https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-425-The-Disillusioning-Five-Elements-Array/12544506/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-427-Unveiling-the-Art-of-Pill-Refining-to-its-Limits/12544508/
Chapter 426: Stealing Seeds from the Elixir Palace
Chapter 426: Stealing Seeds from the Elixir Palace
"A fifth-grade array!" Lu Chen exclaimed in a hushed tone.
"The Illusory Demise Five Elements Array can trap or even seriously injure Foundation Establishment cultivators. Its power is truly terrifying."
He examined the array flags and plates in his hands, his eyes sparkling with delight as the five-colored spiritual energy swirled and shifted.
"This is the third array I've obtained from the spiritual herb light groups," he mused.
"I obtained the Thousand Illusions Misty Smoke Array from the Fantasy Smoke Pomegranate, the Flowlight Talisman Array from the Flowlight Wood, and now the Illusory Demise Five Elements Array."
Lu Chen carefully stored away the array flags and plates, deciding to use them the next time he visited Jianmen Town to fortify the defenses around his yard in the underworld.
Within it were numerous fourth and fifth-grade spiritual herbs, and although only the Saint Infant Guzi from the sinister cultivator had attempted to intrude once so far, enhancing the yard's defenses would undoubtedly ease Lu Chen's worries.
He rarely ventured out, seldom getting the chance to deploy arrays against foes, so keeping the arrays within the sect would be a waste. Setting them up around the yard, on the other hand, was a perfect fit.
"With the Five Elements Fruit now mature, I need to hand it over to the Dan Palace, along with the other spiritual herbs they entrusted me to cultivate—the Hidden Root Grass and Jade Dew Fruit. While I'm at it, I might as well steal some more seeds from the Dan Palace." Lu Chen thought to himself.
Having just acquired a fifth-grade spirit seed from Qingxu Zhenren, Lu Chen wasn't satisfied. He decided to pay another visit to the Dan Palace, the wealthiest palace in the Celestial Sword Sect, for a little 'harvest'.
"It's not just about the spirit seeds, though," he justified to himself. "I mainly want to provide my fellow sect members in the Dan Palace with better medicinal ingredients so they can refine higher-grade pills."
With a slightly embarrassed expression, he took out a talisman from his storage bag—a communication talisman of Dan Palace's pill-refining master, Guan Wan. He infused it with spiritual energy and sent a message.
"Sister Guan, the Five Elements Fruit you entrusted me with has successfully matured. If you're free now, I can bring it to you."
"Really? That's wonderful! There's no need for you to go through the trouble, Brother Lu. I'll come to you directly."
Moments later, a reply came through the talisman, and Guan Wan's gentle voice echoed from within, laced with a hint of delight.
Hearing this, Lu Chen could only wait in his cave abode.
Perhaps due to the extreme importance of the Five Elements Fruit, Guan Wan arrived swiftly. No sooner had the reply come through the talisman than she appeared outside the cave abode.
"Welcome, Sister Guan," Lu Chen greeted with a smile.
"Brother Lu, your cave abode is filled with even more diverse and higher-grade spiritual herbs," Guan Wan remarked as she followed Lu Chen, her eyes drifting over the myriad spiritual herbs shrouded in the dense white mist.
"I spend most of my days tending to these plants," Lu Chen smiled. "Before I know it, their numbers keep growing."
"I should also thank you, Sister Guan, for helping me obtain numerous spirit seeds for pill refining from the Dan Palace," he added.
"Brother Lu, you're too kind," Guan Wan said with a slight smile. "Being able to obtain those spirit seeds was mostly due to your own prowess in spiritual herb cultivation. My role wasn't that significant."
As they entered the yard, Lu Chen brought out spiritual fruits and nectars, offering hospitality to Guan Wan.
After some casual conversation, Lu Chen took out a jade box from his storage bag and presented it to Guan Wan. "Please verify the Five Elements Fruit."
"There won't be any issues with anything from Brother Lu," Guan Wan nodded gently. Although she had utmost faith in Lu Chen, she still needed to go through the formalities. She carefully inspected the spiritual fruit, even testing it with her spiritual energy.
"The fruit is perfectly formed, and its quality has even reached the 'good' level," she appraised.
"It's truly challenging to cultivate a fourth-grade spiritual herb to full maturity. I didn't expect you, Brother Lu, to not only complete the task but also cultivate a spiritual fruit of good quality.
"Even the Nascent Soul Pill Master might only have more experience, but when it comes to a specific spirit plant, he may not be as skilled as you." Guan Wan couldn't help but admire.
"Sister Guan, you flatter me. I still have a long way to go," Lu Chen replied humbly.
"As the Five Elements Fruit is a fourth-grade spirit plant, according to our previous agreement, the reward for successful cultivation is one hundred Sword Seals. With the fruit's good quality, I'll add another fifty Sword Seals. Here are one hundred and fifty Sword Seals, please check them." Guan Wan waved her hand, and a small pile of Sword Seals floated towards Lu Chen.
Lu Chen nodded after scanning them with his spiritual sense. "The count is correct." He expressed his gratitude and carefully stored away the Sword Seals, a considerable sum that could purchase a new fourth-grade spirit seed from the Agricultural Hall. This interaction gave him a sense of the wealth and resources commanded by the Dan Palace.
"I was just thinking about asking, but you've already offered," Lu Chen said, eager to continue their arrangement.
"Brother Lu, are you willing to cultivate more Five Elements Fruits?" Guan Wan asked.
Lu Chen eagerly nodded his agreement. "It would be my honor to contribute in any way to the Dan Palace's esteemed pill refiners."
"Wonderful," Guan Wan said softly. "I'll check if we have any ready Five Elements Fruit spirit seeds in the Agricultural Hall. If not, I'll send you a few after they're condensed."
She paused, a thoughtful look on her face, before continuing, "Brother Lu, have you ever considered pursuing pill refining?"
"Pill refining?" Lu Chen's eyes lit up at the suggestion.
"Indeed," Guan Wan affirmed. "Cultivating spirit plants and refining pills are interconnected to a large degree. Most pill refiners in the Dan Palace have experience in cultivating spirit plants, but their skills pale in comparison to yours."
"With your profound knowledge of spirit plants and the ability to produce a large quantity of high-quality spirit herbs, it would be a waste not to utilize them for pill refining," she added.
Lu Chen lowered his head in contemplation. Most of the spirit plants and fruits he cultivated were for personal use, to barter for spirit seeds, or to feed his spirit beasts. Only a small portion was traded for other resources. He had rarely considered pill refining before, focusing solely on spirit plant cultivation. However, after absorbing the Foundation Establishment Pill formulae, the idea had started to occur to him from time to time.
"It would be a waste not to refine Foundation Establishment Pills with such a scarce resource. It would be a disservice to the pill formulae I've absorbed," he mused.
"Whether openly or in secret, refining Foundation Establishment Pills is inevitable," he thought. "Joining the Dan Palace as a pill refiner would give me a legitimate reason to refine them. I could even supply the sect with pills, opening up a new channel."
(End of Chapter)
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