Chapter 116: The Theory of Bloodlines, An Ancient Incomplete Formula

"Wang family." Xu Chuan murmured in a low voice.

"What, you know of them?" Daoist Yunding looked toward Xu Chuan.

"Among the families that sought cooperation with me, the first was this Wang family."

"So that's how it is." Daoist Yunding stroked his beard and nodded, then continued, "The Wang family produced a true spiritual root genius. I've heard he possesses an ice-attribute bloodline and cultivates not his family's technique, but an ice-attribute cultivation method obtained at great cost. Now having obtained this superior-grade magical artifact Ice Edge Sword, his strength will likely rise to another level."

"Ice-attribute bloodline?"

"It occasionally emerges from marriages between families. Cultivating to Foundation Establishment and specializing in a single elemental qi attribute cultivation method, the bloodline will naturally become somewhat different. However, not everyone in a family can be born with one. If they have it, cultivating the corresponding attribute cultivation method will naturally be thirty to forty percent faster than ordinary techniques."

Xu Chuan nodded slightly, thinking of Xu Dezhao's Pseudo Fire Virtue Bloodline. If he cultivated fire-attribute techniques in the future, it would also provide ten to twenty percent assistance.

If it were a complete Fire Virtue Bloodline, it would probably not differ much from those Foundation Establishment family bloodlines.

Could it be that the Yang family's ancestors once had Foundation Establishment cultivators, and they were merely a branch lineage that survived to this day, having lost the inheritance?

"Eighteen years old, peak of the seventh layer of Qi Refining."

"That is indeed a genius."

"Just accumulated resources." A trace of disdain seemed to flash through Daoist Yunding's eyes.

"Haha, could it be that Fellow Daoist Yunding is jealous?" Xu Chuan said with a faint smile, "A family's accumulation isn't obtained overnight. The so-called predecessors plant trees for descendants to enjoy the shade. If Fellow Daoist has descendants, they too would be fortunate."

"This poor Daoist prefers freedom alone. Unless I break through to Foundation Establishment in the future, I might establish a clan to pass down. Otherwise, it's best to forget it."

"May I ask Fellow Daoist, within the Imperial City, are there many Qi Refining late-stage cultivators who are only eighteen years old?"

"Naturally not many." Daoist Yunding shook his head with a laugh, "Only in the Imperial City can such geniuses exist. In your travels through the commanderies, Fellow Daoist, have you heard of such geniuses?"

"I haven't."

"Those who reach Qi Refining late-stage before the age of twenty are all immortal cultivation geniuses and are Foundation Establishment seeds reserved by each family. With the Wang family obtaining this genius, it seems they want to impact second-rank family status."

"In the Imperial City there are three great first-rank families, so how many second-rank ones are there?"

"Only five families."

"So few?" Xu Chuan showed surprise on his face.

"What does Fellow Daoist think is the reason?" Daoist Yunding asked back with a faint smile.

Xu Chuan looked at him, then immediately smiled as well, revealing an understanding expression.

The deeper a family's foundation, the fewer resources the three great families and the imperial family would control.

Therefore, they naturally weren't happy to see second-rank families increasing daily, much less additional first-rank families appearing.

"Yunnu has the Qi Swallowing Mountains and Rivers talent, so he naturally counts as an immortal cultivation genius. However, his spiritual root aptitude is slightly inferior. Though he compensates for it with the Innate Five Elements Creation Art, he still cannot compare with these so-called Imperial City geniuses. Only Ling'er, with true spiritual root aptitude and naturally born spirit eyes, began cultivating from a young age. She also cultivates the Heavenly Flame Art rather than ordinary techniques. She likewise has hope of reaching Qi Refining late-stage at seventeen or eighteen."

Xu Chuan held high hopes for her.

It was just that he felt there currently wasn't a suitable talent for her yet.

As for Golden Koi, Xu Chuan was extremely cautious and dared not casually bestow it.

He was preparing for a critical moment to grant it to the person who needed it most and to maximize the family's benefits.

"Next is an ancient pill scripture scroll that records numerous spirit materials from ancient times, as well as some pill refining techniques, pill refining theories, and so on. It's most suitable for pill refiners. This ancient scroll has a starting price of fifteen spirit stones, with each bid increase no less than one spirit stone. Fellow Daoists, please begin bidding."

Hearing these words, both Xu Chuan and Daoist Yunding's eyes brightened.

"Fellow Daoist Yunding, it seems you're also moved by this. Why don't we two join forces to win the bid and view it together?"

"Excellent. When the time comes, this old man need only make a copy."

The two immediately agreed.

Since Daoist Yunding was more familiar with things, they let him bid.

Seeing it was the Dan Hall's Third Elder bidding, various families gave him face and stopped competing. In the end, only a few pill masters called out prices.

"Congratulations to Daoist Yunding for winning this ancient scroll with thirty-two spirit stones."

Shortly after, someone carried the ancient scroll to the second floor.

Xu Chuan had already taken out sixteen spirit stones to give him.

"Daoist Yunding, this is the pill scripture ancient scroll you won. A total of thirty-two spirit stones."

Daoist Yunding swept his sleeve, and thirty-two spirit stones flew out from his storage bag.

The person swept over with divine sense, and after confirming it was correct, presented the pill scripture ancient scroll and collected the spirit stones then they left the elegant room.

At this time, the next auction item had already begun.

"Fellow Daoist Sansu, you keep this ancient scroll first. After you've finished copying it, just give me the copy."

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Yunding."

Daoist Yunding stroked his beard with a faint smile, but then continued, "Since there's a pill scripture ancient scroll, then this ancient family secret treasury must have pill formulas. I just don't know if the three great families will put them up for auction."

"Pill formulas can also serve as foundation. This poor Daoist thinks it's quite unlikely. As for this ancient scroll, it must be that some family felt it had no great use, so they put it up. However, they likely kept a copy."

"Perhaps. But if it's not the original ancient scroll, at most seven or eight spirit stones would suffice."

"That's still quite expensive. Ordinarily, this type of tome, placed in the marketplace, would at most be four or five spirit stones, and most of the time no one would even inquire about it."

"It's only one-third of the reward for one of Fellow Daoist's Dan Hall tasks." Daoist Yunding said with a teasing smile.

"But I'm preparing to accumulate spirit stones to exchange for a superior-grade pill furnace. If I don't economize a bit, who knows when I'll be able to exchange for one."

"Relying on yourself alone, wanting to exchange for one within a year is somewhat difficult. But if Fellow Daoist chooses to cooperate with a family, I believe they would be very happy to present a superior-grade pill furnace."

"Let's forget that." Xu Chuan waved his hand and smiled, "Come, let's continue drinking. I must say, this Jade Truth Brew truly deserves to be called fine spirit wine. I haven't been able to find it anywhere else."

Clink~

After a while, an incomplete pill formula appeared among the auction items.

"An incomplete pill formula?"

"Fellow Daoist Sansu is interested?" Daoist Yunding looked over.

"A bit, but the auctioneer hasn't mentioned its effects either. Even if only a few medicinal materials are missing, I'm afraid purchasing it would be useless."

"No one among the three great families could discern it, which means their pill Dao accomplishments are insufficient. But Fellow Daoist can try. If you don't want it, this old man will bid on it. It's only five spirit stones anyway."

"Fellow Daoist can bid on it, but I believe Fellow Daoist will definitely come to me for advice."

"Fellow Daoist Sansu, you really won't accept even the slightest loss."

Daoist Yunding shook his head helplessly, but he still bid on this incomplete pill formula. However, the final transaction price wasn't five stones, but nine.

After that, the auction didn't produce any items the two cared about.

After finishing the Jade Truth Brew, they successively returned to the Dan Hall.

Xu Chuan copied the pill scripture ancient scroll, while Daoist Yunding studied the incomplete pill formula he had just obtained.

The ancient scroll contained quite a bit of content. Xu Chuan spent nearly half a day before copying out a version and giving it to Daoist Yunding.

"Fellow Daoist, has there been progress on that incomplete pill formula?"

"Not yet, but this handwritten copy of the pill scripture ancient scroll comes at just the right time. Most of it contains ancient names for medicinal materials. Some may have changed names in the present day, and some may have already gone extinct. Let me study it for a few more days. If there's no progress, I'll give this formula to Fellow Daoist to research."

Xu Chuan nodded slightly, not particularly concerned.

At night, he swallowed superior-grade Qi Gathering Pills to cultivate.

The next day, after refining several furnaces, he studied the pill scripture ancient scroll, reading it with great interest.

He was quite curious about some of the ancient pill refining techniques recorded in the ancient scroll, such as the water refining method, water-fire refining method, five elements refining method, and so on.

It was just a pity that it only recorded the names and effects, but not the actual pill refining methods.

As for those theories, things like perfect pills and demon beast inner core methods, even Xu Chuan felt they were somewhat too boastful.

In summary, only those spirit medicine names, shapes, medicinal properties, characteristics, and so on were useful, allowing people to better understand the features and properties of spirit materials from ancient times.

Thus comparing ancient to modern.

Several days later.

Xu Chuan completed another Dan Hall 'performance task' and received thirty-eight spirit stones. He himself had secretly accumulated several bottles of middle-grade pills and superior-grade pills.

Their value far exceeded several times the reward spirit stones.

Xu Chuan adhered to two major principles in pill refining: absolutely don't turn in more than required, and turn in fewer superior-grade pills.

Even the person who set up the Dan Hall tasks hadn't expected that Xu Chuan's pill output rate and superior-grade pill rate would be so high.

They were not much worse than Chief Yun Zhongzi himself.

Not long after, Daoist Yunding came rushing excitedly to the pill room.

"Fellow Daoist Sansu, do you know what effect the pill recorded in this incomplete formula has?"

Seeing his expression, Xu Chuan said in surprise, "Could it be that Fellow Daoist Yunding has researched some clues? Is it a formula with rare effects?"

"Fellow Daoist Sansu understands me. If we can truly complete the formula, it may increase the Foundation Establishment breakthrough success rate by ten to twenty percent."

Xu Chuan's eyes immediately burst with brilliant light, "Truly?!"

"This could shake the entire Imperial City!"

Daoist Yunding stroked his beard, displaying a smile, and said calmly and unhurriedly, "This pill's effect should be to strengthen divine sense. If it's a superior-grade pill, there's a chance it could transform divine sense into divine consciousness. Transforming divine consciousness in advance will naturally increase the Foundation Establishment breakthrough success rate."

Xu Chuan nodded slightly, showing his agreement.

Daoist Yunding then continued, "However, this pill should be similar to breakthrough bottleneck pills, with usage restrictions, usually three to five pills. The specifics will only be known after completing the formula and truly refining it."

"It's just a pity..."

Hearing his words, Xu Chuan's heart also couldn't stop rejoicing. He hadn't expected that there truly existed pills in the world that could transform divine sense into divine consciousness in advance. This could be called seizing the creative power of heaven and earth.

"A pity what?"

"A pity that this pill has two main materials that are both second-grade rare spirit medicines. The Dan Hall doesn't have much in stock, and only the chief has the qualifications to directly requisition them. To complete this pill would require spending quite a few portions of spirit medicines on attempts. Even if we two wanted to secretly complete and refine it, I'm afraid spending all our family wealth wouldn't be enough for many portions."

Xu Chuan's brow furrowed slightly, "Is it really that exaggerated?"

"Do you think second-grade spirit medicines of three to four hundred years are that cheap? Just gathering the spirit medicines currently on the formula would require over a hundred spirit stones. If it's truly refined, even a superior-grade pill worth over a thousand spirit stones would have countless families scrambling for it."

In the Dan Hall, the number of second-grade pill refining tasks sharply decreased, primarily because the quantity of second-grade spirit medicines was far less abundant than first-grade spirit medicines.

"That's true." Xu Chuan's eyes were fervent, "To transform divine sense into divine consciousness in advance and increase Foundation Establishment breakthrough success rate, no matter how great the cost, it's worth it. However, looking at it this way, mass production is impossible."

Hearing this, Daoist Yunding smiled bitterly, "Fellow Daoist Sansu, what are you thinking? For this type of pill, being able to produce twenty or thirty per year would be the limit. As for superior-grade ones, even the chief would likely need ten to twenty attempts before possibly refining one."

Xu Chuan smiled without speaking, then said, "What happens next? Go find Chief Yun Zhongzi to jointly deduce this formula?"

"That's the only option."

The two immediately went to the third floor of the Dan Hall and informed him of the incomplete formula matter.

After hearing them out, Yun Zhongzi smiled faintly, "Your luck is quite good. If the person who auctioned the incomplete formula knew its use, they absolutely wouldn't have sold it so cheaply."

"Nine spirit stones though, that's not cheap either." Daoist Yunding muttered quietly.

"I'll accept the formula on behalf of the Dan Hall. If the formula can be completed and successfully refined, the Dan Hall can reward you one hundred spirit stones." Yun Zhongzi said.

Hearing this, Daoist Yunding's expression showed delight.

"Chief, will the formula be made public in the Dan Hall?" Xu Chuan raised his eyes to look at Yun Zhongzi.

Yun Zhongzi shook his head, "It won't be made public for now. Completing the formula doesn't depend on having many people, but on pill Dao accomplishments. Moreover, the Dan Hall's spirit medicine reserves aren't abundant, but I'll have people handle this matter. You needn't concern yourselves. This incomplete formula will be researched and completed by us three, plus Second Elder Fellow Daoist Xu Zhen. Whoever can complete it will naturally be rewarded by the Dan Hall, and can even receive a share of the pill's revenue."

"Tomorrow, you two can begin researching the incomplete formula."

"Yes, Chief." Xu Chuan and Daoist Yunding cupped their fists in salute and then left.

"What kind of person is Fellow Daoist Xu Zhen? I've almost never dealt with him."

On the way back to the pill room, Xu Chuan suddenly asked.

"Him? He's somewhat arrogant about his talents and also somewhat greedy. He's had pill business dealings with many families, but his pill Dao accomplishments are truly quite good, still slightly better than mine, second only to the chief. However..."

Daoist Yunding glanced at Xu Chuan and smiled faintly, "Now that Fellow Daoist Sansu has come, perhaps things will be different."

"Fellow Daoist Yunding thinks too highly of me. Fellow Daoist Xu Zhen's pill Dao accomplishments are even above yours. How could I, someone who just entered the Dan Hall, compare?"

Xu Chuan was as consistently low-key as ever.

Daoist Yunding stroked his beard and silently looked at Xu Chuan. After a moment, he said, "I won't misjudge people. Even if you can't compare now, you'll definitely surpass him in the future."

"Who knows, perhaps this incomplete formula will be completed in your hands. The chief said there would be a share of this pill's revenue. Even if it's only ten percent, it's estimated to be several hundred spirit stones per year. Fellow Daoist Sansu, are you truly not tempted?"

To say he wasn't tempted would naturally be false but Xu Chuan wouldn't show an expression of determination to obtain it.

"Completing an incomplete formula is hardly that simple. Let nature take its course. Gain and loss are both my fate."

Xu Chuan had completed the incomplete formula for Breakthrough Pill and knew its difficulty. This pill's difficulty was several times greater than Breakthrough Pill.

Seeing this, Daoist Yunding shook his head with a laugh.

The next day, the two each began researching the incomplete formula. Xu Zhen learned of this incomplete formula's effects from Yun Zhongzi and was also surprised in his heart. As for this pill's revenue share, he was determined to obtain it.

Having received a copy of the incomplete formula, he immediately returned to his pill room to research it, and during this period ordered that he wouldn't see outside guests and must not be disturbed.

He had a persistent dedication to the pill Dao. Otherwise, he would find it difficult to achieve his current accomplishments.

On the third floor of the Dan Hall.

"I wonder who will succeed in completing this incomplete formula!"

Thinking of this, Yun Zhongzi's lips formed a slight smile. He stroked his long beard, then immediately collected his thoughts and also began to fully deduce the incomplete formula.