194 Martial Arts Bottleneck
Several months had passed since the battle of the Golden Core Realm elders on Xiaoqian Mountain.
Jiang Ming stayed in Hongyang City, calmly polishing his cultivation. He was not in a hurry to go back.
Things were peaceful here. Most of the cultivators who could stay in a place with thin spiritual energy were carefree and happy.
For Jiang Ming, although his ultimate goal of freedom could not be achieved for the time being, it was still good to relax for a while.
* * *
Jiang Ming was betting on a cricket fight.
He bet a large bunch of copper coins on a strong cricket and then lost everything in the blink of an eye. He sighed and went home.
He made a hearty meal out of demonic beast meat and had a nap after he finished eating. He woke up a few hours later.
He took out his cauldron.
“I’ll refine another batch of Golden Blood Pills and see if I can increase my blood Qi!”
As he raised the temperature of the cauldron, he began to process all kinds of medicinal herbs.
Jiang Ming had stayed in Hongyang City for nearly a year.
However, with the passage of time, the speed of his growth became slower and slower. It was as if there was an invisible barrier in front of him, blocking his path of martial arts.
The Golden Blood Pill was originally used for healing and had some nourishing effects. However, after taking them daily for more than a month, their effects were getting weaker and weaker. Now, they were useless.
Half an hour later, a batch of hot Golden Blood Pills was taken out of the cauldron. Jiang Ming was not afraid of the heat. He grabbed more than a dozen pills and stuffed them into his mouth.
Jiang Ming obviously did not have to worry about any negative side effects. However, no matter how many he took, they no longer had any discernible effect on his body.
“It seems like the second step of Foundation Establishment for martial arts isn’t that easy!”
Jiang Ming sighed, not showing any surprise on his face.
The Golden Blood Pills had stopped being effective a few days ago. This batch had just gone to waste. It was better to stop taking them now.
“It seems that I have to find another way.”
There were two steps to building the Foundation Establishment Realm of martial arts. He had already reached the requirements for the first step. The second step was to constantly refine his blood Qi. This was so that the blood Qi would transform and blend with the body again. Then, new blood Qi would emerge. Only then would he be completely reborn to step into a whole new world.
“According to the various records I’ve read, it’s impossible to break through this step by only practicing hard. It’s only possible with the help of various mystical materials and medicinal pills that can improve blood Qi.”
Jiang Ming’s eyes flickered. A small place like Hongyang City probably did not have the mystical materials and medicinal pills he needed.
According to the news he had heard in the past few months, the chaos in Xiaoqian Mountain had completely subsided. Perhaps it was time to go back.
“I’ll stay here for another two months. If I haven’t broken through, I’ll go out and hunt more prey. I can eat them slowly when I go back!”
The prices on Xiaoqian Mountain were frighteningly expensive, and the meat of demonic beasts was even more outrageous. He might as well take this opportunity to build a stock of meat. He might be able to earn some spirit stones by selling them.
After refining two more batches of medicinal pills, night gradually fell. Jiang Ming went to Fuhai Restaurant.
* * *
“Ming, did you just make these? Give me three Qi-Returning Pills.”
“I’ll have a bottle!”
A group of individual cultivators gathered around a table in Fuhai Restaurant, and the situation was quite lively. After all, an alchemist was extremely popular everywhere.
“There are only two bottles in total. I was unlucky today and four or five batches were wasted. There will be even less in the future, I’ve already wasted all the medicinal herbs!” Jiang Ming quickly shouted. Although he still had a lot of medicinal herbs in stock, and his success rate was getting higher and higher, no matter where he was, keeping a low profile was of utmost importance.
“I’m accepting ancient books and historical records as payment as well. You can even give me strange stones and antiques that you don’t recognize.”
Earning spirit stones was amazing. However, with this method of payment, he could acquire some rare treasures.
Of course, Jiang Ming had not encountered any interesting things until now. At most, he got a few miscellaneous books.
However, in the eyes of other individual cultivators, Jiang Ming was a skilled alchemist who had no hope of getting better at cultivation and was obsessed with having fun all day. Collecting strange old things was one of his hobbies.
All of this could be attributed to the rumors that Jiang Ming had spread about himself in the Plant Hall. Now, he, an alchemist who was a good-for-nothing immortal cultivator, was somewhat famous in Xiaoqian Mountain.
“A thousand-year-old book recording all kinds of myths in exchange for An Qi-Returning Pill?” Jiang Ming took an ancient book, turned a few pages, and smiled faintly.
“Why not? It’s just rotting at home otherwise!” The cultivator on the other side was overjoyed and hurriedly gave him the book.
Soon, Jiang Ming sold all the pills.
“Hurry! Come and taste my newly developed spirit wine!” Beside him, a white-haired old man with a red nose slammed the table and shouted. His messy hair swayed and immediately caused a roar of laughter.
Jiang Ming’s eyes lit up. He was the first one to rush over and asked for a small glass of spirit wine with a smile. He sipped it with great satisfaction.
This old man’s name was Li Yuankang. He was a level nine Qi Refinement Realm expert from the Pillfire Hall of Xiaoqian Mountain. He had lived for more than 150 years and still had not broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. He probably would not have any chance to do so in this lifetime. His alchemy skills were also mediocre.
However, Li Yuankang made the best spirit wine in Xiaoqian Mountain. It was said that even the Golden Core Realm elder was full of praise after drinking it. After the chaos in the Pillfire Hall, he was lucky enough to survive and escaped to Hongyang City, allowing the individual cultivators here to have some good wine.
“Ming, the brewing techniques you mentioned are really useful. The wine that I’ve brewed this really different.” Li Yuankang looked at Jiang Ming and praised him with a smile. Then, he poured another glass for Jiang Ming.
“I learned them from my neighbor in the mortal world. Compared to you, I’m just a beginner!” Jiang Ming quickly said.
Back in Peace Town, he had learned some of Old Jiang’s brewing techniques.
Jiang Ming slowly drank the spirit wine. The pure spiritual energy contained in the wine also slowly seeped into his body. Although there was no immediate effect, if this was consumed for a long time, it would have a great effect on cultivation.
“But this is Old Li’s hidden skill, so we can’t ask him for it immediately!” Jiang Ming thought.
“By the way, there’s a small trade fair in Hundred Rivers City in a few days. Ming, you can go and take a look when you have time. There should be a lot of strange things there. Maybe there’s even a pill recipe or something. If you can get one, it’ll be a big investment,” after three rounds of drinks, Li Yuankang suddenly thought of something and said with a smile.
“A trade fair?” Jiang Ming frowned. Hundred Rivers City was not far from here. However, he did not know much about it.
“Don’t worry.” Li Yuankang laughed. “A trade fair in a mortal city like this is usually held by some young cultivators in the early and mid-stage of the Qi Refinement Realm. If it wasn’t for the fact that I wanted to search for some interesting wine recipes, I wouldn’t even bother to go.”
Jiang Ming was stunned for a moment. Then, he laughed and realized that he was being too cautious.
“I’ll go take a look when I have time.”
* * *
Five days later, a few people were flying to Hundred Rivers City. Jiang Ming was one of them.
As soon as the news of the trade fair spread, many bored individual cultivators wanted to visit. Li Yuankang brought a few friends along.
Jiang Ming naturally took advantage of the situation. It was safer to blend in with a group than to stick out as a lone cultivator.