Chapter 99: Supreme Elixir, Combat Power Soars (5,000-word chapter, please subscribe)

Back in the stone house, Luo Chen looked at the golden pill held between his thumb and index finger.

A faint but distinct cloud pattern encircled the pill.

Luo Chen's initial understanding of elixirs came from the legacy of a deceased old cultivator, his predecessor.

The old cultivator who died in the cave could not, in a strict sense, be considered a major sect disciple.

He was a wandering cultivator from the Medicine King Domain, and due to his decent alchemy skills, he was barely admitted as an outer sect disciple of the Medicine King Sect.

His situation was somewhat similar to Fu Xiuxiu's.

However, he did not successfully establish his foundation and did not obtain the Wood Medicine King Scripture, the foundation-building chapter of the Medicine King Sect's longevity cultivation method.

As he grew older, he became a low-ranking outer sect disciple, handling miscellaneous tasks for the sect.

In the end, he died in a large cave in the Yuanzhao Kingdom.

The old cultivator had a deep understanding of alchemy, so besides the Longevity Cultivation Technique, he left the original body with two elixir formulas: the Abstinence Powder and the Marvelous Pill.

As for why a Medicine King Sect outer sect disciple would have a strange aphrodisiac formula, that was something Luo Chen could not know.

Later, as Luo Chen crossed over, he sold elixirs at the wandering cultivator market and occasionally chatted with some wandering cultivators, gradually learning more about elixirs.

Well, those people couldn't refine elixirs, but they were always picky when buying things.

Back and forth, he could always get some information.

What gave him the most insight was undoubtedly the *Qingyuan Elixir Explanation* given to him by Uncle Mi Hua.

That was a foundation-building cultivator who refined third-stage elixirs, a master alchemist.

To this day, Luo Chen still studies the *Qingyuan Elixir Explanation* daily, and the more he reads, the more new insights he gains.

The few alchemy techniques recorded in it have greatly benefited him.

The Jade Folding Technique, which he recently learned, is particularly effective for processing minerals.

Let's get back to the topic.

Through these alchemy knowledge, Luo Chen gradually understood the entire alchemy system.

For example, the classification of elixir grades.

In this world, where spiritual energy is abundant and resources are plentiful, the great Dao principles manifest externally. If something resonates with the Dao, it often has corresponding Dao patterns.

Like the bone patterns of beasts, the inner patterns of elixirs, the growth rings of ancient trees, and the marks of rare minerals.

Surprisingly, human-made elixirs also have corresponding Dao patterns.

People call them elixir patterns, and because the patterns resemble clouds, they are also known as cloud patterns.

The number of cloud patterns determines the grade of an elixir.

If there are no cloud patterns, the elixir is ungraded.

Why was Luo Chen's Abstinence Powder always considered subpar?

The reason is that after the medicinal power stabilizes, there are no cloud patterns on the pills, even for high-grade Abstinence Powder.

But this time, Luo Chen brought the Abstinence Powder to the Great Perfection level.

The refined elixir now has a faint cloud pattern.

Although it is only one, it still represents a graded elixir.

"Let me try the medicinal power."

Luo Chen did not hesitate and swallowed it directly.

He was confident in the elixir he refined himself.

After swallowing it, a feeling of fullness gradually arose.

It felt like the lazy, satisfied feeling after a meal.

"This medicinal power?"

Luo Chen was a bit hesitant, rubbed his stomach, and then became thoughtful.

"Compared to low-grade Abstinence Powder, the medicinal power is ten times stronger. Compared to high-grade, it is about three times stronger."

Low-grade Abstinence Powder can ensure a cultivator does not feel hungry for three days.

High-grade Abstinence Powder can support normal activities for about ten days.

This supreme Abstinence Powder can make Luo Chen not feel hungry for a month.

"Previously, using the Xuan Yun Cauldron to refine Abstinence Powder, two sets of raw materials should have produced one hundred pills."

"But in the end, only about fifty ointments and one graded pill were obtained."

"In other words, one set of raw materials produced this supreme Abstinence Powder."

After getting this answer, Luo Chen was somewhat dissatisfied.

Whether in terms of external sales profit or internal energy conversion, it was a loss.

This suggests that even at the Great Perfection level, Abstinence Powder cannot significantly help him earn cultivation resources.

Perhaps the only benefit is that with this elixir, he doesn't need to frequently take other Abstinence Powder during long-term seclusion.

"This supreme Abstinence Powder should be comparable to a standard low-grade Abstinence Pill."

Sighing, Luo Chen's joy from achieving the Great Perfection level in an elixir formula slightly diminished.

That's just how it is.

Some things in the world don't always satisfy people.

Moreover, he was mentally prepared for this.

After all, Abstinence Powder is inherently an ungraded elixir.

The system being able to elevate it to a first-stage low-grade elixir is already quite remarkable.

Besides, didn't it also provide an achievement point?

Glancing at the attribute panel, the number of achievement points increased to 16 due to the Ling Eye Technique reaching the Master level, the Mountain Breaking Palm reaching the Proficient level, and the Abstinence Powder reaching the Great Perfection level.

The more achievement points, the more confident Luo Chen felt.

Achievement points will be needed for learning other elixir formulas in the future.

Looking at the achievement points, Luo Chen suddenly had an idea.

"If I refine a large number of ungraded elixirs and learn some secular martial arts, can I quickly earn achievement points? Then, can I directly learn a second-stage elixir formula like the Blood Fiend Pill?"

This idea made Luo Chen start to daydream.

But after a while, he slapped himself.

What was he thinking?

Does he have a lot of time?

He already doesn't have enough time for cultivation and alchemy, and any extra time is spent practicing techniques and studying alchemy knowledge.

Taking on more secular martial arts, which are not important, would be a waste of time.

Moreover, the benefits from those things are minimal.

Occasionally practicing one or two is fine, but getting obsessed is a big no-no.

"Such things should be done within limits."

"Moreover, if my realm is higher, the achievement points needed to learn corresponding-level elixir formulas are not much."

Realizing this, Luo Chen felt a sense of relief, and his mind and body became more relaxed.

Feeling this sudden relief, Luo Chen became thoughtful.

Could it be that I almost fell into a mental trap just now?

Throughout history, taking shortcuts often leads to bad outcomes.

If he gets obsessed, it might hinder his path to the Dao.

...

"Today's elixirs: 52 Abstinence Pills, with a ratio of 7:2:1 for low, medium, and high grades. 20 Marvelous Pills, with a ratio of 4:5:1 for low, medium, and high grades."

"Record them and store them in the elixir room."

Listening to the elixir keeper report to Gu Caiyi, Luo Chen nodded.

His control over the elixir grades was becoming more and more proficient.

Elixirs can fail or succeed, and their grades can be high or low, which doesn't arouse suspicion and doesn't make the sect lose confidence in him.

He has a good grasp of this balance!

A gust of wind blew, and the light from the magical artifact dimmed, revealing the figure of Sikong Shoujia.

"Luo Hall Master, this is the *Flame Manipulation Technique*."

Taking the thin booklet, Luo Chen flipped through it while saying, "Elder Sikong, thank you for your hard work. Did you encounter any trouble?"

Sikong Shoujia laughed, "No trouble at all. I thought I would have to argue with Mi Junping, but unexpectedly, she was quite generous this time. It might be because the *Flame Manipulation Technique* is not a sophisticated technique!"

The *Flame Manipulation Technique* is indeed not a sophisticated technique, with no offensive or defensive power.

It only enhances a cultivator's control over flames.

It is listed as a first-stage technique because it is very helpful for alchemists.

But she didn't know that this technique was not so simple for Luo Chen.

"With this, I might be able to improve some flaws in my Great Perfection Fireball Technique."

Thinking of the Great Perfection Fireball Technique, which could be released but not retracted, Luo Chen now felt more confident.

As long as he learns the *Flame Manipulation Technique*, he might be able to elevate the power of his Great Perfection Fireball Technique to a new level!

...

...

Life in the Elixir Hall, after the initial novelty, became as ordinary as water.

The cultivators inside, led by Gu Caiyi, were familiarizing themselves with the *Hundred Herbs Catalog* and the *Flame Manipulation Technique*.

Their help in Luo Chen's alchemy work was becoming increasingly significant.

As a result, he had more time to do his own things.

A month later, in the primeval forest ten miles behind the Slanting Moon Valley.

Rustling.

The grass rustled, and a rabbit with red eyes, as if encountering a predator, fled frantically.

Behind it, the thick shrubs were flattened like a tank had rolled over them. A gray wolf, about a meter tall and three meters long, leaped out.

Its speed was so fast that it was already above the rabbit in the blink of an eye.

Falling from the air, it grabbed the rabbit with one claw and stuffed it into its mouth.

Blood and flesh oozed from its teeth as they closed.

After finishing the rabbit, the gray wolf seemed unsatisfied and continued to roam the forest, looking for more prey.

Suddenly, it stopped.

Sniffing the air, it detected something.

Its eyes darted around, but it saw nothing.

On a giant tree branch in front of it, a man in a moon-white robe was watching it solemnly.

A first-stage beast, the Gray Leaf Wolf.

A strong low-stage wolf, with the power of a late-stage Qi Cultivator and an extremely strong recovery ability. It often requires multiple people to hunt it down.

"Oddly, Gray Leaf Wolves usually hunt in groups, but this one is hunting alone."

This person was Luo Chen.

During this period, whenever he had some free time, he would come to the forest behind the Slanting Moon Valley to practice techniques.

Occasionally, he would encounter some low-stage beasts, but with his various methods, he could easily kill them.

When he encountered wolf packs, he would avoid them.

This forest was already part of the outer region of the Howling Moon Mountains.

Although the Howling Moon Mountains were near the Great River Market, they were not the main hunting area for cultivators.

The main reason was that wolves were fast and had a keen sense of smell, making them unsuitable for hunting.

Luo Chen avoided the wolf packs he encountered by using the Proficient Concealment Spirit Technique and his extremely fast movement.

But this time, he was somewhat tempted.

"A lone Gray Leaf Wolf is a good opponent!"

Always seeking weak beasts for practice does not provide a good training effect.

In comparison, the Gray Leaf Wolf is a significant challenge.

With a thought, Luo Chen waved his hand, and seven green lights shot out.

Almost instantly, the Concealment Spirit Technique lost its effect, and the active spiritual energy fluctuations were immediately noticed by the wolf.

"Ugh!"

The Gray Leaf Wolf, instead of retreating, advanced even more!

In this area, the wolf clan was undoubtedly at the top of the food chain, and they had never feared anyone.

Especially the opponent in front of them, who didn't seem strong.

As it leaped, a surge of beast energy spread out.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The seven green lights, like striking steel, flew away helplessly.

Luo Chen's eyes flashed, and he used the Master-level Traction Technique again, causing the green jade knives to converge.

The Jade Knife Formation was instantly formed!

"The Master-level Traction Technique, combined with my spiritual sense, which is twice that of ordinary cultivators, allows me to control this medium-grade magical artifact with great proficiency."

"But with just these methods, it might not be enough to defeat this wolf."

Sure enough, the formed knife formation only left a few scratches on the Gray Leaf Wolf before being swatted away.

One of the jade knives dimmed, indicating severe damage.

"But I have more than just these methods!"

"Rise!"

Luo Chen's eyes were sharp, and his hand seals changed.

In the forest, covered with grass and shrubs, green vines shot out.

They lunged at the wolf like claws.

The wolf, showing disdain, charged straight at Luo Chen without hesitation.

Whenever the vines grabbed it, they only slowed it down slightly before breaking.

Moreover, with its claws, it launched yellow-green blades at Luo Chen.

These were attacks formed from condensed beast energy.

Luo Chen remained calm, his robe billowing as he retreated.

The *Xiaoyao You* technique combined with the *Wind Control Technique* made him extremely agile in the air.

The numerous giant trees nearby also provided cover from most attacks.

As he retreated, he launched fireballs, interspersed with dozens of colorful beads using a special technique.

The appearance of the fireballs made the Gray Leaf Wolf cautious.

This was a human cultivator's technique!

But that was all.

The speed was too slow to hit him.

However, when the beads exploded on his body, they caused severe injuries.

The Gray Leaf Wolf, a soil-wood attribute beast, was not fast but had a tough body and strong recovery ability.

It excelled in prolonged battles, making it a formidable opponent.

These minor injuries only made it more enraged.

The human, who was too fast and avoided direct combat, was infuriating.

After dozens of breaths, the Gray Leaf Wolf stopped.

Its instincts made it dislike this kind of controlled battle rhythm.

It was ready to leave.

But as it turned, its eyes widened, and its tail instinctively clamped.

Looking around, the fireballs that had missed it earlier were now surrounding it.

"Being led around like this must be frustrating, right?"

Luo Chen had already reached the top of a nearby giant tree.

"I'll give you a dignified death!"

"Combine!"

With a thought, his fingers moved like flowers, intertwining and flying.

As he moved, threads of spiritual energy guided the scattered fireballs, forming a specific pattern and rushing towards the wolf.