Chapter 22: Alchemy Inheritance

Since the day a Foundation Establishment cultivator visited, Wang Yu had taken on the role of a doorman, as friends from Tantai Chan's circle would occasionally come looking for her. They were mostly Foundation Establishment cultivators or some junior cultivators at the Qi Condensation stage. More importantly, Tantai Chan was a second-tier, mid-grade alchemist with exquisite skills and a wide circle of acquaintances. This also allowed Wang Yu to get acquainted with many people in this circle. Although none of them paid him much attention, if he ever needed something in the future, he would at least know some people and could try to build connections. Information is a relatively rare resource in a social environment. Moreover, as producers in a demonic cultivation environment, their status was subtly higher. Of course, they also attracted more covetous gazes, and their substantial wealth inevitably made them targets.

It was the ninety-fifth day of Wang Yu's outer sect life.

"Night Concealment Charm!"

As a high-grade spell, the Night Concealment Charm corresponds to the late Qi Condensation stage. When cultivated to perfection, it can even deceive the spiritual sense of Foundation Establishment cultivators. The Night Concealment Charm has two effects: concealing cultivation level, hiding aura, and blending with nature. The latter is its primary function, while the former is merely an extension of its concealment abilities. When cast at night, its effect is even more potent.

After cultivating it to perfection, a black talisman-like pattern appeared on Wang Yu's chest. It activates when spiritual energy is channeled into it. Even when not actively used, it makes his footsteps silent, his breathing imperceptible, and even his flowing robes make no sound. The only drawback is the significant spiritual energy consumption; with his current cultivation, he can sustain it for a maximum of half an incense stick's time. This issue will gradually disappear as his cultivation improves, so it's not a major concern.

Slot 2: Night Concealment Charm (Perfected)"Night Concealment Charm (100/100): Practiced twelve hours a day, achievable in eight years."

The new description that appeared should indicate the time required for a higher level of placement. It's five years longer than for Ice Sword Art, so there's no rush to cultivate it further. With this charm's protection, Wang Yu's concealment greatly improved, so he replaced it with Ice Shield Art. This is only a mid-grade spell, part of the same set as the "Cold Blood Art" cultivation technique, and the two complement each other.

Slot 2: Ice Shield Art"Ice Shield Art (12/100): Practiced one hundred and forty-four times a day, achievable in twenty-six days."

These 12 points of progress are the result of his study over the past three months. At this rate, it would likely take him decades to fully comprehend it on his own. The unreasonable aspect of the "placement slot" lies here: not only does it practice constantly, but it also makes progress every time. The more Wang Yu learned about it, the more powerful he realized it was.

"I can go exchange for an alchemy inheritance now."

As for the Corpse Demon Secret Art, Wang Yu was still conflicted. Placing this art in the slot would inevitably cause various physical abnormalities, so he still needed time to consider it. It would be better to first study alchemy. He had a Cold Blood Elixir recipe, and if he could refine it, his cultivation speed would greatly increase, making it worth the effort. The Nine-Leaf Cold Ice Grass in Tantai Chan's medicinal garden was the main ingredient for refining the Cold Blood Elixir. He could discuss purchasing some and slowly gather a set of ingredients.

After completing his daily inspection of the fields, Wang Yu then left for the Halls District.

The Scripture Repository.

Alchemy, artifact refining, talismans, and formations are the four most esteemed fields of cultivation. In these areas, the righteous path's standards are somewhat higher. Alchemy also has different categories, with a distinction between fire refinement and water refinement methods. Fire refinement uses the high temperature of flames to extract the essence of spiritual materials. It applies the principle of yin-yang harmony to extract the necessary components, quickly producing elixirs with good effects. Water refinement utilizes water's gentle, pervasive quality to deeply penetrate spiritual materials, slowly extracting the desired medicinal essence. This method, though slow, produces excellent elixirs with a very high success rate. The elixirs refined by both methods do not differ in quality; only the speed of refinement differs.

Regarding the elixir formation rate, nine is the maximum possible. From one set of spiritual herbs, the maximum number of elixirs from one furnace is nine. The water method can consistently produce seven to eight elixirs per batch on average. However, refining a single batch often takes several years, with higher-grade elixirs requiring even more time, making large-scale supply impossible. The fire method has a huge range in output; a poor batch yields only one to three elixirs, a better one can reach four to six, and only master-level alchemists can refine nine.

Of course, this is also related to the proficiency with the elixir recipe. Many factors influence fire refinement alchemists, including fire control techniques, spiritual sense strength, alchemy skill, pharmaceutical knowledge, and so on. Without a doubt, the fire refinement method is suitable for Wang Yu. This is also the path generally chosen by alchemists, as the cultivator base is large, and the market for low-grade elixirs is vast and in short supply. Water refinement alchemists, though slow, have a high quality rate, serving a high-end market, mostly providing customized services where one successful project can sustain them for three years.

He slowly walked past the bookshelves in the Scripture Repository.

"Fire Cauldron Alchemy, Spitting Pearl Alchemy, Human Elixir Art, Nine Refinement Alchemy, Flame Elixir Art..."

As he looked through them, Wang Yu was not very satisfied. Either the price was too high, or the descriptions were too one-sided, indicating incomplete inheritances. A complete alchemy inheritance must include a unique elixir recipe, along with a set of fire control hand seals and elixir condensation gestures, to truly reflect its value.

"Cold Flame Alchemy —"

Wang Yu paused, took down the jade slip containing the description, and after reviewing it, was satisfied and headed to the Dharma Transmission Hall. The price was exactly one thousand contribution points. He chose it because its rare yin-cold fire method was very suitable for Wang Yu's current path. Furthermore, it was an incomplete third-tier alchemy inheritance. The remaining unique elixir recipe was only one, named Cold Dragon Elixir. Its effect was: After consuming and refining the elixir, a 'Cold Dragon Fire Seed' could be birthed within the body, granting mastery over a type of cold flame power that would grow in sync with the cultivator's realm. This effect was no less potent than a Core Formation cultivator's lifebound artifact.

This single elixir recipe alone was extremely valuable, and its refining difficulty was certainly very high. Wang Yu was drawn to its difficulty. Furthermore, the accompanying fire control hand seals and elixir condensation gestures only contained the first-tier parts and were severely incomplete, which was why the exchange price was only one thousand contribution points. This level was sufficient for Wang Yu to use. Moreover, since the placement slot could break through the limits of spells, it might even complete the incomplete art. He could use the Cold Flame Alchemy to test this; if it could indeed be completed, he would no longer hesitate to place the Corpse Demon Secret Art there. It was killing multiple birds with one stone and also paired very well with the Cold Blood Art.

By the time he emerged from the Dharma Transmission Hall, the most valuable token on his person had already been handed over. From then on, he would have to rely on himself to earn spirit stones and contribution points.

Returning to the medicinal garden in Wicked God Plaza, Wang Yu began to comprehend the Cold Flame Alchemy on his own. His progress was slow, but he was diligently working. It wasn't until the one hundred and twenty-fifth day of his outer sect life, a full month later, after perfecting the Ice Shield Art, that he placed the alchemy art in the slot.

Slot 2: Cold Dragon Alchemy (Incomplete Art)"Cold Dragon Alchemy (0/100): Practiced twelve times a day, achievable in one year."

This was the first time Wang Yu had seen an item in the placement slot that could only be practiced twelve times a day, meaning once every two hours. It would take a full year to perfect.