Half an hour later.
Several medicinal pills flew out from inside the alchemy furnace and landed in Zhou Chen’s palm.
"Eight medium grade Spirit Origin Pills and one low grade Spirit Origin Pill?"
The grade of the medicinal pills he refined was within his expectations.
After all, it was his first time refining a second rank pill.
Although he would not fail, he still had not perfectly controlled the quantity and quality of the finished pills.
By the second refinement, there were five high grade Spirit Origin Pills and five medium grade Spirit Origin Pills.
As the number of refinements increased, the quality and quantity of the Spirit Origin Pills also grew.
Zhou Chen pinched a high grade Spirit Origin Pill, hesitated for a moment, and then swallowed a medium grade Spirit Origin Pill instead.
The medicinal effect of the high grade Spirit Origin Pill was extremely strong, and he worried his physique would not be able to withstand it.
Once the pill entered his stomach, a scorching warm current frantically surged through his body.
His entire being felt like a fireball, with spiritual qi uncontrollably radiating from his body’s surface.
The barrier to the ninth layer of Qi Refining was naturally and forcefully broken through by the massive medicinal power.
Because the medicinal properties were so immense, even his physical body was tempered by the effects.
"The second rank Spirit Origin Pill is even a bit stronger than I expected."
It truly is a pill used by Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators to improve their cultivation.
Taking it with a cultivation at the peak of the eighth layer of Qi Refining was still a bit too risky.
It was mainly because he was too old, and his physical body was no longer in its prime.
"Just one more step. I am just one step away from breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage."
Once he reached the tenth layer of Qi Refining, he could start preparing to refine Foundation Establishment Pills.
Unfortunately, Wind Thunder Pavilion did not sell the pill formula for the Foundation Establishment Pill.
Moreover, the formula was not the key. The most critical part was the several main spirit herbs needed to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill.
In the blink of an eye, it was the evening of the next day.
The effect of the Five Elements Covering Heaven Formation was excellent under the cover of its illusions.
Even though Nan Qiao and Chen Tingwan lived in the courtyard, they could not see what he was doing.
For the entire day, Zhou Chen was tirelessly refining pills.
It was not until Nan Qiao finished making dinner that Zhou Chen slowly walked out of the main house.
After sitting down at the dining table, he set down a snow white medicine bottle.
"A Hundred Year Profound Ice Pill. This can suppress the fire poison in your body, so you do not have to live in such pain."
With his current alchemy skills, it was still impossible to completely eradicate the fire toad poison.
Unless he promoted to a third rank alchemist and relied on a Thousand Year Profound Ice Pill, it could not be cured.
But the efficacy of the Hundred Year Profound Ice Pill was significantly stronger than a regular Profound Ice Pill.
At least if taken regularly, she would not have to suffer the burning pain of the fire poison every day.
Chen Tingwan was shocked and stood up when she saw the medicine bottle, hurriedly declining.
"Senior Brother Zhou, this is too precious."
A second rank pill, a second rank Hundred Year Profound Ice Pill.
Each Profound Ice Pill is worth more than ten spirit stones.
How could she, a dying person, feel right about wasting Zhou Chen’s spirit stones?
Zhou Chen just waved his hand and said dismissively.
"It is fine. Junior Brother Li and I are old friends. Junior Sister Chen, you do not need to worry about it."
These were his honest thoughts. He wanted to build a good relationship with Li Yan.
Besides, the cost for him to refine medicinal pills was extremely low.
As for the spiritual power consumed during refinement, he could simply replenish it with low grade Spirit Origin Pills, which also allowed him to improve his cultivation in the process.
But Chen Tingwan did not know he was an alchemist.
In her eyes, the price of this bottle of Hundred Year Profound Ice Pill was enough to buy her life.
She did not doubt the authenticity of the pills. Just the extreme cold aura radiating through the bottle already caused the heat inside her body to be faintly suppressed.
Chen Tingwan wanted to refuse again, but Zhou Chen looked displeased and said sternly, "Enough. I said I am giving it to you, so I am giving it to you."
Seeing that he was unhappy, Chen Tingwan gritted her teeth and accepted the pills.
After finishing the meal and helping Nan Qiao tidy up the house, she walked back to her room with graceful, light steps.
Sitting on her bed and looking at the pill bottle in her palm, Chen Tingwan’s mind was filled with a thousand thoughts.
Her talent was decent, and many cultivators had pursued her in the past.
But once they learned she was afflicted with fire toad poison and was doomed to die soon, her former fellow disciples all avoided her like the plague, as if fearing she would try to borrow spirit stones from them.
Even when she was not injured, no one would have spent hundreds of spirit stones just to make her smile by gifting her Hundred Year Profound Ice Pills.
Not to mention now, with her death approaching and no value left to exploit, who would care whether she lived or died?
"Big Brother Zhou’s great kindness. I am afraid I will not be able to repay it in this lifetime."
If there is a next life, she would surely repay this kindness even if she had to work like a beast of burden.
If luck was on her side and Senior Brother Li could find the medicinal herbs and come out alive, then once her cultivation was successful in the future, she would certainly not forget Senior Brother Zhou’s kindness.
At the same time, system notification sounds kept ringing in Zhou Chen’s mind.
[Congratulations to the host. Chen Tingwan’s favorability +9. Current favorability is 55 points.]
[Congratulations to the host. Chen Tingwan’s favorability +2. Current favorability is 57 points.]
Half an hour later.
[Congratulations to the host. Chen Tingwan’s favorability +6. Current favorability is 65 points.]
After a continuous stream of favorability notifications, Chen Tingwan’s favorability surged to sixty five points before stopping.
Meanwhile, Nan Qiao was busy cultivating all day.
Zhou Chen had refined Body Tempering Pills, Meridian Opening Pills, and medicinal liquids to assist in cultivation in advance.
With all kinds of auxiliary medicinal pills prepared, it was only a matter of time before Nan Qiao stepped onto the path of cultivation.
Nan Qiao sat cross legged on the bed, forcing herself to keep sensing the spiritual qi.
She wanted to stay with Zhou Chen for a longer time, and besides, her daughter was still in the outside world, and she did not know how she was doing.
Therefore, she became even more diligent in her cultivation.
Zhou Chen had no intention of resting as he pondered his next steps.
"Unfortunately, eighty seven favorability points are still a bit lacking."
If he could gather a hundred favorability points, he could upgrade his first rank talisman master level to second rank perfection.
With the enhancement of second rank talisman formations, he would not need to fear even when facing several Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Of course, it would not be enough against the Golden Core Stage.
Facing such a being, once their dharma treasure was unleashed, Zhou Chen’s head would roll.
No matter how many trump cards he had or how complex his moves were, if you do not even have the chance to make a move, it is all meaningless.
"I wonder what side profession will awaken for me once Nan Qiao’s favorability reaches ninety points. Artifact refining? Or formations?"
Regardless of which profession it is, it will be of great benefit to him.
Zhou Chen cast aside his cluttered thoughts and prepared to refine pills as usual.
But before he could even start refining, he sensed that new guests had arrived.
Zhou Chen sighed.
"Sigh. Trouble has come knocking."