Chapter 128: To Refine the Nascent Condensation Pill

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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The Nascent Condensation Pill was precious.

And it was also difficult to make.

In a way, it was natural. The Nascent Condensation Pill is a pill essential when a Golden Core cultivator challenges the Nascent Soul stage.

Since one could save their life even if they failed the challenge to the Nascent Soul stage just by consuming the Nascent Condensation Pill, would it not be stranger if it were easily manufactured?

‘It is literally a divine pill.’

To make a Nascent Condensation Pill, a Rank 4 elixir refiner, particularly one with skills outstanding enough to be called a master, was needed…

The problem occurred precisely in this part.

Elixir refining is praised as the foremost of the one hundred arts of immortal cultivation. Since they had mastered it to Rank 4, how overflowing with pride would they be?

In the first place, it was not easy even to meet a Rank 4 elixir refiner, and making a request for elixir refining was even harder.

Under these circumstances, Wu Yeong-jin’s proposal was welcoming.

“With my father’s personality, he probably gave Fellow Daoist Jin at least one Beautiful Sky Grass-Leaf Herb as a reward. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

As he agreed, wanting to hear the story about the Nascent Condensation Pill, Wu Yeong-jin spoke as if relieved.

“Since you obtained the Beautiful Sky Grass-Leaf Herb, you must be looking for a Rank 4 elixir refiner to make the Nascent Condensation Pill. I will help you with this part. Instead…”

Wu Yeong-jin slightly avoided his gaze and cleared his throat.

“Ahem. Instead, about the cost of purchasing the auxiliary ingredients…”

“You are asking me to pay the spirit stones. Concretely, how much is the cost?”

“To refine the Nascent Condensation Pill once, it costs about three hundred thousand in terms of high-grade spirit stones.”

“Hmm, since we need to refine it twice for both mine and Fellow Daoist Wu’s, it’s a total of six hundred thousand.”

“Yes. In exchange, I will prepare the reward to be paid to the Rank 4 elixir refiner.”

Six hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones.

Although it was quite expensive, it was not to the extent he could not handle.

‘Not bad…’

At that time when he was contemplating positively.

“It won’t be a loss from Fellow Daoist Jin’s perspective either. The reward I will pay for the elixir refining request is a Rank 4 Longevity-Extending Pill.”

“A Rank 4 Longevity-Extending Pill…?”

“It is what remained after my father consumed it.”

Jin So-myeong swallowed his saliva without his realization.

The Longevity-Extending Pill was a pill that increased lifespan, and at Rank 4, it was an outstanding spiritual medicine effective even for Nascent Soul stage cultivators.

“You will give such a precious thing just as the price for refining it?”

“It cannot be helped. Because it must be at least this much for the Rank 4 elixir refiner to move.”

“Gosh.”

“And it is also hard to call it ‘just refining.’ Can anyone possess Rank 4 elixir refining skills? The elixir refiner I will request is someone who has already reached the Nascent Soul stage.”

“…I see.”

Hearing it, it was convincing.

If one did not want to blow away the precious ingredient, the Beautiful Sky Grass-Leaf Herb, they had to seek out the elixir refiner with the best skills possible.

The person with the highest probability of succeeding in refining the Nascent Condensation Pill. Who would that be? There was only an elixir refiner who had already reached the Nascent Soul stage.

“Understood. I will pay the spirit stones.”

Actually, there was no need to even ponder.

As long as he could obtain the Nascent Condensation Pill, no matter how many high-grade spirit stones he used, it was not a waste at all.

***

Heavenly Elixir Sect.

An elder-class sect where elixir refiners gathered, famous for having a high success rate in manufacturing the Nascent Condensation Pill.

The success rate they boasted was a whopping five-tenths.

Compared to the success rate of an ordinary Rank 4 elixir refiner which was around two-tenths, it was a probability twice as high.

The elixir refiner with the most outstanding skill in such a Heavenly Elixir Sect was Perfected Red Heaven.

The person Jin So-myeong and Wu Yeong-jin sought out was precisely this man.

However…

“I am truly sorry. My master is currently in secluded cultivation.”

It was what Im So-un, the chief disciple of Perfected Red Heaven, said with a regretful expression.

“…By any chance, can you tell us when the secluded cultivation ends?”

At Wu Yeong-jin’s words as he narrowed his eyes, Im So-un bowed his head politely as if apologetic.

“I am sorry, but even I do not know when master’s cultivation will end.”

It was an unexpected situation.

Wu Yeong-jin, who lost his words, looked at Jin So-myeong, but he also had no particular solution.

What could they do when a Nascent Soul stage expert was in secluded cultivation?

Furthermore, the attitude of the chief disciple, Im So-un, was extremely polite and kind, leaving nothing to complain about.

“I know Perfected Red Heaven has a friendship with my father. Could you at least deliver the message that I have come?”

“I am sorry. As a disciple, how can I disturb my master? I hope you also understand my position.”

“Ah…”

“Please go back for today, and come again in about five years.”

Five years.

Fitting a Nascent Soul stage expert, the time taken to cultivate once was truly long.

“Perfected Red Heaven will also be pleased if he sees what I have prepared. Can’t you at least make a simple contact?”

Wu Yeong-jin subtly informed that he was not empty-handed, but Im So-un only shook his head firmly.

“It is absolutely not permitted for me to disturb the cultivation first. But if master comes out from seclusion, I will deliver the message that Fellow Daoist Wu wanted to meet him.”

“…Understood.”

Eventually, they left the Heavenly Elixir Sect without much harvest.

Wu Yeong-jin, who was flying silently in the sky, froze and lamented to Jin So-myeong.

“The world is truly cold.”

“Yes?”

“To say he cannot contact him because he is in secluded cultivation, honestly it sounds like an excuse. It’s not like leaving a single Voice Transmission Talisman at the entrance of the cultivation room is a difficult thing.”

“Hmm… that is true.”

“Sigh, I already feel my father’s absence. I did not know Fellow Daoist Im would treat me like this.”

“…For now, let’s look for other methods to make the Nascent Condensation Pill, and visit him again in five years.”

“Yes. I should do so.”

“Do not worry too much. If it really doesn’t work, we can just find another elixir refiner. Anyone will welcome it if we offer a Rank 4 Longevity-Extending Pill as a reward.”

“That is true, but the problem is that there is almost no one with skills as outstanding as Perfected Red Heaven…”

Jin So-myeong, who parted with Wu Yeong-jin who let out a deep sigh, returned to the Wu Family residential area.

Pondering how to spend the next five years… the answer came out.

‘It’s just as well. Coincidentally, I needed time to cultivate calmly.’

While searching for information about the Nascent Condensation Pill in his spare time, it seemed he could digest what he had obtained from the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda.

***

Meanwhile.

After Jin So-myeong’s party left, the face of the chief disciple, Im So-un, turned cold.

Glaring into the void, when he burned a Voice Transmission Talisman, a man wearing a blue robe with bamboo drawn on it came and said with a chuckle.

“Wu Yeong-jin came? Did it seem like he came to request the refining of the Nascent Condensation Pill?”

“Yes.”

“As expected! I knew it! There was no way Perfected Wuyang, who treasured his family and son so much, left only a single Beautiful Sky Grass-Leaf Herb!”

“…”

“Kekek! I am truly envious of that fellow Wu Yeong-jin. To think he challenged the Nascent Soul stage once and failed, yet another opportunity is given! What a damn unfair world. If only I met good parents, I wouldn’t have practiced demonic arts!”

Whether the man’s frivolous attitude was unpleasant, Im So-un frowned as if looking at something dirty.

“Cut the useless talk. So what will you do now? I bought time as you said.”

“Well… first we must wait.”

“Just wait?”

“Yes. Because I don’t want to gamble with my life.”

“…How long must we wait?”

“At least five years? Time is needed to confirm if Perfected Wuyang truly died. Only then can we fleece Wu Yeong-jin.”

“Too long.”

“What is just five years? Have patience.”

As Im So-un clicked his tongue as if displeased, the blue-robed man grinned.

“By the way. Are you not afraid of senior Perfected Wuyang? To dare cheat his son. You have quite the nerve.”

“…”

“Although the possibility of his death is high, could he not be alive? If he seeks to kill you, even your master won’t be able to protect you.”

Im So-un, who could not answer immediately and only munched his lips a few times, snorted late.

“Hmph. What wrong did I commit to fear senior Perfected Wuyang? I have never lied. It is strictly true that master is in secluded cultivation.”

“What an excuse. Even if he is in secluded cultivation, can’t he at least send a single Voice Transmission Talisman? What’s so hard about that.”

Actually, it was true.

Whether to look at the Voice Transmission Talismans piled at the entrance of the cultivation room was for the master to judge.

“…Are you picking a fight now? Didn’t I do it because you requested!”

“Hahaha. How could that be. I was just curious why you, the chief disciple of a Rank 4 elixir refiner, are hanging out with human scum like us when you have nothing lacking.”

“Hmph. You indeed seem to know you are human scum. What an unsalvageable trash.”

The gaze of the man, who was snickering like a silly person, turned cold in an instant.

“Don’t change the subject and answer. Shouldn’t we at least know each other’s purposes to cooperate?”

“…Naturally, it is because of the Nascent Condensation Pill. You guys handle the other treasures Wu Yeong-jin has. I only need to obtain the Beautiful Sky Grass-Leaf Herb.”

“Hmm. I don’t understand.”

“What don’t you understand?”

“Your master is a Rank 4 elixir refiner who reached the Nascent Soul stage. If you just serve your master well, you should be able to receive a Nascent Condensation Pill as a reward.”

“Ha, how absurd. For someone who in name practiced demonic cultivation methods to say such naive words! Do you even know how many disciples are under my master?”

“Well, are there about ten?”

“Damn it! There are thirty-one! Yet you tell me to stay still?!”

Im So-un, who crumpled his face violently, spoke while trembling all over.

“Serving that damn old man for over three hundred years, I realized. That old man never gives a single drop of water for free. I must snatch it myself! I will definitely become a Nascent Soul stage expert and live for a thousand years!”

“Oh…”

Im So-un, who spat out a surge of intense emotion, closed his eyes tightly and returned to a calm attitude as he said.

“By the way, there was a fellow I haven’t seen before next to Wu Yeong-jin. A rogue cultivator with the surname Jin.”

“Ah, that guy? I roughly investigated him before coming. There’s nothing special, but he is a fellow with incredibly good luck.”

“Luck?”

“Far from surviving after entering the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda, his cultivation realm exploded inside. It seems he picked up and ate some fortuitous opportunity.”

“Exploded? Just how much did his cultivation realm rise?”

“They say that guy was at the 2nd layer of Golden Core just a year ago. Can you believe it?”

“2nd layer? Just a moment.”

Im So-un narrowed his eyes and traced his memories. The rogue cultivator he met earlier was clearly…

“He was at the 6th layer of Golden Core? To think his cultivation realm rose by four layers in just a year?”

“That’s why I called it an explosion. Just what did he obtain in the secret realm for his cultivation realm to rise like that? He is a fellow with crazy good luck. His talent must also be outstanding. Tsk, I’m envious to death!”

Im So-un frowned. He ignored the blue-robed man who was grumbling, seized by jealousy.

He recalled in detail the rogue cultivator with the surname Jin.

‘He was clearly wearing a sword at his waist. Could he be a sword cultivator?’

However, no Sword Qi was felt from him.

Cases like this were one of two.

Either he was an outstanding sword cultivator who could perfectly gather his Sword Qi without letting a single speck leak, or he was a common rogue cultivator.

‘…No. There’s no way he is a sword cultivator.’

Pondering deeply, the answer came out.

That guy’s cultivation realm rose rapidly. To say he had already perfectly gathered his aura when it rose by four layers in just a year made no sense.

‘He is a fellow with nothing special.’

However, there was a need to be careful.

What would be the reason he dared to visit the Heavenly Elixir Sect despite being a rogue cultivator? It was highly likely that he also possessed a Beautiful Sky Grass-Leaf Herb.

‘A truly lucky guy. Did he obtain the Beautiful Sky Grass-Leaf Herb in the Seven-Colored Treasure Pagoda?’

Im So-un, who rolled his eyes for a short time, spoke while feigning a calm expression.

“Let’s kill that guy too.”

“Huh?”

The moment the blue-robed man paused. Im So-un, who licked his dry lips, spoke rapidly.

“What are you so surprised about? Whatever fortuitous opportunity he obtained, it will also be helpful to us. Besides, since he is merely at the 6th layer of Golden Core, he is easy to kill.”

“No, it’s not that…”

At the long-winded explanation, the blue-robed man spoke in bewilderment.

“I was surprised because you said something so obvious.”

“What?”

“Then would we let such a guy live? A treasure chest is walking right in front of our eyes, so of course we should kill him and snatch it.”

“…Vulgar fellow.”

“Hahaha. In my eyes, you are no different.”

“Fine, half of what comes out of that guy is mine. I will choose first.”

“Your greed is excessive. How many brothers do I have, yet you take half alone?”

“Without me, it will be hard to lure them.”

“We can just find a method. Half is not allowed. And we will choose the treasures first.”

The gazes of the two, who seemed relatively close, turned fierce like wild beasts.

‘Bastard. He noticed that the rogue cultivator has the Beautiful Sky Grass-Leaf Herb.’

Afterward, the two disputed over their shares as if Jin So-myeong were already a dead person.

Of course, there was a reason for them to do so. Because the cultivation realms of both men were at the 9th layer of Golden Core…

After fighting for a long time over who would choose Jin So-myeong’s items first, the two clicked their tongues.

“Tsk. Let’s just have the side that kills him first take everything.”

“Fine. Let’s stop talking about that guy. Rather than paying attention to such a rogue cultivator, we must be careful of Wu Yeong-jin. Since Wu Yeong-jin recently failed his challenge to the Nascent Soul stage, his internal injuries must be severe. If we target that part…”

***

Sitting cross-legged in a quiet cultivation room, Jin So-myeong fell deep into thought.

‘My current cultivation realm is the 6th layer of Golden Core.’

Estimating his cultivation speed, it seemed it would take about five years to break through the minor boundary and become a late Golden Core cultivator.

‘It is slightly a pity, is there no way to cultivate faster…’

Recalling the resources he currently possessed, he decided on the highest priority goal to target next.

The Heavenly Thunder Dao Body Art.

Because if he raised it to the Minor Success stage from its current Mastery stage, the cultivation speed would surely also become faster.

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