Chapter 130: Alchemist Hu Xian

Yan Buji observed carefully for a whole day, and only then opened his eyes, saying with some surprise:

"This Tree Person Technique is incredible—it actually requires finding a spiritual plant as a symbiotic cultivation object, and by nurturing the spiritual plant, enhancing its power while channeling the plant's internal energy into magical force, so that one's own body also gains traits similar to the spiritual plant!"

Eh?

You could say this Tree Person Technique actually matches some of the minor spells recorded in the Hundred Herb Sect's secret manual.

He knows the method to cultivate a spiritual plant, and even for some rare and precious spiritual materials Yan Buji can recognize, all because the Hundred Herb Sect's secret manual records them.

Moreover, Yan Buji already has many spiritual materials in hand; with a bit of cultivation, they can serve as the symbiotic spiritual plants for practicing the Tree Person Technique.

Spiritual plants differ from spiritual materials: a spiritual material refers to a specific kind, whereas spiritual plant encompasses all.

It's like the difference between a tree and its fruits, flowers, and branches.

But if you call whole herbs and grasses spiritual plants as well, most people just refer to them as spiritual materials.

And if one modifies his own practice to the Tree Person Technique, there will be no conflict. After all, the Planting Tree Manual is merely the most basic wood‑type technique, and the Tree Person Technique's operational pathway can fully incorporate it; it's just a matter of conversion efficiency.

Although the magical force cultivated through the Planting Tree Manual has undergone nine dispersions and nine refinements, becoming very robust, practicing higher‑level wood‑type techniques not only adds some peculiarities but also further enhances the accumulation and quality of magical force.

If we consider the issues of the basic Five Elements techniques, there are even more complications; should one practice the Tree Person Technique and then be unable to align it with the other basic four‑nature techniques, they'd have to seek new methods to perfect the Five Elements practice, wouldn't they?

What if, while searching, one discovers an even better technique?

Falling into a dead loop?

"Wait, I can't practice this technique now! I must wait until I reach the Lianqi Fifth Layer, after the basic Five Elements practice completes a cycle of mutual generation, before I can gradually replace the five‑nature methods within it. A cultivator must recognize what is needed at the moment; all techniques can be combined freely, but the issue lies in compatibility!"

Yan Buji steadied his mind, put away the fragmentary Tree Person scroll, noting that this Tree Person technique is most likely a method for Foundation Establishment Cultivators to practice during the Lianqi Phase; he could grasp some of the concepts involved, but deeper aspects such as how to link the spiritual plant with oneself were completely beyond his comprehension.

Thus it indicates that the founder of this technique possesses far greater insight and strength than he does, and the unique perspectives and thought patterns opened Yan Buji's eyes.

"The basic Five Elements practice cannot be altered now, but after reaching the Lianqi Fifth Layer and perfecting the basic Five Elements, we can replace the methods within it to achieve the Five Elements' rotation and endless mutual generation," Yan Buji thought for a moment, nodded, and said.

The idea behind the technique is good, but Yan Buji cannot guarantee that he can truly achieve it.

So even if a better technique lies before him, does he have to practice it?

There's no need for that.

A cultivator follows his own law, his own Dao; if you don't even understand the most basic technique, how can you comprehend more advanced ones?

If Yan Buji cannot even achieve the envisioned mutual generation and rotation of the basic Five Elements, he might as well leave the cultivation world early and return to the mundane to wield power and blessings.

"Looks like I need to speed up resource gathering,"

In short, Yan Buji now needs resources—lots and lots of resources—to quickly break through his realm.

Yan Buji's left eye flashed with golden light; shortly after, he saw the spiritual energy converging rapidly on the opposite mountaintop, and he rose, flew down the cliff, and hurried over.

Following the guidance of the spiritual energy, Yan Buji initially thought a spiritual material would appear here, and indeed, upon arrival, it was so.

A white flower appeared before his eyes, resembling a wind‑chime flower growing on the cliffside, emitting pure spiritual energy.

Yan Buji rolled his white eyes: "I thought it was something else, but it's actually a One‑Leaf Ghost Orchid."

He has many One‑Leaf Ghost Orchids in his Storage Accumulation Device, and even second‑stage Two‑Leaf Ghost Orchids. This spiritual material is widely used, ideal for alchemy and medicine, though eating it raw can restore magical force, much like a Spiritual Stone.

However, it seemed this One‑Leaf Ghost Orchid was undergoing a transition from first to second stage, as a small protuberance on its stem writhed, as if a second leaf were about to sprout.

"It takes a thousand years to grow a second leaf. Difficult, indeed," Yan Buji shook his head and gave a wry smile.

Isn't he himself no different?

Decades have passed, and now he's only a Lianqi Second Layer cultivator; though his Martial Dao realm is high, what good does it do?

Without reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, a Lianqi Phase cultivator's lifespan tops out at about two hundred years.

Yet even those brief two hundred years aren't enough for this One‑Leaf Ghost Orchid to reach half its growth, and one must also worry about passing snakes, insects, beasts, and cultivators harvesting it—how difficult!

After a while.

The terrestrial spiritual energy surged even more violently, pouring toward the One‑Leaf Ghost Orchid, which seemed finally to have endured the thousand‑year wait and sprouted a second leaf.

Yan Buji raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, then walked over, took out a pot, and transplanted the Two‑Leaf Ghost Orchid into it.

At that moment, another cultivator appeared, standing behind Yan Buji and exclaiming, "Fellow Daoist? Could you part with this Two‑Leaf Ghost Orchid? I will certainly reward you!"

Yan Buji suddenly turned, watching the other warily: "Who are you?"

"Hahaha, I am the wandering free cultivator Hu Xian, may I know how you address me?"

"I am Ji Bu."

"So you're Fellow Ji, my apologies," Hu Xian laughed, stepped back a pace, clasped his fists and said, "Fellow Daoist need not worry; although this Two‑Leaf Ghost Orchid is decent, it's not enough to make us clash in battle. I truly need this Two‑Leaf Ghost Orchid; you may set a price, and if it suits us we can consider it a friendship, how about that?"

Yan Buji nodded, then asked, "What use do you have for this Two‑Leaf Ghost Orchid?"

"To be frank, I dabble in some odd tricks and need this Two‑Leaf Ghost Orchid to brew a batch of pills."

Yan Buji raised an eyebrow: "You're an Alchemist?!"

"Hahaha, not quite; I can't even make a first‑stage pill at a full fifteen percent, so I don't count as an Alchemist," Hu Xian said modestly.

"That suffices; among free cultivators, few know alchemy, so I'll gift this Two‑Leaf Ghost Orchid to you, Brother Hu."

Yan Buji laughed and tossed the Two‑Leaf Ghost Orchid over.

Hu Xian was startled for a moment, took the pot, nodded and secured it: "Fellow Ji, you know, although I'm not a first‑stage Alchemist, I do have some wealth; I could top you up with two hundred Spiritual Stones, would you really intend to give it to me?"

"You say that, but being fortunate enough to meet an Alchemist, a mere Two‑Leaf Ghost Orchid is hardly a token of gratitude," Yan Buji laughed.

"Hahaha, very well, Fellow Ji. If after three months you are still here, I'll treat you to a hearty drink, how about that?"

"No problem, I should be in the market soon; if you, Hu Daoist, still remember me then, it would be greatly appreciated," Yan Buji said, bowing.

Hu Xian nodded satisfactorily, observing that Yan Buji's appearance was not that of a great villain; his whole demeanor exuded uprightness, heroic seriousness, and sincerity, making him quite a good person.

Hu Xian took his leave and departed, while Yan Buji squinted at his back.

"Alchemist... I have Spiritual Fire; if I could learn a thing or two, these spiritual materials on me wouldn't be useless," Yan Buji thought.

However, being an Alchemist is a money‑burning trade; without some capital, it's better not to dabble.

Distilling and compounding are two different concepts; Yan Buji does want to learn how to alchemize, yet he doesn't wish to let these things slow his cultivation plan now.