Chapter 269: Invincible Force

"I told you, there's no regretting the Golden Core. How can you go back on your word?"

Immortal Fairy's earnest advice echoed in Lu Yang's ears: "This is the Invincible Pill. In the future, it will help you become an immortal second only to me. What are you not satisfied with?"

Immortal Fairy stepped directly out of the mental space, manifesting in the real world: "I haven't finished yet. This Golden Core has a third effect."

"What is it?"

"Do you know that the most crucial aspect of immortal cultivation isn't talent, but an unyielding Dao Heart that never admits defeat?"

"How many people cultivate smoothly all the way, only to lose their fighting spirit and fall into despair after a minor setback? I've witnessed this far too many times."

"The Invincible Momentum I told you about is a manifestation of the Dao Heart. The Invincible Momentum you cultivated in the dense forest, which then condensed into the Invincible Pill—this is the Pill of the Dao Heart. The third, and primary, function of the Invincible Pill is to stabilize your Dao Heart!"

"The importance of Invincible Momentum is profound. There's an ancient saying: 'When two brave adversaries meet on a narrow path, the bolder one prevails.' In battle, victory or defeat is often decided in an instant. With Invincible Momentum, you can achieve complete triumph in any fight!"

"Take me as an example. Back when I was in the Golden Core stage, I confronted Immortal Ying Tian and Immortal Qilin. I prepared with all my might, relied on Invincible Momentum, and defeated both of them in a single decisive strike!"

"...But I seem to recall they were only at the Foundation Establishment stage back then?"

"What's wrong with the Foundation Establishment stage? Battles are incredibly important; you must never take them lightly. Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit—you must understand this principle!"

"Are there not enough examples of Foundation Establishment cultivators defeating Golden Core cultivators? For instance, you and I are both living proof. What if Immortal Ying Tian and Immortal Qilin were capable of defeating a Golden Core cultivator?"

"What the Immortal Fairy says makes sense."

Immortal Fairy continued: "Stepping back, even if you were to lose utterly, the Invincible Pill would still imbue you with supreme confidence, making you believe you are invincible in the world!"

Lu Yang remained silent.

Wouldn't that just be arrogance?

"Then, Immortal Fairy, did you ever experience defeat during your Golden Core stage?"

"Are you kidding? Would I ever lose? When I was in the Golden Core stage, I thoroughly defeated Immortal Ying Tian, Immortal Qilin, and Immortal Ninefold. Who could possibly defeat me?"

"What about Immortal Years?"

Immortal Fairy waved her hand dismissively: "Immortal Years is a spirit born from the Jianmu tree. His power cannot be measured by cultivation realm. Fighting him is pointless for me."

Yun Zhi listened quietly nearby, unsurprised. She had long known that Immortal Years was a spirit born from the Jianmu tree, as this was documented in ancient texts from the Great Gan era.

"Oh, Senior Sister, I found a Pasture Grass that developed sentience in the dense forest." Lu Yang pulled the still struggling Pasture Grass out of his sack.

When Senior Sister's indifferent gaze fell upon the Pasture Grass, the plant felt a sudden chill, as if it had plummeted into a freezing ice cellar.

"I was already aware of this. It's commendable that you noticed there was someone manipulating the Pasture Grass."

Lu Yang paused, startled. From Senior Sister's words, it seemed their entire training excursion in the dense forest had been under her watchful eye.

"So, what about this Pasture Grass?"

"The Pasture Grass doesn't mature solely by consuming humans. It chose the most aggressive method and must therefore face the most severe disciplinary action. Take this plant to Pill Cauldron Peak and inform the Seventh Elder of its actions. The Seventh Elder will know how to handle it."

"After you return from Pill Cauldron Peak, come back to me. I have something else to discuss."

"Understood."

Lu Yang's curiosity was piqued, and he wanted to know what "something else" Senior Sister had to tell him. However, since she didn't elaborate, he didn't dare to ask and simply proceeded to Pill Cauldron Peak.

The first thing Lu Yang did on his way to Pill Cauldron Peak was to hold his breath and activate his internal self-circulation to avoid being poisoned by any unseen toxins.

Even a Golden Core cultivator was still no match for the poisons of Pill Cauldron Peak.

Fortunately, upon advancing to the Golden Core stage, one could not only control internal organs to a certain extent—for instance, by shifting their positions—but also perform internal self-circulation, truly enabling them to travel freely through the skies, seas, and underground.

"Excuse me, where can I find the Seventh Elder?" Lu Yang spotted a familiar senior disciple from Pill Cauldron Peak, who seemed to be one of those who had previously queued to spar with him.

"Ah, Junior Brother Lu. Are you looking for our Master? He should be in his alchemy chamber, likely writing an article."

"Writing an article?"

The senior disciple from Pill Cauldron Peak led Lu Yang, explaining, "Yes, our Pill Cauldron Peak's alchemy style isn't considered mainstream in the alchemy world. Outsiders envy our talent. To expand our Peak's influence, Master encourages us to write and publish articles, so the world can truly understand us."

Pill Cauldron Peak was densely vegetated, with lush greenery offering ample shade. Spiritual herbs grew everywhere, and materials for refining Great Rejuvenation Pills and Fasting Pills were visible at every turn. If one wasn't careful where they stepped, they might inadvertently crush a valuable spiritual herb.

While not as precious as the herbs in the medicine garden, these spiritual herbs could still fetch a considerable price if sold on the outside.

"We're here. This is it."

External alchemists typically held high status and often preferred luxurious decor to flaunt their special standing. In contrast, the Seventh Elder's alchemy chamber, viewed from the outside, resembled nothing more than a thatched cottage, truly embodying "simplicity."

However, the interior environment of the alchemy chamber was incomparable to a mere thatched cottage.

Lu Yang could sense the rich medicinal properties overflowing from the alchemy chamber. This was highly beneficial even for Nascent Soul stage cultivators, capable of gradually improving their physique.

After the senior disciple from Pill Cauldron Peak departed, Lu Yang carefully knocked on the door, concerned he might disturb the Seventh Elder's concentration.

"Come in."

"Greetings, Seventh Elder." Lu Yang bowed respectfully.

The Seventh Elder had a full head of white hair, yet his face was entirely unblemished by wrinkles, giving him the appearance of a vibrant youth. Lu Yang wondered if this vitality was linked to his prolonged engagement in alchemy.

"I heard you're writing an article, Elder?" Lu Yang, eager to stay abreast of the latest academic trends in the alchemy world, thought this knowledge might be useful for impressing other alchemists later.

"Yes, I'm currently researching an ancient pill formula unearthed by the Great Xia Dynasty's chief alchemist. Unable to decipher its mysteries, he issued a public bounty, inviting renowned alchemists to analyze and solve it. Successfully deciphering it would bring great renown to our Pill Cauldron Peak."

"This ancient formula originated from an alchemy master of antiquity. It describes a pill capable of inducing pregnancy, though it was unnamed in the original text. Several of us alchemists deliberated and decided to call it the 'Child-Granting Pill'."

"However, this formula is exceptionally ancient, incomplete, and not fully documented."

"Based on the identifiable herbs in the formula and my own understanding, I've been continuously experimenting to restore it. Although all my attempts have failed, I have managed to rule out most possibilities."

"To date, I haven't heard of anyone who has successfully restored the formula."

"What puzzles me, however, is that all the medicinal ingredients listed in the formula are for beauty and skincare, with no properties for inducing pregnancy. I suspect the missing components are ancient herbs that are now extinct."

"May I see it?" Lu Yang had a nagging feeling that the purported effects of this Child-Granting Pill sounded oddly familiar.

The Seventh Elder produced a replica of the pill formula, which listed numerous medicinal ingredients but had noticeable gaps.

This was a pill formula penned by an alchemist named Qing He. The formula's opening section described the Child-Granting Pill's effect: "When taken with river water, pregnancy can be induced."

Lu Yang was silent for a moment before saying, "Is there a possibility—and I mean just a possibility—that what causes women to become pregnant isn't the Child-Granting Pill, but the river water itself?"