Chapter 191: Beast Advancement via Spirit Pill, A Trip to the Blazing Fire Market

Midnight.

Tonight, the moon was absent. Clouds drifted through the sky, gradually gathering—suggesting heavy rain in the latter half of the night.

At the foot of a low mountain, an Eight-Cloud Flight-Forbidding Formation occupied a hundred-meter area, shrouded in drifting mist.

But given the darkness, the mist did little to conceal anything—it was simply invisible in the night.

Within the array’s bounds, a mountain cave sat hidden.

Inside the cave, Yu Xian sat cross-legged, his expression calm and tranquil.

The little Phoenix Cat rested on his shoulder, tail flicking lazily as it yawned wide, clearly bored out of its mind.

Yunzhong Lu, meanwhile, was curled nearby like a brooding hen, head tilting left and right, eyes full of confusion.

What is Master doing?

Yu Xian’s face remained indifferent, eyes unfocused—but his mind was racing.

The Snake Spit Pearl could be used to refine thirteen types of pills.

Eight of them were spirit beast pills.

Back at the Golden Scale Pavilion, although Yu Xian hadn’t had time to refine the Snake Spit Pearl, he had managed to gather several pill recipes.

Now he recalled one in particular—a mid-grade Tier-Five beast pill called the Trueblood Reversal Bone Pill.

He already had all the ingredients prepared.

Naturally, this pill wasn’t easy to refine. While the other spiritual herbs were replaceable, the Snake Spit Pearl was his only one. If he failed, there wouldn’t be a second chance.

“Meow…”

The little Phoenix Cat was smarter than Yunzhong Lu. It had realized Yu Xian was concocting something for it—something to make it stronger, purify its bloodline.

It couldn’t help but meow, impatient.

“Don’t make noise.”

Yu Xian’s voice was cool and steady as he replied, “Down.”

Reluctantly, the Phoenix Cat mewled again and leapt down from his shoulder.

It liked its master’s shoulder—he had a subtle scent cats liked, comforting yet mysterious.

But Master was too cold. That unblinking gaze made it feel like he could kill it at any moment…

Yu Xian exhaled lightly and waved his hand.

An ember-red cauldron flew out and settled before him.

Another wave, and piles of Dragonflame charcoal, herbs, and finally—the Snake Spit Pearl—appeared.

Gulp…

The moment the Snake Spit Pearl appeared, Yunzhong Lu straightened its wobbly neck, eyes gleaming with desire.

The Phoenix Cat’s pupils shrank as it stared hungrily too—but it didn’t dare approach.

Yunzhong Lu shuffled forward uncontrollably.

It wasn’t smart, but it knew that if it begged well, Master might let it eat that Pearl!

It could feel it—if it ate this, it could break through to Tier 3!

It would no longer lag behind the Cloudrider Crane, maybe even surpass it in speed!

Yu Xian placed a palm on its head, gently pushing it back.

“Be patient,” he said. “A proper beast pill works better than raw swallowing. Go wait.”

Though it didn’t understand his words, Yunzhong Lu obediently retreated and resumed its brooding pose.

The Phoenix Cat crouched down like a loaf, staring intently.

Yu Xian’s expression remained calm as he raised the Pearl before him and waved.

Eight blocks of Dragonflame charcoal ignited under the cauldron.

BOOM!

A flash of lightning lit the outside world. Rain poured down in sheets. Cold wind and water rushed in—only to be repelled by a wave of heat.

Yu Xian’s gaze turned serious. The furnace was ready.

With a sharp flick, he tossed in the Snake Spit Pearl.

The flames blazed fiercely, heat rising to a terrifying degree.

The Pearl began to melt.

Sensing this change, Yu Xian’s eyes sharpened. He moved.

Six vines shot from his back, while his hands danced in a blur. Threads of spiritual energy surged, tossing in each herb in perfect rhythm!

Yunzhong Lu was dumbfounded, clueless about the intricate technique.

The Phoenix Cat could barely follow the movement, its eyes sparkling as it watched Yu Xian’s hand technique.

THUD!

With a final motion, Yu Xian slammed the cauldron lid shut. The cave fell silent, save for the roar of fire.

A rich medicinal scent began to spread.

The Phoenix Cat’s eyes glowed red with excitement.

Yunzhong Lu stood up, sniffing the air wildly, tail flailing—but still didn’t dare approach.

Yu Xian continued feeding spiritual energy into the cauldron, adjusting flame intensity and circulating energy to perfectly fuse the herbs and pearl.

Half an hour passed.

Suddenly, Yu Xian let out a low shout and pointed.

The flames surged to their peak for ten breaths, then vanished completely.

Clang!

The lid flew open.

Three fist-sized pills, glowing pale blue with a greenish sheen, shot out and landed before him.

Trueblood Reversal Bone Pill — Mid-Grade, Tier Five.

Only three.

Perhaps due to Yu Xian’s limited alchemy cultivation, the pills turned out large—beast pills were typically big, but higher quality ones were smaller and more refined.

“Meow!”

“Gu-ga! Guu! Gaaa!”

The Phoenix Cat and Yunzhong Lu couldn’t wait anymore. They cried out, begging for the pills.

Their desire for them was even greater than for the original Snake Spit Pearl.

“Enough.”

Yu Xian waved a hand, stowing away the red cauldron.

“These are for you.”

He stored one pill and tossed the remaining two—one to each beast.

Yunzhong Lu lunged, catching the pill in its beak and swallowing it whole.

The Phoenix Cat pounced like a tiger, claws out, fangs bared. It seized the pill and began gnawing it aggressively.

Yu Xian let out a soft sigh, his sweat evaporating in a burst of heat. Then he closed his eyes and began circulating Everlife Springwood Art, surrounding himself with a gentle green aura.

Yunzhong Lu collapsed two breaths later, limp and unconscious.

The Phoenix Cat devoured the pill completely, tried to lick its paws—but then its eyes rolled back, and it too fell into a deep sleep.

Trueblood Reversal—awaken ancient bloodlines, temper the marrow.

It’s said that all birds and beasts descend from ancient divine species.

Even a common chicken could have a divine ancestor.

Now, under the pill’s power, the two beasts were undergoing massive transformation—returning to their ancestral bloodlines.

Success wasn’t guaranteed—but very likely.

Blazing Fire City was prosperous—not as grand as Mo City, but far superior to smaller towns Yu Xian had passed. There were designated trade zones, and spiritual energy was dense.

This made it a hotspot for rogue cultivators.

Yu Xian calmly stepped through the city and found a decent inn.

He rented an upper-tier room for 30 spirit stones—not a place to skimp. It was spacious, elegant, and quiet.

He sat on the bed and began meditating, recovering spiritual energy after a long day of travel.

After about two incense sticks’ time, he opened his eyes, fully restored.

But then he paused.

His divine sense swept into the beast pouch.

Yunzhong Lu had awakened.

It was flitting around within the 3-zhang beast pouch space, wings flicking rapidly, expertly avoiding the spatial walls.

Its feathers gleamed whiter than before. It had grown noticeably in size, and a new crimson tail feather had emerged.

It was now a true Tier 3 spirit beast!

Its speed could rival—perhaps even surpass—that of a Cloudrider Crane.

Yu Xian smiled.

With Yunzhong Lu’s advancement, it would remain useful until he reached Foundation Establishment Perfection.

And after that?

Who said it couldn’t reach Tier 4?

As for the Phoenix Cat…

Yu Xian’s gaze shifted to a corner.

It was still fast asleep, but a fifth crimson stripe had formed. Its body had grown smaller, not larger.

Most spirit beasts grew with advancement—but this one had shrunk?

Yu Xian pondered, then smiled.

Smaller meant more agile—perhaps this was its path.

He turned away, rose, and exited the inn.

Within any major market, there would always be places to buy and sell information.

Yu Xian was here to investigate the identities of several rogue Golden Core cultivators he’d encountered before.

Using a Tier Five beast pill on a Tier 2 bird and a Tier 3 cat? Outrageous waste.

Many cultivators would scold him as a fool.

The pill’s value far exceeded the beasts’ worth.

Which is why few raised spirit beasts—they weren’t worth the investment.

But Yu Xian didn’t care. He had the Snake Spit Pearl and pills to spare.

Rain fell harder and harder, thunder rumbling.

But the storm came fast and left just as quickly. Within an hour, it cleared—stars glittered across the ink-black sky.

Yu Xian ended his cultivation.

The two beasts still slept, their bellies slowly rising and falling.

He waved, drew them into the beast pouch, and exited the cave.

He dismantled the Eight-Cloud Formation and flew west on a drifting white cloud under moonlight.

The two beasts would need days—perhaps weeks—to finish evolving.

Until then, he would travel alone.

It would take twenty days to reach Blazing Fire Sect, then on to Medicine King Valley—a journey of over 100,000 li.

Flying cautiously, he rested at towns along the way, cultivating and refining his body with the Grand Pill Body Technique.

He also asked around—but even mentions of alchemist Golden Core cultivators were nonexistent.

Most rogue cultivators didn’t know a thing about high-level cultivators.

Ten days passed.

Ahead lay a towering mountain.

Just a few li further—was Blazing Fire Sect.

Yu Xian now knew a bit about its background.

A Golden Core late-stage cultivator had founded it. It stayed independent from major sects and had joined the Rogue Cultivator Alliance, helping conquer the Three Great Sects.

Though it didn’t merge with Blood River Sect, its status grew rapidly.

It now held sway over the entire surrounding region.

“Blazing Fire Sect…”

Yu Xian’s gaze sharpened.

The sect had three known Golden Core cultivators, and possibly several more rogue ones of unknown identity.

Perhaps his master was hiding here—just like Yue Pingfeng at Golden Scale Pavilion.

It was worth investigating.

He descended a li away and walked toward the gate.

The sect wasn’t small—over a thousand Qi Condensation disciples, more than twenty Foundation Establishment elders, and three Golden Core grand elders.

Yu Xian, as a rogue cultivator, had no right to enter.

But like a few kinder sects, Blazing Fire Sect maintained an outer market for rogue cultivators.

It was a place to trade, rest, and live—a courtesy long gone in the Six Great Sects.

As Yu Xian walked forward, more and more cultivators appeared, flying overhead or moving swiftly along the road.

Before him rose a massive city-like market, built right beneath the mountain gate of Blazing Fire Sect.

He stepped inside.

No entrance fee.

Clearly, Blazing Fire Sect aimed to win over rogue cultivators—perhaps to recruit future disciples.

Yu Xian’s journey in the Blazing Fire Market had officially begun.