Chapter 269 - 234: Tier Three Middle Grade, Preparing for Nascent Soul Formation (2)

Chapter 269: Chapter 234: Tier Three Middle Grade, Preparing for Nascent Soul Formation (2)

"Master Xu, please don’t be offended. It was presumptuous of me!"

Xu Chang’an turned, a smile on his face as he shook his head.

"I don’t accept disciples. But if it’s just a matter of learning Alchemy Skill, bring him here and let me meet him."

’Wan Qianqian has managed my cave abode and handled all sorts of matters impeccably over the years. If this junior of her clan truly has the talent she speaks of, I suppose I could teach him a few things.’

’However, I would only be teaching him a few things. There would be no official master-disciple relationship between us.’

"Thank you, Master Xu."

A flash of joy lit up Wan Qianqian’s face.

"Get up."

Xu Chang’an glanced at Wan Qianqian.

She was prostrated on the ground, clad in a long red dress. Her chest was fair-skinned, and from his vantage point, he could just glimpse the beautiful scenery within.

"Yes."

At his words, Wan Qianqian rose to her feet.

Xu Chang’an said nothing more, turning and entering his cave abode.

Inside the Meditation Room, Xu Chang’an activated the Array and sat down cross-legged.

Name: Xu Chang’an

Bloodline: Purple-striped Thunder Rat (Upper-class Bloodline)

Lifespan: 1212 Years

Realm: Late-stage Core Formation (Golden Core)

Skills: Alchemy (Tier Three Middle Grade)

Energy: (195628/200000)

...

’Almost there, almost there!’

Over the years, Xu Chang’an had concealed his identity on multiple occasions to slowly liquidate all sorts of resources.

With his level of Concealing Realm, this was not difficult to achieve.

He had completely cleared out all the resources in Yanyue True Monarch’s Storage Bag, except for a Quasi-Fourth Tier Puppet and the inheritance of a Tier Four Array.

There were also the resources from several Core Formation Zhenren and numerous Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Over the course of thirty years, Xu Chang’an converted all these resources into Elixirs, Spiritual Herbs and Plants.

Added to that were the Spirit Stones he earned by refining Elixirs, which he used to purchase more Spiritual Herbs and Plants.

The energy accumulation on his panel had already surpassed one hundred and ninety thousand.

He was only a few thousand energy points away from breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm.

’With my Nascent Soul breakthrough imminent, I won’t be staying in the Qingyang Cultivation Realm for much longer.’

However, before leaving the Qingyang Cultivation Realm, there was one more thing he had to take care of.

And that was the Great Sun Essence within the Cyan Yang Secret Realm.

Great Sun Essence, a Tier Four High-Grade Spiritual Item.

It was produced in the Cyan Yang Secret Realm. A portion of Great Sun Essence would be generated every four hundred and eighty years.

This time would be no exception!

Great Sun Essence had the effect of improving a Cultivator’s Spiritual Root. Furthermore, it contained immense energy that could raise a Cultivator’s Cultivation.

Whether for the former reason or the latter, it was an immense temptation for Xu Chang’an.

Even Nascent Soul True Monarchs would participate in the Cyan Yang Secret Realm.

However, Xu Chang’an had no intention of venturing into the Cyan Yang Secret Realm to explore.

He planned to wait at his ease for the weary, snatching the Great Sun Essence from outside the Secret Realm!

There were still several years until the Cyan Yang Secret Realm opened, and those few years were enough for Xu Chang’an to step into the Nascent Soul Realm!

’Once I reach the Nascent Soul Realm, my Demon Body and Spirit will likely be comparable to a fine Middle-Grade Magical Treasure, and my sharp claws, fangs, and Dragon Bone Scale will probably become Top-Grade Magical Treasures.’

’Moreover, upon reaching Nascent Soul, my Demon Sense and Demon Power will both undergo an earth-shattering improvement.’

’Combining my Demon Power with my physical body in close combat, my fighting prowess will likely be no weaker than that of a Mid-stage Nascent Soul.’

’Although the Cyan Yang Immortal Sect has seven or eight Nascent Soul True Monarchs, at most only two of them are in the Mid-stage Nascent Soul.’

As long as he planned properly and took them by surprise, Xu Chang’an should have an excellent chance of obtaining the Great Sun Essence.

’Unfortunately, the Great Sun Essence is extraordinarily effective. Typically, once someone obtains it, they immediately use a secret concoction to consume and absorb it. Otherwise, waiting a while longer before trying to snatch it would be the safer bet.’

’However, as long as I can reach the Nascent Soul realm... I’m not weak like the Human Race. With my tough physique, if I am determined to escape, I should be perfectly safe!’

’Now that my escape is assured, I need to plan carefully how to pull off this heist.’

Inside his Meditation Room, Xu Chang’an plotted in secret.

After Xu Chang’an became a Third-rank Middle-grade Alchemist, his fame rose to a new level.

Several months later, Wan Qianqian brought the junior member of her clan to Cyan Lotus Mountain.

He was just over ten years old, with a Qi Refining Sixth Layer Cultivation. It had to be said that for his age and cultivation, his Talent was quite impressive.

Xu Chang’an briefly tested his aptitude for Alchemy and found it acceptable. He took the boy under his wing, offering occasional guidance.

Most of the time, however, he was just used as an apprentice.

A few more months passed, and he received his first commission to refine a Crystal Condensation Pill.

By now, Xu Chang’an was already capable of refining the Crystal Condensation Pill.

The ones who had requested his Alchemy services were a well-known Cultivation Clan, with a Fake Pill Master presiding over it.

In recent years, the clan had produced a Foundation Establishment genius who showed promise of reaching Core Formation.

The Crystal Condensation Pill he was to refine was being prepared for this very genius!

After seven straight days of Alchemy, Xu Chang’an lived up to their expectations, successfully refining one standard-grade Crystal Condensation Pill and one inferior-grade one.

"Thank you, Master Xu."

The Fake Pill Master, an ancestor in his own clan, was now incredibly respectful before Xu Chang’an, thanking him repeatedly.

"Fellow Daoist Gong, there’s no need for such pleasantries."

Xu Chang’an was also in a rather good mood.

Every successful refining of a Crystal Condensation Pill was a rare opportunity for him to practice.

The reason Alchemy Skill became harder to improve at High-tiers was not just because the difficulty of Alchemy increased, but also because the opportunities to attempt refining became fewer and farther between.

The higher the Grade of the Elixir, the more difficult it was to gather the refining materials. After a single failure, there was no telling when the next attempt could be made.

Furthermore, every failure represented an immense loss of Spirit Stones.

Even for those backed by a powerful faction, such long-term losses were difficult to bear.

With the success of his first Crystal Condensation Pill commission...

A little over a year later, Xu Chang’an received a second commission to refine a Crystal Condensation Pill.

This refining session didn’t go as well as the last, but thankfully it wasn’t a failure. He managed to produce one standard-grade Crystal Condensation Pill.

More than half a year later, Xu Chang’an accepted his third Crystal Condensation Pill commission.

And so, in five years’ time, by using the Spirit Stones he earned to buy Spiritual Herbs and Plants, Xu Chang’an finally accumulated enough energy for his panel.

On this day, Xu Chang’an walked out of his cave abode.

"Qianqian, I’ll be away for a while," Xu Chang’an said to Wan Qianqian. "While I’m gone, if any Alchemy requests come in, just note them down for me. I’ll deal with them when I get back!"

"Of course, Master Xu. If I may ask, roughly how long will you be gone?" Wan Qianqian asked respectfully.

"At least half a year, a year at most. It won’t be more than a year and a half!" Xu Chang’an replied.

The Cyan Yang Secret Realm was due to open again in a little over a year. He certainly wasn’t going to miss it.

’Even though I’m not entering the Secret Realm, I still need to arrive early to get a feel for the Nascent Soul Cultivators who will be present.’

’Know yourself and know your enemy, only then can you operate with ease!’

After giving Wan Qianqian his instructions, Xu Chang’an transformed into a streak of light and vanished over the horizon.

Wan Qianqian watched the direction of Xu Chang’an’s departure, her gaze softening.

Decades had passed without leaving a single trace on Xu Chang’an. He still had the appearance of a young boy.

...

There are four trials to pass when breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm.

The Demon Recognition Pass, the Nascent Soul Formation Pass, the Heart Demon Pass, and the Thunder Tribulation Pass!

Among them, the Thunder Tribulation Pass caused the greatest commotion.

For this breakthrough, Xu Chang’an naturally had to find a safe location.

’The safest option would be to find a place far away from any other Cultivators.’

’With the help of my panel, my requirements for Spiritual Qi aren’t high.’

’So I don’t have to worry about failing due to being in too remote a location.’

After leaving Cyan Lotus Mountain, Xu Chang’an flew continuously for two months.

He finally arrived in a stretch of barren, untamed mountains.

This mountain range had no connection to the Netherworld Mountain Range; it was a part of the topography within the Qingyang Cultivation Realm.

He had now arrived at the southernmost edge of the Qingyang Cultivation Realm. If he were to cross this mountain range, he would enter another Cultivation Realm entirely.

According to descriptions of the Qingyang Cultivation Realm, while these barren mountains were home to a fair number of mortals, there were very few Cultivators.

The reason was that the Spiritual Qi here was weak, making it unsuitable for long-term residence by Cultivators.

Thus, the barren mountains were mostly populated by some Qi Cultivation Cultivators. Even Foundation Establishment Cultivators were a rare sight.

A typical Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivator could serve as a sacrificial Elder in one of the Barbaric Tribes of the mountains.

After flying through the barren mountains for several days, Xu Chang’an finally found a suitable location.

He immediately began to bore a tunnel into the mountainside, carving out a cave. Once he was deep inside the mountain, he changed direction and dug straight down.

After digging to an extreme depth, Xu Chang’an finally began to lay down a series of Restrictions.

Finally, using Array Flags, he set up a Tier Three High Grade Defense Concealment Array.

After all this was done, he focused his mind and spirit, preparing to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm.