Chapter 147: Candor

"Still didn't hit the target..."

A trace of regret flickered in Li Guanxuan's heart.

He had refined a batch using the materials provided by the Hua family, but the final output yielded only two mid-grade Golden Origin Pills and one ordinary finished Golden Origin Pill.

For an ordinary quasi-third-tier alchemist, this was already a very impressive success rate.

However, from Li Guanxuan's perspective, blessed as he was with immortal Qi, and having previously refined two top-grade Golden Origin Pills...

Not a single top-grade Golden Origin Pill emerging from an entire set of materials was truly a blow to his self-confidence.

After all, his goal was a pristine-grade Golden Origin Pill.

"I'll rest for a few days before firing up the cauldron again."

Li Guanxuan sighed softly, storing all three Golden Origin Pills from the alchemy cauldron into a jade bottle.

Upon stepping out of the cultivation chamber, Li Guanxuan saw Wen Rongxin throwing punches in the courtyard. Dressed in a tight martial outfit that outlined her flawless curves, she possessed not an ounce of surplus fat from top to bottom, her body fat percentage reaching a well-balanced standard.

Catching the lingering fragrance of medicinal pills, Song Zhiqiao realized her older brother had successfully completed his refinement, and had therefore prepared tea outside ahead of time.

With one brewing tea and the other executing punches, the tranquil environment brought a great deal of comfort to Li Guanxuan's heart.

Once Wen Rongxin completed her target number of punches, she slowly pulled back her fists, gathering all her momentum inward, gently exhaled a breath of stale air, and looked toward Li Guanxuan in the pavilion. Finding her husband gazing back at her, her heart filled with warmth.

Li Guanxuan sipped his spring tea slowly, watching Wen Rongxin trot over, and smiled. "Your fist momentum is becoming increasingly effortless to control."

"Ten thousand punches achieve bone forging, but to reach the visceral tempering realm, I'm afraid it will take a million punches," Wen Rongxin said.

Song Zhiqiao handed Wen Rongxin a cup of spring tea and said with considerable envy, "Elder sister's current comprehension of fist dao is no longer matched by ordinary bone-forging body cultivators. Even cultivators at the Great Circle of Foundation Establishment can be easily obliterated by your strikes...

Once you complete a million punches and step into the visceral tempering realm, I'm afraid even Core Formation True Persons would have to give way."

"I am merely foolish, and can only rely on clumsy methods to improve."

Wen Rongxin accepted the spring tea and replied, "Younger sister has also improved immensely in her immortal crafting arts, and has even stepped into the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. You must no longer belittle yourself."

Today, Song Zhiqiao was not only proficient in array formations, but her talisman and mechanism arts were also gradually catching up to Li Guanxuan's.

Song Zhiqiao's current plan matched Li Guanxuan's: she would wait until she reached the Core Formation stage before beginning weapon refinement.

After all, that was when they would be able to refine their natal magical treasures.

"Is Hua Yangyang still in Silver Maple City?" Li Guanxuan asked, sipping his tea.

In the pavilion, Song Zhiqiao plucked the strings of her zither. A crisp and melodious tune drifted slowly into the air, causing the fish in the pond to swim back and forth.

Wen Rongxin answered, "Ever since he heard that you started refining pills, he came straight to Silver Maple City to wait for the completion. City Lord Cao received him personally, so there's no need to worry too much about him."

Li Guanxuan nodded slightly and said, "This batch yielded only two mid-grade Golden Origin Pills and one ordinary finished Golden Origin Pill...

I had originally hoped to refine a top-grade Golden Origin Pill using these ordinary materials, but I realize it's still quite difficult... Pristine-grade Golden Origin Pills are truly not so easily crafted."

At the end of his sentence, Li Guanxuan could not help but sigh softly.

Had he not possessed the prior experience of using premium materials to forge top-grade Golden Origin Pills, he likely would not have successfully produced three pills this time around so easily.

Fortunately, the Hua family only required finished Golden Origin Pills from one batch of materials, and these three pills were more than enough to fulfill his obligation.

"Take your time. Now that the Hua family's portion is done, the mental pressure has lessened considerably. From here on, husband, you only need to focus on elevating the pill quality without worrying about quantity. I believe you will definitely be able to refine pristine-grade Golden Origin Pills." Wen Rongxin said softly.

Hearing this, Li Guanxuan smiled, reached out, and pulled Wen Rongxin into his embrace.

Wen Rongxin was the woman who had accompanied him the longest.

Whenever he encountered difficulties, Wen Rongxin was always by his side, gently and patiently guiding him, imperceptibly granting him immense confidence.

As the zither strings played on, the elegant pavilion gradually staged a wonderful "Tu" character discourse on seeking the Dao.

First, the "body cultivator diagram" was given the finishing touch by the old wolf-hair brush, and then beneath the "green tea diagram," fluids flowed like a rushing river, as it came over to help the old wolf-hair brush grind ink...

In the pavilion, the three of them sought the immortal path and the Dao, desiring to ascend together.

When the sun was high in the sky, the old wolf-hair brush flicked off a few drops of rich ink and retired with a successful achievement.

...

Leaving home, Li Guanxuan streaked toward the towering mountain piercing the clouds in the inner city.

The mid-mountain level was adorned with numerous pavilions and terraces, antique and breathtakingly beautiful. These places were set aside by Cao Feng for entertaining guests.

Upon learning that Li Guanxuan had come in person to pay a visit, Old Chen came down immediately to receive him.

He was well aware that Li Guanxuan's current status commanded deep respect in any spirit city, so matters of etiquette could not be handled carelessly.

Guided by Old Chen, Li Guanxuan quickly arrived at Cao Feng's secluded recuperation quarters.

Presently, Cao Feng was still cultivating some spiritual herbs, living a leisurely and carefree life, showing little concern for external affairs. An aura of complete detachment from the mortal world emanated from his entire person.

"Brother Cao, it seems your physical recuperation is getting better and better."

Looking at Cao Feng's current state, a reassuring look appeared on Li Guanxuan's face.

Cao Feng smiled. "You gave me such stern and repeated warnings before. If I were still to abandon myself to despair, wouldn't I be failing your trust?"

"In two years' time, a pristine-grade Golden Origin Pill will definitely be delivered into Brother Cao's hands. You can start making preparations for core formation right now," Li Guanxuan said with a solemn expression.

If one were condensing a false core or a true core, it would not take more than two years like it did for Chen Yinshan.

After all, Chen Yinshan frequently engaged in magical combat and needed to clear away all the injuries within his body and calm his mind prior to forming his core, which naturally consumed a significant amount of time.

For ordinary people forming a core, if preparations were made beforehand, a true core took at most half a year and at least three months.

A true core could be formed within a month.

A false core took only a few days.

Li Guanxuan knew that if Cao Feng failed to form a core, what awaited him next would undoubtedly be blows from all directions.

The Cao family, after all, placed high hopes on him.

"Good."

Cao Feng nodded slightly; he chose to trust Li Guanxuan.

Watering the spiritual herbs, Cao Feng continued, "I am already aware of Gan Long's matter. I sent quite a few people to investigate what he did in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. Rest assured, this matter was entirely of his own doing; no one dares hold you accountable."

As a False Core True Person, Gan Long naturally had some close friends and relatives.

Upon receiving Gan Long's letter sent right before his death, Cao Feng had immediately dispatched investigators.

Learning that Gan Long taking sides with Sang Shaoxian was the fuse for his demise, Cao Feng cursed him on the spot for getting what he deserved—of all people to provoke, he had to go provoke a ruthless expert who struck with absolute certainty!

If that wasn't courting death, what was?

Of course, Cao Feng had also handled the matter for Li Guanxuan right away.

Setting aside the fact that Li Guanxuan's master was Liu Xiaoxian, based purely on his connection with Li Guanyuan, no other True Person could possibly do anything to him.

Moreover...

There were rumors that Li Guanxuan had refined two top-grade Golden Origin Pills in Qing'an City.

Although premium materials were used, such a hundred-percent success rate was truly unmatched by ordinary quasi-third-tier alchemists.

Li Guanxuan smiled. He trusted Cao Feng's character, so he hadn't taken to heart the attempt by True Person Gan Long to stab him in the back before dying.

Besides, with his current abilities and connections, ordinary True Persons could hardly touch him.

Concluding this topic, Li Guanxuan said, "Of the two sets of materials from the Hua family, I used one set, resulting in three pills: two mid-grade and one ordinary finished. That should be considered meeting the Hua family's expectations."

"Considered?"

Cao Feng's eyes widened, his mood of quiet recuperation over the years nearly collapsing.

One must know that an ordinary quasi-third-tier alchemist crafting a single finished Golden Origin Pill from ordinary materials would already be considered exceptional.

Yet these ordinary materials in Li Guanxuan's hands had actually produced three Golden Origin Pills?

Among them were two mid-grade ones and a finished one!

Cao Feng quickly took a deep breath to steady his mindset and said in a deep voice, "Your alchemy technique is hard to match for anyone across the entire northeastern region of the Immortal Ruins."

Li Guanxuan said helplessly, "This matter cannot be faked. If I concealed this from the Hua family, any gossip leaking out in the future would only create a rift between us.

Besides, I still have quite a few materials for refining Golden Origin Pills in my possession; it's not worth pulling such a stunt over one or two pills."

"That's true."

Cao Feng nodded earnestly, sighing, "Once this matter spreads, high-level cultivators coming to beg for pills will be endless."

"That's why I came this time—to hope Brother Cao can arrange a place of seclusion for me."

Li Guanxuan smiled. "In addition, Silver Maple City must prepare to integrate all spiritual veins and inject spirit stones to condense a quasi-third-tier spiritual vein; otherwise, Brother Cao's probability of forming a core will likely be drastically reduced."

Forming a core required the support of a spiritual vein domain.

Should the spiritual Qi at the breakthrough site dry up at a critical moment, it would severely diminish the core formation success rate and even impact one's state of mind, leading to core formation failure.

"The Cao family has already prepared it for me. Once I form my core, I will also give back to the Cao family."

Cao Feng smiled and said, "Chen Yinshan was aided by a technique gifted by a Nascent Soul demon monarch, and he sought out a restricted third-tier spiritual vein site in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, coupled with the two top-grade Golden Origin Pills you provided, allowing him to form a mid-grade Golden Core...

With my preparations over the years, aided by a pristine-grade Golden Origin Pill, I have a high probability of condensing a mid-grade Golden Core as well."

"You certainly will."

Li Guanxuan smiled.

Among the healing pills he had given him previously, he had infused a trace of spiritual Qi converted from wood-elemental immortal Qi.

Cao Feng always believed his internal hidden injuries had recovered to their prime state through quiet recuperation.

Only Li Guanxuan knew best that without the therapy of the wood-elemental immortal Qi, those stubborn hidden injuries could never have been cleared away so easily.

Therefore, Cao Feng, now in his prime state, would definitely succeed in forming his core as long as his state of mind remained steady.

However...

Whether it would be a lower-grade Golden Core or a mid-grade Golden Core remained unknown.

Furthermore, as a demonic cultivator, once Cao Feng began forming his core, there was no guarantee someone wouldn't secretly meddle.

Many matters had to be properly arranged within these next few years; it couldn't be resolved solely by relying on a pristine-grade Golden Origin Pill.

Soon, Hua Yangyang was brought over by Old Chen. When he saw Li Guanxuan, his eyes were brimming with anticipation.

According to his expectations, since Li Guanxuan had previously been able to refine two top-grade Golden Origin Pills in a single furnace, at least one mid-grade Golden Origin Pill should emerge from the Hua family's two sets of materials.

As long as he obtained a single mid-grade Golden Origin Pill, those two sets of materials would not have been spent in vain.

"Apologies, Daoist Hua. The output didn't meet expectations, but fortunately, the herbal materials weren't ruined..."

Hearing Li Guanxuan's words, Hua Yangyang's heart skipped a beat.

No way?

Out of two sets of Golden Origin Pill materials, not even a single mid-grade Golden Origin Pill?

Hua Yangyang forced a smile and said, "N-no..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he heard Li Guanxuan continue, "I originally intended to use these materials to refine a top-grade Golden Origin Pill, but after several attempts at fusion, they proved rather difficult to control. Thus, from this set of materials, I only managed to refine two mid-grade and one finished pill. I hope Daoist Hua will forgive me."

"What?!"

Hua Yangyang's eyes widened abruptly, stuttering, "T-t-two mid-grade?"

And another finished one?

From a single set of ordinary materials, three Golden Origin Pills were actually refined?

The Hua family was about to take off...

This thought flashed through Hua Yangyang's mind.

Back then, Patriarch Hua Bai True Person had formed his true core relying on just a single finished Golden Origin Pill.

Now, with two mid-grade Golden Origin Pills, as long as the Hua family's earth-root genius cultivated to the Great Circle of Foundation Establishment and made ample preparations, they might even attempt to charge toward a lower-grade Golden Core.

Even if they couldn't form a lower-grade Golden Core, at least their cultivation speed would accelerate significantly after forming a true core.

When Hua Yangyang received the jade bottle with both hands and swept his divine sense inside, confirming there were indeed three Golden Origin Pills, two of which were mid-grade, he was deeply shocked.

"It's actually true..."

Hua Yangyang muttered in disbelief, momentarily losing his composure.

"Or is it false?"

Cao Feng couldn't help laughing. "Your Hua family's current patriarch has good insight, knowing how to befriend the right person. When the Hua family grows stronger in the future, don't forget whose hands these three Golden Origin Pills came from."

"Naturally, naturally, naturally."

Hua Yangyang quickly said, "Daoist Li, both the patriarch and the grand elder agreed that producing one mid-grade Golden Origin Pill out of two sets of materials would already be exceptionally good. To think you produced two mid-grade ones from a single set...

I will report this back to the patriarch. Having you refine these pills is a massive bargain for our Hua family."

"Daoist Hua, you are being too polite."

Li Guanxuan said, "If I hadn't refined any mid-grade Golden Origin Pills, I suppose the Hua family wouldn't hold any preconceptions against me. Now, doing my utmost to maximize the material yield is also a form of frank and mutual trust between friends."

"Yes, yes, yes, mutual trust..."

Hua Yangyang sighed with emotion. "Daoist Li, an alchemist as honest as you is truly rare."

Li Guanxuan smiled and reminded him, "Having too many Golden Origin Pills will also attract quite a bit of trouble. I hope that after returning, Daoist Hua will conceal at least one mid-grade and one finished pill."

"Understood."

Hua Yangyang's expression turned solemn. "Holding three Golden Origin Pills makes me uneasy as well; I must have the patriarch come personally to take them away."

He was also worried about being ambushed and intercepted on the road, losing these crucial three Golden Origin Pills.