Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 2035 1486: Pill Formation (2)

It was the pill that lacked the Gold Water Qi—it failed in refinement!

Yet such an outcome was within Li Zhiruiʼs expectations; after all, he had never believed he could successfully produce three Creation Heavenly Pills in a single attempt.

But precisely because of this pillʼs failure, he was able to devote more energy to the remaining two pills, ensuring their absolute perfection.

The spell slowly dissipated, and within the Alchemy Furnace floated two flawlessly round, jade-like pills.

Although these were Precious Pills of the highest creation, upon emergence, there was no phenomenon, not even the common fragrance of pills.

The reason, of course, was that Li Zhirui, during coating, employed the strongest and most enduring Sealing Pill Technique, so they appeared quite extraordinary, yet revealed not the slightest hint of uniqueness.

”Excellent! Excellent!”

Li Zhirui gazed at the two Creation Heavenly Pills, his usually placid face suddenly radiant with a brilliant smile, unable to resist exclaiming praise.

After only his second attempt, he had succeeded in refining Creation Heavenly Pills, and with two pills at once—such achievement already warranted pride!

Though these two pills were of average quality, merely mid-range among the low grade, for Li Zhirui, who excelled at the Purification Principle, this was not an issue at all; he could readily purify their impurities, elevating their grade to the next level.

Of course, that would only reach top grade at best.

The highest—top-grade—was unattainable, regardless of how hard Li Zhirui tried: first, because during alchemy, certain impurities had fused into the very foundation of the Creation Heavenly Pill. Purifying them would damage the pillʼs essence, and even if the impurities were removed, what use would it be?

Second, it was due to an inherent issue within the Creation Heavenly Pill itself—the Heavenly Dao simply would not allow the appearance of a top-grade Creation Heavenly Pill!

He had understood this point while comprehending the Pill Recipe.

After all, the pillʼs very existence was a theft of heavenʼs creation. The Heavenly Dao did not send down Thunder Tribulation; indeed, it was lenient and merciful—daring to hope for a top-grade Creation Heavenly Pill?

Most likely, in the instant of its refinement, a Tribulation Thunder would descend from the ninth heaven above.

After refining the Creation Heavenly Pills, Li Zhirui did not rush to rest, but instead recorded in detail every state, experience, and insight from the recent alchemy process.

This was both a summary for increasing the success rate of future alchemy, and a legacy for future generations; after all, perhaps many years hence, another Alchemy Master of the Heavenly Immortal Realm would emerge from the clan.

More than an hour later, Li Zhirui finally set aside the Jade Slip and began regulating his breath to recover.

Even with his current cultivation, refining a batch of Creation Heavenly Pills was exceedingly arduous; his mana had been depleted by seventy to eighty percent, and his Divine Sense had almost been exhausted.

Thus, after a day of rest and recuperation, Li Zhirui returned to his peak state.

He then opened the furnace for a third round of Creation Heavenly Pill refinement.

Purification, fusion, nourishing, partitioning, sealing and solidifying …

He had lost count of how many times heʼd performed the five major alchemy steps; sometimes the spell would form as soon as he conceived the thought.

Compared to the previous session, he not only spent less energy, but also corrected all prior errors. The three embryonic Precious Pills remained intact, their Yin Yang Five Elements perfectly balanced.

In the end, he refined three pills, their quality even raised to lower mid-grade!

To think that this was only Li Zhiruiʼs third attempt at refining Creation Heavenly Pills—and such proud results, how could he not be so self-assured?

”Five Creation Heavenly Pills—itʼs enough for the clan for a very long time.”

In his view, among the current clan members, none were likely to break through to Heavenly Immortal within a thousand years—though perhaps someday, a member might gain fortune and progress further.

Even with the best Sealing Pill Method and preserved in Spirit-Sealing Jade Bottle, after a thousand years, the medicinal potency would dissipate; such is the terrifying power of time.

”Clan Leader, these are the five Creation Heavenly Pills I refined, each corresponding to one of the Five Elements.”

Li Zhirui split off a trace of his mind, took out the successful Pill Recipe, and hastened over using a Secret Technique.

”Ancestor Rui, these were refined during this period?” Li Debo looked at the Jade Bottle, and asked in a rather redundant manner.

”Yes, three batches of materials have produced five Precious Pills in total.”

He then added, ”The clan should cease its large-scale purchasing of Heavenly Immortal Rank Spiritual Objects; five Creation Heavenly Pills are already enough. If we acquire more, I worry we may not be able to safeguard such wealth.”

There was another statement he left unspoken—he did not believe the Li family could consecutively produce five Heavenly Immortals within a thousand years.

Li Debo understood the implication behind these words, yet his thoughts differed. He said, ”Ancestor Rui, the clan indeed may not be able to fully utilize the Creation Heavenly Pills, but in the vast Primal Spirit Realm, there are always powers in need.”

”The clan can absolutely sell the Creation Heavenly Pills, thereby exchanging them for other precious Spiritual Objects.”

Upon hearing this, Li Zhirui furrowed his brows. The idea was good in theory, but if the Li family sold Creation Heavenly Pills in large quantities, it would inevitably arouse the jealousy of various powers, leading to unknown trouble!

”Have you considered that other powers might strike at the clan as a result?”

Li Zhirui asked with a solemn expression, ”Perhaps a single Heavenly Immortal Power is negligible, but what if several join forces? Can the clan withstand it?”

”To be frank with you, in a few hundred years, I will conclude fate, transcend and depart. By then, the clan will be guarded only by Qingcang, Qingpeng, and Li Mingyao—three Heavenly Immortals. Their strength is limited; at most, they can rely on formations to protect the clan territory nearby. The rest of Shanhai State may well be divided by other powers.”

Li Debo broke out in a cold sweat; blinded by profit, he forgot that obtaining great benefit also brings deadly danger!

”Ancestor Ruiʼs criticism is just! I lost my head for a moment and oversimplified matters.”

Seeing that he had realized his error and was not stubbornly ignorant, Li Zhirui refrained from harsh words; his demeanor softened, and he said, ”Itʼs not that Creation Heavenly Pills canʼt be traded externally, but the quantity must be managed, as well as the trade partners.”

”Please, Ancestor Rui, instruct me.” Li Debo immediately asked.

”For example, the nearby Cave Abyss Sect must never be a trade partner.”

Evidently, Li Zhirui and the Cave Abyss Sect Leader were alike: though no major conflict had erupted, both remained guarded against each other.

”But those further away, like the Xiaxian Sect and Yumen He Family, are excellent candidates, for Cave Abyss Sect lies between them and our clan! The stronger they grow, the more pressure is placed on Cave Abyss Sect, meaning they have less attention for the clan.”

Li Debo nodded—these simple principles he understood.

”Besides, the clan should find a way to foster one or two new Heavenly Immortal powers between us and Cave Abyss Sect!” Li Zhirui said gently.

”What?!”

Li Debo became greatly alarmed and hurried to speak: ”Ancestor Rui, many small powers exist between our clan and Cave Abyss Sect, including several Earth Immortals. If any of them ascend to Heavenly Immortal and then pledge themselves to Cave Abyss Sect, the southern region of Shanhai State might never know peace.”

”Before granting them Creation Heavenly Pills, have the clan make a Dao Oath with them: from henceforth, they become clan vassals and shall never betray us.” Li Zhirui shook his head slightly—how could he have overlooked this?

”Grant?!”

Li Debo was no fool: after a momentʼs thought, he grasped the ancestral intent.

Binding them with a Dao Oath ensured their loyalty to the clan; their strength would pose no threat for a long time to come.

Moreover, their existence would help the clan obstruct Cave Abyss Sect, so the clan need not directly confront its petty moves in the future.

As for someday when their strength surpasses that of the Li family, the question of coexistence is left for the later generations to resolve.

Besides, the clan has accumulated enough to claim profound foundations; should vassal powers overtake them, it would simply mean Li family descendants are disappointing!

As ancestors, they could safeguard the clan for a hundred or a thousand years, but beyond that, ten thousand years is impossible!