Chapter 122: A New Alchemical Formula-Immortality: Unlocking New Abilities Through Farming(An old man with silver hair engages in lively conversation, laughter flowing effortlessly from his lips.)

Over a month later.

In the mountains behind Wangyue Island, more than a dozen cyan sword auras, each several yards long, crisscrossed the air. Every one of them possessed immense power. Qin Ming, his fingers forming the Qingming Sword Seal, was testing the might of his newly acquired spiritual weapon.

His gaze sharp, he pointed a finger while chanting the seal. The dozen cyan sword auras in the sky merged instantly, coalescing into a massive cyan sword beam over ten yards long. He manipulated the beam and slashed down toward Wangyue Lake.

Boom!

A trench dozens of yards long appeared on the surface of the lake, momentarily creating a vacuum. Had that strike landed on a person, even a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator would likely have been unable to withstand it. Qin Ming withdrew the sword seal, a look of great satisfaction appearing on his face. He beckoned, and a long cyan spiritual sword cut through the air, landing with pinpoint precision in his hand.

Qin Ming gently wiped the blade, unable to put it down. This second-tier mid-grade spiritual weapon, known as the Azure Phoenix Sword, was the pride of Master Fang Yezi, a renowned weapon refiner in Canghai Immortal City. It contained twenty-seven Dharma restrictions, placing it in the upper-middle tier of mid-grade spiritual weapons. It had cost Qin Ming over twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones, but it was worth every penny. This was the finest spiritual weapon available for purchase in Canghai Immortal City. With such a weapon at his side, Qin Ming felt much more secure. Better weapons were hard to come by; one would either need to find high-grade materials for a custom commission or simply wait for fate to intervene.

This sword had been delivered personally that very day by Auntie Long from the Mirror Snow Pavilion. Once he had the Azure Phoenix Sword in hand, Qin Ming could not wait to practice the Foundation Establishment chapter of the "Qingming Sword Scripture." After finishing his practice, he stowed the spiritual sword and returned to his cave dwelling.

During this period, he had received a reply from Su Yuqing. In the jade slip, she had praised him without reservation and attached several precious pill formulas. Not only did they include the two he had requested, but she also provided several others useful for the Foundation Establishment stage, along with her own refining insights.

"Sending so many good things my way—it was worth the effort!"
"Not a loss at all, not a loss!"

Qin Ming held the formulas, filled with deep emotion. These formulas in his hands were worth a fortune anywhere; he likely wouldn't have been able to obtain them within the cultivation world of the Wei Kingdom at all. Qin Ming’s gaze fell upon a second-tier low-grade formula called the "Spirit-Corrupting Pill." It was a special pill capable of rapidly increasing the cultivation base of spirit beasts. The materials required were quite complex, totaling over twenty types. However, once the Profound Water Crocodile and the Six-Winged Frost Bees matured, they would become two of his greatest assets. The investment was worth making.

Shortly after, Qin Ming went down to the island and instructed Wu Jiang to collect the spiritual materials for him. When Qin Ming found him, Wu was working diligently with his clansmen, tilling the land on the outskirts of the spirit island. Upon receiving the task, Wu Jiang immediately dropped his spiritual hoe and set off without a word. During this time, Qin Ming also visited the Tianhe Market several times to scout for news of high-grade spirit beast essence blood, but unfortunately, he found nothing.

Meanwhile, news that the Mirror Snow Pavilion would soon be auctioning a Foundation Establishment Pill in Canghai Immortal City spread like a thunderclap across the cultivation world. Overnight, the reputation and influence of the Mirror Snow Pavilion soared to an unimaginable height. Countless cultivators passed the word to one another, and various factions began to gather in Canghai Immortal City. The last time a Foundation Establishment Pill had been auctioned in the city was decades ago. Even those who could not afford to bid were eager to witness such a rare spectacle.

Qin Ming also received word from Gu Qingzhao. During this time, the Mirror Snow Pavilion had received many auction commissions, including numerous rare treasures. There was a high probability that the high-grade spirit beast essence blood Qin Ming needed would appear at this auction, as Gu Qingzhao had already received a commission to sell a second-tier spirit beast core. Receiving this news, Qin Ming was quite thrilled. If there was a spirit core, it meant the essence blood would likely appear soon.

Another half-month passed. Wu Jiang’s efficiency far exceeded Qin Ming’s expectations; utilizing his network, he gathered all three sets of materials needed for the Spirit-Corrupting Pills in just half a month.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, well done!" Qin Ming patted Wu Jiang on the shoulder with great satisfaction. After giving him spirit stones, he took out a jade slip and handed it to him. "This contains some of my early experience in planting Beast-Tooth Rice. You may take it to study."

Wu Jiang received the jade slip, his expression one of immense joy. After bidding farewell to Qin Ming, he hurried off to study the contents. Qin Ming returned to his cave dwelling and began to ponder the formula. After reading it over several times, he took out the Profound Jade Cauldron to begin refining. The difficulty of refining the Spirit-Corrupting Pill among second-tier pills was not particularly high; for him, it was a simple matter.

Qin Ming beckoned, and the ice-blue Soul-Devouring Poison Flame emerged, beginning to heat the Profound Jade Cauldron evenly. This was his first time using a top-tier second-grade cauldron, and the refining process went even more smoothly. The entire process was completed in one go, without the slightest hesitation.

An incense stick of time later, a strange medicinal fragrance filled the cave. Upon smelling it, the Profound Water Crocodile, which had been dozing outside, instantly snapped to attention. It scrambled to the entrance of Qin Ming's cave, lying there eagerly with drool pooling on the ground. The Six-Winged Frost Bees also flew out of their nest on the Longevity Vine, buzzing anxiously outside.

Qin Ming sensed the restlessness of his two spirit beasts. "What's the rush? Stay put and wait."

At his words, the beast and the insects quieted down, waiting obediently. Qin Ming collected the two successful Spirit-Corrupting Pills, cleaned the cauldron, and began the next batch. As time passed, after several rounds of refining, he produced a total of twelve pills. This pill held a fatal temptation for spirit beasts, and Qin Ming could feel his two companions growing impatient.

He packed up his things, stood up, and walked out of the cave. He poured two crimson pills from the porcelain bottle, flicked his fingers, and dropped them accurately into the mouths of his spirit beasts. After consuming the pills, the Profound Water Crocodile and the Six-Winged Frost Bees, looking excited, each found a spot to digest the medicinal power.

"I wonder if this one pill will be enough for them to break through to the second tier."

The Six-Winged Frost Bees flew back into their nest on the Longevity Vine. As for the Profound Water Crocodile, Qin Ming followed it and discovered that the creature had dug a hole beneath the main peak and crawled inside. It closed its eyes and fell into a deep sleep. Qin Ming scanned it with his divine sense and found its aura fluctuating; it seemed the pill was beginning to take effect. It looked, however, as though it would take some time to fully digest the power.

At that moment, Gu Qingzhao had Auntie Long bring a message to Qin Ming.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, the high-grade spirit beast essence blood you are looking for finally has a lead. A cultivator in Canghai Immortal City has commissioned the Pavilion Master to auction a small bottle of second-tier early-stage spirit beast essence blood at the next event. However, it is not from an ape-type beast, but from a much rarer second-tier beast: the Azure-Blooded Suanni."