CHAPTER 104: CHAPTER 104 ALCHEMY TABLET (SEEKING SUBSCRIPTION) _1

After practicing for a while in the Martial Performance field at Stars Peak, Shen Mo felt satisfied. He had gradually adapted to the upgraded Dragon Sparrow Sword and decided to wrap up his practice.

He rode his sword, his figure transforming into a streak of light as he used Flying Escape.

The place he was heading to this time was the Talisman Hall of the Riverside Sect.

Having successfully upgraded the Dragon Sparrow Sword, Shen Mo planned to focus on enhancing his Alchemy Path and Talisman Path standards in the coming period.

The best way to improve his Alchemy Path and Talisman Path standards was to practice hands-on incessantly.

As long as he continued Alchemy or making talismans, Shen Mo’s experience would improve, and he would naturally gain increased proficiency.

However, he had noticed a long time ago that as his experience in alchemy and talisman making increased, along with the grade of items he could produce, the experience gained from refining lower-grade Elixirs and talismans gradually diminished to almost nothing.

Therefore, he no longer practiced refining Yang-strengthening Powder or the Qi Restoring Pill. Similarly, low-grade talismans, such as the Mind Concentration Talisman and Lightness Talisman, were excluded from his practice.

Instead, he focused on the few Grade I Elixirs and talismans that he had on hand.

Initially, this was fine. However, once the specific proficiency for these few Elixirs and talismans reached the Elite level, he no longer gained any experience from them.

Thus, if Shen Mo wanted to continue enhancing his experience in the Alchemy Path and Talisman Path, he needed to find more elixir recipes and talisman scrolls.

The Talisman Hall, which held the most extensive collection of talisman scrolls within the Riverside Sect, was a frequent gathering spot for the sect’s disciples practicing the Talisman Path.

Previously, Shen Mo didn’t have enough Spirit Stones to purchase new talisman scrolls. Now that he had some Spirit Stones at hand, he was ready to be prodigal.

"Do you sell Grade II talisman scrolls here?" Shen Mo asked, looking at the disciple guarding the Talisman Hall.

With his current level, refining Grade I talismans could improve his Talisman Path experience, but the gains were meager. Usually, he would be lucky if one out of ten attempts yielded an increase in experience.

Only with Grade II talismans would there be an increase in experience every time he made one.

"These are all of them." The disciple on duty pointed to the six jade slips on the top of the spirit counter.

[Earth Prison Scroll]

[Qi Gathering Scroll]

[Wind Wall Scroll]

[Firebird Scroll]

[Thunder Rune Scroll]

[Teleportation Scroll]

Shen Mo picked them up one by one and examined their effects.

The Earth Prison Scroll, as its name suggested, was used to trap opponents. Activating it while the target was within your range of senses would bind them with an earthen prison.

The Qi Gathering Talisman was specifically used to conceal one’s aura. Placing it on oneself could make it difficult for even a cultivator a Realm above you to detect your aura. This talisman wasn’t universally applicable, but it could often have miraculous effects in special circumstances.

The Wind Wall Talisman was a defensive talisman. When activated, it could summon a gusty wind wall to shield the user against incoming attacks. The Mana contained within a Grade II talisman of this type should be enough to block a full-power strike from a Qi Gathering Realm Layer V cultivator.

The Firebird Talisman and Thunderbolt Talisman were both Attack Talismans, differing only in their elemental properties and attack focus.

As for the last one, the Teleportation Talisman, it could be seen as an enhanced version of the Lightness Talisman. Like the Lightness Talisman, this talisman also improved a cultivator’s speed.

However, there was a difference: the effects of a Lightness Talisman could only be utilized by one’s physical body. It was suitable for Body Cultivation State Cultivators who hadn’t yet mastered artifact controlling flight. But once a cultivator entered the Qi Gathering Realm and mastered sword-flying, the effects of the Lightness Talisman were basically nullified.

The Teleportation Talisman, however, was different. It could increase a cultivator’s speed even when they were flying with a controlled artifact.

"How many Spirit Stones do these talisman scrolls cost each?" After a brief check, Shen Mo felt that all the talismans had their own uses, so he decided to buy them all.

"Two hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones each," the disciple guarding the Talisman Hall replied, then asked, "Which one do you fancy, Senior Brother?"

"I’ll take all of them." Shen Mo immediately took out one thousand two hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones and bought all the talisman scrolls.

After buying these six talisman scrolls, Shen Mo wandered around the Talisman Hall and purchased over a hundred sets of raw materials needed for each of them. This part of the expenditure was also quite astonishing, costing a full eight hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones.

After a shopping spree in the Talisman Hall, Shen Mo’s originally considerable savings quickly dwindled by more than half.

Purchasing various spirit minerals cost three hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones. Adding the expense of buying talisman scrolls and materials from the Talisman Hall, I’ve spent a total of two thousand three hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones. After deducting the two hundred Spirit Stones I need to give Cao Ren later, I can still use one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones. That will be enough.

Thinking this, Shen Mo once again rode his sword, employing Flying Escape towards the Alchemy Zone located in the south of the Riverside Sect.

「.」

Unlike the Talisman Hall, the Alchemy Zone was not only home to the sect-operated Spirit Medicine Shop, where Elixirs, spiritual medicines, elixir recipes, cauldrons, and other items were sold. It also had a central Alchemy Hall, specifically for disciples of the Riverside Sect who practiced the Alchemy Path to exchange knowledge.

Surrounding the Alchemy Hall were various alchemy rooms, spiritual medicine fields, and other supporting facilities, all fully equipped.

Consequently, most Alchemists in the Riverside Sect established their cave mansions nearby, and their activities were largely confined to the Alchemy Zone. If they had no other pressing matters, they rarely interacted much with other disciples in the sect.

After all, unlike Shen Mo, who gained experience from refining Elixirs thanks to his Destiny Panel—a cheat—these Alchemists needed to devote their entire heart and soul if they wished to make significant achievements in the Alchemy Path.

Therefore, cultivators with considerable expertise in the Alchemy Path often had average Cultivation Realms and combat capabilities. A person’s energy is limited. One cannot focus on everything without neglecting something else. Except for those with ’cheats,’ it was basically impossible to have it all.

"Fellow daoist, may I ask where the Spirit Medicine Shop is located?" It was Shen Mo’s first time in the Alchemy Zone, so he didn’t know the way and asked an Alchemist dressed in white robes.

"To the northwest, three thousand meters. You’ll see it once you pass the Alchemy Tower," the Alchemist pointed the way for him.

"Thank you, fellow daoist." Shen Mo expressed his thanks and walked in that direction.

He didn’t use Flying Escape to get there, not because he thought the journey was short and couldn’t be bothered, but because there was a Prohibition in the Alchemy Zone that prevented anyone within it from flying on artifacts.

Alchemy Tower... Does he mean this tower?

Walking straight towards the northwest, Shen Mo soon saw the Alchemy Tower the Alchemist had mentioned. The tower was nine stories high, adorned with flying eaves and carved walking beasts, making it extremely magnificent. Especially at the top of the Alchemy Tower, a carving of a round, rolling Elixir periodically radiated a dazzling light.

Passing behind the Alchemy Tower, Shen Mo noticed a huge Stele. A large crowd had gathered around it.

"Senior Sister Lingyin broke the Alchemy Tower record again!"

"It took her only the time of a stick of incense to refine the Anger God Pill, and moreover, the Elixir was of supreme quality!"

"Senior Brother Liu’s record, which stood for over two years, has also been broken by Senior Sister Lingyin!"

"She truly is a genius in the Alchemy Path!"

"If this continues, all the records on the Alchemy Tablet will probably soon bear only her name."

The Alchemists were animated, their excited chatter drawing Shen Mo’s attention. He looked towards the giant Stele and found that it recorded the names of several hundred types of Elixirs. Behind the name of each Elixir was a person’s name.

This name seems to represent some kind of record for refining that particular Elixir?

[Nine-turns Spirit Melding Pill: Grade III]

[Record Holder: Liu Yuan.]

[Description: Total refining time was three days and two nights, with the Elixir achieving perfect quality.]

[Creation Pill: Grade III]

[Record Holder: Zhao Lingyin]

[Description: Total refining time was one day and one night, with the Elixir achieving supreme quality.]

[Green Cloud Pill: Grade III]

[Record Holder: Zhao Lingyin]

[Description: Total refining time was one day and one night, with the Elixir achieving supreme quality.]

[Ethereal Void Pill: Grade II]

[Record Holder: Zhao Lingyin]

[Description: Total refining time was three Shichen, with the Elixir achieving supreme quality.]

「.」

[Qi Restoring Pill: Grade V]

[Record Holder: Zhao Lingyin]

[Description: Total refining time was half a stick of incense, with the Elixir achieving supreme quality.]

Shen Mo examined the numerous Elixir refining records on the Stele one by one. The record holder for the vast majority of the Elixirs was the same name: Zhao Lingyin!

Only the records for a dozen or so Elixirs at the very top belonged to an Alchemist named Liu Yuan.

So, this record recognizes the length of refining time and the quality of the completed Elixir?