Chapter 277: Heavenly Demon Refines the Dan (In honor of Alliance Leader Dawn Minister Bondrewd)

Inside the Rank 4 cave dwelling.

Fang Xing sat cross-legged, his divine sense looking inward at his dantian.

He saw a white-gold Jin Dan rotating slowly, each revolution swallowing a vast amount of Heaven and Earth spiritual energy.

The nearly liquid spiritual energy, after being transformed and condensed by his natal flying sword, turned into Jin Dan sword essence—a grade stronger than ordinary Jin Dan true essence—and circulated rapidly along fixed meridians within his body.

"The 'Great Freedom Profound Jin Jian Canon' is truly worthy of being the sect-suppressing cultivation technique of a Nascent Soul sect..."

After a long while, Fang Xing opened his eyes: "Late-stage Jin Dan... just a little more, and I can reach the Jin Dan Perfection."

"I am not even fifty years old yet..."

Such a cultivation speed, if spoken aloud, would truly shock the entire Cultivation World.

After all, for ordinary cultivators, being able to reach Foundation Establishment before the age of sixty is already cause for burning high incense.

Even for the direct disciples of Nascent Soul sects, if they can form a Jin Dan before sixty, they are considered peerless geniuses of a generation!

But for Fang Xing, he would likely be attempting to break through to Nascent Soul before sixty.

Of course, his cultivation speed was inherently abnormal.

It was not just his own innate talent, but also the bonus of the Rank 4 spiritual vein cave dwelling.

More importantly... it was the contribution of the vast amount of spiritual herbs from the Linlang Linlang Fudi, as well as the miraculous effects of the Wan Hua Ding!

To put it bluntly, the entire Dajing Cultivation World—especially both the righteous and demonic factions—had all contributed their share to Fang Xing's future Nascent Soul formation!

Furthermore, the waste was also quite severe.

Fang Xing secretly calculated the large amount of spiritual items he had consumed in pursuit of cultivation speed, feeling it would have been enough to cultivate several late-stage Jin Dan cultivators.

"Breaking through from mid-stage Jin Dan to late-stage Jin Dan... felt extremely easy."

"For true geniuses, is a bottleneck not even called a bottleneck?"

Previously, after reaching the peak of mid-stage Jin Dan mana, Fang Xing had casually consumed some spiritual pills captured from the storage bags of both righteous and demonic cultivators. After purification by the Wan Hua Ding, these pills—rumored to be highly useful for breaking through bottlenecks—allowed him to easily break through to late-stage Jin Dan.

For Jin Dan cultivators, a bottleneck that could easily trap them for decades seemed non-existent to him.

From here on, the path to Jin Dan Perfection was smooth sailing; he only needed to continuously accumulate mana.

Moreover, while cultivating, Fang Xing never forgot to purify his own mana and thicken his foundation.

By now, even without using other means, relying solely on himself and his sword, he was confident in slaying experts like the Five Sons of the Righteous Path or the Six Heroes of the Demonic Path.

"My alchemy skills have already been honed to the quasi-Rank 4 level... I can start preparing to refine the Nascent Soul Pill."

"My requirements are not high; as long as I can barely form a pill, it will do... anyway, there are plenty of main materials, so I can waste them at will."

"In the end, as long as one succeeds, I can use the 'Wan Hua Ding' to save the situation."

Of course, if it were best, it would be to refine a genuine product. That way, after being enhanced by the Wan Hua Ding, the efficacy would be supreme, further increasing the chances of Nascent Soul formation.

Fang Xing silently calculated his preparations for forming a Nascent Soul.

"Breaking through a major bottleneck generally requires facing three barriers—physique, mana, and divine sense heart-demons..."

"The 'Great Freedom Profound Jin Jian Canon' I cultivate is a Spirit Transformation technique. My mana is pure, carrying the sharpness of metal-attribute sword essence... and with a top-grade metal-attribute spirit stone, it shouldn't be a big problem."

"As for heart-demons... I didn't even see them when forming my Jin Dan. I wonder if I will get to see them when forming the Nascent Soul?"

"As for the Nascent Soul lightning tribulation... I have already practiced the Wan Fa Ghost Infant and mastered two spiritual treasures, the 'Qingyang Magic Lamp' and the 'Jiaowei Qin'. If even I cannot pass it, then no cultivator can..."

"Looking at it this way, apart from physique, this cultivation clone truly has all conditions maxed out. It would be against the laws of heaven if I didn't form a Nascent Soul."

Fang Xing sighed with emotion.

The Nascent Soul Pill has extraordinary effects, capable of nourishing the essence, Qi, and spirit of late-stage Jin Dan cultivators. Like the Jin Dan, it can temper the physique with most of the medicinal power, helping to break through the three barriers of essence, Qi, and spirit.

Simply put, it supplements wherever there is a deficiency.

Some cultivators have strong physiques but weak mana, so they can concentrate most of the pill's power on the mana barrier to promote mana transformation.

Others have weak divine sense, so they can concentrate the medicinal power on the divine sense to assist in breaking through.

This is the basic principle of rank-breaking pills: to supplement innate deficiencies!

Of course, if a cultivator is deficient in essence, Qi, and spirit in every way, and the pill's power is not enough to make up for the defects, then failure is inevitable, and there is nothing anyone can do.

"Hmm?"

While deep in thought, Fang Xing felt the fluctuation of spiritual energy outside and couldn't help but smile: "Is someone forming a Jin Dan?"

He actually didn't care at all about how the Mu family was doing.

As long as the Mu family didn't produce a Nascent Soul Great Zhenjun right now, even if someone were forming an Immortal Jin Dan, as long as they didn't come to snatch his cave dwelling, he couldn't be bothered to care.

However, when Fang Xing released his divine sense, he discovered that the Jin Dan celestial phenomenon was collapsing with a roar.

In the end, the original upstream true dan phenomenon was forcibly turned into a false dan phenomenon.

"This is... greed without satisfaction, wanting to charge at the half-step Jin Dan, only to fail and suffer backlash?"

"Or perhaps... sinking into the heart-demon tribulation and taking the Jin Dan Great Medicine?"

"Or even... a villain at work?!"

Fang Xing took a look and knew where the unlucky person forming the Jin Dan had failed: "Still too impatient. If they had been steady and solid, the upstream true dan wouldn't have been a problem... Besides that, if they could have had one more Jin Dan spiritual item to keep the medicinal power of the Jin Dan at the end and consolidate their cultivation... they wouldn't have fallen in realm..."

As a quasi-Rank 4 alchemist, he had a lot of say in this regard.

He just glanced at it, stopped paying attention, and continued his seclusion.

"Time to start preparing to refine the Nascent Soul Pill... Thanks to nature's gift, I have five Divine Infant Fruits as main ingredients... Besides that, the auxiliary materials have also been collected from the storage bags of both righteous and demonic cultivators..."

The previous 'Nascent Soul Pill' recipe came from 'Huo Moqing' of the Nine Infant Sect.

He even thoughtfully prepared most of the auxiliary materials.

Fang Xing intended to collect the rest in the Linlang Linlang Fudi.

And in the storage bags of those demonic Jin Dan cultivators, there were similar preparations.

Gathering enough raw materials for five furnaces was not a problem.

"The key now... is to refine at least one pill within five furnaces, even if it's an inferior one!"

Fang Xing pondered for a while.

The Divine Infant Fruit cannot be divided, so each refining attempt uses one whole fruit per furnace.

If handed over to a Rank 4 alchemy grandmaster, one furnace of 'Nascent Soul Pills' can guarantee at least one successful pill, or perhaps one or two more inferior ones.

The 'Nascent Soul Pill' is not a common pill. The highest record in the Cultivation World is a Rank 5 alchemist who succeeded in refining five pills in one furnace!

Unfortunately, he was only a quasi-Rank 4 alchemist, but fortunately, he had enough raw materials, so it was still very hopeful to give it a try.

"It's just that ordinary quasi-Rank 4 alchemists who want to advance to Rank 4 alchemists and try refining Rank 4 pills would definitely choose the cheapest ones..."

"Using the 'Nascent Soul Pill' to practice is truly a bit of a waste of heaven's gifts..."

"Better to slow down first. The Mu family is, after all, a cultivation family that has produced Nascent Souls. They should have one or two Rank 4 pill recipes or fragments, so I can try those first..."

Although it is not easy to collect materials for Rank 4 pills, Fang Xing was now wealthy and had plenty of confidence.

In recent years, apart from cultivation, he had basically spent all his time on alchemy.

"After I form the Nascent Soul, I'll see if the reclamation war has any potential... If not, I'll go to the Hanhai Cultivation World to seek cultivation techniques and classics after Spirit Transformation."

Actually, for ordinary Nascent Soul True Monarchs, the 'Great Freedom Profound Jin Jian Canon' can be cultivated to Spirit Transformation, which is enough.

But for Fang Xing, it was far from enough. His knowledge reserve in martial arts was already enough for him to cultivate to Wu Shen.

But there was no path after that!

Although the Blue Star Federation was pioneering, Fang Xing still had to prepare his own retreat, which was the Immortal Martial Path!

Therefore, collecting cultivation classics equivalent to the realm above Wu Shen in the Cultivation World and letting the cultivation clone take the lead, and then feeding it back to the main body, might not be a way to assist in breaking through to Wu Shen.

A flash of light, and the jade slip recording the 'Nascent Soul Pill' recipe appeared in Fang Xing's hand, and he began to study it carefully.

"Divine Infant enters the furnace, Nine Dragons soar, there should be green bamboo and green waterfalls, flowing straight down, Jade Pot turns three times, then nine times... temper with Vermilion Fruit, contain with Jade Stone..."

"Damn alchemists don't act like humans, using all sorts of hidden language and pursuing rhymes..."

"Cultivation should also be scientific! What dosage, what heat... can't you just say it clearly?"

Fang Xing studied it for a while and felt like vomiting blood.

These are the pitfalls in the cultivation classics; those that are even more devious will hide the key oral formulas, which can only be passed down by word of mouth from master to disciple.

Fortunately, he had several copies of the 'Nascent Soul Pill' recipe in his hand, which he could compare and reference.

He himself was a quasi-Rank 4 alchemist with rich alchemy experience and could barely deduce some things.

Using the Divine Infant Fruit to try, and refining a few furnaces to waste, he would probably be able to figure out the way.

While he was studying, a sound transmission talisman flew into the cave dwelling.

"Hmm?"

Fang Xing grabbed it casually, and a burst of mana caught the sound transmission talisman, which fell into his palm.

He listened to a few sentences and sighed: "Very well... I have to see them eventually."

Immediately, a cyan bead appeared in his hand, which was the 'Nine Infant Bead'.

Fang Xing's heart moved, and he turned into the appearance of Mu Wanlong, his aura still very weak.

A small flag appeared in his hand, and he waved it casually. Five-colored runes swam in the mist, covering the beast pen, alchemy room, and other places he didn't want outsiders to see.

After doing all this, Fang Xing flicked his finger, and a sound transmission talisman flew out, opening the array outside the Rank 4 cave dwelling.

Several streams of light flew in immediately, and the leader was Mu Wan Zhang.

Besides him, there was a young man with upright features and a pale face, as well as several Foundation Establishment deacons.

They came to the living room and saw Mu Wanlong on the cloud bed. Their eyes turned red immediately: "Supreme Elder..."

At this time, 'Mu Wanlong' had gray hair, not a trace of vitality, chicken skin and crane hair, turbid old eyes, and even a foul smell on his body.

Clearly, he looked like he didn't have long to live.

"Dan Laozu, Qingshi has failed the trust... consumed the family's foundation, only formed a false dan, please punish me, Dan Laozu."

The young man with upright features was Mu Qingshi, who knelt down to plead guilty, his voice filled with tears.

"Good child..."

Fang Xing spoke, his voice hoarse: "This is not your fault, what exactly happened?"

He looked at Mu Wan Zhang.

Mu Wan Zhang had no choice. The family's Jin Dan seed only formed a false dan, and the family immediately became unstable.

At this time, he could only visit the Dan Laozu and release the news of the Dan Laozu's health to barely stabilize people's hearts.

He just didn't expect that the Dan Laozu, who had always refused to see him, would agree this time.

He felt bitter in his heart and said: "Qingshi has a tough personality, but he thinks too much... He had originally proven the upstream true dan, but for the sake of the family, he tried his best to fight for the half-step Jin Dan... but he didn't expect that the heart-demon tribulation had not been completely passed. He thought the Jin Dan was complete, but in reality, he was in the heart-demon illusion and took the Jin Dan Great Medicine... The quality of the original true dan plummeted, barely maintaining a false dan."

Mu Qingshi was ashamed to death and could only kneel without speaking.

"Sigh... this is God's will."

Fang Xing coughed and then looked at the cultivators present: "However... it is not without a way to save it."

As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the cultivators present became very colorful.

"Supreme Elder... there is no regret after the dan is formed."

Mu Wan Zhang felt a bit hot in his heart, but also a bit hesitant, saying this common sense of the Cultivation World.

"Hehe... cultivators of our generation should turn the impossible into the possible... There are countless strange techniques in the Cultivation World, and 'no regret after dan is formed' is too absolute..."

Fang Xing shook his head: "Old man, this time in the Linlang Linlang Fudi, I once killed a demonic Jin Dan cultivator and captured a secret technique from his storage bag, called the 'Heavenly Demon Dan Transformation Great Method'! It can dissolve the false dan or even true dan in a cultivator's body without damaging the foundation, making it easy to form a Jin Dan again... This kind of breaking and then standing naturally improves the quality of the Jin Dan."

He looked at Mu Qingshi: "Qingshi, you are already the most outstanding among the Jin Dan seeds. If you cannot succeed, no one can... Old man decided to exhaust the remaining essence to perform this secret technique for you, and then hand over all the Jin Dan spiritual items in the family to you... You were only a line away from the half-step Jin Dan before. If you dissolve the false dan and form the Jin Dan again, there is a high possibility of achieving the half-step Jin Dan and becoming the pillar of my Mu family!"

As soon as these words came out, Mu Qingshi's eyes turned red immediately: "Dan Laozu..."

"This secret technique... I'm afraid it's very difficult to perform, Supreme Elder, your body?" Mu Wan Zhang hesitated.

"It doesn't matter... anyway, I don't have many years to live, so I should abandon this remnant body to pave the way for the younger generation."

Fang Xing said indifferently: "Where the old leaves fall, the seeds will grow endlessly..."

For a time, many cultivators were moved beyond words.

Mu Wan Zhang returned to his cave dwelling, feeling even more excited: "If my Mu family can produce a half-step Jin Dan cultivator, seal the mountain for a hundred years... maybe we can break through to mid-stage Jin Dan! A mid-stage Jin Dan cultivator with a half-step Jin Dan is no worse than an ordinary late-stage Jin Dan great cultivator. My Mu family finally has a hope of revival."

Just then, he suddenly heard a cough behind him, and his hair stood on end: "Who?"

"It's me!"

Fang Xing walked out of the darkness with his hands behind his back.

"Supreme Elder, didn't you say you were going to prepare for the Heavenly Demon Dan Transformation Great Method?" Mu Wan Zhang was startled.

"What Dan Transformation Great Method? Old man lied to you."

Fang Xing showed a strange smile.

In the demonic path, there is indeed such a Dan Transformation method, but the prerequisites are very complex and harsh, not to mention that it requires a Nascent Soul Great Zhenjun to take action and consume a lot of vitality to do it.

Not to mention whether he could do it, even if he could use the Wan Fa Ghost Infant to perform it, he was not Mu Qingshi's father, so he would never pay such a price.

Releasing this rumor was just bullying this group of false dan and Foundation Establishment cultivators for their lack of knowledge!

"What?"

Mu Wan Zhang widened his eyes.

"Old man suspects that someone did something during Qingshi's Jin Dan formation process... Although the family sealed the mountain, the internal remnants have not been cleared. I deliberately said so just to lure the snake out of the hole."

Fang Xing explained lightly.

Those forces outside definitely didn't want to see the Mu family produce another half-step Jin Dan cultivator.

And since they had taken action once before, they would take action a second time.

Fang Xing was deliberately fishing.

"So that's how it is..."

Mu Wan Zhang felt quite emotional in his heart. Sure enough, ginger is still old and spicy. No wonder the Supreme Elder could be the family head before!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 278 =====