"When you have time, take her to see Yang Zhenshan more often. If Liu Yue reaches Foundation Establishment, she will need Yang Zhenshan to protect her!" Yue E said.
"Yes!" Yue Qing had no objection to this. Doing so was not only for Liu Yueâs safety during Foundation Establishment but also to foster more ties and affection between Yang Zhenshan and the Illusion Moon Sect.
The favor of protection might not compare to the bond between master and disciple, but itâs not far off. If someone needs to act as a guardian during the Foundation Establishment process, itâs akin to a lifesaving grace.
Having a favor creates feelings.
When favors accumulate, the bonds naturally deepen.
Both Yue E and Yue Qing wanted to deepen their ties with Yang Zhenshan and strengthen the cooperation between the Illusion Moon Sect and the Yang family.
Perhaps Yue Eâs previous statement that the Yang family was the most important ally of the Illusion Moon Sect seemed somewhat exaggerated, but in the future, the Yang family might really become the most important ally of the Illusion Moon Sect.
...
Yang Family Town.
Nowadays, Yang Family Town is bustling and vibrant, no less than the previous Lian Family Town, perhaps even surpassing it.
Back then, Lian Family Town was merely a residential area for the Lian family, whereas now, Yang Family Town is a Martial Cultivator workshop, hosting many people from affiliated families.
These affiliated families have a completely different attitude towards the Yang and Lian families; they prefer the Yang family more.
The reason is simple. The Yang family manages its affiliated families very loosely, leasing spirit fields to them and allowing them to open shops in Yang Family Town.
As long as they follow the Yang familyâs rules and pay tributes on time, the Yang family wonât interfere in their affairs.
Currently, Yang Family Town is lively, with countless people discussing Yang Zhenshanâs performance at the Xuanqing Sectâs gate.
Most of them are from the Yang familyâs affiliated families and feel a shared pride in the Yang familyâs strength.
Many look at the patrolling guards with reverence. Previously, although they didnât dare challenge the Yang family, there wasnât much respect or fearâafter all, the Yang family used to rank low among the twelve families, about the same level as the Lu family.
But now things are different. Yang Zhenshan dared to stand up to the Xuanqing Sect, proving that the Yang familyâs strength is not afraid of the Xuanqing Sect.
However, these changes havenât had much impact on the Yang family. They continue with their business as usual, and even Yang Xiangheng and others are only slightly surprised, without it affecting their work.
In the Yang familyâs main hall, Yang Xiangheng brought Yun Xiao and Yun Xi to the council hall.
Yang Zhenshan had been waiting at the council hallâs entrance for the two, greeting them warmly as they arrived, "Greetings, fellow cultivators!"
At the Xuanqing Sectâs gate, he could act coldlyâeven showing a frosty face to Yun Xiaoâbut here, he couldnât afford to neglect Yun Xiao and Yun Xi.
Because he stood against the Xuanqing Sect earlier, showing some anger was fine, but now he was welcoming guests and couldnât be too indifferent.
"Haha, Yang!" Yun Xiao didnât mind Yang Zhenshanâs change in attitude and greeted him with a smile.
After exchanging pleasantries, Yang Zhenshan led the two into the council hall.
Inside, refreshments and spirit fruits had been prepared. The three took their seats and exchanged more polite words, such as "Iâve long admired you" and the like.
The atmosphere was harmonious, without any signs of hostility.
As for Wang Qiutang and the Wang family, none of the three mentioned them.
Yun Xiao and Yun Xi had escorted Wang Qiutang here, and now that Wang Qiutang had been detained by the Yang family, the matter was considered settled.
After some casual conversation, Yun Xiao couldnât help but bring up the real reason for their visit.
"I heard that Yang is skilled in alchemy?"
Their visit wasnât just about escorting Wang Qiutang; their real goal was because Yang Zhenshan was an Alchemist.
In the realm of cultivation, pill and artifact crafting, talisman arrays, and alchemy are among the most prestigious skills.
Among them, the status of an Alchemist is considered the highest because every Immortal Cultivator relies on elixirs.
The prestige of a Second-rank Alchemist far surpasses that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Whether in the Sea of Spirit or the Qingli Dynasty, or in the White Cloud Immortal City, a Second-rank Alchemist is a highly sought-after figure.
Yang Zhenshan is a genuine Second-rank Alchemist, having proven his skills with the Illusion God Pill.
Therefore, Yun Xiao and Yun Xi treated Yang Zhenshan with particular respect.
"Haha, Iâm just somewhat knowledgeable in it, nothing worth mentioning!" Yang Zhenshan modestly replied.
"Haha, Yang, please donât be too modest; if you are, I may feel embarrassed to speak!" Yun Xiao laughed.
Yang Zhenshan chuckled silently, realizing that another business opportunity had arrived.
An Alchemistâs most common business is, of course, refining pills for others.
Over the years, he had refined elixirs for others, including Yue Ming, Jing Shui, Xuanzhen, the Illusion Moon Sect, and others.
However, his reputation wasnât widespread, and compared to well-known Alchemists, he didnât have many business commissions through alchemy techniques.
If it were a renowned Alchemist, their door would be bustling with people seeking help in refining elixirs.
Yang Zhenshanâs name hadnât spread in the Sea of Spirit, so naturally, there werenât many seeking him out.
"Yang, are you familiar with the Demon Essence Pill?" Yun Xiao asked in a low voice.
Yang Zhenshan squinted slightly, his expression becoming serious, "Of course, Iâm familiar!"
The so-called Demon Essence Pill is an elixir refined from a Demon Core. This type of elixir doesnât have a specific grade; its grade depends on the grade of the Demon Core used in refining.
The Demon Core is the core of a demon beast. A demon beast differs from a Mutant Beast, as Mutant Beasts donât practice cultivation methods, so they donât have cores.
Demon beasts have cultivation methods, allowing them to cultivate cores, similar to how Immortal Cultivators cultivate Golden Cores.
However, itâs difficult for Immortal Cultivators to condense a Golden Core, requiring them to reach the peak of Foundation Establishment before attempting it, whereas demon beasts need to condense a demon core once they can cultivate.
Thus, demon cores are at least Second-Order.
Why arenât there First-order demon cores?
Because a First-order demon beast is a Mutant Beast, and when a Mutant Beast refines a demon core through cultivation, it becomes a Second-Order demon beast, hence no First-order demon cores exist.
The Demon Essence Pill uses a demon core as the main ingredient, refining the essence within to create an elixir. Consuming it provides a substantial amount of pure spiritual power to enhance cultivation, and a Third-order Demon Essence Pill can even be used to condense a Golden Core, akin to how Foundation Establishment Pills are used.
However, the Demon Essence Pill doesnât have a fixed elixir recipe. An Alchemist needs to adjust the recipe based on the demon coreâs attributes and grade when refining.
Every demon core is different, so there isnât a fixed recipe for the Demon Essence Pill.
Therefore, refining a Demon Essence Pill tests an Alchemistâs understanding of pharmacology and greatly tests the Alchemistâs alchemy skills.
When refining other elixirs, you can make mistakes, study and summarize your experiences, and eventually craft a quality product through understanding the recipe.
But with the Demon Essence Pill, you donât have the luxury of trial and error. Once a batch is ruined, the demon core is wasted, and with a new core, you have to re-adjust the recipe and perhaps even change alchemy techniques.
Thus, refining a Demon Essence Pill is exceedingly difficult, and very few Second-rank Alchemists can do it.
Yang Zhenshan had studied the Demon Essence Pill, obtaining some ancient experience and texts on its refinement from an Ancient Relic Array, but he hadnât truly attempted it.
The main reason was he didnât possess any demon cores. The Sea of Spirit lacked demon cultivation methods, hence no demon beasts.
The Yunxiao Mountain Range had demon beasts, but they were under protection, not easily hunted.
In the Qingli Dynasty, demon cores occasionally appeared for sale, but they were scarce and quickly taken by the six Immortal Cultivation Families of the Qingli Dynasty.
Yang Zhenshan never had the chance to purchase a demon core.
"Do you have confidence in refining it?" Yun Xiao asked, hopeful.
Yang Zhenshan thought for a moment and shook his head, "I havenât refined a Demon Essence Pill before, only learned some refining techniques and methods about it."
"I see!" Yun Xiao and Yun Xi exchanged a glance, not overly disappointed.
It was understandable that Yang Zhenshan couldnât refine a Demon Essence Pill.
As mentioned earlier, Second-rank Alchemists skilled in refining Demon Essence Pills are extremely rare. They donât exist in the Sea of Spirit, the Qingli Dynasty, nor at Nether Prison Sect. In the Yunxiao Mountain Range area, only in White Cloud Immortal City would there be such an Alchemist, and even there, not many such skilled Second-rank Alchemists exist.