Aksai first activated the primary Array Formation, which created a stable environment for pill concoction.
The formation glowed softly, its light bathing the room in a reassuring blue hue. Aksai then summoned a small alchemical furnace from his spatial ring, setting it down gently in the center of the formation.
With practiced hands, Aksai started the fire beneath the furnace using a concentrated burst of Spirit essence. The flames flickered to life, burning with a steady intensity.
He placed the first ingredient, the hundred-year-old ginseng, into the furnace. It sizzled and began to break down, its essence blending with the flames.
Aksai made a few hand signs and lines of Essence Equations appeared in the air. He pointed at the furnace and these spectral equations disappeared into the furnace.
Aksai’s eyes were focused and his movements precise as he added the other ingredients one by one, following a specific order and timing.
The two-hundred-year-old Silver Jade Ganoderma Lucidum went in next, followed by various auxiliary herbs and minerals. Each addition required a delicate balance of Spirit essence to ensure the proper fusion of their energies.
As the process continued, Aksai felt a growing sense of anticipation. The ingredients were reacting well, their essences merging into a luminous, swirling mixture within the furnace. He began to channel more Spirit essence, directing it into the concoction to catalyze the final stages of the pill’s formation.
However, just as he was about to complete the process, Aksai felt a sudden instability in the mixture. The essences were not merging as seamlessly as they should.
“This is bad.”
Aksai quickly adjusted the fire and increased the output of his Spirit essence, trying to stabilize the concoction. But it was too late. The mixture began to bubble erratically, emitting an acrid smoke.
“Not again,” Aksai muttered, his frustration evident.
He maintained his composure and tried to salvage the concoction, but the instability was beyond his control. With a loud pop, the mixture exploded inside the furnace, sending a cloud of dark smoke billowing into the chamber.
“No… No wonder people prefer to buy this thing at any cost. **Cough cough cough** It’s not… it’s not as easy as I thought it’d be.”
Aksai coughed, waving his hand to disperse the smoke. The once-promising concoction was now a charred, unusable mess. He sighed, knowing he would have to start over. He deactivated the furnace and cleaned up the remnants of the failed attempt.
“Alright, let’s try this again,” he said to himself, determined not to let the setback discourage him.
Aksai began preparing a fresh set of ingredients, meticulously measuring and inspecting each one to ensure they were of the highest quality. He adjusted the settings of the Array Formations, tweaking their parameters to create an even more customized environment for the next attempt.
As he placed the new set of ingredients into the furnace and reignited the flames, Aksai felt a renewed sense of focus and determination. The path to concocting the Foundation Establishment Pill was fraught with challenges, but Aksai was resolute.
The Spirit farmer in him was very patient. He knew that each failure was a step closer to success.
***
In the blink of an eye, four years passed.
Aksai spent these years collecting herbs and trying to concoct Foundation Establishment Pills. It was a rinse-and-repeat cycle.
He had many unsuccessful attempts in the pill concoction process that forced him to start over. Sometimes, the pills he obtained were of very poor quality, leaving him unsatisfied.
However, he didn’t feel discouraged and kept on buying cultivation resources and using them to produce Foundation Establishment Pills and pre-processed Base Building Objects.
Aksai performed all his concoction experiments in secret. He never let his neighbors know he was an alchemist attempting to produce the Foundation Establishment Pill all by himself without any organization backing him.
After investing four years in the routine, Aksai finally had what he wanted.
“Ten Foundation Establishment Pills. These should be enough to try and achieve a breakthrough for at least ten attempts without risking my life,” Aksai thought as he looked at the glass vial in his right hand, sealed with a 2nd-order talisman.
“It’s time,” Aksai thought as he left his rented villa.
Aksai had been preparing for this moment for years.
With his ten Foundation Establishment Pills in hand, he knew it was time to secure a more suitable location for his breakthrough attempt.
The outer zone of the White Mountain City, with its 1st-order Spirit vein aura, wasn’t enough. He needed the stable, potent energy of a 2nd-order Spirit vein to maximize his chances of success.
After some inquiries and a few visits to the city’s administrative office, Aksai found a suitable cave in the middle zone of the White Mountain City. This area was renowned for its stable 2nd-order Spirit vein aura, which was perfect for cultivators on the brink of a breakthrough.
Renting a cave here wasn’t cheap, but Aksai was prepared. He had amassed enough Spirit stones over the years, thanks to his careful resource management and occasional sales of rare items.
“This… this place is good,” Aksai thought to himself as he entered inside a mountain cave.
The cave he selected was nestled in a secluded part of the middle zone, away from the bustling crowds but still within reach of essential facilities.
The entrance was discreet, partially hidden by natural rock formations and dense foliage, offering Aksai the privacy he needed. Inside, the cave was spacious, with smooth stone walls and a natural spring that emitted a soft, calming sound as it trickled over rocks. The air was rich with Spirit essence, a tangible sign of the powerful 2nd-order Spirit vein running beneath.
“Time to set up some isolation formations along with some Base Building items,” Aksai murmured before taking action.
Once the formalities were complete, Aksai moved his belongings into the cave. He brought along his alchemical tools, cultivation manuals, and a few personal items to make the space more comfortable.
He then set up an additional offensive-type Array Formation at the cave’s entrance to ensure no one could enter without his permission, enhancing his security.
“I should first stabilize my mind, body, and spirit.”
Aksai then spent a few days acclimating to his new environment. He meditated, absorbing the abundant Spirit essence and aligning his energy with the cave’s aura. He also fine-tuned his Base Building formation setup, ensuring everything was in perfect order for the crucial moments ahead.
Satisfied with the preparations, Aksai finally felt ready. He took out the glass vial containing the Foundation Establishment Pills, each pill glowing faintly with condensed Spirit essence. He held one in his hand, feeling the weight of years of effort and anticipation.
“This is it,” he thought, sitting cross-legged on a smooth stone platform he had fashioned as his meditation spot.
Aksai closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and began the process of ingesting the first Foundation Establishment Pill.