Chapter 82 - 74: Ten Years, Righteous and Demonic Decisive Battle, Essence Pill, Five Elements Unity Technique

"Huh? That’s Elder Ji’s direct disciple, Gao Ziyue! Is she here to buy elixirs?"

"No way. As Elder Ji, a Golden Core Elder’s direct disciple, would she need to buy elixirs? Looks like she’s waiting for someone."

"Makes sense. I wonder who she’s waiting for?"

"........"

Gao Ziyue stood outside the Pill Hall, surrounded by the murmurs of disciples.

"Excuse me, Senior Brother, did a fellow named Lin Chang’sheng just go in to do some alchemy?"

Gao Ziyue walked into the Spirit Medicine Room, looked at Li Yunyu, and asked politely.

"Oh, it’s Junior Sister Gao. There was a junior brother who went in just now, but I’m not sure if his name is Lin Chang’sheng."

Li Yunyu saw Gao Ziyue and nodded politely.

Gao Ziyue—he’d heard of her before. Water and Wood Dual Spirit Roots, Elder Ji Ruyan’s direct disciple.

"Oh? What pill is he refining?"

Gao Ziyue asked.

"He’s working on Spirit Storage Pills."

Seeing Gao Ziyue seemed anxious, Li Yunyu offered, "Junior Sister Gao, if you’re in a hurry, why not go find him? He might not have started yet! Go through the main hall, and it’s Alchemy Room number 88 at the back."

"Okay, sure!"

Gao Ziyue’s beautiful eyes brightened at his words, thanked Li Yunyu, and headed for the rear hall.

........

Liuyun Peak.

Sect Leader’s Hall.

Sect Leader Su Changkong sat at the main seat; to his left and right were Li Jiantang, Ji Ruyan, and various elders, peak masters, and other high-ups.

"Everyone, I called you here today because there’s a matter concerning the fate of our sect I must announce."

This time, Su Changkong swept his gaze across the assembled elders and began solemnly.

At the moment, Su Changkong’s face looked strained, heavy with worry.

"The fate of the sect? What...?"

"Sect Leader, what exactly happened?"

"......."

When Su Changkong finished, the elders murmured anxiously, especially Li Jiantang, whose fiery temper made him leap up.

"I believe you all know—the Celestial Demon Sect has an elder who’s advanced to the middle stage of Nascent Soul. This Demon Elder is extremely powerful—not an ordinary middle stage, but comparable to a late-stage Great Cultivator!"

"Over a year ago, the five great righteous sects assembled our strongest Nascent Soul cultivators, battling at Demon Evil Sea, on the border of the Southern Domain Cultivation Realm. Each side sent five Nascent Soul experts for a showdown. The first four rounds ended in two wins and two losses, but in the final round, we faced Demon Dao’s newly advanced middle-stage Nascent Soul, and we took a hidden loss."

"That’s why, for more than a year now, Demon Dao disciples have been rampaging far into the Southern Domain Cultivation Realm, and righteous Dao has been forced to tolerate it."

"Our top brass in the righteous Dao have agreed with the Demon Dao leaders—to battle the Demon Dao in ten years’ time!"

"If we win, Demon Dao is driven from the Southern Domain; if we lose, we must surrender nearly half of the Southern Domain’s territory for the Demon Dao to expand!"

Su Changkong spoke in a somber tone.

"A Righteous versus Demon showdown in ten years!?"

"Those Demon pups are infuriating! They’re constantly pushing—how can we possibly hand over the Southern Domain?"

"......."

The elders were shocked and furious at Sect Leader Su Changkong’s words.

"So, we’ve only got ten years left!"

"Everyone in the sect must double down on cultivation—race against the clock! If the righteous Dao loses, things will get much worse for us. This battle—we can only win! Defeat is not an option!"

Su Changkong’s voice rolled out, grave and resolute.

.......

Alchemy Room.

Number 88.

Lin Chang’sheng sat inside, laying out the materials for the Spirit Storage Pill.

Hundred-year-old Reishi, Jade Juice Fruit, Red Ling Leaf, Spirit Grass, and thirty-six other ingredients—all set aside.

A fire-red, three-legged, twin-handled pill furnace sat there, and under it lay a jade plate. Pull that away, and the scorching earth fire roared up, waves of heat stirring Lin Chang’sheng’s hair!

Lin Chang’sheng expertly tossed ingredients into the furnace, one by one.

Extracting the medicine liquid, purifying, setting aside on porcelain dishes—his technique was flawless. He looked like an old alchemist with decades of experience making Spirit Storage Pills!

After about half an hour.

Lin Chang’sheng focused on the pill furnace, sent out the Pill Formation Technique spells, and began condensing the pills.

As time passed—

A rich, drifting pill fragrance spread from the alchemy furnace, filling the whole room.

Ding ding ding!

Ding ding ding!

Lin Chang’sheng sent out a Pill Collection Technique, and the furnace lid floated up. Six pale white pills, radiating strong fragrance, hovered under his magical power and landed on the prepared porcelain plate.

"First try—six pills formed, a sixty percent success rate, not bad!"

Lin Chang’sheng picked one up, sniffed it by his nose, satisfaction showing in his eyes.

"One batch—forty-eight spirit stones. Alchemist really is a money-making career!"

Lin Chang’sheng sighed, took a quick break, then started his second batch.

Time passed.

Lin Chang’sheng refined the remaining four batches—second batch: seven pills, third: eight, fourth: nine, fifth: ten. Pretty much perfect!

"Nice, five batches, forty pills in total—should be plenty for me to use!"

Staring at the luminous white pills on the plate, Lin Chang’sheng’s eyes shone with satisfaction.

Forty Energy Storage Pills, market price: eight spirit stones apiece—that’s 320 spirit stones. Cost: sixty spirit stones. If sold, that’s a clean 260 spirit stone profit. Alchemists really make a killing!

With each Spirit Storage Pill worth 800 cultivation experience points, forty pills is exactly enough to push me to Qi Refining Sixth Layer, peak stage!

"I’ll head to the Cultivation Hall for a technique, then come back to take the pills. After that, I’ll refine a few more batches, then go hunt the Golden Line Python and finish the sect mission!"

Lin Chang’sheng grabbed a stack of prepared porcelain bottles and stashed away all the Spirit Storage Pills.

Opening the door to the alchemy room, just as he was about to leave—

Suddenly, he spotted a graceful young lady in purple robes, seated by the doorway, meditating. As Lin Chang’sheng walked out, she opened her beautiful eyes, looked at him closely, then, eyes sparkling with delight, walked right up, "Brother Lin, it’s really you! You’re okay! Thank goodness!"

"Miss Gao! What are you doing here?"

Lin Chang’sheng stared at the girl in purple, completely stunned.

He hadn’t expected Gao Ziyue to be waiting at the door of his alchemy room.

"Brother Lin, since we parted in Jinyong City, I thought... I was preparing to grow strong and take revenge on Demon Dao for you! But when I heard the sect had a new disciple with the same name as you, from that incident, I wondered if it might be you—and it actually is!"

"Now that I know you’re alright, I’m relieved!"

Gao Ziyue took a close look at Lin Chang’sheng, her bright eyes flickering.

"Thank you, Miss Gao, for thinking of me. I barely escaped back then, then made my way here to the sect."

Lin Chang’sheng smiled faintly.

"Brother Lin, come on, let’s go sit in your courtyard."

Gao Ziyue thought for a moment, then suggested.

"Alright."

Lin Chang’sheng nodded.

Fifteen minutes later.

In Lin Chang’sheng’s own courtyard, inside the living room, he poured Gao Ziyue a cup of tea. They chatted about everything that happened since that day they parted.

Gao Ziyue’s journey was simple—she was taken as a direct disciple by Golden Core Elder Ji Ruyan, so she never lacked resources or pills. Her cultivation was already at the peak of Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

By contrast, Lin Chang’sheng’s story was full of twists—he’d made it to Qi Refining Sixth Layer, which surprised Gao Ziyue again and again.

"Wait—Brother Lin, you know alchemy?"

Gao Ziyue suddenly remembered the scent of pills when Lin Chang’sheng opened his alchemy room and immediately asked.

"Yep, I learned alchemy. Helps with cultivation."

Lin Chang’sheng nodded.

"Alright then, Brother Lin, I won’t interrupt your cultivation. I’ll come visit when I have time!"

Gao Ziyue stood, smiled at Lin Chang’sheng.

"Okay! Sounds good!"

Lin Chang’sheng also stood up and nodded. As Gao Ziyue went out, she flicked her fingers, and a porcelain bottle appeared on his table.

"Huh? There’s an extra bottle of pills?"

"Miss Gao left it?"

After Gao Ziyue left, Lin Chang’sheng turned to head to the Cultivation Hall for a technique, then planned to come back to consume Spirit Storage Pills and level up—but realized there was suddenly a bottle on his table. He opened it, and his eyes went wide in surprise. "A bottle of Essence Pills!"

Here’s what Lin Chang’sheng knew—

Essence Pill—a strong medicine for cultivators at Qi Refining Ninth Layer and above. More potent than Spirit Storage Pills, on par with Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Just one pill costs twenty spirit stones—and Gao Ziyue just gave him five!

Lin Chang’sheng chased after her, but Gao Ziyue had already disappeared.

"Fine, I’ll just accept it. I really need these right now."

Lin Chang’sheng picked up the bottle, tucked it away, and headed for the Cultivation Hall. In Liuyun Immortal Sect, every new disciple could get their own cultivation technique there.

.......

The Cultivation Hall had five floors.

A sprawling hexagonal pavilion, stretching hundreds of feet—exuding ancient charm.

Disciples came and went in a steady stream.

The hall’s keeper was a plump old man (Lin Chang’sheng couldn’t gauge his cultivation). Zhu Zhishan had said his surname was Zhang. Lin Chang’sheng approached, bowed deeply, "Uncle Zhang, new disciple Lin Chang’sheng, here to claim his cultivation technique."

After speaking, Lin Chang’sheng handed over his disciple identity token.

"Lin Chang’sheng? Ah, you’re the one who survived a demon attack and journeyed for a year and a half to reach the sect?"

"Such determination for the Dao! Already at Qi Refining Sixth Layer—not bad!"

Uncle Zhang gave Lin Chang’sheng a once-over, chuckled and nodded. "You’ve broken through Qi Refining Fourth Layer, so you can claim a suitable cultivation technique and also pick two spells. Go ahead!"

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Lin Chang’sheng bowed respectfully and walked into the Cultivation Hall.

What shocked him was that inside, the hall was much bigger than it looked outside.

Rows of partitioned walls stood, each covered with grid shelves holding endless cultivation techniques, spells, and scriptures.

Sections: Cultivation Techniques, Spells, Arrays, Alchemy Scriptures, Artifact Refinement, Miscellaneous.

"No wonder it’s a major sect. The number of scriptures here is staggering!"

"If I could learn them all, then simplify and fuse them—how powerful would the result be?"

Lin Chang’sheng’s eyes glittered as he saw the dazzling collection.

He made a beeline for the Cultivation Technique section.

[Five Elements Energy Condensation Technique], [Fiery Fire Technique], [Profound Yang Force], [Sunflower Water Technique], [Golden Jade Technique]... It was overwhelming! In the end, Lin Chang’sheng picked [Five Elements Fire Element Technique].

Because—

His current cultivation technique was Five Elements True Flame Technique, and this Five Elements Fire Element Technique could be cultivated up to Qi Refining Ninth Layer. If he maxed it out, maybe he could merge it with the True Flame Technique and end up with a Foundation Establishment-level method?

"I still get to pick two spells!"

Reluctantly leaving the Cultivation section behind, Lin Chang’sheng headed for the Spells area.

Passing through the Array section, he spotted a ton of array scriptures—Basic Array Solutions, low-level arrays like [Illusionary Array], [Five Elements Array], [Cloud Mist Array]... The choices were endless.

"Hm?"

"I have a simplification panel—should I just linger here as long as possible? Anyway, they don’t specify how long you can stay. I could stay until nightfall, maybe?"

Gazing at the array scriptures, Lin Chang’sheng mused inwardly.

If I pick my cultivation technique and spells first, then spend the rest of the day reading these techniques, spells, scriptures—

The more entry-level ones I learn, the more I gain!