https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-481-The-Illuminating-Sword-Heart/12544573/
Chapter 480: Restricted, Yet Unrestricted
Chapter 480: Restricted, Yet Unrestricted
Lu Chen directly draped the Fifth-Grade Qingfeng Feather Cloak over his shoulders, replacing his previous Invisible Spirit Cloak.
Gazing at the thriving Cangyuan Grass and the tender Yulu Fruit that had just sprouted in his Spirit Field, he decided to pay a visit to the Dan Hall to acquire the condensation methods for these two spirit herbs.
Now that he had obtained the formula for the Foundation Establishment Pill from the Dan Hall, he wouldn't need to be so secretive about refining them in the future.
Both the Cangyuan Grass and the Yulu Fruit were primary ingredients for refining Foundation Establishment Pills. However, the ones in his Spirit Field were being cultivated on behalf of the Dan Hall, so he couldn't use them without permission.
Although he could purchase refining materials at a low price from the Dan Hall, the quantity was limited, and the prices were higher than if he cultivated them himself.
Once he obtained the condensation methods for these two spirit herbs, he could increase their production and refine a large number of Foundation Establishment Pills.
He called the Fat Bird over and rode it to the Ministry of Agriculture.
"Uncle Lu," a familiar voice called out as he passed through the outer hall of the Ministry of Agriculture.
A plain-looking monk with a dark complexion, like an old farmer, turned to look at him.
"Brother Xia," Lu Chen greeted him. He had interacted with this monk, Xia Chen, quite a bit when he was still an outer disciple, trading for many second to fourth-grade spirit seeds.
"You don't look too stable in your qi and blood. Did something happen?" Lu Chen noticed the lack of color in Xia Chen's dark face and, with his enhanced eyesight from practicing the Pomo Eye Technique, he could tell at a glance that the old farmer monk wasn't in a good state.
"I tried to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage recently, but unfortunately, I failed," Xia Chen said, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes.
Lu Chen paused upon hearing this.
"Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage is never easy. If you don't succeed at first, just try again," he encouraged.
"Take good care of your spiritual power, body, and soul, and adjust them to their optimal state before attempting it again," Lu Chen said consolingly before entering the inner hall.
The old farmer monk watched as Lu Chen's figure disappeared, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He had a deep impression of Lu Chen. Even back when he was just an outer disciple, Lu Chen had already started cultivating the third-grade Sword Gourd and even the fourth-grade Xuan Insect Vine.
He recalled that back then, Lu Chen's cultivation was even weaker than his, yet now, after so many years, he still hadn't successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, while Lu Chen had already reached the mid-Foundation Establishment stage and had become renowned within the Celestial Sword Sect for his exquisite spirit herb cultivation techniques.
"It's a pity that I didn't befriend him properly back then. Otherwise, relying on our past friendship, perhaps he would have helped me," Xia Chen thought with a twinge of regret.
...
Lu Chen entered the inner hall and approached a young monk with an ordinary appearance and a calm and steady aura.
"Brother Zhang, it's been a while," he greeted.
The young man, Zhang Ce, looked up and smiled warmly upon seeing Lu Chen.
"It's Brother Lu. Are you here to select spirit seeds again?" Zhang Ce asked. Lu Chen had come to the inner hall of the Ministry of Agriculture several times, and they were acquainted with each other.
"This time, I mainly want to exchange for the condensation methods of two spirit herbs and get some corresponding spirit seeds," Lu Chen explained.
"Oh? Which types of spirit herbs' condensation methods are you interested in?" Zhang Ce asked curiously.
"The third-grade Cangyuan Grass and Yulu Fruit," Lu Chen replied.
"I recall that upon breaking through to the early and mid-Foundation Establishment stages, one can obtain the condensation method for one type of third-grade spirit herb for free. I've already exchanged it for the Sword Gourd in the past. I wonder if I can get one of the condensation methods for free?" Lu Chen handed over his identity plaque.
Zhang Ce took the plaque and infused it with his spiritual sense.
"Indeed, you are eligible to obtain one of the condensation methods for free. Brother Lu, you may choose whichever you prefer," he confirmed.
"The Cangyuan Grass Condensation Method requires seven hundred Sword Seals, and the Yulu Fruit needs seven hundred and fifty. So, shall we go with the Yulu Fruit?"
The young monk asked Lu Chen for his preference.
"Sure," Lu Chen nodded in agreement.
The value of a third-grade Condensation Method far exceeded that of a fourth-grade Spirit Herb, but it made sense. After all, Spirit Herbs were consumables, whereas Condensation Methods could provide a long-term supply of Spirit Herbs.
"I'll also need some Cangyuan Grass and Yulu Fruit Spirit Herbs. May I ask their prices?"
Zhang Ce paused for a moment before answering Lu Chen, "Each Cangyuan Grass Spirit Herb costs seventy Sword Seals, and each Yulu Fruit Spirit Herb is seventy-five Sword Seals."
"However, these two types of Spirit Herbs are quite special. They are the primary ingredients for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, and they fall under regulated categories. Within a certain time frame, there is a limit of three Spirit Herbs per person for each type when exchanged by sect cultivators."
"Oh?"
Lu Chen was a little surprised, but he quickly understood the reason behind this restriction.
By limiting the number of Spirit Herbs that could be exchanged within a certain period, the sect could largely prevent a large outflow of Foundation Establishment Pills to the outside world.
Even if an inner sect disciple learned both the Foundation Establishment Pill formula and the corresponding Condensation Methods, it would not be easy for them to produce the pill on a large scale.
For third-grade Spirit Herbs, one could usually only obtain a handful of Spirit Herbs through condensation. Even after a few years, if all the harvested Spirit Herbs were used for condensation, one would only end up with a dozen or so.
Even with repeated condensations, the number of materials obtained would still be very limited.
Moreover, the Foundation Establishment Pill was extremely difficult to refine, and most alchemists had a low success rate. When taking into account the loss of materials during the refining process, the number of successfully refined Foundation Establishment Pills would be even lower.
Unless a cultivator possessed exceptional skills in cultivating Spirit Herbs and could maximize the number of Spirit Herbs obtained during each condensation, while also having decent alchemy skills, it would be challenging to obtain a significant number of Foundation Establishment Pills in a short period.
"Lu Chen just happens to meet these two conditions."
A faint smile appeared on Lu Chen's lips.
With his ability to discern the detailed state of Spirit Herbs, he not only had a 100% success rate in condensation but could also maximize the number of Spirit Herbs obtained.
Additionally, after absorbing the Pill Formula Experience Pack, he hadn't attempted to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill, but he was already confident in his relatively high success rate.
If he absorbed a few more Pill Formula Experience Packs from the light group during the process of obtaining materials, his success rate would become even more impressive.
Therefore, these conditions didn't pose much of a restriction to him.
It was almost like a restriction that wasn't really a restriction.
"Then, Brother Zhang, please bring me the Condensation Methods for the Cangyuan Grass and Yulu Fruit, as well as three Spirit Herbs of each type."
Lu Chen smiled as he made his request to Zhang Ce.
"Please wait a moment, Brother Lu," Zhang Ce replied.
After a short while, Zhang Ce emerged from the Ministry of Agriculture and handed Lu Chen two deep green jade slips, along with six Spirit Herbs.
"A total of one thousand one hundred and thirty-five Sword Seals. Please verify, Brother Zhang," Lu Chen said as he waved his hand, causing a small pile of Sword Seals to float in front of the young monk.
The young monk scanned them with his spiritual sense and nodded to confirm.
"No problem," he said.
Upon seeing this, Lu Chen infused a tendril of his spiritual sense into the jade slips to confirm that they indeed contained the Condensation Methods before leaving satisfied.
"It's a pity that I can't reveal my late Foundation Establishment stage cultivation base. Otherwise, with the sect's benefits for breaking through to the late Foundation Establishment stage, I could have gotten a Condensation Method for another third-grade Spirit Herb for free, saving me another seven hundred Sword Seals."
He sat atop the Fat Bird, soaring over the various majestic and perilous peaks below.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
