CHAPTER 76: ALTERNATIVE METHOD

With Azure Blue Dragons surrounding him, Li Shen had the flexibility to refine his pills with the materials he had brought with him. In total, he had brought around 42 second and third-grade pill materials.

Li Shen planned to make Mountain-Shattering Pills, which were fifth-grade pills useful for enhancing a cultivator’s soul when breaking through to a higher realm.

To make this pill, Li Shen needed at least four materials: Crimson Core, Titanbone Marrow, Golden Root, and Void Sand.

However, Li Shen did not have them. It was not because the pill materials had run out, but because they were not available in the storage room. As a result, Li Shen had to search for synonyms for the materials and their effects.

Ten materials were used to create a core similar to Crimson Core, twelve materials to create a core similar to Titanbone Marrow, eight materials to create a core similar to Golden Root, and twelve materials to create a core similar to Void Sand.

Just as Li Shen brought out the 42 materials, Yun Zhi and Ming Gong looked stunned. They did not expect Shen Li to use alternative materials to create similar core materials.

"Alternative method," explained Ming Gong, making Ming Yue curious.

"What do you mean, Father?" asked Ming Yue.

"Alternative methods are alchemical techniques used to create pills using other materials with similar properties and effects to the original material. This can only be done in emergencies, when the original pill material is unavailable," Ming Gong replied.

"There’s a possibility that the pill material Shen Li wants is depleted or unavailable in the storage, right?" Ming Gong explained.

"That’s right, Ming Ancestor. Alternative methods are an alchemist’s best strategy to prevent other cultivators from reading the pill he intends to create," added Yun Zhi.

"That’s because not many cultivators know about common pill materials."

"However, there is one problem with this, and that is time," explained Yun Zhi.

"That’s right. Shen Li must focus and work extra hard to create the pill by combining each core," replied Ming Gong.

"This is what should be displayed in the pill tournament, not the opposite," explained Ming Gong.

"Shen Li’s presence is enough to give this pill tournament a special meaning," said Yun Zhi.

From a distance, Li Shen separated the materials according to their uses. He separated them and flew them in four parts according to the purpose of the core fusion.

After separating them, the man channeled fire from both of his hands and directed it towards the four parts of the core fusion materials. The first stage began, the material melting process.

Surprisingly, Li Shen did not perform the process in a pill cauldron, but outside. Yun Zhi reflexively stood up, not expecting a cultivator like Shen Li to be able to melt core materials without a cauldron.

"He can withstand the energy fluctuations from melting the materials. Very impressive," replied Yun Zhi.

"No one can do that in the Ming Zhao Kingdom. Shen Li is truly impressive," explained Ming Gong.

Ming Yue smiled; she had not been wrong to support him. It turned out that Shen Li had abilities she had never expected before, clearly different from the other participants in the pill tournament.

"Let’s see how good he is," replied Ming Gong. Yun Zhi and Ming Yue nodded.

The woman saw clearly that Li Shen was protected by the Azure Blue Dragon that continued to fly around him. Thanks to the power of that technique, Li Shen was able to focus on melting the core materials.

The 42 core materials merged into four cores. With the four core materials floating above his right hand, Li Shen was ready to refine his pill.

He observed the area around him; the participants were in the process of merging their core materials into a single pill core. To perfect this, it would take at least 5-6 hours.

Li Shen tapped his magic pouch, summoning the Heaven-Shaking Dragon Pill Cauldron. The cauldron flew forward and settled above the table, ready to refine the core materials.

Yun Zhi and Ming Gong were even more astonished. They did not expect Shen Li to have such a high-quality pill cauldron. It attracted their attention even more, because such pill cauldrons were difficult to obtain.

"Do you know anything about that pill cauldron, Ancestor Ming?" Yun Zhi asked, Ming Gong froze in place.

He had no idea what kind of pill cauldron it was, but from its ornamentation and size, Ming Gong could at least guess that it was a Heaven-level pill cauldron.

Li Shen opened the lid of the pill cauldron and placed the four core materials inside. He closed the lid and focused on blowing his fire steadily into the pill cauldron.

The process of combining the four core materials began. Spiritual energy collided, accompanied by constant energy explosions. Among the other participants, only Li Shen was able to emit such fluctuations of pill energy.

Ji Haofei turned and looked at Li Shen. He had already guessed that Li Shen would definitely be a threat to him in his bid to win the title of champion of the Ming Yuan Sect Pill Tournament.

An energy axis formed, and strong gusts of wind blew over the pill cauldron, indicating that the fusion of the four core materials was taking place. A special condition suddenly occurred, spiritual pressure fell upon the participants, making it difficult for them to maintain the pill refining process.

Many of them failed to make the pill. Their pill cauldrons exploded and their bodies were thrown backwards, significantly affected.

Unlike Li Shen, he was not affected by the storm, nor was he affected by the spiritual pressure. He remained focused on uniting the core materials in the pill furnace.

Three hours passed, and Li Shen successfully united the four core materials into one. Now it was the final part, coating the outer wall of the pill in the final finishing process.

The first participant to finish was Ji Haofei. He successfully purified a level five pill and immediately showed it to Yun Zhi.

"Ji Haofei has advanced to the next round!" declared the pill competition leader.

Cheers echoed throughout the venue, congratulating Ji Haofei. Many women were attracted to the man’s good looks, but Ji Haofei was only interested in Ming Yue.

"Look! I’m going to be the champion—"

"I’m done!" interrupted Li Shen, emerging from the storm while holding his Mountain-Shattering Pill.

Ming Yue stood up, stepped forward to the fence, and watched Li Shen successfully pass. Ming Yue smiled and clapped for Li Shen.

"Shen Li has advanced to the next round," said the elder.

Ji Haofei looked at Ming Yue’s beaming face. He had never seen her smile like that before. Now, he began to target Shen Li. He suspected that Shen Li’s goal was Ming Yue.

"I told you I would pass this round easily, Ming Yue," explained Shen Li.

"Of course. I believe in you."