Chapter 107: Flood Dragon Blood Pill
Where the eyes of the mediocre fixate, they remain confined to one corner.
Cultivators in the Southern Wastes generally revered the ancient methods of cultivation, believing that the older the art, the more powerful it must be, capable of suppressing all present-day practices.
After all, the ten most renowned Dao Integration techniques in the Southern Wastes all originated from the ancient era of cultivation.
Therefore, most Golden Core cultivators in the Southern Wastes, when encountering such a matter, would likely assume the first possibility. But Yu Shuiyao was different.
Gifted from a young age, she was well-versed in her sect’s various cultivation manuals and scriptures. She could simulate, decode, and deduce cultivation methods using her own understanding, thus finding the second possibility to be quite plausible.
Her current method of cultivation, the Supreme Black Emperor's Dominance over the Mysterious Sea True Scripture, was a technique she had created by drawing from the strengths of many sects.
“Heaven follows the Dao, the Dao follows nature.”
Unlike cultivators who pursued ancient inheritances, Yu Shuiyao believed that the strongest cultivation method was the one most aligned with one’s own path.
Blindly imitating those who came before easily led to carving a swan by copying a crow, ending in mediocrity.
Of course, Yu Shuiyao also understood clearly that the path of creating one’s own cultivation method was not an easy one.
Those without sufficient talent, should they dare to imitate, could easily go astray and sever their future path.
But after reading the Clear Spring Nourishes the Heart Manual, Yu Shuiyao suddenly realized — the world had no shortage of prodigious talents.
“Whether it came from an inherited opportunity or was self-created, a single test will tell.”
Yu Shuiyao's lips curved slightly. She casually posted a high-reward task in the Personnel Hall for completing a Foundation Establishment technique, then immersed herself once more in the completion of the Calamity-Sea Dragon-Suppressing Formation.
Kindred spirits need not meet.
Whether or not Chen Zi’ang was the creator of the Clear Spring Nourishes the Heart Manual, what mattered was that now she knew — she was not alone on this path.
...
Personnel Hall.
Ma Dongmei respectfully handed over Chen Zi’ang’s identity jade slip, her gaze filled with admiration.
“Senior Brother Chen, here are the contribution points you earned for completing the technique transcription task.”
Chen Beiwu took the jade slip and swept it with his spiritual sense. Surprise flashed in his eyes.
What the—?
Clear Spring Nourishes the Heart Manual was actually worth 8000 contribution points, evaluated by the sect as a mid-grade Foundation Establishment method!
It was known that the Immortal Alliance prioritized beast taming, while the Southern Wastes emphasized techniques.
And yet, this Clear Spring Nourishes the Heart Manual from the Immortal Alliance had ranked above others in the sect's Transmission Hall, which seemed rather unusual.
‘Still, it’s a good thing.’
Chen Beiwu didn’t dwell on it. Contribution points — the more, the better.
Feeling momentarily wealthy, he turned to Ma Dongmei, intent on posting a bounty task.
“Senior Brother Chen, I’ve got a task the sect just posted. The contribution point reward is exceptionally high. Interested?” Ma Dongmei asked.
“What kind of task?” Chen Beiwu asked curiously.
“Please take a look.” Ma Dongmei handed over a task slip.
Long-term Task: Technique Completion
Task Rank: Grade B - Lower Tier
Posted by: Transmission Hall
Task Description: The sect uncovered an ancient sect ruin and acquired a fragmented Foundation Establishment method titled Tai Void Star-Gazing Manual.
This method nurtures the Sea of Consciousness and strengthens a cultivator’s divine sense. In combat, it can manifest the divine sense into a Star-Gazing Compass to predict all movements of opponents in the same realm.
Task Reward: 15,000 Contribution Points
Note: The manual is 50% incomplete — mostly the latter half. Completion difficulty is moderate.
“This...” After reading the task details, Chen Beiwu hesitated.
If it were a technique, he had some confidence — perhaps thirty to forty percent.
But completing a cultivation method was different — an area he had never delved into, and this one was even a Foundation Establishment method.
“Senior Brother Chen, you could give it a try. Even if you fail, you'll still get a free incomplete Foundation Establishment manual,” Ma Dongmei whispered.
Chen Beiwu was intrigued and asked, “There’s no penalty for failing sect tasks?”
Ma Dongmei explained, “Depends on the task type. Sect technique tasks usually carry no penalties.”
“I see. Then please help me accept the task — and also post two bounty tasks.” Chen Beiwu stated his task requirements.
Soon, two bounty tasks for Moon Dew and Withered Thunder Branch quietly appeared on the central task wall.
In exchange, Chen Beiwu's contribution point balance dropped to 6300.
...
Profound Secrets Hall.
Chen Beiwu opened the pill exchange list, and the first thing he saw was a low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill priced at 8000 contribution points.
He continued scrolling and was soon greeted by descriptions of several outrageous spirit pills.
“Ice Breath Pill, Second-Tier High-Grade Spirit Pill. When consumed by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, their meridians will freeze, rendering them unable to use their spiritual power for twelve hours.
After the effect wears off, Water-type cultivators gain a 20% increase in cultivation speed. The spiritual power they cultivate also carries a severe cold attribute, capable of eroding and freezing spiritual power of the same realm.
Exchange Price: 5000 Contribution Points.”
“Flood Dragon Blood Pill, Second-Tier High-Grade Spirit Pill. Refined with the blood of a living flood dragon mixed with many spirit materials. When consumed by Foundation Establishment cultivators, it drastically enhances physical strength, causing dragon-scale patterns to manifest on the skin, allowing them to ignore attacks from lower-grade Second-Tier spiritual artifacts.
Exchange Price: 6000 Contribution Points.”
“Breakthrough Pill, Second-Tier High-Grade Spirit Pill. Allows Ninth Level Qi Refining cultivators to directly step into the Tenth Level. The price is five years of secluded cultivation.
Exchange Price: 6000 Contribution Points.”
“Spirit Fusion Pill, Second-Tier High-Grade Spirit Pill. When consumed by Water-type spirit beasts, their cultivation can progress greatly. A Peak First-Tier spirit beast gains a 40% higher chance to break through.
When combined with the Flood Dragon Blood Pill, it can transform spirit beasts with flood dragon bloodlines, granting them a trace of flood dragon majesty, enough to intimidate water-type beasts.
Exchange Price: 8000 Contribution Points.”
“...”
After reading the descriptions, Chen Beiwu couldn’t help but feel tempted.
You get what you pay for.
Though these Second-Tier pills were far more expensive than their counterparts on the Immortal Alliance Official Website, their effects were undeniably extravagant.
Take the Flood Dragon Blood Pill for example — such a pure Second-Tier pill had long been discontinued on the Alliance’s official store.
That was because under the Immortal Alliance’s law, flood dragons were extremely rare protected treasure beasts.
Thus, the Flood Dragon Blood Pills sold officially didn't use live flood dragon blood, but instead substituted in shed teeth and scales, drastically weakening the pill's effect. At best, a cultivator might gain the strength of a tiger.
After a moment’s hesitation, Chen Beiwu decided to spend 6000 contribution points to exchange for a Flood Dragon Blood Pill. His contribution balance plummeted to 300.
‘These contribution points vanish fast!’ Chen Beiwu thought bitterly.
The Flood Dragon Blood Pill needed to be paired with the Spirit Fusion Pill to achieve the best results for Gold Egg.
Which meant he still needed to accumulate over 7000 contribution points to get the Spirit Fusion Pill.
The Profound Secrets Hall was highly efficient. After just a quarter of an hour, a hall deacon verified his identity jade slip, deducted the contribution points, and handed him a jade vial.
Chen Beiwu opened the vial and activated his divine sense — inside was a scarlet-red pill that gently trembled, as if a flood dragon were roaring beside his ear.
‘This Flood Dragon Blood Pill... has actually developed a trace of pill resonance!’ Chen Beiwu was startled.
Could the alchemist who refined this pill be a Third-Tier Alchemy Master?