Mortal Alchemy

On the boundless sea.

A white jade flying boat was speeding along.

A handsome young man dressed in a black robe with dragon纹 patterns sat on the deck.

Across from him, on a tea table, was a silver-white sable. It sat on a futon like a human, holding a cup of spiritual tea with its small paws, occasionally controlling the flying boat and adjusting its direction.

"…This ‘Netherworld God Art’ is truly powerful, worthy of being a rare soul cultivation technique."

"It only has three moves. The first move allows one's soul to surge, breaking through boundaries, and then one can cut off a portion of the soul to temporarily possess another person."

"The second move, Netherworld Kowtow, burns lifespan to unleash a soul attack far surpassing ordinary spiritual consciousness."

"The third move, Netherworld Seize, when used, can keep the body and soul intact within the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. No matter how severe the injuries, it can preserve the soul for seizing another body, but the cost is burning away half of one's lifespan."

But as a trump card, these three moves are extremely useful.

Chen Ping keenly sensed that this was not an ordinary immortal cultivation technique. It was likely related to the legendary evil gods in the dark.

This five-year trip away from Floating Light Square City had been very fruitful for Chen Ping.

First, he refined a furnace of Enlightenment Pills, which could put people into a state of epiphany, allowing them to comprehend techniques, moves, and break through bottlenecks.

Second, he obtained Scholar Dingfeng's secret: a pill that could increase one's cultivation by one year, making his immortal path smooth from then on!

Third, he had taken Nan Yun as his subordinate.

Fourth, he had also obtained some Rank 2 spiritual herbs, including the main ingredients for Rank 2 Longevity Pills, which he could refine a furnace of when he returned to Floating Light Square City.

Fifth, he had also gained a Rank 2 demon beast as a spiritual pet.

Could Chen Ping have achieved so much if he had honestly stayed in Floating Light Square City?

After entering the Foundation Establishment stage, Chen Ping was initially confused, especially after being treated that way by the Eastern Xuan Sect.

His master had not given Chen Ping any special treatment either, saying he was letting him go out to hone his swordplay.

After staying in Floating Light Square City for a while, Chen Ping understood that the immortal path after entering the Foundation Establishment stage was all about ‘competition’!

Compete for opportunities, compete for resources. One step behind, and you'll be behind every step!

Before leaving Vast Jade Sea, he instructed Nan Yun to collect two kinds of materials: the main ingredients for three-hundred-year-old Qi Cultivation Pills, Rank 2 spiritual plants, and Purple Qi Essence.

If Chen Ping wanted to obtain Upper Lord Gong Yue's swordplay inheritance, he had to advance his Sword Intent to the second stage.

Over the past half month, he had taken five Enlightenment Pills and barely gained some understanding of Sword Qi Forging Steel.

He had to first condense a Sword Crystal to forcibly strengthen his Sword Qi power, and then wait until the Sword Qi Coagulating Silk reached its limit.

He realized that Sword Qi Forging Steel was about merging thirty-six strands of Coagulating Silk Sword Qi into one finger-width Sword Qi!

This was very difficult. He had taken five Enlightenment Pills and still didn't know how to merge the Coagulating Silk Sword Qi into one Sword Qi.

Chen Ping was currently sitting on the futon, condensing a Sword Crystal!

"One Sword Crystal, without using sword moves, can unleash one hundred and eight strands of Coagulating Silk Sword Qi…"

"And if I enter the second stage of Sword Dao, it will be three swords…"

"Ying ying ying." The Treasure Seeking Sable's cry rang in his ears.

Chen Ping opened his eyes. At the end of his line of sight, he could already see the vast Eastern Wilderness and the small Eastern Moon Mountain.

After traveling twenty-eight thousand miles, he had finally returned to Floating Light Square City.

Chen Ping:

"Five years have passed, Junior Brother Fang and the others should have settled down in Floating Light Square City."

"I wonder how many portions of three-hundred-year-old medicinal herbs Senior Sister Luo Fei and Madam Guo have prepared for me."

"I can tell them not to collect them in the future."

Half an hour later, he arrived at Floating Light Square City.

Five years had passed, and Floating Light Square City had developed extremely well, with many cultivators constantly entering and leaving.

Not only were the shops fully occupied, but people had also started setting up stalls on the streets to sell goods.

Chen Ping nodded in satisfaction:

"It seems Senior Sister Meng and Fellow Daoist Zuo have managed the square city well."

Chen Ping first returned to his dojo at the foot of Eastern Moon Mountain and counted the eighteen Rank 2 spiritual plants, which were growing vigorously.

"I still need to buy some Rank 2 Teleportation Talismans to take these spiritual plants away."

"Ying ying ying!" The Treasure Seeking Sable cried excitedly, seemingly wanting to eat some Rank 2 spiritual herbs.

Chen Ping did not refuse: "Brother Sable, you can eat some of each spiritual herb, but you can't eat too much, understand?"

The Treasure Seeking Sable responded, picked a spiritual fruit, and began to nibble on it happily.

Chen Ping inspected each spiritual plant before leaving the dojo.

He went to the dojo in the square city to find Zuo Yinghong first.

This woman's aura was deep, and she had obviously broken through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

Sensing Chen Ping's aura, she immediately stood up:

"City Lord!"

Five years had passed, but Zuo Yinghong's appearance had not changed.

Chen Ping went straight to the point:

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Zuo, on breaking through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment!"

Zuo Yinghong's expression softened: "Thank you, City Lord."

"How has the square city been during my seclusion?" Chen Ping asked.

Zuo Yinghong said: "Very good. The square city has paid taxes for five consecutive years, and your Eastern Xuan Sect contribution points have reached six."

"No one has come to cause trouble in the meantime, except that the relationship with Haiya Square City, which is thousands of miles away, is not very good."

Chen Ping nodded: "I remember Huang Xun Kang's matter."

When he broke through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment and his Sword Dao entered the second stage, he would no longer be afraid of this person. At that time, he would definitely take action and teach him a lesson!

Zuo Yinghong said: "City Lord, after this concubine breaks through to the peak of Foundation Establishment, can you allow this concubine to go out and seek opportunities to form a Core?"

Chen Ping said: "No problem. Heaven and earth are vast, but forming a Core is the most important thing!"

"Once Fellow Daoist Zuo forms a Core, you can be considered a hegemon in one area."

Zuo Yinghong's expression was somewhat worried: "Opportunities to form a Core are hard to find."

Chen Ping did not promise her any opportunities to form a Core. This woman's opportunities were not small, and she didn't need his help.

Moreover, it would take at least decades for her to reach the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Chen Ping took out ten bottles of two-hundred-year-old Qi Cultivation Pills: "This is Fellow Daoist Zuo's reward."

Zuo Yinghong's face flushed: "Thank you, City Lord!"

After chatting with Zuo Yinghong, Chen Ping went to the pill shop to find Meng Huang'er.

This woman had entered the Rank 2 Body Refinement stage. After activating her spiritual body, her figure and appearance became more and more tender, full of charm and allure.

"Ah! Junior Brother, you're finally out of seclusion!" Meng Huang'er was especially happy to see Chen Ping.

Chen Ping nodded: "Senior Sister Meng, how has your pill refinement and body refinement been during my seclusion?"

Meng Huang'er said: "I have mastered Rank 1 Complexion Pills and Rank 2 Body Tempering Pills, but the output is not high."

Without enough spiritual consciousness, there would be limitations to pill refinement after all.

As she spoke, Meng Huang'er took out 60,000 spirit stones and gave them to Chen Ping: "Junior Brother, this is your share of the profits from selling Complexion Pills."

When Chen Ping went out to sea five years ago, he had 110,000 spirit stones. In the past five years, he had spent 50,000 spirit stones.

Chen Ping did not refuse and accepted the 60,000 spirit stones, and his wallet's spirit stones soared!

Calculated, Meng Huang'er had also earned 60,000 spirit stones in the past five years, but her body refinement had not broken through to the middle stage of Rank 2.

Taking a look at her clothes, they were expensive. A Rank 2 magic dress alone would cost thousands of spirit stones. She also had her own Rank 2 magic weapon and had probably taken Rank 2 Beauty Pills, etc.

For female cultivators, these were all necessary.