Chapter 109: Taking the Pill to Enter the Ninth Layer

"Father, even though I have considerable talent in the dao of arrays, it would be absolutely impossible to go from nothing to being able to set up a clan protection grand array in just a year or two. Moreover, according to your requirements, it must be a clan protection grand array that can block Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"At my current level and progress, it will take at least over ten years to meet your expectations."

Xu Chuan smiled warmly, "Alright then, tell me where you discovered it."

"Treasure Pavilion."

"As expected, only the Great Wei imperial family could possibly produce such a grand array. Tell me the details."

Xu Mingxian nodded slightly, "Based on my judgment, it's a second-grade superior-grade incomplete array. Although it can currently operate, at most it can defend against attacks from Qi Refining perfection. How long it can last is hard to say.

Moreover, I estimate that due to its incompleteness, the grand array has multiple flaws, which is why it's been gathering dust at Treasure Pavilion until now."

"This isn't Yunnu boasting." Xu Mingxian's eyebrows lifted slightly, a smile playing at his lips, his expression flying high between his brows as he chuckled, "In my study of the Dao of arrays, I've occasionally gained insights. I believe I'm quite skilled in deduction techniques, especially excelling in completing incomplete arrays."

That's natural!

Once Xu Mingxian accumulated enough mastery in the dao of arrays, he would surely be able to innovate and evolve unprecedented magnificent grand arrays.

Completing incomplete arrays was very difficult for other array formation masters but Xu Mingxian could indeed give it a try.

"According to what you said, it's a second-grade superior-grade incomplete array. Yunnu, are you certain you're confident?" After pondering briefly, Xu Chuan looked into his eyes.

"Yes!" Xu Mingxian responded firmly, "Give me seven or eight months, at most a year. I can definitely complete it."

"Good." Seeing him make such a firm commitment, Xu Chuan nodded slightly.

"But there's a problem." Xu Mingxian scratched his head and smiled awkwardly, "That incomplete array costs eight hundred spirit stones."

Xu Chuan's expression froze, his face also showing difficulty. After hesitating for a long while, he said, "If that's the case, we can only take a risk once. I didn't want to continue selling pills in Tongshan Commandery because I was afraid of being watched."

"But the clan protection grand array is extremely important to our Xu family."

"Tomorrow I'll continue going to spirit herb shops to purchase the corresponding spirit herbs. Following the previous selling method can reduce quite a bit of risk."

"Thank you for your trouble, father." Xu Mingxian cupped his hands toward him.

"Father will handle the spirit stones, but completing the incomplete array depends on you, Yunnu." Xu Chuan placed his hand on his shoulder, encouraging him.

"I definitely won't disappoint father's expectations!"

Half a month later.

Through selling pills, the spirit stones in Xu Chuan's hands reached eight hundred and eighty.

Aside from the eight hundred spirit stones for the second-grade superior-grade incomplete array, what remained was enough for cave mansion rental fees and daily expenses for researching array formations.

If that wasn't enough, after some time he could go to Treasure Pavilion again and try to sell the two Breakthrough Pills, which should be worth several dozen spirit stones.

Xu Chuan gave all the spirit stones in his hands to Xu Mingxian. After storing them in the basic storage bag, he went out to Treasure Pavilion.

In the marketplace, no one would cause trouble, so Xu Chuan wasn't worried about his safety.

After a few cups of tea's time, he returned to the cave mansion with the second-grade superior-grade grand array.

"Father, this grand array is called the Four Symbols Heaven Force Array. It has thirty-six array flags in total, divided into the Azure Dragon Array, White Tiger Array, Vermilion Bird Array, and Black Tortoise Array. These four types of arrays are all first-grade superior-grade array formations.

When the four symbols gather together, combining offense and defense, it becomes a complete second-grade superior-grade grand array. Unfortunately, the array flags of all four arrays are partially intact and partially incomplete in their array patterns. I can only deduce based on the intact array flags' patterns."

"Just do it with peace of mind. Whatever you need, father will fully support you."

"Thank you, father. Then Yunnu will return to his room to research first."

"Go ahead, but don't forget your own cultivation."

Xu Mingxian nodded slightly, then returned to his room.

Xu Chuan also kept a low profile for seven or eight days. He neither went out to purchase spirit herbs nor sold pills, but honestly consumed superior-grade Qi Gathering Pills in the cave mansion.

As long as he pushed his cultivation to eighth layer of Qi Refining peak, he would prepare to consume the superior-grade Breakthrough Pill.

With his true spiritual root aptitude, plus the aid of the pill's power, his breakthrough probability was as high as seventy to eighty percent, enough to save more than half a year or even two to three years of hard work.

If it were miscellaneous spiritual root aptitude instead, wanting to break through from eighth layer of Qi Refining peak to ninth layer of Qi Refining initial stage would probably require seven or eight years or even over ten years of tempering to have a twenty to thirty percent chance of success.

After continuously consuming two or three superior-grade Qi Gathering Pills, Xu Chuan felt his spiritual power improve considerably.

In the late Qi Refining stage, each layer was more difficult than the last. The spiritual power that needed to be refined was several times more than before.

Without resource support, one could only rely on one's own day and night cultivation to accumulate.

As for Qi Gathering Pills, if they were merely low-grade ones, their effects were acceptable at seventh layer of Qi Refining. By eighth layer of Qi Refining, only middle-grade Qi Gathering Pills could maintain the previous cultivation speed. As for ninth layer of Qi Refining, superior-grade pills were needed.

"After another two or three months, I'll start refining pills again. I expect that with the superior-grade Qi Gathering Pills I refine, two months will be enough for me to reach eighth layer of Qi Refining peak."

After the third month's Awakening of Insects passed, all things flourished.

In the courtyard, peach blossoms bloomed brilliantly, pink waves surging.

Xu Chuan cultivated arduously for two months, his cultivation advancing slightly.

With his true spiritual root aptitude being like this, no wonder the eighth layer of Qi Refining people Xu Chuan had seen were mostly seventy or eighty years old, or even in their nineties.

If he didn't take pills, even with his fate talent enhancement, it would take Xu Chuan most of half a year to go from late eighth layer of Qi Refining to peak.

"I should break through to ninth layer of Qi Refining as soon as possible."

Xu Chuan glanced at the old peach tree in the courtyard. He knew the spirit stones in his hands were already few. He could only sell the low-grade Breakthrough Pills to exchange for some spirit stones to purchase spirit medicine.

Previously, he had never purchased spirit medicine at the same spirit herb shop. Now he did the same.

Behind each spirit herb shop was a different clan. Competition between them was fierce. They wouldn't share information with each other.

They all just assumed Xu Chuan or Xu Mingxian was merely an ordinary rogue cultivator researching pills.

As for selling an extra batch of pills some time ago, although it attracted attention, the two alternated identities every few days. Plus, they had kept a low profile for over two months now.

Therefore, they were fortunately not being watched.

…

Tongshan marketplace, eastern district.

Treasure Pavilion.

Xu Chuan stepped through the main door. There weren't many cultivators coming and going in the pavilion.

After all, everything was premium quality with hefty prices.

"Senior, are there any pills or magical artifacts you want? My Treasure Pavilion has everything." A middle-aged man wearing a black robe and tall hat came forward to greet him.

At first glance, this person seemed like an ordinary shop owner, but a sweep with divine sense revealed he was a seventh layer of Qi Refining initial stage immortal cultivator.

Looking at his age, he was only in his early sixties.

"The Cao imperial family is truly wealthy and powerful. Even just a shop manager is a seventh layer of Qi Refining immortal cultivator."

In a Qi Refining clan, he would be qualified to become a clan elder.

"Fellow Daoist is too kind. This poor Daoist has come because there's something I want to sell to your pavilion. I wonder if your pavilion will accept it?"

"What item?"

"Pills."

The tall-hatted middle-aged man pondered slightly, then looked up, "If that's the case, follow me this way, senior. I'm not knowledgeable about pills, but our pavilion has a resident pill master. I'll go ask him to take a look. If acceptable, our pavilion can make an offer to purchase them."

"I'll follow Fellow Daoist's lead."

Xu Chuan was led to an antique-styled quiet room.

The interior was simply and elegantly arranged. A rosewood Eight Immortals table sat in the center with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones all complete on top.

In the corner stood a curio shelf with layers of bronze tripods and porcelain bottles. Occasionally, a ray of sunlight would shine diagonally, causing the surfaces of the objects to emit a faint glow deposited by the years.

By the window was a couch covered with cloud brocade cushions. Outside the window, banana leaves rustled, complementing the curling blue smoke from the bronze censer on the desk, adding several parts tranquility.

That light smoke even had the effect of calming and settling the mind.

Shortly after, the tall-hatted middle-aged man led in a seventy or eighty-year-old elder and said to Xu Chuan, "Senior, this is Master He from our pavilion. He excels in the pill Dao. Please take out the pills that need identification and give them to him."

Xu Chuan nodded. He slapped the storage bag at his waist. A porcelain bottle flew out and flew before the He-surnamed pill master.

The He-surnamed pill master grasped the porcelain bottle. After forming hand seals, a pill flew out from within, suspended before him.

A strong pill fragrance spread out, instantly covering the calming and settling incense scent in the quiet room.

Pill Master He's pupils contracted slightly. His index and middle fingers gently pinched the pill, examining it closely, occasionally sniffing lightly.

After a short while, he took out another Breakthrough Pill and went through the same observation process.

After finishing, he returned them to the porcelain bottle and sealed it with a wooden stopper.

After pondering for a moment, he said, "This pill isn't a medicine I'm familiar with, but if this old man hasn't guessed wrong, it should be a boundary-breaking type, targeting late Qi Refining stage.

This old man merely inhaled some of the pill fragrance and felt the seventh layer bottleneck loosen slightly. Its efficacy should be seventy to eighty percent of a Barrier Breaking Pill. Most likely it was refined according to an ancient pill formula."

The tall-hatted middle-aged man was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected Master He to give such high praise. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Master He, how much do you think this pill is worth?"

"If there's a pill formula, it would be precious."

After speaking, Pill Master He looked up at Xu Chuan. Xu Chuan smiled bitterly, "If there truly was one, this poor Daoist would naturally be willing to sell it to your pavilion. Unfortunately, this pill was obtained by me from a cultivator's cave mansion by chance.

That cave mansion's owner was a Qi Refining perfection cultivator who should have died from failing to break through to Foundation Establishment. There was also an empty porcelain bottle that should have previously contained superior-grade pills of this type."

"That's truly regrettable. These two are only low-grade pills, but their efficacy is also close to superior-grade Barrier Breaking Pills. They're worth eighteen spirit stones each."

"Senior, Master He is a renowned pill refining master in our Tongshan Commandery. His evaluation definitely won't be wrong. Our pavilion will purchase them for thirty-six spirit stones. What do you think?"

Xu Chuan fell silent.

How could he not know? If he specifically sold them to some late Qi Refining cultivators at bottlenecks, he could even raise the price to thirty spirit stones each.

"Then let it be so." Xu Chuan looked up and replied.

After the transaction was completed, Xu Chuan immediately left Treasure Pavilion. He first wandered around the marketplace to confirm no one was following him, then walked into a spirit herb shop he hadn't visited before.

The spirit stones that hadn't even warmed up were all exchanged for spirit medicine again.

He wandered around again, ensuring no one was following before returning to the rented cave mansion.

Then it was refining pills, cultivating, refining pills, cultivating.

In the blink of an eye, two months passed.

Xu Chuan's realm finally reached eighth layer of Qi Refining peak. After resting for half a day, he sat cross-legged in his room and consumed the superior-grade Breakthrough Pill.

The moment he took the pill, saliva generated under his tongue and transformed into a clear stream that plunged straight into his dantian.

The spiritual power that was originally like pond water suddenly rippled. Eight spiritual qi vortexes collided with each other. Fine sweat seeped from Xu Chuan's forehead. Three wisps of white vapor steamed from his crown, clearly showing the impurities in his body being expelled.

Suddenly, the sound of glass shattering came from within his body. Xu Chuan's eyes moved slightly, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, showing joy.

He formed hand seals with one hand. A blue light flowed around his body.

In an instant, the impurities expelled from his body were completely washed away.

Moments later, Xu Chuan opened his eyes. Blue light flickered in his pupils. Between inhalations and exhalations, his breath was as long as a silkworm cocoon. His sleeves billowed without wind.

"Finally ninth layer of Qi Refining. What remains is to advance spiritual power to the peak."

Ninth layer of Qi Refining peak was Qi Refining perfection, touching upon the Foundation Establishment bottleneck.

This was a major realm bottleneck. For those without heavenly spiritual root aptitude, it was like a natural moat, far beyond what minor realm bottlenecks could compare to.

The first priority was to condense the five elements qi, cooperating with the five elements spiritual root to cast the immortal foundation.

At this time, the immortal foundation was rootless duckweed.

The next step was breaking through, attacking the Foundation Establishment bottleneck.

Countless Qi Refining perfection immortal cultivators fell at this step.

The current immortal cultivation world couldn't compare to ancient times when spiritual qi was unimaginably abundant and breaking through bottlenecks was very simple.

Now, without pill assistance, wanting to break through the bottleneck, only those with heavenly spiritual root aptitude could break through the bottleneck unstoppably.

Even earth spiritual root aptitude holders had a significant probability of failure if insufficiently prepared.

After passing this hurdle, the rest would be easy. Basically, success could be achieved in two or three days.

Condense divine consciousness, transform the immortal foundation from void to solid, sink it into the dantian, taking root there. From then on, the immortal foundation would no longer be rootless duckweed.

Foundation Establishment stage immortal cultivators, relying on the immortal foundation to absorb spiritual qi, were far faster than Qi Refining stage cultivators. Their spiritual power could also transform into higher quality Foundation Establishment spiritual power.

Several days later, Xu Chuan's realm completely stabilized at ninth layer of Qi Refining initial stage.

At this realm, even in Great Wei's immortal cultivation world, he wasn't considered weak anymore.

It was just that Xu Chuan specialized in the pill Dao. Combat was his weakness. He could only wait until Qi Refining perfection, then find time to learn various spells and gain combat experience.

Xu Chuan went to check on Xu Mingxian. Although he looked somewhat fatigued, his eyes were spirited and full of excitement. It seemed everything was going smoothly.

"Isn't father going to ask about my progress?"

"Seeing your appearance, father knows everything is going well."

"Father is perceptive. If nothing unexpected happens, there's hope of completion before the ancestral sacrifice. However, repairing these second-grade superior-grade array flags requires some materials. They're all second-grade, so it will probably cost some spirit stones."

Hearing this, Xu Chuan nodded, "What materials are needed? Report them to me first. When I have time, I'll wander around the marketplace to search for them."

Hearing this, Xu Mingxian mentioned five types of materials.

Xu Chuan silently memorized them.

At this time, Xu Mingxian suddenly said, "Father, you've broken through?"

"I just broke through to ninth layer of Qi Refining not long ago. Now my realm has stabilized."

"Foundation Establishment immortal cultivators are scarce. Unless it concerns clan survival, they rarely move about outside. ninth layer of Qi Refining is top-tier combat power."

"Congratulations, father!"

Seeing Xu Mingxian's excited expression, Xu Chuan smiled, "Don't be happy too early. In terms of real combat, your father can at most match eighth layer of Qi Refining."

"With me and eldest brother here, why would father need to personally fight with others?"

Speaking of Xu Mingwei, Xu Chuan was still very satisfied. That was the Xu family's peerless martial force he had cultivated since childhood.

"I wonder if your eldest brother has now reached grandmaster perfection?" Xu Chuan sighed.

"If father were currently staying by eldest brother's side, with your current pill Dao support, he'd probably have reached grandmaster perfection long ago. Now it's hard to say. After all, martial Dao grandmaster is equivalent to mid to late Qi Refining stage. Breaking through each realm is equally difficult."