One day, Wei Zhong sat atop a cliff overlooking Black Lake Island, his fingers forming intricate hand seals.
Below him, a whirlpool churned in the lake's depths. As his hand seals grew faster, the vortex spun with increasing ferocity.
Suddenly, Wei Zhong halted his movements. He struck his chest, forcefully expelling a mouthful of vital blood into the swirling vortex.
Wei Zhong rose to his feet, his hands clasped in a grasping motion, and lifted them upward.
"Rise!"
A black pearl the size of a fist shot forth from the vortex and landed in Wei Zhong's palm.
A smile spread across Wei Zhong's face. "The Primordial Water Pearl... finally complete."
For days, Wei Zhong had sat motionless on this cliff, failing five times before finally condensing this embryonic Secret Treasure. The repeated loss of vital blood had left him pale, but at least he had succeeded.
He was fortunate to have chosen this Second-Tier Spirit Ground. Relying solely on his internal spiritual energy, he might have waited endlessly for success.
Feeling the Primordial Water Pearl's bond with him—far surpassing that of spirit pets or magic tools—Wei Zhong mused, "So this is the Secret Treasure described in the Spring and Autumn Water Refinement Manual. Truly extraordinary."
As he circulated his Cultivation Technique, Wei Zhong could sense the pearl simultaneously drawing in external spiritual energy and aquatic forces to strengthen itself.
With continuous refinement, the Primordial Water Pearl's power would steadily increase. Once Wei Zhong reached the Core Formation stage, he could further refine it into his own lifebound magic treasure.
The Water Refinement Manual... could it be referring to refining this water?
Wei Zhong casually tossed the Primordial Water Pearl, and it instantly punched a hole through the hard mountain rock.
It's still too light. The pearl needs more refinement.
He picked it up, flicked his sleeve, and the black pearl vanished without a trace.
Gazing at the distant shimmering lake, Wei Zhong murmured, "Luo Mingyan should have delivered the message by now. The alchemy techniques should arrive soon."
True to his word, two streaks of escape light materialized in the sky a few days later. Luo Mingyan and Shen Yuqi emerged from the radiant light.
Wei Zhong's hearty voice echoed across Black Lake Island, "Welcome, fellow Daoists! Please, come in!"
The two men bowed respectfully as they landed in the courtyard.
As customary, a feast of fine wine and spirit food was laid out. After exchanging pleasantries, they turned to business.
Shen Yuqi spoke first. "I heard you're interested in the Heart Pill Method, Fellow Daoist Chu. I've brought two alchemy techniques specifically for you."
With a flick of his sleeve, two jade slips floated into the air.
Wei Zhong was mildly surprised as he examined the two jade slips. One contained a traditional Fire Refinement Pill Technique capable of producing Second-Tier pills. The other was more unusual, revealing the rare Water Refinement Pill Technique, an unorthodox and unconventional method of alchemy.
"Two alchemy techniques," Wei Zhong said. "One will settle the favor I owed you for the Azure Vine Intoxication. For the other, I'd like to exchange it for your improved Azure Vine Intoxication wine recipe."
Shen Yuqi's heart soared when Luo Mingyan told him the Azure Vine Intoxication had been refined to the peak of the First-Tier. The ordinary version already covered the costs of his alchemy practice; what potential did the upgraded version hold? He had specifically chosen these two alchemy techniques to trade for Wei Zhong's improved wine recipe.
Through years of diligent practice, Shen Yuqi had successfully advanced from a First-Tier Pill Refiner to a Second-Tier one. His understanding of the medicinal properties of spirit herbs was profound, and his experience brewing spirit wine had made him nearly a master brewer. He believed that with his Second-Tier alchemy skills, he could potentially refine the Azure Vine Intoxication recipe into a Second-Tier wine recipe himself.
Such an affordable body refinement elixir, defying the common knowledge of the Cultivation World, held immeasurable value.
Without hesitation, Wei Zhong produced the pre-prepared improved recipe for Azure Vine Intoxication and handed it to Shen Yuqi.
At worst, it would only take me some time to refine the wine recipe further and elevate it to the Second-Tier. It's not a big deal. Of course, Wei Zhong kept these thoughts to himself.
Shen Yuqi accepted the wine recipe and scanned it with his divine sense, his face lighting up with astonishment. "I never imagined such ingenious techniques existed! Fellow Daoist Chu, you're truly a brewing genius!"
"Nonsense, Fellow Daoist Shen, you flatter me," Wei Zhong replied modestly, inwardly pondering, Cultivators in this realm primarily focus on spiritual techniques due to abundant resources. In comparison, body cultivation resources are scarce, driving up the prices of spirit pills, elixirs, and other treasures needed for physical training. This scarcity was precisely what made Azure Vine Intoxication so valuable. It seems I'll need to exercise caution when producing Second-Tier Azure Vine Intoxication in the future.
With both parties having obtained what they desired, they raised their cups and began to drink freely. As the gathering concluded, Luo Mingyan presented Wei Zhong with a golden invitation card.
Wei Zhong accepted the golden invitation, his brow furrowed in puzzlement. "What's this?"
Luo Mingyan smiled. "Yao Zheng Sheng, the Azurewood Sect's foremost True Inheritance disciple, has successfully achieved Core Formation. We extend a special invitation for you to attend his Core Formation Ceremony in a month's time."
Wei Zhong's heart trembled. Has the Azurewood Sect already produced a Core Formation expert from this generation of disciples?
Noticing Wei Zhong's stunned silence, Luo Mingyan clasped his hands in farewell. "Then we'll take our leave now. We look forward to seeing you again soon at the Azurewood Sect's mountain gate, Fellow Daoist."
Wei Zhong returned the gesture. "Chu Zhong will certainly attend in a month."
The two men transformed into twin streaks of escape light and vanished from Black Lake Island.
Watching their receding figures, Wei Zhong recalled Yao Zheng Sheng, the first True Inheritance disciple to achieve Core Formation. A bitter pang rose in his heart. His own talent was meager; who knew when he might even glimpse the hope of Core Formation? Time... time was what he needed most.
A dark beam shot from Wei Zhong's sleeve, arcing over Black Lake Island's cliffs and plunging into Sea Moon Lake below. Big Gold sensed its master's aura within the black water pearl, driving away all aquatic creatures and standing guard beside it.
Wei Zhong entered his Grotto-Heaven, swallowed a Medicinal Pill, and resumed his arduous cultivation.
Within the lake, the Primordial Water Pearl simultaneously drew in spiritual energy and water, replenishing itself.
During the tedium of cultivation, Wei Zhong would either pore over the newly acquired Pill Dao scriptures, meticulously studying their intricacies, or indulge in blissful moments with the maids on the island.
...
At the Li Family:
"Clan Leader, the Yan Clan has withdrawn from Cotton Bud Mountain."
Li Ren's face lit up with delight. Cotton Bud Mountain, a peninsula jutting into Sea Moon Lake, was renowned for its abundance of unranked spiritual herbs, making it ideal for raising First-Tier Spirit Beasts. Originally the Li Family's territory, it had been seized by the Yan Clan years ago after the family suffered a devastating blow. Now, after more than a decade, it had returned to the Li Family with astonishing ease.
Li Ren understood that the Yan Clan's retreat wasn't due to the Li Family's strength, but entirely thanks to their Guest Elder, Senior Chu Zhong. Recalling the recent visitors to Black Lake Island—two True Inheritance disciples from the Azurewood Sect, figures who would normally never deign to glance at a minor power like the Li Family—Li Ren marveled at Senior Chu's unfathomable influence. "His power truly knows no bounds," he mused.
"Quickly send more of our most beautiful women to Black Lake Island."
It was unclear what misunderstanding Li Ren had formed about Wei Zhong that led him to such thoughts.
Wei Zhong, seeing the large group of newly arrived women, turned to Xie Linghua with a puzzled expression. "Why would the Li Family send so many women here?"
Xie Linghua chuckled. "It's because you're too kind, Master, keeping so many women on Black Lake Island. The Li Family must think you're a lecherous man."
Wei Zhong rubbed his nose, feeling slightly embarrassed. Though there were many women on Black Lake Island, only three, including Xie Linghua, had actually been intimate with him. The others worked on the island, managing its affairs. They had stayed not out of lust, but because their living conditions were far better than what they would have received in the Li Family.
Wei Zhong instructed Xie Linghua, "You'll need to manage this. Black Lake Island can't accommodate so many people. Also, inform the Li Family that This Daoist is not driven by such desires. Instead of sending more women, they'd be better off supplying Spirit Medicine seedlings to the island. We're desperately short of them here."
"As you command, Master!"