Longevity with a Turtle

“The two main ingredients for Refining the Foundation Establishment Pill have been gathered, and he even made contact with Ji Wujin!”

Looking at Ruan Tieniu’s left-behind letter, Chen Jianghe was still somewhat surprised inwardly. He had actually gotten his hands on the Illusion Heart Grass, and had even negotiated with Ji Wujin, who was willing to join the crowdfunded Alchemy. In other words, as long as his Auxiliary Materials were ready, they could seek out Alchemist Zhuang for Alchemy.

“Two years…” Chen Jianghe fell into deep thought. Ruan Tieniu had told him it would take three years to gather the two main ingredients and at most five years for Refining the Foundation Establishment Pill. In other words, Ruan Tieniu had given him two extra years of preparation time.

However, Chen Jianghe did not plan to wait another two years. Delays breed complications, and a Foundation Establishment Opportunity, in particular, could not be delayed. What if Ruan Tieniu’s situation changed? Or what if Ji Wujin found a better option? He would miss this opportunity. He was the most passive member in this crowdfunded Alchemy. Right now, the best approach was to strike while the iron was hot and find Alchemist Zhuang for Refining the Foundation Establishment Pill.

“It’s about time to deepen my relationship with Alchemist Zhuang,” Chen Jianghe thought, preparing to pay the alchemist a visit. He had already cultivated the Tidal Body Refining Technique for a year and a half, and his Physical Body Realm had reached Mid-Stage Body Refining. The next step was the phase requiring the assistance of Spirit Pills. Previously, Alchemist Zhuang had stated clearly that if he needed Body Refining Spiritual Pills, he could come to him anytime for a substantial discount. Being able to save Spirit Stones, he naturally wouldn’t go buy them at the Hundred Treasures Tower. His original intention in befriending Alchemist Zhuang was to save Spirit Stones, as Body Refining consumed an exorbitant amount of them.

Chen Jianghe preliminarily estimated that cultivating his Physical Body Realm to Body Refining Perfection would require at least one thousand Spirit Stones’ worth of Cultivation Resources. And this didn’t even include the Spirit Stones spent on purchasing Body Refining Techniques. Although he had reached Mid-Stage Body Refining in just a year and a half and spent only seventy-five Spirit Stones, the consumption of Body Refining grew exponentially greater in the later stages. Especially after Mid-Stage Body Refining, with the addition of Spirit Pill assistance, the annual consumption would absolutely double.

Of course, Body Refining came with even more benefits. Not only could it increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment, but it also enhanced his combat prowess. Back when Chen Jianghe traveled from Jingyue Lake to the Qinghe Marketplace, he encountered a Tribulation Cultivation Gang. The leader of those Tribulation Cultivators was a Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivator at Body Refining Perfection. Upon discovering the leader’s Body Refining Cultivation, the other Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivator on the boat had only one thought: escape. He had no intention of fighting whatsoever.

Only after coming into contact with Body Refining did Chen Jianghe realize that cultivating the Physical Body allowed one to enhance their physical strength and immunity to Magic, much like a Demon Beast. For instance, at his current Mid-Stage Body Refining, although he couldn’t be completely immune to the Magic of an Early-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator, he could negate fifty percent of the Magic’s power. As for the Magic of a Qi Refining Cultivator, he could negate twenty percent of its power. This was the benefit of Body Refining.

He cultivated the Tidal Body Refining Technique, a Water Element Body Refining Technique, which granted him even higher immunity against Water Element Magic. Furthermore, once he cultivated the Tidal Body Refining Technique to Body Refining Perfection, the power of the Water Element Magic he cast would also receive a boost. It would be amplified by roughly ten percent. Combined with the Magic amplification from the Ten Thousand Waters Scripture, even among Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivators, Chen Jianghe could use the Water Escape Technique to travel thirteen miles, whereas others could only travel ten miles at most. This was the benefit of Body Refining.

With his mind made up, Chen Jianghe walked out of his room. Looking at Little Black and Fur Ball working hard, the words that reached his lips were swallowed back down. He didn’t want to miss the opportunity of the crowdfunded Alchemy. But begging someone else? That was even less desirable. Therefore, he considered temporarily halting Little Black and Fur Ball’s Cultivation Resources, but seeing how hard they were working, knowing they were also earning Spirit Stones for him… Chen Jianghe hesitated.

If it were only Fur Ball, it wouldn’t matter much. It was just a Spirit Pet; let alone suspending its resources for two years, even suspending them for twenty years wouldn’t give him any psychological burden. The issue was Little Black. They had been together for almost forty-eight years, accompanying each other from the very bottom of the Cultivation Realm to this day. Although they often bickered, he had never truly treated Little Black as a mere Spirit Pet.

“Two-Legged Beast, we need to increase the volume next year. Four Demon Beasts are too few.” Seeing Chen Jianghe come out, Little Black stood upright, tossed his turtle head, and sent an arrogant telepathic message. Right now, Little Black and Fur Ball’s skill in processing Demon Beasts was on par with the cultivators in the Demon Beast Workshop.

“Two-Legged Beast, calculate if we can do this: buy more Mid-Stage Tier One Demon Beasts, and after Fur Ball and I process them, we sell all their parts.

“Won’t we be able to earn more Spirit Stones that way?” Little Black suggested.

Chen Jianghe pursed his lips, but the words remained unspoken.

“Is it inappropriate? But we still need to figure something out. Otherwise, Fur Ball and I will consume four Late-Stage Tier One Demon Beasts next year, and that expense is too massive.” Little Black tried to prop up his turtle head with his claw, but because it was too short, he grabbed nothing but air. Even so, his expression remained extremely serious.

SMACK!

“Don’t you agree, Fur Ball?”

“Squeak, squeak!” (Right, right, right!)

Watching Little Black try to come up with ways to earn Spirit Stones, Chen Jianghe couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright, stop hitting Fur Ball. You’re beating it silly.

“The idea you just came up with is pretty good, but if we do that, you and Fur Ball will be very tired.”

Buying Mid-Stage Tier One Demon Beasts and processing them to keep and sell the useful parts, including the Spirit Cores and Heart Marrow, could earn them a profit of two Spirit Stones per beast. In other words, a beast bought for eight Spirit Stones could be disassembled and sold for over ten.

“Tired? I’ve only had a few relaxing years since I got together with you.” Little Black curled his lips in apparent dissatisfaction and slapped Fur Ball again.