Chapter 183: Chapter 85: Failed to Obtain the Pill

The Heavenly Ranking is a list of the top thirty powers within the Yan Kingdom, ranked not purely by realm, but by actual combat strength.

The ranking considers a comprehensive evaluation of cultivation techniques, magical abilities, weapon artifacts, including talismans and other auxiliary means.

Metal and fire cultivation techniques are renowned in this realm for their high attack and critical hits, with corresponding magical abilities likewise offering advantages in battles compared to other elements at the same realm.

Magical abilities are the primary means for most cultivators in battles, and many secret skills possess immeasurable power, incomparable to ordinary spells.

Weapon artifacts and talismans differ greatly in their power.

Ranked first is the ancestor of the Profound Celestial Sect, a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator who primarily cultivates a fire technique. His spell “Blast Flame Skill” can occasionally unleash multiple times its power, unmatched by others.

Second is a Supreme Elder from the Carefree Palace, also a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator focusing on wood techniques. However, his greatest secret skill isn’t a magical ability but a divine soul secret technique named “God-slaying Skill.” His Primordial Spirit can act like a blade, capable of cutting down prodigies.

It is said that a Grand Elder of a business alliance, with similar cultivation and the strongest attack magic in the Yan Kingdom, was almost obliterated by his Primordial Spirit Slash despite equal cultivation levels.

A quick glance at the top ten of the Heavenly Ranking reveals all are veterans of sects and family legacies, without any figures from the business alliance.

The head of the business alliance’s third Tier Four spirit vein in the Yan Kingdom is a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator but ranks twelfth, while the top ten include all Nascent Soul True Monarchs, and ranks ten through thirty include all late-stage Core Formation cultivators.

Li Jizhou couldn’t help but praise the business alliance for their true skill, instigating others while staying hidden themselves.

The Hidden Dragon Ranking, meanwhile, lists the most promising talents under a hundred years old in the Yan Kingdom.

The top rank isn’t a descendant from the Profound Celestial Sect or Carefree Palace but the current chief disciple of the Sword Pavilion, a quasi-Tier Four spirit vein sect in the northwestern Yan Kingdom — Lu Zhanyuan.

He has a Celestial Spirit Root of the metal element, built his Foundation Establishment at twenty-eight, formed a Golden Core at sixty-nine, and now, at eighty-eight, steady in the early stage of Core Formation, is expected to reach Nascent Soul by one hundred fifty.

Descendants from the Profound Celestial Sect and Carefree Palace come after the fifth ranking,

and the top ten all possess Celestial Spirit Roots of various elements.

There, Li Jizhou even spotted a familiar name.

Yu Ziyu, ranked ninth, from the Yu family in Qingyin Valley, western Yan Kingdom. With a Celestial Spirit Root, formed a Golden Core at seventy-four, now ninety-five, on the brink of advancing from early to middle stage of Core Formation.

This left Li Jizhou slightly surprised and skeptical.

He never expected that the unattractive woman he knew since childhood, having spent over ten years together in the slums of Inverted Mountain while sharing numerous entanglements, turned out to be a genius with a Celestial Spirit Root!

Moreover, from appearances, Yu Ziyu and the Yu family’s public identity seem faultless, likely being intentionally presented by the Wuxiang Sect.

The Dark Ranking is set by the business alliance to list powers of non-orthodox cultivators, with its figures being those wanted by various orthodox factions. Some are renowned by name, while others by mere description.

Notably, Ye Jingyu is on the list, with a bounty of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones from the Carefree Palace.

On closer inspection, it turns out that Ye Jingyu manipulated the Carefree Palace’s supreme magic, the “Carefree Skill,” ten years ago.

The Rouge Ranking is a so-called beauty list, where Yu Ziyu is also featured, ranking third!

Finally, the Wealth Ranking features the wealthiest merchants, yet no figures from the business alliance appear on it, given their nominal role as providers of a commercial environment. Nonetheless, all wealth rankings involve forces collaborating with the business alliance.

Ranked first is the owner of Yongchang Bank, claiming a net worth of a million middle-grade Spirit Stones.

The lowest on the wealth list has a net worth of three hundred thousand middle-grade Spirit Stones, equivalent to thirty million lower-grade Spirit Stones.

Li Jizhou glanced over without much interest.

His goal of earning Spirit Stones is solely to support his cultivation, to enhance his protective arsenals, ensuring that he spends as much as he earns.

Carrying materials for the Crystal Condensing Pill and an additional one hundred middle-grade Spirit Stones, Li Jizhou arrived at a courtyard in the core area of Liuyun City.

Alchemist Xue, a seasoned Tier Three Pill Master, was once on the verge of advancing to Nascent Soul but failed and fell back to a middle Core Formation realm, though now with limited lifespan and a blocked path, continues to be venerated for his alchemy techniques within the business alliance.

Li Jizhou established a relationship by paying annual taxes and working with business alliance officials at the early stage of Core Formation to find Alchemist Xue for assistance.

Through Alchemist Xue, the weighty secret in Li Jizhou’s heart suddenly lightened.

Because Alchemist Xue, many years ago by chance, fused with an Anomalous Fire, and this is widely known.

No one has ever forcefully stripped it from him.

Therefore, Li Jizhou isn’t overly worried about exposing Bai Yi within his Dantian,

as long as he succeeds in Core Formation, exposure of the Anomalous Fire poses little risk.

In places like the Qi Kingdom with scarce resources, opportunities that need to be deeply concealed, seem less conspicuous in resource-rich nations like the Yan Kingdom, adjacent to the Central Domain.

“Young friend, you’ve come just at the right time.” As soon as he entered the courtyard, Alchemist Xue cheerfully greeted.

However, Li Jizhou was slightly taken aback.

Besides Alchemist Xue, there were two others in the yard.

A young master with abundant magical power, comparable to Li Jizhou, in the Perfect Foundation Establishment Stage.

The other was an elder standing behind the young master, slightly bowing.

Evidently, they were master and servant.

“Young friend Li, this is Young Master Qin from Feihong Immortal Manor, the offspring of an old benefactor of mine, who also seeks Alchemist Xue’s service to craft a Crystal Condensing Pill.”

“Daoist Li, a pleasure.” Qin Changhong slightly smiled and nodded.

“Daoist Qin, a pleasure.” Li Jizhou, contemplating potential changes, remained affable.

“Young friend Li, Xiaoqin, possessing an Earth Spirit Root, seeks an Immortal Golden Core, thus also hopes for a quality Crystal Condensing Pill. However, high-grade principal herbs are hard to find.

It just so happens, upon learning that you’ve gathered the high-grade main ingredients, he hopes Alchemist Xue could facilitate this connection,

If two quality Crystal Condensing Pills are made, he is willing to buy one at market price,

what do you think?” Alchemist Xue kindly inquired.

Li Jizhou sighed silently.

He thought he knew Alchemist Xue well.

Yet he underestimated things.

Given Alchemist Xue’s alchemy skills, had it not been for the backlash from a failed Nascent Soul formation harming his foundation, causing realm regression, he might have hoped to craft two quality pills.

However, in his current state, Li Jizhou is eighty percent sure he can only craft one quality pill.

If so, not everyone can end up pleased.

Furthermore, mentioning this at the very last moment today seems clearly intentional, not coincidental.

Perhaps since three years ago when he learned that the top-grade ingredients had been gathered, he’d been waiting for this moment.

Considering Feihong Immortal Manor’s social status and Alchemist Xue’s value within the business alliance, if only one quality Crystal Condensing Pill is crafted,

can I truly take it away?

Li Jizhou, planning ahead in every way, striving not to estrange anyone posing a threat to his safety, found today’s surprise unanticipated.

“Ah, Alchemist Xue, I came today to tell you that the junior can no longer temporarily request your service.” Li Jizhou swiftly reached a decision amid countless thoughts.

Estrangement is inadvisable.

Abandoning the hope of forming a Golden Core is naturally not an option either.

The only choice is to abandon the plan of commissioning Alchemist Xue for pill crafting.

At worst, I could seek to self-study a soul-based cultivation technique. I have long relied solely on enhancement from a past life without dedicated cultivation,

thus wasting my past life’s soul enhancement benefits.

Due to small soul capacity in the Qi Refining Stage, past life’s soul enhancement kept my soul’s strength significantly ahead of others.

Entering Foundation Establishment, past life enhancement, including Pharmacist Zheng’s past black jade soul-nurturing effect, became less visible, only a minor realm higher than others at best.

By self-cultivating a soul-condensing technique, with five percent of a past life’s enhancement, it should yield better results.

As long as my soul strength reaches middle Core Formation level, finding a Tier Three Pill Master’s heritage, crafting a quality Crystal Condensing Pill by myself isn’t impossible.

“Hmm?” Alchemist Xue had yet to speak, while Qin Changhong narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at Li Jizhou not too kindly.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep