Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique
Inside the inn.
Chen Mu, deep in thought, set down the Jade Slip.
The Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique is a common secret technique for absorbing all kinds of essences.
However, different essences require different talismans.
A Fasting Pill only needs the Essence of the Five Grains, so only one Five Grains Talisman is required.
But some complex elixirs contain dozens or even tens of essences.
To refine such elixirs successfully, one must learn the corresponding talisman for each essence.
“This is just the extraction of essences,” Chen Mu felt overwhelmed as he looked at the Five Qi Primordial Technique.
The blending and refining also had corresponding unique talismans for various requirements.
“No wonder there are so few alchemists.”
“It’s not only because the heritage is precious.”
“It’s really too difficult to practice,” Chen Mu suddenly realized.
Not only does it waste White Jade Coins, but learning so many talismans inevitably consumes a great deal of time.
“Just for a simple Fasting Pill, you need to condense the talismans for the Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique, the Five Grains Talisman, the Five Qi Primordial Technique Talisman, and the Golden Bead Talisman—that’s four talismans in total.”
“With the same amount of effort, you could learn four different secret techniques!”
Of course, the huge expense is balanced by the alchemist’s strong earning abilities.
However…
“Is this thing a little too precious?” Chen Mu frowned.
He was merely helping to track down game.
Even without him, although it would be difficult, the survivors from the Lower Courtyard wouldn’t starve to death.
He had thought that receiving the cultivation technique for the Zuming Talisman would be quite good, or at most he might be given a more generous gift like the cultivation technique for the Spiritual Light Talisman.
But this Alchemy Secret Technique
“Feels like a hot potato.”
…
Tongtian Tower, Building J, Number 9.
Chen Mu stood inside a cylindrical container with a perplexed expression.
The container wasn’t very large; it could at most accommodate ten or eleven people simultaneously. Its boundaries were transparent, resembling a layer of flexible, thin film.
On the outside was a transparent jade tube slightly larger than the container, in which clear, transparent river water was filled.
The container, like a bubble within this transparent tube, carried its passengers and floated rapidly upwards.
“Alien version of an elevator? A bubble lift? Heh…”
Chen Mu reached the sixty-second floor of the Tongtian Tower and, mimicking the passengers below, directly collided towards the exit.
Passing through a curtain of water in an instant, Chen Mu emerged in the elevator hall of the sixty-second floor feeling a cool sensation.
The hall was bright and octagonal, with sixteen evenly spaced corridors leading off it.
There were six elevators in the center, with transparent tubes going through the ceiling, arranged in a circular pattern around the center.
Chen Mu looked down at himself, dry as a bone.
He then turned back just in time to see the bubble lift whizz away upwards.
“Isn’t this elevator quite magical?” Mo Wuzhou approached Chen Mu and commented, “It’s said to be made from the swim bladder of some exotic fish.”
Chen Mu nodded and then respectfully cupped his hands saying, “I’ll trouble Brother Mo to lead the way.”
Your next chapter is on empire
“Come with me; Elder Song is already waiting for you,” Mo Wuzhou waved his hand and led Chen Mu deeper inside.
Along the way, Chen Mu saw many familiar faces.
They were people who had come out of the mountains together, mostly Prefects with Illusion Breaking Cultivation from the Lower Courtyard.
Upon seeing Mo Wuzhou, some nodded and smiled as a greeting, while others just glanced and ignored him, seemingly not very fond of Mo Wuzhou.
“Don’t mind them,” Mo Wuzhou suddenly spoke, sensing Chen Mu’s puzzled look.
“These Prefects from the Lower Courtyard, most of whom are from the Upper Court and have Daoist Bone talent, are rightfully a bit proud,” Mo Wuzhou’s face was stiff and expressionless, but his voice was casual and even carried a hint of mockery.
Chen Mu came to a realization.
Naturally, these Upper Court talents looked down upon Mo Wuzhou, the genius from the Lower Courtyard.
They might even be envious of Mo Wuzhou for being accepted by a Condensing Aperture expert from the Upper Court.
Chen Mu couldn’t help but shake his head.
Even as they began to cultivate and seek the Dao, they could not avoid these petty intrigues.
Thinking of the Fasting Pill’s refining secret method hidden inside the Five Ghosts Bag, Chen Mu sighed.
It’s not so simple to keep to oneself.
…
“Where’s that spirit of ‘Nine out, returning with thirteen’ from before? Why aren’t you daring to accept it this time?” Song Wujie teased with a chubby smile on his face.
“Unmerited reward is not to be accepted. Please take it back,” Chen Mu, taking out the wooden box with the Jade Slip of the secret technique, offered it respectfully with both hands.
“Are you afraid I would harm you?” Song Wujie chuckled.
“Of course, Elder Song wouldn’t harm me!” Chen Mu denied.
“Then why won’t you accept it?”
Chen Mu, with a serious face, replied, “I only offered a small favor, and you’re offering me an Alchemy Secret Technique. If other disciples were to learn of this, they might feel that your rewards and punishments are not clear.”
“How could I, for the sake of my own interests, tarnish Elder Song’s reputation!”
“So you’re still looking out for my well-being?” Song Wujie was almost amused to laughter.
“Maintaining the reputation of the Oversight Courtyard is something every disciple from the Lower Courtyard should do,” Chen Mu replied modestly, “I am simply fulfilling my duty.”
This shameless facade, tsk tsk…
Song Wujie glared at Chen Mu, annoyance hidden behind his gaze: “Don’t be afraid, hold on to it.”
“Once you’re able to refine it, help me refine pills for ten years.”
“Of course, don’t worry about me taking advantage of you. I’ll pay you at market price for your elixirs; you won’t lose out.”
Chen Mu instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
It was good to be needed.
Only…
“How are you so certain that I will be able to master this Alchemy Secret Technique?” Chen Mu wondered.
“Also, shouldn’t you be seeking Brother Mo? He’s been taken as a disciple by an Alchemy expert in the Upper Court; his potential is boundless.”
Could Song Wujie be unaware that the speed at which he cultivates Secret Techniques is abnormal?
Chen Mu’s expression was uneasy, but he couldn’t help feeling a chill in his heart.
If that was really the case, wouldn’t his impetuous search be like walking right into a trap?!
“You know that Mo Wuzhou has taken Sister Rong as his mentor, so of course, he must follow her closely. How could he possibly have time to refine elixirs for me?” Song Wujie rolled his eyes.
“As for whether you can learn alchemy… heh, certainly not!”
“At least not in the short term.”
Chen Mu: “…”
Are you kidding me?
I can’t even refine elixirs, yet you expect me to do it for you.
“With no Alchemy Furnace, what kind of pill could you possibly refine!” Song Wujie glanced at Chen Mu sideways.
Chen Mu’s face showed embarrassment, but his heart stirred.
Alchemy Furnace?
It seems, perhaps, I actually do have one!
“I might not succeed in Alchemy, but there’s still a chance I could master the Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique.”
“When that time comes, you need to help me refine the Yellow Bud Rice from the Lower Courtyard into the Essence of the Five Grains,” Song Wujie said frankly.
Chen Mu immediately pretended to breathe a sigh of relief.
Then he started to express difficulty: “But that is not easy to cultivate either.”
“If you can’t master it, then don’t even think about exchanging the Condense Aperture Secret Method from me,” Song Wujie said with a playful expression.
Chen Mu felt a headache coming on.
“Aren’t you afraid that I’ll take the Alchemy Secret Technique and just run away?” Chen Mu glared at Song Wujie.
“Would you be willing to part with the Condense Aperture Secret Method?” Song Wujie chuckled.
Chen Mu’s face fell: “No, I wouldn’t.”
Why else would he have followed from the Tongtian River Lower Courtyard to Peng Yue Mountain, and then from Peng Yue Mountain to the Heavenly River Water Mansion, if not for the Condense Aperture Secret Method?
As for obtaining it from outside, Chen Mu hadn’t ruled that out.
Moreover, it was rumored that the Heavenly River Water Mansion had once auctioned off the Condense Aperture Secret Method.
But as for the price, well…
“Don’t look so gloomy.”
“If you practice alchemy for me for ten years, you can accumulate Daoist Cultivation.”
“By then, as long as you have enough White Jade Coins, you can come to me to exchange for the Condense Aperture Secret Method,” Song Wujie said, waving his hand generously.
“Really?” Chen Mu eyed him suspiciously.
“I’ve already given you a high-interest loan with excess returns, and my credit is that low?”
“Believe it or not, just get lost!” Song Wujie rolled his eyes and immediately began to shoo him away.
Chen Mu immediately backed out with a smile.
…
In the corridor, Chen Mu’s face bore a smile of joy, but his mind was filled with racing thoughts.
Who could say what the situation would be in ten years?
What if Song Wujie died? And what if I also died… No, no, no, I won’t die.
What if he refuses to acknowledge the debt?
Chen Mu sighed.
The Alchemy Secret Technique still needed to be cultivated regardless.
Although it might just be the other party drawing a pie in the sky, that pie was simply too tempting!
“Besides, if I learn the Art of Alchemy, I can also make money by refining elixirs.”
“If things don’t work out with Song Wujie, the White Jade Coins I’ve saved up could also be used to attempt to purchase it from elsewhere.”
…
“Has Master found out whether he can learn Alchemy?” Liang Yi asked doubtfully.
“At least mastering the Five Elements Qi Absorption Technique wouldn’t be a problem,” Song Wujie said. “Among those who have come out, quite a few have noticed the peculiarities of the Qingliu Illusion Realm.”
“But only you three were unaffected and even managed to escape from it.”
“You, due to your unique Secret Technique, which unites body and spirit.”
“As for Chen Mu and Mo Wuzhou, they belong to those who are innately perceptive to the spirit, which is sensitive.”
“Such people can perceive subtle changes in Talismans, especially suited for refining elixirs and artifacts.”
Liang Yi had an epiphany.
“Three years to master Illusion Breaking, his talent is not low,” Liang Yi pondered and then hesitantly added.
“Are you afraid there’s a problem with him?” Song Wujie inquired.
“Little Mo mentioned before… this person’s Secret Technique is brimming with ghostly qi, and his actions are always shady…” Liang Yi narrowed his eyes as he spoke.
“Of course, he’s no good guy,” Song Wujie sneered. “Could a good guy propose such an aggressive profit scheme?”
“Besides, this man is from the border wilderness overseas. How many good people can you expect to emerge from there?”
Liang Yi nodded in agreement.
“As long as he can learn the Qi Absorbing Technique, we can just consider him a talented disciple,” Song Wujie said unconcernedly.
“The new Lower Courtyard needs such talents.”
The new Lower Courtyard?
“Has there been news from the East Fence Path Sect Master?” Liang Yi asked joyfully.
“I only know that he is still alive, other than that, not much is clear,” Song Wujie shook his head.
“But there has been news from the group that went east.”
“Is it Liu Ling, the Elder who went towards Yunzhou’s East Ridge?” Liang Yi was overjoyed.
“Exactly!” Song Wujie smiled.
“She has found a new Earth Vein Spiritual Spring.”
“Even better than the Earth Vein Spiritual Spring of Peng Yue Mountain.”
“But with the crisis of Zhongshan Path not yet resolved, if they too get greedy…” Liang Yi worried.
“That’s why we need to wait here for a while,” Song Wujie sighed.
“Without a formidable figure in command, even with the discovery of an Earth Vein Spiritual Spring, it’s impossible to sustain long-term operations.”