After this small gathering, Li Yuanbaâs alchemy skills were first reported by Yun Xiao to the senior members of the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion.
In the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, information not required to remain confidential, once heard by multiple Sword Cultivators, could not truly be restricted in its spread.
Within a few days, Li Yuanbaâs alchemy skills were widely known throughout the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion.
The Sword Cultivators all knew that if they sought alchemy from Li Yuanba, they had to pay according to the quality of high-level Spirit Pills.
While the news was still circulating and as Li Yuanba was refining Spirit Pills for the team members, he received a message from Sword Elder.
During a break in his alchemy, he replied to Sword Elderâs message, and Sword Elder came to his cave dwelling on Sword Peak.
"Greetings, Sword Elder!" Li Yuanba bowed in respect.
"No need for that!" Sword Elder waved his hand, sending out an energy that lifted him up.
Sword Elder looked Li Yuanba up and down as if needing to reassess him.
"Itâs really surprising to see your alchemy skills are so advanced!" Sword Elder said with a smile.
He had a high regard for Li Yuanba, but never expected his alchemy skills to reach such a level.
The Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion didnât refrain from wanting their own Alchemy Master; the entire Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion was comprised of gold element cultivators.
Though having Spiritual Fire can make one an Alchemist, without fire element talent, itâs hard for the Spiritual Fire to grow to the level necessary for refining Fourth-grade Spirit Pills even if one possesses it.
Take Li Yuanba for example; his âSix Yang Spirit Fire,â if not for his Taiji Dao Body that allows him to transform into a Corpse Refining state and own âXuanyin Ghost Fire.â
âXuanyin Ghost Fireâ can be energized in the Corpse Refining state, with the Taiji Dao Bodyâs special balancing ability, allowing the energy of âXuanyin Ghost Fireâ to balance into the energy of âSix Yang Spirit Fire.â
Otherwise, without fire element talent, it would be hard for âSix Yang Spirit Fireâ to replenish once consumed.
With the rate of self-recovery of âSix Yang Spirit Fire,â there would not be enough time in between for alchemy learning.
Previously, Sword Elder knew Li Yuanba had alchemy skills, but his previous display did not reach a surprising level.
However, this time was different. Li Yuanba could consistently maintain high quality of Nascent Soul Middle Stage Fourth-grade Spirit Pills, a level of alchemy skill that would be a treasure in any major power.
"Itâs mainly because my Spiritual Fire devoured âPurple Flame Earth Fire,â greatly enhancing its capabilities, making my alchemy more adept!" Li Yuanba casually mentioned an excuse.
He knew that this excuse didnât really hold up, as while Spiritual Fire is important, alchemy doesnât rely solely on it, and the Alchemy Masterâs own capacity is crucial.
"I didnât ask you anything, every cultivator has their secrets!" Sword Elder amusingly remarked to Li Yuanba.
Li Yuanba sheepishly scratched his head, understanding that no explanation could suffice; Sword Elderâs insight was not something he could match.
"Alchemy can bring you enough cultivation resources, but donât let alchemy delay your cultivation. As a Sword Cultivator, combat is also necessary. Without sufficient combat, even with cultivation advancement, it would be but a wasted sword!" Sword Elder continued.
"Sword Elder, I understand, I will manage my time accordingly!" Li Yuanba responded respectfully.
"By the way, Iâve issued some alchemy tasks, you should pay attention to them, prioritize the alchemy tasks from the pavilion!" Sword Elder seemed to recall something.
After these words, Sword Elderâs figure disappeared.
Li Yuanba helplessly shook his head; it seemed this last statement was the most significant.
He checked the tasks and indeed found a series of alchemy tasks posted.
The Nascent Soul Middle Late Stage alchemy tasks, if he were to take them all, he wouldnât need to go out for a decade.
Looking at this, he made a decision. Considering so many alchemy tasks, it would be better to accept some, then go out and find his main body, Li Shiming, for refining, and hand in the tasks after completion.
The Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion is immensely wealthy; they have sixty sets of Great Cultivator Four-grade elixirsâ Spiritual Medicine.
Honestly, when he saw the sixty sets of Great Cultivator alchemy tasks, he was tempted.
To personally refine those sixty sets of Great Cultivator Fourth-grade Spirit Pills would be too wasteful; if Li Shiming were to refine them, he could use the âHundred One-point Pill Techniqueâ to gain double the amount of Great Cultivator Spirit Pills.
Moreover, Li Shiming could refine multiple furnaces of Great Cultivator Spirit Pills simultaneously, saving much alchemy time.
But he feared he couldnât take on too many Great Cultivator alchemy tasks at once, as with his core cultivator status, he could take a maximum of five Great Cultivator alchemy tasks at a time.
He didnât take on the Great Cultivator alchemy tasks right away, mainly because his main body, Li Shiming, was currently in seclusion; he started with Nascent Soul Middle Stage Fourth-grade Spirit Pills.
He had already devised his plan: one month for alchemy, one month for executing tasks outside.
Once he completed alchemy for the team members, something strange occurred; none of the Sword Cultivators sought him for alchemy.
He learned the reason from the team members; it turns out the alchemy payment was the issue, his alchemy remuneration was Fourth-grade Sword Intent Flying Swords, which required time to prepare.
Upon realizing he had a ninety percent success rate in refining Nascent Soul Middle Stage High-level Spirit Pills, his alchemy payment had multiplied several times, increasing the number of required Fourth-grade Sword Intent Flying Swords several times over.
The Sword Cultivators couldnât immediately produce such substantial alchemy payments, thus were in the process of re-preparing.
They did not have the favor of the Yun Xiao Team to defer alchemy payments.
Thus, he took this opportunity to accept multiple Nascent Soul Middle Stage alchemy tasks from the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion.
A month passed swiftly, and he completed the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilionâs alchemy tasks, gaining substantial contribution points.
The contribution points of the Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion were extremely valuable, as there were many treasures in the Treasure Pavilion, collectible through sufficient contribution points.
The valuables deemed worthy by Li Yuanba were all exorbitantly priced; he needed to accumulate more contribution points.
"Yuanba, hurry, save me!" Tang Xue Ning sent a Sound Transmission Technique from outside the cave.
Li Yuanba was startled and quickly opened the caveâs Formation, allowing Tang Xue Ning to enter.
Upon seeing Tang Xue Ning, he perceived she was wounded yet again, and this time, the injuries were severe.
Without hesitation, he employed a series of âInnate Woodâ Divine Skills, and green light flickered incessantly on Tang Xue Ningâs body.
After implementing ten consecutive âInnate Woodâ Divine Skills, depleting the energy within the âInnate Woodâ Divine Power Rune, he ceased.
Tang Xue Ningâs injuries progressed from severe to mild, and with a few days of recovery, she would heal naturally.
"What happened?" Li Yuanba finally voiced his inquiry.
Tang Xue Ning was no weakling; among the Nascent Soul Middle Stage Sword Cultivators in Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, she was only beneath the core Sword Cultivators, and wouldnât be much lesser than core cultivators of major powers.
Moreover, having been severely injured by the half-step Great Cultivator Xue Huan once before, she should have been more cautious; how could she be severely injured again in such a short period?
"I was ambushed by White Emperor Sect cultivators, almost couldnât return. Be cautious; according to them, it was linked to our task concerning the Purple Flame Sect!" Tang Xue Ning responded with a solemn demeanor.
Ordinary combat didnât intimidate her, but being targeted and pursued by a major power like the White Emperor Sect was troublesome.
In clashes with Sword Intent Chongxiao Pavilion, Tang Xue Ning wouldnât face insurmountable odds even if she encountered foes.
But being targeted was different, as in this instance, she was lured into a trap and wouldnât have survived without life-saving artifacts.
She hastened back, first to find Li Yuanba for healing, and second to quickly warn him.