Chapter 128: One Step, One Stair

Chapter 128: Chapter 128: One Step, One Stair

The exchange disciple watched Chen Yue’s retreating back and took a deep breath.

’Now that Chen Yue is an Inner Sect Disciple and has made an implacable enemy of the Mutual Aid Association, who knows what path his future holds.’

Chen Yue returned to his Pill Furnace and began to refine the Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill.

After his first practical attempt, the details that had once existed only in his Sea of Consciousness were now thoroughly ingrained as bodily instinct.

Chen Yue’s fingers deftly handled the medicinal herbs, his control over the fire’s heat grew more precise, and every step flowed as smoothly as moving clouds and flowing water, imbued with an unhurried rhythm.

An hour later, the refreshing medicinal fragrance once again filled the air around the Pill Furnace.

Chen Yue opened the furnace lid, and with a guiding motion of his hand, a lustrous Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill landed steadily on the Jade Plate.

Its quality was nearly identical to the one he had refined during the assessment; in fact, it even seemed a bit more perfectly rounded.

For the disciples within the Hundred Herbs Pavilion who had been secretly observing Chen Yue, the last shred of doubt in their hearts vanished into thin air.

If the first success could be explained away as good luck, then this immediate second success was enough to prove that Chen Yue had truly mastered the refining technique for the Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill, and it wasn’t just a fluke.

Many of them exchanged glances, mentally re-evaluating the importance of this newly promoted Inner Sect Disciple.

Chen Yue showed no signs of stopping. He cleaned the Pill Furnace, regulated his breathing, and then, without hesitation, began refining his second and third batches.

More than two hours passed.

When Chen Yue opened the Pill Furnace for the third time and placed the third Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill onto the Jade Plate, some of the disciples couldn’t help but let their mouths twitch.

Three consecutive batches, all successful, not a single failure. Such a success rate didn’t at all resemble someone who had just recently mastered the Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill. He was too skilled—absurdly so!

A brief silence fell over the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, broken only by the CRACKLING of the furnace fire and the sound of people’s suppressed breathing.

Chen Yue put away the three Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pills and walked back to the exchange counter. He placed two of the elixirs on the counter and said, "I’d like to sell these two back."

He then tucked the last elixir into his robes, planning to keep it for his own use.

At his current Cultivation level, using the Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill to aid his training would be significantly more effective than the Dan Yang Pill.

The exchange disciple took the two elixirs, confirmed the count, and transferred twelve Contribution Points to Chen Yue’s Waist Token.

Chen Yue took back his Waist Token but didn’t leave immediately. He stood in place, seemingly lost in thought.

A moment later, he looked up at the exchange disciple and asked, "I need a Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pill. How many Contribution Points does it cost?"

The exchange disciple was slightly taken aback before replying, "A Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pill costs three Contribution Points."

Chen Yue didn’t hesitate, handing his Waist Token over. "Thank you, Senior Brother."

The exchange disciple took the Waist Token, deducted three Contribution Points, and turned to a medicine cabinet behind him. He retrieved an elixir that was as translucent as amber, carefully placed it in a porcelain vial, and handed it to Chen Yue.

Chen Yue took the porcelain vial, opened it for a quick look, then stoppered it and tucked it away in his robes.

Without another word, he cupped his fist to the disciple in a gesture of thanks and turned to leave the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.

Chen Yue followed the familiar mountain path back to his small courtyard on Dan Peak.

A few broken wooden planks hung askew from the doorframe, swaying gently in the afternoon breeze and CREAKING softly.

Chen Yue glanced at it, walked straight through the damaged doorway, entered his room, and bolted the door, shutting out the noise and prying eyes of the outside world.

He sat cross-legged on his bed but did not immediately begin cultivating. Instead, he first took out the porcelain vial containing the Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pill and gently opened it.

A clear, rich medicinal fragrance washed over him, completely different from the scent of a Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill.

The fragrance of the Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pill was mellower and more restrained, as if all its Medicinal Power was compressed within the amber-colored elixir, waiting for the moment of its release.

Chen Yue held the elixir in his palm, studying it carefully for a moment.

The reason he had exchanged for this Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pill, rather than the more familiar Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill, was mainly to test how much more effective it was in comparison.

With repeated use, the effects of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill had gradually weakened. While it wasn’t completely ineffective yet, he did need to find a replacement.

If the Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pill proved to be significantly superior, Chen Yue could consider replacing the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills with it entirely.

Chen Yue tilted his head back, popped the amber-colored elixir into his mouth, and swallowed.

As the elixir entered his stomach, a warm power spread rapidly throughout his body.

Unlike the relatively gentle Medicinal Power of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill, the power of the Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pill was far more potent.

The first thing he felt was a tingling, itching sensation deep within his bones.

The sensation wasn’t just on the surface; it felt as if it had bored deep into his marrow and was cleansing his bones, bit by bit.

This feeling lasted for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Though it was somewhat uncomfortable, Chen Yue could clearly perceive that after the tingling itch faded, his bones did feel different.

But if asked how they were different, Chen Yue would have been hard-pressed to say.

Compared to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill, the Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pill’s marrow-cleansing effect was indeed more pronounced, but it wasn’t a qualitative leap.

However, besides cleansing marrow, the Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pill also had a body-refining component.

After the itching sensation gradually subsided, a gentle warmth began to rise within his flesh and skin, as if a warm current was flowing through his muscle fibers, repairing minute damage and strengthening their resilience.

This warmth didn’t last long, however, slowly dissipating in less than a quarter of an hour.

Clearly, the body-refining effect of the Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pill was merely supportive and couldn’t compare to a specialized Body Refining Elixir.

Chen Yue slowly opened his eyes, sensing the subtle changes in his body as various thoughts flashed through his mind.

’Even if the Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pill’s effects are good, I don’t plan on refining it myself.’

’Back in Youlin County, I had no choice but to refine every elixir I needed myself.’

’But now that I have a Major Sect like the Panshi Sect backing me, I have to learn to use my Contribution Points where they count most—by directly exchanging for the finished elixirs I need.’

’Otherwise, if I refine every elixir I need, I won’t have nearly enough time each day, and I won’t be able to maximize the value of my time.’

’What I need to do is concentrate my energy on refining high-value elixirs, like the current Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill, and in the future, the even more valuable Nourishing Spirit Pill.’

’My proficiency with the Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill is already approaching Great Success. I can’t let that go to waste. I should continue to improve my skill until I reach Perfection.’

’At the same time, I also need to go exchange for the Pill Formula for the Nourishing Spirit Pill and start building up my proficiency in a new Alchemy Skill.’

Chen Yue stood up, walked into the courtyard, and began to practice the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield.

After taking a Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pill, other disciples of the Panshi Sect would typically cultivate the Panshi Skill directly to absorb the remaining Medicinal Power. After all, the Panshi Skill itself has some body-refining effects, so using it in conjunction with the elixir was a mutually beneficial combination.

But Chen Yue didn’t. He had a Cultivation Technique far more suited for absorbing body-refining medicinal power.

The Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield specialized in tempering the physical body and strengthening muscles, bones, and skin. In terms of absorbing and converting the power of body-refining type elixirs, its effects far surpassed the Panshi Skill.

As Chen Yue began to circulate the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield, the Medicinal Power that he hadn’t had time to absorb, which had lain dormant, was re-stimulated, surging out from deep within his flesh and blood.

Guided by the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield’s unique Force Transmission Technique, this Medicinal Power was broken down with greater subtlety and integrated into the flesh, sinews, and skin all over his body.

Every inch of his muscle trembled slightly, absorbing this energy.

Only after Chen Yue had performed the complete set of the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield twice was the Medicinal Power completely absorbed, without a single trace wasted.

Chen Yue ceased his practice and stood still, letting out a long breath of turbid air. A hint of a satisfied smile appeared in his eyes.

In truth, even if many disciples had enough Contribution Points to exchange for Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pills long-term, they couldn’t take one every single day.

This was because the Medicinal Power of the pill was quite potent. If not fully digested and absorbed, the residual power would accumulate in the body, which would negatively impact cultivation and could even lead to blocked Qi Blood and damaged meridians.

Therefore, even disciples in the Marrow Refining Realm would typically only exchange for a Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pill every three to five days, or even longer.

But Chen Yue, with a specialized Body Refining Technique like the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield, was able to absorb the elixir’s Medicinal Power completely.

’Based on the current situation, I could even consider taking two tomorrow to see the effects of consecutive use and whether it produces any adverse reactions.’

’If the Medicinal Power still accumulates, I’ll try one and a half. Right now, after just one Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pill, I feel like I could have handled more.’

’If I can take two in a row without any issues, it will definitely speed up my cultivation significantly.’

Chen Yue rested for a moment, then returned to his room, sat cross-legged, and took out the Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill he had personally refined.

The elixir exuded a faint medicinal fragrance. Chen Yue placed it in his mouth, where it instantly dissolved into a cool, mellow liquid that flowed down his throat and into his stomach.

Chen Yue immediately began circulating the Vast Heart Rock Skill, guiding the Medicinal Power through his meridians.

The Medicinal Power of the Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill was completely different from that of the Dan Yang Pill. As the technique circulated, the power was rapidly absorbed and transformed into pure Qi Force, flowing like a gentle stream into the Qi Blood vortex in his Dantian.

At the same time, a cool stream of energy rushed to the crown of his head, making his mind unprecedentedly clear. Many of the previous blockages in his cultivation technique’s circulation now seemed to resolve themselves effortlessly.

Immersed in this wonderful feeling of dual enhancement to both body and mind, Chen Yue completed a full Circulation of the Celestial Cycle before he knew it.

He opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them for an instant. His entire Essence, Qi, and Spirit had clearly risen to a new level.