https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-901-Returning-to-the-Past-Back-to-Dust/13111333/
Chapter 902: Fire Marrow Reappears, Yin-Yang Dan Formation
Chapter 902: Fire Marrow Reappears, Yin-Yang Dan Formation
February 1, 2025
"Master Xuan Yan, why have you come here?"
Chen Mozzi, who had been sitting idly, suddenly stood up with a solemn expression upon seeing the elderly man.
Master Xuan Yan?
Luo Chen was surprised as he looked at the man who appeared calmly.
Dressed in a plain dark robe, he exuded an air of authority and dignity, and the red aura on his face did not match the rumors of his frail old age.
Didn't Ye Lingtian say that he had no intention of pursuing the Dan Sheng Inheritance?
Why has he come today?
Master Xuan Yan smiled and said, "After staying on the mountain for a long time, it's inevitable to feel cold and lonely. I heard that you entered the Dan Sheng Hall before the New Year, so I thought I'd come and take a look. Is my visit unwelcome?"
"No, no, no, how could I not welcome you, Senior?"
Chen Mozzi quickly waved his hand, his demeanor respectful yet not servile.
There was a reason why people eventually called him 'Master' despite his many Daoist names.
In his early years, this man didn't care about his sect or family lineage, nor did he value the inheritance of bloodlines.
Even when his sect declined, he didn't try to reverse its fortunes but instead focused solely on the path of pill refinement.
However, he was generous in sharing his insights on pill refinement and often supported those who thirsted for knowledge.
When someone wanted to become his disciple, they were often rejected because he didn't want to be burdened by worldly affairs. Even joining the Mirgyan Abyss Sect was just for convenience, to find a powerful backer and focus on pill refinement research. After a thousand years, he still had only one direct disciple and a child who had once helped him with fire and herb selection.
People like Dan Sheng Chu Yan, Zhu Yu, and Lu Chun from the Mirgyan Abyss Sect had all received his guidance.
Unable to call him 'Master,' they respectfully addressed him as 'Mister.'
Chen Mozzi was no exception. Even his success in passing the second trial was, in part, due to Master Xuan Yan's guidance from years ago.
Luo Chen, on the other hand, was quite shocked.
From the man's words, he heard a specific term—'before the New Year'!
In other words, from entering the hall to passing through the second trial, the man had taken less than a year?
Even if he had experience passing the trials, the Dan Sheng Hall trials were constantly changing.
Such a quick completion of the trials indicated the man's profound foundation and exceptional pill refinement skills!
As Luo Chen was still in shock, Master Xuan Yan's eyes, filled with curiosity, turned towards him.
"Dan Sect?"
Luo Chen composed himself, bowed, and performed a Daoist salute.
"I am unworthy of the title of Dan Sect before you, Master. You may call me Luo Chen."
"Haha, modesty!"
Master Xuan Yan laughed heartily, stroking his tiger whiskers as if reminiscing about the past.
"When I was your age, I didn't even know the meaning of modesty."
After speaking, he changed the topic.
"To easily pass through two trials of Chu Yan's trial is no small feat. The title of Dan Sect suits you well!"
Luo Chen humbly replied, "Your praise is undeserved, Master."
Chen Mozzi, standing beside him, couldn't contain his impatience and asked, "Master, how do we pass the third trial?"
Master Xuan Yan waved his hand, "How else can we pass but to choose suitable materials from what we have and refine the pill? For us, it's as simple as a daily meal."
Chen Mozzi opened his mouth, speechless and helpless.
"Master, it's not that simple!"
Master Xuan Yan's smile faded, and he said solemnly, "Is achieving the Master Realm simple? As Masters, we should disregard difficulties and forge ahead. Even with only one chance, we must have the confidence to succeed. That's the pride of a Dan Dao Master!"
Chen Mozzi spoke with a bitter voice, "But if we fail..."
Master Xuan Yan didn't respond but instead found a volcanic vent and set up his pill cauldron.
He then started adding the materials he had refined in the second trial, one after the other. Black flames emerged from his fingertips, enveloping the pill cauldron.
It seemed that he had already decided what pill to refine even before reaching the third trial.
Luo Chen stopped watching the man's actions.
With three consecutive trials, each linked to the next, the final result would undoubtedly be different.
From recognizing pills by scent to returning to the origin, and finally, the actual pill refinement, each participant's chosen pills, materials, and self-researched pill formulas would vary.
Luo Chen refocused his attention on his own task.
What pill should he refine using the materials he had refined?
His gaze fell on the hundreds of high-quality raw materials, each with a name and property he knew by heart.
Xi Bai Zhi, Qi Lian, Luan Liu Ping, Gui Li Zi, Tian Lei Teng...
Qian Jiang, Rou Ju Yu, Liu Yang Shi, Yan Yun Yan...
As these medicinal names surfaced in his mind, Luo Chen suddenly realized something.
In the first trial, he had subconsciously chosen water and fire-type pills that he was most familiar with, which led to similar types of materials being refined in the second trial.
This was related to his pill refinement experience.
Initially, he had refined mostly Yin-type pills like Jade Marrow Dan, Tong Yu Dan, and Yulu Dan, while the other pills, like Xuesha and Jiang Chen, were of the Fire attribute.
It was only after going to the North Sea that he gradually abandoned such mixed attribute Dan Yao and focused on specializing in water and fire attributes.
The North Sea's Dan Yao style often sourced materials from water attribute medicinal ingredients and demonic beasts, so he frequently refined water attribute Dan Yao there.
However, as his primary cultivation method was a fire-based technique, he occasionally had to refine high-quality fire attribute Dan Yao like the Zhen Yan Dan.
Ultimately, this led to Luo Chen's unique preference for these two types of medicinal ingredients.
Now, what should be the main ingredient, and what attribute of Dan Yao should he refine?
Luo Chen's gaze swept over the various materials, feeling momentarily overwhelmed.
There were over a hundred raw materials, including fourteen 4th and 5th-grade main ingredients, which were truly dazzling.
Suddenly, Luo Chen's gaze landed on a cluster of fiery red liquid.
This was the Yan Liu Sui! Luo Chen was familiar with this material as Fu Chaosheng had given him some when he was in Zhongzhou.
His Ben Yuan Zhen Huo was able to advance to the 5th grade due to absorbing that Yan Liu Sui, which greatly enhanced its spirituality, creating the opportunity for its later advancement.
However, Luo Chen was more accustomed to calling it the 'Kuyuan Huo Sui' as per the Lian Tian Magic King's naming, as it was more descriptive and easier to understand.
Kuyuan Huo Sui was born in the withered source land after the departure of powerful strange fires and had numerous wondrous uses.
Especially in the Lian Tian Magic King's Dan Dao Transmission, there was a record of a 4th-grade Dan Yao called the 'Liang Yi Dan,' which used Kuyuan Huo Sui and a special spirit liquid from the Demon Realm as its main ingredients.
After obtaining the Kuyuan Huo Sui from Fu Chaosheng, Luo Chen's first thought was to refine the Liang Yi Dan, but unfortunately, he lacked suitable materials and could only use it to benefit the Kuyuan Zhen Huo.
But now...
Luo Chen couldn't help but look at the remaining main ingredients, and his gaze finally settled on a cluster of deep blue liquid.
This was the Yu Ming Leng Quan!
It was sourced from the bottom of the Umbral Abyss, which had guarded the Abyss Sect for three thousand years.
In terms of quality, it was no less than the special spirit liquid from the Demon Realm.
"If these two are used as the main ingredients, supplemented by other precious materials, can the Liang Yi Dan formula be recreated?"
For a moment, Luo Chen's heart raced with excitement.
...
In the Earth Fire Grand Hall, hot air swirled.
Three figures stood in different corners, each engaged in their own actions.
Xuan Yan leisurely strolled around, calmly refining Dan Yao, while Luo Chen wrote vigorously, sometimes frowning, and other times breaking into a smile. Chen Mozzi, on the other hand, remained indecisive.
There seemed to be a hint of competition among them, yet the overall atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious.
Time slowly passed, and after a month or so, a unique fragrance filled the hall.
Luo Chen, who was deep in thought, suddenly snapped out of his reverie, and together with Chen Mozzi, they turned their gazes towards another spot.
Xuan Yan smiled and cast a series of spells towards the furnace lid.
With a light shout, he opened the lid, and a fist-sized black Dan Yao slowly rose into the air.
Luo Chen and Chen Mozzi stared at each other, wondering if it was successful.
Xuan Yan reached out and caught the black Dan Yao, examining it briefly before his eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"The appearance is average, and the medicinal power is not well-concentrated, but at least this Qian Ji Dan has been successfully refined, which is somewhat satisfactory."
After speaking, he glanced at both of them and finally settled his gaze on Chen Mozzi.
Before Chen Mozzi could react, the black Dan Yao was gently tossed into his arms.
Chen Mozzi was taken aback.
Xuan Yan smiled slightly, "This is a 4th-grade Dan Yao I created in my later years, called Qian Ji. I had hoped to use it to break through the Nascent Soul Realm and advance to the Divine Transformation Realm, but it was missing something, so it could only remain at the 4th grade, unable to reach the 5th-grade level."
"Although it can't help me break through the Divine Transformation Realm, it still has some use, allowing Nascent Soul Realm practitioners to break through a minor realm."
"Of course, for people like us, the realm is important, but not that crucial."
"The reason I gave this Dan Yao to you is that I hope you, like the name of this Dan Yao, will seek change and not just follow the old rules, thinking only of following the path laid out by our predecessors."
"Otherwise, even as a master, you will only be a collector of the great achievements of the past, not a pioneer who establishes a new path!"
Without waiting for Chen Mozzi's refusal, he left the Earth Fire Grand Hall with a carefree attitude.
Regardless of his dissatisfaction with the result of this Dan Yao refinement, he had succeeded.
The fourth gate had opened for him.
A wisp of cloud smoke swept in, enveloping Xuan Yan, and he disappeared within the Earth Fire Grand Hall.
Chen Mozzi held the fist-sized black Dan Yao, falling into silence.
On the other side, Luo Chen was wide-eyed.
To independently research a Dan Yao formula and break through the Divine Transformation Realm? What great ambition Xuan Yan had!
Although this world had the Zhujidan, the Ningye Dan, and even the Jiying Dan for breaking through the Nascent Soul Realm, Luo Chen had never heard of a bottleneck Dan Yao for breaking through the Divine Transformation Realm.
The individual intends to follow an untraveled path, seeking godhood through the power of pills.
Unfortunately, it seems they have failed, unable to concoct the ultimate goal of a fifth-grade Qingji Dan.
Even so, the fourth-grade Qingji Dan is potent enough to forcefully propel a Yuanying Realm cultivator through a minor breakthrough, defying the heavens.
Each layer of the nine layers of the Yuanying Realm demands immense effort and dedication from cultivators, requiring years of painstaking cultivation.
A single pill could replace decades, perhaps even centuries, of arduous training...
"Tsk, why not send one my way?" Luochen muttered to himself, feeling a twinge of envy.
However, he quickly dismissed the thought, knowing he had no connection to Xuan Yan. Even if Xuan Yan enjoyed nurturing younger generations, such favors would never come his way.
Glancing at the stunned Chen Mozzi, Luochen returned his attention to the Two Instruments Dan formula.
The main ingredients differed from those in the Lian Tian Magic King's formula, and he needed to incorporate his understanding to create an entirely new method, a challenging task.
Lian Tian Magic King was a pinnacle figure in the art of pill concocting, transcending the realms of Pill Sects and Pill Saints.
His formulas, aside from those acquired from others, must have been refined to perfection.
Modifying and evolving such formulas would be no easy feat, but Luochen was determined not to give up!
It wasn't just the proximity of Chu Yan's inheritance that motivated him; Xuan Yan had already reached the final trial, and given his impressive performance, the inheritance would likely be his.
Luochen simply couldn't bear to waste the precious materials he had reverse-refined.
If he could use these materials to experiment and create a new formula, it would be immensely beneficial to him.
He had no interest in the so-called Yin-Yang Extreme Fire, but within his Purple Mansion, a newly born Nirvana Holy Flame awaited!
The Two Instruments Dan had the potential to accelerate the promotion and transformation of true fire.
If he could concoct one or two pills, they might help the Nirvana Holy Flame surpass its most vulnerable infancy stage.
"Thank goodness I passed the second trial!" Luochen felt a sense of relief.
Improving the Magic King's formula was an arduous task.
In the past, he wouldn't have possessed the skills to do so.
But after passing the second trial and gaining insight into the essence of medicinal ingredients, his understanding of their properties had deepened.
This newfound confidence fueled his determination.
Despite his vast knowledge and profound comprehension of medicinal essences, Luochen's progress in improving the formula remained slow.
The Earthfire Hall remained silent as time passed—a month, two months, half a year, and then a year...
After enduring a year, Chen Mozzi made his move.
With determination, he took out a square copper cauldron and carefully placed the reverse-refined materials inside.
Luochen, on the other hand, seemed to have achieved success as well.
A notification appeared on his panel:
[Two Instruments Dan, complete fourth-grade formula, can be entered]
[Do you want to enter?]
The answer was obvious, and it only required ten achievement points for a fourth-grade formula.
A new entry appeared on his panel:
[Two Instruments Dan Entry 1/100]
It was time to put his skills to the test.
At that moment, Luochen hesitated, a thought unconsciously crossing his mind.
What if he failed with only one set of materials?
The answer to this question came instantly!
Chen Mozzi had asked Xuan Yan the same question, but he hadn't received a response, and Luochen hadn't given it much thought.
Why bother thinking about it?
Every pill concocting master had emerged from countless failures.
One must be brave enough to try, take action, and have the determination to accept failure.
A pill concocting master must have confidence, even if they only get one chance!
With a carefree smile, Luochen summoned the Primordial Cauldron with a wave of his hand.
Clang!
The cauldron, measuring about ten feet in size, landed at the Earthfire's mouth, emitting a dull sound.
Luochen activated the formation, drawing upon the Earthfire to warm the cauldron.
The dull sound caught Chen Mozzi's attention, and he looked over.
Perhaps it was because Xuan Yan had already advanced ahead, and the old man's displayed strength was so formidable that both seemed to have tacitly acknowledged the destination of the inheritance.
In that moment, their eyes met, devoid of the fiery competition, replaced by a sense of peace.
"Luochen... I wish you success," Chen Mozzi said calmly, his sincerity or insincerity unclear.
Luochen smiled slightly, "May you also achieve your goals!"
Any previous malicious thoughts dissipated, and in that moment, they were kindred spirits, free from absolute conflict, allowing for a moment of camaraderie.
Boom!
The flames rose, signaling the beginning of the trial.
(End of Chapter)
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