Chapter 346: Repairing the Golden Core

The largest merchant association in Tiannan City is called the Tiannan Merchant Association.

It was obvious this association had the backing of the city governor's office.

Such associations not only had ties to the city governor's office but were also inevitably linked to the Liang State, functioning as state-run merchant enterprises.

He Pingsheng entered this merchant association.

Huge!

About the same size as the Hongyue Merchant Association in Hongshi City.

"Elder, may I ask… what are you seeking?"

A Qi Refining disciple approached He Pingsheng, his faint spiritual sense sweeping over him—yet detecting no cultivation base at all.

He was instantly stunned.

He Pingsheng said: "This Daoist wishes to purchase some elixirs."

The Qi Refining disciple asked: "May I ask, Elder, what grade of elixir do you seek?"

He Pingsheng glanced at him, said nothing, and instead: "Summon your association's Elder. I am a Golden Core cultivator."

"Ah…" The Qi Refining disciple was utterly shocked, his demeanor turning even more respectful: "Yes, yes, Elder, please wait—I'll go at once!"

He practically ran all the way to the Elder's chamber.

Soon after, a woman clad in a blue Daoist robe appeared before He Pingsheng.

Female Elder!

He Pingsheng's spiritual sense swept over her and found her cultivation at Golden Core Level Three.

Simultaneously, her spiritual sense swept toward He Pingsheng.

Seeing he was merely a Golden Core Level One disciple, she smiled and asked: "Young brother, what elixir do you wish to purchase?"

He Pingsheng said: "Third-grade elixir: Gu Yuan Dan."

Gu Yuan Dan had only one function: to repair damage to the Golden Core.

Upon hearing this, the woman was stunned: "Young brother… your Golden Core is damaged?"

In the cultivation world, Heaven is the teacher of all, so even if not from the same sect, cultivators of the same realm commonly addressed each other as senior or junior brother.

Of course, most preferred the term "fellow Daoist."

"Mm." He Pingsheng nodded. "Slight damage…"

"I'm sorry," the woman shook her head. "We don't have Gu Yuan Dan here. Though common, it's hard to obtain on short notice."

"How about this—we have the materials to refine Gu Yuan Dan."

"Purchase five sets."

"I can also recommend a place. There's a skilled alchemist there—he can refine the elixir for you, Young Brother."

"Oh?" He Pingsheng asked: "Where is this alchemist?"

The woman said: "Ten thousand li west of the West Gate lies Fuding Mountain. On it dwells Fuding True Person—he can refine your elixir."

"Good." He Pingsheng nodded. "Then I'll buy some materials."

"Hmm… give me one set."

"How many spirit stones?"

"One set?" the woman said. "One set won't do. To have Fuding True Person refine your elixir, you need at least five sets. Young brother, you're a Golden Core cultivator—surely you know the basic rules of the cultivation world?"

He Pingsheng smiled. "I know perfectly well. But I have my own way to get Fuding True Person to refine my Golden Core. No need for you to worry."

"Alright."

Hearing this, the woman led him to the elixir section and handed him one set of Gu Yuan Dan materials.

It wasn't expensive—just one hundred thousand spirit stones per set.

Ten mid-grade spirit stones would suffice.

After obtaining the materials, He Pingsheng immediately left the shop.

The moment he left, the Golden Core Level Three female elder pulled out a heart-sync talisman from her waist and sent it off.

The exact content remained unknown to others.

But He Pingsheng certainly wouldn't go to Fuding Mountain to seek Fuding True Person.

He could refine elixirs himself.

He found a secluded spot, waved his hand, and summoned his alchemy cauldron.

The cauldron's rank was a bit low.

Still, he'd make do—it was only a third-grade elixir, and he'd refined such before.

Boom…

A wisp of alchemy flame coalesced.

But it quickly extinguished.

He Pingsheng's face twisted in bitterness.

Previously, he had absorbed a wisp of alchemy flame into his dantian. Now, his fire-element dantian had formed a Golden Core—but it had cracked.

That meant the alchemy flame could no longer be used.

Was he… forced to use firewood again?

Oh well—try it anyway.

He Pingsheng reluctantly left the city, found a desolate mountain, and began chopping firewood.

Plenty of dead, dry timber lay scattered in the hills—he gathered enough wood for the third-grade elixir without much effort.

Then he began refining the elixir on the desolate mountain.

An hour later, the elixir was complete.

Twelve pills—all mid-grade.

The result was decent.

After all, though his Golden Core was shattered, his spiritual sense remained unharmed.

He tossed the twelve elixirs into the treasure basin, slept on the mountain all night, and by the next day, all twelve had become supreme-grade.

He took one at random and swallowed it.

Within half a stick of incense, his dantian was fully repaired.

Immediately after repair, he pulled out Golden Bee Sacred Sap.

One drop entered his mouth.

He expected it to instantly fill his fire-element dantian.

But…

Nothing.

Only then did He Pingsheng realize—he was now a Golden Core cultivator.

The Golden Bee Sacred Sap's efficacy had drastically diminished.

Fortunately, he still had the Ice Source Jiazi Dew, which he had strengthened into Ice Origin Divine Dew.

But it could only be used on the water-element dantian, granting a hundred years of lifespan.

He Pingsheng's missing dantian was fire-element—water-element wouldn't help.

Then keep drinking Golden Bee Sacred Sap.

He Pingsheng gulped down a large mouthful—twice—and finally filled his fire-element dantian.

After repairing and refilling his dantian, He Pingsheng did not leave Tiannan City. Instead, he found and checked into a special lodging for immortals: the Immortal Guesthouse.

He cultivated the Five Elements Merged Heaven Scripture while pondering his next steps.

What next?

First, prepare to refine the Bu Dao Dan.

He currently had only two main ingredients: Xuan Huang Hei Bai Lotus and Tian Yuan Fruit from Mu Long Gou.

These were the two primary materials.

In addition, there were two more main ingredients and seventeen auxiliary materials.

Gather all these first, then refine the elixir.

Return to Hongshi City only after refining the Bu Dao Dan.

Because if He Pingsheng bought the ingredients for Bu Dao Dan in Hongshi City, he'd attract suspicion.

Buying them in Tiannan City was perfect.

But no need to rush.

Aside from the Xuan Huang Hei Bai Lotus, all other main and auxiliary materials for Bu Dao Dan were easy to find.

Just common, ordinary ingredients.

He Pingsheng sat cross-legged and pulled out the items he'd obtained from the secret realm.

Let's take inventory.