It's not that he didn't try to gather them.

It's just that pill recipes, like talismanic techniques, are the secrets of each alchemist and are their means of livelihood.

How could they possibly be publicly sold?

Unless one kills for the pill recipes, which Ji Yuan couldn't do... but he did. The Blood Burning Pill recipe and the Purifying Void Pill recipe in his possession were obtained by killing Yue Zhu.

The crafting method for the Blood Burning Pill is even more complex than that for the Spirit Gathering Pill, so it's currently unfeasible.

However, the crafting method for the Purifying Void Pill is simpler than that for the Spirit Gathering Pill.

Thus, Ji Yuan plans to first use the Purifying Void Pill to become an upper-grade alchemist before using his experience to refine the Spirit Gathering Pill, ultimately reaching his goal of refining a high-grade Spirit Gathering Pill.

For now, of course, he needs to first take a look at this old expert's alchemy insights.

Ji Yuan isn't in a rush; he slowly starts reading from the first page.

He doesn't even skip the insights of low-grade alchemists, reading and thinking, occasionally taking out the alchemy furnace for a try.

For instance, a Pill Formation Hand Seal recorded in the insights is excellent.

It's said to slightly increase the chances of condensing pills.

After reading the whole book of insights, to say Ji Yuan wasn't moved would be a lie, especially being in the Enlightenment Room.

He pondered over it for a while, feeling he had grasped it sufficiently, and then took out the materials for the Purifying Void Pill to start preparing.

The main ingredients for the Purifying Void Pill are Soul Calming Grass, Southern Cold Water Stone, and Schisandra, while the auxiliary ingredient is charcoal ash from Yin Locust Wood.

The process of handling herbs, Ji Yuan had already resolved back on Mist Island.

Now, he could directly extract and use them.

Using the "Fiery Departure Spell" to start, Ji Yuan conjured a ball of red flame, controlling it to hover beneath the alchemy furnace.

Next was the process of warming the furnace.

Because the materials this time included Southern Cold Water Stone, a higher temperature was needed. Ji Yuan warmed the furnace for ten breaths before throwing the Southern Cold Water Stone into the pill furnace.

Additionally, the refinement process for this stone took longer; Ji Yuan burned it for half an incense stick's time, until the stone was red-hot, before grinding it into powder with a pestle.

After slightly reducing the fire's intensity, he then added the Soul Calming Grass.

If this herb was added at the temperature used for refining the Southern Cold Water Stone, it would instantly turn to char.

Waiting for a moment, allowing the Soul Calming Grass to liquify and merge with the Southern Cold Water Stone powder, Ji Yuan then added Schisandra.

With the primary medicine refined, he then added the charcoal ash of Yin Locust Wood.

Once all the materials were added, it was the process of refining the elixir liquid. Provided there were no issues with the initial material handling, this step should pose no problems.

A slow flame would suffice.

Until the elixir liquid appeared in an amber color, then a stronger flame was applied.

As the flame surged, the elixir liquid in the pill furnace was continuously burned and evaporated, leaving only the purest parts inside.

Per the timing noted in the pill recipe, Ji Yuan used Weapon Fire to burn for five breaths, then cast the Frost Spell.

With the Southern Cold Water Stone present, the Weapon Fire burning must not be prolonged, or the medicinal properties would severely deplete, rendering the elixir waste.

With a "hiss" sound, a white steam emerged from the entire pill furnace.

Ji Yuan felt a pang seeing it, knowing that this rising steam was essentially his Spirit Stones!

The greatest damage to the pill furnace comes during the process of impurity removal.

But there was no other way, just like how talisman painting damages a Talisman Brush or artifact refining damages a Furnace Hammer, there can't be no damage at all... On the surface of the elixir liquid, a layer of black impurities rapidly congealed. Several breaths later, Ji Yuan slowly increased the furnace temperature again.

The elixir liquid floated, and with the furnace temperature rising, the black impurities on its surface fell away. Ji Yuan hurriedly pinched the newly learned Pill Formation Hand Seal, dividing the elixir liquid into four portions.

Purifying Void Pill, four pills from one furnace.

Success... Success!

Ji Yuan watched as the pills formed right before him, but at the last step, he made a wrong move... and the pills shattered.

Yet he wasn't impatient at all; rather, he was extremely pleased.

Because this time, he saw the dawn of success, and he knew the reason for failure: unfamiliarity with the Pill Formation Hand Seal... So, it seems, he was only short on experience to become an upper-grade alchemist.

As long as he persists in refining, it won't be long before he becomes a Tier One upper-grade Pill Master.

Just learning that Pill Formation Hand Seal from the alchemy insights accelerated this process.

With this thought, Ji Yuan calmed his mind and repeatedly went over the previous alchemy steps in his head.

Then he began practicing that Pill Formation Hand Seal, over and over.

Not until he mastered it thoroughly did he take out the materials and start the furnace again.

This time he was more skilled. Step by step, carefully, until half an hour later... he looked at the two light blue, faintly fragrant pills in his hand.

Finally, he felt completely relieved.

Being able to refine just one upper-grade pill is enough to call himself an upper-grade alchemist.

Not to mention, there's the assistance of the Alchemy Room. Once he learns the refining method of a particular elixir, his success rate greatly improves.

At this thought, Ji Yuan couldn't help but glance at the panel.

In the Spirit Effect of a Level 2 Alchemy Room, he could automatically learn the refining method of the Foundation Establishment Pill.

To upgrade the Alchemy Room to Level 2, a mandatory condition is to refine a Tier Two elixir, the Water Spirit Pill.

Now, he is already a Tier One upper-grade Pill Master.

The next step is to become a Tier Two Pill Master.

Victory... is just ahead!

...

Liancheng Mountain.

Water Dragon Sect base.

Sang Zhongyuan and Chu Jingtong, under the guise of patrolling, reached the edge of the base.

As soon as he got there, Sang Zhongyuan cursed.

"Damn it, if it weren't for that brat Ji Yuan, how would we have been reduced to this! Just wait for me to get back, I'll definitely kill him!"

Recalling how he thanked him profusely before leaving, Sang Zhongyuan's face burned with embarrassment.

Chu Jingtong glanced at him, "If you want to die, don't drag me into it."

"Oh right, do remember to tell me before you make your move, so I can distance myself from you."

"No, Lao Chu, what do you mean by that?!"

Sang Zhongyuan stopped walking, incredulously looking at his old friend beside him, "Are you crazy or foolish? Didn't Ji Yuan frame you too?"

Chu Jingtong chuckled with hands tucked in his sleeves, "Framed? Speaking of framing, weren't we truly set up by those two Foundation Establishment elders? In truth, Ji Yuan was also framed by them, but Ji Yuan had support to evade it, while we didn't, so we ended up here."

"But why do you think it was Ji Yuan who set us up, and not those two Foundation Establishment elders?"

Sang Zhongyuan was temporarily speechless.

Chu Jingtong sighed, "Fine, let me explain it to you. Because those two are Foundation Establishment elders, while Ji Yuan is merely at the Qi Cultivation Stage, that's all there is to it."

"So what."

Sang Zhongyuan muttered.

Hearing this, Chu Jingtong sighed deeper.

"Lao Sang, think carefully. When Ji Yuan took out that token... let's call it a token for now, after he took it out, what was the reaction of those two Foundation Establishment elders?"

"This... "

"Lao Sang, let me ask you again, who are our biggest backers in the Water Dragon Sect?"

Sang Zhongyuan was left speechless.

"A token that could make even the Foundation Establishment elders of the Water Dragon Sect so fearful and respectful, how prominent do you think Ji Yuan's background in the Water Dragon Sect is?"

Chu Jingtong continued to ask.

"Alright, alright, I get what you mean. Just tell me what to do next!"

Sang Zhongyuan impatiently waved his hand.

"Simple, strive to survive, then seek benefits and improve your strength. Once we return to the Water Dragon Sect, properly thank Ji Yuan... And remember, truly thank him!"

Chu Jingtong confidently said, "Of course, I will definitely go. Whether you go or not is up to you."

"Thank him? Do we need to offer our faces for him to slap us once?" Sang Zhongyuan wasn't quite willing with this point.

Chu Jingtong shook his head, then laughed slightly, "Didn't we just say we have no backers in the Water Dragon Sect?"

"Since that's the case, the backer's backer is our backer."

Sang Zhongyuan's eyes widened, "What if Ji Yuan doesn't acknowledge us?"

"No worries. Whether he recognizes us or not isn't important, what's crucial is... others will recognize it, and that's enough."

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