CHAPTER 106: CHAPTER 106 ALCHEMY TOWER REWARDS_1

"What are the rewards of the Alchemy Tower?" Shen Mo asked again, his curiosity piqued.

"The rewards from the Alchemy Tower are, naturally, substantial."

"What one can actually obtain, however, depends entirely on luck and opportune encounters."

A hint of embarrassment touched the white-robed Alchemist’s face. Although he presented himself as an experienced mentor, critiquing and guiding Shen Mo, he was, in reality, merely a minor figure in the Alchemy Zone, lacking the qualifications to even etch his name onto the Alchemy Tablet. Consequently, he had no idea what rewards the Tower Spirit might bestow, having only heard vague, half-true rumors.

"I heard that Senior Brother Liu Yuan once received Earthly Fire, elixir recipes, Alchemy, and even Manuals detailing much rare pharmacological knowledge from the Tower Spirit—a true bounty."

I must try this.

Hearing the white-robed Alchemist’s words, Shen Mo’s heart burned with even greater anticipation.

"CLANG!"

Suddenly, within the Alchemy Zone, the sound of a bell resounded.

The Alchemists gathered around the Alchemy Tablet, who had been observing the various elixir refinement records and boasting amongst themselves, were startled by the bell’s toll.

"The Daoist bell rang! The Elder’s lecture is starting!"

"Today, Elder Wei is personally lecturing on pharmacological knowledge. He has been a Grade III Alchemist for many years and is exceptionally experienced. This is a lecture we absolutely cannot miss."

"I should also go early to avoid someone taking my seat."

One by one, the crowd departed, until only Shen Mo remained standing before the Alchemy Tower.

"An Elder’s lecture?"

Watching them leave, he felt no inclination to join the bustling crowd. For him, while learning alchemy from others offered some benefits, its effectiveness paled in comparison to the straightforward proficiency gained through his own hands-on practice.

Practice is indeed the best teacher.

First, I’ll enter the Alchemy Tower and see what’s inside!

With that thought, Shen Mo pushed open the tightly closed Taichi stone gate of the Alchemy Tower and walked in.

Upon entering the first floor of the Alchemy Tower, he saw a light screen formed by converging radiant light. Information about various elixirs was displayed on the light screen.

[Qi Restoring Pill: Consuming this pill rapidly restores depleted Mana.]

[Qingxu Pill: This pill aids concentration, allowing the user to quickly enter a meditative state for cultivation.]

[Sweet Dew Pill: This pill is exclusively for healing injuries.]

...

[Yang-strengthening Powder: At the Body Tempering Realm stage, it has the effect of slightly consolidating one’s foundation and replenishing qi and blood.]

Evidently, the elixirs for the first floor’s assessment were all Grade V elixirs. The Yang-strengthening Powder and Qi Restoring Pill, elixirs Shen Mo was most adept at refining, were listed among them.

Below the light screen displaying the elixirs, an Alchemy Cauldron and a furnace stood ready for use.

Once I refine an elixir, how will the Tower Spirit inspect it?

Shen Mo inspected his surroundings carefully, and a question arose in his mind. Yet, the instant this thought emerged, a piece of information flashed through his mind.

As if struck by an epiphany, he looked up.

On the ceiling of the Alchemy Tower’s first floor, the small Tower Spirit statue, which appeared to be merely decorative, was emitting a faint fluorescent glow. Clearly, it was capable of recording Shen Mo’s alchemy time and the quality of his results.

Quite thorough. Well then, let’s begin.

After a brief survey, Shen Mo quickly began his attempt at alchemy.

I’ll start with the Yang-strengthening Powder!

From his Universe Bag, he retrieved a large handful of Blood Tiger Grass, an ingredient for Yang-strengthening Powder, along with Dragon Saliva Grass, which was used to assist in its refinement. He had initially purchased a considerable quantity of ingredients for Yang-strengthening Powder, intending to use its refinement as a long-term method for grinding experience. Unexpectedly, his proficiency in refining Yang-strengthening Powder quickly reached the maximum level. No matter how many more he refined, his experience in the Alchemy Path no longer increased. Consequently, these ingredients had been left to gather dust in his Universe Bag. Now, they finally had a use.

"Ignite!"

He formed a hand seal and cast a Magic.

"BOOM!"

Instantly, the dry wood beneath the Alchemy Cauldron erupted into a roaring blaze.

"Open the Cauldron!"

He again cast a Magic, and the lid of the Alchemy Cauldron flew open. Next, using the high temperature of the Alchemy Cauldron, he began to process the Blood Tiger Grass and Dragon Saliva Grass—the two specific spiritual medicines for Yang-strengthening Powder.

"SIZZLE! SIZZLE! SIZZLE!"

Shen Mo’s technique was masterful, his movements as smooth as flowing water. Thanks to thousands of practice sessions and concoctions, his expertise in refining Yang-strengthening Powder was likely unparalleled by almost anyone else in the Riverside Sect.

The two spiritual medicines were rapidly refined into a medicinal liquid. Then, striking while the iron was hot, Shen Mo placed the medicinal liquid into the Alchemy Cauldron to begin its gestation and shaping.

"WHOOSH!"

In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the Yang-strengthening Powder successfully formed. Shen Mo used a prepared medicine box to retrieve it.

The formed Yang-strengthening Powder was a vibrant red, exuding a potent medicinal fragrance. It was clearly of supreme quality.

High above in the Alchemy Tower, the Tower Spirit statue recorded Shen Mo’s achievement the moment he finished.

[Time taken for alchemy: one tea time. Result: elixir of supreme quality.]

On the radiant light screen, a dazzling golden light flared as Shen Mo directly broke the alchemy trial record previously set by Zhao Lingyin.

As this new record was set, the Tower Spirit immediately transmitted a piece of information.

It wants me to leave a name?

Shen Mo quickly understood the Tower Spirit’s intention from this information. He hesitated for a moment but decided against leaving his real name.

Currently, within the Riverside Sect, aside from Uncle Chen and a few others, no one knows I can perform alchemy, much less that my skill is approaching that of a Grade II Alchemist. It’s better to keep a low profile and not leave my real name to avoid attracting unnecessary trouble.

Although the record he had broken was merely for refining the lowest-grade elixir listed on the Alchemy Tablet. Nevertheless, being listed on the tablet would inevitably draw attention. If anyone with ulterior motives were to investigate this name, they would undoubtedly be able to trace Shen Mo’s identity. Shen Mo did not want too much attention.

I’ll call myself Mo Shen.

After some thought, Shen Mo decided to reverse the characters of his name, leaving behind a rather eccentric alias for the record.

The more outlandish, the better; that way, no one will connect it to me.

Once Shen Mo had submitted the name, new information immediately appeared on the large screen:

[Yang-strengthening Powder: Grade V]

[Record Holder: Mo Shen]

[Narrative: Alchemy completed in one tea time; elixir of supreme quality.]

I broke the record. A smile touched Shen Mo’s lips as he watched his name appear with the Yang-strengthening Powder’s record information.

In the Alchemy Path, elixirs of the same grade refined by different Alchemists will vary in quality based on the Alchemist’s skill and level of attainment. The higher the quality, the more potent the elixir’s effects. The difference in efficacy between the lowest and highest quality can be severalfold.

According to the conventions of the Alchemy Path, elixir quality is divided into five tiers.

The first tier is ’Defective’. Although elixirs of this tier have successfully congealed, their effects are poor, classifying them as the lowest quality.

The second is ’Middle-grade’. This is the most common tier. Its medicinal efficacy is not diminished by flawed refinement, but it also lacks significant additional enhancements.

The third is ’Superior Quality,’ which offers a considerable boost to the elixir’s effects.

The fourth is ’Perfect Quality.’ To achieve this tier, an Alchemist either possesses profound experience and mastery in refining that specific elixir, or they are a high-ranking Alchemist easily refining a low-grade elixir.

And the final, highest tier is ’Supreme Quality’. Elixirs of this caliber are two to three times more potent than those of ordinary quality.

Thanks to the experience bonuses from the Destiny Panel, Shen Mo had long since mastered the production method for Yang-strengthening Powder to the point of perfection. Thus, this attempt naturally yielded a ’Supreme Quality’ elixir.

However, he didn’t break the record solely due to the quality of his elixir. This was because Zhao Lingyin’s recorded elixir was also of ’Supreme Quality’. When qualities are identical, the Alchemy Tower’s record is determined by who can refine the elixir faster. This, too, was one of Shen Mo’s strengths. He relied on Alchemy to earn the wealth needed for cultivation resources, so he had naturally invested considerable effort in maximizing his efficiency.

The ’time of a stick of incense’ recorded by the Alchemy Tower is generally equivalent to about thirty minutes in Earth terms. And ’one tea time’ is roughly equivalent to ten minutes.

Zhao Lingyin had taken fifteen minutes to refine her ’Supreme Quality’ Yang-strengthening Powder, whereas Shen Mo took only ten.

"BUZZ!"

When Shen Mo’s new record appeared on the Stele outside the tower, the Tower Spirit immediately sent down a stream of light in front of the light screen. Shen Mo reached out to catch it. The stream of light slowly coalesced, revealing a jade slip.

[Qi Coalescing Pill Recipe: Grade II]

His Divine Sense penetrated the jade slip. After a brief examination, an ecstatic expression bloomed on his face.

A Grade II elixir recipe!

That white-robed Alchemist wasn’t lying! The Alchemy Tower’s rewards are truly generous!