Training base, secret chamber.
“Phew.”
Li Feng opened his eyes, a hint of helplessness in them. “Slow, too slow. At this rate, who knows how many years it will take to restore my strength.”
Spirit stones and dragon jade could only provide spiritual energy to speed up cultivation. They could not directly restore his strength. Even after digesting the residual medicinal power of the Tianyuan Spirit Fruit left in his body, his recovery was still far too slow.
“I must find another way to restore my strength.”
Next, he had to deal with Blood Shadow and participate in the Fist King Championship to compete for the Nine Dragons Jade. Without strength, he could do nothing.
Although his current strength was roughly equal to Qin Feng and the others, and they could enter the Fist King Championship, so could he. However, Li Feng knew he was different from them. They had family backing; he did not.
More importantly, he had offended so many people. During the Fist King Championship, who knew how many would try to cause him trouble. Without strength, even with a few Postnatal Ninth Layer martial artists by his side, Li Feng would not feel safe.
But how to restore his strength? The Yuan Nourishing Powder at the Ancient Martial Artists Association cost two thousand points, equivalent to two billion Huaxia coins. Although Fengyuan Group could currently afford two billion, it would inevitably harm the group and might affect its daily operations. It would be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Moreover, he could not guarantee the Yuan Nourishing Powder would restore his strength. The Divine Soul Herb had just helped him break through his divine sense, but the Yuan Nourishing Powder was different. According to the description he saw earlier at the association, its chance of healing his injuries was still too low.
“It seems I have to find another way.”
Li Feng took out Alchemy Fundamentals from his spatial bag and began reading.
This was introductory knowledge for alchemists. At the beginning, it detailed the conditions for becoming an alchemist. The most basic requirement was that an alchemist needed to cultivate divine sense.
Li Feng had not expected alchemy, like array formation, to require divine sense.
The book explained that refining pills was a complex and difficult process. It required not only divine sense but also profound cultivation to support it. This was the minimum cultivation level for alchemists.
In the current martial world, only Innate realm experts could produce divine sense. Like cultivation, divine sense needed to be cultivated step by step. Unlike Li Feng, whose soul had transmigrated, giving him Postnatal peak divine sense from the start, now broken through to Innate realm.
Li Feng did not know the situation of current Innate realm experts, but those who reached Innate realm seemed to be in their fifties or sixties. Cultivating divine sense from there was even harder than true qi. To break through divine sense to Innate realm would probably take decades more. No wonder there were almost no alchemists now.
At this thought, Li Feng’s breathing quickened. He had divine sense and cultivation. Could he refine pills?
The book stated that refining pills involved dealing with pill fire and spiritual herbs. Alchemists burned pill fire to extract medicinal properties, which required certain conditions.
Pill fire had grades of quality. Different qualities produced different grades of pills.
Alchemy Fundamentals introduced pill fire, but Li Feng had never even heard of the types described.
It also said alchemists should ideally cultivate fire-attribute techniques, making pill refining easier.
Li Feng knew modern martial secrets, whether internal qi methods, martial skills, or rare secret techniques, all had attribute distinctions. Broadly divided into the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, earth. Beyond these, there were special attributes like ice, darkness, wind.
For example, the Snow Jade Art Hu Yuanyuan cultivated was an ice attribute. But Li Feng was unclear which attribute his Nine Heavens Heart Scripture belonged to. It seemed attribute-less.
Reading this, Li Feng wondered if he was suited to alchemy. He had divine sense others lacked, and cultivation, though currently low, needed only restoration. He believed his cultivation would suffice for refining.
As for fire techniques, although his Nine Heavens Heart Scripture was not fire-attribute, could an attribute-less method convert to various attributes?
Most importantly, what was pill fire? Li Feng had never heard of it, so he did not know how to obtain it.
But could something else substitute for pill fire?
“It seems I can try to become an alchemist.”
At this thought, Li Feng’s eyes snapped wide open. Two beams of sharp light shot out. A joyful smile appeared on his face as he murmured to himself.
Li Feng fully understood the benefits of becoming an alchemist. Once he could refine pills, his resources would turn into pills. His strength and that of his subordinates would surge exponentially.
Moreover, pills were so expensive. Selling them to the Ancient Martial Artists Association or other martial artists would bring enormous profit.
After the excitement passed, Li Feng continued reading Alchemy Fundamentals.
At the back were several pill formulas, including Foundation Solidifying Pill, Yuan Cultivating Pill, and Innate Pill.
Seeing the Foundation Solidifying Pill formula, Li Feng’s eyes flashed brightly.
He could not forget its effects or the price it fetched at auction. If he could refine it, this one pill alone could make him rich overnight. Moreover, according to the book, it was the most basic pill.
If the Foundation Solidifying Pill was like that, what about the Yuan Cultivating Pill and Innate Pill?
Especially the Innate Pill, which could elevate Postnatal Ninth Layer to Innate realm. In Li Feng’s view, that was incredibly heaven-defying.
But these three formulas were in the fundamentals book, clearly the most basic pills in ancient times. This showed how glorious alchemy had been in its heyday.
Li Feng knew he could not refine pills yet. Learning might take forever. But though he could not refine pills, he could brew medicine.
During body tempering, he had brewed medicine for it. Could he use these formulas to brew medicinal liquids? Even if inferior to pills, it would greatly help him.
With this thought, Li Feng left the secret chamber, found a large pot, and set it up in the training ground of the base.
“Li Feng, what are you doing?” Ge Feng and Ge Ying, arriving after hearing the news, asked curiously.
“Brewing medicine.” Li Feng replied.
“Brewing medicine?” Ge Feng and Ge Ying looked at each other. Why had Li Feng suddenly decided to brew medicine?
“I can’t refine pills, but I can brew medicine. There are many formulas in Alchemy Fundamentals. I want to try brewing according to the ingredients.” Li Feng explained.
“Li Feng, you’re wasting materials. It’s impossible to succeed.” Ge Feng replied without hesitation. Using pill formulas to brew medicine was something he had never heard of. Throughout history, no one seemed to have done it.
“Whether it succeeds, we’ll know after trying.” Li Feng said nonchalantly. He was brewing according to the Foundation Solidifying Pill formula. The materials cost only one or two million. If it failed, he could accept the loss. But if successful, even if less potent than the pill, it would be a major breakthrough for him.
“But…” Ge Feng wanted to say more, but Ge Ying pulled him back. “Brother, let Li Feng try. Success or not doesn’t matter. Li Feng doesn’t care about the cost of these materials. Besides, brewing medicine isn’t dangerous.”
Ge Feng said no more.
“Ge Feng, Ge Ying, come help me.” After setting up the pot, Li Feng called to them.
Brewing medicine and refining pills had similarities. The key was fire control. This Foundation Solidifying medicinal liquid differed from what he had brewed before, so for the first attempt, he worried about controlling the heat and needed help.
“Alright.” Ge Feng and Ge Ying nodded.
Li Feng began brewing using his old method. He placed coal under the pot, lit a strong fire, and boiled the water.
“Add Zhangshan Flower…”
“Add Linglong Grass…”
“Add Wushan Mushroom…”
Li Feng used divine sense to monitor temperature while controlling the flames. This multitasking demanded much from divine sense. Even with his Innate realm divine sense, sweat soon covered his forehead.
While controlling temperature, he had Ge Feng and Ge Ying add ingredients. Though first time brewing this liquid, with prior experience, he proceeded methodically. Soon, a refreshing fragrance wafted from the pot.
Li Feng observed carefully. The originally full pot of clear water had reduced to less than half, now black as ink and thick like porridge, with herbs fully fused.
Seeing this, Li Feng relaxed. The medicine was brewed. He just did not know its effects.
“Did it succeed?” Ge Ying asked eagerly.
“It should have.” Li Feng nodded, looking at the liquid. “Now to test its potency.”
“Bring a bowl.”
A nearby Black Eagle team member immediately handed him a large bowl.
Li Feng took it, ladled a bowl of liquid, and prepared to drink.
“Wait…” At that moment, Ge Feng called out.
“What’s wrong?” Li Feng looked at him in confusion.
“Li Feng, are you really going to try it? What if this liquid…” Ge Feng said worriedly. He did not believe Li Feng’s brew would work. Moreover, medicine could be toxic. The Wushan Mushroom added earlier was poisonous. Drinking it might cause poisoning.
“No fear.” Li Feng said, then drained the bowl in one gulp.
