Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

The quality of a pill furnace mainly depends on the control of pill fire, the precision of its regulation, and its ability to withstand the pill fire. Theoretically, as long as the furnace can handle the pill fire, a lower-grade second-tier furnace can still refine late-second-tier pill medicine.

However, the higher the grade, the less demand it places on a pill master’s skill, resulting in a higher pill formation success rate and pill quality.

Some first-tier pill masters even use second-tier furnaces to refine first-tier pill medicines to compensate for their lack of skill and enhance pill quality.

Previously, in the local market of Cangyun State, lower-grade second-tier pill furnaces were predominant, targeting seasoned first-tier pill masters.

At this moment, the appearance of an upper-grade pill furnace instantly attracted the eager gazes of many pill masters.

”I offer eight hundred spirit stones.” Almost instantly after the auctioneer’s announcement, an elderly man excitedly exclaimed his bid.

”An upper-grade second-tier pill furnace, and you think you can buy it for eight hundred? Fifteen hundred spirit stones.” Someone scoffed.

”Sixteen hundred spirit stones!”

...

Relatively speaking, the market demand for pill furnaces is somewhat limited, and not many in Cangyun State can afford an upper-grade second-tier furnace.

Thus, the atmosphere is not as high as it was for some previous items.

However, the competition is still extremely fierce.

Soon, the price almost equaled that of purchasing from Celestial Origin Province.

”Ladies and gentlemen, this old man is a resident Alchemist Zou of the Immortal City. I hope fellow Taoists can give this old man some face; if there are alchemy needs in the future, I shall not forget today’s kindness.”

Seeing the price exceed his expectations, an elderly pill master became unsettled, willing to pull some strings.

This elderly pill master, Li Ji’an, is no stranger to the Immortal City after eleven years. He is the city’s top loose cultivator pill master and is also a second-tier pill master.

He had previously accepted tasks to help refine Foundation Establishment Pills, but his alchemy skill wasn’t great, resulting in a mediocre pill formation success rate and quality.

The city’s top first-tier pill master rankings have always been held by his closed-door disciple.

Seeing him invoke his name for a favor, several family pill masters hesitated.

After all, these families had requests for him to help refine Foundation Establishment Pills.

”Elder Zou, it’s not that the junior doesn’t respect you, but truly the junior’s alchemy skill is lacking and needs this furnace to make up for it, I beg your understanding - nineteen hundred and fifty spirit stones.” Naturally, there were those who didn’t need his services and didn’t show him any courtesy.

”Indeed, Elder Zou already has a second-tier furnace, why compete with us younger folks? I offer two thousand spirit stones.”

Alchemist Zou glanced at them and finally, awkwardly sat down, no longer competing.

Afterward, only four people remained competing.

”I offer two thousand one hundred spirit stones.”

”Two thousand two!”

Li Ji’an remained inactive, seeing the price exceed expectations, and lost the will to compete.

His psychological price was two thousand two, which included the risk cost of traveling to Celestial Origin Province, crossing Great Marsh Mountain.

Most importantly, he analyzed and believed that subsequent resources like this in the Immortal City would become more abundant. Even if it might be difficult to have upper-grade second-tier pill furnaces short-term, middle-grade second-tier ones should be available.

Additionally, the city’s Commerce Association, without Biyun Sect’s control, has large operational space, worst-case he could seek out Tong Xiangyu.

Plus, he’s confident in his alchemy skills; for refining Foundation Establishment Pills, a middle-grade second-tier furnace is sufficient.

A middle-grade second-tier furnace shouldn’t exceed sixteen hundred spirit stones.

Just when he was ready to give up.

”I offer two thousand five hundred spirit stones!” Suddenly, an elder from afar called out the highest bid.

”Two thousand five hundred spirit stones?” Li Ji’an was somewhat surprised; this price was excessive, completely unreasonable, unless urgently needed - otherwise, it’s foolish spending.

”Hmm?” Out of curiosity, Li Ji’an slightly scanned with Divine Sense.

This scan made him chuckle.

”What a small world we live in!”

That elder was at the Qi Cultivation 9th Layer, yet his magical power wasn’t very solid, and his vitality was declining. Beneath the Blinding Technique, he unexpectedly was an acquaintance from a past life.

Alchemist Mo!

Counting the age, he is nearing one hundred and ten years old; unless like Yan Kongyi who cultivates Wood Element Techniques, proficient in health preservation, he’s considered an elderly cultivator in the Qi Cultivation Stage.

”Sixty years apart, who’d have thought Alchemist Mo has become prosperous!”

Quietly sighing, Li Ji’an was somewhat startled.

In recent years, he frequently heard from Yan Qingwan that Alchemist Mo was always with the Zheng Family, reportedly receiving quite some attention.

Considering the situation of the Desert’s tributor pill masters, even if benefiting a bit off their masters, eventually, it all goes to improving alchemy skills and personal cultivation. Theoretically, the master family wouldn’t let them accumulate enough resources to leave the family, keeping them serving forever.

However, the next moment, he realized.

Since last year, when Yan Kongyi brought back a second-tier early-stage Vajra Puppet and a batch of Group Damage Talismans, the Desert’s war situation reversed, causing substantial casualties for the Zheng Family, and that band of roving bandits suddenly betrayed them, looting when they took advantage, seizing the Spirit Vein Dao Field previously occupied by the Zheng Family at United Marketplace.

The Zheng Family was forced to seek outside aid again, gathering a large group of mid to late Qi Cultivation stage backbone forces, securing the situation.

However, providing for this large influx of external support was not easy, with pill medicine demand growing drastically.

Master Mo’s arrival is likely representing the Zheng Family, bidding for the pill furnace with Zheng Family footing the bill.

Realizing this, Li Ji’an’s expression tightened; given the chaos in the Desert, those Foundation Establishment Ancestors definitely couldn’t depart, Master Mo’s actions, to avoid interception by other forces, likely wouldn’t involve many people.

”Let’s see if you have the chance this time to fulfill the promise from years ago!” As thoughts raced, Li Ji’an had made his decision.