Now, as the spiritual pill was about to be produced, Wu Tao not only had to ensure its smooth emergence...
but also to guard against outsiders who might seize the opportunity to disrupt the formation, disturb the surrounding spiritual energy, and lead to a complete failure in the end!
It was only because Wu Tao possessed exceptional skill and courage that he dared to continue refining pills under such circumstances.
An ordinary "pill refining master" would not even dare to conceive of it, let alone attempt it.
...
It was precisely because Wu Tao had the assistance of the Source of Time and the confidence to stop the furnace at any moment that he dared to play this game.
Zhang Heng, accompanied by Steward Huang, waited outside the formation for half a moment. Meanwhile, the Heavenly Origin Pill that Wu Tao was nurturing in the pill furnace was also approaching its extraction time.
Although this was the first time refining this Heavenly Origin Pill, with the help of the external cheat known as the Source of Time...
Wu Tao truly didn't find the Heavenly Origin Pill difficult to refine.
The Heavenly Origin Pill, unlike other pills, was a gentle healing elixir. It could not only nourish damaged meridians but also had a certain effect in improving cultivation!
Wu Tao added numerous spiritual herbs according to the pill formula, spending a day and a night before it was nearly completed.
One Heavenly Origin Pill was worth approximately several hundred spirit stones.
A furnace of fifteen pills would yield seven to eight thousand spirit stones.
After deducting the cost of one to two thousand spirit stones, the net profit was five to six thousand spirit stones.
The profit margin for pill refiners, with a return of several times, was evident.
...
Of course, such astonishing gains were only possible for those with superb pill refining skills, or for cultivators like Wu Tao with external advantages.
Suddenly, a crackling sound emanated from beneath the Frostwind Pill Furnace. Wu Tao waved his hand and shouted, "Collect!"
Fifteen Heavenly Origin Pills, exuding a captivating medicinal fragrance, scattered in mid-air before Wu Tao collected fourteen of them.
As for the remaining pill, Wu Tao swallowed it directly.
With the assistance of the Source of Time, impurities could be completely eliminated during the refining process, making the pills exceptionally pure.
Generally, a newly formed pill was of the highest grade.
Upon entering his stomach, the Heavenly Origin Pill immediately released a gentle and pure spiritual energy.
This pure spiritual energy slowly and steadily began to heal the damaged meridians in Wu Tao's body.
A faint smile of joy appeared on Wu Tao's face.
At this rate, perhaps in less than ten years, he would be fully recovered.
The moment Wu Tao opened the furnace and collected the pills, an even more potent medicinal fragrance wafted out from the alchemy room.
Zhang Heng, standing outside the formation, tiptoed and peered into the array, as if he could see through it.
And Steward Huang, who was sternly holding back his young master from such undignified behavior.
Behind them, the young and beautiful Qi Condensation female disciples also smelled the invigorating, top-quality medicinal fragrance.
Seeing this, Zhang Heng exclaimed with excitement, bouncing on his feet, "There truly is a master refining pills here..."
"Haha, as the county magistrate, I must fulfill my duty as host and offer a grand reception!"
...
"Young Master, your bearing... please mind your bearing..."
Steward Huang pulled at Zhang Heng, earnestly advising him, "You must not disgrace the reputation of our Second-Rank Zhang family."
After finally managing to restrain his young master, Steward Huang looked at the complex formation before him, a hint of doubt creeping into his mind.
"This small Tianshui County is actually so deep?
"My young master casually asked a question, then directly rushed over, and truly encountered such a master?
"A cultivator with such pill refining skill would be almost comparable to the scions of First-Rank families.
"According to the ancient rites of the Great Jin Dynasty, we should have sent someone to deliver an invitation three days in advance. Only after the host accepted, and after bathing and burning incense for a quarter of an hour, could one then pay a visit..."
"Today's abrupt arrival is a breach of etiquette. If this alchemist takes offense, I will have to explain myself carefully..."
Meanwhile, Zhang Heng was not thinking so deeply, his joy stemming solely from encountering an alchemist.
Clearing his throat, Zhang Heng immediately straightened his attire and respectfully said, "I am Zhang Heng of the Yao Commandery Zhang family, currently the magistrate of Tianshui County. I greet you, senior."
Upon hearing that it was a young master from a noble family visiting, Wu Tao's brow furrowed slightly, then immediately relaxed.
He then opened the restriction array and said, "So it is Young Master Zhang. You are indeed handsome... Please forgive my poor hospitality. Do come in!"
Zhang Heng was overjoyed and immediately entered Wu Tao's cave dwelling with Steward Huang. The few maids behind them also entered, carrying gifts.
As Zhang Heng entered the room, he saw Wu Tao, who appeared young but had snow-white hair. He was not particularly surprised.
The only thing that surprised him was the profound and unfathomable aura exuded by the expert standing before him!
Such a feeling of awe, which one experienced immediately upon meeting them, was something Zhang Heng had only felt from his own grandfather...
Even his father, who was in the middle stage of Core Formation, had never given him such a feeling.
Steward Huang, on the other side, felt the same.
Indeed, due to Steward Huang's higher cultivation, he was the most aware of the terrifying and unsettling aura among them.
With cold sweat trickling down his back, Steward Huang quietly tugged at his young master's sleeve and transmitted his voice, saying, "Young Master, this senior is at least a cultivator at the Core Formation stage...
"Perhaps even stronger than Master. We absolutely cannot afford to offend him."
Seeing the nervous expressions on Zhang Heng and Steward Huang's faces, Wu Tao, who knew the reason, smiled but did not reveal it.
Currently, although Wu Tao could only exert the cultivation of the late stage of Foundation Establishment, his realm was still the late stage of Core Formation.
Although he was merely a paper tiger...
However, as long as he didn't fight, he could still instill fear.
He calmly explained, "I had chosen this mountain precisely because of its remote location and the presence of a fire vein beneath, which is suitable for pill refining. I didn't expect you to find me!"
Hearing this, Zhang Heng and Steward Huang also suddenly realized, "No wonder the senior chose to stay in this mountain to refine pills. So there's a fire vein beneath this mountain?
"No wonder Mother told me before that one should never judge things by their appearance..."
"One must see through the inner substance. This is the way of truly intelligent people."
A seemingly ordinary mountain, with a subterranean fire vein of immense value that had remained undiscovered for so many years.
Yet, upon the arrival of a master, not only was the fire vein discovered, but it was also utilized for pill refining.
...
Subsequently, Zhang Heng, with his shameless thick skin, uttered many polite and flattering words, utterly devoid of any self-respect or integrity.
His flattery was so excessive that Steward Huang, standing beside him, couldn't help but blush.
However, after Zhang Heng finished speaking, he found Wu Tao looking at him with a perpetual, knowing smile.
Zhang Heng immediately bowed again and said, "Your junior is impolite. It was simply hearing that a senior expert had arrived in Tianshui County that sparked my desire to visit, and I nearly disturbed your pill refining..."
Wu Tao shook his head and smiled, "You waited patiently outside the formation and did not make any major moves. How can that be considered a disturbance...
"However, County Magistrate, why have you come today? Is it merely to meet me?"
...
Upon seeing this, Zhang Heng performed another proper noble gesture, extremely meticulous in his etiquette.
Although he had the air of a spoiled young master, his upbringing was extremely strict. When he was serious, his etiquette was indeed beyond reproach.
However, Zhang Heng's demeanor was akin to a rat pretending to be a blind cat; it was entirely useless.
This was because Wu Tao had no understanding of the rules of the noble families in the Purple Province's immortal cultivation world.
Precisely because he did not understand, in Wu Tao's eyes, Zhang Heng's series of self-perceived standard etiquette appeared as foolish and clumsy as a fool's actions.
...
Zhang Heng respectfully said, "Your junior has come uninvited today for three reasons: first, to seek guidance on the path of cultivation; second, to admire a senior expert; and third, to seek friendship with a senior expert..."
...
"Seeking guidance on the path of cultivation? Befriending a senior expert? You are indeed honest!"
Wu Tao's Nightmare Eye on his forehead opened wide, causing Zhang Heng, Steward Huang, and the others to inwardly tremble and break out in a cold sweat!
...
Soon, Wu Tao discerned part of Zhang Heng's background.
"Your foundation is impure. It seems you have consumed too many pills, and due to excessive indulgence in sexual matters, you have not properly refined the residual dregs within the pills..."
"Therefore, your spiritual energy is somewhat mixed, and your cultivation is not solid!"
After hearing Wu Tao's words, Zhang Heng finally understood why his loving mother had driven him out and abandoned him in this remote place.
Some things in this world are strange, even defying language and existing knowledge.
There are individuals for whom even the earnest advice of their closest kin is futile...
Yet, a single word from an outsider is taken as gospel truth, followed fanatically without regard for right or wrong, or for truth or falsehood.
And Zhang Heng was such a person.
Since the expert before him had said so, it seemed it was time to change his life of debauchery.
Immediately, Zhang Heng said with a bitter smile, "Senior speaks the truth. I have indeed been too immersed in the embrace of beauties, delaying the progress of my cultivation."
The old steward, Steward Huang, beside him, was somewhat nervous. With his rich experience, he could tell that this was an opportunity for his young master.
He was afraid that Zhang Heng, lacking foresight, might say something foolish and miss this chance.
...
Steward Huang interjected, "Thank you, senior, for your golden words of wisdom and guidance to my young master!"
Wu Tao heard this, glanced back at Steward Huang, pondered for a moment, and then said,
"Seeing as you are a local and speak so sincerely, I shall give you one of the pills obtained from this furnace today."
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