Han li moved noticed an elderly man . His aura was calm yet heavy — unmistakably a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Han Li cupped his fists.
"Greetings, Senior. Are you Senior Lu?"
The old man slowly opened his eyes — sharp, ancient, and mildly irritated, as if he had been interrupted from something important.
"Hm? And who might you be, brat?"
"Junior Han Li. Senior Wu sent me. I've come to request an alchemy scripture, pill recipes… and an alchemy furnace room."
The elder froze.
Then he snorted.
"Kid… your appetite is enormous. But…"
His gaze lowered.
"…I don't know if your pockets are as big as your mouth."
Han Li smiled faintly.
"Senior, price is not an issue."
Senior Lu tapped his fingers against the stone floor.
"Go inside. There are many pill recipes and a basic alchemy scripture. You may copy them, but you cannot take them outside."
He paused, then added lazily:
"As for an alchemy furnace — 200 spirit stones
And pill recipes cost 50 spirit stones per hour of copying."
Han Li blinked.
"…Fifty… per hour?"
Senior Lu smirked.
"So copy carefully — or you'll cry later."
Han Li bowed again.
"Senior… is there a faster method of copying?"
"Ten spirit stones."
Han Li immediately took out a pouch.
"Please teach me."
"…Hmph. Very well."
Before Lu could take the pouch fully, Han Li produced another one and placed it beside him.
"Here are 500 spirit stones. Will this cover everything?"
Senior Lu froze mid-breath.
"Enough. More than enough. Come."
Inside the Scripture Hall
The hall was carved entirely inside the mountain. Soft blue flames floated on stone pillars, illuminating rows of jade shelves and scroll racks. The air was thick with the scent of medicinal herbs and ancient ink.
Han Li's eyes widened.
Scroll after scroll bore pill names he had never even heard of:
Pill of Forgetfulness
Youth Renewal Pellet
Longevity Orchid Pill (extends lifespan by decades)
Spirit Bone Tempering Pellet
Thunder Marrow Elixir
But one scroll stopped him cold:
Foundation Establishment Pill
A pill whose recipe was he actually after.
Han Li read eagerly — and his expression stiffened.
Spirit-Yang Coral Root… Moonlight Orchid… … Crimson Frost Dew…
All rare, extinct, or guarded treasures.
His heartbeat quickened.
So this… is what separates a mortal cultivator from the truly powerful.
Beside him, Senior Lu waved his hand.
"You want to copy? Watch."
Copying Technique
With a flick of his sleeve, a jade scroll floated into the air. Sheets of talisman paper rose with it, suspended midair like feathers in a windless void.
Senior Lu's fingers moved — slow, controlled, graceful.
Spiritual energy surged.
Brushes began writing by themselves, copying characters dozens at a time with perfect precision — no angle off, no symbol distorted.
Within seconds, an entire scroll had been duplicated.
Han Li could only stare.
"This is… incredible."
"Use your spiritual force to guide the papers. Maintain stable qi flow. If your control slips… boom—the paper burns."
Senior Lu walked away.
"The furnace room is to the left. You can take a portable furnace or refine here. I've done my part. You have two and a half hours — no more."
Han Li bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Senior."
Han Li copied dozens of recipes — meridian cleansing pills, energy-stabilizing pills, muscle-strengthening pills — then finally stepped into the furnace chamber.
Inside was a magnificent sight:
A large platform circled a massive pool of molten lava glowing crimson gold. Around it floated five rotating colored metal plates, representing the five elements — wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.
Suspended above the lava hung a complex star-shaped mechanism — a universal control array used to stabilize fire intensity during refinement.
Han Li's eyes shone.
"So this… is true alchemy furnance much better tan one I used in doctor lu's green mountian valley ."
He chose a simple recipe first:
Meridian Cleansing Pill
Ingredients included:
Green Spirit Herb
Bitter Jade Root
Lesser Qi Vine
Silverleaf Lotus Powder
He placed each ingredient carefully, adjusting the star formation with his spiritual force.
The first attempt burned.
The second exploded softly.
By the tenth attempt, sweat covered his forehead.
But finally —
when the flame stabilized and the aroma turned clear and refreshing —
Ding—
A handful of round jade-colored pills rolled into the collection tray.
Han Li exhaled shakily.
"…Success."
He continued refining — Meridian Cleansing Pills, Energy Nourishment Pills, and a few basic healing pellets — until time was nearly up.
Then he packed his newly earned furnace into his storage pouch and left.
Back at His Residence
Han Li sat cross-legged and swallowed a Meridian Cleansing Pill.
Instantly—
Ssssssshhh—
Impurities burned out.
Green spiritual qi surged wildly through his meridians.
His breathing deepened.
His qi circulation broadened.
Pain turned into warmth — warmth into clarity.
Hours passed.
Finally, Han Li opened his eyes.
A bright, confident smile appeared on his face.
"…Wonderful."
Not only were my meridians cleansed — they've expanded… significantly.
He calmly took an Energy Stabilization Pill, letting the storm inside him settle.
When everything was calm again, Han Li slowly stood up.
Later that night, after stabilizing his qi, Han Li sat silently in his dim residence. Moonlight seeped through the window, sketching cold silver lines across the floor.
His gaze fell upon the scroll resting beside him.
Foundation Establishment Pill.
The dream of countless cultivators.
The barrier separating mortals from true immortality.
Han Li slowly opened the scroll again. His lips moved as he repeated the ingredients carefully:
"Spirit-Yang Coral Root…
Moonlight Orchid…
Infant-Soul Bamboo…
Crimson Frost Dew…
Phoenix Grass…
Thousand-Year Old Reishi…"
His voice trembled—not with fear, but with suppressed longing.
Each herb was rare. Priceless. Almost mythical.
Han Li let out a slow breath, chest heavy.
If I can gather these… I'll have a chance.
It would be much better if senior was not in seclution, he must have given me some ideas.
For a moment, the weight of reality crushed his spirit.
Then suddenly—his eyes brightened.
"Senior Wu!" he whispered to himself. "The herb garden… maybe—just maybe—some exist there!"
Hope surged through him like a spark lighting dry tinder.
The Next Morning
Han Li rushed to the herbal garden as soon as dawn broke. Dew glimmered on leaves, and spiritual mist hovered gently above the soil.
He activated the token and entered.
"Senior Wu! Senior Wu!"
From within a cluster of spirit grass, a voice groaned.
"Aaaah—Stop shouting! I'm not deaf."
Wu Senior appeared, looking irritated, holding a handful of freshly picked herbs.
"What urgent disaster made you scream like a dying beast?"
Han Li bowed quickly.
"Senior, I wanted to ask something important."
Wu raised an eyebrow.
"Speak."
Do we have these herbs here, ,,,...
Wu asked which herbs,,...
Han Li unfolded the scroll and read aloud:
"Spirit-Yang Coral Root… Moonlight Orchid… Infant-Soul Bamboo…"
Before he reached the fourth ingredient, Senior Wu's expression twisted.
"Stop. Just stop."
He slapped the scroll lightly.
"You brat… Are you planning to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill?"
"Yes, Senior."
Wu looked at him for a long time before sighing deeply.
"If we had even one of those herbs in this garden… do you think Foundation Establishment Pills would still be considered treasures? Foundation Pills more valuable than a thousand lives?"
Han Li lowered his gaze.
"…Junior understands."
Wu's tone softened slightly.
"You won't find them in the sect. Not through trade. Not through luck. Not even if you were richer than the sect , because no one will give up foundation pill ."
Han Li's fingers curled tightly around the scroll.
"…Then… where?"
Wu looked into the distance, as if staring into memories he wished he could forget.
"Three months from now… the Trial of Life and Death will open."
Han Li froze.
"The trial…?"
"That place is a massive wilderness filled with untouched ancient spiritual lands—herbs, beasts, treasures… and death."
Wu's voice became low and grave:
"Demonic creatures are frightening… but cultivators are worse. Many who go never return."
A long silence settled.
Then Wu continued:
"But even after this no one can afford to miss this chance, because if you miss this chance, you must wait till another Immortal Gathering, till that you would have died ,...
Han Li bowed slightly, voice steady:
"Thank you for telling me, Senior."
Wu clicked his tongue.
"I know your type. Even if I tell you to stay away… you'll still go."
He turned away, muttering:
"Stubborn, determined, quiet… Hah. Just like someone I once knew."
Then he looked back at Han Li one last time.
"Before you go… buy artifacts. Protective talismans. Armor. Blades. Anything you can afford."
Han Li nodded.
"Yes, Senior. I will prepare."
As he left the herb garden, the morning wind brushed his robes, carrying the faint scent of spirit flowers.
His grip tightened around the scroll.
His eyes gleamed with resolve.
Three months… and the road ahead will be drenched in blood.