Chapter 427: Pushing the Limits of Pill Crafting
Above all, Lu Xuan already had a rich reserve in the art of pill crafting.
With the fourth-grade Celestial Azure Dan Fire, an unusual flame perfectly suited for pill crafting, it could slightly enhance the probability of pill success and the quality of the pills.
Moreover, there were three types of pill formula experience packs.
The Foundation Establishment Pill, the Spirit Nurturing Pill, and most importantly, the Primordial Essence Pill.
In previous gatherings of light orbs, he had absorbed many pill formula experience packs, especially the first two, reaching the level of a grandmaster in crafting the respective pills, confident he was on par with many pill masters in the Pill Hall.
These factors led Lu Xuan to decide to try his hand at pill crafting.
"I won't hide it from Sister, I indeed have the desire to learn pill crafting. Please, Sister, could you introduce me and allow me to learn the ways of pill crafting in the Pill Hall?"
Lu Xuan stood up, speaking earnestly.
"With Brother's mastery in spiritual plants, once you enter the Pill Hall, countless pill crafters will want to curry favor with you."
Guan Wan chuckled playfully.
Why not strike while the iron's hot? Lu Xuan followed her directly to the Pill Hall.
The Pill Hall covered a vast area, more than double the size of the Agricultural Hall, the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, the Sword Hall, and others.
The wide plaza in front of the main hall, laid with evenly cut first-grade ore stones, had dozens of spirit springs water spurting from exquisite fountains, covering the entire plaza with a thin layer of spiritual mist, displaying its wealth and power.
Such extravagance was already evident in the plaza, let alone the grandeur of the main hall, which made Lu Xuan, entering the Pill Hall again, full of emotions.
Upon entering the Pill Hall, a rich fragrance of medicinal herbs permeated the air.
"The scent of spiritual stones."
Lu Xuan silently marveled.
"Brother Lu, before entering the Pill Hall, there are some things I must inform you about," Guan Wan said softly, walking along the ancient and spacious spiritual wood corridor towards Lu Xuan.
"Please go ahead, Sister."
"Pill crafters in the Pill Hall are mainly divided into two types: ordinary pill crafters and core pill crafters. As a newcomer, Brother must start as an ordinary pill crafter."
"That's no problem. I'm new to pill crafting and certainly don't want to disrupt the rules of the Pill Hall."
Lu Xuan responded readily.
"Ordinary pill crafters have their rights and obligations."
"They can learn first and second-grade pill formulas from the Pill Hall, as well as a few third-grade ones. At the beginning of crafting a certain pill, one can obtain varying amounts of pill crafting materials for free."
"To continue crafting, one can also acquire the necessary pill crafting materials, pill furnaces, pill fires, etc., from the Pill Hall at a low price. The pills crafted can be sold to the Pill Hall at a preferential rate, not much different from selling independently to other cultivators or powers."
Lu Xuan nodded upon hearing this.
If the pills crafted could be sold to the Pill Hall at a high price in large quantities, it indeed would save a lot of time and avoid unnecessary trouble.
"As for obligations, sometimes the Pill Hall, according to the needs of the sect, will craft a large quantity of a certain pill, hence gathering pill crafters to assist in the crafting. Of course, appropriate compensation will be provided."
Lu Xuan had no objections to this. Enjoying the benefits of the Pill Hall, fulfilling these obligations was insignificant.
"Pill formulas learned from the Pill Hall must be bound by a heart demon oath to prevent leakage."
"Upon advancement to a core pill crafter, learning higher-grade and more precious pill formulas, the heart demon oath will become more strict and complex. Violating it would result in severe punishment. Brother must be mentally prepared."
"I have no problem with that."
Lu Xuan said solemnly, understanding that not leaking pill formulas was a fundamental requirement, as long as he was not prohibited from selling pills.
"Besides those invaluable pill formulas, core pill crafters also enjoy other benefits, such as owning the rights to high-grade pill furnaces and access to pill fires, pill chambers, etc., in the Pill Hall and other parts of the sect."
Having explained everything clearly, Guan Wan led Lu Xuan into the Pill Hall. After completing all procedures, they arrived at a library full of jade slips.
She activated a jade token, and after the barrier's spiritual power dissipated, she took out a jade book and handed it to Lu Xuan.
"Brother Lu, this jade book contains the pill formulas that ordinary pill crafters can master, detailing the uses of
the pills, required materials, and the crafting process. The specific crafting methods are in the corresponding jade slips."
"If Brother is new to pill crafting, you can choose at your discretion."
"Pill crafting is not as simple as cultivating spiritual plants; remember not to bite off more than you can chew."
Guan Wan advised gently.
"Thank you for the reminder, Sister Guan. I will be careful."
Lu Xuan bowed slightly, his spiritual consciousness permeating the jade book.
After making his selections, he finally chose three pill formulas.
"Sister Guan, I've made my choice. Let's start with the Primordial Essence Pill, the Spirit Nurturing Pill, and the Beast Spirit Pill."
"That's fine."
Guan Wan nodded lightly. Choosing pill formulas wasn't about sticking to one; it was about trying out and finding the most suitable type for oneself.
She quickly picked out three jade slips from the many available, handed them to Lu Xuan, and called over two other core pill crafters from the Pill Hall to witness Lu Xuan making the heart demon oath.
Then, she led Lu Xuan to another room to collect dozens of free materials.
The Primordial Essence Pill, a first-grade medicinal pill, yielded thirty portions, while the Spirit Nurturing Pill and the Beast Spirit Pill, both second-grade, each yielded twenty portions.
Among the three pills, Lu Xuan's expertise in the Primordial Essence Pill and the Spirit Nurturing Pill had already reached the pinnacle. He considered the Beast Spirit Pill with the thought of the many spiritual beasts in his cave dwelling, hoping to better nourish and cultivate them after learning it.
Returning to his cave dwelling, Lu Xuan took out the jade slips recording the pill formulas and pondered before absorbing them one by one.
A flood of information from the jade slips entered his sea of consciousness, then dissipated into countless particles.
"The Spirit Nurturing Pill and the Primordial Essence Pill are like revisiting old knowledge."
"Unfortunately, absorption doesn't count as experience packs and doesn't add to my pill crafting experience."
Lu Xuan mused.
He took out a portion of materials for crafting the Primordial Essence Pill from his storage bag, his movements as fluid as if he had repeated them countless times, skillfully processing each material.
A second-grade pill furnace, long unused for pill crafting and covered in a thick layer of dust, sat in the room.
"Open the furnace! Begin pill crafting!"
Below the pill furnace, a wisp of pale azure flame spread rapidly, instantly enveloping the entire furnace.
Within his spiritual sense, the Medicine Bug quietly entered the room, merging with the pill furnace.
Following the formula's instructions, Lu Xuan methodically added the processed materials in order, carefully controlling the Celestial Azure Dan Fire beneath the furnace, sensing the changes within and intermittently adding various auxiliary herbs.
Half an hour later, Lu Xuan opened his eyes, a spark of brilliance flashing within, as the lid of the pill furnace flew off, and six perfectly round, flawless white pills streamed out.
Each one was without blemish, of superior quality.
"With but a mere effort, I've reached the limits of pill crafting!"
Lu Xuan contentedly sighed, filled with a sense of achievement.