Cultivating With Mutated Heavenly Spirit Roots-Chapter 61: Pill Formulas

Ten days later, Fang Hong finally flew back to the sect directly from Sand Country.

The journey had left Fang Hong a bit tired.

He first returned to his Immortal Cave, lay directly on the bed, and had a good night’s sleep.

The next day, Fang Hong, refreshed, flew towards the Scripture Pavilion.

When he walked into the Scripture Pavilion, it was as bustling as ever.

Many disciples from within the sect stood by the bookshelves, carefully observing and searching for suitable cultivation techniques or books for themselves.

Fang Hong’s gaze swept over the crowd, not paying much attention.

He noticed that the Elder guarding the stairs was no longer the previous green-robed old man, but had been replaced by a middle-aged man who was a Foundation Establishment Stage Late-Phase Cultivator.

Fang Hong didn’t mind these details and walked straight to the bookshelves, beginning to search for the ancient script books he needed.

He hoped to find clues about the black token and the ancient script of the Ancient Tomb in these books, to unravel the mysteries in his heart...

Before long, Fang Hong selected three ancient script books. Most of the ancient characters within them had already been interpreted, and they were somewhat similar to the black token and the Ancient Tomb script, so he should be able to find the answers he sought.

Thus, Fang Hong took these three books to the Scripture Pavilion counter and asked a disciple to help him make copies of all of them, so he could slowly compare and examine them back in his Immortal Cave.

After copying the books, Fang Hong did not linger in the Scripture Pavilion and flew directly towards "Earth Fire Peak."

Earth Fire Peak is where sect disciples practice Alchemy and Artifact Refining, and it is also a vital place where the sect collects some precious Pill Formulas.

Fang Hong had not been there since joining the sect. He wanted to search there to see if he could find any Pill Formulas that could enhance his cultivation...

After about half an incense stick of time, Fang Hong saw Earth Fire Peak from afar.

Earth Fire Peak stood between heaven and earth, not particularly towering, only about three to four hundred zhang high. The mountain body was barren, without a trace of greenery, clearly having been transformed into an architectural peak.

Fang Hong knew that there was a natural Earth Fire vein at the bottom of Earth Fire Peak, capable of spewing scorching Earth Fire, which was why it had been developed into its current place for Alchemy and Artifact Refining.

As the Fire Dragon Gourd gradually approached, Fang Hong clearly saw the scene at the foot of the mountain.

There was a huge stone gate, crafted from hard rock, and many disciples were coming and going in front of it.

He landed in front of the peak, retrieved his Fire Dragon Gourd, and then steadily walked towards the stone gate...

Upon entering Earth Fire Peak, what appeared to be an ordinary mountain revealed a hidden world within. After walking several tens of zhang, the view suddenly opened up.

Just as Fang Hong expected, the inside of the mountain had been hollowed out, and a wide passage appeared before his eyes. On both sides of the passage were intricate staircases, connecting numerous stone rooms.

These stone rooms varied in size, and faint rumbling sounds emanated from within them, presumably from disciples engaged in Artifact Refining...

Upon arriving, Fang Hong saw a black-robed old man standing quietly behind a stone table, fully engrossed in carving something.

The old man wore a black robe and had a slightly weathered face. Fang Hong sensed that this black-robed old man’s cultivation was not weak; he was a Foundation Establishment Stage Late-Phase Cultivator, likely the Elder guarding Earth Fire Peak.

Fang Hong quietly and slowly approached, fearing he might disturb the old man.

He looked closely and saw that the old man was drawing talismans.

The talisman brush in the old man’s hand moved like a nimble Dragon, gliding across the talisman paper. His movements appeared steady and powerful, yet subtly tinged with a hint of impatience...

Fang Hong did not speak, standing silently to observe.

"Poof!"

A moment later, a dull sound broke the silence.

The talisman paper under the black-robed old man’s brush suddenly ignited, the flames instantly engulfing the paper. In the blink of an eye, the talisman paper vanished without a trace.

The talisman drawing had failed. The black-robed old man sighed deeply, slowly shook his head, his face full of helplessness.

At this moment, the black-robed old man finally noticed Fang Hong standing nearby.

He paused slightly and casually remarked, "Drawing talismans is truly difficult!"

"Uh, yes, drawing talismans is very difficult..." Fang Hong smiled, responding politely.

In truth, he secretly thought to himself that the Intermediate Ice Spike Talisman the black-robed old man had just drawn was incredibly easy for him now; he could even draw it with his eyes closed...

"This Junior Brother seems a bit unfamiliar; may I ask your name?" The black-robed old man scrutinized Fang Hong, a hint of surprise on his face.

He thought to himself that Fang Hong, at such a young age, already had a cultivation level comparable to his own, which was quite unbelievable.

"I am Fang Hong. I have been out on an expedition for several years and have just returned today," Fang Hong said calmly, his tone neither humble nor arrogant.

After speaking, he took out his identity token from his Storage Pouch and handed it to the old man for inspection. It was engraved with Fang Hong’s name and the sect’s insignia.

The black-robed old man took the identity token, examined it carefully, and then returned it to Fang Hong.

A kindly smile appeared on his face as he greeted, "So it is Fang Junior Brother. My name is Chen Tong, and I am the Elder guarding this place."

"Junior Brother, have you come here to use the Earth Fire for Alchemy or Artifact Refining, or to consult some Pill Formulas?" Elder Chen Tong asked.

"I am here to consult Pill Formulas," Fang Hong replied truthfully.

"Hmm, the Pill Formulas are in that stone room. However, each consultation requires a payment of five hundred spirit stones," Elder Chen extended his finger, pointing to a stone room behind Fang Hong, enveloped by a faint light screen.

That stone room was covered by a faint light screen, protected by a restriction, presumably containing something valuable.

Fang Hong nodded, having no objection, then took out five hundred spirit stones from his Storage Pouch and handed them to Elder Chen.

Elder Chen accepted the spirit stones, a smile appearing on his face, then handed Fang Hong a black identity token, indicating that he could now consult the Pill Formulas.

Fang Hong felt quite satisfied, finding the process relatively simple.

He turned and walked to the light door, infusing a bit of magical power into the token.

The token flashed with light, and the light door slowly opened. He easily passed through the light door and entered the stone room...

Upon entering the stone room, Fang Hong’s gaze was drawn to a tall bookshelf.

On the bookshelf, a dozen bundles of scrolls were neatly arranged. The covers of these scrolls varied in color, and presumably, these were the precious Pill Formulas.

Fang Hong quickly approached the bookshelf, eagerly picking up a bundle of scrolls and beginning to examine them...

After nearly half an incense stick of time, Fang Hong finally finished looking through these Pill Formulas.

His expression showed no great joy; instead, he seemed a little disappointed.

It turned out that most of the Pill Formulas on the bookshelf were suitable for Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators. For him, a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, there was only one suitable Pill Formula, and there were no Core Formation Stage Pill Formulas at all...

Fang Hong sighed helplessly, secretly lamenting that Pill Formulas were indeed more precious, especially those that could directly enhance cultivation, which were even rarer.

However, he wasn’t too disheartened, his gaze falling on the two bundles of scrolls in his hand.

These two bundles of scrolls contained the Pill Formulas he was more interested in: one named "Solid Essence Pill" and the other named "Youth-preserving pill."

The Solid Essence Pill had decent effects; after consumption, it could accelerate the solidification of true essence, making it a miraculous pill that aided Core Formation. It was said to increase the success rate of Core Formation by ten percent...