Seven days later.
A faint, serpent-like hissing sound occasionally emanated from within the pill furnace. The remnant essence within the demon core was the key to this method's potential for growth. Wang Yu carefully completed the final step.
Soon after.
A single, perfectly round, ice-colored spirit pill, marked with a snake-like pattern, was successfully produced. It was top-grade!
The rich aroma of the pill wafted into his nostrils, and Wang Yu was utterly satisfied.
After a brief inspection, he decisively swallowed it and began circulating the "Coldblood Art" to refine the pill. The benefit of a top-grade pill became apparent; pills of this quality, if the method was correct, could be refined with almost no effort.
In contrast, the top-grade Coldblooded Pill was a spirit pill that increased cultivation; the vast, pure spiritual power contained within required a long time for the cultivator to absorb.
Their functions were different.
After the Frost Python Pill entered his stomach, it felt to Wang Yu as if he had swallowed a ball of ice. From his throat to his stomach, the cold penetrated deep into his bones.
Following the extreme cold came a scorching high temperature.
Copious sweat involuntarily seeped from his pores, but as the high temperature passed, a thick layer of ice crystals formed directly on his skin. Even his exhaled breath became visible.
As his technique circulated, the phenomenon of alternating ice and fire gradually subsided. Strands of icy-blue medicinal energy traveled through his major meridians before converging once more in his Dantian sea.
He didn't know how much time had passed.
*Whoosh—*
Suddenly, a cluster of ice-crystal-colored flame ignited at the center of his Dantian sea. A large amount of spiritual power poured into it, causing the flame to surge dramatically. It felt cold to the senses, and the power it derived was also of the cold attribute.
This manifested in practical effects like freezing and lowering the temperature in the external environment. Yet, if one were to place a hand into the flame, they wouldn't feel heat; instead, it would show signs of being charred black.
Wang Yu was also seeing such a peculiar frigid flame for the first time.
After adapting for a while, his consciousness returned to his physical body. The cross-legged figure suddenly opened his eyes. With a mere thought, a semi-transparent, whitish flame burst into life upon his body.
The Frigid Flame Seed generated by taking the pill had also undergone secondary refinement by Wang Yu and could not harm him.
However, the temperature in the air continuously dropped, and signs of freezing appeared even within the earthfire chamber.
"It seems that besides ice and Yin-attribute spells, I can also learn a few fire-attribute spells to manipulate the Frigid Flame and unleash its power."
This thing wasn't just for pill refinement; it was also a superior method for combat. He just lacked the corresponding means to utilize it.
Retracting the Frigid Flame from his body, Wang Yu raised his right hand, and a tongue of flame sprang up. After a few breaths, it transformed into the shape of a frost python.
Wang Yu's eyebrow raised, his heart certain.
"As expected, it's derived from a Treasure Art."
Treasure Arts were techniques recorded on the treasure bones of powerful, bloodline-endowed demonic beasts after their death. When human cultivators learned them, most would also manifest forms resembling the beast in life when using them.
Scales, feathers, eyes, claws, whiskers—all vivid and lifelike. The details were more realistic than the beast forms produced by ordinary spells, and the power was also formidable.
After experiencing the Frigid Flame, Wang Yu focused his attention entirely on the alchemy art.
The reason the [Frost Python Alchemy Technique] was special was precisely because of this Frigid Flame. Now that he possessed the corresponding means, the effects of this alchemy art would be fully activated by him.
He would start with the top-grade Coldblooded Pills.
After resting for half a day, Wang Yu took out the prepared materials and began the second batch of pill refinement.
Top-grade Coldblooded Pills would only produce pill resistance after consuming twelve. Currently, he had only refined five. Refining ice-attribute pills with the Frigid Flame would greatly enhance their effects.
This was very suitable for a cultivator like him, who focused on ice and Yin attributes.
This was also why, back when he first saw it, he resolutely chose this alchemy technique—not just because it was a third-grade remnant method, but also for this very reason.
This time, it only took five days.
The first day was mostly spent familiarizing himself with the differences between the Frigid Flame and earthfire, slowly adjusting his habits and gradually adapting.
The speed picked up on the second day. Extraction, fusion, pill condensation, and pill nurturing—the four steps of alchemy were almost completed in one smooth flow.
The fifth day.
"Open the furnace!"
With a vibration from the pill furnace, three top-grade Coldblooded Pills, marked with an ice-crystal flame sigil, were produced. Just smelling the pill aroma they emitted was enough to invigorate Wang Yu.
He迫不及待 swallowed one and circulated his energy to experience the effect.
The original top-grade Coldblooded Pill could increase a cultivator's spiritual power by 100 strands per pill, which converted to 10 units—already not a small amount.
The new version of the top-grade Coldblooded Pill, having its medicinal properties further stimulated by the Frigid Flame and with minor modifications in the details, had its effect increased by more than fifty percent.
It was approximately 150 strands of spiritual power.
"Truly powerful."
He could even modify commonly used pills like Spirit Restoration Pills and Flesh Regeneration Pills according to his own situation, turning them into ice-attribute spirit pills, which would be more suitable for his own consumption.
Estimating the refinement time, it should be a little over a year.
Personalized modification of other pill formulas wasn't urgent at the moment; he could proceed slowly.
After another half-day interval, Wang Yu started the third batch. He stockpiled six of the modified Coldblooded Pills before preparing to leave seclusion.
A seclusion of nearly a month had yielded a full harvest.
After emerging, his first stop was to find Gu Zhengshun to receive the previously commissioned intelligence. If there were no issues, he could then go to the Ice and Snow Pavilion to exchange spirit stones for a fire-attribute, top-grade spell.
As for the now-vacant Slot 4, he directly placed the [Mysterious Yin Hand] in it. Without the assistance of a treasure liquid like Yin Marrow Liquid, the speed of self-cultivation was terrifyingly slow.
The progress was 20 points back then, and it was still 20 points now.
One could only say that it lived up to being a second-grade high-tier spell—a powerful method that even Foundation Establishment cultivators could rely on as a trump card. He could only rely on the placement slot to achieve mastery.
He didn't aim for immediate Perfection through placement, but at least reaching the Minor Achievement stage.
Later, once he had placed all the spells that didn't require active time to practice to Perfection, it wouldn't be too late to switch them out for cultivation techniques.
......
......
After noon, again at the Eight Treasures Restaurant.
Gu Zhengshun tossed him a scroll containing the intelligence and explained, "This information was gathered by the 「Absolute Yin Tower」, established by a True Disciple from Corpse Peak. It should fill in your understanding of the situation in Coldblood Market during the five years you were away."
"Absolutely worth more than the price. If you have any business that's inconvenient in the future, Junior Brother Wang, feel free to entrust it to me. I have matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."
To this, Wang Yu merely chuckled and didn't stop him.
He had seen what kind of bird Gu Zhengshun was back at Profound Bone Mountain. When you had something he needed, his service was extremely attentive. Once his goal was achieved, he reverted to his true nature.
He sold people out smoothly and effortlessly!
He wouldn't seek him out unless he had bargaining chips.
Cursing inwardly a couple of times, he focused his attention on the intelligence scroll, studying it carefully.
Not many major events had happened in Coldblood Market over the five years.
The situation largely matched what he had learned earlier from Lan Ji, except for one issue.
The scroll stated that Zhao Shang, the former manager of the Ice and Snow Pavilion, had not been executed but had fled into the [Blood Abyss].
This place was a cultivation holy land for the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect, located just three thousand li southwest of the sect—very close.
The dangers within were not something a Qi Refining cultivator could handle. Saying he was dead wasn't incorrect.
**(End of Chapter)**