Chapter 695 - 548: Refining the Gold Core Pill

The gaunt cultivator stood up and left; staying here made him feel uneasy. Daoxuan Daoist Master stood up and said, "Congratulations," then bid farewell and left.

Master Qingfeng stood up, cupped his hands solemnly, and said:

"My Daoist name is Qingfeng, may I ask how to address Fellow Daoist?"

The greatest credential for an artisan is solid skill, and he held great respect for high-tier artisans with no conflict of interest.

Ji An cupped his hands in return, "My Daoist name is Xuanqing, I have met the Master."

"Haha, Fellow Daoist is not a Middle Continent cultivator, is he?"

Though phrased as a question, Master Qingfeng was quite certain the other party was from another continent.

"I am from the Western Continent, traveling through the Middle Continent, and I just arrived today on a merchant flying ship.

Today I went to rent a grotto mansion and learned that certification can offer discounts, so I came."

Ji An was very honest, as these public pieces of information could be easily checked.

Displaying honesty on unimportant matters could enhance one’s impression and make it easier to gain others’ favor.

After a bit of conversation, Master Qingfeng produced a yellow jade token and said:

"Please leave your Magical Mark, this is to refine a certification jade token unique to you; it will be ready in two double hours."

The jade token is a semi-finished magical artifact, completed by sealing the Magical Mark.

The Certification Association annually issues and replaces numerous jade tokens, with a very perfected craft for producing magical artifacts.

Ji An left his Magical Mark, and Master Qingfeng called in the steward who was waiting outside and instructed:

"Make a Tier Three, Four-star Talisman Maker jade token, and also bring over the fee Fellow Daoist Xuanqing paid."

"As you command," the steward took the jade token and left, full of envy; cultivators rank by cultivation, while artisans measure their status by skill level.

With the Tier Three, Four-star Talisman Maker certification, it would be easy to blend into the Golden Core Cultivators’ circle in Cloud Sea Immortal City.

After seating, Ji An asked:

"Fellow Daoist, I wish to purchase a Talisman tradition, do you know where I might find one?"

Knowing only one Spirit Stabilizing Talisman, he felt insufficient and embarrassed for socializing.

"Good traditions are nearly impossible to buy, as these are someone else’s accumulated experiences, and cultivators instinctively hold something back.

If Fellow Daoist only wishes to paint more types of talismans, that’s quite manageable."

Ji An cupped his hands, "Please teach me, in a few days once I settle down, I’d like to invite you to the finest tavern for a few drinks."

"Haha, you flatter me, it’s just a few words.

Moreover, I don’t like alcohol; if Fellow Daoist has good tea, invite me for a taste."

"Certainly, once I lease a grotto mansion, I will invite you to visit."

"I would willingly agree, but wouldn’t dare to ask."

Master Qingfeng ceased beating around the bush and explained:

"Fellow Daoist can come to the association to take on tasks of painting talismans. Once you’ve accumulated enough contribution, as long as you sign an agreement and take a Daoist Oath not to divulge the Talisman Painting Technique, you can exchange it for the Talisman Painting Method."

Ji An nodded, "We’ll discuss it in detail in a few days."

He understood that the Certification Association was turned into a platform by large factions in the Middle Continent, containing innumerable intricate interests.

But undeniably, the platform also brought benefits to certified cultivators.

After a while, the steward returned with the jade token and thirty top-grade spirit stones, which Master Qingfeng inspected before handing over.

Ji An accepted the jade token and examined it closely, seeing the image of three talisman brushes and four five-pointed stars inside.

Master Qingfeng smiled, "The pattern within the jade token only lights up in Fellow Daoist’s hand; it is said that this Dharma Prohibition was created by several Nascent Soul Daoist Monarchs."

"A remarkable method."

Ji An could only say that if the Cultivation Realm wanted to prevent counterfeiting, it was quite easy.

He stored the jade token and spirit stones in the Grotto Void Stone, stood up and said:

"I still have to proceed with an Alchemist certification, so I won’t trouble you any longer, see you later."

"See you later," Master Qingfeng’s eyes gleamed, as pills could directly enhance a cultivator’s cultivation.

Compared to other artisans, alchemists were more sought after, especially those with exquisite skills.

...

The rules for certifying an Alchemist are the same, but the fees were significantly higher, with Ji An paying twelve hundred top-grade spirit stones.

Alchemist certification required actual pill refining; the Gold Core Pill belonged to the Tier Three pill category, and it was the only Tier Three Pill Formula Ji An knew.

He inquired with a tentative attitude, unexpectedly receiving permission, albeit with an absurdly high deposit.

If the refinement failed, the spirit stones would be wasted.

There were also three examiners, with the chief examiner being a dignified and splendid female cultivator, exuding a strong aura befitting someone in a high position for years.

Her gaze was bright and lively, approachable.

The female cultivator’s voice was pleasant, "These materials can refine two pills, you can choose to refine them all at once, or divide into two batches.

As long as you successfully refine one ordinary quality Gold Core Pill, you can be certified as a Tier Three, One-star Alchemist.

Now, begin."

Ji An lightly coughed and said:

"I have one more question: is there a time interval for the Alchemist certification?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, if I fail this time and don’t succeed in certification, can I immediately apply for certification again?"

"Of course you can, as long as you have enough top-grade Spirit Stones, we can prepare many sets of materials for you until you can’t afford it."

Ji An chuckled, "Then I’m relieved."

The first time refining the Gold Core Pill, there are only two chances, with a great possibility of failure; he succeeded in refining the Nourishing Yuan Pill only on the third attempt years ago.

Even though his alchemy skills have improved greatly now, he doesn’t believe he can succeed in just two tries.

Ji An set out the materials and took out the Fire Crane Dan Yang Furnace, activating the Cyan Lotus Heart-Burning Fire.

The moment the tri-colored flames appeared, the examiners uttered a low gasp collectively.

Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire and one’s own Pill Fire are completely different flames; none of them had the luck to acquire the Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire.

Regarding the sect’s research on medicine properties and pharmacology, Ji An had pondered countless times on the Flying Ship; he had a basic understanding of the properties of some Spirit Medicine, even if it was his first encounter with them.

Years of continuous nourishment from Jade Dew and Golden Teeth Tea and the Soul Nourishing Pendant, combined with the passive increase in Spirit Soul brought by improved cultivation, allowed him to reach new heights in flame control.

The process of refining the Spirit Medicine Divine Essence went smoothly without disruption, although some weren’t refined perfectly, they were still viable.

He carefully recalled the steps to refine the Gold Core Pill, and prepared for possible situations in his mind before starting the final refinement.

Ji An split the Divine Essence into two parts, then entered a state of total concentration; aside from the Pill Furnace and the herbs at hand, nothing else occupied his gaze.

Perhaps due to the great state and strong Spirit Soul Power, this time the refining process was rather smooth.

He was able to spot impending issues in the liquid medicine ahead of time, thus activating the Cyan Lotus Heart-Burning Fire earlier.

Faced with several crises, he crossed them with composed ease, as if with divine assistance; various liquid medicines fused perfectly, and impurities naturally extruded.

Inside the Fire Crane Dan Yang Furnace, the talisman characters swirled quickly, leaving blurred afterimages.

The wings of the Fire Crane on the furnace body lit up with an unusual, intense white brilliance, and the Fire Essence in its beak glowed like a red sun.

Soon, it reached the final step of alchemy—condensing liquid into pill.

Ji An watched everything without joy or sorrow, as three smoke-formed dragons of blue, red, and white appeared inside the Pill Furnace.

As the flames weakened, the pill liquid gradually solidified, with the dragons swiftly moving around the pill; with each circle of movement, gray impurities fell, and the pill became more crystalline and brilliant, akin to jade.

The mouth of the sculpted coiling dragon on the lid spewed a mist of five colors: black, blue, red, yellow, and white; the fragrance instantly dispersed in the room.

Ji An used Object Control Technique to lift the lid, and the light gold pill rose into the air, spinning rapidly.

On it were three cloud patterns, appearing faintly with the pill’s rotation.

He picked up the Jade Bottle to hold the pill, smiling:

"This alchemy session was in good state."

To succeed in refining the Gold Core Pill on the first try, truly something to be proud of!

Saying this, he presented the Jade Bottle.

The female cultivator took the Jade Bottle and poured the pill onto her white jade-like hand for a closer look, "A high-quality Gold Core Pill, and amongst the finest."

She handed the pill to the other examiners, softly saying:

"Did Fellow Daoist use the Cyan Lotus Heart-Burning Fire?"

Though she possessed no Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire, her research on it was quite profound.

"Yes," Ji An openly admitted, knowing that an alchemist owning Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire added gravitas, marking him distinctly from common alchemists.

Under the Certification Association’s system, this status allowed him to receive more assignments and more easily obtain Golden Core Level pill formulas.

"Truly enviable."

The gracious female cultivator sighed softly and rose to clasp her hands in respect:

"I go by the Daoist title Feiyun, nice to meet you, Fellow Daoist."

Her attitude signified recognition.

Ji An returned the gesture, smiling kindly:

"I go by the Daoist title Xuanqing, a pleasure to meet such a graceful and distinguished Daoist Master."

"I know it’s a polite remark, but I’m still delighted."

"Daoist Master, no need for such thoughts, it’s simply the truth."

From the occasional spiritual pressure emanating from her, Ji An felt the female cultivator was strong, at least a Fourth-Layer Golden Core cultivator.

Feiyun Daoist Master turned to the two Golden Core cultivators beside her, saying:

"Fellow Daoist Xuanqing has refined the Gold Core Pill and possesses the Cyan Lotus Heart-Burning Fire. I propose to classify his alchemist tier as Tier Three, Two-Star. What do you think?"

No one enjoys offending others, and with precedents to support such a suggestion, the other two examiners immediately agreed.

"Agree!"

Ji An pointed to the remaining materials, "May I take this?"

"Of course, the exam is over."

Upon hearing the response, Ji An realized how foolish he had been when leaving behind four talismans during his Talisman Maker certification.

Swiftly, he stored the Divine Essence in the Grotto Void Stone, satisfied, and patted his hands.

Feiyun Daoist Master took out a Jade Token and invited Ji An to leave a Magical Mark, then instructed the steward to craft the Jade Token.

About half an hour later, Ji An received his second Certification Jade Token.