Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Pill Forest Stone Tablet
Translator: 549690339
The tripartite forces of Qian Country have been relentlessly in pursuit of Feng Qianqiu for several months. Although Feng Qianqiu has made multiple appearances and carried out numerous deeds, they have not succeeded in properly capturing him.
Firstly, Feng Qianqiu’s strength is formidable, with only a few in Qian Country capable of surpassing him. Secondly, he is incredibly crafty, scampering away at the slightest hint of danger.
The tripartite powers once devised a trap to ensnare Feng Qianqiu. However, Feng saw through it, causing substantial embarrassment to the operatives involved.
The longer this operation drags on, the more the royal family of Daqian grows anxious. If they are incapable of capturing Feng Qianqiu soon, the powerful individuals of Yuan Country will descend upon Qian Country.
The royal family of Qian dispatched four prestigious Princes, each a master of the Heavenly Origin realm, to sparing no effort in finding Feng Qianqiu.
Finally, the four Princes located Feng Qianqiu. They managed to injure him severely in their combined assault, but found themselves trapped by Feng Qianqiu in a formation he had prepared earlier, failing to capture him ultimately.
But the operation did yield some results. Feng Qianqiu had been gravely wounded and it was unlikely he would stir up trouble anytime soon.
In the Pill Sect compound, Dugu Nian was concentratedly practicing Shaking Three Mountains.
Dugu Nian had been practicing Shaking Three Mountains for a while now. However, as Fang Lin had noted, learning something and being able to execute it skillfully were altogether different matters.
Although slightly lazy, Dugu Nian was diligent in her practice of Shaking Three Mountains. Whenever she was free, she would dedicate half a day to train.
Despite the lengthy period of practice, Dugu Nian was yet to fully grasp Shaking Three Mountains. She could hardly strain beyond two movements, which signified her limit.
However, Dugu Nian had made progress. Initially, she could only manage a single move, so her present situation was an improvement.
In terms of instructions, Fang Lin simply had her repeatedly perform the same actions and had termed this process as ‘practice makes perfect.’
Dugu Nian did not protest. Being a genius in Alchemy Tao, she understood that Fang Lin was not shirking his responsibility. Shaking Three Mountains was indeed a pill refining technique, which required continuous practice, not shortcuts.
Over the last few days, Qing Jianzi had been periodically coming over to challenge Fang Lin to a sparring match. Initially, Fang refused, as he knew very well his capabilities were incapable of standing a chance against Qing Jianzi’s.
Becoming quite nettled with Qing Jianzi’s continuous pestering, Fang grudgingly accepted the challenge.
The outcome was as expected; Qing Jianzi utterly dominated the sparring match; Fang Lin was completely outclassed.
The gap in their skill levels was to be expected due to the difference in their experience and strength. Qing Jianzi’s advance in swordsmanship was lethal. Fang Lin held on desperately, but he was overshadowed by Qing Jianzi.
Fang Lin had lost, but the competition left Qing Jianzi thoroughly surprised. There was hardly anyone who could contend against him for over ten matches without losing, let alone the True Disciples of the Martial Sect.
Qing Jianzi began to query who would have the upper hand if both he and Fang Lin were at the same skill level. The answer was not easily determined.
One day, Fang Lin decided to test his hand at the Pill Forest Stone Tablet.
In the Pill Sect, there resides a Pill Forest Stone Tablet area where each stone tablet records a pill refining technique left behind by predecessors of the Pill Sect. All in all, there are ninety-nine stone tablets, thus ninety-nine pill refining techniques.
It is an ancient tradition of the Pill Sect that younger disciples can attempt to comprehend a single stone tablet of Pill Forest Stone Tablet area once a year. Grasping one stone tablet gains them a new pill refining technique.
Each year, numerous disciples of the Pill Sect attempt to comprehend the Pill Forest Stone Tablets, hoping to gain more pill refining skills.
However, interpreting the Pill Forest Stone Tablets is extremely challenging, especially the further one proceeds.
Legend has it, the last nine stone tablets contain the ancient pill refining methods, which are both exceedingly rare and hard to comprehend.
Since the establishment of the Pill Forest Stone Tablets, the record for comprehending the maximum number of tablets goes to the Four Saints of the Pill Sect, the four most outstanding Pill Refiners in the sect’s history.
These four managed to comprehend all the ninety-nine stone tablets, amalgamating all ninety-nine techniques into one. On top of that, each of them created a unique pill refining technique of their own.
Owing to their achievements, these four distinguished individuals of the Pill
Sect were respectfully addressed as the Four Saints. During the era of the Four Saints, the entire Qian Country, including the royal family of that time, had to give due deference to the Purple Mist Sect.
It was not an overstatement to profess that the Purple Mist Sect of that era had the potential to replace the royal family.
In their twilight years, the Four Saints chose to leave the Purple Mist Sect and Qian Country to travel to much larger nations, to witness a world they had never experienced before.
After their departure, Pill Sect erected four statues in their honor. There is a rumor that sealed within these statues were the unique pill refining techniques each Saint had created.
Only those who have comprehended all ninety-nine stone tablets have a chance of inheriting the legacy of the Four Saints, leading them onto a broader path.
This legend has been passed down within the Pill Sect from generation to generation, persisting to this day with its credibility intact.
However, since the era of the Four Saints came to an end, though Pill Sect has seen many bright talents, none have managed to achieve the level of the Four Saints. Until now, no fifth person has fully comprehended all ninety-nine stone tablets.
At present, the one holding the record for understanding the most stone tablets is Gu Hanshan, who has comprehended eighty, a significant achievement holding its own among the historic geniuses of the sect, but falling well short of the Four Saints.
Initially, Fang Lin did not have an interest in the Pill Forest Stone Tablets, but upon learning that the current highest-ever record was held by Gu Hanshan, he became intrigued.
In reality, Fang Lin was not particularly interested in the ninety-nine pill refining techniques. After all, as a Pill Sovereign in his past life, he had mastered an unknown number of techniques.
What Fang Lin set out to do was to break Gu Hanshan’s record and make everyone in the Purple Mist Sect realize who the true genius of Alchemy Tao was.
When Dugu Nian learned about Fang Lin’s intention to attempt the Pill Forest Stone Tablets, she got excited, expressing her desire to accompany him and have a go herself.
Fang Lin agreed to let her come along. This young girl tended to get her way, and challenging the Pill Forest Stone Tablets would prove beneficial to Dugu Nian, giving Fang Lin no reason to object.
Once the decision was made, Fang Lin and Dugu Nian arrived at the entrance to an ancient cave.
The Pill Forest Stone Tablets were housed in this cave. At present, a light barrier enveloped the cave entrance, preventing others from entering. On an old tree root beside it sat a dried-up old hag who was blind in one eye, with only a dark cavity remaining.
Outside the cave was a tall stone slab that recorded the achievements of everyone who had attempted to decipher the Pill Forest Stone Tablets.
At the very top were naturally the names of the Four Saints of the Pill Sect. Behind each of their names, the number “ninety-nine” was displayed in gold, which was quite eye-catching..