Chapter 539:1 Want to Continue Watching Such a Spectacular Scene!
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The flames surged, and the appearance of the alchemical furnace was almost indiscernible.
Wei Xingshan stood at a distance, witnessing this scene, and his brows twitched slightly.
Wei Xingshan was familiar with Chen Fei’s alchemical style.
Back when they were in the Alchemist Alliance, Chen Fei was undoubtedly one of the most outstanding rising stars. He even earned the top spot for refining elixir formulas.
At that time, Wei Xingshan had been curious about Chen Fei and had reviewed the images recorded during Chen Fei’s several a.s.sessment sessions. He had seen Chen Fei’s unique alchemical method.
As the leader of the Alchemist Alliance, Wei Xingshan possessed exceptional alchemical skills and extensive knowledge. However, Chen Fei’s method of refinement was unlike anything he had ever seen before.
Now, after many years, witnessing Chen Fei’s alchemical process in person still left Wei Xingshan somewhat astonished.
People who watched Chen Fei’s alchemy had various thoughts. Some with alchemical skills themselves were tempted to emulate him. After all, even experts at the Combined Aperture Tempering realm were using this method, so there must be a reason behind it.
Perhaps this approach could produce even more potent elixirs?
Chen Fei’s mental focus delved into the alchemical furnace, adjusting the interactions between various spiritual herbs, bringing out their stronger medicinal properties.
As for the recipe for a third-tier elixir, Chen Fei had never studied it. From breaking through the Combined Aperture Tempering realm to the present, only a few years had pa.s.sed. During this time, Chen Fei had dedicated all his energy to various cultivation techniques.
Initially, he had started learning alchemy because it was a quick way to make money, and many of the required herbs were readily available in shops.
Chen Fei needed a substantial amount of elixirs for his own cultivation, and it was naturally more cost-effective to produce them himself. Any surplus could be sold for silver coins, allowing him to continue alchemy and create a self-sustaining cycle.
However, after reaching the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, the frequency of Chen Fei’s alchemy decreased significantly due to the limited availability of spiritual materials.
The Primordial Sword Sect was a small sect, and their access to spiritual materials was extremely limited. The sect had its own alchemists, and those materials were more than sufficient for their needs.
If it hadn’t been for the sudden appearance of the Divine Flame Sect, which killed a Combined Aperture Tempering realm expert from the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, forcing them to change their ways, Chen Fei wouldn’t have been able to obtain so many alchemical tasks from the Alchemist Alliance.
In a sense, the struggle between the two sects had indeed benefited Chen Fei.
Certainly, this benefit was also achieved through Chen Fei’s exceptional alchemical skills. After all, the tasks given by the Alchemist Alliance at the time mostly rewarded contribution points to ordinary individuals.
Getting an extra elixir was incredibly challenging.
If other alchemists could obtain elixirs through task a.s.signments, it would essentially be like giving away resources to others for sects like the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.
Naturally, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect couldn’t afford to do that, as even their disciples within the sect were in need of various elixirs.
As they entered the Boundless Sea, the sources of spiritual materials were almost entirely cut off, leading Chen Fei to temporarily set aside this skill.
Now, with his cultivation breaking through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm and gaining access to some third-tier mystical realms, he did manage to partially address the issue of obtaining spiritual materials, but it was still only a partial solution.
Mystical realms below the third tier could produce at most third-tier low-quality spiritual materials. Higher-grade ones like third-tier medium-quality materials were available in limited quant.i.ties.
Furthermore, the growth of spiritual materials required time. Other Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivators might patiently wait for spiritual materials to grow and then produce their own, reducing the consumption of medium-grade elemental stones.
After all, earning elemental stones was not easy, and there were only a few viable methods. It either involved controlling areas where various spiritual materials were produced or risking one’s life to hunt monsters in the open sea.
These two methods were the most stable sources of income. The former was a slow but continuous process, requiring a considerable amount of time.
The latter was highly efficient but also dangerous, as the monsters were not inanimate objects and could be extremely ferocious. Moreover, they were often large in size, requiring multiple people of the same rank to work together for safety.
Alternatively, it was purely a matter of luck, hoping to stumble upon hidden treasures and resources in some ancient cave. However, this was entirely luck-based, and most people wouldn’t count on it.
Chen Fei wanted to rapidly improve his strength. Since breaking through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, it had been less than five years, and he had already reached the Combined Aperture Tempering realm Second Transformation stage.
Achieving this kind of speed through conventional means was nearly impossible, so Chen Fei had temporarily set aside his alchemical skills to seek other methods.
A faint fragrance of elixirs began to waft out of the alchemical furnace, but in an instant, it permeated the entire main peak. Everyone involuntarily took a deep breath, feeling a sense of relaxation in body and mind.
However, the scent gradually dissipated, leaving some onlookers who were unfamiliar with the situation to look at Chen Fei with puzzlement.
Meanwhile, those who knew how to refine elixirs were all staring intently at the alchemical furnace. They understood that the disappearance of the fragrance was not a sign of alchemical failure or any problem.
On the contrary, the appearance and subsequent dissipation of the fragrance indicated that the elixir inside the furnace had completely sealed the scent. This was something that could only be achieved through highly advanced alchemical techniques.
Chen Fei was currently refining a second-tier elixir, as evident from the types of spiritual materials he was using. Many people present could actually refine second-tier perfected elixirs themselves.
Individuals like Wei Xingshan, the Peak Master of the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect’s Pill Peak, had the confidence and ability to do so.
However, if a trace of spiritual resonance was added to these spiritual materials, it would introduce an entirely different concept.
Spiritual resonances were highly stable, and when absorbed by cultivators, they posed almost no danger. But because of their extreme stability, incorporating them into spiritual materials and turning them into elixirs became a complex and challenging process.
One had to forcefully break the stability of the spiritual resonance within the alchemical furnace, which required raising the pressure inside the furnace to its maximum. Then, under this extreme high-pressure environment, you continued with the alchemy process.
After breaking the stable nature of the spiritual resonance, it would no longer be calm and gentle but rather become extremely volatile.
How to control the explosiveness of the spiritual resonance and merge it with the properties of other spiritual materials became an immensely challenging problem.
Being able to refine elixirs without causing an explosion and successfully producing elixirs was considered a mark of exceptional skill. But achieving what Chen Fei was attempting, crafting perfected elixirs, was nearly an impossible task.
At least with the abilities of the alchemists present, it was something they could never hope to accomplish.
An hour pa.s.sed in an instant, and no one in the vicinity made a sound, afraid of disturbing Chen Fei’s alchemical process.
Many dared not interfere, especially since they were facing a Combined Aperture Tempering realm expert who held dominion over the Sea Peak City, a presence none dared to challenge. The alchemists in attendance hoped to absorb some of Chen Fei’s alchemical techniques.
“Boom!”
With a m.u.f.fled sound, Chen Fei lightly patted the furnace lid, and the alchemical furnace emitted a dull noise.
A stream of elixir vapor rose, forming a green cloud above the furnace. A gentle breeze swept through, dispersing the green cloud, and a rich fragrance of elixirs once again permeated the entire main peak.
Compared to the previous fragrance, the current one was even more pleasant. Those with lower cultivation levels even felt a sense of intoxication, as if they had consumed several barrels of strong liquor.
“It’s done!”
Chen Fei gently swept his hand, transferring the elixir from the alchemical furnace into a vial. Then, he used his elemental energy to bring it to Qu Qingsheng. After nodding to the people around him, he disappeared from the spot.
“Farewell, Elder Chen!”
The Primordial Sword Sect disciples called out respectfully, and members of other sects also paid their respects.
Half an hour later, Qu Qingsheng handed a vial of elixir to Zhou Zixuan. Zhou Zixuan, curious, opened the vial and was momentarily surprised by the number of elixirs inside.
As per Chen Fei’s instructions beforehand, only those in the later stages of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm could receive one elixir each.
Typically, pract.i.tioners in the Combined Aperture Tempering realm couldn’t withstand the effects of spiritual resonances. Even when merged with other spiritual materials to form elixirs, it still required cultivation in the later stages of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm to absorb them.
Over the past few years, the Primordial Sword Sect had achieved five pract.i.tioners in the later stages of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, resembling the beginnings of a fourth-tier force.
Now, the number of elixirs in Zhou Zixuan’s vial had reached two, which left him puzzled as he looked at Qu Qingsheng.
“Chen Fei specifically instructed that spiritual resonances can extend our lifespans and have remarkable effects for Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivators. Although their effectiveness diminishes when turned into elixirs, for us in the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, gaining an extra ten years or so should not be a problem,” Qu Qingsheng explained with a smile.
In recent years, the conditions of the Primordial Sword Sect had been steadily improving. They had acquired various spiritual materials, and the cultivation levels of their Combined Aperture Tempering realm pract.i.tioners had been increasing. They even had three more individuals reaching the later stages of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.
However, one person among them appeared increasingly aged and frail, visibly weakened in spirit and appearance.
That person was Zhou Zixuan, a dedicated elder who had devoted his entire life to the Primordial Sword Sect. Due to his ill-advised decision to break through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, he had injured his essence, and now, he was approaching the end of his life.
In recent years, with the Primordial Sword Sect enjoying relative peace and not having to engage in battles, Zhou Zixuan had been focusing on recuperation.
Otherwise, even a few intense battles could potentially shorten his remaining lifespan.
“This elixir is already a waste for me, and two is simply squandering a precious resource!” Zhou Zixuan frowned and pushed the vial towards Qu Qingsheng.
“This is Chen Fei’s intention. If you don’t want it, you can return it to him yourself,” Qu Qingsheng said with a smile, raising his hand to stop Zhou Zixuan’s action.
Hearing Qu Qingsheng’s words, Zhou Zixuan was momentarily taken aback. The Primordial Sword Sect was well aware of Chen Fei’s unwavering dedication to cultivation. He spent almost all his time in seclusion, and the outsiders simply saw him as an extraordinarily talented individual.
However, those within the Primordial Sword Sect knew that Chen Fei’s efforts exceeded those of the majority of martial artists.
For such a small matter, Zhou Zixuan didn’t want to disturb Chen Fei’s cultivation.
“You’re right, once you go, there’s no turning back. Since it’s Chen Fei’s intention, you should accept it,” Qu Qingsheng said, patting Zhou Zixuan’s shoulder and feeling a sense of nostalgia.
As someone who had witnessed the rise and fall of the Primordial Sword Sect alongside Zhou Zixuan, Qu Qingsheng didn’t want to see him leave like this. However, Qu Qingsheng had no means of extending his lifespan, so when Chen Fei wanted to give Zhou Zixuan two elixirs, Qu Qingsheng was genuinely delighted.
“Alright, I’ll accept them! With such a splendid future, I want to keep watching!” Zhou Zixuan fell silent for a moment and then burst into laughter.
Zhou Zixuan still wanted to witness the continued growth of the Primordial Sword Sect, and he truly couldn’t bear to leave like this.
Upon hearing Zhou Zixuan’s words, Qu Qingsheng also laughed heartily, his laughter filled with both nostalgia and pride!