Chapter 61: Refining Artifacts and Pills Is Difficult, Acquired a Mid-Grade Storage Pouch
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Yu Xian frowned and looked seriously at Xiao Wusheng. “Master, if you’re going to get humiliated by the people of Medicine King Valley just so I can learn something, then I would rather die than let you do it!”
Xiao Wusheng’s intention was clear.
In order to help Yu Xian learn more alchemy techniques, skills, and gain experience, he was willing to make an exception and participate in the Alchemy Conference of Medicine King Valley—something he had refused to do the past four times!
His master cared deeply for him, and Yu Xian knew it.
But even more so, Yu Xian couldn’t accept letting his master lose face, be mocked and humiliated, just for some alchemy experience.
Never.
“Heh, seventeen and still such a child,” Xiao Wusheng said with a warm smile, patting Yu Xian’s shoulder. “Don’t be so headstrong. Learning the skill is what really matters! As for me? I’ve long gotten used to it. This time, we won’t even speak. Let’s see if they dare walk over and spit on us. Don’t worry.”
“But…”
“No buts.” Xiao Wusheng’s expression turned serious. “Listen to me! Afraid of humiliation? Then learn better than them! Become stronger than them! Then return the insult tenfold! But if you’re too afraid of being humiliated to even go, then you’ll only face more humiliation in the future!”
Yu Xian stood in place, speechless, looking at his master’s firm expression.
Xiao Wusheng had refused to attend the conference four times in twenty years. If he went this time, he would surely be mocked.
His words seemed carefree, but if he truly didn’t care, why would he have skipped it four times in a row?
This time, for the sake of his disciple—so long as Yu Xian could learn something—Xiao Wusheng was truly willing to endure anything.
“Alright, don’t be so stubborn. Just keep in mind, we’re going to learn, gain alchemy experience, nothing else.”
Xiao Wusheng patted Yu Xian’s shoulder again and smiled. “Now, let’s continue with the Jade Spirit Pill.”
Yu Xian nodded and suppressed the thoughts in his mind.
There was no point arguing.
This trip to Medicine King Valley—he would give it his all and learn everything he possibly could!
What a senior painstakingly arranges for you… as long as it isn’t wrong, the greatest respect is to give it your full effort and never let them down.
Xiao Wusheng was always deeply satisfied with Yu Xian’s maturity.
To have such a disciple to pass down his legacy—he was truly fortunate.
Xiao Wusheng smiled as he explained; Yu Xian listened intently.
About an hour later, from activating the medicinal properties to the final control of the fire, Xiao Wusheng finished the full explanation.
He smiled and said, “Go back and reflect on it yourself. Memorize it thoroughly. In the future, once you reach the proper realm, even if it’s your first time refining this Jade Spirit Pill, you won’t be nervous.”
Yu Xian nodded. “Understood, thank you, Master.”
“Mm, go on then.”
Xiao Wusheng waved his hand.
Yu Xian bowed and was about to leave, but paused after taking a step.
He almost forgot something.
He turned back and handed Xiao Wusheng a sheet of paper. “Master, please take a look at this pill formula I found by chance.”
“Oh? What formula is this?”
Xiao Wusheng looked surprised and took the paper. He raised an eyebrow. “Hmm? This is…?”
“They said it’s an ancient formula. Master, you are well-learned—please examine it.”
“An ancient formula?”
Xiao Wusheng examined the paper carefully. The more he looked, the more intrigued he became. His eyes sparkled. “Excellent formula! Though I’m unsure what the pill does, based on the properties of its dozens of ingredients, this looks like a great pill—one that helps break through bottlenecks!”
Any pill that aids in breaking through is a “great pill”—like Foundation Building Pill, Golden Core Pill, or Nascent Soul Pill!
Although Foundation Building Pills were common, others weren’t.
“Really?”
Yu Xian’s eyes lit up. If even his master praised it, then those 1,800 spirit stones he spent were well worth it.
But as Xiao Wusheng read on, his expression dimmed. “As expected… look, this ingredient—’Shadow Vein Fruit’—and this one—’Crystal Blackberry’—they’ve been extinct for ages. Many ancient pill formulas that require them have either been replaced with alternatives or become completely useless. This one too. It’s likely unusable now. I don’t have the ability to modify such a formula.”
Yu Xian’s excitement faded.
Just two missing herbs, yet they made all the difference.
Unless he could one day find these extinct ingredients, this formula was practically useless.
Xiao Wusheng handed it back and smiled. “I won’t dwell on this. I don’t have the time or energy. Once you reach Foundation Building or Golden Core and become a real alchemy master, you’ll have a better chance at altering it. Maybe you can revive this nameless ancient pill.”
“Mm!”
Yu Xian nodded heavily and stored the formula. “Then I’ll take my leave.”
“Go on.”
Xiao Wusheng closed his eyes and began contemplating.
He’d only just started learning the Jade Spirit Pill too. He needed to review and reflect on many things.
Yu Xian silently returned to his room, sat cross-legged, and resumed cultivation.
The fourth-tier top-grade Jade Spirit Pill was still far beyond him.
He only needed to memorize everything now—not understand it. When his cultivation and skill reached the proper level, those memories would become familiar knowledge, easily absorbed.
For now, his focus was cultivating his familiar Longevity Wood Spring Art.
Spiritual energy roared into him, converted into liquid by his top-grade wood spiritual root, gradually widening his Qi sea.
The silvery, mercury-like liquid in his sea of energy slowly began to shift toward a solidified state.
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
The Qi sea expanded slightly, but the liquid didn’t seem much different.
Even with a top-grade root, advancing from late-stage Qi Condensation to perfection still required years of bitter cultivation.
Yu Xian opened his eyes—not because he was bored, but because another month had passed.
It was time to sell another batch of goods.
Various talismans, pills, treasures—many items that could fetch nearly 100,000 spirit stones.
And most urgently—he needed a mid-grade storage pouch.
Yu Xian’s belongings were growing numerous.
Not to mention the tens of thousands of spirit stones, there were over thirty talismans capable of attacks from peak Foundation Establishment or early Golden Core experts; a fourth-tier offensive sword Jade Spirit Sword, a defensive treasure Silver Dragon Armor, third-tier weapons like Heavenshaking Sword, Cloud-Chasing Boots, Radiant Heart Mirror, Compassion Cauldron, Dragon-Binding Rope, Heaven-Shrouding Net…
Tons of recovery, healing, explosive-effect pills—dozens of bottles.
A treasure map, an ancient pill formula, several manuals…
A black iron tablet, a body-refining art…
So many items—he needed a 30-meter-space mid-grade pouch to carry everything efficiently.
In a real battle, fumbling through basic pouches could cost critical seconds—seconds that determine life or death.
Shaking his head, Yu Xian gathered ten storage pouches and headed to the Artifact Refining Pavilion.
He would first sell his items, and subtly ask Elder Xu Hao if he could get a mid-grade pouch.
As a major figure in Heishan Market, Xu Hao likely had the connections.
But when he entered the familiar side hall—
It wasn’t Xu Hao nor Li Youmao behind the counter.
It was the Artifact Pavilion Master himself—Yue Pingfeng!
Why was he here again?
Yu Xian didn’t want to see him—not because of guilt, but… it was awkward.
The man once offered him a place in the pavilion, but Yu Xian chose the Pill Pavilion instead.
Though it had been over six months and Yue Pingfeng surely knew, it still felt awkward.
He almost turned to leave.
“Hey! You! Yu Xian, right? Come here, come here!”
Too late.
Yue Pingfeng’s booming voice called out.
Yu Xian sighed, smiled, and walked over.
“Ah, Senior Yue. Long time no see.”
Yue Pingfeng’s face was cold. “You sure are something. I invited you to my Pavilion and you said no—then you turn around and join the Pill Pavilion, becoming Xiao Wusheng’s disciple.”
He glared. “What? You think my Artifact Pavilion is beneath you? That refining pills is better than crafting artifacts?”
Yu Xian scratched his head with an awkward grin. “It’s not like that, Senior. I just prefer alchemy—just like you preferred crafting and not alchemy. It’s a matter of personal passion, not looking down on anything.”
“Hmph.”
Yue Pingfeng snorted. “One day, when you find a powerful artifact blueprint but can’t forge it yourself, you’ll regret it. Pills are one thing—but blueprints often contain irreplaceable materials. Once crafted, they’re gone. Someone else forges it, and you may never get it back.”
Yu Xian blinked. “Why wouldn’t they give it back? Can’t I just pay them?”
“Hahaha!”
Yue Pingfeng laughed. “You’ll see. Powerful blueprints consume themselves in the process. They’re part of the weapon. So the person who forges it often keeps it. High-realm cultivators all learn to forge because they want to make life-bound artifacts. Understand?”
Yu Xian stood there, half-understanding.
So alchemy might seem better early on, but the higher you go—the more crucial artifact forging becomes!
After some hesitation, Yu Xian whispered, “Then… maybe I could secretly learn from you on the side? I won’t tell my master…”
“Get lost!”
Yue Pingfeng rolled his eyes. “Dream on. You’re already Xiao Wusheng’s disciple. Speak—why are you here today? Buying or selling?”
Yu Xian placed ten pouches down. “Selling, Senior. Please take a look.”
Though he had no talent for seeing through people, Yu Xian felt Yue Pingfeng was a decent man.
Had he not met Xiao Wusheng, he might have become Yue’s disciple.
So—he’d sell everything here in one go.
Yue Pingfeng raised a brow. Even the empty pouches themselves were valuable.
“A disciple of late-stage Qi Condensation with so many bags… Your master gave you all this?”
Yu Xian remained calm and composed.
Yue Pingfeng chuckled. “Selling behind your master’s back? Aren’t you afraid he’ll punish you?”
He began checking the contents and nodded. “Xiao Wusheng treats you well. Eleven thousand spirit stones. Deal?”
Yu Xian smiled gratefully. “Deal. But I’d like to buy a mid-grade storage pouch.”
“Mid-grade?” Yue Pingfeng squinted. “Why would a late-stage Qi Condensation cultivator need something that big?”
Then he remembered—those items couldn’t possibly fit into low-grade ones.
“…Fine. Add three thousand more spirit stones and I’ll give you one. These are hard to make—space stones are rarer than ever. Got the stones?”
Yu Xian paused.
Wasn’t it supposed to be around ten thousand? Why was it more?
But he didn’t question it aloud.
He quickly pulled out four more bags full of spirit stones.
Yue Pingfeng grinned and pocketed them. “Impressive. Your wealth beats most early Foundation Establishment cultivators.”
Yu Xian just smiled.
Yue Pingfeng tossed him a purple pouch, inscribed with complex runes—mid-grade, with 30 meters of internal space!
Yu Xian took it, suppressing his excitement. “Thank you, Senior! I will remember your kindness.”
“It’s a fair trade. Go, go. Don’t interrupt my business.”
Yu Xian bowed once more and turned to leave.
“A pity… such a good seedling, wasted on alchemy…” Yue Pingfeng muttered as he watched him go.
Outside, Yu Xian beamed with joy!
Everything had gone so smoothly, it was unbelievable.
Though he spent extra, the mid-grade pouch was worth every stone!
Thirty meters of space—more than enough, with plenty left!
He silently noted Yue Pingfeng’s kindness. He would repay it one day… maybe.
For now, he still didn’t fully trust anyone except Xiao Wusheng.
Back in his room, Yu Xian organized everything into the new pouch.
Six or seven thousand spirit stones and a few mid-grade ones were stacked together—glimmering with wealth.
Pills and talismans had their own neat sections. At a single thought, he could pull anything out.
Looking at the clean, orderly space, Yu Xian smiled in satisfaction.
After organizing, he exhaled and resumed his meditation.
And just like that—three months passed in the blink of an eye.
Until one day, a transmission talisman lit up.
“Disciple, the Alchemy Conference of Medicine King Valley starts in a few days. If we leave now, we’ll arrive just in time.”
Yu Xian’s eyes opened. He got up from his bed and headed straight for the garden courtyard.
