PDLP Chapter 79 Zhang Yan
Chapter 79 Zhang Yan
Silent all night.
The next day, at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM).
Zhang Lin just opened the door.
Then they saw Yu Youwei passing by outside the courtyard, carrying a bamboo basket with several spiritual herbs inside.
"What is this?" Zhang Lin asked.
"The task I received yesterday was to cultivate spirit herbs," Yu Youwei said. "First, we need to transplant them into the spirit field, and then water, fertilize, and remove pests every day."
She paused for a moment, then added, "When I was with the Yu family, I also cultivated spiritual herbs, so I have some experience."
Zhang Lin nodded: "Go ahead."
Yu Youwei carried the bamboo basket and headed towards the spirit field.
Zhang Lin did not go to the alchemy room, but returned to his own room, where the Hundred Refinement Alchemy Furnace was more useful than the one provided in the alchemy room.
He took out the hundred-refined bronze furnace and placed it on the furnace platform. He then took out the spiritual materials for the Nourishing Essence Pill and lined them up in a row.
The difficulty of this mission lies in the fact that there is only one elixir available. If one is not 100% certain of success, one will need to supplement it with ten high-grade Qi-cultivating pills.
However, this is also a way for disciples of aristocratic families to accumulate contribution points.
However, Zhang Lin had other ideas. He took a deep breath, took out the spiritual medicine he had received from the mission, and began to strengthen it.
Spirit Orchid Grass, 20-year-old superior grade, enhanced with 100 low-grade spirit stones, yields 200-year-old Spirit Orchid Grass.
Qi-gathering grass, ten-year supply, enhanced with twenty low-grade spirit stones, yields a one-hundred-year-old spirit orchid.
Dewdrop Flower, eight years old, enhanced with a low-grade spirit stone of level 20, yields a Dewdrop Flower of level 100.
........
A cluster of Danxia true fire was thrown into the furnace, the flames licking the bottom of the furnace, and the hundred-times-refined bronze furnace slowly heated up.
After an incense stick's time, all the medicinal herbs in the furnace melted, turning into a ball of emerald-green liquid that slowly rolled at the bottom of the furnace.
The medicinal liquid gradually solidified, split, and transformed into twelve round pills.
"Open the furnace."
As the stove lid was lifted, a rich aroma of herbs wafted out.
Twelve Qi-Nourishing Pills lay at the bottom of the furnace, their bodies a vibrant green, smooth and round, with a subtle, shimmering sheen.
All of them are top-quality items.
Zhang Lin took one out, sniffed it, and nodded slightly.
It's in good condition, even better than he expected.
Zhang Lin pondered for a moment, then focused his mind on the system.
[A top-grade Qi-cultivating pill, capable of strengthening, consumes two hundred low-grade spirit stones, and can be transformed into a transcendent-grade Qi-cultivating pill.]
[Transcendent-Grade Qi Cultivation Pill: An existence that transcends the limitations of rank, created by the workings of heaven and earth. Taken during the Qi Refining stage, it can widen meridians, strengthen bones, and improve aptitude. The first pill has the best effect, with subsequent pills showing decreasing effects. A maximum of nine pills are recommended.]
Zhang Lin's gaze narrowed slightly.
Expanding the meridians, strengthening the foundation, and improving aptitude are all the foundations of spiritual practice.
One's physical constitution determines the width of their meridians. The wider the meridians, the faster the flow of vital energy, and the more quickly vital energy can be replenished during combat.
Aptitude determines one's sensitivity to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth; the higher the aptitude, the faster the cultivation speed.
Even among the nine great sects like Danxia Sect, only the second-grade precious pill, the Marrow Cleansing Pill, can improve one's aptitude, and it can only be used once in a lifetime.
The Qi-Nourishing Pill in his hand could be taken nine times in a row, with each dose building upon the previous one.
Zhang Lin carefully put away the jade bottle, not in a hurry to take the medicine.
Although this elixir is highly effective, it must be taken when one is in optimal condition to maximize its benefits.
Right now, we need to continue refining pills; it's not the time for seclusion and cultivation.
He took out the ingredients for the Qi-restoring pill and prepared it in the same way.
The Qi-restoring fruit is a ten-year-old variety, enhanced with a hundred-year-old variety, and strengthened with spiritual spring water and three-leaf green.
Flames reignited, the medicinal liquid in the furnace churned, and one batch each of top-grade Qi-restoring pills and healing pills were produced.
After enhancement, you will obtain a transcendent-level elixir.
[Transcendent-Level Qi-Recovery Pill: An existence that transcends the limitations of rank, created by the workings of heaven and earth. Taken during the Qi Refining stage, it can accelerate the expansion of the dantian. No side effects. Limit of nine pills.]
[Transcendent Healing Pill: An existence created by the workings of heaven and earth that transcends the limitations of its grade. When taken during the Qi Refining stage, it can regenerate severed limbs and heal internal injuries within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Limit of nine pills.]
Zhang Lin sorted and packed the pills into categories, in high spirits. He put away the Hundred-Refined Bronze Furnace and left the courtyard.
Lingtian is located on the western slope of Cuiping Peak. It is a terraced field that runs along the mountainside, with layers upon layers extending from the foot of the mountain all the way to the middle of the mountain.
The field is filled with all sorts of spiritual herbs and medicines, such as spiritual orchids, three-leaf clover, qi-gathering grass, and dew-condensing flowers... a wide variety, all growing vigorously.
When Zhang Lin found Yu Youwei, she was squatting by a spiritual field, holding a small shovel, carefully lifting a spiritual orchid from the seedbed, with the soil still attached to its roots, and transplanting it onto the ridge of the field.
Fine beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, and her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, revealing her slender, fair forearms.
She was so focused on her work that she didn't even notice Zhang Lin's arrival.
"How is it?" Zhang Lin asked.
Yu Youwei looked up and saw it was him. She said, "Fortunately, the spiritual herbs in this spiritual field are growing well, but some have been infested with insects and need to be removed."
She pointed to a three-leafed clover by the field, its leaves had several small holes and yellowed edges.
Zhang Lin squatted down and looked at it: "What kind of bug?"
"Spirit aphids suck the sap of spirit herbs. If they are not dealt with in time, the entire spirit field will be destroyed," Yu Youwei said. "The steward gave us some insecticide powder, which we can mix with water and spray."
As she spoke, she took out a small porcelain bottle from the bamboo basket, uncorked it, poured out a little pale yellow powder, mixed it into a kettle, shook it well, and sprinkled it on the leaves infested with insects.
The movements were practiced and deliberate, neither hurried nor slow.
Zhang Lin looked at it for a while and said, "I'm going to the outer market. You should rest early after you're done."
Yu Youwei nodded upon hearing this, "Okay."
Zhang Lin got up and walked down the mountain path.
After walking several dozen steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back.
Yu Youwei squatted by the spirit field, sunlight shining on her. She wore a blue shirt and a cloth skirt, her back view was slender, yet it exuded an indescribable resilience.
He withdrew his gaze and turned to walk along the mountain path.
-----
Between Cuiping Peak and Furong Peak, the cliffs are as if cleaved by a knife and axe, thousands of feet high and sheer cliffs.
Below the cliff, clouds and mist surged like a white ocean, and occasionally a strong wind would rise from the valley floor, causing the pine trees on the cliff to rustle.
The top of the cliff was a flat stone platform, about a hundred feet in circumference, paved with bluestone, with some moss growing in the gaps, making it slightly slippery to walk on.
This place is called Thousand-Foot Cliff. It was originally a place where outer disciples bartered goods. Later, it gradually became a large-scale market, and disciples often came here to set up stalls. Over time, it became the most bustling market in the Cuiping Peak area.
When Zhang Lin stepped onto the cliff top, it was already 3:45 AM.
More than twenty stalls had been set up on the stone platform, mostly cloth bundles spread on the ground, displaying a variety of items such as jade bottles, magical implements, elixirs, and talismans, in varying quality.
Most of the visitors were outer disciples, with a few nominal disciples and miscellaneous disciples occasionally, whose cultivation levels ranged from the early stage of Qi Refining to the peak.
In twos and threes, people stopped to look around at the various stalls, occasionally asking about prices in hushed tones, their voices carrying a hint of mystery.
Zhang Lin found an empty spot near the cliff edge, took out a piece of blue cloth from his storage bag and spread it on the ground, then took out more than ten jade bottles and arranged them neatly.
The jade bottles contain refined Qi-Nourishing Pills and Qi-Returning Pills, top-grade, ten of each in each bottle.
He did not take out the top-grade Qi-cultivating pill. Such a high-quality item appearing in this outer market would be a disaster, not an opportunity.
After setting up his stall, Zhang Lin sat cross-legged behind the blue cloth, closing his eyes to rest.
Disciples passing by his stall often stopped to look at the top-grade first-class pills.
After asking the price, some people shook their heads and left, while others gritted their teeth and bought a bottle, not for their own consumption, but to complete a task and earn contribution points.
Zhang Lin's asking price wasn't high—20 low-grade spirit stones per stone, which was more cost-effective than them buying spirit herbs and refining them themselves, and the quality was only higher.
In less than two hours, twenty-four pills were sold, bringing in nearly five hundred spirit stones.
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