Chapter 276: Mysterious Pattern Harmonizing Pill

Novel:

"Just the two of us isn't foolproof. Besides you, Junior Brother Qin, I've also invited a friend to help. He's already on his way to the ancient cultivator's abode and should arrive soon. If you're interested, Junior Brother Qin, we can depart immediately. Once we break the barrier, the main root of the Earthflame Tray Catalpa will be yours. My friend and I will equally divide the Fire Catalpa Nectar. What do you think, Junior Brother Qin?"

It seemed Yu Daiyue had long prepared a plan and directly proposed the distribution scheme.

The Earthflame Tray Catalpa has a main root, which is the most potent segment of the entire spiritual wood, comparable in quality to the Blackflame Camphor.

However, the most valuable part isn't the Earthflame Tray Catalpa itself, but the Fire Catalpa Nectar nurtured within its hollow trunk, a rare spiritual medicine.

As someone invited to help, Qin Sang taking the main root meant it wouldn't be appropriate for him to also claim a share of the Fire Catalpa Nectar; otherwise, it would be difficult to convince others.

Upon hearing this, Qin Sang didn't immediately agree but pondered in silence.

If not for Yun Youzi's prior invitation, going with Yu Daiyue wouldn't be an issue. However, he was currently waiting for Yun Youzi to meet up, and their agreed date was fast approaching.

A round trip to the ancient cultivator's abode would take at least two months.

Unfortunately, the two schedules directly conflicted!

Moreover, he had obtained Blackflame Camphor from the elder Di Que's relics, and the Ebony Sword had already devoured and refined it, fully meeting his cultivation needs. Thus, his demand for spiritual wood wasn't as urgent for the time being.

Compared to the Earthflame Tray Catalpa, Qin Sang valued the medicine garden more.

Yu Daiyue's friend had already departed, and with the trial space in the ancient abode destroyed and the stone tablet exposed, entering the ancient cultivator's abode was much simpler.

Many people were already entering to seek treasures. Time was of the essence, and they certainly couldn't wait for him to finish dealing with the medicine garden.

He couldn't have both.

After weighing his options, Qin Sang could only politely decline.

Being rejected by Qin Sang was clearly unexpected for Yu Daiyue, whose face filled with surprise. "Junior Brother Qin," he said, "a spiritual tree like the Earthflame Tray Catalpa isn't found everywhere. Won't you reconsider?"

Qin Sang hummed, then said with some regret, "To be frank, Senior Brother Yu, that matter is indeed very important to me and cannot be missed. We can't have you and your friend waiting for me. If someone else gets to the Earthflame Tray Catalpa first, I would be to blame. If Senior Brother Yu needs more help, I can contact Senior Brother Mu Yifeng for you. His strength far surpasses mine, and he would be of greater use in breaking the barrier."

Yu Daiyue's brow furrowed. After a few more attempts to persuade him, seeing that Qin Sang's mind was made up, he regretfully shook his head and stood up. "What a pity," he said. "I heard Junior Brother Qin was in secluded cultivation in his cave, so I thought you might be free. I didn't expect such an inconvenience. My apologies for intruding. In that case, I shall take my leave."

Qin Sang had originally planned to have Mu Yifeng take the main root of the Earthflame Tray Catalpa and then buy it back from him.

It seemed Yu Daiyue wasn't interested in this suggestion.

As he escorted Yu Daiyue out of the cave, Qin Sang added, "Senior Brother Yu, after you and your friend obtain the main root of the Earthflame Tray Catalpa, if you intend to sell it, please consider me. I will certainly do my best to offer a price that satisfies you both."

Yu Daiyue forced a faint smile. "Junior Brother Qin's reputation, I naturally trust. However, the item isn't in hand yet, so it's too early to discuss these matters... Please return, Junior Brother Qin!"

A streak of light landed on the peak of a snowy mountain.

Yu Daiyue gazed at Qin Sang's now-closed cave. The smile on his face had vanished at some point, and his expression was incredibly grim.

A moment later, Yu Daiyue re-summoned his escape light and departed swiftly.

On the mountaintop, an almost imperceptible cold snort lingered.

After seeing Yu Daiyue off, Qin Sang didn't resume his meditation and cultivation. Instead, he took out a jade pendant.

The pendant was made of the purest white jade.

Yun Youzi had given him this jade pendant three months ago when he visited.

Qin Sang channeled a wisp of spiritual energy into the jade pendant.

The next moment, a dazzling light burst forth from the pendant, illuminating the entire cave. The light was blinding, but Qin Sang, having anticipated it, narrowed his eyes and intently watched the jade pendant.

The light emanating from the pendant grew increasingly bright, almost milky white and exceptionally dense. Immediately after, the light shifted, forming a circular mirror surface directly above Qin Sang's palm.

Within the mirror, there was a scene: a distant mountain.

The mountain seemed to be shrouded in mist, making it difficult to see clearly, perhaps due to the distance or some obstructive barrier.

He could only discern several beams of light piercing through the mist from the mountain's outline, shooting straight into the sky.

These lights varied in color, some bright, some dim, and weren't mere light; spiritual energy surged within them, making them appear as if treasures were emerging. In reality, they weren't divine treasure lights, but the aura of potent medicinal power emitted by spiritual herbs upon maturation.

Among them, a streak of profound yellow energy ranked among the top three, standing out distinctly.

Seeing this profound yellow energy, Qin Sang recalled what Yun Youzi had told him.

"Junior Brother Qin, the scene in the jade pendant isn't perfectly clear, but one can discern a thing or two from it. The spiritual herb beneath this yellow light is likely the Profound-Patterned Solomon's Seal.

What you may not know, Junior Brother Qin, is that the Harmony Pill's original name was the Profound-Patterned Harmony Pill, but it has always been impossible to refine due to the lack of Profound-Patterned Solomon's Seal, its main ingredient.

Later, a senior attempted numerous times, modifying some of the spiritual herbs in the pill formula and using two other spiritual herbs to replace the Profound-Patterned Solomon's Seal. He actually succeeded in refining a spiritual pill with similar effects, its efficacy only slightly weaker than the Profound-Patterned Harmony Pill by half a point.

Due to the scarcity of spiritual herbs in the cultivation world, similar medicinal substitutions are common nowadays. Most attempts fail, but some even result in a stronger efficacy than the original pill formula.

Without the Profound-Patterned Solomon's Seal, calling it the Profound-Patterned Harmony Pill would be misleading, so the 'Profound-Patterned' prefix was dropped, leaving just 'Harmony Pill.'

However, the Profound-Patterned Harmony Pill possesses a characteristic that the Harmony Pill does not, a characteristic that originates from the Profound-Patterned Solomon's Seal.

If this spiritual herb is old enough, it can be refined into the Yellow Spirit Pill, a medicine that enhances cultivation. The older it is, the more pronounced its effect, working best for Foundation Establishment cultivators. The Profound-Patterned Harmony Pill also inherits this effect.

Therefore, even if the Profound-Patterned Harmony Pill cannot heal your hidden injuries, my young friend Qin, you needn't worry about a wasted trip. Refining the remaining medicinal efficacy can still be used to improve your cultivation, at the very least pushing you to the threshold of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, saving you over a decade of arduous cultivation."

Yun Youzi paused, then added:

"Among the ingredients for the Profound-Patterned Harmony Pill, the most valuable is the Profound-Patterned Solomon's Seal. All other ingredients are common and can be purchased at the Taiyi Pill Pavilion. Once you gather all the ingredients, my young friend Qin, this old Daoist will refine the pill for you free of charge. Although my alchemy skills cannot compare to those of a few Senior Uncles, I can guarantee a seventy to eighty percent success rate. Of course, if you're not at ease, this old Daoist can also introduce you to those Senior Uncles. However, you should be mentally prepared, as their fees certainly won't be low."