Watching Jiang Yan once again slip into a state of arduous cultivation, Liuyun couldn't help but sigh.
"Master truly is devoted to cultivation. Every day, he's either training himself or teaching us how to train."
"At his age, he should still be attached to the passions of the mortal world, yet he already has such a transcendent mindset."
"Tell me, has Master ever actually experienced the tempering of worldly trials?"
Xiao shot her a disapproving look.
"The Hall of Discipline's rules are clear—speaking idly about the Sect Master is forbidden!"
Zhongli, standing nearby, nodded in approval. Yesterday he hadn't had the chance to study the Hall of Discipline's codes, but Xiao clearly had memorized them all.
Now this—this was the dignity befitting the eldest disciple of Longshou Peak.
Liuyun could only shrug helplessly.
Before, she hadn't been able to mention Zhongli in front of Xiao. Now it seemed she couldn't mention either Zhongli or Jiang Yan.
Xiao was truly a qualified eldest disciple of the Hall of Discipline.
In comparison, they themselves hadn't even properly studied the rules of their own Seven Veins. The thought made her feel somewhat ashamed.
Suddenly, Mountain Shaper let out a gasp of wonder.
"These secret alchemy methods truly are extraordinary! Not only are there pills that can instantly make one into a cultivator, but also countless medicines said to bring the dead back to life and regrow flesh on bones."
"It's even recorded that in the ancient era, there existed a 'Nine-Turn Golden Pill' that could turn a man into an immortal on the spot."
"Incredible! Absolutely incredible!"
At those words, Ningguang's eyes flickered, and she murmured softly:
"Senior Brother Mountain Shaper… is there perhaps a pill that could make an ordinary person immediately powerful?"
Mountain Shaper instantly puffed out his chest with pride.
"Your view is far too narrow! What do you mean by 'make an ordinary person immediately strong'?"
"Such pills are everywhere in this Pill Cauldron Formula."
"The Tiger-Elephant Tempering Pill—those who take it instantly gain the strength of a tiger or elephant."
"The Harmonizing Qi Powder—after consuming it, one immediately gains the true qi of a martial grandmaster."
"The Marrow-Refining and Meridian-Altering Pill—it strengthens the meridians, turning an ordinary person into a martial genius."
"These are the most common, so common that the text barely bothers to describe them."
"How could these mundane pills for mortals possibly compare with true cultivation pills?"
"The True Essence Pill can accelerate a cultivator's refinement of essence into qi."
"The Nine-Curve Ginseng Pill clears the spiritual platform, tempers divine sense, and strengthens the soul."
"The Creation Pill aids even Refining-Qi-to-Spirit cultivators in growing their cultivation."
"The Longevity Pill extends lifespan; the Heaven-Mending Pill compensates for innate defects; the Breakthrough Pill forcefully shatters bottlenecks beneath the Refining-Qi-to-Spirit stage."
"The Ethereal Spirit Pill toughens the soul itself."
"There are even records of the Profound Origin Creation Pill, which can defy heaven's decree, granting talent to the talentless, even evolving a middle-grade spiritual root into a top-grade one."
"And it is said that there exists the 'Life-Reverting Elixir', capable of condensing unique constitutions."
"The Dao of alchemy is wondrous beyond measure—simply a skill no cultivator can do without!"
Mountain Shaper was visibly excited as he spoke.
But he completely failed to notice that the more he rambled, the heavier everyone's breathing became.
Even Zhongli's eyes nearly blazed into fire at the mention of the Creation Pill and Life-Reverting Elixir.
Not to mention the Nine-Curve Ginseng Pill—that must be exactly what could heal Ganyu's injuries.
Pills…
Such good things!
All of them were good things!
Mountain Shaper had the talent for alchemy—he should indeed be making medicine for the benefit of the Mount Shu disciples.
Zhongli had long felt that among the Adepti, it was Mountain Shaper who was the most promising.
And now? Mountain Shaper truly was going to become a master alchemist.
Their future cultivation speed would all depend on him.
Xiao silently memorized the name Breakthrough Pill. With it, he could ascend to the Refining-Qi-to-Spirit realm in one leap.
Mountain Shaper… truly a man of great talent!
Ningguang and Keqing exchanged glances, both seeing the joy in each other's eyes.
Pills that could give mortals immense power? They existed! And in great number!
Pills that could hasten cultivators' training? They existed too! And also in abundance!
Mountain Shaper was practically Liyue's number-one god of wealth.
"Stop, stop, that's enough!"
Liuyun, watching Mountain Shaper still rattling on, couldn't help licking her lips in longing. She wanted those pills too badly.
At last, Mountain Shaper noticed the eager gazes surrounding him and realized something was wrong.
"Mountain Shaper, I believe in you—you're destined to be a genius alchemist."
Liuyun fixed him with a solemn look.
"So, when will you refine a batch of pills for us to try? I'd like to reserve some True Essence Pills, how about it?"
Her words immediately unleashed everyone else's requests.
"True Essence Pills are indeed what we most need now, but cultivation of soul and consciousness can't be neglected—refine some Ethereal Spirit Pills as well."
"By general principle, Creation Pills must also be made—and don't forget the Nine-Curve Ginseng Pill."
"The Life-Reverting Elixir is crucial too; unique constitutions are far too important in cultivation."
"Longevity Pills may not benefit us much, since even the shortest-lived among us has five centuries—but sold in Teyvat, they'd fetch astronomical wealth."
"Mountain Shaper, I need a Breakthrough Pill, I beg you."
"Are there any pills that can help spirit beasts evolve? Please check for me."
The flood of voices left Mountain Shaper completely numb.
After a long while, he said miserably:
"Do you all really take me for some alchemy machine?"
Zhongli nodded slightly, then hastily shook his head.
"As the Sect Master once said: When Heaven entrusts a great responsibility to a man, it first tests his resolve, tires his body, starves his flesh, and deprives him of all comforts."
"Mountain Shaper, you're the only one who can learn the Pill Cauldron Formula. Naturally, you must shoulder the burden of providing pills for Mount Shu."
"Only by helping everyone cultivate faster can Mount Shu truly grow strong."
Mountain Shaper cast a resentful glance at Zhongli.
Easy for him to say. All Mountain Shaper had was the text of the True Explanation—he wasn't truly capable of alchemy yet.
He had no spirit herbs, no pill furnace… barely any true essence of his own. What was he supposed to refine with?
And besides, The gentleman could refine pills too! Why weren't they going to him?
But he dared not say that aloud. Otherwise, Xiao would probably be pointing a spear at his chest, accusing him of defying the Hall of Discipline's rules.
"It's not that I'm unwilling," Mountain Shaper said bitterly. "The truth is, the conditions simply aren't there right now."
"I'm only late Refining-Qi-to-Spirit. I can't possibly make the Creation Pills the Chief Seat requires."
"Not to mention—I have no furnace, no herbs, nothing at all. I've barely even grasped the fundamentals of alchemy."
"How can I bear such responsibility?"
The others looked disappointed.
Ningguang batted her eyes, still unwilling to give up.
"Then Senior Brother Mountain Shaper, if you can't yet make pills for cultivators… surely you could at least make those for ordinary people? With your Refining-Qi-to-Spirit cultivation, that should be possible, right?"
Mountain Shaper sighed, shaking his head.
"Ordinary people's pills are indeed not too difficult. I could even use true essence flames to refine them on the spot."
"But… we don't have the materials."
Ningguang pressed on.
"What materials are needed? Please, speak plainly. For something so important to all of Liyue, we'll mobilize the entire land to collect them."
Mountain Shaper spread his hands.
"Useless. Even if I tell you, Teyvat won't have them."
"Take the Tiger-Elephant Tempering Pill, for example. It requires the bones of a White-Wing Tiger, the tusks of a Chain-Toothed Elephant, and Blood-Congealing Grass."
"The beasts might evolve here on Mount Shu, but the Blood-Congealing Grass? Impossible to find in Teyvat."
"I'll have to try planting Teyvat herbs in the Spirit Fields, to see if they evolve into substitutes. But that takes time, and luck."
"In the cultivation world, Blood-Congealing Grass grows everywhere in the Beast Mountains. The White-Wing Tiger and Chain-Toothed Elephant are the lowest-class beasts, about equal to a hundred-day Foundation Establishment cultivator."
"But here? None of it exists. What does Teyvat have to do with the cultivation realm?"
"At most, I can only rely on the Spirit Fields, transforming Teyvat herbs into spiritual herbs. But who knows what Clear Dew or Qingxin would turn into?"
Hearing this, everyone's excitement dimmed. If even mortal pills were rare, then the medicines they truly wanted were even less likely to appear.
But suddenly, Ganyu blinked innocently.
"But at least on Great Bamboo Peak, we have Spirit Fields. If we plant enough herbs, we'll eventually evolve plenty of spiritual herbs."
"There's still hope."
Ningguang's eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly.
"Ganyu speaks well! With the Spirit Fields, as Master said, ordinary herbs can evolve into spiritual ones."
"We may not have Blood-Congealing Grass, but Teyvat has countless herbs. If we plant them all, surely we'll find something similar."
"Even weeds—if we plant them in the Spirit Fields, who knows what they might evolve into? As long as we keep trying, we'll succeed!"
Keqing clapped her hands.
"Not only that! This week, Master will take us to the Nine Nether Secret Realm."
"That realm is a fragment of the cultivation world, severed by Ancestor Mo Yixi himself. It's home to many great demons—and surely many spiritual herbs as well."
"If we can collect some, even just seeds, we can grow them in the Spirit Fields!"
Ningguang nodded vigorously.
"Yes—two-pronged approach! Have Liyue gather herbs across all Teyvat, and when we go to the Nine Nether Secret Realm, we hunt for spiritual plants."
"Even seeds will suffice—once planted in the Spirit Fields, they'll thrive!"
"Alchemy isn't hopeless after all!"
Liuyun and Madame Ping exchanged a look, then decisively nodded.
"Windreturn Peak can prioritize refining a pill furnace artifact for Mountain Shaper. That will fulfill another prerequisite."
The group, each chiming in one after another, reignited their enthusiasm for alchemy.
But wait…
Wasn't he the one who was supposed to do all this?
Listening to his ever-growing list of responsibilities—cultivating herbs, tending Spirit Fields, refining pills once the furnace was ready—Mountain Shaper felt numb.
What did they expect him to do? Spend twenty-four hours a day just sitting at a furnace, never cultivating himself?
As he imagined a gloomy future of endless pill-refining, he bitterly regretted ever boasting about the wonders of alchemy.
Now he had dug his own grave!
One must never get too full of oneself…
Not even a cultivator!!!
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