Heart Inquiry Hall, Core Training Room.

Inside, the array's light patterns were flowing.

Chen Sheng waved the array banner, firmly binding the spiritual energy, finally converging it at the center on a Purple Jade Panchi Pill Furnace.

The furnace body glowed with a dark golden hue, subtly echoing with the green-red spirit flame dancing within.

This was a Tier One Top-grade Yin Communication Treasure Furnace, housing Profound Yin Spirit Fire, which Chen Sheng had acquired with great difficulty.

Looking at the Profound Yin Spirit Fire within the pill furnace before him.

Chen Sheng's expression solidified as he contemplated its essence, murmuring to himself:

"Transformation, essence? What should I do?"

"Circulation Star Melting Furnace"

He had already achieved perfection in the Second Layer 'Shaping' of this technique, adeptly controlling the furnace fire as if it were an extension of his arm, capable of pulling thousands of suspended threads.

But the Third Layer—Transformation, still eluded Chen Sheng.

He sent a message, asking Zhao Jinhua to collect the corresponding seniors' annotations within the sect.

After observing.

Chen Sheng gradually realized the difficulty of Transformation, not lying in the subtleties of fire control, but in unveiling the essence of all flames and understanding the cycle of Yin and Yang.

The annotations also mentioned the Profound Yin Spirit Fire.

"If you cannot comprehend the essence, it is difficult to see through the cycles of change. Then, absorb the spiritual fire's breath, integrate it into the primordial Fire Lotus, and force a transformation."

"However, this method addresses only the symptoms, not the root cause."

"In all the world's fires, how could one absorb them all?"

"Understanding the essence and mastering the changes of cycles is the only way to complete this cultivation of transformation thoroughly."

"Forcible absorption is merely to aid in understanding the essence of transformation, among which the change of Yin, using Nine Yin, Deep Nether, Profound Yin, and other spirit fires, is optimal…"

Chen Sheng studied the annotations, nodding lightly.

He had pondered for a long time, yet was hesitant to make progress.

Still, he decided to take a 'shortcut' by using the method from the annotations to absorb a wisp of Fire Fiend to aid his understanding.

Nine Yin, Deep Nether, and other spirit fires are all Tier Two, difficult to obtain.

He eventually found this Profound Yin Spirit Fire.

Planning to use this transformation to assist in comprehension.

With this in mind.

Chen Sheng no longer hesitated, following the technique in the annotations, making a secret seal with his hand.

"Absorb!"

A soft chant.

A wisp of faint fire breath was absorbed into his nostrils and stored in the Dantian Fire Lotus.

Chen Sheng shut his eyes tightly, his spiritual sense introspected into the Dantian, carefully observing the changes within.

...

Seven days later.

Chen Sheng slightly opened his eyes, with a glimmer of joy in his gaze:

"So that's how it is!"

He slowly raised his hand, lightly pointing with his fingertip.

Shh!

A pure flame, condensed purely from mana, appeared out of thin air, exuding an intensely scorching heat.

"Transform!"

With the flow of thoughts.

The mass of orange-yellow flame contracted sharply like mercury, its color deepening until it turned into a deep, serene dark purple.

While the shape did not significantly change.

The emitted heat transformed from intensely hot to bone-chilling cold, with silent ice crystals forming in the surrounding air.

Chen Sheng curled his lips into a smile:

"The transformation has finally started."

"I have grasped three-tenths of the true meaning of the change of Yin."

"From now on, I will absorb once every seven days to help me enlighten this way."

...

A few days later.

Fenghua Immortal City, Pill Alliance Headquarters.

Dragon Void Pill Discussion Platform.

This was a forum specially set up by the Pill Alliance for Tier Two Alchemists and Tier One Top-grade Alchemists, where those who could ascend this platform were renowned figures within the alliance.

Chen Sheng, clad in the pill hall's white robe embroidered with cloud patterns, stood atop the peak of the hundred-zhang jade platform.

Below the platform, hundreds of cultivators were densely seated, with several Foundation Establishment Elders conspicuously visible in the front row, exuding a profound aura.

Chen Sheng was deeply analyzing the intricacies of the "Thirty-Six Rings of Condensing Pill".

The countless alchemists below held their breath and focused intently.

The spirit light on the jade scrolls flickered, recording every syllable and gesture of Alchemist Chen.

Among the crowd, He Ping'an's gaze was especially fervent, not daring to miss a single detail.

After the lecture.

Chen Sheng exchanged a few words with fellow practitioners beneath the platform before gracefully leaving amidst their reluctant gazes.

...

Soon after.

The identity jade talisman at Chen Sheng's waist warmed and silently emitted a gentle light.

With a probe of his spiritual sense, it turned out to be a message.

Chen Sheng's eyes lit up slightly:

"Senior Brother Jinhua is actually going to serve a duty in the Immortal City?"

His heart moved.

He summoned his disciple He Ping'an and gave him a few instructions.

Then turned into a wisp of light wind, quickly departing.

A stick of incense's time later.

Chen Sheng's figure appeared at the core of Fenghua Immortal City—the Qinghua Sect's residence.

Feixing Plateau.

He waited for a while.

Then saw a sect standard flying vessel descend.

A long-faced man in the sect's steward robe stepped down.

Chen Sheng had been waiting for a long while and went up to greet him:

"Senior Brother Jinhua!"

Saw Chen Sheng.

Zhao Jinhua's face instantly lit up with a warm smile, and he walked forward to pat Chen Sheng's shoulder firmly:

"Junior Brother Chen, long time no see!"

Over the past few years,

Chen Sheng had been handling miscellaneous affairs at the Alchemy Alliance and had hardly returned to the sect.

The two hadn't met since their last farewell.

But they often exchanged letters, sharing resources with each other.

"Let's go, Senior Brother Jinhua, come with me to Wanxiang Tower. I've already arranged a banquet."

Zhao Jinhua did not refuse and laughed heartily:

"In that case, I'll trouble you, Junior Brother."

...

Wanxiang Tower, Guan Chao Pavilion private room.

The jade desk was filled with spiritual delicacies.

The century-old "Cloud Mist Spirit Wine," sealed with a secret technique, exuded a rich spiritual aura.

Only Chen Sheng and Zhao Jinhua drinking together.

After three rounds of drinks, the Spirit Fruit entered their stomachs.

Chen Sheng personally refilled Zhao Jinhua's cup and seemingly asked casually:

"Senior Brother, you are usually on duty at the Main Hall."

"How could you bear to leave the center and settle for this Immortal City inspection post?"

Zhao Jinhua took a sip of wine and sighed deeply:

"Because I too am about to establish my Foundation, Junior Brother!"

Chen Sheng silently looked at him. That seemingly random statement was clearly not the end of it.

Zhao Jinhua continued to explain:

"Outside Fenghua City, a large Secret Realm has been discovered, and there must be many Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects inside."

"I applied to be stationed outside precisely to get a head start."

Chen Sheng nodded lightly.

That explanation seemed somewhat strained.

With Zhao Jinhua's resources and connections, earning Contribution Points within the sect should be the proper way to seek Foundation Establishment.

Zhao Jinhua seemed to notice his thoughts and lamented:

"Junior Brother, your alchemy skills are exceptional, earning Contribution Points is effortless, but you don't know my hardships..."

Zhao Jinhua candidly recounted his hardships.

He was born into a Qi Cultivation Minor Race.

His ancestors had even produced Foundation Establishment Cultivators, but by his generation, they had long since declined.

With a family of hundreds, only a dozen or so Qi Cultivators were left, barely getting by on several hundred acres of Spirit Field.

Until Zhao Jinhua was tested to have the aptitude of a High Grade Spiritual Root.

He immediately became the hope of the entire clan!

Through past connections, they sent him to join Qinghua Sect, and thereafter, the entire clan supported his cultivation.

Zhao Jinhua did not disappoint. Although his talents in alchemy and artifact refining were lacking, he diligently worked within the sect.

Now serving as the Main Hall Steward, he had woven a stable network of connections and held quite some influence.

He had secured many benefits for his clan.

Now, if he successfully established his Foundation, that would be the greatest benefit!

Zhao Jinhua shook his head:

"With my kind of dealings, it's better than ordinary people. In the sect, acquiring a Foundation Establishment Pill is not a problem."

"But unfortunately, it's not reliable enough!"

He paused and spoke:

"A few days ago, a friend of mine attempted Foundation Establishment. He too had a High Grade Spiritual Root, and he had cultivated the High Grade Cultivation Technique to the Ninth Layer Perfection, with a foundation even deeper than mine."

"He was a cautious person all his life, but at the crucial moment, he took a risk and became careless."

"He only exchanged one Foundation Establishment Pill from the sect and didn't even use a Vascular Protection Pill, saying he wanted to push through in one go."

"The result? He failed to break through, suffered severe injuries, his meridians were in disorder, and he barely managed to keep his life."

Zhao Jinhua sighed gently:

"I also feel a sense of fear and sympathy; one Foundation Establishment Pill is not enough. My friend is a cautionary example."

"It so happened the Secret Realm opened, so I came to take up the post."

"It's not about risking the Secret Realm, just using the post's identity and Spirit Stones to get ahead of others in acquiring Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects."

"To increase my chances a bit."

Chen Sheng remained silent, feeling a pang in his heart as well.

These words served as a warning bell for him!

With a High Grade Spiritual Root, even Foundation Establishment was this challenging.

With his own Lower Grade Spiritual Root, would two Foundation Establishment Pills truly be enough?

Thinking this way, Chen Sheng also developed the idea of seizing the opportunity while the Secret Realm was wide open, and many Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects were flowing out, to purchase several more.

Chen Sheng nodded, raised his cup, and spoke sincerely:

"Senior Brother, your foresight is commendable. I admire you. Let me toast to you again."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jinhua smiled self-deprecatingly:

"What foresight is there, it's all out of necessity."

"Let's not talk about this."

He changed the subject:

"I heard that Junior Brother is doing exceptionally well in the Alchemy Alliance."

"Even the Foundation Establishment Elders refer to you as a brother."

Chen Sheng laughed heartily:

"It was also a series of coincidences; Elder He's grandson is under my tutelage."

"Elder He himself has such a nature..."

Zhao Jinhua sighed:

"Junior Brother, you are too modest. You are truly remarkable, with extraordinary talent, shining and sought after everywhere."

"That's why you have earned the admiration of so many elders."

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