Volume 3, Chapter 449 – Beginning to Refine Pills

The temperament of a great clan’s eldest daughter had always been a proud one.

Back then, Chi Xiyan had fought her way from being a mere substitute for a direct bloodline heir of the Chi family, all the way to becoming the successor of the Chi family.

And that had never relied solely on a false claim to direct lineage.

Chi Xiyan had never once believed that, stripped of her status as the Chi family’s eldest daughter, she would be inferior to anyone else.

The gap in talent and birth could still be closed through effort.

But in this moment, she truly felt a deep sense of frustration.

“Is this what the reincarnation of a sword venerable was originally meant to look like…”

Chi Xiyan murmured softly to herself.

Yet even someone this brilliant and extraordinary now found herself trapped in a predicament this difficult to untangle.

Waiting for her to come and save her.

“She is my sister, the one I love.”

Chi Xiyan clenched her fist slightly.

Dispelling that thread of frustration from her heart.

Whatever Muxue’s status might be.

Whether she was a peerless genius of dazzling brilliance, or an ordinary mortal of mediocre talent.

To Chi Xiyan, it made no difference at all.

“I already have nothing left. Even if it costs me this frail life of mine, I will bring her back.”

Chi Xiyan lifted her head and looked toward Qing Niang.

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“I need to find someone to help me refine some pills. That’s why I’ve come here.”

Qing Niang pondered for a moment. “I’ve already looked over those formulas of yours.”

“The ordinary pills meant to aid cultivation are naturally no problem at all.”

“But there are a few special pills that will be difficult to refine.”

Chi Xiyan understood immediately.

“You mean the Five Aggregates Qi Absorbing Pill, the Crimson Firmament Blood Burning Pill, and the Nine Nether Fate Reversal Pill?”

“Correct,” Qing Niang said. “You’re an alchemist yourself, so you should understand what these three pills mean.”

Chi Xiyan naturally understood.

These three pills were secrets never passed down outside Medical Immortal Valley.

Setting aside the Five Aggregates Qi Absorbing Pill and the Crimson Firmament Blood Burning Pill for now, the Nine Nether Fate Reversal Pill was, above all, a forbidden pill of Medical Immortal Valley.

Medical Immortal Valley’s reputation extended far and wide, and it was regarded as something of a sacred ground in the hearts of many alchemists.

For Chi Xiyan to seek an alchemist’s help in refining pills from Medical Immortal Valley was an extremely dangerous thing to do.

“I know,” she said. “I was only planning to try my luck to begin with.”

“If someone can help me refine these few pills, I’ll be able to free up a good deal of time to solidify my cultivation.”

“And if I can’t find anyone…” She lowered her eyes slightly. “Then I’ll simply have to refine them myself, which will cost me quite a bit of time.”

“A single year might not be enough.”

Hearing this, Qing Niang gave a helpless, wry smile. “I’ll try to find you an alchemist willing to help…”

“But don’t get your hopes up too high.”

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“I understand.” Chi Xiyan nodded.

Both of these pills were of an extremely high grade, and their difficulty of refinement fell into the very highest tier.

An ordinary alchemist would likely not even be able to grasp where to begin.

That the Silver Bell Commerce Association was willing to help at all was already an unexpected blessing.

Chi Xiyan would not ask for anything more than that.

***

Qing Niang was a straightforward woman, and once she had agreed to help Chi Xiyan, she wasted no time arranging things.

These three formulas carried enormous weight. The slightest carelessness would surely invite disaster.

Chi Xiyan was in no hurry either. As a disciple of Medical Immortal Valley herself, she understood perfectly well what these formulas represented.

Before long, Qing Niang brought Chi Xiyan a response.

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find an alchemist willing to help refine the Crimson Firmament Blood Burning Pill or the Five Aggregates Qi Absorbing Pill.”

“As expected.” Chi Xiyan sighed softly.

The conditions required to refine the Crimson Firmament Blood Burning Pill were far too demanding.

As for the Five Aggregates Qi Absorbing Pill, it was one of the most famous pills to come out of Medical Immortal Valley.

It was only natural that no one could be found willing to help refine either of these two pills.

Chi Xiyan asked again, “And what about the Nine Nether Fate Reversal Pill?”

“Miss Xiyan.” Qing Niang’s expression turned serious. “Are you certain you need someone to help refine the Nine Nether Fate Reversal Pill for you?”

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“However you look at it, Song Shixuan is only a Fifth Realm cultivator. Are you certain you need a pill like this?”

Chi Xiyan understood her concern.

The Nine Nether Fate Reversal Pill was a forbidden pill of Medical Immortal Valley.

One of its primary ingredients was a cultivator’s spiritual root.

And the effect it produced was correspondingly overwhelming, capable of pushing a high level cultivator up an entire major realm in one go.

This was not a pill that a cultivator at Chi Xiyan’s level had any business touching.

And the reason a forbidden pill was forbidden was never simply because its primary ingredient was so horrifying, but also because the pill carried an equally horrifying side effect.

A side effect that was, in truth, more terrifying than simply taking the life of whoever consumed it.

Chi Xiyan pondered for a moment before speaking. “I won’t use this pill carelessly. It’s only meant as an insurance policy, in case something unforeseen happens during the duel for the three year pact.”

“Unforeseen.” Qing Niang looked at Chi Xiyan, caught somewhere between laughing and crying. “Such as Song Shixuan suddenly breaking through on the spot and advancing to the Sixth Realm?”

“Geniuses like him were never meant to be measured by ordinary standards,” Chi Xiyan said. “The chance of that may be small, but it’s certainly not zero.”

Qing Niang thought it over for a moment. “Do you have a suitable primary ingredient?”

“I do.” Chi Xiyan nodded. “The spiritual root of a Fifth Realm warrior.”

Qing Niang looked at Chi Xiyan in surprise. “One belonging to a certain elder of the Chi family?”

“Yes.” Chi Xiyan had no intention of hiding it either.

This pill had certain requirements for its primary ingredient. A spiritual root that had already been depleted would affect the pill’s quality.

For Chi Xiyan to obtain such an ingredient, she would need to strike down her target with an overwhelming advantage before their spiritual power had a chance to deplete at all.

Seeing that her mind was made up, Qing Niang sighed. “As it happens, I know a rather particular alchemist… she takes a great interest in forbidden formulas of this kind, so she’d be willing to help you refine it.”

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Chi Xiyan felt somewhat surprised. She had not expected that the pill she ultimately managed to commission out would turn out to be the single hardest one to refine.

“That said.” Qing Niang’s tone shifted. “That alchemist asked me to pass along a message. You must promise not to use this pill carelessly, under any circumstance. Otherwise, she won’t help refine it for you.”

“Of course.” Chi Xiyan nodded solemnly. “I would never gamble with my own life.”

The matter of the pills was settled for the time being, at least in this regard.

The Crimson Firmament Blood Burning Pill and the Five Aggregates Qi Absorbing Pill would have to be refined by Chi Xiyan herself.

Fortunately, over these past days, Chi Xiyan had already gathered all the materials needed to refine both pills on her own.

Still, no alchemist could ever guarantee a hundred percent success rate in refining.

What was fortunate, at least, was that with the resources supplied by the Silver Bell Commerce Association, she would have more than one chance to try.

…

After handing over the materials for refining the Nine Nether Fate Reversal Pill, Chi Xiyan began her own period of seclusion.

She spent a full month calming her mind and settling her spirit, washing away the killing intent and bloodlust she had accumulated over two years of hardship and trials.

She also borrowed a top grade alchemy furnace from the Silver Bell Commerce Association.

At last, once she found a moment when the spiritual veins were calm and stable, she prepared to begin refining.

Sitting inside the sealed alchemy chamber, Chi Xiyan drew in a deep breath.

She undeniably had a talent for the path of alchemy.

But that changed nothing about the fact that she was still, for now, only a Fourth Realm cultivator.

Refining these two pills would be an enormous challenge for her as well.