Chapter 209: The Art of Spirit Gathering, an Astonishing Pill Success Rate

Chapter 209: The Art of Spirit Gathering, an Astonishing Pill Success Rate

"A ninety percent success rate!"

Below the high platform, aside from the numerous Qi Refining disciples and ordinary pill masters, even the four stewards of the Pill Refining Pavilion were astonished, especially Xu Minghua.

The Purple Gold Pill was his choice, and it was one of the elixirs he refined most frequently.

Even as a mid-tier intermediate pill master, when refining this low-tier intermediate elixir, his success rate was usually around ninety percent at best.

Yet, he had been refining this pill for many years.

"This Chu Ning, could it be that he's been refining nothing but the Purple Gold Pill for the past six months? But even so..."

Xu Minghua's eyes showed a hint of disbelief.

The other three stewards felt much the same; after all, an eighty percent success rate was vastly different from ninety percent.

Even Ling Cang's eyes flickered with a hint of surprise at this moment.

However, as a Golden Core cultivator with exceptionally high innate talent for pill refining, he didn't consider this intermediate-low grade spirit pill to be particularly impressive.

Thus, despite his slight surprise, he didn't show much of a reaction.

On the platform, Chu Ning swept his gaze across the crowd, vaguely able to make out their expressions.

Knowing that everyone had seen the pills he refined, Chu Ning waved his hand and collected all the pills into jade bottles.

Then, with another wave, he directly used the Expelling Technique to place the bottles on a table in one corner of the high platform.

This was obviously done to allow everyone to inspect the quality of the pills later.

To prevent anyone from accusing Chu Ning of switching the pills.

At this time, Chu Ning slightly cleaned his pill furnace and began refining the next type of pill.

And when they saw the medicinal materials Chu Ning took out, many people couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"Foundation Building Pill!"

Especially those Qi Refining disciples, their gazes towards Chu Ning heated up even more at this moment.

Over the past year, the Nine Lotus Sect had been extremely lacking in Foundation Building Pills.

The main reason was that there wasn't a single pill master with a high success rate for refining this pill.

And the rarity of the medicinal materials required for this pill was no less than that of many intermediate-middle or even high-grade pills.

So, at this moment, seeing Chu Ning refining the Foundation Building Pill, to be honest, many Qi Refining cultivators were hoping in their hearts that his success rate would be high enough.

After all, the Nine Lotus Sect had numerous Qi Refining disciples, not to mention the several dependent large clans.

For ordinary disciples to obtain a Foundation Building Pill, their greatest hope was for an increased supply of the pill.

Especially those Qi Refining cultivators who had reached the peak of their cultivation, their gazes towards Chu Ning were filled with burning anticipation.

"If Steward Chu's success rate for the Foundation Building Pill can reach eighty percent or higher, then perhaps I can also get one Foundation Building Pill!"

Of course, the sect's elders were also interested as they watched Chu Ning refine the Foundation Building Pill.

How could they be unaware of the severe shortage of Foundation Building Pills within the sect?

On the high platform, Chu Ning remained as calm as he had been when refining the Purple Gold Pill before.

This was the fourth time he had refined the Foundation Building Pill.

Aside from the first time when he refined it as Xiao Dan'er, he had refined it three more times in the past six months with the medicinal materials provided by He Yanmao.

Although this pill was known as the most difficult to refine among low-tier intermediate elixirs.

Chu Ning could easily achieve a hundred percent success rate if he wanted to.

In fact, he had indeed done so on previous occasions.

However, at this moment, with so many cultivators watching, Chu Ning naturally wouldn't choose to do that.

Displaying an eighty or ninety percent success rate was already enough to astonish everyone, and if he showed a perfect success rate, it might backfire.

Golden Origin Grass, Spirit Tree Fruit, Scarlet Fruit, Celestial Silver Frost Dew, Soul Spirit Grass, Dragon Whiskers Grass...

Chu Ning placed each of these spirit herbs into the pill furnace and began the extraction and purification process.

When he added the most crucial herb for the Foundation Building Pill, the Heaven and Earth Flower, into the pill furnace.

Chu Ning no longer used the ordinary technique from before.

Instead, he employed a more profound and esoteric fire control technique, continuously casting several intricate incantations that landed on the pill furnace.

He began to control the Earth Fire with utmost precision to extract and refine the Heaven and Earth Flower.

"Hmm?"

When Chu Ning cast these incantations.

Even Ling Cang and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Pill Refining Pavilion were somewhat surprised.

"This incantation is incredibly profound, falling just a tiny bit short of the fire control technique required for the Nine Lotus Spirit Consolidation Pill.

This Steward Chu truly lives up to his reputation!"

As for Yuan Rongzhang and Geng Wansheng, their brows furrowed slightly, and they exchanged a glance.

Then, Yuan Rongzhang gave Geng Wansheng a reassuring look.

For that brief moment, they had indeed been worried that Chu Ning had already mastered this profound fire control incantation.

They wondered if he would also be able to quickly grasp the fire control technique required for the Nine Lotus Spirit Consolidation Pill.

After all, it was like comparing two entirely different spells; just because one was proficient in one type of fire spell didn't mean learning another would be easy.

At this moment, on the high platform, Chu Ning had completed a series of extractions and purifications.

He then proceeded to the subsequent steps of melting, separating, and condensing the elixir.

Throughout this process, his spiritual sense remained attuned to the situation within the furnace.

Once the elixir had been separated into nine portions, Chu Ning executed several techniques, causing the temperature inside the furnace to drop instantly to a reasonable range.

At the same time, he injected his spiritual power into the pill furnace, enveloping the Foundation Building Pills.

Just as the nine pills were about to fully condense, Chu Ning slightly disturbed the spiritual sense focused on one of them.

Instantly, that particular pill turned into a pile of waste.

The other eight pills, however, successfully took on the shape of completed elixirs.

Chu Ning immediately cast another technique.

"Spirit Gathering?"

When Chu Ning executed this technique, Ling Cang couldn't help but murmur softly.

Hearing this, Su Yuqing and the others behind him exchanged glances, their eyes once again filled with surprise.

Of course, they were familiar with the Spirit Gathering technique.

However, some of the ordinary disciples didn't understand this method, and they were thoroughly confused at the moment.

Especially those who weren't disciples of the Pill Refining Pavilion, they started whispering among themselves.

"What is Steward Chu doing? I thought the pills had already condensed?"

"Yeah, did something go wrong with the Foundation Building Pills?"

These words naturally reached the ears of the Golden Core elders.

Seizing the opportunity, Ling Cang decided to educate the younger disciples about pill refining. His voice resonated throughout the arena as he explained, "Spirit Gathering is a pill refining step that occurs after the pills have condensed but before they are retrieved. It has two effects: first, it can seal the medicinal power of the pills, allowing it to be stored for a longer period.

Secondly, for certain types of pills, the Spirit Gathering technique can enhance their efficacy."

After Ling Cang's explanation, the others fell silent and listened attentively.

"The Spirit Gathering technique was commonly used by ancient cultivators when refining pills because back then, there were fewer cultivators, and spiritual ingredients were abundant.

Cultivators had an ample supply of pills, and sometimes they wouldn't consume them for hundreds of years. So, they would use the Spirit Gathering technique to preserve the pills for extended periods, often lasting centuries.

Nowadays, with the scarcity of critical pills, it's rare for any to remain unused for over a hundred years."

From this explanation, the crowd inferred that the Spirit Gathering technique was likely less commonly used nowadays, and consequently, fewer people would be proficient in it.

At this moment, Ling Cang's voice paused slightly before continuing, "As for enhancing the efficacy, only specific types of pills are suitable for this technique.

The amplifying effect isn't particularly significant, and if used improperly, it can cause a successfully condensed pill to fail.

That's why modern pill refiners rarely employ the Spirit Gathering technique."

As he spoke, Ling Cang's eyes flickered.

"However, for pills like the Foundation Building Pill, using the Spirit Gathering technique is appropriate.

The process of foundation establishment is exceptionally delicate and subtle, sometimes hinging on the finest of margins.

This seemingly insignificant boost in efficacy could very well mean the difference between success and failure for a cultivator attempting to establish their foundation."

Upon hearing Ling Cang's explanation, everyone finally understood. The Qi Refining disciples stared at Chu Ning with even more eager gazes.

They were all curious to see how many Foundation Building Pills Chu Ning had refined after using the Spirit Gathering technique.

While Ling Cang was explaining the effects of Spirit Gathering to the crowd, Chu Ning, separated from them by the restrictive barriers, couldn't hear a thing.

He had indeed used the Spirit Gathering technique for the reason Ling Cang mentioned.

After infusing his spiritual energy into the pill furnace and integrating it with the Foundation Building Pills, Chu Ning proceeded to the retrieval stage.

Just like before with the Purple Gold Pills, Chu Ning clapped his hands, and several pills flew out of the pill furnace, floating in the air in a straight line.

When everyone saw the number of pills, even louder exclamations than before erupted throughout the arena.

"Eight pills!"

"A ninety percent success rate for the Foundation Building Pill as well!"

"Our sect will finally have more Foundation Building Pills!"

...

Some of the Qi Refining disciples couldn't contain their joy.

As for the pill refiners in the Pill Refining Pavilion, whether they were at the Qi Refining stage or the Foundation Establishment stage, their eyes were filled with shock.

It was common knowledge that the Foundation Building Pill was difficult to refine!

Even He Yanmao, a mid-tier intermediate pill master, had mentioned that despite refining it numerous times, his success rate wasn't high.

Yet, Chu Ning had somehow achieved a ninety percent success rate for this elusive pill!

This outcome was beyond everyone's expectations.

But he never expected that this time, Chu Ning would directly refine eight Foundation Building Pills.

A ninety percent success rate!

At this moment, Yuan Rongzhang's expression turned rather unpleasant.

Chu Ning hadn't refined the last two types of pills yet, but he already had an inkling that things might not go well for him.

With just this skill in refining the Foundation Building Pill, Chu Ning's status in the Pill Refining Pavilion would not be low.

After all, the Foundation Building Pill was a type of breakthrough pill with a vast number of users.

"But he definitely can't refine the Nine Lotus Spirit Consolidation Pill!"

Yuan Rongzhang forcefully suppressed the sense of foreboding, trying to reassure himself.

Only then did he feel slightly better.

Then, he exhaled softly, careful not to reveal any unusual expressions.

Yuan Rongzhang was very clear about Ling Cang's personality. This Golden Core elder was extremely strict when it came to rules and principles.

If Chu Ning failed to meet the requirements in even one of the pills today, Yuan Rongzhang was certain that Ling Cang would not allow Chu Ning to become the steward.

Amidst the crowd's enthusiastic gazes, Chu Ning nonchalantly placed the Foundation Building Pills next to the Purple Gold Pills, beginning the refinement of the next type of pill, the Six Spirit Pill.

Relatively speaking, this type of pill, used by Foundation Establishment cultivators, was not as well-known in the Nine Lotus Sect as the Foundation Building Pill.

Hence, as Chu Ning refined this pill, it naturally didn't attract as much attention.

Many people were still discussing the Foundation Building Pills that Chu Ning had refined earlier.

However, when Chu Ning refined four Six Spirit Pills, Su Yuqing's eyes flickered with surprise.

This pill was her specialty, and although it was of medium difficulty among intermediate-grade middle-tier pills, for Chu Ning to achieve a success rate of over fifty percent still surprised her greatly.

If Chu Ning had only researched this type of pill for the past six months, it would be understandable.

But during this period, Chu Ning had also studied the Purple Gold Pill and the Foundation Building Pill, managing to increase the success rates of both to ninety percent while still achieving a success rate of nearly sixty percent for the Six Spirit Pill.

This truly astonished Su Yuqing.

"The real difficulty of this pill lies in the extraction process and the application of spiritual sense. It seems that this Chu Shidi's spiritual sense is also quite strong."

Su Yuqing thought to herself.

She didn't know that Chu Ning was still holding back.

Since the refinement of the Six Spirit Pill heavily relied on the application of spiritual sense, Chu Ning could easily achieve a success rate of seven out of nine pills if he wanted to.

The fact that he allowed two pills to fail made him feel a bit wasteful.

After all, he could also use this pill himself.

As they watched Chu Ning put away the Six Spirit Pills and start cleaning his pill furnace again, just like before, the crowd in the arena became even more astonished and surprised.

"He's successfully refined three types of pills in a row, with a high success rate for each. Could he really be able to refine all four types?"

"Steward Chu is cleaning his pill furnace again. Could he really be planning to refine the Nine Lotus Spirit Consolidation Pill?"

"And isn't he going to take a break to restore his spiritual energy and spiritual sense?"

...

Even Ling Cang, Gong Yuyuan, and the other Golden Core elders looked at Chu Ning with a calm expression, their gazes turning more serious.

Meanwhile, Yuan Rongzhang, Geng Wansheng, and the others wore doubtful expressions.

The late-stage Golden Core elder, Yuan Zhuo, also sent a questioning glance toward Yuan Rongzhang.

Although he was a Golden Core elder, he wasn't skilled in pill refining and didn't understand these techniques as well as Yuan Rongzhang did.

Yuan Rongzhang's face showed a hint of hesitation, and his gaze still betrayed his disbelief.

However, when he saw the ingredients that Chu Ning took out, his expression changed slightly.

"Wind Spirit Fruit, Nine Dragon Lingzhi... Could he really be planning to refine the Nine Lotus Spirit Consolidation Pill?"

Seeing this, Yuan Rongzhang stared fixedly at Chu Ning, his eyes not moving an inch.

Most of the others did the same. Everyone in the Nine Lotus Sect had heard of the Nine Lotus Spirit Consolidation Pill.

However, not many had actually witnessed its refinement.

They only knew that this pill was extremely difficult to refine and was the most challenging among the intermediate-grade middle-tier pills of the Nine Lotus Sect.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, after taking out the spirit herbs, Chu Ning didn't immediately throw them into the pill furnace.

Instead, he quickly formed several incantations with his hands and cast them onto the pill furnace.

"How is this possible?"

As soon as Chu Ning skillfully cast the incantations, Yuan Rongzhang, who had been sitting, stood up abruptly.

Chu Ning was casting the fire control incantation for the Nine Lotus Spirit Consolidation Pill, which Yuan Rongzhang was familiar with!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end