All Things Are Contracts

Chapter 38

Pill refining isn’t simply throwing all the medicinal ingredients into the cauldron and refining them with intense fire. Each ingredient requires its own specific processing method. Some need to be ground into powder, some need to be soaked in water to dissolve, some need to be melted by fire… Different spiritual medicines with varying properties require different soaking and refining times. Therefore, pill formulas are extremely important. It’s almost impossible to refine pills haphazardly without the guidance of a formula.

According to the Calming Spirit Pill formula, Zhanyue prepared each ingredient according to its processing method and proportion, then summoned the Earth Mother Golden Cauldron. Over a dozen ingredients floated in the golden cauldron. Zhanyue then summoned flames. Pills of this grade didn’t require the most yin or yang fire, but ordinary flames heated to a specific temperature.

As the ingredients gradually merged, the pill refiner’s soul consciousness acted like a small hand, needing to weave between various ingredients, combining the molecular structures of each ingredient in a specific way. This is why pill refining particularly consumes soul power. Without sufficient realm, one’s soul power is inadequate, making it impossible to refine high-grade pills. Therefore, high-level pill refiners are invariably people of profound cultivation, except for a few super geniuses with innately high soul power.

Besides soul power, another condition for becoming a pill refiner is fire control technique. The more exquisite and precise one’s fire control, the more accurately one can grasp temperature changes at each stage. In this world without thermometers, pill refiners are all experts at estimating temperature, not needing such devices at all.

Before long, Zhanyue’s eyes became unfocused, a sign of soul overexertion. Then, the Ghost Soul Fruit coiled in his soul emitted a faint light, instantly refreshing Zhanyue’s spirit. Gradually, ten small green pills took shape in the cauldron. Each pill was round and full, without any impurities – truly the cream of the crop.

“It’s done! Ungradeed pill Calming Spirit Pill. The spiritual fluctuations of this pill should be at the level of a first-grade pill, truly worthy of the Earth Mother Golden Cauldron,” Zhanyue said excitedly.

“Let me see!” Hulu, watching from the side, was also excited. He took a pill and examined it carefully, then sniffed it and praised, “Good stuff, one look and smell tell you it’s quality. Little brother, you’re a pill refiner now!”

Zhanyue shook his head, “Refining ungraded pills only makes one an apprentice pill refiner. Pills are divided into eleven grades from ungraded to tenth-grade. A pill refiner’s grade corresponds to the highest grade of pill they can refine. It’s said that currently, the strongest human pill refiners are only around seventh-grade or eight-grade.”

The illumination Goddess told Zhanyue that even in her era, there was only one ninth-grade pill refiner, the Vermilion Bird Lord. tenth-grade pill formulas had never appeared in that era, so naturally there were no tenth-grade pill refiners.

“Among the dozens of pill formulas in my room, the lowest is this ungraded Calming Spirit Pill, and the best is only a fifth-grade formula. It seems pill formulas are extremely precious in any era,” Zhanyue sighed. However, it would probably be a long time before he could refine fifth-grade pills. Pill refiners who could refine fifth-grade pills were already top talents in the great empires, people that royal families needed to keep an eye on.

Zhanyue waved his hand, summoning a flame. He controlled the flame to circle around him a few times, changing it into different shapes. This display of fire control technique made Hulu exclaim in admiration. However, Zhanyue shook his head, feeling his basic skills were still not solid enough.

“Take these Calming Spirit Pills first. I’ll refine more later. The spiritual energy in these pills is beneficial for your child, but don’t eat too many. One pill a day is the limit, remember that,” Zhanyue reminded. Even ordinary Calming Spirit Pills became extraordinary after being refined in the Earth Mother Golden Cauldron.

“It’s a pity I don’t have the Heavenly King Bronze Furnace. According to the basic technique, the Heavenly King Bronze Furnace can generate mysterious thunder to refine the finished pills once more, improving their quality and possibly even creating anomalous grade pills,” Zhanyue said with some regret. So-called anomalous grade pills are those far exceeding the quality of their original grade. No matter how good the quality of Zhanyue’s Calming Spirit Pills, they were still ungradeed, not advancing to become anomalous first-grade pills. Refining anomalous grade pills requires many conditions, needing the right time, place, and person.

Back in his room, Zhanyue reviewed today’s pill refining experience, then picked up a pill formula recording a first-grade pill – Breakthrough Pill. Breakthrough Pills can assist cultivators in breaking through their current bottleneck, but being only first-grade pills, they can only help some beginners and aren’t very effective. Some geniuses break through just by sleeping, not needing any pill assistance. Zhanyue was now at the ninth stage of the Spirit Contract Realm, needing only a catalyst to break through to the Spirit Communication Realm. He planned to try this first-grade Breakthrough Pill, which was suitable for his low realm.

“Pill formulas need translating, cultivation methods need translating. Academic life is always so tough,” Zhanyue knew that haste makes waste. He needed to calm down and go through the materials section by section, deducing the Mountain Goblin Clan’s writing and verifying with other materials. This was a very tedious and lengthy work.

“Hmm? The words on this box.” Zhanyue picked up a shoe-box sized wooden box from the pile of materials. The wooden box was very ancient but locked with a combination lock. “I couldn’t recognize the words before, but now they can’t stump me,” Zhanyue smiled.

“‘Forced opening will destroy’? What does that mean? If it’s not opened with the correct code, it will self-destruct?” Zhanyue looked at the nine-digit combination lock and smiled wryly, “How the hell can I guess this? Wait, why am I afraid of it being destroyed?”

Excited, Zhanyue entered a random code and was about to force open the wooden box. Sure enough, lightning and fire surged from inside the box, turning its contents into piles of ash, some broken porcelain bottle fragments, and some vaguely visible pill fragments.

Pouring out all the contents of the wooden box, Zhanyue’s lips curled into a smile, “Let’s regress for grandpa!”

With a flash of mysterious light, those unrecognizable things returned to their original form – three pill formulas and three bottles of pills.

“The Mountain Goblin Clan really had so many treasures without knowing it, and now they all benefit me,” Zhanyue was delighted. But he didn’t feel bad about it. He was Hulu’s sworn brother, the Second Great King of the Mountain Goblin Clan, half a Mountain Goblin himself. What’s wrong with taking some tribal resources?

“eight-grade pill formula – Soul Healing Pill. This pill can repair soul injuries, very precious.” Zhanyue’s eyes lit up. A eight-grade formula, actually a eight-grade formula! Too bad this effect isn’t useful for everyone. Soul injuries are very difficult to repair, but a pill specifically targeting soul injuries is naturally very valuable, worthy of its eight-grade rating.

“eight-grade pill formula – Longevity Pill. Eating one can increase lifespan by ten years, a second one halves the effect, a third has no effect. It’s actually a pill that extends lifespan. One pill increases lifespan by ten years, two pills by fifteen years, and more have no effect. But that’s fifteen years of lifespan!” Zhanyue was extremely excited. The value of this formula was self-evident, and being a eight-grade pill, it wasn’t impossible to refine.

“Longevity Pill? Zhanyue, you must keep this formula safe. Don’t show it to others lightly!” The illumination Goddess heard Zhanyue’s thoughts and hurriedly reminded him. Those old monsters at the end of their lives all crave something that can extend their lifespan.

“ninth-grade pill formula – Vajra Pill. Eating it can assist in battle. Within 100 breaths, it provides a golden body protection, making defense nearly invincible!” Zhanyue’s eyes lit up at the words “nearly invincible”. He was very curious about what kind of attacks this Vajra Pill could resist.

Hurriedly putting the three pill formulas into his storage ring, Zhanyue then looked at the three porcelain bottles. Each bottle contained one pill, matching the descriptions in the formulas. These three pills were samples of the three formulas – one Soul Healing Pill, one Longevity Pill, and one Vajra Pill. Zhanyue felt he could barely breathe, “I’ve struck it rich, really struck it rich. These pills are priceless!”

“If you’re not afraid of death, you could try selling them. Just a hint of news, and strong experts from all sides would gather before you. eight-grade and 9 pills are extremely rare in the world, you should know that,” the illumination Goddess reminded him again.

“I know, sister. I understand the principle of ‘treasures invite trouble’. I won’t show these pills to others unless it’s crucial,” Zhanyue said.

No matter how good eight-grade and 9 pill formulas were, they weren’t something Zhanyue should consider at present. Those pills also couldn’t be used without the right timing. The journey must be taken step by step. Zhanyue picked up the first-grade formula – Breakthrough Pill – again.

“Wait a few days until they’ve collected the medicinal ingredients, then it will be your turn.”