55: Breakthrough to Grand Martial Master

Upon hearing that the 'Blood Bodhi Rampage Pill' was a Profound Rank Medium Grade pill, Qin Feng's heart sank. Although his alchemical skills had Advanced and he had the azure flame furnace and Sword Heart to aid him, his success rate in refining even yellow rank high grade qi condensing pills was lamentably low, let alone the more difficult Profound Rank pills. This was absolutely not a chasm that could be easily crossed by talent and a good furnace alone; it required the experience accumulated from countless failures and a deeper understanding of medicinal properties.

He carefully examined the tattered Pill Formula that Ghost Head handed over. Most of the recorded herbs were unheard of, and the refining methods were extremely complex and demanding. Many key parts were blurred due to damage to the beast hide. He shook his head and handed the formula back, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness: "Brother Ghost Head, this pill... is too difficult to refine. To be honest, even giving my all right now, I can only barely refine yellow rank high grade pills, and my success rate is pitifully low. This Profound Rank Medium Grade... is truly beyond my current ability."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the three portions of herbs radiating a fierce aura, and added: "Moreover, you only have three sets of Materials. If I fail, I can't afford to compensate you."

Upon hearing this, the light of anticipation in Ghost Head's eyes dimmed. He sighed and carefully retrieved the Pill Formula and herbs: "Sigh, I know it's asking too much of you. I obtained this formula at the risk of my life, and it took me years to gather these herbs... It seems the Opportunity has not yet arrived."

Seeing the deal fall through, Qin Feng changed the subject and asked about his most pressing concern: "Brother Ghost Head, you have wide connections. Do you know where in this Ghost Market, or elsewhere, one can buy or exchange for a 'barrier breaking pill'?"

"barrier breaking pill?" Ghost Head's gaze from behind the mask focused on Qin Feng again, carrying a hint of scrutiny. "That's a treasure for Martial Master Peak cultivators trying to break through the Bottleneck to Grand Martial Master; it's extremely scarce. What, Brother Shadow, you..." He didn't finish, but his meaning was clear.

Qin Feng neither admitted nor denied, just looked at him calmly.

Ghost Head chuckled and patted his sturdy chest: "To be honest with you, brother, I was fortunate enough to break through to Grand Martial Master a few years back. I prepared two barrier breaking pills at the time, used one, and have kept the other one, originally intending to trade it later for other urgently needed items."

Qin Feng's heart stirred. Truly, after searching high and low! "May I ask, brother, how do you intend to exchange this barrier breaking pill?"

Ghost Head stroked his chin, sizing up Qin Feng as if weighing his value: "To be honest, I'm not in great need of gold coins. What I want most is still to have that 'Blood Bodhi Rampage Pill' refined. Since you can't refine it now, brother..." He pondered for a moment, his gaze falling on Qin Feng's waist, then suddenly said: "How about this? Do you have anything valuable on you that could serve as collateral? Take the barrier breaking pill first. When your alchemy cultivation improves in the future and you can help me refine that Rampage Pill, you can redeem your collateral with the pill. How about it? Of course, the value of this collateral cannot be lower than the barrier breaking pill."

Collateral?

Qin Feng quickly considered the items on his person. The Azure Edge Sword, golden silk soft armor, and hundred flowers token were impossible to produce. His remaining gold coins were meager. There were still some odds and ends from the Flower Picking Bandit and Ghost Net in his System space, but their value was probably insufficient. Suddenly, an idea struck him. He thought of the warm spirit jade, whose specific purpose he had never known but which felt quite extraordinary. This jade had the effect of nourishing the Divine Soul; for high-level Martial Artists, its value was likely not small.

Pretending to take it from his chest (actually from the System space), he took out the warm spirit jade and handed it over: "Brother Ghost Head, what do you think of this item?"

Ghost Head took the warm spirit jade. It felt warm and smooth in his hand, its strange effect of clearing the mind and focusing the spirit invigorating him. After carefully sensing it for a moment, a flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes: "Huh? This is... a treasure jade that nourishes the Divine Soul? Good stuff! Although it doesn't directly help much in boosting combat power, it has miraculous effects for breaking through Realms and resisting Heart Demons! Its value... is indeed sufficient to collateralize this barrier breaking pill."

He toyed with the warm spirit jade, looked at Qin Feng again, and finally nodded: "Alright! I'll trust you this time, brother! You don't seem like a common fellow. I'll make this investment!" He straightforwardly shoved a simply-styled jade vial into Qin Feng's hand. Inside was a barrier breaking pill the size of a longan, emitting vast energy fluctuations!

"Thank you, Brother Ghost Head! I will remember this favor!" Qin Feng solemnly accepted the barrier breaking pill, his heart surging with excitement. With this pill, his chances of breaking through to Grand Martial Master increased severalfold!

"Haha, I look forward to your great achievement in the alchemical Dao soon, brother!" Ghost Head laughed as he carefully stored the warm spirit jade.

Leaving the Ghost Market and returning to his room at the clinic, Qin Feng calmed his excited emotions. He knew breaking through to Grand Martial Master was no easy task and required thorough preparation.

First, he prepared the medicinal liquid for the Bone-Strengthening Bath and immersed himself in it. The scalding medicinal power penetrated his limbs and bones, further stimulating the vitality of his Physical Body, adjusting his condition to its Peak.

Afterwards, he sat cross-legged on the bed, his gaze resolute. This time, he decided to take a risk! He would take all the remaining Advanced Medicinal Pills in his possession at once!

He first took out the two hundred flowers jade dew pills gifted by Hua Qianying and swallowed them both without hesitation! Immediately after, he opened the jade vial given by Ghost Head and placed the barrier breaking pill, containing the power to shatter barriers, into his mouth!

Three pills: two Profound Rank Low Grade, one precious pill specifically for breaking through Bottlenecks, all entering his stomach at the same time!

"Boom——!!!"

It was as if a volcano had erupted inside his body! Three distinct yet equally vast medicinal powers instantly erupted, intertwined, and clashed! The pure energy of the hundred flowers jade dew pills nourished like sweet rain, while the barrier-breaking force of the barrier breaking pill acted like a giant axe splitting a mountain, fiercely hacking at the solid Realm barrier!

Qin Feng grunted, his face instantly flushed crimson. Excruciating pain, as if his Meridians were tearing, spread throughout his body. Even fine beads of blood seeped from the surface of his skin! The impact of this violent medicinal force far surpassed any of his previous cultivation sessions!

He dared not be the slightest bit negligent. The 'Primordial Unity Qi Art' operated at an unprecedented, frenzied speed. His Sword Heart talent was pushed to the limit, guiding these three torrents, attempting to tame and fuse them. Without the warm spirit jade by his side, he could only rely on his own will to withstand the impact on his Divine Soul.

Within his Dantian, the chaotic-colored vortex spun with a mad, unprecedented speed. The liquid True Essence at its center continuously increased and compressed. The entire vortex was undergoing a qualitative change! The barrier was battered, teetering on the verge of collapse, covered in cracks!

An unknown amount of time passed. Just as Qin Feng felt he was about to reach his limit, about to be burst apart by this violent force—

"Crack!"

A clear, crisp sound of shattering, originating from the very level of his life's Origin, rang out!

The chasm between Martial Master and Grand Martial Master was forcefully blasted open!

The chaotic vortex in his Dantian suddenly collapsed, transforming into a more condensed, more profound, slowly rotating chaotic crystalline core! A True Essence power far purer and several times more vast than at the Martial Master Realm surged through his entire body like a bursting river, scouring every inch of his Meridians and nourishing every cell!

Grand Martial Master, Early Stage!

Qin Feng's eyes snapped open, sharp light shooting from them like substance. The aura around him was as heavy and vast as a mountain, yet tinged with the Chaos profundity of an Earth Rank Cultivation Technique!

He let out a long breath of turbid air. The breath was condensed like an arrow, shooting out a full zhang before dissipating.

Feeling the reborn power within his body, Qin Feng's lips finally curled into a satisfied smile.

After three months, from a mere Mortal, he had finally become a Grand Martial Master!

In this turbulent and treacherous world of Chaos, he had finally gained a true foundation for establishing himself!