Chapter 87: Alchemist Secret Medicine and Ritual

Li Yu is now a qualified resident of Wanfu City; he has seen every kind of pervert there is.

Although Cui Minmin is crazy enough, he is completely immune to her.

Ignoring the increasingly high price she offered for him to sleep with her, he instantly caught the keyword:

"Wanfu Star Cluster?"

"You can look up what a star cluster is yourself later; just know that it is a place neither you nor I are qualified to join for the time being. That fellow Shang Yang only got in by riding on his master's coattails, but because of you, he also lost a great deal of face."

"If you run into him again, he will surely do everything in his power to hunt you down. And not just him—you are now a common enemy to all the Demon Star Commandants under the [Holy Nest] organization."

Hearing this threat, Li Yu’s expression shifted slightly, but there was little ripple in his heart.

The Demon Star Command is extremely confidential, and his identity information has not leaked in the slightest. If they truly meet in the Spirit Realm of the Strange Domain in the future, it is the people of the Holy Nest who should be worried, not him, Li Yu.

Cui Minmin seemed to have guessed Li Yu’s thoughts, and her crisp laughter reached him:

"Little brother, sister knows you have cultivated a special path and possess the ability to disguise yourself as other path sequences."

"However, everything you have experienced so far has been in ordinary Strange Domains; you haven't met any truly fierce people yet. Whether it's Demon Star Commandants or Reincarnators, both sides have heaven-defying geniuses that you and I can hardly reach. When that time comes, your little tricks for concealment might not necessarily give you the upper hand."

"Speaking of which, can you tell sister what path it is? Minmin is dying of curiosity."

"Is it the Foolish God? The Spirit Venerable? Or the God of a Thousand Faces? Or perhaps some strange and peculiar path?"

"Hmm, it can't be the Spirit Venerable; that True God has already fallen."

"The Foolish God’s inheritance, however, is still plentiful. Wanfu City has it, and the three great nations have it too. The Sequence 8 [Alien] of this path possesses similar abilities."

"But then again, the most likely one is... the God of a Thousand Faces!"

"Rumor has it that the Sequence 8 [Skin-Wearer] of this path is extremely painful and terrifying to cultivate, but once successful, one can drape the skin of other living beings over oneself to steal their abilities. Once the skin is removed, one is in the form of a Void Ghost... Hahaha, sister didn't guess wrong, did she?"

Clearly, Cui Minmin showed signs of becoming a chatterbox in front of Li Yu.

But he did not interrupt; after all, he didn't need to pay for the merit points, and every sentence Cui Minmin spoke leaked some secrets he hadn't known before.

The charging progress of the ninth Truth Bubble was rising at an excellent speed.

"Foolish God Sequence 8 Alien... God of a Thousand Faces Sequence 8 Skin-Wearer... Hmm, the latter's abilities fit my actions almost perfectly."

"I’m afraid from Cui Minmin’s perspective, I must have worn a Sorrow Corpse skin, then taken the opportunity to shed it, only then managing to snatch the kill and the benefits."

"She actually ruled out the correct answer first."

Li Yu wanted to let Cui Minmin keep rambling, intentionally not asking if there was any serious business.

Unfortunately, she soon remembered it herself.

Realizing she couldn't pry the answer out of Li Yu, she simply gave up on pestering him and spoke directly:

"Although you harmed sister this time, who told Minmin that I have a soft spot for mysterious men like you? I won't hold it against you."

"As for your grudge with Shang Yang, it is also easy to resolve."

"Within the Demon Star Command, besides the [Wanfu Star Cluster], there are many other star clusters, such as the [Heaven-Defying Gathering]."

"Inside this star cluster are all heaven-defying commandants from various sects. The original intention of its establishment was to have opportunities to cooperate when encountering each other in the Spirit Realm of the Strange Domain to confront the Reincarnator side. Besides that, one can trade what one has for what one lacks and exchange pointers. In short, the benefits are truly too many. If it weren't for the curiosity and affection I have for you right now, it might not have been your turn."

"By the way, that fellow Shang Yang is also in it."

"You are already qualified to join. As long as you guarantee you won't refuse, sister will go talk to the group leader and send you an invitation."

"After joining, the next time you meet that Shang Yang, you can cooperate once, and naturally, the grudge will be completely wiped away."

"How about it?"

Hearing this, Li Yu fell into thought while also beginning to look up what kind of permission these so-called star clusters were, their effects, taboos, and so on.

Very quickly, after paying ten merit points, he got his answer.

He also understood why both Demon Star Commandants and Reincarnators wanted to squeeze into the groups; it was indeed a good permission.

However, Li Yu did not agree immediately, but instead asked in return:

"If I join the group, what benefit do you get?"

"Benefit? Sister doesn't get any benefit; I just get your contact information this way. Otherwise, even if we enter the same Strange Domain next time, we would be strangers meeting face to face."

"You are currently at Sequence 8, which is why you are so guarded against sister, fearing you'll become my star slave."

"Skin-Wearer... honestly, that also makes sister feel a bit disgusted."

"But your next sequence, [Deformation Strange], will be different. Rumor has it that this sequence possesses the ability to change into various forms. How about we have a duel on the bed then? You will have the power to protect yourself, and sister will also get great satisfaction. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

Cui Minmin’s behavior and these words revealed her temperament without a doubt.

It seemed she was both open and perverted.

After pondering for a few breaths, Li Yu nodded and replied:

"Joining the group is fine, we'll talk about the duel later."

"You won't be able to escape my grasp, just wait and see."

When the words were finished, the Demon Star dissipated.

Li Yu estimated the invitation wouldn't come that quickly, so his attention immediately returned to the present.

When he saw his merit point balance, a brilliant smile immediately appeared on his face. Nine thousand eight hundred points!

What is called a massive profit?

Clearly, this was it.

With this number, plus the quantity and importance of the missions he completed, it was no wonder he could crush Cui Minmin, who was a sequence higher than him and had almost turned all the commandants into star slaves, and win first place in contribution in one fell swoop.

Even Li Yu himself couldn't help but be astonished. After a quick review in his mind, he reached a conclusion:

"The Spirit Venerable path has great potential."

"If it had been the previous me entering this Strange Domain, I’m afraid I wouldn't have gained anything; just keeping my life would have been difficult."

"This time, I first used the Sword Fiend Pill to mix into the Reincarnator camp and gained over two thousand merits for free. Then, I used the Sorrowful Crying Pill to trigger a special main quest with Cui Minmin, and finally, relying on the Sorrowful Crying Pill plus the Truth Soul Body, I glimpsed the weakness and secrets. By borrowing the strength of both sides, I lowered the difficulty of attacking the three great demons from Hell-level to Normal-level."

"Finally, I used the Skin-Peeling Strange Pill to reap the benefits as the third party."

"Each link is interconnected; not one could be missing."

"Before, I scolded Shang Yang and Wen Feifeng for cheating and bullying the weak, but from another perspective, I am also that kind of person now. It’s truly satisfying."

As Li Yu sighed, he did not hesitate to make the exchange.

Others could wait.

=9+Shu_ba

But the formula and promotion ritual for his next sequence were things he had to obtain on this trip.

"Exchange successful!"

"Two thousand merit points have been deducted!"

Following this prompt sound.

In Li Yu’s mind, streams of extraordinary information surged in:

"Alchemist Secret Medicine!"

"One must use internal refining methods to refine at least nine different Sequence 8 pills of the God-Ascension paths. One can choose pill formulas refined by predecessors in the past, or create new ones. After completion, choose an auspicious day to consume all nine pills simultaneously. Nine-nine returns to one, all Qi surges, and one can refine the Alchemist Body."

"Hmm? So that’s where those pill formulas come from?"

"At least part of the reason for their birth is this."

The first piece of information immediately made a look of realization appear on Li Yu’s face.

The large number of pill formulas he had seen before now had a reasonable source.

At the same time, a guess arose in his heart:

"Nine types of pill formulas; it shouldn't be that any random selection will do."

"Perhaps different combinations of choices lead to different tendencies in abilities for Alchemists who promote by using existing formulas versus creating their own?"

"Speaking of which, the Spirit Venerable path starts from Sequence 8 [Pill Apprentice] by using this method to blaspheme and steal the abilities of other True Gods. When young, it won't be noticed, but once powerful, it will surely be targeted by the gods."

"Could it be that the True God [Spirit Venerable] fell because of this reason?"

While Li Yu was letting his imagination run wild, subsequent information kept pouring in.

"Promotion Ritual!"

"After refining the Alchemist Body, the practitioner must make a name for themselves within a certain range through methods including but not limited to Qi circulation, consuming immortal pills, stove-worship alchemy, summoning gods, and exorcising ghosts. They must be known by at least a thousand people and leave a mark in their hearts or bodies. Only then can one formally promote to the Spirit Venerable path Sequence 7 [Alchemist]."

"As the second stage of the Spirit Venerable path!"

"The Alchemist perfectly inherits the alchemy ability of the Pill Apprentice sequence, and the strange arts originally mastered will also receive a huge boost."

"Besides that, the Alchemist also possesses an extremely powerful physique, self-healing ability, poison resistance, and drug resistance. They can resist most negative states and pollution, have extremely strong inspiration, can quickly learn or even create strange arts and pill formulas, and can even imitate and impersonate practitioners of other sequences to pray and sense the True Gods they believe in and follow."

"Alchemists also possess a certain special invisible force field, or perhaps one could call it the power of charm, which can lower the vigilance of all living beings within range and make them feel goodwill."

"However, also because of the Alchemist’s overly powerful inspiration, they have a strange attraction to some evil gods and have a chance of being targeted, or even captured."

"So powerful!"

"And so troublesome."

Li Yu frowned as he looked at the formula and promotion ritual in his mind, and couldn't help but say.

Without a doubt, the Alchemist is very powerful.

It can be said to be a direct doubling of the original foundation of the "Pill Apprentice."

Although it seems they are still not very good at fighting.

But their self-preservation ability has greatly increased, and they have gained some abilities that can be used to stir up trouble.

For example, that "God-Sacrifice Art."

This means that Li Yu can not only perfectly play other sequences, but may even be able to use that sequence to trick some True Gods into giving spiritual responses and favors.

Of course, if this backfires, it is almost certain death.

Just imagine, if a True God discovered someone was impersonating a believer to swindle them, could that person possibly have a good end?

Powerful is powerful!

But the promotion ceremony made Li Yu feel a headache just looking at it.

"How am I supposed to do this?"

"If I were in the Three Kingdoms territory, I could find some remote county or village, play the god and act the devil, and promote smoothly."

"But I am currently in the densely populated Wanfu City, where the strong are as numerous as a forest; if I hold a fame-seeking ceremony, one careless move and I will face the outcome of having my identity exposed and losing my life."

(End of chapter)