Dao of The Demonic Cultivator

Chu Xuan began to attempt alchemy.

Previously, he had only refined the Earth Evil Pill. However, the grade of the Earth Evil Pill was not high, only a low-grade Foundation Establishment stage pill.

Now, the three types he was going to attempt were all high-grade and top-grade Foundation Establishment stage pills.

Even though Chu Xuan was somewhat prepared, he was still surprised by the low success rate of these three pills.

It was incredibly low. For these two high-grade Foundation Establishment stage pills, he failed six furnaces before succeeding once.

As for the top-grade Foundation Establishment stage pill "Heaven Patching Pill," he tried seven times and failed each time.

Chu Xuan couldn't help shaking his head. It was too difficult. To be safe, it would be better to find a professional.

...

"You want to find a top-grade Foundation Establishment alchemist? Hmm, that's not easy," Han Liuyun shook his head involuntarily after hearing Chu Xuan's description.

Foundation Establishment low-grade alchemists were plentiful. Even Han Liuyun and Chu Xuan themselves could refine Foundation Establishment low-grade pills.

However, it was difficult to refine mid-grade pills and above. It would be best to find a professional alchemist who specialized in pill refinement.

But finding a top-grade Foundation Establishment alchemist? That was not easy at all.

Chu Xuan could manage to take it a step further and trouble Wan Wuying directly to invite the Golden Core Elder of the Heavenly Seal Sect to refine pills. But could he afford the price that they would ask for?

Han Liuyun said, "I'll do my best to keep an eye out for Heaven Patching Pills and anyone who can refine them."

Chu Xuan nodded, "Alright."

He then flicked three large blood beads over as payment.

...

Chu Xuan continued his daily cultivation.

His main cultivation technique was the Blood Evil Demon Refining Scripture, supplemented by techniques like Turtle Breath Technique and Boiling Blood Technique. Benefiting from the endless Yin Evil Qi and the replenishment of the large blood beads, he progressed smoothly.

However...

Bang!

A muffled explosion came from the pill furnace.

Chu Xuan opened the lid and found that the pill liquid inside had turned into a solidified, charred, and unrecognizable mass.

"Damn!"

Chu Xuan frowned at the lump of charred matter and gave it the middle finger. It seemed that his talent in alchemy was still lacking.

He could barely refine high-grade Foundation Establishment pills. But he had been failing continuously in refining top-grade Foundation Establishment pills.

During this period, he had failed almost twenty furnaces, if not thirty.

All failures. Too difficult.

Chu Xuan casually threw out the charred lump. Bao quickly rushed over and swallowed it in one gulp. Its expression looked rather satisfied.

Chu Xuan was no longer surprised by its reaction. In fact, during this period of failed alchemy attempts, this little guy had eaten all the leftovers. He didn't know why it loved eating these things.

"Hmm? The mother-child stone broke. It seems there's a result!"

Chu Xuan's eyes lit up. He quickly packed up and headed straight to the nameless market.

...

The nameless market tea house.

When Chu Xuan arrived, Han Liuyun was already waiting there.

He got straight to the point, "I've found what you asked me to look for! I found a top-tier Foundation Establishment alchemist at Mystical Sound Palace. You provide the materials, and she'll refine the pills. She charges 500 small spiritual stones for the alchemy, and she also requires one pill after it's refined."

Chu Xuan frowned, "It's pricey, but acceptable. My only condition is that she refines the pills in front of me."

Han Liuyun scratched his head, "Alchemy in front of you? That's an unusual request. Let me ask her."

He took out a sound-transmitting jade and sent his voice across. Soon, he received a response. The response was just one sentence.

"Okay, I'm coming right away."

Chu Xuan was puzzled, "Isn't she at Mystical Sound Palace?"

Mystical Sound Palace's headquarters are in Qian Province, located in the central part of Yu Kingdom, eighty thousand li from here. How could an alchemist from Mystical Sound Palace rush over here?

Han Liuyun smiled, "She's currently traveling through the Nine Provinces of Yu Kingdom, purchasing alchemy materials in this market."

As soon as he finished speaking, footsteps echoed up the stairs. Immediately after, a graceful figure walked in.

If one had to describe her appearance, Chu Xuan could only say, her features were delicate and exquisite.

Small mouth, small nose, and eyes... also small.

The woman looked at Chu Xuan, "My name is Yan Xiao. Are you here to refine the Heaven Patching Pills?"

Chu Xuan nodded, tossing over a storage bag, "All the materials are inside, enough to refine two furnaces of it. The alchemy fee is also included."

Yan Xiao nodded, "Good, I'll start the furnace now."

The three of them entered a soundproof chamber.

Yan Xiao took out a small bronze cauldron from the storage bag, ignited the spirit wood with flame arts, and heated the cauldron. Then she began to add various materials into the cauldron.

The entire process flowed smoothly, done in one go. This level of proficiency could only come from refining dozens of Heaven Patching Pills.

Chu Xuan watched closely, without blinking.

Han Liuyun snacked on pastries, smiling ambiguously, "Stop staring. Without sufficient talent in alchemy, you won't learn a thing. We should stick to refining low-grade pills ourselves. High-grade pills like these should be left to professional alchemists."

Chu Xuan ignored him and continued to observe. It wasn't until Yan Xiao finished refining two furnaces of pills that he reluctantly looked away.

Yan Xiao was surprised. Someone could actually watch her alchemy for over five hours without looking away. This person had remarkable perseverance, likely with some talent in alchemy. Maybe he really did learn something.

Thinking of this, she felt a bit regretful. Her alchemy techniques were passed down exclusively within her family. If they were truly learned by an outsider just from observing once, she would probably become a sinner.

Han Liuyun was also astonished, "Did you learn something?"

Chu Xuan clicked his tongue, "Not really."

Han Liuyun, Yan Xiao, "..."

Chu Xuan smiled. He did manage to glean a little, but not much.

Yan Xiao's alchemy technique was undoubtedly far superior to his pedestrian methods. That was beyond doubt. If he could obtain Yan Xiao's alchemy technique...

Yan Xiao handed over a jade bottle, "There's a small formation on the mouth of this bottle. It will only unlock by itself once I leave the boundaries of Wu Province. If I come under attack, the formation will self-destruct. This transaction is complete."

With that, Yan Xiao took the items and turned to leave. She showed no intention of lingering.

Chu Xuan sneered, cutting it close. However, this female cultivator could refine top-grade Foundation Establishment-level pills, indicating considerable wealth. There might be a few people hiding in the shadows to protect her.

As for this Han Liuyun, who knew if he was really a guardian? To play it safe, it was indeed unnecessary to provoke trouble.

After Yan Xiao left, Han Liuyun whispered, "This woman is not simple. I received a commission from a disciple of the Heavenly Seal Sect to kill her, but she always has three or four late Foundation Establishment stage cultivators protecting her. Later, she even found out about me."

Chu Xuan asked, "And then?"

Han Liuyun smiled, "Then she offered me five times the price. I firmly refused, saying the employer was my senior brother in the sect, my fellow disciple, and she immediately raised it to ten times. You know, it's... impossible to refuse."

Chu Xuan scoffed, "Leave."

Han Liuyun hurriedly said, "Don't go! I have a job here. Let's explore an ancient secret realm together! That place is full of treasures! Many opportunities! I've heard that many Foundation Establishment cultivators are planning to explore it!"

Chu Xuan shook his head, "Not interested. I'd rather sit down and cultivate properly."

Han Liuyun was puzzled, "But you're a demonic cultivator! How can you call yourself one without fighting and seizing opportunities?"

Chu Xuan replied calmly, "I'm different from other demon cultivators. My cultivation is on putting down the butcher's knife and becoming a Buddha on the spot."

Han Liuyun watched him walk away, speechless. After a long time, he sighed.

"This guy is so stubborn, trying to trick him is too difficult."