Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World

They not only have written records but also image records left by the Imprint Talisman.

Every time Elder Xiong performs alchemy, which spell he uses, how long the spell lasts, and even the strength of the spiritual power he uses, they know it all.

Elder Xiong has been analyzed frame by frame, privacy is out of the question.

It's unclear whether Elder Xiong knows that when he releases spiritual fire, he loves to bite his thumb...

After two experiments, Zheng Fa took the test reports sent back by Lady Xuanhua, read them carefully, and after a while, looked up and said:

"These two times producing Golden Core, and those by Elder Xiong are alike; one has strong medicinal effects, the other has weaker pill toxins."

Zhao Jingfan listened, not surprised, but couldn't understand the purpose.

"So what are you planning to do?"

"In these two sessions, Elder Xiong used fifty-seven spells and sixty-two spells respectively, thirty-four of which were identical; the differences are either the spell duration or the spells themselves."

"We can only use the dull method, testing each one by one."

"See what changes medicinal properties and what reduces toxicity."

Zhao Jingfan mused, finding the method dull yet highly feasible.

He began assisting Zheng Fa in planning experiments, immediately crafting over two hundred experimental schemes.

"First round of experiments, start!"

"Second round of experiments…"

"Third round of experiments…"

Zhao Jingfan watched the tiredless Jiushan Sect disciples conducting tests day by day, verifying various schemes.

It's tedious.

It's boring.

Most disciples even appeared shabby.

But it somehow felt to him like they were purposefully climbing a tall mountain.

Several months passed.

Over a hundred and sixty schemes had been individually tested.

The disciples in the alchemy room still didn't pause, though their expressions seemed numb when casting spells.

"Sect Leader!"

A disciple dashed in, loudly saying, "Last Golden Core, Lady Xuanhua said the efficacy reached its original peak!"

"Experiment report!"

A disciple handed over the report.

"After the thirteenth spell, the spiritual energy concentration rose to…, spiritual energy type... temperature… pressure value… Frost Leaf has melted and absorbed Five Elements Orchid powder?"

"Melted…"

Zheng Fa suddenly turned and asked, "What about the scheme with the least pill toxins?"

A disciple rummaged through many records before handing Zheng a booklet.

Zheng flipped through it as if searching for something, after a while he quietly said:

"The liquid mixture of Five Elements Orchid and Frost Leaf, at a spiritual energy concentration…, turns into a powder form with..."

He looked at Zhao Jingfan and suddenly asked, "Did Elder Xiong mention that strong toxicity and weak efficacy could be due to too many impurities?"

"Yes!"

Zheng Fa's eyes suddenly lit up, muttering:

"Too many impurities mean fewer effective components, thus low efficacy, while impurities may be toxic…"

"Reducing impurities then…"

"Frost Leaf melting... extraction?"

Zhao Jingfan didn't quite understand, wanting to ask, but Zheng closed his eyes as if engaging in a conversation with someone.

After a while, Zheng opened his eyes and explained to Zhao Jingfan: "Fairy Xiao has finished exploring that Nascent Soul Pill Master's cave."

"So soon? Fairy Xiao truly is…" Zhao Jingfan said in surprise, then asked, "Were there any finds?"

"Some pill furnaces, magic artifacts, and cultivation techniques, not much use."

Though presently still at the Golden Core stage, a Nascent Soul Pill Master's relic isn't of much aid to Zheng Fa.

At most, it enriches Jiushan Sect's resources and supplements financial deficits.

"As for spirit pills and such, they've decayed."

Zhao Jingfan felt a sense of disappointment.

"However, Fairy Xiao feared we'd be anxious, she scanned the relics of that Pill Master, uncovering some findings…"

"Discovered what?"

Zhao Jingfan's spirit stirred.

"No other clues, just an elixir recipe involving Frost Leaf, only I can't decipher it… take the Comprehensive Records to ask Elder Xiong."

Zhao Jingfan rushed to Elder Xiong's alchemy room, shouting: "Grand Elder, Fairy Xiao uncovered a Frost Leaf clue!"

Elder Xiong froze, then hurriedly extended his hand, urging: "Let me see!"

He took a look at the Comprehensive Records and mumbled: "Yellow Dragon Powder? Never heard of it, a lost elixir recipe?"

"This method…"

He paused, suddenly slapped his forehead, exclaiming: "How come I didn't think of this?"

The room's Song Sect Leader and several Golden Core Pill Masters glanced over.

"I've heard of Frost Leaf but never used it… This spiritual medicine requires handling with Water Law!"

"Water Refining?" Song Sect Leader understood instantly, adding, "My Qingmu Sect isn't proficient in this, no wonder nothing worked…"

Elder Xiong wandered the room, pondering and saying:

"This isn't something Qingmu Sect can solve…"

Zhao Jingfan was stunned.

Seeing Xiao Yuying's information, Elder Xiong seemed ready to give up directly?

Surrender?

"You don't comprehend the difficulty of Water Refining, it's a relatively obscure alchemy Dao, our Qingmu Sect lacks inheritance in this, and indeed had only been investigating enviously… just nothing achieved." Elder Xiong shook his head, "It seems without understanding this secret technique, one can never properly refine this spirit pill!"

Song Sect Leader also nodded.

"Such secret techniques remain many sects' unrevealed secrets… Further pursuit in this area might just waste time."

Elder Xiong pondered a while, gritting his teeth: "I reckon Alliance Leader Zheng is quite urgent, listen, I know a prominent figure in alchemy Dao capable of Water Refining, I have some rapport… let's focus on creating the spirit pill first!"

Song Sect Leader agreed: "That sounds good, once the spirit pill is crafted, my Qingmu Sect will receive immense credit."

...

Elder Xiong pulled Zhao Jingfan, quickly rushing to Zheng Fa's alchemy room, pushing open the door and shouting:

"Alliance Leader, I understand now! Frost Leaf, I know how to handle it!"

"It's Water Refining, a greatly valuable secret technique, not something I can grasp soon!"

"I know someone…"

Zheng Fa held a transparent luminous cup, inside was a swirling solution, emitting a pale blue spiritual energy, and frost condensed faintly on the cup walls.

He glanced at the dumbstruck Elder Xiong, then turned back to the simple and unassuming Frost Leaf solution in his hand, also appearing perplexed:

"This item, called Water Refining?"

"Valuable?"