Chapter 8: Lingxu Pill

Take, for example, the spiritual herbs Xu Yang gathered during his three-day journey.

Tens of thousands of years ago, these very spiritual herbs were indispensable ingredients for refining high-grade elixirs. Back then, their appearance would ignite fierce battles among countless cultivators, yet now they grow by the roadside as common as weeds.

This realization deeply moved Xu Yang; in this current era, fate finally seemed to favor him. Indeed, it was this unique era that offered Xu Yang a glimmer of hope for breaking through the Qi Refining realm. After all, he had been trapped in the Qi Refining realm for a hundred thousand years. Even at the 9,999th stage of Qi Refining, it was still merely Qi Refining.

When Ling Qingshu returned to the main hall with the spiritual items Xu Yang had requested, she was slightly taken aback. The cultivation technique manual she had just personally handed to Xu Yang was now suspended in mid-air. Xu Yang was using his finger as a brush, making marks and annotations on the manual she had provided. It appeared he was revising the very cultivation method she practiced. *How could this be?* she thought. This was the genuine thought resonating in Ling Qingshu’s mind.

The cultivation technique she practiced was the most unique within the entire Tianlan Sect, purportedly only accessible to the Sect Master's direct lineage. This technique was exceptionally excellent, fostering a strong foundation and formidable combat power during cultivation. Her master had once stated, during her lifetime, that this particular cultivation technique was already quite perfect. Her master would certainly not have been limited to the Golden Core cultivation level if not for the absence of several legendary elixirs said to aid in cultivation. Nor would she, Ling Qingshu, still be merely at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage today.

"Ancestor Xu, I've brought all the items you requested." After observing Xu Yang making annotations for quite some time, Ling Qingshu finally couldn't help but interrupt him.

Xu Yang glanced at the tray Ling Qingshu held, gestured for her to set it aside, and then resumed making alterations to her cultivation technique. "This cultivation technique of yours was created by a genius from our Tianlan Sect thirty thousand years ago. It places great emphasis on cultivating a strong foundation, making it an excellent choice for both the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment realms." The image of a scholar flashed through Xu Yang's mind; he still held a deep impression of this junior.

"However, what you are currently practicing is merely the initial framework he outlined. He later revised this technique multiple times, removing numerous restrictions to perfect it and transform it into a truly flawless cultivation method." Having said this, Xu Yang ceased his work and returned the modified cultivation technique to Ling Qingshu. He then approached the tray, picking up several items and examining them one by one.

As for the cultivation technique Ling Qingshu practiced, it was, in a way, fate. The founder of that technique was a descendant of a junior Xu Yang had held in high regard many years ago. Due to this connection, the founder, after making significant cultivation advancements with the technique, became aware of Xu Yang's existence. Consequently, whenever he refined and modified the technique, he would send a copy to Xu Yang's cave dwelling. Xu Yang would occasionally glance at these updates, and over time, he became even more familiar with the technique.

Upon receiving the manual, Ling Qingshu initially assumed Xu Yang's revisions would be utterly nonsensical. However, upon closer inspection, she realized that many of Xu Yang's modifications addressed the very areas where she had encountered difficulties in her cultivation. Seeing Xu Yang's revisions was like the clouds parting to reveal the moon for her. The true qi within her body spontaneously circulated according to the newly modified technique's pathways. In mere moments, Ling Qingshu's aura dramatically shifted; her cultivation had decisively broken through to the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Sensing Ling Qingshu's breakthrough, Xu Yang nodded with satisfaction. To grasp the essence of his revisions so swiftly, Ling Qingshu's talent was truly impressive.

While Ling Qingshu remained with her eyes closed, assimilating the changes from her recent breakthrough, Xu Yang waved his hand, and an elixir cauldron materialized within the main hall. This was the finest elixir cauldron of a former Tianlan Sect alchemist, who had been skilled in refining elixirs and had ascended. It had been left behind before his ascension. In fact, similar occurrences had happened many times within the Tianlan Sect. Numerous cultivators, before their ascension, had left valuable treasures for Ancestor Xu Yang. However, over the past hundred thousand years, Xu Yang himself had many favored juniors, and he had indeed bestowed a considerable number of treasures upon them. Consequently, by now, aside from items of unique significance, what Xu Yang still possessed were all exceedingly rare and exotic treasures, such as the cauldron now before him.

Xu Yang casually picked up two spiritual herbs and tossed them into the cauldron. A wisp of the flame within the cauldron, which had burned continuously for tens of thousands of years, separated itself at that moment. The flame enveloped the spiritual herbs Xu Yang had thrown in, and within a few breaths, they had transformed into medicinal liquid. Xu Yang then nonchalantly tossed in several other spiritual herbs, finally adding the Lingxu Grass.

Just then, Ling Qingshu emerged from her meditative state and witnessed Xu Yang tossing the Lingxu Grass into the cauldron. Ling Qingshu was utterly astonished by this. She recognized Lingxu Grass. According to ancient texts and the oral accounts of alchemists, it had long been established that, despite its somewhat esoteric name, this grass was actually a useless weed, considered too lowly even for kindling. Yet now, Xu Yang intended to use this universally dismissed weed in alchemy. How could Ling Qingshu not be astonished?

"Ancestor Xu, what elixir are you refining?"

Hearing Ling Qingshu's question, Xu Yang looked up at her, noting her perplexed expression. He also had some ideas about the nature of her question. "Are you curious why I added Lingxu Grass?"

"Ancestor Xu is truly discerning."

"There's no harm in telling you, but you must keep it confidential." Xu Yang chuckled, ignoring the ongoing process within the cauldron. He then began to explain the properties of Lingxu Grass to Ling Qingshu. "One hundred thousand years ago, an elixir formula emerged. Its purported effect was astonishing: it could increase one's chances of ascension."

Hearing Xu Yang's words, Ling Qingshu gasped, "Increase the chances of ascension?"

"Exactly!" Xu Yang affirmed with a nod. "Cultivators who can reach the Tribulation Transcendence stage are invariably individuals of exceptional talent and perseverance. Yet, even they face the challenge of ascension with little certainty. Cultivation itself is arduous, but transcending tribulation to ascend is exponentially more difficult."

By this point, Ling Qingshu could largely guess that such an elixir, capable of increasing ascension chances, must have incited great turmoil and bloodshed. Countless powerful cultivators would have fought to the death for a single elixir.

"So, what does this elixir have to do with Lingxu Grass?"

"This elixir, which increases the chances of ascension, is called the Lingxu Pill. Its primary ingredient is the Lingxu Grass, what you now consider a mere weed." Xu Yang recalled that when he was young, Lingxu Grass was indeed as abundant and worthless as it was now. However, after the Lingxu Pill came into existence, it became incredibly difficult to find even a single stalk of Lingxu Grass anywhere.