Chapter 85 Beginner's Guide to Array Formations, Alchemist Guest (First Update, Please Subscribe)
"The mysteries within are beyond your comprehension; just trust me,"
Xu Chuan said with a faint smile.
Xu Mingxian nodded slightly, then returned to his room.
After closing the door and activating the protective barrier, he began studying "An Introduction to Array Formations" and "Detailed Explanation of the Mysterious True Array Formation."
The former recorded some introductory knowledge of array formations, including what array formations are, how to set up arrays, and the difference between restrictions and array formations.
Xu Mingxian also skimmed through the latter.
It turned out to be the array formation experience of a Daoist named Xuanzhen from the Great Wei Dynasty.
[I have cultivated the Dao for a hundred years, but my innate talent is insufficient, so I have devoted my life to studying array formations, traveling far and wide. I once sought refuge with a noble family, setting up array formations for them, and later served as a celestial official in the Great Wei Dynasty, striving diligently.
Years have passed, and a hundred years later, I have suddenly returned to the mountains and forests, leaving this book for future scholars to study.] This
book is not very long; it mainly contains insights into various formations, commentary on rare and powerful formations, and finally, several formations that he researched and improved.
Among them is the Spirit Gathering Formation.
In addition, there are three other formations: the Cloud and Mist Formation, the Water and Fire Dragon Formation, and the Earth Defense Formation.
"Father is truly capable. 'Introduction to the Dao of Formations' may be ordinary, but this 'Detailed Explanation of the Profound Truth Formations' must be quite precious, a treasured classic of formations in the Zhou family." "
If it weren't for trying to win over Father, he certainly wouldn't have taken it out."
"But do I really have a talent for formations?"
Xu Mingxian pondered for a moment, clearing his mind of distractions, and began to seriously study "Introduction to the Dao of Formations."
Most formations use runes, array patterns, or natural spiritual objects as mediums to construct channels for the flow of spiritual energy, achieving the gathering, transformation, or sealing of energy.
There are illusion formations, killing formations, trapping formations, defensive formations, auxiliary formations, etc.
For example, the Spirit Gathering Formation recorded in "Detailed Explanation of the Profound Truth Formations" is an auxiliary formation, the Cloud and Mist Formation is an illusion formation, and the Water and Fire Dragon Formation is a killing formation.
These are all the basics of formations.
Some high-level formations are composite formations, such as "Hidden Kill within Illusion" and "Combined Trapping and Killing."
Those with profound mastery of formations, even at the Qi Refining stage, can set up high-level formations.
However, such individuals are all geniuses in formations.
The way of formations relies more on innate talent and comprehension than the way of alchemy; therefore, despite the Zhou family's rich heritage, they have only produced alchemy masters, not a single formation master.
Although Xu Mingxian harbored self-doubt, he firmly believed his father wouldn't speak without reason.
Therefore, he devoted himself to studying the way of formations, not wanting to disappoint Xu Chuan.
That night,
Zhou Sen came to see Xu Chuan.
"Elder Zhou, what brings you here so late at night?"
Zhou Sen, with a kind and benevolent expression, chuckled and said, "Firstly, I wanted to inquire about Fellow Daoist San Shu's rest, and secondly, I wanted to ask about your plans for the future."
"Plans?" Xu Chuan pondered for a moment, then said, "Nothing more than returning to my old trade: gathering spiritual herbs and refining pills for my cultivation.
Any surplus pills will be traded for spirit stones, and then used to purchase new magical artifacts."
"Alas~"
"In the last battle, all my magical artifacts were destroyed, but thankfully, I survived."
"Indeed." Zhou Sen sighed deeply, as if recalling something, a look of sorrow appearing in his eyes, "Many members of my Zhou family have also died tragically while traveling abroad."
"Fellow Daoist San Shu is fortunate to have survived, only losing some magical artifacts and valuables. With your alchemy skills, you should be able to earn back your savings in no time."
"It's not that easy. It will probably take at least ten years."
After saying this, the room fell silent.
Zhou Sen suddenly remembered his confirmation of arrival and immediately said, "Fellow Daoist, have you considered that fighting alone is far inferior to having a powerful backer?"
Xu Chuan's lips curled up slightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Elder Zhou, are you perhaps seeking to recruit me?"
"Indeed,"
Zhou Sen said. "The pills recorded in the previous formula are extremely difficult to refine. In my Zhou family, only I, the elder, can refine them, but the success rate is pitifully low.
Moreover, the clan has very few related spiritual herbs left. Therefore, I wish to ask Fellow Daoist San Shu for your assistance."
"What pills are recorded in the formula?"
"Breakthrough Pills, obtained by our clan's ancestor from an ancient cultivator's cave. They can help break through bottlenecks in the late Qi Refining stage, but a maximum of three pills can be taken." "
I see. However, I need to consider this matter for a few more days. I hope Elder Zhou will not take offense."
"Of course. My Zhou family is not those demonic cultivators. We leave as we please, and we will not force you."
"Thank you," Xu Chuan said, clasping his hands in thanks.
Zhou Sen then left the room.
Xu Chuan didn't immediately agree, naturally leaving Zhou Sen with a cautious impression.
Previously, at the Zhou family, he had left an impression of greed.
And greed and caution were characteristics of most rogue cultivators.
Over three days,
Xu Chuan thoroughly explored every shop and workshop in Moon Lake Market.
His main purpose was to understand the prices of cultivation items, such as the prices of various pills for detoxification, healing, and enhancing mana; the prices of custom-made magic weapons and purchased ones; and the different prices of flying swords, robes, and defensive items.
He also checked cultivation techniques, spiritual herbs, and so on.
Xu Chuan even saw three complete cultivation techniques that the Xu family had acquired at great expense.
Currently, of the five cultivation techniques the Xu family possessed, only the wood-attribute *Evergreen Technique* was complete; the others could only be cultivated to the seventh level of Qi Refining.
He bargained and spent one spirit stone to buy a complete copy of the *Golden Sword Technique*.
This technique was of a higher grade than the *Golden Yuan Technique*.
If it were something as ordinary as the *Golden Yuan Technique*, no one would want it even for half a spirit stone.
In Moon Lake Market, all the shops in the pavilions are either backed by powerful cultivation families from Moon Lake County or by independent cultivators who have been operating there for a long time.
As for the street vendors, they are all independent cultivators who will leave at most after a few months.
"A low-grade magic weapon is still too inferior for a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator; it should at least be a mid-grade magic weapon. But buying a mid-grade magic weapon myself is too wasteful, and I can't afford it right now.
Let's see; if I can get one from the Zhou family, that would be great."
Back at the pill shop, Xu Chuan handed the *Golden Sword Technique* to Xu Mingxian, instructing him to cultivate it.
He also gave him twenty spirit stones
as funds for future array materials.
Xu Mingxian put everything into his storage bag.
This storage bag wasn't even a beginner-level item; it was a defective product, only five cubic feet in size, but it was enough to hold a few books and some spirit stones.
As for the initial-grade storage bag, it was several feet in diameter, but it cost eighty spirit stones.
Even in Qi Refining families, only elders could probably possess one.
——————————
Three days later.
Xu Chuan went directly to Zhou Sen.
"Elder Zhou, I have considered it and am willing to become a guest elder of the Zhou family, but I have three conditions. I hope you will agree to them, otherwise this matter will be called off."
"What is it? Please tell me, fellow Daoist."
Zhou Sen did not dare to agree immediately, fearing that this rogue cultivator, Xu Chuan, would ask for an exorbitant price.
"First, I am free to come and go as I please, and the Zhou family must not obstruct me. After all, fellow Daoist can see that my cultivation is close to Foundation Establishment, and I will also go out to seek Foundation Establishment opportunities in the future."
"Second, a monthly salary of five spirit stones, and one-sixth of the pills I refine will be extracted."
"Third, I currently have no magic weapon for self-defense, and I hope that you, sir, can gift me a mid-grade magic weapon."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Sen frowned slightly and pondered deeply.
"Rogue cultivators value freedom, and the constraints imposed by guest elders are not great. The other guest elders in the clan are the same. A monthly stipend of five spirit stones isn't high for a pill refiner like Daoist San Shu, but he takes one-sixth of the cost.
" "Fine, given his alchemy skills, my Zhou family will ultimately benefit more."
"But the last condition..."
This was the one Zhou Sen was most conflicted about.
A mid-grade magic weapon was incredibly valuable, exceeding even his monthly stipend for refining pills for the Zhou family for a year.
After a moment's thought, Zhou Sen looked directly at Xu Chuan. "Fellow Daoist San Shu, I can agree to the first two conditions, but the third condition: if you agree to refine pills for the Zhou family for more than ten years, I will request the clan to allocate a mid-grade magic weapon to you without hesitation." "
Then a low-grade magic weapon would be acceptable, wouldn't it?"
"Then so be it."
Fearing Xu Chuan might raise other conditions or give up joining, Zhou Sen agreed.
"Fellow Daoist San Shu, I will have my clan send over the guest elder token tomorrow."
"Thank you, Elder Zhou," Xu Chuan said with a smile, cupping his hands in greeting.
Chapter 86 Zhou's Pill Shop (Second Update, Please Subscribe)
The next day at 1 PM.
Zhou Sen gathered all the servants, the manager, and the other two alchemy guests of Zhou's Pill Shop in the back courtyard.
"Everyone, standing beside me is Daoist San Shu, who will be the new alchemy guest of my Zhou family from now on."
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"When I am not in the market, Guest Master San Shu is the chief alchemist. Apart from buying and selling pills, everything else is handled according to his arrangements."
Xu Chuan was somewhat flattered, not expecting Zhou Sen to value him so much.
However, he didn't know if it was genuine respect or just an act in front of everyone.
"Greetings, Guest Master San Shu."
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist San Shu."
Everyone clasped their fists in greeting.
Xu Chuan glanced at everyone and could tell at a glance that the other two guests were somewhat displeased, while the others were more sincere.
Perhaps it was because they were all Zhou family members and knew Zhou Sen's character; those he respected must be profound alchemists.
"Alright, you two guests, please stay. The rest of you may go about your business."
In an instant, only the four of them remained in the courtyard.
Zhou Sen then introduced the other two guests to Xu Chuan.
"This is Ding Ming, Fellow Daoist Ding, and the other is Zuo Qiufu, Fellow Daoist Zuoqiu."
Ding Ming was well-proportioned, with a short beard, an ordinary appearance, and a middle-aged look, while Zuo Qiufu was slightly plump, with a simple and honest face and graying temples.
Xu Chuan's divine sense swept over them and he discovered that the former was at the fifth level of Qi Refining, and the latter was only at the sixth level of Qi Refining.
"Fellow Daoist Ding, Fellow Daoist Zuoqiu, I sense that you two seem somewhat dissatisfied with my decision?"
"Elder Zhou, you flatter us. We will naturally comply with your arrangements," Ding Ming said with a smile.
Zhou Sen stroked his long beard and bowed, saying, "That's for the best. Whether in alchemy or cultivation, you two are inferior to Fellow Daoist San Shu. Naturally, we should prioritize him."
Although Xu Chuan only began practicing martial arts in middle age, he had achieved considerable success and his speed was not slow, so he didn't appear to be over forty.
Hearing Zhou Sen's words, he immediately used his divine sense to observe and instantly discovered Xu Chuan's cultivation level at the seventh level of Qi Refining.
Unless a cultivator possesses a method to conceal their aura or their cultivation level differs significantly, they can usually detect another's cultivation level using their divine sense.
"Fellow Daoist Ding, I'll trouble you to help Fellow Daoist San Shu familiarize himself with the alchemy matters at my Zhou Family Pill Shop." Zhou Sen then looked at Xu Chuan, "Fellow Daoist San Shu, alchemy will begin tomorrow. Any questions?"
"What about Fellow Daoist Yun Ming?"
"If he wishes, he can stay in a guest room at my pill shop. He can leave as he pleases."
"Of course, if he has a special skill, he can join my Zhou Family."
Xu Chuan smiled and nodded. "Thank you. I will inform Fellow Daoist Yun Ming of this matter, but I don't know what his decision will be."
Zhou Sen nodded and then left with Fellow Daoist Zuo Qiu.
Ding Ming led Xu Chuan to visit the pill-making rooms first. The Zhou Family Pill Shop only had three pill-making rooms.
After Xu Chuan became a guest elder, Zhou Sen would probably return to the Zhou family in a few days.
"Fellow Daoist San Shu, this place is divided into three alchemy rooms: A, B, and C. Previously, room A belonged to Elder Zhou Sen, but now that you're here, it naturally belongs to you."
"As for which pills to refine, it depends on the schedule. For example, sometimes when we run out of antidote pills, we refine some more. We also refine whichever pills are selling well in the market."
Xu Chuan nodded slightly.
He had visited the Moon Lake Market; it wasn't just Zhou's Alchemy Shop that sold pills.
Competition breeds motivation.
This principle applies to both mortals and cultivators.
"Could I study all the pill formulas? Although I know some alchemy, I've been traveling constantly and don't know many formulas."
Ding Ming, also a rogue cultivator, understood this.
He recalled how he had exhausted himself trying to obtain even a simple pill formula.
Only after his alchemy skills improved and he gained some reputation did his situation become more stable.
Two years ago, taking advantage of the Zhou family's large-scale recruitment of alchemists, he luckily passed the test and became a guest elder of the Zhou family, thus settling down.
He has stayed there ever since. When
he first arrived, he only knew three common pill formulas, and he learned and practiced as he went.
"This is not a big problem. As long as you swear an oath of Dao heart in front of Elder Zhou Sen, promising never to reveal the pill formulas, he will definitely copy them for you."
"Then I will go find Elder Zhou Sen now."
Xu Chuan did not hesitate much. He believed that as long as he obtained the pill formulas, with his continuous research in the Dao of Alchemy, he would definitely be able to optimize them in the future.
In this way, he would not violate his oath of Dao heart and it would not hinder his path of cultivation.
After hearing Xu Chuan's words and witnessing him swear an oath in person, Elder Zhou Sen took out the copied pill formulas from his storage bag and gave them to him.
"How strange. Fellow Daoist San Shu is indeed profound in alchemy, but he even needs the formulas for the most basic antidote and healing pills, as if he's just starting out in cultivation."
He stroked his long beard, pondered for a moment, and imagined to himself, "Perhaps he wants to see if the pill formulas in my Zhou family's collection are similar to his previous ones?" "
I wasn't mistaken, Fellow Daoist San Shu is indeed as obsessed with alchemy as I am."
That afternoon,
Xu Chuan began to study the pill formulas he had obtained.
Sure enough, these pill formulas were several levels lower than the Breakthrough Pills in terms of both materials and refining difficulty. The only things to pay attention to were controlling the heat and the changes in the medicinal properties during the refining process.
He asked for three copies of each and tried to refine them. He
successfully condensed the antidote and healing pills on his first try, but they weren't even as good as low-grade pills, almost like waste.
The second time, he diligently refined pills and successfully produced three low-grade pills, though two of them were unusable.
The third attempt was similar.
Then came pills for strengthening the foundation and restoring mana, as well as pills for improving mana.
The difficulty of these three types increased progressively. For strengthening and restoring the foundation, he only managed to refine one low-grade pill on his third attempt, while all three attempts at improving mana failed.
Xu Chuan then requested two more portions of pills for improving mana.
He refined them until late at night, finally producing two low-grade pills.
Xu Chuan had an agreement with the Zhou family: he would select one out of every six pills he refined, so all the pills he produced were recorded.
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Xu Chuan spent four hours refining pills daily, five hours meditating, and three hours studying pill formulas and reading alchemical texts.
He did this every day without fail.
During this time, he focused primarily on pills for restoring the foundation and improving mana.
His success rate for restoring the foundation was already 70%, while his success rate for improving mana was 50%.
This success rate had already surpassed that of Ding Ming and Zuo Qiufu, who had been immersed in these two types of pills for years, and was only slightly behind Zhou Sen.
However, Xu Chuan was still not very satisfied.
Although the success rate had greatly improved, the number of pills produced in each batch remained at three or four, and all of them were of low grade.
In the path of alchemy, nine is the ultimate.
That is to say, a batch of pills can produce at most nine pills.
And nine high-grade pills are the ultimate in alchemy, a perfect manifestation of the use of materials.
The impurities in high-grade pills are already negligible, and as for pills without any impurities, they basically do not exist in the world.
Time passed day by day.
Xu Chuan stayed in the Zhou family, studying alchemy, while Xu Mingxian studied array formations.
Three months passed, and summer turned into autumn.
However, the secluded valley where Moon Lake Market was located was shrouded in a great array, and it was like spring all year round.
"Father, I want to find some materials to test the array." Xu Mingxian transmitted his thoughts.
"Yun Nu, you've grasped something?!"
Xu Chuan was overjoyed. The difficulty of comprehending the Dao of Arrays far surpasses that of the Dao of Alchemy. Although he had bestowed upon Xu Mingxian the [Nine Palaces Dao Evolution] destiny talent, he
hadn't expected Xu Mingxian to achieve such comprehension in just four months.
"Yes, go and gather the materials. If you lack spirit stones, you may take any I have. My stored pills can also be exchanged for spirit stones."
Xu Mingxian nodded slightly and left Xu Chuan's room.
In the past few months,
he had also ventured out several times, strolling through the market.
Generally speaking, the market was relatively safe; everyone tacitly agreed on a rule—no trouble in the market.
Those with grudges settled them outside.
Chapter 87 Another Year of Festival (Third Update, Please Subscribe)
Xu Mingxian went out and bought more than a dozen pieces of spirit iron, spending two spirit stones.
The price difference between spirit iron, spirit herbs, and finished magical artifacts and pills is vast.
Although this spirit iron is of low grade, if given to someone with exceptional crafting skills, it would be enough to forge two low-grade flying swords.
Of course, like alchemy, crafting artifacts cannot be guaranteed to succeed on the first try.
Any failure means all previous efforts are wasted.
Xu Mingxian wanted this spirit iron to practice inscribing array patterns, using it as the foundation for setting up arrays.
Spirit stones are actually a superior material, but they are not as hard as spirit iron; if a failure occurs, the spirit stone might be completely destroyed.
For Xu Mingxian at this point, spirit stones are too precious.
However, spirit iron is hard and can withstand multiple array pattern inscriptions, allowing for reuse, making it perfect for beginners.
Afterwards, Xu Mingxian stayed in his room practicing array formations.
Similar to Xu Chuan, he devoted himself to both studying array formations and cultivating every day.
January and February.
——————————————
The year draws to a close, the Big Dipper turns to Yin.
Children vie for the new calendar, old men count the marks of the past.
In the blink of an eye, the annual festival arrives again.
Dongxi Village, the Xu family.
In previous years, the entire Xu family would gather in the hall for a family reunion.
This year, although almost everyone is present, there is less joy and more melancholy.
"Let's begin the feast,"
Bai Jing said, and everyone started eating.
The youngest, Xu Derui and Xu Deheng, still needed to be fed by their mother, but they held chicken legs and wings in their hands, their eyes shining, staring intently.
They would take a bite every now and then, their little hands and mouths covered in grease.
Xu Dezhao, Xu Dewen, and Xu Dejing were all well-behaved, their manners and bearing were extraordinary.
Xu Deling sat quietly beside Yang Ronghua.
Bai Jing glanced at them, a smile appearing on her lips, but thinking of Xu Chuan and Xu Mingxian who were away, she put down her chopsticks and let out a long sigh.
Seeing this, Xu Mingwei, standing beside her, asked with concern, "Mother, are you thinking about Father again?"
"This is the first time he's been gone for so long. I feel like he's getting further and further away from me. Every time I wake up in the middle of the night, I see his back. He's right in front of me, but I can never reach him."
Xu Mingwei sighed inwardly. He knew his father's ambition: to seek immortality.
His heart was far more steadfast than theirs.
He gazed at Bai Jing's graying hair, his heart filled with sorrow.
Bai Jing had never practiced martial arts, much less cultivated immortality. Now she showed signs of aging; in twenty or thirty years at most, she would likely leave them.
"Mother, Father must be thinking of you somewhere too," Xu Mingwei said.
"I believe so too," Bai Jing smiled gently. "Your father is a man of deep affection, different from others, but also with great ambitions."
"Mother, why didn't you practice martial arts with me in your younger days?" Xu Mingxuan asked curiously.
"Why practice martial arts? I'm not like Rushan. Ask your sister-in-law why she doesn't practice martial arts,"
Yang Ronghua smiled faintly. "I've never liked martial arts, and I have no talent for it."
"For many people, a peaceful life is the greatest fortune," Bai Jing said slowly. "Your father also asked me, and it was because I didn't want to." Her
voice trailed off.
"Enough. Today is a day for family reunion; it's not appropriate to discuss such sorrowful matters."
"Come, let's raise a glass and drink together, wishing the Xu family even greater success next year!"
"Even greater success!"
Moon Lake Market.
Xu Chuan and Xu Mingxian drank under the moonlight.
Xu Mingxian looked at his expression and whispered, "Are you missing your mother and the others?"
Xu Chuan smiled back at him and took a small sip.
"Yes, it's been over thirty years since I've been with your mother, and this is the first time we've been separated for so long, the first time we haven't been able to reunite for the annual festival."
"But for the sake of the Xu family for generations to come, you and I are destined to be pioneers, trailblazers. Yunnu, you won't blame your father, will you?"
Xu Mingxian shook his head, also gazing at the sky.
"Father's aspirations are also my aspirations. I am willing to be the cornerstone of the Xu family. Besides, I also find joy in the path of cultivation."
"Haha." Xu Chuan patted Xu Mingxian's shoulder. "That's good then. Let's work together, father and son."
Moon Lake County City.
Yang Zhao's residence.
At the dining table.
Yang Zhao suddenly spoke up, "My uncle mentioned again today that he wants me to become the head of the Yang family. What do you all think?"
Wen Jing's face lit up with joy, "Father, you should have agreed long ago!"
Madam Yang said, "Whatever you choose, my husband, I will follow you."
"Chang'er, what do you think?"
"It would certainly benefit our family if Father became the head of the Yang family, but Father is already a prefectural commander, and he has many official duties to handle every day. How can he get away?"
"Is that all you think?"
Yang Zhao was slightly disappointed, feeling that his son's mind was a little too simple.
Yang Wenfeng's main reason for making him the head of the Yang family was probably to use this opportunity to befriend the Xu family.
For his uncle to do this, it must be because he had previously discovered that the Xu family's potential was far greater than he had imagined, and he wanted to bring them into his fold.
"I've disappointed Father." Yang Shichang preferred to be straightforward.
"Alright, I'll think about it some more. Let's eat," Yang Zhao said calmly.
Several days later,
Yang Zhao declined Yang Wenfeng's offer, citing being too busy and lacking in talent.
A month passed in a flash.
Moon Lake Market.
"Seven pills, four mid-grade, three low-grade."
Xu Chuan looked at the newly refined batch of pills with delight.
In the past year, his alchemy skills had improved significantly, and the number of pills he produced had increased dramatically.
He had become a star at Zhou's Pill Shop.
Since Xu Chuan could consistently refine mid-grade pills, his monthly salary had increased from five spirit stones to seven. Zhou Sen even promised that if Xu Chuan could consistently refine high-grade pills, his monthly salary would increase to fifteen.
Even Zhou Sen, who had immersed himself in these pill formulas for decades, could only consistently refine mid-grade pills and occasionally produce a few batches of high-grade pills.
Yet, he was already a renowned alchemy master in Moon Lake Market.
If Xu Chuan could consistently refine high-grade pills, it would mean his alchemy skills had truly reached the master level. Even at twenty spirit stones a month, the Zhou family would readily offer it.
However, Xu Chuan and the Zhou family had an agreement to exchange one out of every six pills refined.
In recent days, he had accumulated a considerable number of low-grade pills and several mid-grade pills.
A bottle of low-grade healing pills (twelve pills) cost three spirit stones, but a bottle of mid-grade pills was worth five.
High-grade pills were worth eight spirit stones.
Pills for restoring vital energy and enhancing mana would be even more expensive.
However, even with Xu Chuan's talent, it would probably take one or two years to achieve this.
Meanwhile,
Xu Mingxian's attempts at array formations had also yielded results.
He had successfully inscribed array patterns on spirit iron with his divine sense and was now attempting to set up a spirit-gathering array.
However, before that, he needed to try a qi-inducing array.
This was the foundation of the spirit-gathering array.
Six qi-inducing arrays combined, along with the interconnected spirit-gathering array patterns, would form a grand spirit-gathering array.
These spirit irons are merely the lowest-grade spiritual materials, containing far less than one-tenth the spiritual energy of a spirit stone. Even if successfully arranged, their effect would be minimal.
If a grand formation could be set up using spiritual vein nodes or mountain terrain, it would likely possess the power to burn mountains and boil seas.
Of course, formations of this caliber are not something a simple "Introduction to Formations" would record.
The more profound the cultivation method or formation, the more difficult it is to preserve.
Those that can be recorded in writing or in classical texts are mostly low-grade items.
Xu Mingxian experimented for half a month.
Lacking sufficient materials, he went out to purchase more, and after several attempts, finally managed to inscribe a complete Qi-drawing formation on a piece of spirit iron.
Once the formation was complete, it would draw upon the power of the surrounding heaven and earth, attracting spiritual energy from all directions, which would then converge towards the formation's core.
Over time, a faint mist would form.
"Finally, I've inscribed my first formation!"
Chapter 88 Do I Really Have a Talent for Array Formations?! (Fourth Update, Please Subscribe)
Like the Cloud Mist Array of Moon Lake Market, it also has Qi-attracting array patterns as its foundation, only the number is much larger, which is why it can gather such clouds and mist.
Afterwards,
Xu Mingxian continued to experiment until he could quickly set up a Qi-attracting array.
Next, he studied the spirit-gathering array patterns, connecting multiple Qi-attracting arrays to multiply the speed of Qi gathering, and then there was spirit locking.
This gathered all the spiritual energy within a certain range, preventing it from dissipating.
The stronger the spirit-gathering array, the wider the range of spirit gathering it could form.
Time passed quickly.
After half a year of painstaking research,
Xu Mingxian finally set up the simplest spirit-gathering array using several pieces of spirit iron. He tried it himself and found that it could only increase his cultivation speed by half a percent.
"It's faster than I expected. Could it be that, as Father said, I have an exceptional talent for array formations?"
"Once I'm more proficient, I'll try to forge array plates or array flags, making them easy to carry around."
"However, should I have someone forge them or learn some basic weapon-refining techniques myself?"
Xu Mingxian hesitated for a long time before deciding to buy a book on weapon refining.
He spent two spirit stones to buy a copy of "The True Explanation of Weapon Refining for Beginners."
Even if he couldn't learn it himself, he could leave it for future generations of his clan to study.
The most basic weapon refining methods weren't too difficult; weapon crafting is inherently easy to learn but difficult to master.
Unlike array formations and alchemy, which are difficult to begin with.
After spending more than two months,
Xu Mingxian had become a weapon-refining apprentice.
In addition, without realizing it, Xu Mingxian's cultivation had already reached the seventh level of Qi Refining. His
[Qi Swallowing Mountains and Rivers] destiny talent gave him a natural speed of cultivation, almost like having a spirit-gathering array, and coupled with his true spiritual root aptitude, his speed was no slower than Xu Chuan's.
Even now, without the essence of the herbs in the herb garden, Xu Chuan's progress is somewhat slower than when he was at Bihan Pool. He
only recently broke through to the eighth level of Qi Refining.
However, he still has the [Heaven Rewards Diligence] destiny talent.
This talent, with Xu Chuan's tireless day and night cultivation, can continuously improve his cultivation speed.
This destiny talent is arguably the most crucial factor in Xu Chuan's progress to this point.
Xu Mingxian walks the path of array formations, while Xu Chuan walks the path of alchemy.
The father and son continue to delve into their respective paths of cultivation, and they will surely go further and further.
One day,
Xu Chuan arrived at the Hundred Chain Weapon Workshop. The workshop owner's surname was Wu, a cultivator at the peak of the eighth level of Qi Refining. In terms of weapon refining skills, he was the best in the entire Moon Lake Market.
He was a rogue cultivator who settled in Moon Lake Market five or six years ago.
He had taken in three or five weapon refining apprentices.
"Senior, are you here to buy or customize a magic weapon?"
A seventeen or eighteen-year-old cultivator at the second level of Qi Refining greeted Xu Chuan with a smile as he entered.
"I'm looking for Master Wu to commission a magic weapon."
"Please wait a moment, senior. I'll go find my master right away."
The young cultivator turned and walked through a side passage into the back of the workshop.
A moment later, a burly old man with graying hair, around seventy or eighty years old, followed him out.
"You're the one who commissioned a magic weapon? What's your name?"
"This humble Daoist is San Shu Dao Ren." "
So you are the renowned alchemy master of Zhou's Pill Shop? I've long admired your name. Please have a seat."
The two sat down.
The young cultivator poured tea for them and then stood quietly to the side.
"What kind of magical artifact does Fellow Daoist San Shu wish to commission? What grade?"
"A mid-grade magical artifact, a precious bow and matching arrows. The bow requires the strength of a Grandmaster at the peak to draw, and its primary element is metal."
Master Wu lowered his eyelids slightly, his dark pupils shrinking as if pinched by a finger. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly said, "Just drawing it requires such strength; without the strength of a Grandmaster at the late stage or above, it would be difficult to sustain for long."
"This magical artifact is probably not something you need yourself, Fellow Daoist."
"I have a good friend who loves the bow and arrows, and I wish to give them to him as a gift."
"A mid-grade magical artifact as a gift, and a bow and arrow no less—that's quite a generous gift."
"A life-saving grace." Xu Chuan smiled faintly and said casually.
"I see, then no wonder." Master Wu bowed and said, "But bows and arrows are more difficult to forge than flying swords, and their prices are not low."
"With Master Wu's skill in forging weapons, a mere mid-grade magic weapon should be a piece of cake. Please give me a price, Master. If it is truly unbearable, then I will have no choice but to give up."
Xu Chuan's meaning was clear. If Master Wu wanted to make a large profit, he would have no choice but to give up.
In Moon Lake Market, he might be the only one who could forge high-grade magic weapons, but there were several others who could forge mid-grade magic weapons.
Master Wu pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "Mid-grade magic weapons are priced between eighty and one hundred and twenty spirit stones. A precious bow will be priced at eighty spirit stones.
Nine arrows, even if they are all low-grade magic weapons, will cost sixty or seventy spirit stones. Including materials and forging costs, it will be no less than two hundred spirit stones."
"Of course, if you provide the materials, I will charge you one hundred and seventy spirit stones."
Hearing this, Xu Chuan remained silent.
"There aren't any finished bows and arrows in the entire Moon Lake Market, after all, cultivators aren't good at using physical strength," Master Wu added. "If you're willing to lower the grade, then it's simple, it'll only cost forty or fifty spirit stones in total."
He then took a small sip of tea, giving him time to consider.
After a while, Xu Chuan touched his storage bag, and a small porcelain bottle flew out.
"Master Wu, take a look at this pill, what do you think its price is?"
Master Wu took the porcelain bottle, and what he poured out was a peculiar pill, half gray and half white, but its fragrance was extremely strong, so much so that it made his neck slightly loosen.
He immediately showed a look of surprise, "What is this pill?"
Xu Chuan beckoned and put the pill away to prevent its medicinal properties from being lost.
"Obtained from a certain cave, it is made from an ancient pill formula, and it has the effect of breaking through the bottleneck of the late stage of Qi Refining, and its domineering effect is 50 to 60% better than the current bottleneck-breaking pills."
"Is this true?!"
"I would not lie to Master Wu."
Master Wu's eyes narrowed slightly, and he tapped his fingertips lightly on the sandalwood table. After a moment, he said, "If that's the case, this pill is worth sixty spirit stones."
Master Wu happened to be at the peak of the eighth level of Qi Refining, and had been stuck at this bottleneck for several years without breaking through, otherwise he would never have offered such a high price.
"It's still a bit expensive." Xu Chuan thought to himself, he naturally wanted to refine a mid-grade treasure bow.
Xu Mingwei would also turn to the Immortal Path after reaching the Grandmaster Perfection.
Even if his true qi transformation doesn't reach the ninth level of Qi Refining, the seventh or eighth level is still possible.
At that time, this mid-grade treasure bow in his hands will be as powerful as a high-grade magic weapon.
It will be a crucial fighting force for the Xu family to deter other Qi Refining families. However, after
deducting the sixty spirit stones for this pill from the two hundred spirit stones, he still needs one hundred and forty spirit stones.
This is a huge expense for him at this moment.
Moreover, Xu Mingxian's research on magic arrays also requires spirit stone reserves.
"Could we use other pills that enhance magic power as payment?" Xu Chuan asked.
Master Wu pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered his grandson.
"By the way, Zhou Sen wasn't confident he could refine the Bone Strengthening Pill with just three ingredients. I wonder how many he has?"
"Pills for enhancing magical power are far inferior to the one that helped me break through a bottleneck. I'm not short of them." Master Wu paused, then added, "However, if Fellow Daoist San Shu can accomplish something, I can reduce the amount of spirit stones."
"What is it?"
Master Wu patted his storage bag and took out a pill formula.
The formula flew to Xu Chuan, who scanned it with his divine sense and quickly memorized all its contents.
"Bone Strengthening Pill?"
Chapter 89 Bone-Strengthening Pill (Five Updates, Please Subscribe)
"This pill formula was collected by me at a considerable cost from an ancient one," said Master Wu. "The Bone-Strengthening Pill, as the name suggests, strengthens bones and can change one's constitution."
"This pill is most suitable for children under twelve years old; however, its effects are minimal after eighteen."
"I have a grandson, now eight years old. Because his mother suffered an injury, he was born weak and unlikely to live past twenty.
His parents are both deceased, and he is my only grandson. My only wish in this life is for him to grow up healthy and live a peaceful life."
"And this Bone-Strengthening Pill is where that hope lies." "
However, one of the main ingredients in the formula is the withered bone flower, which is extremely rare. I asked many people to search far and wide, and only managed to find three flowers, making a total of three sets of materials."
"I, Wu, also asked Elder Zhou Sen of your Zhou Family Pill Shop for help, but he only had a slight chance of success, so I had to put it aside for the time being."
Master Wu looked directly at Xu Chuan. "If Fellow Daoist San Shu can refine this pill, one pill will be worth forty spirit stones, with no upper limit."
"Most ancient pill formulas are difficult to refine, so I can only try my best."
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist."
Master Wu seemed to see hope and stood up, solemnly cupping his hands in greeting.
"But I also have a condition. Please refine a magic weapon for me first. As for the Bone Strengthening Pill, I still need to study it for a while before I try to refine it when I am more confident." "
At most half a year, at the fastest three or four months, there will definitely be results."
"I agree. I will also hand over these three sets of Bone Strengthening Pill materials to you, Fellow Daoist. I hope you will save my grandson's life."
Xu Chuan nodded.
He was now not far from refining high-grade pills.
Three or four months was his estimated time.
Once he was confident in refining high-grade pills, coupled with his superb control over the properties of medicinal herbs, he was confident he could successfully refine a batch of pills using three sets of materials.
After all, Xu Chuan was no longer the novice alchemist he was a year ago.
Admittedly, with such a difficult formula and only three ingredients, it was impossible to produce a pill of medium grade or higher without exceptional luck.
Several days later,
Master Wu gathered all the materials and began refining the treasure bow.
Because his grandson's life was in Xu Chuan's hands, he was giving it his all.
Half a month later,
the Hundred Refinements Weapon Shop sent someone to inform the Zhou family's pill shop that the custom-made magic weapon had been completed.
Xu Chuan immediately went to check it out.
"Fellow Daoist San Shu, I have lived up to your expectations. This bow was forged in one go, and it was completed very smoothly." Master Wu laughed heartily as he introduced it to Xu Chuan: "This bow weighs three thousand catties. Only a cultivator with the strength of a Xiantian martial artist can lift it. Both the bow and the bowstring are made from materials from the Xuanmo Jiao, a demon beast at the seventh level of Qi Refining.
As you requested, only a Grandmaster with perfect strength can fully draw this bow."
"There are nine arrows, with feathers made from demon beast feathers. They are all low-grade magic weapons. The power of a single arrow is far less than that of a normal low-grade flying sword, but when combined with the bow, it can be drawn with pure strength and activated with magic power, and its power is close to that of a high-grade magic weapon.
Moreover, the arrows and the bow are interconnected. When a cultivator activates the bow, they can actively recall the arrows.
I named this bow the Mo Jiao Bow. It is a combination of immortal and martial arts, truly one of my outstanding works.
I wonder if your friend can handle it."
"Perhaps."
Xu Chuan stroked the bow. The bow was a deep black color with beast patterns carved on it, making it appear rugged and powerful.
He immediately clasped his hands in thanks to Master Wu, saying, "Thank you very much, Master Wu. I will certainly do my best to help with the Bone Strengthening Pill!"
"Thank you." He
returned to Zhou's Pill Shop.
Xu Chuan found Xu Mingxian and said to him, "Deliver this bow to your elder brother."
"This is a mid-grade magic weapon?" Xu Mingxian asked in surprise after carefully sensing it.
"Your elder brother intends to pursue the path of cultivating both immortality and martial arts. After he switches to cultivating immortality, this bow will be able to unleash power comparable to a high-grade magic weapon in his hands, becoming a major trump card for our Xu family."
Xu Mingxian nodded, deeply agreeing.
That day, he left Moon Lake Market and headed towards Qingjiang County.
Because his storage bag was too small, and the bow had not yet been refined, he could not reduce its size, so Xu Mingxian had to carry it on his back.
Fortunately, he had the physical attributes of a perfected innate martial artist; otherwise, he would have had to rely on his magic power to lift it, which would have been too taxing. If he
encountered danger along the way, his situation would have been extremely troublesome.
Throughout his journey, Xu Mingxian had only encountered one petty villain—a peak-stage Acquired Realm cultivator leading seventeen or eighteen others.
He was indifferent by nature; aside from his concern for his family, the lives of others were insignificant to him.
With a simple hand seal, he conjured a golden flying sword.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A flash of golden light appeared, and under Xu Mingxian's control, in the blink of an eye, everyone's throats were slit, blood spurting out.
They didn't even have time to cry out, "Immortal Master, spare our lives!" before collapsing one by one into pools of blood.
Xu Mingxian stepped over their bodies, took a few steps, then returned, searching their bodies.
"Father said, 'Don't forget to loot the corpse after killing someone!'"
"Even a vast empire of wealth is built up bit by bit!"
"Over a thousand taels, two martial arts manuals... Hmm, the silver silk armor this leader is wearing looks good; it can protect against sword and axe cuts, but it seems to be a women's style."
Xu Mingxian revealed a strange smile. "There are actually people with this kind of fetish."
"The world is going to the dogs!"
Xu Mingxian traveled extremely fast, arriving in Qingjiang territory in just over a day.
If it weren't for this precious bow, he might have been able to fly on his sword and return to Qingjiang in two or three hours.
"Fifth Master!"
A sharp-eyed guard recognized the young man carrying the precious bow as Xu Mingxian and exclaimed in surprise, "You've returned from your travels?"
The Xu family immediately became lively.
Apart from Xu Mingyuan and Xu Mingxuan, who were on business in another county, Bai Jing, Xu Mingwei and his wife, Xu Mingshu, and the rest of the younger generation of the Xu family surrounded Xu Mingxian.
"Fifth Uncle!" Xu Dezhao led his younger siblings in a respectful bow to Xu Mingxian.
Xu Mingxian smiled slightly and nodded.
"Yunnu, why are you alone? Where is Father?"
Xu Mingshu looked around, slightly disappointed. Xu
Mingwei and Bai Jing remained silent, waiting for his response.
"Mother, don't worry, Father is fine. He instructed me to come back first and give this bow to my eldest brother."
Xu Mingxian untied the precious bow and handed it to him along with the arrows.
Xu Mingwei took it, his pupils constricting. The bow and arrows together weighed several thousand pounds.
"Fifth Uncle, what kind of bow is this? It's quite extraordinary, exuding the aura of a primordial beast, somewhat resembling Uncle Bai."
Uncle Bai, as Xu Dezhao called him, was Bai Hu.
Xu Mingxian rubbed his head and smiled, "This is the Black Dragon Bow. The bow and bowstring are made from materials from the demonic beast Xuanmo Dragon, fused with some spirit iron.
The nine arrows are also made from the same materials."
"Demon beast materials!" Xu Dezhao's eyes flashed with a sharp light.
Xu Mingxian turned to Xu Mingwei and said, "Brother, this bow was forged by Father at great expense. If we encounter a powerful enemy, we can use this bow to deal with them."
Xu Mingwei put down the arrows, walked to the side, and immediately took a bow stance, drawing the bow diagonally upwards.
"Hmm?" Xu Mingwei frowned slightly, pondering to himself, "I've already reached the peak of the early stage of Grandmaster, half a step into the middle stage, and my strength far surpasses my peers, perhaps even comparable to the late stage of Grandmaster. Yet I can't fully draw this bow?"
"Still a little short." Xu Mingshu asked in surprise, "Big brother, you're a Grandmaster, how come you can't fully draw it?"
"Why don't you try?" Xu Mingwei moved the Ink Dragon Bow in front of Xu Mingshu.
"I'll try it then."
Xu Mingshu immediately took it, but the next moment the Ink Dragon Bow crashed heavily to the ground, shattering the bluestone bricks into pieces.
"For every bluestone brick damaged, it will be deducted from your monthly allowance."
"Big brother, you're cheating me?"
Xu Mingshu's beautiful eyes widened in astonishment. She turned to look at Xu Mingxian: "Yunnu, this damn Ink Dragon Bow is far too heavy. Is it even wielded by a human?"
Xu Mingwei scoffed: "Xueji, this bow was specially commissioned by Father for me. Are you taking this opportunity to insult me as inhuman?" "
I hereby declare that your monthly allowance is gone."
"Big brother, my dear big brother—"