81: Try to make an elixir

The core area of Qingyang Mountain Range.

In the dense forest, a Red-Tailed Fox and an Ironclad Thunder Ape, two Yao Beasts, gathered together.

The beast tide they initiated had not stopped, but these two Yao Beasts did not directly participate; instead, they were the masterminds behind the scenes.

The Red-Tailed Fox swayed her red tail, her eyes and brows filled with myriad charms: “That Soul-Seizing fellow went to the immortal cultivator settlement again and hasn’t returned.”

The Ironclad Thunder Ape said indifferently: “It said it went to the Lin Family. What kind of magic does a small Lin Family possess? There isn't even a Golden Core Stage Cultivator there.”

The Red-Tailed Fox looked speechless: “Who knows? All the Yao Beasts sent to Cloud Mist Mountain were also annihilated.”

The Ironclad Thunder Ape worried about his several younglings: “Should we go to Cloud Mist Mountain ourselves? We can also look after Soul-Seizing.”

The Rank 3 Red-Tailed Fox decisively refused: “Absolutely not. It’s already difficult for us Yao Beasts to Cultivate, so there’s no need to take this risk. If you want to continue probing, we can send out more Rank 1 or even Rank 2 Yao Beasts.”

If Lin Yongmao were here and heard the Red-Tailed Fox's words, he would certainly cast a look of approval.

They were simply kindred spirits.

The Ironclad Thunder Ape, with his straightforward mind, didn't think as much as the Red-Tailed Fox, but he felt it made a lot of sense.

“Alright then! I’ll listen to you.”

The Red-Tailed Fox gently exhaled a puff of pink gas: “The Barren Forest Wolf King has personally led the Yao Beasts to attack the Qinglan Sect. I hope he succeeds.”

The few Rank 3 Yao Beasts had clear divisions of labor: the Soul-Seizing Ash Python went ahead to the Cultivator territory to scout for information, the Barren Forest Wolf King led the attack on the Qinglan Sect, while the Red-Tailed Fox and the Ironclad Thunder Ape remained behind the scenes.

Just as the two Yao Beasts were about to continue their discussion, a powerful Yao Beast aura came from afar, making them tremble so much they couldn't lift their heads.

“It’s… the aura of a Rank 4 Yao Beast.”

It lasted for almost half an hour before the powerful Rank 4 Yao Beast aura slowly dissipated from the air.

The two Yao Beasts were now panting heavily.

The Yao Beast world, like the immortal cultivator world, has an extremely strict Rank System. High Rank Yao Beasts have absolute dominance over Low Rank Yao Beasts.

What had just passed was clearly a Rank 4 Yao Beast.

The Ironclad Thunder Ape asked doubtfully: “Is this the big shot who is in seclusion in the Qingyang Mountain Range? It’s also from the fox clan, do you know?”

The Red-Tailed Fox shook her head: “It doesn’t seem to be that Senior’s aura. It should be another Yao Beast just passing by.”

...

Lin Yucheng and Lin Jing safely crossed the Qingyang Mountain Range.

This Demon Saliva Grass is really effective; along the way, no Yao Beasts dared to block their path.

Wherever they passed, the Yao Beasts seemed to have been completely cleared out.

The two Yao Beasts would never have imagined that the oppressive Rank 4 Yao Beast pressure they felt was actually the aura emitted by the Demon Saliva Grass.

...

Lin Yongmao officially began Alchemy.

He had already prepared all the necessary tools for Alchemy.

A Pill Furnace, a Bigu Pill Pill Formula, and the medicinal ingredients for refining Bigu Pill.

The Pill Furnace was the cheapest Low Grade Magical Artifact Pill Furnace exchanged from the Family's Logistics Hall.

From the Legacy, it was known that many Alchemist apprentices had the risk of furnace explosions when they first started Alchemy.

At this stage, it's best not to use too expensive Pill Furnaces, as it's easy to feel the pinch.

The Bigu Pill Pill Formula was not a secret and could be easily traded for.

Low Rank Cultivators (Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators) cannot completely forgo grains, but if Cultivators still have to cook, it would significantly delay their Cultivation time.

Therefore, most Low Rank Cultivators choose to use Bigu Pill to replace food.

After consuming one Bigu Pill, one doesn't need to eat for three to five days and won't feel hungry.

Although Lin Yongmao had some Bigu Pill stored in his Storage Pouch, he had never eaten them.

For others, cooking wasted time, but for him, it was a part of his life.

Moreover, he was a foodie himself and would not miss any opportunity to eat.

The main spiritual plant used to refine Bigu Pill was actually spirit rice.

The principle is also very simple: just refine the spirit rice into a Medicinal Pill.

It can be said to be the simplest Medicinal Pill to refine and also the first Medicinal Pill an Alchemist apprentice comes into contact with.

The Pill Formula for Bigu Pill was very simple, and Lin Yongmao quickly memorized it.

With these few Spirit Medicines, in terms of proportion, spirit rice accounted for the vast majority.

Lin Yongmao formed a hand seal, and the Nanming Li Fire in his palm grew with the wind.

Fire Control Technique.

Below the Low Grade Magical Artifact Pill Furnace, the flames were burning fiercely.

Lin Yongmao concentrated all his attention and began to refine the Impurities from the spirit rice.

The five catties of spirit rice, which were gradually put into the Pill Furnace, turned into a puddle of spirit liquid under Lin Yongmao's refining.

“Phew~”

This was the preliminary form of a Medicinal Pill—the pill liquid.

Just as Lin Yongmao was about to control the pill liquid for shaping, the Nanming Li Fire only intensified by a fraction, and the pill liquid was completely burned away, turning into a wisp of green smoke.

Lin Yongmao's first attempt at Alchemy ended in failure.

The reason for this was his insufficient precision in controlling the heat.

“Ding~”

“System notification: Failed to refine Bigu Pill. Rank 1 Alchemist proficiency +1.”

The new System function, Hundred Arts of Cultivation, allowed Lin Yongmao to gain Alchemy proficiency even if he didn't successfully refine a Medicinal Pill.

After Lin Yongmao recovered his spiritual energy through breathing exercises, he began a new round of Alchemy.

“System notification: Failed to refine Bigu Pill. Rank 1 Alchemist proficiency +1.”

This time, too much spirit rice was added, completely overshadowing the effects of the other auxiliary medicines.

“System notification: Failed to refine Bigu Pill. Rank 1 Alchemist proficiency +1.”

It was just the last step, but the pill condensation still failed.

“System notification: Failed to refine Bigu Pill. Rank 1 Alchemist proficiency +1.”

...

After spending a day, Lin Yongmao still hadn't managed to refine even the lowest quality Medicinal Pill.

The Dao of Alchemy is indeed not that simple!

No wonder so many Cultivators wanted to become Alchemists, but ultimately failed.

Aside from the hard requirements, an Alchemist must also possess excellent talent.

Even with talent, it's not enough; there also needs to be a sufficient supply of spiritual plants, as Alchemy is an extremely expensive profession.

Lin Yongmao exhausted his last bit of spiritual energy, yet still failed to produce a Medicinal Pill. He felt a bit frustrated.

Lying on the stone bed, he constantly reflected: Which step can still be optimized?

Do I simply not have talent for Alchemy?

He thought and thought until he fell into a deep sleep.

...

The next day.

After Lin Yongmao washed up, he began to sign in.

“Sign-in successful! Obtained [Rank 1 Star-Patterned Rice Seed] x 1.”

Rank 1 Star-Patterned Rice Seed:

Rank: Rank 1 High Grade

Description: A plus version of ordinary spirit rice. Each grain of rice is shaped like a star pattern, containing trace amounts of the power of the Zhou Tian Stars. Consuming large quantities can strengthen the Physical Body.

The rewards obtained from daily sign-ins had changed again, thanks to the Moon Toad Rabbit's advancement, and this time the reward was not simple.

When materialized, it was a small, five-pointed star-shaped bayberry-like seed, only much smaller than a bayberry.