***
"Take it! This is my Nascent Soul! I will make my Nascent Soul dwell within your body."
"Then you will be able to escape with me."
"You only need to ask me questions or receive help through the Nascent Soul."
"Since the strength of the Nascent Soul itself reaches the mid-Nascent Soul stage, if someone appears who tries to harm you, the Nascent Soul will even protect you!"
"How about it? Are you satisfied now?"
That ghost-like Nascent Soul flew toward the sky in an instant and permeated into Lee An-jeong’s large face.
The moment Lee An-jeong felt it, Jin Wi-dong’s voice echoed within his head.
- Can you hear me?
Lee An-jeong was startled by this and nodded his head.
"Oh! Old man, I can hear you!"
Then, Jin Wi-dong spoke in a slightly exhausted voice.
- I consumed too much spiritual qi while extracting the Nascent Soul, so the rate at which the injury is worsening has become even faster.
- At this rate, it seems I might not be able to hold out for even five years.
"Huh? Then that means I have to rise to the Foundation Establishment stage within that time? Is that even possible?"
- Normally, it is impossible.
- Even for the most excellent Heavenly Spirit Root, it takes at least 20 years to go from entering the Qi Condensation stage to rising to the Foundation Establishment stage.
- However, you have those special spiritual pills, and you can also absorb a vast amount of spiritual qi from that large spirit vein.
- Furthermore, since I am with you as a Nascent Soul, it will be fully possible even within five years.
- Therefore, you must cultivate with all your heart for five years.
- Now, let’s get out of here!
"Oh! Good! Deal!"
Lee An-jeong pulled his face out of the world within the pattern with a look of great excitement.
The last glimpse he had of Jin Wi-dong’s main body as he left that world appeared even older and more haggard.
Outside, the thick, torrential rain was still pouring down.
Just then, a startled voice echoed within his head.
- No? Is that not a Yellow Dragon Herb?
It was the voice heard from Jin Wi-dong’s Nascent Soul, which had permeated his body.
"Huh? Yellow Dragon Herb? Which one?"
Even as he spoke like that, Lee An-jeong’s gaze naturally turned toward that yellow-colored spirit herb.
- I mean that yellow flower.
- How can this be! To think there is a Yellow Dragon Herb!
- A Yellow Dragon Herb is the most important ingredient for making a Nascent Soul Elixir!
- Just how on earth did you obtain this?
"Heh? Nascent Soul Elixir? That’s the spiritual elixir one takes when rising from the Golden Core stage to the Nascent Soul stage, right?"
While being surprised, Lee An-jeong told Jin Wi-dong the story of how he had gathered the Yellow Dragon Herb.
Then, Jin Wi-dong, who was listening quietly, burst into a loud laugh.
- Uhahaha! It seems to be a Yellow Dragon Herb that some fellow was growing!
- It must be some Golden Core stage fellow of the Bu-yeon Sect who is trying to rise to the Nascent Soul stage!
- They must be searching for it with fire in their eyes right now!
Jin Wi-dong laughed very heartily, as if something were incredibly satisfying.
Lee An-jeong, who was inwardly cursing him for being a psycho-like old man who rejoiced so much at another’s misfortune, suddenly recalled the words Jin Wi-dong had spoken just a moment ago.
If that were the case, did it not mean he had unknowingly dug up a Yellow Dragon Herb that a Golden Core stage cultivator was growing?
At that moment, the shout of someone he had heard earlier amidst the thunder and lightning came to mind.
He had thought he misheard it, but looking at it now, it seemed the owner of that voice was indeed that Golden Core stage cultivator of the Bu-yeon Sect.
"Damn it! Then that means that person could even come barging in here?"
When Lee An-jeong swore in spite of himself out of anxiety, Jin Wi-dong burst into an even more hearty laugh.
- Uhahaha! That brat’s cursing is quite savory!
- As expected, you are a fellow who belongs in a demonic sect rather than the Bu-yeon Sect!
- That might be the case! However, even if it is so, do you not have me?
- A mere Golden Core stage fellow is nothing more than a handful to me!
Hearing those words made Lee An-jeong feel inwardly relieved.
Then, his gaze turned toward the medicinal herbs before his eyes.
Originally, the reason he had entered the Food World to find Jin Wi-dong was to ask what to do with these medicinal herbs.
"Then do you also know how to turn this Yellow Dragon Herb or whatever and these Spirit-Gathering Herbs into elixirs?"
- Of course! What do you take this Jin Wi-dong for?
- I am none other than an Earth-grade alchemist, of which there are few on this Dong-cheon Continent.
- I can certainly make the Spirit Qi Elixir, which is the only thing that can be made with Spirit-Gathering Herbs, as well as one of the three types of elixirs that can be made with a Yellow Dragon Herb!
"What? You're saying there are as many as three types that can be made with a Yellow Dragon Herb?"
- Yes! Although other precious medicinal herbs must be added to the Yellow Dragon Herb, with one Yellow Dragon Herb, one can make the 1 Nascent Soul Elixir I mentioned earlier, or 5 Golden Core Elixirs, or if not that, one can even make 50 Foundation Establishment Elixirs!
"You can make even those things with a Yellow Dragon Herb? and that many?"
- Hehe. Yes! Of course, it is only possible if one has the elixir recipe, but even if I do not know the elixir recipes for the Golden Core Elixir or the Nascent Soul Elixir, I do know the elixir recipe for making the Foundation Establishment Elixir.
- Therefore, I can make the Foundation Establishment Elixir for you.
- Well, if that fellow who lost this finds out, he will certainly lose his mind.
- He will be driven absolutely mad and will be jumping all over the place! Uhahaha—
Even though it was a voice heard inside his head, Jin Wi-dong was so delighted that he seemed to be rolling around while holding his stomach.
"Oho! That’s awesome? Then quickly turn that into Foundation Establishment Elixirs for me!"
- Hehe. Yes. Making them is not a difficult task.
- However, there are only exactly three times that I can directly help you as a Nascent Soul.
- After that, I will have to return to the main body and will end up falling almost completely asleep.
- Do you wish to use one of those times like this?
"Heh? Only three times? Aish... why are you telling me that now?"
Lee An-jeong felt fury welling up at the words that he could only use the help of the Nascent Soul, which he thought he could use indefinitely, only three times.
- Hehe. How about it? Will you use it anyway?
When Jin Wi-dong urged with a sinister voice, Lee An-jeong felt a conflict within.
'What should I do? Because of the Yellow Dragon Herb, that Golden Core stage cultivator might chase after me, and there won't be a few crises while rising to the Foundation Establishment stage, so it's a waste to use one of those three opportunities on something like this!'
With that thought, he quickly asked.
"Then is there no other way? A way you can help me indirectly instead of directly?"
- There is. Wouldn't it be fine if you learned alchemy from me and refined the elixirs yourself?
"Huh? I should learn alchemy?"
At Jin Wi-dong’s unexpected words, Lee An-jeong’s mind became dazed for a moment.
However, before long, he thought this was a golden opportunity.
He wondered when else he would have the chance to learn alchemy from an Earth-grade alchemist with great skill, of which there were few on the Dong-cheon Continent.
"Oh! Good. I'll do that!"
- Hehe. Yes! You brat are very lucky!
- Earth-grade alchemists like me are sought after everywhere by people willing to pay billions in gold to take them.
- If I hadn't been in a position where I was being chased by that old monster, I wouldn't have been hiding like this either!
Lee An-jeong became quite curious about the identity of the enemy who made a grand cultivator like Jin Wi-dong live in hiding.
However, since the important thing right now was learning alchemy, he quickly asked.
"Then quickly teach me alchemy!"
- Good! Three things are necessary for alchemy.
- The first is the medicinal ingredients, the second is the alchemist, and finally, the third is the fire.
- Alchemy refers precisely to the method by which an alchemist puts medicinal ingredients and fire into a furnace and creates elixirs.
- The alchemy that this Jin Wi-dong has mastered is called the Wuji Alchemy Method.
"Wuji Alchemy Method?"
- Yes. It is a supreme alchemy method that allowed me, who was a mere Yellow-grade alchemist at the time, to leap over two levels and be reborn as an Earth-grade alchemist.
Jin Wi-dong continued to speak.
- Originally, to enter the Wuji Alchemy Method, one must at least rise to the Foundation Establishment stage.
- However, if the last remaining requirement for alchemy—namely, the fire—is special, one can enter even at the Qi Condensation stage.
- I am talking about a fire that is at the level of a Spiritual Fire, such as this Blue Flame True Fire!
Suddenly, a blue fire appeared above Lee An-jeong’s head.
"The Blue Flame True Fire is a Spiritual Fire? What is that?"
- There are a total of six stages of fire.
- From Ordinary Fire, which is common fire, to Essence Fire, which is blossomed from the essence of an alchemist, and then there is Spiritual Fire, which comes from spiritual creatures or spirit veins.
- Above those, there are I-fire, Heaven Fire, and Dao Fire, but such things have not yet been discovered on this Dong-cheon Continent, nor even in the Mortal Realm.
- According to legends, they exist in the Spirit Realm or the Immortal Realm.
- In short, this Blue Flame True Fire is one of the most excellent Spiritual Fires on this Dong-cheon Continent.
"The Blue Flame True Fire was such a precious fire?"
Lee An-jeong was startled by Jin Wi-dong’s words.
He knew it looked extraordinary, but he hadn't imagined it would be such a precious fire.
- Yes. Now, I will teach you how to perform alchemy using this Blue Flame True Fire.
- Take the furnace out of your storage pouch!
"Yes!"
Lee An-jeong immediately pulled out Jin Wi-dong’s large green furnace from his storage pouch.
Then, Jin Wi-dong’s voice continued in his head.
- The name of this furnace is the Hundred-Lotus Green Furnace.
- It is one of the few Earth-grade treasures I possess.
- Now, put one Spirit-Gathering Herb inside it!
Following Jin Wi-dong’s words, Lee An-jeong put one Spirit-Gathering Herb inside the furnace.
- Next, I will teach you the 1st stage incantation of the five stages of the Wuji Alchemy Method.
- Now, follow along exactly.
Jin Wi-dong slowly recited the 1st stage incantation of the Wuji Alchemy Method.
Lee An-jeong quickly closed his eyes and focused on that incantation.
Then, the incantation of the Wuji Alchemy Method began to float around in the dark space.
Since the medicinal effects of ConXX and InXX were still sufficiently remaining, Lee An-jeong was able to exert extreme concentration.
- Now! Have you memorized all the incantations?
As soon as Jin Wi-dong finished reciting the incantations once, Lee An-jeong opened his eyes and spoke.
"Yes, of course! Naturally, I've memorized them all!"
Knowing it was the effect of those two medicines, Jin Wi-dong tilted his head.
- That really is strange, isn't it?
- When I took them, the concentration only increased a little bit.
- Why is the effect so great on your body...
- Regardless of that, now! Inject spiritual qi into the furnace according to the incantation!
In accordance with Jin Wi-dong’s instructions, Lee An-jeong grasped the furnace with both hands and guided his spiritual qi according to the incantation of the Wuji Alchemy Method.
Alchemy and spiritual techniques were not much different.
He utilized the spiritual qi inside his body, but the target to be manifested had simply changed to the furnace.
Vrrr—
The furnace, having accepted Lee An-jeong’s spiritual qi, vibrated minutely.
Then, the geometric patterns engraved on the surface of the furnace slowly emitted light.
At that moment, Jin Wi-dong threw the Blue Flame True Fire into the furnace and shouted.
- Now, it’s time!
Whoosh—
As the Blue Flame True Fire entered the furnace, a fierce flame rose inside, and the vibration of the furnace also became intense.
Vrrr—
Lee An-jeong felt a searing heat from the palms touching the furnace as if they were burning.
However, he endured it and carried out the alchemy according to the incantation of the Wuji Alchemy Method.
Then, the heat in his palms gradually faded away until it became nothing at all.
It was at that moment.
Pop!
Something soared upward from inside the furnace.
It was none other than an elixir.
The elixir dropped right onto the floor.
At that time, Jin Wi-dong’s Nascent Soul looked on with a momentarily dazed expression, then soon regained his senses and shouted.
- ...I-it’s done! Take your hands off!
After taking his hands off, Lee An-jeong set the furnace down on the floor.
Inside the furnace, all traces of the Spirit-Gathering Herb had vanished without a trace.
- Ahem. This is a Spirit Qi Elixir.
- It is an elixir that helps in absorbing spiritual qi during the Qi Condensation stage.
- However, for you to refine this in one go...
- You, brat are truly lucky.
- Originally, the success rate of a Spirit Qi Elixir for a typical Yellow-grade alchemist usually isn't even 10%...
While saying that, Jin Wi-dong, in his Nascent Soul state, stared at Lee An-jeong with an expression of disbelief.
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