights often pertain to the cultivator's cultivation method, even touching on secrets of Golden Core cultivators, so even some Golden Core cultivators would not produce them for their disciples to see when facing them.

After all, there are plenty of cultivators in the cultivation world who have killed their parents and kin, let alone killing one's master.

"However, as your master I possess an Innocent Child Body, so my breakthrough situation may differ somewhat from yours; just take it as a reference, don't be too nitpicky."

Innocent Child Body?

Yunhe blinked in surprise.

He had never heard of such a physique before.

But just from the name of that physique, one could guess that Huaxin has always maintained the appearance of a seven- or eight-year-old girl, which must be closely related to that physique.

Involving Huaxin's secret, Yunhe didn't dare ask further, merely replying:

"Disciple understands."

Master and disciple chatted a while longer.

Yunhe took out some problems he had encountered in his cultivation method, a few points he hadn't fully comprehended, and asked Huaxin about them.

While Huaxin had long been stationed at the Scripture Pavilion, she couldn't be said to know every cultivation method inside like the back of her hand, but she was quite well-read; for Yunhe's questions, a few simple words sufficed to suddenly enlighten him.

Finally, Huaxin suddenly said:

"By the way, for this seclusion exit of yours, if time isn't too pressing, represent the sect and make a trip to the Return to Origin Sect."

"Return to Origin Sect?"

The Qingyu Domain, Spirit Beast Domain, and Return to Origin Domain border each other; the relationship between the Return to Origin Sect and the Qingzong Sect isn't especially close, but it's not bad either, and their exchanges are fairly frequent.

According to Yunhe's knowledge, at least two Foundation Establishment cultivators' dual partners in their sect come from the Return to Origin Sect.

Moreover, the Return to Origin Sect also has several cultivators who originally came from the Qingzong Sect and married in.

Marriage alliances are not only a way for families to maintain relations, but also apply between sects.

Especially, Golden Core cultivators on good terms are more likely to have their disciples become dual partners.

Huaxin held the Jade Slip in one hand and a candied haw skewer in the other, nodding as she said:

"Recently, the Three Primes Daoist of the Return to Origin Sect encountered danger in the White Mountain Secret Realm; although he escaped, his flesh and soul were severely damaged, and he passed away via meditation."

"Passed away via meditation?"

Yunhe was astonished.

"A Golden Core cultivator, passed away via meditation?"

This seemed to be the first time he'd heard of a Golden Core cultivator passing away via meditation.

As for the White Mountain Secret Realm, Yunhe did know of it.

This secret realm lies in a mountain hollow named White Mountain between the Return to Origin Domain and the Spirit Beast Domain; who discovered it and when are now impossible to ascertain.

The secret realm is believed to be the transformed cave abode of an ancient cultivator, and it is said to contain many spiritual plants and treasures.

The Return to Origin Sect and the Spirit Beast Sect had friction before the Righteous-Demon War broke out, precisely because they were vying for this secret realm.

Later, due to the Righteous-Demon War, they were forced to cease hostilities.

"The Three Primes Daoist already had a limited lifespan; he entered the deepest part of the White Mountain Secret Realm seeking an opportunity, but after his struggle he not only failed to gain any opportunity, instead he had to hastily settle his affairs and pass away via meditation upon returning."

"When a Golden Core Patriarch of the Return to Origin Sect passes away via meditation, the neighboring Qingzong Sect, next door, ought to show some respect as well."

"Disciple."

Yunhe showed a hesitant expression.

Although he isn't particularly afraid of early Golden Core cultivators now, nor of the Spirit Beast Sect's Xiao Shanhe.

But if he actually ran into them, it would still be quite troublesome.

It seemed she had perceived his concerns.

Huaxin let out a low laugh.

"Don't worry; now the demonic path's movements are unclear, its goals unknown, so the Spirit Beast Sect dares not casually send Golden Core cultivators away from their sect, especially since the target is the Return to Origin Sect."

The Spirit Beast Sect and the Return to Origin Sect already have tensions; if another sect sends Golden Core cultivators to pay a condolence visit, that shows sincerity, but if the Spirit Beast Sect sends Golden Core cultivators to the door, it carries a somewhat provocative meaning.

Although the Return to Origin Sect lost a Three Primes Daoist to passing away via meditation, it doesn't mean they have no other Golden Core cultivators.

If there were no Golden Core cultivators from the Spirit Beast Sect, Yunhe would naturally not need to worry much.

"Moreover, the Three Primes Daoist's juniors aren't exactly promising," Huaxin said with a hint of deep meaning.

Upon hearing that, Yunhe showed a look of sudden realization.

The junior is disappointing.

That is to say, they will sell some of the Three Origins Daoist's magical treasures, elixirs, spiritual talismans, etc.

Even if a portion is intercepted by the Return to Origin Sect, the Return to Origin Sect certainly cannot act in a way that wrongs the sect's Golden Core descendants.

Moreover, the Three Origins Daoist did not enter the White Mountain Secret Realm alone; the Return to Origin Sect certainly had other cultivators accompanying him, so it's not surprising that a lot of good things brought out from the secret realm will be sold together.

This is actually a rare good opportunity.

"I understand." Yunhe clasped his fists.

Anyway, he originally needed to go out to purchase materials; with his current escape speed, a trip to the Return to Origin Sect plus the stay would only take three or five days, and it would not affect his cultivation.

"Go find the sect master's nephew and just tell him that this matter has been entrusted to you."

Hua Xin waved their hand.

(End of chapter)