Cultivation begins with earning spirit stones

Chapter 80 Mind-Concentrating Pill

As dusk approached, Zhang Lin collected the spirit stones and was about to pack up and leave when he suddenly heard a voice in front of him.

"Junior brother, please wait. Did you refine these pills yourself?"

He looked up and saw a young cultivator standing in front of the stall. He was about thirty years old, with a square face, thick eyebrows and big eyes. He was wearing a gray Taoist robe with a pill furnace pattern embroidered on the cuffs and a blue identity token hanging at his waist.

Zhang Lin nodded slightly: "Exactly."

The young cultivator squatted down, picked up a jade bottle, uncorked it, sniffed it, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Top-grade, perfectly controlled heat, full of medicinal properties. Junior brother, you are quite accomplished in alchemy at such a young age."

Zhang Lin said calmly, "Senior brother, you flatter me."

The young cultivator put down the jade bottle, pondered for a moment, and said, "To be honest, my surname is Meng, my given name is He, and I cultivate in the outer sect of Tianzhu Peak."

"I have been stuck at the four acupoints and three gates for two years. Recently, I have been restless and my true energy is showing signs of dissipation. I want to refine a batch of Mind-Concentrating Pills to stabilize my mind and prepare for a breakthrough."

He paused, then said, "But I've searched all over the outer market, and the alchemists who can refine the Heart-Condensing Pill either charge too high a price or have a low success rate. I haven't been able to find a suitable person."

Zhang Lin knew that the Mind-Calming Pill was a first-grade elixir. Its main ingredient was the Tranquilizing Flower, and its auxiliary ingredients were sandalwood shavings and Ice Heart Leaf. Its effect was to calm the mind and prevent one from going astray.

This elixir has a single medicinal effect, but it is quite difficult to refine, especially in terms of controlling the heat. It needs to be simmered over a low flame, and cannot be rushed or delayed. If you are not careful, all your efforts will be wasted.

After a moment's thought, Zhang Lin said, "Bring your own medicinal herbs. One furnace will cost one hundred spirit stones."

Meng He frowned slightly: "One hundred spirit stones isn't expensive, but the success rate of pill formation..."

"100%".

Meng He was taken aback: "Ten percent?"

Zhang Lin looked up at him and said, "If you trust me, bring me the medicinal herbs and I will prepare them on the spot. If you don't trust me, then pretend I never said anything."

Meng He stared at him for a moment, seemingly weighing the weight of his words.

A moment later, he took out a brocade box from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Lin.

"The medicinal herbs are here; thank you, junior brother."

Zhang Lin took the brocade box, opened it, and examined it closely.

A 50-year-old calming flower plant in excellent condition.

A small packet of sandalwood shavings, golden in color and with a refreshing aroma.

The Ice Heart Leaf has three leaves, each as clear as ice with distinct veins.

The medicinal herbs are complete and of good quality.

Zhang Lin closed the brocade box and took out the hundred-refined bronze furnace from the storage bag.

The moment the bronze furnace appeared, Meng He's gaze froze.

The furnace body is dark blue, with a subtle luster flowing across its surface. The furnace wall is engraved with runes, giving it an ancient and heavy feel, exuding an indescribable sense of power.

"This is..." Meng He's voice held a hint of hesitation, "A top-grade alchemy furnace?"

Zhang Lin did not answer. He placed the bronze furnace in front of him, but instead of using real fire, he placed a few pieces of charcoal at the bottom of the furnace and activated his true energy.

Flames rose, and the furnace body slowly heated up.

He moved slowly and deliberately, putting the calming flower into the furnace. The flame turned into a gentle fire, and the medicinal liquid in the furnace churned, making a soft "bubbling" sound.

Meng He stood to the side, his eyes fixed on the furnace, not daring to breathe.

Disciples passing through the market stopped to watch and whisper among themselves when they saw someone refining elixirs in public.

"Who is that? Daring to refine pills on a thousand-foot cliff?"

"I don't recognize him. He looks completely unfamiliar. I saw him coming from the Cuiping Peak area. He looks like a newly initiated disciple."

"Such fire control skills for a beginner? Look at those flames, they're so steady, like they're frozen in place."

"That alchemy furnace is also extraordinary. I've never seen an alchemy furnace of this quality before. Could it be a top-grade magic artifact?"

The murmurs rose and fell, but Zhang Lin paid no attention, his mind completely focused on the furnace.

After an incense stick's time, the medicinal liquid in the furnace gradually solidified, transforming into twelve round pills.

"Open the furnace."

As the stove lid was lifted, a refreshing medicinal fragrance wafted out, carrying a faint sandalwood scent that calmed the mind.

Twelve Mind-Concentrating Pills lay at the bottom of the furnace, their bodies a pale blue, round and smooth, with a faint luster flowing through them.

First-class quality.

Meng He's eyes widened, his mouth slightly open, but he couldn't utter a word for a long time.

Zhang Lin took out two pills, put the ten Mind-Concentrating Pills into a jade bottle, and handed it over.

"Senior brother, please inspect the goods."

Meng He took the jade bottle, poured out a piece and placed it in his palm. He looked at it again and again, and smelled it again and again, and a blush gradually rose on his face.

"One... Top-grade, twelve pills, 100% success rate." His voice trembled slightly. "Junior brother, what... what is this..."

He took a deep breath, took a cloth bag from his sleeve, and placed it on the stall.

"One hundred spirit stones, please accept this, junior brother."

Zhang Lin took the cloth bag, didn't count it, and put it directly into his storage bag.

Meng He stood there, hesitated for a moment, then took out a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it over.

"Junior brother, this jade slip contains some of my insights into alchemy over the years. Although it is not valuable, it is a token of my appreciation. Please accept it."

Zhang Lin glanced at him and took the jade slip.

"Thank you, senior brother."

Meng He shook his head and gave a wry smile: "I should be the one thanking you, Junior Brother. Your alchemy skills are probably among the best in the outer sect."

He paused, then said, "I have a request."

"Please speak, senior brother."

"I have a good friend named Gu Beichen, who is also a disciple of Tianzhu Peak. He has been stuck at the final stage of Qi Refining Perfection for three years and needs a top-grade breakthrough pill. If you can refine it, I am willing to introduce you to him."

Zhang Lin pondered for a moment and said, "A top-grade breakthrough pill can only be taken after one has reached the perfection of Qi Refining, and it is used to assist in breaking through."

"The difficulty of refining this pill far exceeds that of the Mind-Concentrating Pill. It requires a Hundred-Year-Old Barrier-Breaking Flower as the main ingredient, supplemented with Spirit-Clearing Grass and Dragon Blood Vine, none of which can be omitted."

"My friend provided the medicinal herbs himself, but he only has one batch..." Meng He hesitated for a moment, "He searched all over the outer sect, but apart from the elders, no one dared to take on this batch of pills."

"But my friend doesn't have enough contribution points to collect enough spiritual herbs for this batch, so he can't ask the elders for help."

Zhang Lin said calmly, "Have him bring the medicinal herbs to me. Tomorrow at this time, here again."

Meng He was overjoyed and bowed respectfully, saying, "Thank you, Junior Brother. I'll go tell him right away!"

He turned and left, his steps light and quick, disappearing into the crowd in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Lin put away the hundred-refined bronze furnace, put the jade bottle on the blue cloth into his storage bag, and prepared to close up shop.

Before the disciples who had been watching had dispersed, some approached and asked if they could refine other pills, while others handed over their name cards, indicating their willingness to cooperate long-term.

Zhang Lin politely declined each request, saying that if needed, he could come again at this time tomorrow.

After the crowd dispersed, he packed up his stall and returned along the mountain road.

After walking several dozen steps, an old voice came from behind.

"Young friend, please wait a moment."

Zhang Lin stopped and turned around to look.

Under the pine trees on the cliff, an old man appeared out of nowhere. He was about sixty years old, with a thin face, white hair and beard, and wearing a gray Taoist robe. He sat cross-legged on a blue stone, holding a scroll of bamboo slips in his hand, and looked at him with a smile.

Zhang Lin's gaze narrowed slightly.

He had been on the cliff for more than half an hour without noticing the man's presence at all.

The old man had no aura left, appearing like an ordinary person, but his eyes were as deep as an abyss, as if they could see through people's hearts.

Zhang Lin bowed respectfully and asked, "What guidance do you have for me, senior?"

The old man smiled and said, "I'm just curious how a mere child at the late stage of Qi Refining could refine a top-grade first-rank Concentration Pill with a 100% success rate, and using a top-grade pill furnace."

He paused, then asked, "Who taught you that fire-controlling technique?"