Chapter 683: Rank Five Advancement Formula

After Shang Xia left the Shang Clan Manor, he went to the Medicine Hall in the institution and found Alchemist Ge Wangchuan.

“What? You wish to look for my uncle?” Ge Wangchuan revealed an awkward expression. “My uncle’s body isn’t doing too well recently. He has been resting at home and hasn’t seen many guests. Grandmaster Shang, may I ask the reason you wish to look for him?”

Shang Xia knew that Ge Muchen was getting on in age and was no longer actively participating in matters regarding the Medicine Hall. However, he ran into a massive problem and only grandmasters like Ge Muchen would be able to help him.

He fell into contemplation after hearing Ge Wangchuan’s question before responding, “Junior wishes to consult Grandmaster Ge Muchen about matters regarding my rank five advancement medicine.”

With a strange look on his face, Ge Wangchuan stared at Shang Xia. “Grandmaster Shang, I’m afraid even at my uncle’s peak, he was merely a rank four Alchemist Grandmaster. His personal cultivation never crossed the Martial Intent Realm. Given his advanced age, aren’t you just making things difficult for him if you wish to ask him questions about your rank five advancement medicine?”

Shang Xia could hear the discontent in Ge Wangchuan’s voice and he explained patiently, “Is there anyone else in the institution more knowledgeable than Grandmaster Ge Muchen when it comes to advancement medicine? Also, I don’t need him to create the medicine. I only wish to receive some pointers from him on how I should go about making it.”

Ge Wangchuan was slightly taken aback and he asked hastily, “Oh? Are you not looking for him to make your advancement medicine?”

Shang Xia realized that he didn’t really explain himself well earlier and he quickly explained, “Junior managed to obtain a rank five advancement formula and I pretty much gathered everything I required to make it. I require some guidance on how to create the advancement medicine with those treasures.”

Ge Wangchuan heaved a sigh of relief after hearing what Shang Xia said. “You should have said so earlier! However, our institution has 3 Martial Dipper Realm Ancestors now. Why don’t you look for them instead?”

“My advancement medicine is vastly different from what they used. Moreover, didn’t Grandmaster Ge Muchen create their advancement medicine…”

Ge Wangchuan stared at Shang Xia in shock. He couldn’t believe his ears and gasped, “Did our institution manage to get a second rank five advancement formula?! Oh, but anyway, you might have misunderstood something. With a complete advancement formula, you won’t need a rank five Alchemist Grandmaster to make a move. Especially since you already gathered all the herbs and treasures required.

“Master Ge Wangchuan, are you able to do it?” Shang Xia’s eyes widened in shock. He recalled how the few rank three Alchemists joined hands to create his Four Seasons Sansara Wine back then.

Roaring with laughter, Ge Wangchuan responded, “Do you think that’s possible?! If we’re talking about a rank four advancement medicine, the few of us might be able to do something if we joined hands. However, that’s a rank five advancement medicine we’re talking about! Even with the complete formula and recipe, we will need a rank four Alchemist Grandmaster to make a move.”

“This… After saying so much, aren’t you still telling me that we will need Grandmaster Ge Muchen’s involvement?” Shang Xia frowned.

Ge Wangchuan waved his hands casually and muttered, “Not really. The 3 sets of rank five advancement medicine used by our Martial Dipper Realm Ancestors weren’t made by my uncle.”

Shang Xia knew that Kou Chongxue, Ji Wenlong, and his grandfather, Shang Bo, used the same advancement medicine to enter the Martial Dipper Realm. He also knew that the advancement medicine wasn’t perfect and they had to supplement it with a huge amount of world origin. The advancement process was thus extremely dangerous and would cause a massive stir every time it happened.

After hearing what Ge Wangchuan said, Shang Xia felt slightly annoyed with himself. He wondered why he didn’t ask Kou Chongxue and the others where they got their advancement medicine from.

Of course, that was a problem he just realized. No one could blame him for thinking that Grandmaster Ge Muchen was the one who created them. After all, Ge Muchen’s reputation in the institution was just too large! Shang Xia felt that even if he didn’t craft their advancement medicines personally, he would have something to do with it.

“Master Ge, do you know who created their advancement medicine?” Shang Xia asked.

Unfortunately, Ge Wangchuan shook his head and chuckled helplessly, “I’m afraid they’re the only ones who know who made the medicine. My uncle might also know, but it’s not something I am aware of. Young Master Shang, I’m afraid you will have to ask them personally. They shouldn’t keep it from you anyway.”

Shang Xia might not be able to meet Ge Muchen, but he learned a piece of important information that day. He discovered that Kou Chongxue and the rest might be hiding another Grandmaster Alchemist and his trip to the Medicine Hall wasn’t in vain.

…

Finally meeting Kou Chongxue back in the Beyond Heavens Pavilion, Shang Xia immediately started grumbling, “Patriarch Kou, why didn’t you tell me where to find someone to create my rank five advancement medicine? I ran all the way over to the Medicine Hall and nearly had to disturb Grandmaster Ge Muchen.”

A strange look appeared on Kou Chongxue’s face and he seemed a little surprised. “Didn’t your grandfather tell you anything?”

Shang Xia’s expression sank instantly. It seemed as though the entire series of events was a giant farce. He mumbled softly, “Ever since I returned from the adventure to the Manyu Continent, I’m afraid I’ve seen you more than I’ve seen my grandpa…”

Breaking out into an annoying laugh, Kou Chongxue explained, “Alright, I can introduce the Alchemist Grandmaster to you. It’s great that you already have the complete formula and you only need him to follow the steps to produce the medicine. However, that person isn’t part of our institution yet and will definitely grasp a portion of your advancement formula…”

Shang Xia’s heart trembled slightly. Kou Chongxue said that the person wasn’t part of the institution yet, and that would mean that he was actively trying to recruit the other party. Moreover, he sounded pretty confident about it.

Then again, for the Alchemist Grandmaster to create Kou Chongxue and the others’ rank five advancement medicine, they had to trust each other a lot…

Shang Xia chuckled softly in response, “As long as he can ensure that nothing goes wrong with the advancement medicine, it doesn’t matter even if I show him the complete formula. Will there be anyone who will dare to test it on themselves?”

Shang Xia’s words revealed his extreme confidence.

With his ever increasing level of cultivation, Shang Xia was gradually starting to discover that advancement medicines weren’t the only thing a cultivator needed to break through. Without a strong foundation and enough accumulations, one would never be able to advance. Moreover, they needed a strong sense of belief in their own martial dao. Without a clear path, forcefully breaking through would only lead to a dead end.

Shang Xia refused to believe that there was another person out there in the Azure Origin World and Azure Spiritual World who had heard of the cycle of restraint and propagation of the 5 elements. Even he didn’t know too much about how they worked.

His knowledge in his current path of cultivation couldn’t be said to be great. Otherwise, he would be able to integrate it much better into the current state of cultivation and not receive so much backlash even though he had only taught students in the Martial Extremity Realm back in the institution.

It was nothing for him to reveal a part of the advancement formula, namely the recipe for the advancement medicine. In fact, even if he revealed the entire formula, it didn’t matter! Without the Crimson Soul Tablet’s interference, anyone who tried using the advancement medicine wouldn’t be able to ensure a good balance of the five elements when breaking through.

Kou Chongxue obviously noticed the nonchalance and confidence behind Shang Xia’s proclamation and a profound gaze flashed in his eyes. However, he quickly started laughing again, “That would be for the best. However, you hadn’t gathered all the treasures and herbs required to craft your advancement medicine. How is he supposed to do anything?”

A helpless smile returned to Shang Xia’s face. “I’m lacking in a Water Element rank five spiritual treasure. If I had it, I would be able to get the Alchemist Grandmaster to create a half-finished product. Once I obtain the last 2 strands of fate dipper essence, I would be able to combine them myself and use the power of the Five Elements Jade to complete the medicine myself.

Shang Xia might not be an accomplished alchemist, but once the Alchemist Grandmaster completed a majority of the world and produced the semi-finished medicine, he would be able to take the last step himself by adding the last few treasures. Moreover, Shang Xia also had the Origin Jade that would be filled with the 5 elements in the near future.

As such, there was no need for the Alchemist Grandmaster to know the entire advancement formula. Shang Xia would be able to prevent leaking it to anyone. Especially to his enemies who would be able to deduce his weakness from it.

Because of how important an advancement medicine was, the cultivator would have to trust the alchemist greatly.

Kou Chongxue thought for a second and mumbled, “How’s this… There will be a private gathering in the Beyond Heavens Pavilion soon and the Martial Dipper Realm experts of our worlds will be taking part in it. You can stay by my side and pretend to be an attendant. There should be a round of trades happening and there might be something you need.”

Trades between Martial Dipper Realm Ancestors?!

Shang Xia was greatly moved when he heard the news. After all, treasures that were traded between Martial Dipper Realm Ancestors would undoubtedly be extremely precious.

Seemingly able to guess what Shang Xia was thinking, Kou Chongxue sighed, “You better not let your hopes up. After all, these gatherings are usually very casual. These ancestors will probably be trading treasures related to the growth of their faction or their juniors. Not too many rank five spiritual treasures will appear and there are times when people will mess with you to not let you obtain the treasures you have your eyes on.”