Chapter 674: Primordial Immortal Armor

Wensheng looked troubled. "Alchemical pills for cultivators who have not yet become immortals? Very few in the sect refine pills of that sort, and when they do, they mostly make healing pills.

"Disciples who have not yet attained immortality serve in the various pill chambers as attendants. They are already exposed to medicinal properties daily. Still, I do understand what you're trying to do here. Please give me a few days. I will have some people refine a batch of spiritual pills that can improve the aptitude of beginners."

For a sect as vast as the Qiling Immortal Sect to have so few pills suited for non-immortal cultivators was quite ironic. It ranked among the top three alchemy sects in the Eastern Sky Region. On the other hand, due to market demand, it was understandable that production of low-tier pills was limited. Even if some alchemists casually refined a few, they were likely treated as sweets for the sect's disciples.

Wang Sheng and Yaoyun exchanged a glance and had a brief telepathic discussion.

Afterward, Wang Sheng repeatedly pointed to one side, transferring clumps of herb spirits out of his Qiankun Ring along with their soil. More than a hundred of them appeared around the three.

A few were restless and attempted to flee using an earth-escape technique, but Yaoyun waved her hand lightly and sealed the area with a simple array.

Wensheng's eyes lit up. He only needed an instant to estimate the total value of these spiritual herbs.

"These are a token of thanks for the sect," Wang Sheng said. "There are many more in my ring. You can process these herb spirits first."

Looking around, Wensheng replied in a serious tone, "These are far too precious. They are extremely old, and they have astonishing potency. More than half are rare treasures, too. Although we're essentially in the same faction, it still wouldn't be proper for our sect to just accept such a great gift.

"Let's do this by the rules. Any alchemical pills refined from these medicinal herbs will be divided equally between you and our sect. What do you think?"

He truly is an honest man.

A fifty-fifty split was standard practice among alchemists. If a guest brought precious spiritual herbs to commission refinement at the Qiling Immortal Sect or any other alchemy sect, the products would be divided evenly. In most cases, the guest would then spend treasures or Spirit Stones to purchase the remaining half.

In the case of the medicinal herbs being ruined before even a pill could be made, the alchemist would have to compensate with pills or treasures of similar value. If only one pill could be created and the refining process did not consume many herbs, the guest would still pay half the pill's value as a token of gratitude.

For Wensheng to take the initiative to follow these rules said a lot about his character. After all, Wang Sheng was only at the Heavenly Immortal Realm. With a mere flick of his finger, Wensheng could erase both Wang Sheng and Yaoyun without leaving a trace.

"You can just help me make some pills that enhance aptitude, advance cultivation, or assist in breaking through bottlenecks," Wang Sheng replied, "especially Three-Essence Enlightenment Pills and Six-Aperture Dao Comprehension Pellets."

Wensheng finally smiled in satisfaction. "Very well."

Since Zhuge Lin had just passed, sorrow still lingered in his expression.

He gestured for Wang Sheng to wait and summoned two of his junior sisters with a jade talisman.

One of the two elderly women who arrived specialized in medicinal theory and oversaw the cultivation of spiritual herbs within the Qiling Immortal Sect. Her composure shattered when she saw the spiritual herbs, each at least a hundred thousand or even two thousand years old, scattered across the ground. She looked completely in shock.

They looked at Wang Sheng as though they were staring at some monster.

The two Golden Immortals simultaneously tallied the herb spirits, calculated their value, and recorded every detail they could. They had not done such menial tasks in many years.

However, Wang Sheng was extremely important to them. When it came to matters concerning the Heavenly Court, Wensheng trusted only his junior martial siblings, who had cultivated at his side for over a hundred thousand years. He even sent Cha Yue out of the array when Wang Sheng brought out the spiritual herbs.

Once the two elderly women finished counting the first batch, Wang Sheng took out two more batches. The elderly woman responsible for herb growth stood before her master's grave with a smile that she could not suppress. She looked at Wang Sheng almost as though she were a grandmother sizing up a future grandson-in-law, even though her granddaughter had just turned eight this year.

Wang Sheng naturally didn't show them all his herb spirits. He kept several dozen that were clearly extraordinary.

Wensheng could not help but ask, "I know it's improper to pry, but I am truly curious. Did you empty the inner array?"

Wang Sheng nodded with a smile. "More or less."

The sect master was surprised. "How did you break so many restrictions in such a short time?"

Wang Sheng whispered, "I did not break them. The medicinal herbs were frightened out. As you probably already know, I can control a trace of heavenly tribulation power. Since the herbs seem to regard it as their nemesis, they walked out of their restrictions themselves when they saw it."

"Oh?" Wensheng pondered briefly, then clapped his hands and laughed, praising the idea repeatedly.

When rumors of a guardian spirit in the array first spread, Wensheng had already concluded that it was Wang Sheng eliminating the cultivators of various factions. There was no need to hide this now.

After the two elderly women collected the medicinal herbs, they calculated and came to an astronomical purchase price. Converted into Six-Aperture Dao Comprehension Pellets, it amounted to roughly four hundred pills.

However, with Zhuge Lin's passing, refining Six-Aperture Dao Comprehension Pellets had become extremely difficult. Even if Wensheng personally refined them, he could not guarantee the formation of a celestial pill every time. Moreover, the artificial spiritual root known as the Six-Aperture Jade Vine could only provide the main ingredient for one furnace every thousand years. Production was severely limited.

The Qiling Immortal Sect currently possessed only twelve Six-Aperture Dao Comprehension Pellets. Since they could very well be the last twelve ever made, they couldn't just be used to settle this account. In the blink of an eye, Wang Sheng had become the largest creditor of the Qiling Immortal Sect.

Wensheng sighed in satisfaction and joked that Wang Sheng was about to empty the sect's treasury.

Wang Sheng naturally had no intention of doing that, though. One should not forget who dug the well after drinking water from it. If not for Zhuge Lin, he wouldn't have managed to obtain the herb spirits, and his senior sister wouldn't have gotten her fated opportunity. In a sense, the Qiling Immortal Sect had given those to them.

That was why Wang Sheng only asked the sect to provide more of the pills he required. Still, Wensheng insisted on keeping clear accounts.

The two could not reach an agreement. In the end, Wang Sheng proposed that the medicinal herbs be treated as installments. The sect could refine pills for him in batches over time. Wensheng finally agreed.

For the first batch, they would refine as many pills as possible suited for non-immortal cultivators. If Wang Sheng required more in the future, he would return to the Qiling Immortal Sect to collect them.

The Small Immortal Realm had pills that met his requirements. However, it had a limited stock, and mortals could not use them.

Wensheng asked Wang Sheng and Yaoyun to wait while he personally inspected the sect's pill repository. He arranged for dozens of alchemists to open their furnaces at once, working day and night to rush the first batch of alchemical pills for Wang Sheng.

The first batch consisted mainly of three types: Three-Essence Enlightenment Pills, Nine-Herb Bone-Opening Pellets, and Spirit-Calming Pills.

Since Wang Sheng already knew the effects of the first type, the sect master focused on the other two. According to him, the Nine-Herb Bone-Opening Pellets and the Spirit-Calming Pills were meant for cultivators who had passed the Rebirth Realm. The former strengthened one's Dao Body and reinforced the connection between it and their divine soul. Meanwhile, the latter fortified one's Primordial Spirit, enhanced its power, and expanded their Heavenly Abode.

Wensheng Zhenren brought several samples, and Wang Sheng consumed one of each. Even at his realm, he could still feel their effects.

The Qiling Immortal Sect's products were truly extraordinary.

"Fei Yu, could you stay here for three months?" Wensheng asked. "Three-Essence Enlightenment Pills are difficult to refine, and their ingredients are hard to gather, but the sect should be able to produce around six hundred in that span. Combined with what we already have in stock, we can get you a thousand.

"We can also refine six thousand each of the other two pills. Moreover, we can refine a few batches of other pills that are useful to mortal cultivators. Here, take this pendant. It will allow you to move freely within the sect. If you see any pills or treasures you desire, you can just take them."

Wang Sheng accepted the wooden pendant and could not help but reflect.

Having connections truly makes things easier. If I hand these pills over to the Special Warfare Unit and invest sufficient resources in them, wouldn't a thousand of them ascend to immortality in a few years?

Wensheng Zhenren studied him. "Fei Yu, are you planning to build a force of your own from the ground up?"

Wang Sheng shook his head. "I only wish to strengthen the cultivators of my homeland. Strictly speaking, they are not my army. They're the protectors of our home."

The sect master smiled faintly. "It is rare to see such devotion."

He then slowly nodded and handed over a pouch.

"Inside are a thousand sets of immortal armor. They're only ordinary immortal treasures in quality, but together, they form a complete formation artifact. In the right position, they can be used to unleash the Thousand-Origin Grand Formation. They also have many other uses. These were once issued to the sect's defensive immortal troops but have since been replaced. Give them to your homeland."

A thousand sets of immortal armor that can form a complete formation artifact?

Wang Sheng's expression turned solemn. He accepted the pouch with both hands and looked inside. Identical suits of immortal armor floated within, each inscribed with formation runes. For a moment, he found himself at a loss for words.

How could such formation artifacts be discarded? Let alone replaced?

Forging a thousand such sets likely required immeasurable effort, countless Spirit Stones, and precious materials. This was clearly part of the Qiling Immortal Sect's foundation.

Wensheng Zhenren was offering deliberate support. There was expectation in it, encouragement, and consideration for the sect's future.

No matter how one looked at it, Wang Sheng and Earth's cultivators had received an immense favor.

Wang Sheng quietly stood up and gave Wensheng Zhenren a deep bow. However, the sect master stepped aside, refusing to accept the bow. He just smiled faintly at the young man before him, his gaze tinged with complexity.

"Fei Yu, your residence has been arranged," he said. "During this period, Cha Yue will attend to you. She was raised within the sect since birth and can be trusted. You don't have to guard against her excessively.

"Qiling is somewhat chaotic at present. Many forces remain, hoping to profit from the unrest, but it is nothing major. Just avoid wandering outside too often. Also, some of my old friends have come to lend support. Do not reveal your identity to them. They are still outsiders."

Wang Sheng nodded gravely.

Using voice transmission, Wensheng Zhenren summoned Cha Yue, who was nearby, and had her escort Wang Sheng beyond the array.

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"

Haaa.

"

With a sweep of his sleeve, the table and chairs vanished. The sect master then stood before his master's grave again, hands clasped behind his back.

"It has never been easy to soar to heaven in a single leap."