Chapter 164: Too Young

Every disciple and Elder in the entire Taiyuan Sect had already eaten their fill of the Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill; the souls, meridians, dantian, and bodies that needed strengthening had all been developed to their limits, and continuing to consume them had no further effect. Therefore, these Spirit Pills were no longer considered rare treasures to the Taiyuan Sect.

But only those like them, who had swallowed and refined them in large quantities, truly knew the heaven-defying nature of these Spirit Pills; the benefits gained were simply unimaginable.

For this reason, the Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill was designated by the Supreme Elder, Xuanchen Zhenjun, as a core secret and strategic reserve of the Taiyuan Sect that could not be leaked. Not a single pill could be allowed to flow out at will; even for external sales, there was strict management and registration, and there were strict regulations on the quantity sold.

Of course, there was no other way, as only Xu Chen knew how to refine the Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill. While nominally open for external sale, the quantity was actually extremely limited; at present, the amount stored in the mountain gate was only about a dozen pills.

But Xu Chen had suddenly brought back over a dozen bottles, and the inventory was instantly replenished. If they were all sold, the Taiyuan Sect would harvest at least several hundred thousand Spirit Stones worth of various goods.

And because of the exchange and sale of the Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill, the Taiyuan Sect's current reserve of Soul Beads was also extremely abundant, with over ten thousand large and small ones. Almost all the Soul Beads obtained by rogue cultivators were traded to the Taiyuan Sect; conversely, the strongest powers, Yuqing Hall and Longmen Mountain, could only rely on their own cultivator teams to hunt for treasure.

With so many Soul Beads, Xuanchen Zhenjun naturally would not let this opportunity to increase his cultivation out of thin air slip by. Since the Spirit Transformation Ceremony, he had remained in his cave dwelling almost all day to intensify the refining of Soul Beads, and his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds.

If Soul Beads could be provided continuously on such a large scale, perhaps in just two or three years, he would be able to enter the late stage of Spirit Transformation.

This terrifying speed of improvement was absolutely the cultivation record in the history of the Great Song Immortal World.

And Xu Chen believed that the other True Monarchs of Yuqing Hall and Longmen Mountain were also continuously and rapidly increasing their strength and cultivation.

Therefore, the appearance of the Black Wind and Soul Beasts might be a disaster for mortals and ordinary cultivators, but for Spirit Realm Great Cultivators, it was nothing short of an unprecedented opportunity.

As long as the Soul Beasts did not go extinct, their cultivation would continue to grow rapidly without stopping.

Breaking through all the way to the True Spirit Realm and Shenling Realm was highly likely.

And this seemed to be the real reason why the several True Monarchs were so serious and made such a big fuss about the ravages of the Soul Beasts.

However, Xu Chen was also vaguely worried that in the future, the Immortal Sects presided over by these Great Cultivators might be blinded by the speed of their cultivation growth and slowly follow in the footsteps of the previous Taiyuan Sect, secretly raising Soul Beasts to obtain greater benefits, such as wanting to borrow the power of Soul Beasts to break through and become True Immortals.

But these matters were not things he could control or needed to consider at the moment.

"I was still too young; I underestimated Yuqing Hall..."

In the midst of petrified silence, Jiu Shixiong finally stammered out a sentence.

Seventh Senior Sister said faintly: "Shouldn't you say you underestimated our Junior Brother?"

A group of senior brothers and sisters immediately came back to life, excitedly discussing the unprecedented harvest of Yuqing Hall and Xu Chen.

Third Elder let out a long breath, stroked his beard, and sighed: "Now that the construction of the mountain gate is in full swing, and the outer sect has successively recruited hundreds of disciples, it is exactly the time when a large amount of first-grade ordinary Spirit Pills is needed. This batch of medicinal materials came just in time to solve a pressing need."

Xuanhe Zhenren nodded while stroking his beard: "I didn't expect Baiyun Zhenjun to have such magnanimity. Chen'er's trip was worth a thousand times over."

Eldest Senior Brother said: "With Yuqing Hall obtaining this batch of Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pills, I presume the cultivation aptitude of many people will also be greatly improved. I fear that before long, there will be many more powerhouses. This investment can be considered a huge profit."

Xuanhe Zhenren laughed out loud: "There is only gain if there is sacrifice; it is just a matter of each taking what they need. Relatively speaking, our Taiyuan Sect gained more. It is just a pity that the matter of using Sanyuan Golden Lotus in medicine has been slow to progress. If Junior Brother Xuanfeng could also reach the Golden Core stage, the strength of our Taiyuan Sect would also grow very quickly."

Third Elder immediately shook his head with a bitter smile: "It can't be rushed. For the Sanyuan Golden Lotus to be used in pills, I fear only Longmen Mountain has the prescription, and it is not easy to get hold of. Taiwuzi is not as magnanimous and easy to talk to as Senior Baiyunzi."

However, upon hearing this, Xu Chen flipped his hand, took out a jade bottle, and handed it to Third Elder: "This disciple had another special harvest this time and obtained a strange Spirit Pill that might be useful for Third Elder's Golden Core formation. However, the aftereffects are relatively large; Master and Third Elder can consider whether or not to use it."

"Oh, what kind of Spirit Pill is this?" Xuanhe Zhenren and Third Elder were surprised at the same time.

Xu Chen smiled: "This is the Seven Spirit Pill I refined after making a bet with them at the Alchemy Hall of Yuqing Hall. The prescription for the Seven Spirit Pill is here; Master and Third Elder will know the truth at a glance!"

As he spoke, Xu Chen took out another Jade Slip and handed it to Xuanhe Zhenren.

Xuanhe Zhenren's Divine Sense probed into it, and his face changed instantly. He watched for a full dozens of breaths before handing the prescription to Third Elder, his face full of sighs and emotions: "Yuqing Hall actually has such a magical Spirit Pill; it truly opens one's eyes. The foundation of thousands of years of heritage is indeed not something our Taiyuan Sect can compare to."

Third Elder also began to watch the prescription carefully at this time. The expression on his face was even more excited and surprised than that of Xuanhe Zhenren. He watched for a full half-cup of tea before putting down the Jade Slip. His silver-white beard and hair trembled slightly, and his eyes were a bit unfocused.

"Uncle-Master, what is the miraculous effect of this Seven Spirit Pill?" Eldest Senior Brother couldn't help but ask anxiously.

Third Elder handed the prescription to Eldest Senior Brother, and after being stunned for a long time, he suddenly let out a long breath and said: "This is perhaps the only way for this old man to form a Golden Core. No matter what, this old man must give it a try."

Xuanhe Zhenren nodded: "I also think it is feasible. It is just a few years of soul weakness. After forming the Golden Core, by taking more Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pills, perhaps the soul can be replenished and restored very quickly."

At this time, the Seven Spirit Pill prescription was quickly passed around in the hands of the group of senior brothers and sisters. Everyone who saw it showed a look of shock, and exclamations rose one after another.

Xu Chen also understood very well. When he first heard about the Seven Spirit Pill and learned the prescription himself, his mood was no less than that of the two Elders and the group of senior brothers and sisters.

This Seven Spirit Pill was considered an absolutely heaven-defying pill even in Yuqing Hall, let alone in the shallow-founded Taiyuan Sect. It could be said that the miraculous effect of this Spirit Pill had never been heard of by anyone, and it was estimated that even Xuanchen Zhenjun did not know about it.

Because this kind of Spirit Pill was considered a secret recipe even in Yuqing Hall, and those who were not alchemists at the late stage of the Zhenyuan Realm could not come into contact with this prescription. It had always been kept by Second Elder Biyunzi personally and was not recorded in the Scripture Pavilion of the Alchemy Hall at all.

And for such a magical prescription, Yuqing Hall certainly had far more than this one.

These secret transmissions that most disciples of Yuqing Hall could not come into contact with were the true foundation of Yuqing Hall.

Xuanhe Zhenren and Third Elder communicated via Divine Sense for a moment. After Third Elder took the prescription and the two Seven Spirit Pills, he said to Xu Chen: "This poor Daoist will keep this prescription and the Spirit Pills for now; they will be of great use later. Since you have already returned, it just so happens that this Danyuan can be handed over to you to manage. This poor Daoist is preparing to go into seclusion for a period of time to start impacting the Golden Core."

Xu Chen said helplessly: "Disciple obeys!"

"Haha!" Seeing Xu Chen's bitter face, Xuanhe Zhenren patted his shoulder lightly and comforted him: "The so-called 'the capable do more work'. You juniors are growing so rapidly, so we old fellows should naturally be more relaxed. In the future, we will slowly retreat behind the scenes, and this Taiyuan Sect will also be left for you to manage. It just so happens that in these troubled times, there are some things that we old fellows still have to stand in front, which is not just being lazy."

Xu Chen could only bow and salute: "Disciple knows, but this disciple is also preparing for Foundation Establishment recently, and I fear that the management of this Danyuan will be a mess."

Xuanhe Zhenren stroked his beard and pondered for a moment before nodding: "Hmm, what you said is indeed reasonable. Although the affairs of the Danyuan are important, your Foundation Establishment cannot be delayed any longer. How about this: let Lu Yuan look after the Danyuan for now. Since Su Zhao was taken up the mountain by you, let him stay in the Danyuan for the time being to learn and organize some medicinal materials. After he is familiar with it in the future, he will be a good helper."

Xu Chen breathed a sigh of relief and winked at the bitter-faced Jiu Shixiong. Su Zhao, on the other hand, was overjoyed and knelt on the ground to kowtow to Xuanhe Zhenren: "Disciple thanks the Sect Leader True Person."

Xuanhe Zhenren nodded with a smile: "Your aptitude is the same as my disciple Xu Chen's back then; it is indeed mediocre. But don't worry, with so many Spirit Pills and medicines, you won't be too bad in the future. Let's leave today's matter at that. You all help clean up these Spirit Medicines first. I still have something to say to Elder Xuanfeng alone. Junior Brother, come with me to the quiet room."

The two Elders left quickly. Xu Chen also thought that there were still a few Seven-Star Golden Toads in the Spirit Beast Bag, so after giving Su Zhao a few simple instructions, he hugged Xiao Huli and pulled Zhao Xuan, and the two of them slipped out of the Danyuan and flew on their swords straight toward the Medicine Garden.

Having been away for more than a month, the small wooden house had been tidied up very cleanly and neatly by Zhao Xuan inside and out. Xu Chen naturally didn't have time to look closely; after drinking a bowl of cold water, he pulled Zhao Xuan and headed straight for the Medicine Garden.

When he arrived at the Medicine Garden, he discovered that the changes over the past month were huge.

Those colorful, strange plants inside had all grown a large chunk taller. Those that looked like rice had already grown to chest height, especially the red-stemmed, purple-leaved grape vine entwined on the Soul Returning Wood, which had already climbed to the treetops several feet high. The fan-sized leaves were like jade, standing tall and motionless in the wind, and they were even vaguely emitting a faint spiritual light.

And the life aura contained within these plants was like surging river water. Under the contact of his Divine Sense, it made him feel that his stable soul was trembling slightly; the aura was shocking.

"Senior Sister, have you been using too many Spirit Stones recently? How did they grow so fast?" Xu Chen was surprised.

Zhao Xuan shook her head: "I use two Spirit Stones every three days, just like before. However, the Spirit Qi in this Medicine Garden is increasing day by day. Haven't you noticed? The plants nearby are also growing very fiercely, and many previous Spirit Medicines have grown out in the Medicine Garden, and they are not growing normally; they seem to have started to mutate."

Xu Chen was startled when he heard this. A scan with his Divine Sense revealed that it was indeed the case.

The Spirit Qi in the Medicine Garden was abundant, seemingly even more so than the Medicine Gardens of Yuqing Hall. The ordinary plants and flowers around were all growing lushly as if they had eaten strength-enhancing pills, and their life aura was also very vigorous. They even began to show signs of spiritualization, with thick stems and bright green leaves.

And in the empty spaces of the Medicine Garden, quite a few low-growing plants had indeed grown out sporadically. The plant types were all those Spirit Medicine seedlings that had withered before. Although they looked like they had just grown out, their life aura was incomparably vigorous.

However, just as Xu Chen was watching, he suddenly felt his ankle being entangled by something. Startled, he looked down and discovered that it was actually that most strange three-leaf Snake-headed Plant. At this moment, it was really like a snake; the leaf stalk was like a colorful snake, winding around his trouser leg.

(End of chapter)