Chapter 199: Refining a Third-Rank Elixir

"Your alchemical skill surpasses that of Master Xuanyuan, so I believe your spiritual sense must be extraordinary!"

"Of course, this is merely my speculation!"

Muxian continued calmly: "Moreover, during the battle with the human-faced spider, you cast spells continuously without pause—only someone with an exceptionally strong spiritual sense could do so smoothly!"

"Therefore, I suspect your spiritual sense has already reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, perhaps even the peak!"

He Pingsheng nodded again and said: "Even if you're right—that my spiritual sense is stronger than an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, reaching the late stage—I still cannot produce that third-rank elixir..."

"After all, I'm still at Foundation Establishment!"

He Pingsheng himself did not believe he could alchemize beyond his realm.

Qi Refining cultivators can only produce first-rank elixirs; Foundation Establishment cultivators can produce at most second-rank; Golden Core cultivators can produce at most third-rank.

By extension, crossing realms is impossible!

Yet Muxian clenched his teeth and said: "There is a way!"

"Master He..." Muxian took a deep breath: "I have a method that can temporarily grant you the spiritual sense needed to produce a third-rank elixir."

"It's this!"

Muxian pulled out his own pair of Twin-Spirit Pills—two in total—and handed them all to He Pingsheng: "These are mid-grade Twin-Spirit Pills, and you yourself refined them!"

"Each one doubles your spiritual sense and lasts for one hour!"

"I'm giving you both—please try!"

Muxian's words indeed opened a new path for him.

He Pingsheng took a deep breath: Yes, if he used this method, it might actually work.

But the cost would be too high.

"Master Muxian..." He Pingsheng narrowed his eyes: "I have a few questions."

Muxian said: "Go ahead."

He Pingsheng said: "You're merely a ninth-layer Foundation Establishment disciple. Even if your spiritual sense were injured, buying a few second-rank 【Soul-Healing Pills】 would suffice—why go to such lengths to seek the 【Soul-Returning Pill】?"

"Two low-grade 【Soul-Healing Pills】 can heal ordinary spiritual sense damage!"

He Pingsheng had consumed many 【Soul-Healing Pills】 in the past—because his spiritual sense had nearly collapsed, not from ordinary damage.

"No!" Muxian took a deep breath: "I'll be honest with you, Master He."

"It's not my spiritual sense that's injured—it's my sister!"

"I have a younger sister with extraordinary talent—her cultivation is at the peak of Foundation Establishment twelfth layer, and she ranks seventy-sixth on the Dragon Roar List!"

He Pingsheng immediately bowed his head in respect.

Seventy-sixth on the Dragon Roar List was truly impressive.

"Her spiritual sense was injured!" Muxian continued: "During a previous duel, she was ambushed and struck by a vile soul-attacking magic treasure—severely wounded. Worse, in two months, the new Dragon Roar List rankings will be refreshed, and this is precisely when she must fight to climb higher!"

"Ordinary 【Soul-Healing Pills】 can restore spiritual sense damage, but they take far too long!"

"We can't wait!"

"If she drops out of the top one hundred, she loses the chance to enter 【Divine General Mountain】!"

"So we must restore her spiritual sense in the shortest possible time!"

"And to restore it so quickly, only a higher-rank elixir will do!"

He Pingsheng nodded: This logic was sound.

The higher the rank of the elixir that repairs spiritual sense, the better the effect.

Muxian continued: "I spent all my wealth just to gather enough materials for one batch of 【Soul-Returning Pills】. I sought out master alchemists—but they wouldn't even look at me, all refusing outright!"

"So..."

"So I humbly beg you, Master He, to help me refine one batch!"

"I can't give you five sets of materials—but if you succeed in refining the 【Soul-Returning Pills】, I'll take only two pills!"

"The rest are all yours!"

"Even if you fail and the batch explodes, the loss is entirely mine!"

Muxian's eyes were red.

Clearly, he cared deeply for his sister.

He Pingsheng did not refuse.

On one hand, though his relationship with Muxian was average, when someone was in need, one should lend a hand—twelve pills per batch, you take two, I take ten.

That was fair.

On the other hand: he had never tried refining a third-rank elixir—he wanted to test it.

He didn't expect success—just no explosion.

Give me twelve failed pills, and I'll save them all.

Besides, Muxian had already given him two 【Twin-Spirit Pills】.

"Fine!" He Pingsheng nodded: "Master Muxian, I accept your request!"

"But even though you just promised, I must still say this clearly!"

"I've never refined a third-rank elixir—if I fail, don't blame me!"

"After all, you're forcing me into this!"

"Agreed!" Muxian took a deep breath: "I've run out of options—I can only trust you!"

"Wait a moment!" He Pingsheng said: "I need to close off and study the 【Soul-Returning Pill】 refining method first!"

"Wait for me downstairs!"

"It'll take at least two days, at most three, before I have news!"

With that, He Pingsheng went straight to the third floor.

All the arrays activated.

The arrays on the third floor only covered that level—they did not extend to the first floor.

He Pingsheng took out the 【Golden Core Compendium】, turned to the page with the 【Soul-Returning Pill】 formula, and began studying.

The formula was simple enough.

It merely described the properties of each material, key refining points, and timing for fire control.

Within a day, He Pingsheng fully understood it.

The key was the refining itself.

After preparing all materials, He Pingsheng looked at the 【Twin-Spirit Pill】 beside him.

He truly wanted to skip the Twin-Spirit Pill and try refining bare-handed.

Not because he wanted to steal it—but to test whether his current spiritual sense strength could produce even a failed third-rank elixir.

Could he guarantee no explosion?

After much thought, He Pingsheng still chose to swallow the Twin-Spirit Pill.

Muxian's pills were of critical importance; since he had promised, he would give his utmost effort—even if only to produce a failed batch.

Boom...

The instant he swallowed the Twin-Spirit Pill, He Pingsheng felt his spiritual sense surge.

Doubled.

Previously, his spiritual sense could cover about five hundred zhang around him.

Now, it reached nearly a thousand zhang.

It had touched the spiritual sense strength of early Golden Core.

Start the furnace!

Add water!

Simmer!

Refine!

He Pingsheng did not add 【Golden Bee Sacred Sap】—though he would give his utmost effort, he wouldn't harm his own interests.

Suddenly, He Pingsheng had an idea: build a refining furnace right here on the third floor.

Like the furnace in the alchemy room on Xiuzhu Peak—clumsy and large, but such furnaces significantly increase success rates.

Hmm...

So, after refining this batch, I'll build one.