Chapter 19: Foundation Establishment Pill
Azure Sea Sect.
Cold Spring Peak.
Fang Qing found a spring eye.
This spring eye lacked sufficient spiritual energy and had not entered any grade, but under the perception of his Ji Water true power, it carried a vigorous vitality. Using it to combine medicines was an excellent choice.
“As expected, this Ji Water cultivation image still has many aspects worth excavating…”
Fang Qing had originally only planned to use his mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation to once again attempt water-method pill refinement.
But today, with a sudden inspiration, transforming his Ji Water true power brought him an additional surprise.
Pa!
He patted the storage pouch at his waist, and three jade boxes flew out. Inside were Qi-Replenishing Grass, Spirit-Melding Flower, and Jade Splendor Treasure Fish Juice— all materials for refining “Jade Splendor Spirit Water.”
After successfully entering the Qi Ingestion path, Fang Qing had mingled through the various marketplaces of Ba Commandery in the World of Ancient Shu, buying low and selling high, acting as a cross-world profiteer. He had exchanged for a batch of contribution points, then spent them all on pill-refining notes, raw materials, and the like, preparing to heavily invest to improve his pill-refining skills. “Go!”
Fang Qing first extracted the Qi-Replenishing Grass.
He circulated the Water-Control Technique, causing the spiritual spring to rise into a vortex.
This time, Fang Qing sensed an obvious difference. Many obscure and difficult points from before were now effortlessly resolved under his Ji Water true power.
Although he was still using the Mystic Origin Three Revolutions technique, there was inexplicably a flavor of “Six Vortices Flying Stars” within it.
“Ji Water is also known as Fountain Water. Spiritual springs belong to it—so my control over spring water has greatly increased?”
A faint realization arose in Fang Qing’s heart.
At this moment, his state was simply superb. After handling the Qi-Replenishing Grass, he proceeded to temper the Spirit-Melding Flower and the Jade Splendor Treasure Fish Juice.
Next came the fusion and warming of the various medicinal liquids…
The drawback of water-method pill refinement lay in its long refining time, far exceeding that of fire-method pill refinement.
After a long while, the spiritual spring before Fang Qing had completely transformed into a medicinal pool, faintly exuding a strange fragrance.
“Very good. At this stage, I only need to slowly wait for the medicinal properties to settle, and then carry out the final step of extracting the spirit water.”
Fang Qing let out a long breath, excitement flickering in his eyes. He sat cross-legged and began waiting silently.
“According to the pill manuals, this step requires two to three days. Fortunately, unlike fire-method pill refinement, there’s no need to guard the furnace day and night… but it still consumes a great deal of mental energy.”
…
“Huh? This medicinal fragrance?”
“Its color is jade-green, its aura clear and pure… It seems that pool of spiritual medicine is about to succeed. It should be Jade Splendor Spirit Water. I wonder which senior brother or sister it is?”
Cold Spring Peak was a public area. There were many Pill Island disciples, and someone immediately noticed the anomaly and exclaimed in admiration.
“That person… seems to be Fang Qing?”
“Oh? That backdoor-entering disciple?”
“Shh… Being able to refine a first-tier spirit water already counts as entering the ranks of pill masters. His status will be completely different in the future. We should be cautious—careful that disaster comes from the mouth.”
“Tsk tsk… I heard that this person doesn’t get along well with Li Yusu under Master Floating Cloud Daoist? That Li Yusu hasn’t had much luck. Previously, he tried to break through the mid-stage Qi Refining bottleneck in seclusion, but failed and lost quite a bit of primordial energy…”
“Li Yusu? Shouldn’t he be mid-grade spiritual root? To be trapped by a small mid-stage Qi Refining bottleneck? Looks like that ‘mid-grade aptitude’ evaluation was barely earned…”
…
The surrounding discussions were not concealed at all and were fully transmitted into Fang Qing’s ears.
“I didn’t expect to hear news about that Li Fish-Egg as well?”
Hearing of that person’s failed breakthrough, Fang Qing felt a sense of pleasure in his heart. He stood up and cupped his hands in all directions, saying, “Fellow sect members… this pool of spirit water has not yet finished refining. Please spare your junior brother for now. Once the spirit water is complete, there will certainly be repayment.”
“Haha… We’ll move farther away and not disturb the spring’s pill aura.”
The group of senior brothers and sisters inexplicably felt that Fang Qing’s words made great sense and withdrew to a certain distance.
Fang Qing observed coldly and knew that his “silver tongue” had taken effect.
“As expected, those with cultivation higher than mine and firmer willpower… have stronger resistance to verbal influence.”
“And… verbal persuasion ultimately still has to land on tangible benefits or fists. If I were to promise heavy rewards, the persuasive power of silver tongue would increase even more…”
Two days later, Fang Qing’s eyes lit up. He formed hand seals with both hands, streams of true power striking into the medicinal pool before him.
The originally clear medicinal pool had now separated into several distinct layers.
The topmost layer was jade-green like emerald. Just a slight whiff made one feel the true power within the body stir faintly.
“As expected, it’s a pill medicine that enhances true power…”
Fang Qing smiled and took out more than a dozen small green-skinned gourds from his storage pouch.
These gourds were only about the size of an infant’s fist. A normal adult hand could fully grasp one. They were containers specifically used to hold spirit water.
“Rise!”
He pointed with his finger, and a stream of “Jade Splendor Spirit Water” flew out, falling into a green-skinned gourd, rapidly filling it before Fang Qing sealed it.
A short while later, a row of twelve green-skinned small gourds was neatly lined up.
This was another characteristic of water-method pill refinement— although it took a long time, the yield was large!
“Congratulations, senior brother, on your successful refinement!”
All around, the Pill Island disciples offered their congratulations. Some wore gloomy expressions, clearly thinking of their own pill-refining ambitions…
“Many thanks to all junior brothers and sisters… This Jade Splendor Spirit Water isn’t very effective for me. Everyone who sees it has a share. I only need to keep one gourd.”
Fang Qing stood up and cupped his fists toward the surroundings.
A pill master gifting the first batch of successfully refined pills to fellow Daoists was an ancient custom.
Now that these junior brothers and sisters had received benefits and were also influenced by his “silver tongue,” they immediately felt that Fang Qing was someone worth befriending.
Li Yusu’s nonsense might not be trustworthy after all!
“Congratulations, Junior Brother Fang, on successfully entering the ranks.”
At this moment, a handsome mid-stage Qi Refining disciple with half-black, half-white hair and a faint medicinal fragrance stepped forward, smiling as he congratulated, “I am Xu Wusu…”
“So it’s Senior Brother Xu.”
Sensing that the other party’s true power fluctuations were deeper than his own, Fang Qing quickly returned the salute.
“From observing your technique, although it’s somewhat immature, it is naturally formed—clearly a wild-path practice. Coincidentally, not long from now, the island lord, Elder Tianding, will open a furnace to refine pills. Junior brother should complete certification as soon as possible and follow Elder Tianding. Even learning a little will benefit you for a lifetime.”
Xu Wusu reminded him.
“Mm.”
Fang Qing had the same plan. At the very least, he needed to report to the sect that he had officially entered the ranks as a pill master.
That way, he would no longer need to leave the sect to take on mandatory missions.
Sending valuable production-type talent to serve as expendable frontline fodder was not something a mature power should do.
“These senior brothers and sisters speak so pleasantly. Even someone like Li Yusu only ostracizes me and won’t ambush and kill me… This place is far better than that rotten place. I really like it here. Best if I can always refine pills within the sect and not go out…”
Pill Island, main hall.
Fang Qing deliberately transformed four layers of Black-Water True Power and came to report in.
He also planned to display his mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation, to avoid pretending to be weak until he truly became weak and was completely looked down upon.
Pill Island was mainly responsible for managing the sect’s pill masters, and there were quite a few disciples in the hall.
The one in charge of registering newly entered pill masters happened to be an acquaintance of Fang Qing.
“It’s you?”
Gong Susu was somewhat surprised upon seeing Fang Qing.
“That’s right. This junior brother was fortunate enough to refine a pool of Jade Splendor Spirit Water at Cold Spring Peak and has come to report.”
Fang Qing smiled and took out a green-skinned gourd.
He had refined pills in full public view, so his confidence was strong.
“So… this person lay dormant for seven years and can still erupt in a single move?”
“This person isn’t wealthy. He shouldn’t have materials for many furnaces. Could it be that his talent in water-method pill refinement is truly that high?”
Gong Susu was astonished inwardly, but she still completed the procedures for Fang Qing. “Junior brother, you are now an officially ranked pill master of our sect. In addition to the Administrative Affairs Hall, you can also accept pill-refining tasks here… Seven days from now, the island lord, Elder Tianding, will personally come to the Pill Cauldron Platform to give a lecture…”
“Many thanks for the reminder, senior sister.”
Fang Qing cupped his hands, retrieved his disciple token, and took his leave.
“Heehee… Senior sister, do you feel any regret?”
Beside her, Hua Lingsu watched the scene with two charming dimples appearing on her face.
“Not at all… After all, we have no conflict with this Junior Brother Fang. Only that foolish Li Yusu played his cards openly…”
“Besides, we are disciples of Foundation Establishment elders. Even if he becomes a pill master, so what? Under sect rules, we can’t do anything to him, and he can’t do anything to us either…”
Gong Susu continued, “Right now, I only care about Junior Sister Zhu’er’s cultivation progress.”
“Junior Sister Zhu’er has always been diligent. I do think she has some hope of Foundation Establishment in the future,” Hua Lingsu said solemnly.
“Foundation Establishment… essence, qi, and spirit—three gates. Each gate is a whole new world. If only there were a Foundation Establishment Pill… True Disciple! True Disciple!!”
Strong yearning surfaced in Gong Susu’s eyes.
…
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
Pill Cauldron Platform.
Fang Qing finally met the lord of Pill Island, Elder Tianding.
This Foundation Establishment cultivator appeared as an elderly man with white brows and beard, wearing a coarse hemp robe with many burn and scorch marks along the edges.
At this moment, his gentle eyes swept over the assembled pill masters as he spoke, “Today… this old man will explain the pill formula for the ‘Foundation Establishment Pill,’ as well as the techniques and points of attention during refinement… You must all study it carefully. Half a month from now, Cold Spring Peak will be sealed. All ranked pill masters must assist this old man in participating in the sect’s Foundation Establishment Pill refinement task. This task will count as the completion of one mandatory sect mission…”
“Foundation Establishment Pill?!”
Many disciples’ eyes lit up. Even Fang Qing subconsciously straightened his back, his eyes shining brightly.
“Foundation Establishment Pill? It’s actually the Foundation Establishment Pill?”
After reaching peak Qi Refining, one could attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage!
Foundation Establishment cultivators had lifespans nearing two hundred years—roughly equivalent to the rise and fall of an ancient dynasty.
Moreover, their true power was formidable, allowing them to dominate an entire island!
This was the dream of all low-level disciples!
Yet Foundation Establishment was extremely difficult. Without the aid of a “Foundation Establishment Pill,” failure often meant death and the dissipation of the Dao, blocking the path of countless talented disciples.
“The Foundation Establishment Pill formula has only one primary ingredient—a second-tier demon core… The demon core’s demonic power must be full and flawless. Our sect specializes in raising horned serpents, so second-tier demon cores here are primarily water-aspected and most suitable for cultivators practicing water-attribute techniques to establish their foundation… If it is to be used by other peak Qi Refining cultivators, the refining techniques must be correspondingly adjusted…”
Elder Tianding’s voice clearly reached the ears of every disciple.