Nine Evolutions of the True Spirit - Chapter 292

Chapter 292 – The Violet Jade Scrolls

The advancement from Blood Condensation Realm to Core Forging Realm, the change of high-grade cauldron to top-grade cauldron, the use of Azure Spirit Fire and the secret techniques like the spirit purification technique and [Spirit Explosion Technique]—altogether, they added up to a considerable improvement in his alchemy mastery.

But this time, instead of concocting an easier pellet like the Golden Essence Pellets, he decided to attempt the difficult Golden Marrow Pellets.

In fact, Lu Ping initially wanted to practice with easier pellets before jumping straight to the difficult ones. Unfortunately, he didn’t have many 1000-year spirit herbs left.

Although becoming a Master Alchemist opened up more opportunities to obtain 1000-year and even 3000-year spirit herbs, his ingredient consumption had increased tremendously, far beyond his expectations. Previously, he could find spirit herbs required for Blood Condensation Realm pellets in the market, but the ones used for Core Forging Realm pellets were rarely seen, and were mostly traded in auctions or between Enlightened Masters.

Lu Ping finally understood why Master Alchemists didn’t practice alchemy as often as regular Alchemists—most of their time was spent gathering the required spirit herbs than the actual alchemy itself.

Since his advancement, his divine revelation had improved greatly, giving him better control during alchemy. His true energy made it easier to cast and strengthen his cauldron and secret techniques. Lu Ping also used Amethyst Bee Royal Jelly and four mid-grade spirit stones, combining them with the [Spirit Explosion Technique] to further enhance his alchemy.

In the end, he managed to concoct five Golden Marrow Pellets. In his excitement, Lu Ping took out another three Golden Marrow Grasses that he obtained from Fei Ling Island, along with the original two, then concocted another five cauldrons of Golden Marrow Pellets.

In total, the six cauldrons produced thirty Golden Marrow Pellets. In addition to the four Golden Essence Pellets he just concocted, they would be enough to last him for some time. After all, Core Forging Realm pellets were rare and hard to come by, so Enlightened Masters would only use them for their breakthroughs. For normal cultivation, Enlightened Masters would usually rely on spirit stones and the surrounding spiritual energy.

At present, Lu Ping now had a good understanding of his improvement and alchemy, so he was ready to come out of seclusion. Suddenly, he remembered there were still four violet jade scrolls sealed by a divine revelation. Now that he was an Enlightened Master, the seals could no longer obstruct him and he could finally check the scrolls’ contents.

So, Lu Ping proceeded to do just that. Two of the four jade scrolls were from Hong Shi-Kui, who he and Chilian Ying had killed. The first scroll contained the recipe for the Crystal Essence Pellet, a type of cultivation pellet for the Early Core Forging Realm Enlightened Masters. This was quite appropriate for Lu Ping; not only could he use them for cultivation, he happened to lack Core Forging Realm pellet recipes, so this recipe would augment his accumulation as a Master Alchemist.

Upon checking the second jade scroll, Lu Ping was struck with joy!

One of the most valuable spoils from Hong Shi-Kui were the Fire-Ice Dual Rings. Normally, mystic treasures that came in sets were often two inscriptions stronger than the others. However, Hong Shi-Kui didn’t get to finish their Mystical Inscriptions before he died, so the dual rings were only halfway to becoming a set of mystic treasures.

Since Lu Ping had the dual rings, he’d attempted to substitute a spirit fire and spirit ice to make up for the incomplete Mystical Inscriptions. This was why he was so happy to acquire the Black Prison Poison Fire, since he could use it with the Fire Ring.

But there was no need for that anymore, because the second jade scroll contained nothing less than the Mystical Inscription and cultivation art for the Fire-Ice Dual Rings!

The only downside was Lu Ping would never be able to cast the dual rings to the fullest as he lacked the element of fire in his cultivation base. However, by utilizing the cultivation art, he found that he could unleash close to eighty percent of the weapons’ powers.

The third violet scroll was discovered on the late Master Alchemist Liao Ding’s body, who died in the Canyon of Sullied Gold in Heaven of Seven Stars. Inside Master Alchemist Liao Ding’s interspatial bracelet, the most valuable item Lu Ping found was not the pestle mystic treasure but a recipe for the Heart Condensation Pellet.

Since this violet jade scroll was stored together with the recipe, Lu Ping assumed it must be something extraordinary as well, and he couldn’t suppress his anticipation.

Lu Ping broke the seal, reached his divine revelation into the scroll, and was shocked to read its contents. The more he perused, the more astonished he felt, his brows furrowing deeper.

After a long time, Lu Ping slowly opened his eyes and muttered, “The rumours about Heart Forging Pellets… I never thought they would be real…”

Heart Condensation Pellets could raise the cultivation base of Blood Condensation Realm cultivators by one layer without affecting their foundation.

Similarly, Heart Forging Pellets could achieve the same effect for Core Forging Realm Enlightened Masters without affecting their foundation!

However, such pellets wouldn’t come without limitations—they were only effective for Early Core Forging Realm Enlightened Masters. Even so, they would certainly cause great turmoil in the cultivation world, one capable of setting off a bloody war. Even the colossal sects wouldn’t hesitate to step in to secure the recipe.

The Heart Forging Pellets could be used to bring Early Core Forging Realm Enlightened Masters to the threshold of Mid Core Forging Realm, shortening at least thirty years of cultivation. To the Enlightened Masters, this meant a huge increase in their chances of advancing to Mid Core; to the sects, this meant a consistent production of Mid Core Forging Realm Enlightened Masters.

Lu Ping had a hard time calming down his excitement. His mentality and self-control had increased tremendously since his advancement, so he’d assumed it would be difficult for anything to affect his emotions. He certainly didn’t expect the mere sight of this pellet recipe would shake him up so much!

After calming down, Lu Ping turned his focus on the difficulty of concocting the Heart Forging Pellets. Effective only for Early Core Forging Realm Enlightened Masters, they were actually a type of half-step Avatar Realm pellet.

The recipe required three pieces of 3000-year spirit herbs, thirty-six pieces of 1000-year spirit herbs, and several dozens of 500-year spirit herbs. Hence, this half-step Avatar Realm pellet was beyond Lu Ping’s current level of alchemy.

Obviously, Lu Ping wouldn’t give up the Heart Forging Pellets; no cultivator could resist their allure. Once his cultivation base reached the Second Layer, he would take the risk and concoct the Heart Forging Pellets, even if the chance of failing was high.

Lu Ping took out a jade box, another item from Master Alchemist Liao Ding’s interspatial bracelet. Inside the jade box, there were nine pieces of 3000-year spirit herbs. These consisted of three pieces of Nine Layer Grasses, and two pieces of Seven Stars Flowers.

These were the two types of 3000-year spirit herbs required for the Heart Forging Pellets. Lu Ping only lacked the Yin Yang Branch.

He took out a big wooden table, which had images and descriptions of various spirit herbs displayed on its surface. Lu Ping found the Yin Yang Branch and the rest of the spirit herbs required for the Heart Forging Pellets, firmly memorizing their appearances so he wouldn’t accidentally overlook them one day.

The fourth and final violet jade scroll was from the Core Forging Enlightened Master’s cave-dwelling on Fei Ling Island. In the cave-dwelling, Lu Ping had found the jade scrolls for [Flying spirit Ocean Treading Scripture] and Nascent Life Primordial Star Chart, both of which had become a major part of his cultivation base and prowess.

Hence, Lu Ping had the highest of expectations for this violet jade scroll. He was hoping that it would contain all the records about the [Sea Coast Wave Listening Scripture]. This was because this Zhen Ling Sect technique was incomplete upon reaching the Avatar Realm. Although the Zhen Ling Sect predecessors eventually derived the cultivation method up to the Mid Avatar Realm, it was still not complete. Lu Ping naturally didn’t want his cultivation journey to stop in the Mid Avatar Realm.

But he was destined to be disappointed. The jade scroll did not mention the [Sea Coast Wave Listening Scripture]. This was certainly understandable; both [Flying spirit Ocean Treading Scripture] and [Sea Coast Wave Listening Scripture] were of the same level, so it wouldn’t make sense to record one in a normal jade scroll and the other in a sealed jade scroll.

However, his disappointment was short-lived. Lu Ping quickly felt surprised, and even dumbfounded as he read the contents. He looked even more shocked than when he saw the recipe for the Heart Forging Pellets.