Chapter 173: Chapter 155: Foundation Establishment Site, The Pill is Complete

"Very well."

Mo Zhaoli smiled gracefully and put away the pile of Long Wooden Boxes.

...

Within half an hour, visitors began to arrive one after another.

"Is everyone here?"

Lin Changheng scanned the room.

Besides himself and Mo Zhaoli, two other groups had arrived.

One group was led by the Foundation Establishment Cultivator surnamed Qian, who was accompanied by a man and a woman. The male Cultivator was surprisingly at the Peak of Ninth Level Qi Cultivation.

The other group consisted of the gaunt Gu Chang’an and... Cui Jianshui.

’That woman is actually here too.’

Lin Changheng’s expression didn’t change, but in his mind, he already considered the two of them a single party.

Noticing Lin Changheng’s gaze, Cui Jianshui instead offered a slight smile and a curtsy, sending him a voice transmission, "Brother Lin, I am someone who always sees things through. Since I’ve started, I might as well finish. I was invited to come and bear witness."

In response, Lin Changheng simply gave a slight, noncommittal nod.

He then turned to the crowd and said solemnly, "Since you Fellow Daoists have all placed your trust in my Alchemy Skill, entrusting me with the Materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill, I am grateful. Today, I, Lin, will make my stance clear: I will give it my all and use every ounce of my skill to ensure that, as much as possible, you all leave satisfied."

"Our thanks, Alchemist Lin."

Everyone present was sharp-witted. Upon hearing his words, they bowed to Lin Changheng, either by cupping their fists or curtsying.

"However, one’s ability has its limits. The final result of the alchemy will ultimately depend on Celestial Will. I hope you all understand this."

Lin Changheng reiterated his "disclaimer." If not for such understandings, what Pill Master would dare accept such a task?

"Of course. We only ask that Alchemist Lin does his best."

"We are naturally aware of this."

"Understood."

Responses echoed one after another from the crowd.

Lin Changheng nodded in satisfaction and smiled. "In that case, please take out your Alchemy Materials. Before I begin, I must conduct a final inspection and verification."

As soon as he said this, Mo Zhaoli stepped forward, and a pile of Long Wooden Boxes flew out from her Storage Bag.

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator surnamed Qian had long since noticed this unconcealed Female Cultivator. Although she was beautiful, he didn’t dare to stare, as he felt an oppressive aura from her. It seemed this woman was exceedingly powerful, and he was no match for her.

A flicker of apprehension crossed his eyes. He slapped his Storage Bag and, without another word, took out the four sealed wooden boxes from before.

The faint smile ever-present on Gu Chang’an’s face faded, replaced by a more solemn expression.

Among the three groups of Alchemy Seekers, two were led by Foundation Establishment Cultivators who were both present. He, however, was merely at the Peak of Ninth Level Qi Cultivation and felt an unprecedented pressure.

After both Foundation Establishment Cultivators had taken out their Materials, he immediately took out his own.

The three piles of Materials were placed separately on the table, and Lin Changheng inspected and verified them one by one.

A short while later, he nodded. "Good. The Medicinal Materials have been inspected and are correct. We can begin."

"But before that, we need to confirm the order for Extracting the Pill."

"Based on the rarity and value of the Medicinal Materials, the order for taking a pill will be: Mr. Qian first, Fairy Mo second, and Mr. Gu third. Does anyone object?"

Lin Changheng had seen it clearly this time. The Seven-Star Spirit Moon Grass presented by the Foundation Establishment Cultivator surnamed Qian was over fifty years old, making it more valuable than the Nine-leaf Purple Ginseng that Lin Changheng himself had artificially aged for twenty years.

This was all easily verifiable information that couldn’t be fudged in the slightest, so Lin Changheng naturally stated it as it was.

"No problem."

All three parties nodded in agreement.

"As for the matter of compensation, we will follow the standard alchemy rules of the Immortal City after the process is complete."

Lin Changheng added this concluding remark.

If three Genuine Pills were successfully refined, then no compensation would be necessary.

But if there was only one or two Success Pills, those who received a pill would need to provide a certain amount of compensation to the Cultivators who did not.

This was to mitigate the losses for those not first in line to choose, to offer some psychological comfort, and also to narrow the gap in gains between the Pill Seekers.

In reality, it also helped sustain this model of communal Foundation Establishment Pill refining, allowing it to continue long-term.

Thus, with no objections from the crowd, Lin Changheng briefly regulated his breathing and then began the alchemy process, lighting the furnace.

"WHOOSH!"

The Flame was ignited and began the Burning Furnace stage.

The cultivators watching from a distance all had solemn gazes. They controlled their breathing, awaiting the result, not daring to cause a disturbance.

Mo Zhaoli sat alone to the side, her Divine Sense spreading out. Her beautiful eyes watched the figure refining the pills, a strange light flashing within them, but her Divine Sense was monitoring the every move of everyone else present.

...

The fierce flames leaped within the furnace, casting flickering light upon Lin Changheng’s face as he stood still with his eyes closed. His expression was completely serene, as if he were in a different world, isolated from the surrounding searing heat.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, and a spark seemed to ignite in their depths.

Every detail of Refining the Foundation Establishment Pill had already been rehearsed a hundred times in his mind, flawless and precise.

’The furnace temperature is ready.’

He murmured softly. With a slight twitch of his fingertips, the prepared Spirit Medicines plunged into the mouth of the furnace one by one, like fish diving into an abyss.

He formed the "Purification" Pill Formula hand seal, continuously scouring with his Magical Power as the flames below licked at the furnace, relentlessly refining the contents.

The complex and intricate Pill Formulas flowed from Lin Changheng’s hands like phantoms. Soon, two hours had passed.

Inside the furnace, the Medicinal Properties of each Spirit Medicine had become incomparably pure, releasing a curling, fragrant aroma under the firelight.

His fingertips didn’t stop. Next were the three crucial steps: Liquid Transformation, Medicine Combination, and Hidden Refining...

The process was intense and relentless, with no room for a break.

Time flowed by slowly. The Medicinal Materials inside the furnace had long since lost their original forms, leaving only clumps of condensed medicinal essence that glowed with a gentle luster in the firelight as they gradually merged.

Wisps of a unique fragrance broke through the seams of the furnace, coalescing in the air into a faint medicinal mist—cool and clear, yet carrying a searing warmth.

As this fragrance wafted through the hall, the cultivators didn’t even dare to breathe any heavier. But the calm figure at the center, whose movements were as smooth as flowing water and completely unhindered, gave them the greatest comfort and hope.

「Ten days passed quickly.」

For Lin Changheng, who had spent them absorbed in Alchemy, the ten days flew by, not feeling long at all.

But it was different for those who were waiting.

As the saying goes, time drags when you’re waiting for someone; the same is true when waiting for a result. With their anxious hearts, the ten days felt like an eternity of torment.

Suddenly, the Pill Furnace let out a "BUZZ..." and began to tremble, instantly capturing everyone’s attention. All eyes turned toward it, filled with expectation.

They saw Lin Changheng, his expression calm but his brow showing a hint of fatigue, as he executed the final Pill Formula.

The moment the furnace lid was lifted, a burst of cool Spiritual Mist erupted with a brilliant radiance, shooting straight toward the ceiling of the cavern residence.

A clear "CLANG" suddenly rang out, and three streams of light broke through the mist. They were three Pills, each the size of a longan, shimmering with a Cyan Jade-like luster as they spun in mid-air.

His gaze swept over them, and with a beckoning gesture, Lin Changheng called them to his hand.

The Three Pills immediately landed in his palm.

The crowd waiting in the distance could no longer contain themselves and hurried closer.

"Alchemist Lin, how did it go?"

"What about the Success Pills?"

The groups led by Qian and Gu both called out, but in that fleeting moment, they thought they had seen three plump, perfectly round Pills flash before their eyes.

Their hearts were filled with joyful surprise, but they still needed confirmation.

Lin Changheng’s gaze swept over them coolly. He said nothing, his eyes finally resting on Mo Zhaoli’s pretty, slightly tense face, where a smile appeared on his own.

’Could it be...’

Mo Zhaoli knew Lin Changheng quite well. Seeing his smile, she immediately relaxed and smiled back gracefully. But a shock was also growing in her heart. ’Brother Lin’s skill in the Alchemy Dao is just too formidable...’

But no one had the time to care about such details; they were all just waiting for Lin Changheng’s answer.

Only then did Lin Changheng extend his hand. As everyone’s gaze converged on it, he slowly opened his palm, and the entire Pill Room fell silent:

Three Pills, perfectly round and plump, glowed with a Cyan Jade luster as a distinct Spiritual Light flowed across their surfaces.

A quick sniff revealed a cool, clear medicinal aroma that was refreshing to the soul, its fragrance concentrated and lingering.

Upon closer inspection, however, there were some differences. The Spiritual Light on one of the Pills was slightly fainter than the other two.

Its medicinal aroma was also slightly more diffuse.

"Not a single one of these three is a Wasted Pill..."

Wasted Pills have discolored surfaces and a chaotic, miscellaneous medicinal fragrance, making them instantly identifiable.

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator surnamed Qian made this judgment, his face filled with shock. Generally speaking, the difficulty of Refining a Foundation Establishment Pill was well-known. Without a vast amount of accumulated experience, even a senior Pill Master had a significant chance of producing Wasted Pills.

Let alone a newly-promoted Tier Two Alchemist? This was precisely why the cultivators of the Immortal City, beaten down by reality, had lowered their standards and expectations.

’And hasn’t this Alchemist Lin only been Tier Two for a few years? His proficiency in the Alchemy Dao is simply astonishing.’

’I really must build a good relationship with him. There will surely be many opportunities to seek pills from him in the future...’

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