Chapter 776: The Ming Wang Returns

He Pingsheng took the vial containing Nanke Immortal Spring, stunned: Could it really be done this way?

"You don't need to use this!" After a pause of two breaths, He Pingsheng said: "This item yields but one drop per thousand years—extremely precious. Why waste it here?"

"Besides, with our points, we're guaranteed a top-thirty team ranking!"

"That's a lie to fool you!" Nan Qiqi shook her head: "It's not nearly that precious. Nanke Immortal Spring doesn't form one drop every thousand years—it gathers one drop every hundred years. The other nine drops? My grandfather collected them all himself!"

"It's not that rare!"

"Other Imperial Domains may have little of it, but in our Zhu Que Imperial Domain, there's plenty!"

"Of course, my grandfather gave away many drops back then, so if you don't use it, and other prodigies do, we might end up at a disadvantage!"

He Pingsheng nodded, then asked: "Is it allowed to use this during alchemy?"

"Allowed!" Nan Qiqi nodded: "During the alchemy trial, the officials provide five sets of materials, but the spiritual liquid used is up to you—so Nanke Immortal Spring is definitely permitted!"

"Besides, there have been precedents in past contests—more than once!"

He Pingsheng said: "Alright then!"

"Since it's allowed, I'll use it!"

He Pingsheng himself also had one drop of Nanke Immortal Spring—this item could elevate a pill's quality by one grade.

For him, it was somewhat redundant, since he possessed the Treasure Basin, making it trivial to enhance pill quality.

But uniquely, Nanke Immortal Spring had another astonishing trait: even if a pill was already top-grade, it could still elevate it by one level.

That was incredible.

For example, if I had an eighth-grade top-grade pill, what would happen if I used Nanke Immortal Spring?

Unknown!

But He Pingsheng guessed it would become a ninth-grade pill.

The exact effect? He'd test it later.

"He Daoist, have you ever brewed the 【Divine Offering Pill】 before?" Nan Qiqi asked again.

He Pingsheng knew the Divine Offering Pill.

It was a sixth-grade pill, used to rapidly repair depleted spiritual sense.

For instance, during battle, when He Pingsheng unleashed the 【Formless Northern Dipper Nail】 at full strength, his spiritual sense drained heavily—he could only cast it twice before exhausting it entirely.

Thus, in ordinary combat, he used his spiritual sense to attack only once.

If one strike failed, he never struck again, to avoid depleting his spiritual sense.

Always leave room for reserve.

But with the Divine Offering Pill—especially a top-grade one—all changed.

You could swallow the pill to replenish depleted spiritual sense.

Brewing it wasn't difficult, but the ingredients were hard to obtain.

Clearly, the Imperial Lords had spent heavily for this contest.

"I know of this pill… but I've never brewed it before!" He Pingsheng spoke honestly.

Nan Qiqi said: "Good… I have the formula, and some materials. Practice with them these two days to get familiar!"

Nan Qiqi tossed down a jade slip and a storage bag, then left.

He Pingsheng checked: the jade slip contained the exact formula for the 【Divine Offering Pill】.

The storage bag held five sets of ingredients for the Divine Offering Pill.

Perfect!

Good for practice.

He Pingsheng dismissed the others, stayed alone in the hall, and began studying.

First, examine the ingredients.

As usual, he'd strengthen them to double potency.

But this was the Stone Platform Gathering—he dared not casually bring out the Treasure Basin.

Forget it. Brew as-is.

As for the formula?

He Pingsheng didn't study Nan Qiqi's formula, because his alchemy scripture, 【Jin Kui Can Tong Qi】, already contained the method for brewing the Divine Offering Pill.

Not only that—it was enhanced.

With the enhanced formula and technique, plus spiritual sense far beyond ordinary cultivators,

He Pingsheng believed he still had a chance to produce a superior-grade pill.

Let's try!

Day one: study the formula.

Day two: brew directly.

Of course, he wouldn't add Nanke Immortal Spring yet.

He summoned a plain, ordinary cauldron.

Magic Treasure: Gu Xuan Ding.

Though he owned better cauldrons, he didn't use them.

Start with a junk one!

Soon, the first batch of pills emerged.

Results weren't ideal: six middle-grade, six low-grade.

Try again!

Second batch emerged.

Much better this time.

Twelve pills—all middle-grade!

But He Pingsheng clearly felt he'd mishandled several steps; with better control, pill quality could've improved further.

Try again!

Third batch!

Twelve pills—all middle-grade!

Fourth batch!

Twelve pills: two superior-grade, ten middle-grade.

Final batch: six superior-grade, six middle-grade.

At least all five batches succeeded—and results were decent.

Superior-grade pills!

We'll see how he performs over the next two days!

In the following time, He Pingsheng lay flat on the ground, resting, relaxing his body and mind, while still reflecting on where he could improve his alchemy process.

Another day passed.

Spiritual sense testing officially began.

The test was held on the square near the Heavenly Staircase.

Of course, it was thousands of zhang away from the Stone Platform Staircase—the heavenly Gang qi descending from the staircase wouldn't affect the arena.

"First, choose your category!" Nan Qiqi said: "Most choose alchemy, but some pick metallurgy or talisman crafting!"

"Let's go!"

"Let's pick our category first!"

He Pingsheng, Nan Qiqi, and the other eight Zhu Que Imperial Domain cultivators all chose alchemy.

"He Pingsheng… over here!"

Just after selection ended, He Pingsheng heard a familiar voice.

He turned—and saw the Dalun Ming Wang waving at him from nearby.

Huh…

Why is this woman here now?

"Didn't you go to stabilize your cultivation?" He Pingsheng walked up to the Dalun Ming Wang.

Ming Wang said: "Nonsense—I've been gone a hundred years. Isn't that enough to stabilize?"

"By the way, I heard you had an accident—Zhao Xiangdu attacked you?"

"You… are you alright?"

As she spoke, the Dalun Ming Wang scanned He Pingsheng from head to toe.

On her face, a trace of concern appeared.

He Pingsheng shook his head: "I'm fine. He nearly killed me before, but now my injuries are fully healed!"

"Hmm!" The Dalun Ming Wang nodded: "If I'd been here, Zhao Xiangdu wouldn't have dared strike. I regret not arriving sooner—but at least you're alive!"

"He Pingsheng… alive is enough!"

"Go on!"

She waved her hand casually.

He Pingsheng bowed deeply to the Dalun Ming Wang.

Though she said nothing, He Pingsheng knew—this woman had come back specifically for him.