Han Li gently blew on a jade tube, revealing its lush green surface. Pressing it against his forehead, he delved into its contents with his mind. Before him appeared the method for refining a Foundation Establishment Pill, a technique Han Li had long sought after. It detailed everything from raw materials to condensing the pill, filling him with both surprise and joy.
But as he scanned the content, his excitement turned to bewilderment when he encountered the phrase "must be tempered with innate true fire to form the pill." Han Li froze, feeling utterly dumbfounded. Innate true fire was a Daoist Gang fire possessed only by cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage or higher. It was a fundamental technique innate to cultivators after Foundation Establishment, growing in power with cultivation. However, as a Qi Condensation stage cultivator, Han Li had no way of using it. He could only wield it after reaching Foundation Establishment.
If he needed to refine Foundation Establishment Pills to reach Foundation Establishment, but couldn't do so without innate true fire, he was trapped in a vicious cycle. Han Li felt a strong urge to bang his head against the wall in frustration.
Seeking help from other Foundation Establishment cultivators was out of the question. Revealing the secret of the jade tubes would likely endanger his life, turning any potential helper into a potential threat.
After standing in front of the table in turmoil for a while, Han Li finally removed the jade tube from his forehead and placed it back where it belonged. Then, absent-mindedly, he picked up another jade tube and wiped it clean, revealing a fiery red color.
"Forget about the Foundation Establishment Pill for now! Let's see what this one contains. Perhaps there are other marvelous pills inside!" Han Li, a decisive individual, set aside the issue of the Foundation Establishment Pill and began inspecting the contents of the red jade tube, hoping for a pleasant surprise.
Inside was described the "Complexion Stabilizing Pill." Just as Han Li's mind entered its contents, those three words appeared, sending a sense of unease through him. However, he tried to reassure himself. "Although the name suggests otherwise, the pill's effects may not be what I expect. There might be other miraculous effects!"
But the following sentences shattered Han Li's hopes. "Can maintain eternal youth and preserve one's appearance" – that was the description of the pill's effect, with no other benefits mentioned!
Han Li stood frozen, unable to move or speak. Yet inside, a raging fire of frustration burned, and he cursed inwardly.
"What kind of treasure trove is this? Why is there not a single essential formula, only a bunch of useless things cluttering it up? What use are these techniques like the Golden Needle Art or the Complexion Stabilizing Pill to us cultivators? They are boldly displayed here, but what for..."
Just as Han Li felt his trip was almost in vain, that annoying voice chimed in again.
"The time has come again. If..."
"Coming!" This time, Han Li didn't plan on giving the other party a free ride. He picked up the jade tube containing the method for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill and prepared to leave.
However, as he reached the staircase, he hesitated. The "Complexion Stabilizing Pill," although of no help in advancing his cultivation, seemed like something he could sell to other cultivators. And most importantly, this pill didn't require the so-called innate true fire, which he could prepare now.
With this in mind, Han Li turned back to the table, swiftly grabbed the red jade tube, and hurried back to the staircase, descending quickly.
"How did it go, young friend? Did you find anything?" As soon as the old man saw Han Li coming down, he immediately asked with a smile on his face, but Han Li couldn't help but feel the insincerity in his words.
"Senior Xu, is the upstairs really where our sect stores secret alchemy formulas? Why are there only these worthless things? Are there any other storage rooms?" Han Li didn't care about the old man's teasing and instead asked the question that had been bothering him, wearing a frustrated expression.
Seeing Han Li's expression, the old man couldn't help but smirk.
"Since I've been in charge here, young friend, you're not the first to have such doubts. Almost every newcomer to Yue Lu Hall, after visiting upstairs, asks me about it. But if you want to know the truth..." The old man deliberately dragged out his words, but his intention to extort something from Han Li was clear.
Han Li raised an eyebrow, realizing why the old man had stopped insisting on being called "senior brother" and instead preferred "Old Sun." It was clear he didn't want to appear too bold in asking for favors, hence this subtle ploy.
Without further ado, Han Li placed the two jade tubes in front of the old man with two crisp slaps.
"I initially wanted to copy both jade tubes, but it seems I'm short on spirit stones! In that case, I'll copy one now and return the other later." Han Li had been mingling in the mortal world for so long; he knew a thing or two about countering such tactics to prevent the other party from becoming too greedy.
"Young friend wants to copy both?" Old Xu was delighted, his eyes widening.
"Yes, originally. But now I want to know the answer to the question I just asked. Seems like it won't be enough with just spirit stones!"
"Hehe, since young friend is so generous, the answer to your question is free of charge. Let me copy it for you first!" The old man eagerly took the two jade tubes in hand and quickly brought out two white jade tubes from the shelf behind him, hastily copying them as if afraid Han Li would change his mind.
"Copy completed, here you go!" The old man's movements were swift, leaving Han Li stunned. He then silently took out twenty low-grade spirit stones from his storage pouch and handed them over to the old man.
The old man happily accepted the spirit stones, his face beaming with joy. He counted them several times before finally noticing Han Li still waiting for his answer.
At this point, Old Xu contentedly put away the spirit stones and looked at Han Li with the eyes of a rich man.
"Looks can be deceiving! Young friend is unexpectedly wealthy, much to my surprise. However, although I love money, I am a man of my word. If you have any questions today, feel free to ask. I guarantee you'll leave satisfied!" The old man withdrew his gaze, adopting a solemn demeanor.
Han Li was slightly surprised but didn't hesitate to demand an answer to his previous question.
"In fact, the answer is simple. Most of the alchemical formulas have long been lost. Not only in our Yellow Maple Valley but also in other sects, even in the entire cultivation world!" The old man slowly explained.
Han Li was puzzled and looked at the old man.
"If you calm down and think about it, you'll understand. What is the value of alchemical formulas? It's the ability to transform various heavenly treasures and earthly materials into pills for us cultivators to consume."
"But have you ever thought, the heavenly treasures and earthly materials in this world are very limited, and each type takes hundreds or even thousands of years to mature. However, the number of cultivators has never decreased and is even increasing year
by year. As a result, the recorded ingredients in these formulas gradually become scarce, and even eventually extinct. By the time cultivators realize the severity of this problem, the heavenly treasures and earthly materials in this world have already been depleted by people, leaving only a few remnants in certain special places. However, even these places are extremely dangerous, and few cultivators dare to risk it."
"As a result, alchemical formulas that are completely cut off from their ingredient sources become worthless. Who would pay attention to them? After a long period and several calamities in the cultivation world, these alchemical formulas gradually disappeared from history, leaving only a few rare ones behind. And the Foundation Establishment Pill is just one of the surviving ones."
