Chapter 83: The Hundred Herbs Catalogue

Since it was an incomplete formula, Luo Chen did not pay much attention to it at first.

However, after reading it, his heart remained unsettled for a long time.

The Spirit Path Pill.

Main ingredients: Illusory Spirit Grass, First Rank Fox Blood.

Secondary ingredients: Sun-Cut Ginseng, Seven-Element Flower.

One of the secondary ingredients was missing.

Additionally, the specific ratios and data for the ingredients were not provided.

The refining techniques and corresponding taboos were also not mentioned.

All of these details had turned to dust with the burned half of the bamboo slip.

However, the description of the Spirit Path Pill's effects stirred his heart.

"It can enhance the foundation of one's spiritual awareness, and long-term use will make one extremely sensitive to ethereal and illusory spirits."

A simple sentence, but Luo Chen wished the formula was complete.

To enhance the foundation of one's spiritual awareness!

Ever since Qin Liangchen and his wife had explained to him the basics of cultivation, such as the soul, spiritual awareness, and divine consciousness, he had been very attentive to these matters.

Later, after much inquiry, he learned of a somewhat dubious rumor.

It was said that those with a sufficiently strong foundation of spiritual awareness often found it easier to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage compared to others.

Wasn't this increasing the chances of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage!

Luo Chen, with his five-element spiritual roots, already found cultivation difficult, and breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage would likely be even more challenging.

Although he was currently at the Fifth Layer of the Qi Condensation stage, he had not given up hope of reaching the Qi Condensation Perfection stage.

Therefore, how could he not be attentive to matters related to spiritual awareness?

"An incomplete formula doesn't mean it can't be refined!"

Luo Chen thought to himself.

The system had noted that with enough achievement points, the formula could be completed and the basics learned.

"Moreover, it seems that Uncle Mi Hua is not very interested in this incomplete formula. He gave it to me just for reference, to help me accumulate knowledge in alchemy so I can refine the Jade Marrow Pill for him."

"I will carefully study it, and when the time is right, I'll see if I can secretly refine it."

With this resolve, Luo Chen carefully stored the bamboo slip of the Spirit Path Pill, placing it in the same important position as the Blood Fiend Pill and the Jade Dew Pill.

The former Luo Chen, poor and destitute, was only capable of refining the Grain-Abstinence Pill, which could not even be called a first-rank pill, but was merely a low-grade Grain-Abstinence Powder.

It was only after he learned the Wondrous Pill that he truly embarked on the path of alchemy.

Now, with three new and complete formulas, any alchemist would be overjoyed and eager to start refining pills immediately.

However, Luo Chen did not immediately begin refining pills. Instead, his life became more leisurely.

Apart from his daily cultivation, he spent his time overseeing the construction of the alchemy room in the Slanting Moon Valley.

Additionally, he managed to borrow a book from the Merit Hall of the Broken Mountain Gang.

The Hundred Herbs Catalogue

This was a book that Wang Yuan used to keep on his stall before he became prominent, but no one ever bought it.

After Wang Yuan joined the Unique Hall, these items were returned to the Broken Mountain Gang, and the Merit Hall was responsible for handling them.

When Luo Chen went to borrow the book, Mi Junping refused, insisting that he must pay with spirit stones.

Ha ha.

Was he, Luo Chen, the type to be such a fool?

We are all family, and yet he wants me to pay with spirit stones?

He directly invoked Uncle Mi Hua's name, and the other party reluctantly lent it to him.

"I knew that as long as Uncle Mi Hua continues to invest in me, my smaller requests will be more easily granted."

"This is called the rational use of sunk costs!"

Lying in a rocking chair, with a mountain spring flowing nearby and his subordinates working in front of him, Luo Chen's attention was entirely on the Hundred Herbs Catalogue.

The reason he chose this book over the "Qingyuanzi's Detailed Explanation of Alchemy" was because the latter required it.

"Alchemy begins with recognizing herbs, then processing materials, mastering fire control, and gradually refining pills."

This was a long process of accumulation.

Luo Chen had always known that his alchemy foundation was very rough, even to the point of being called trashy.

He could refine high-grade Grain-Abstinence Powder and middle-grade Wondrous Pills only because of the system's enlightenment and his daily practice.

But for other things, he lacked deep understanding.

This was why he had made a fool of himself when discussing alchemy with Xiang Xiang.

Now, with the opportunity and guidance from a senior expert, he naturally wanted to improve his foundation.

First, he would start with recognizing herbs!

Looking at a long, thin organ in the catalogue, Luo Chen suddenly understood.

"Turns out that the Fire Dog Whip not only has aphrodisiac and yang-strengthening effects but can also assist in fire-element cultivation. Just by holding it in your mouth, you can feel a dense... well, let's not mention that effect!"

"Tsk tsk, Blue Citrus Grass looks ordinary, but it has as many as forty-nine uses! No wonder the Duan family nearby has planted such a large field of it."

"Jade Washing? This is the main ingredient of the Jade Marrow Pill. Let me take a closer look."

As Luo Chen became engrossed in his studies, unable to tear himself away, Sikong Shoujia rushed over.

"Leaving!"

"Who's leaving?" Luo Chen didn't even look up.

"The cultivators from the Ailao Mountain in Immortal Building just left, without even asking for the remaining spirit stones!"

Luo Chen raised his head and blinked.

"Isn't that a good thing?"

No need to pay the final installment!

Sikong Shoujia shook his head. "I fear something has happened."

"Ha ha, whatever happens, it's the Ailao Mountain sect's problem, not ours."

"But the alchemy room isn't finished yet!"

Luo Chen suddenly stood up and cursed.

"These contractors are so irresponsible, even a small project is left unfinished."

After saying this, he hurriedly ran to the alchemy room.

After a careful inspection, he sighed in relief.

"No problem. Sect cultivators are trustworthy. The framework of the alchemy room is basically complete; we just need to add the materials."

Sikong Shoujia also sighed in relief.

These three alchemy rooms, from labor to materials, cost two thousand spirit stones, enough to buy a decent high-grade magical tool.

Such an expensive house was something he had never enjoyed in his life.

Now that there were no issues, he smiled.

"Sect cultivators, trustworthiness first, give them a thumbs up!"

Seeing Sikong Shoujia use the gesture he had used a few days ago, Luo Chen shuddered.

Elder, please don't be so up-to-date!

"I have something to say. I won't be here tomorrow, so you keep an eye on things."

Sikong Shoujia asked curiously, "Where are you going?"

"Sending off some friends. Their ten-year rotation period is up, and they are returning to their sect." Luo Chen said casually.

The old man blinked, his body stiffening.

Ten-year rotation period, returning to the sect!

This wasn't a rule for the small shops in the Great River Market, but a tradition of the six major sects.

When did Luo Chen become acquainted with such sect cultivators, and on such good terms that he needed to send them off personally?

"Slipping away!"

Luo Chen quickly left.

On his way out of the valley, he greeted Gu Caiyi and Murong Qinglian, who were busy working.

Gu Caiyi did not follow. She had just joined the Broken Mountain Gang and was in the stage of making connections and getting to know other cultivators.

Her Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation realm meant she was not an ordinary gang member.

Thanks to Luo Chen's recommendation, she was now an alchemy hall executive, on par with Sikong Shoujia in the alchemy hall.

The Slanting Moon Valley was in the outer city, but it was actually quite far from the true outer city area.

The road was prone to accidents.

Therefore, the Broken Mountain Gang usually arranged guards to protect Luo Chen.

Two late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators, one surnamed Zhou and the other surnamed Liu, were assigned to this task.

The two were skilled in cooperative combat and, working together, were not afraid of ordinary Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation cultivators.

The journey was uneventful.

When entering the inner city, Luo Chen waved goodbye to the two guards.

Looking at his graceful back, Liu Qiang was full of envy.

"Look at how he lives, and how we live. A mere Fifth Layer of Qi Condensation cultivator, and we two Eighth Layer cultivators have to escort him every day. He must have been an emperor in a past life, assassinated and killed!"

"Be careful, Brother Liu!"

Zhou Yuanli said softly, "Hall Master Luo is not someone we can criticize."

Liu Qiang grunted and said no more, turning and leaving.

"Don't be late tomorrow, or you won't be able to explain to the gang leader."

Liu Qiang's body stiffened, and his flying speed increased even more.

At the city gate, Zhou Yuanli shook his head. His brother always had lofty ambitions.

Previously, he had overestimated himself and tried to compete for the position of the Mining Hall Master, saying that if Wang Yuan, an Eighth Layer Qi Condensation cultivator, could be a hall master, so could he!

Then, he was beaten up badly.

Now, they had finally landed a relatively easy job with a good income, and he was still not satisfied.

He needed to advise him more often!

Thank you to everyone who supported me last week.

Yishuhua Bai (500 Qidian Coins), Kexin Cola (100 Qidian Coins), Cangtian Bixue (100 Qidian Coins), Hao Hao Kan Kan (100 Qidian Coins), Shushan Jianxia (100 Qidian Coins), Shuyou Afu (100 Qidian Coins), Xia Ren Fang Huo Li Feiyu (100 Qidian Coins).

Thank you

(End of Chapter)