Chapter 7: Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item
Qi Yuan's eyes had the ability to see hidden information.
In an instant, he could see the missing parts of the pill recipe.
Moreover, the method to improve the recipe appeared in his mind immediately.
Of course, this improvement wasn't the optimal solution.
If he were to look at the recipe again tomorrow, he would find a new way to improve it.
And the effectiveness of the improvement would be even better.
However, he could only see the hidden information of the same item once a day.
The Seven Colors Flame Refining Technique he practiced had been continuously modified this way.
Even so, the Seven Colors Flame Refining Technique still had significant issues.
"The Yuan Nourishing Pill recipe has many problems," Qi Yuan responded directly.
Zhuge Miao's eyes showed anticipation, "Please enlighten me, Junior Brother."
"Replace Zhu Huang with Privet."
"Privet?" Zhuge Miao was a bit confused.
He wanted to ask about the missing parts, but Qi Yuan directly modified the recipe.
However, recalling the last time he exchanged ideas with Qi Yuan, he was still amazed by Qi Yuan's wild and imaginative thinking.
That time, Qi Yuan had helped him a lot.
Moreover, since he was the one seeking help, he had to hold his opinions back.
Just then, Zhuge Miao noticed something and said, "Junior Brother Qi Yuan, please wait, I have a message."
"A phone call?" Qi Yuan didn't mind, "Go ahead."
In the cultivation world, there were no phones, but there were message talismans.
Cultivators could communicate through these message talismans.
However, these messages had distance limitations, and the farther the message, the higher the cost.
Additionally, entering certain secret realms would render them ineffective.
So, not all cultivators could afford to use them.
"What's the matter, Junior Brother?" Zhuge Miao lowered his voice to take the message.
"A complete recipe has been found?"
"No need, you don't have to worry about it."
After receiving the message, Zhuge Miao's face initially showed joy, but then he was a bit angry after hearing the advice from his junior brother.
He cut off the message and looked at Qi Yuan, calming down, "Please continue, Junior Brother."
"The missing part is Yang Drum.
However, Yang Drum has a strong yang nature, which is somewhat conflicting. It can be replaced with Lesser Tribulus for better results," Qi Yuan said, extending his hand, "Where's the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item?"
Zhuge Miao was still processing Qi Yuan's words. Hearing Qi Yuan asking for the item, he quickly took out a piece of jade bamboo.
The jade bamboo was purple, like amethyst, with a touch of white at the joints.
"This is Purple Crystal Jade Bamboo, an eighth-grade Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item."
Foundation Establishment Spiritual Items had grades.
They were divided into lower three grades, middle three grades, and upper three grades.
Above the upper three grades, there were rumored to be even higher grades.
The higher the grade of the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item, the better the effect of establishing the foundation, and the greater the potential.
Of course, the cultivation world was a place where miracles and fortuitous encounters were common.
Nothing was absolute.
It wouldn't be true to say that using a lower-grade Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item would limit one's progress forever.
Every Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item was invaluable.
Eighth-grade was among the lower three grades of Foundation Establishment Spiritual Items.
Even so, most ordinary Qi Condensation disciples of the Shenguang Sect couldn't afford a Purple Crystal Jade Bamboo even if they emptied their savings.
For Zhuge Miao to use Purple Crystal Jade Bamboo as payment showed his wealth.
This was the difference between a chief disciple and an ordinary disciple.
Of course, even Zhuge Miao felt a bit pained to part with the Purple Crystal Jade Bamboo.
Zhuge Miao continued, "The grade of the Purple Crystal Jade Bamboo is a bit low. If Junior Brother is not in a hurry, you could gather more spirit stones and, along with the Purple Crystal Jade Bamboo, exchange for a higher-grade Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item."
Although Purple Crystal Jade Bamboo was extremely precious among other disciples, and ordinary disciples would use it to establish their foundation after perfecting their Qi Condensation cultivation, it was somewhat insufficient for chief disciples of various peaks.
For example, Zhuge Miao used a fifth-grade Dragon Seeking Ruler, a middle-grade Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item, to establish his foundation.
Qi Yuan took the Purple Crystal Jade Bamboo and nodded, "Hmm."
Purple Crystal Jade Bamboo wasn't his first choice for a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item.
Even if he couldn't use it in the future, he could exchange it for spirit stones.
Although he was the chief disciple of Seven Colors Peak, he was... truly poor.
Compared to other peak chief disciples, the gap was considerable.
"Sigh," Zhuge Miao said, thinking of something, "Junior Brother Qi Yuan, if you hadn't offended your master, you might have a middle-grade or even upper-grade Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item now, stepping into the Foundation Establishment stage."
Zhuge Miao's words carried a hint of regret.
He thought Qi Yuan was truly audacious to even provoke the Seven Colors Peak Master.
It was known that even the Sect Master of Shenguang Sect held the Seven Colors Peak Master in great respect.
Zhuge Miao had heard from his master that Shenguang Sect originally had only four peaks, but with the arrival of Ruan Yixi, a fifth peak, Seven Colors Peak, was added.
This peak had existed for a thousand years.
This implied that the Seven Colors Peak Master had lived for a thousand years.
A thousand-year lifespan meant at least a Nascent Soul stage cultivation.
Such a powerful figure could walk with impunity even in the Great Shang Dynasty.
Qi Yuan apprenticed under Ruan Yixi, which was akin to holding a golden thigh.
Yet, Qi Yuan, bold and reckless, angered Ruan Yixi.
As a result, all his resources were cut off.
Qi Yuan's situation was miserable.
If it were Zhuge Miao, he would have long been apologizing profusely before his master.
However, Qi Yuan had no intention of apologizing.
Considering Qi Yuan was a disciple of the Mad Sect, it became more understandable.
Disciples of the Mad Sect were unruly and had unconventional thinking.
Hearing Zhuge Miao's words, Qi Yuan's eyes softened, "I didn't say anything wrong, so why should I apologize?"
Cold sweat dripped down Zhuge Miao's back.
"Junior Brother Qi Yuan, let's stop here!"
He feared Qi Yuan might commit another outrageous act, offending the aloof and cold fairy of Seven Colors Peak.
If he got involved, it wouldn't end well.
Qi Yuan smiled, "You all fear Ruan Yixi, but I don't because she is my..."
"Don't say it!" Zhuge Miao, heart pounding, quickly stopped Qi Yuan.
Otherwise, if the Seven Colors Peak Master got angry, it wouldn't bode well for him.
Qi Yuan didn't say more, bid farewell to Zhuge Miao, and continued to walk his kitchen knife.
Zhuge Miao sighed in relief.
Luckily, nothing happened.
At that moment, an anxious voice called out, "Senior Brother, did you exchange it?"
Xu Langhu, dressed in a green robe with a gourd at his waist, hurried over.
He pulled out a yellowed piece of paper.
"This is a recipe I picked up at the market today. It matches the Yuan Nourishing Pill recipe you found in the secret realm, so I contacted you immediately, Senior Brother."
Xu Langhu handed the recipe to Zhuge Miao, and seeing that Zhuge Miao's Purple Crystal Jade Bamboo was gone, he said in anguish.
"Senior Brother, we already have the recipe. Why did you trade with Qi Yuan?
He's not even from our Divine Medicine Peak. How could he help you with the recipe?
He probably hasn't left yet. I'll go catch up and get the Purple Crystal Jade Bamboo back!"
Xu Langhu said a lot, not noticing Zhuge Miao's darkening face.
"My transaction with Junior Brother Qi Yuan is not for you to judge.
Besides, even if Qi Yuan couldn't help me, so what?
I'm willing to give him this favor."
The previous message Zhuge Miao received was from Xu Langhu.
Zhuge Miao had already learned that his junior brother had a complete recipe. He had the opportunity to cancel the deal but didn't.
"Senior Brother..." Xu Langhu's voice was nervous, "I was just worried you'd return empty-handed.
Luckily, I got the complete recipe.
You saved my life, Senior Brother. I'll give the recipe to you."
He no longer mentioned Qi Yuan.
In his view, how could Qi Yuan understand the recipe?
He had studied medicine for ten years at the Divine Medicine Peak and couldn't complete the recipe, so how could Qi Yuan?
Zhuge Miao took the recipe, "I'll compare it with what Junior Brother Qi Yuan said and refine several batches of Yuan Nourishing Pills."
"That's a waste of ingredients," Xu Langhu muttered, clearly thinking Qi Yuan's method wouldn't yield any Yuan Nourishing Pills.