novelraw Chapter 408 - 201: Taking His Place, a New Identity
Chapter 408 - 201: Taking His Place, a New Identity
Chu Ning simultaneously extracted information from this person’s memory to review the alchemy techniques recorded in the ancient book.
He was immediately uninterested.
Undeniably, the ancient book did contain some excellent pill formulas.
However, many of the alchemical methods in this book were quite unorthodox.
For instance, this Alchemist Xiao had consumed numerous elixirs from it, significantly increasing his power, but rendering himself neither human nor ghost.
To Chu Ning, who possessed the Essentials of Spirit Pill, these alchemical methods weren’t particularly impressive.
At this moment, Chu Ning removed the mask from Alchemist Xiao’s face.
Instantly, a hideous face was revealed.
Much of the flesh had disappeared, exposing the white bones beneath.
Chu Ning glanced at it briefly, then averted his eyes.
With a Fireball Technique, he reduced it to ashes.
He then sat cross-legged on the ground, meditating for a while with the Refining Spirit Technique to dispel the negative emotions brought on by the Soul Searching.
Chu Ning continued to digest the information he had just acquired and turned his gaze to the mask lying to the side.
A thought suddenly surged in his mind.
He seemed not to need to find another place; this one would do just fine.
This Alchemist Xiao was reclusive and eccentric, selling elixirs only once every half a month.
However, he had never formed close bonds with any cultivators and typically had no friends.
Due to consuming certain unconventional elixirs, his appearance had become bizarre; therefore, he always wore a mask.
None of the cultivators who frequently bought elixirs here had ever seen Alchemist Xiao’s true face.
As for alchemy, he could also do it.
With this mask on, if he claimed to be Alchemist Xiao, surely no one would notice anything amiss.
Moreover, the Spiritual Qi concentration here was not weak, even comparable to that on Yanfeng.
If Cen Zijin’s array formation tools were used to create a Gathering Spirit effect, the Spiritual Qi here could be even stronger than in the cave mansion on Yanfeng.
What truly moved Chu Ning was the information he had just uncovered from Alchemist Xiao’s memories.
The Jiuhua Sect had genuinely invited him to join before.
It was because the Jiuhua Sect consistently lacked cultivators proficient in alchemy, and after an alchemist in the sect at the Foundation Establishment Stage passed away.
The Jiuhua Sect wished to recruit Alchemist Xiao, a renowned alchemist from Jiuhua Mountain.
However, being reclusive, Alchemist Xiao decisively refused.
According to the memories Chu Ning accessed, it seemed the Jiuhua Sect had not given up, and it was likely they would reach out again soon.
Alchemist Xiao had no interest in joining the Jiuhua Sect.
But Chu Ning was somewhat intrigued by the idea.
He had indeed been quite free and unfettered during his years on the Thousand Lakes and Thousand Islands.
However, for someone like him who had come from the Cyan Creek Sect, he knew well the advantages of being sheltered by a big tree.
As long as he could attain a certain status within a sect, the resources of a Major Sect far surpassed those available to a Loose Cultivator.
When he first joined the Cyan Creek Sect, Chu Ning worried that his Spirit Body Talent and external secrets would be discovered.
Later, he feared Xin Wuya might exploit him for the Spirit Charm.
That’s why he considered leaving.
But things were different now; he had attained the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment.
If he could enter a Major Sect like the Jiuhua Sect and become a respected alchemist.
It seemed to be a worthy choice.
Considering all the reasons, Chu Ning increasingly felt that assuming Alchemist Xiao’s identity indeed seemed like a good idea.
If the Jiuhua Sect sought him out again, agreeing might not be a bad option.
Even if they didn’t approach him, staying here for the short term wouldn’t be a problem.
With his mind made up, Chu Ning’s gaze once again settled on the mask.
With a casual Spell, he cleaned the mask and gently placed it on his face.
Instantly, the silver mask automatically fitted snugly over his face.
"Ying!"
At this moment, Ling Xiaobai, who had just been released from the Spirit Beast Bag, made a sound.
"Master, I can no longer accurately sense your aura."
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning was surprised and let out a "Huh".
He hadn’t hidden his aura using the Yin Wood Spirit Body’s Talent, yet under this mask, even Ling Xiaobai couldn’t sense his aura.
It seemed this mask indeed had its unique features.
This realization made Chu Ning feel more at ease.
Next, Chu Ning retrieved a brand-new white robe from Alchemist Xiao’s Storage Bag and put it on.
The two had similar builds, so it fit well.
Chu Ning didn’t quite understand Alchemist Xiao’s preference for wearing white clothes.
But since he was going to impersonate him, he might as well do it convincingly.
"Little one, from now on, I am Alchemist Xiao,"
Chu Ning chuckled lightly, wandering around the cliffside pavilion with Ling Xiaobai.
The pavilions seemed to be Alchemist Xiao’s usual living quarters, while he conducted his cultivation and alchemy in two stone chambers within the mountain.
Chu Ning toured the area, nodding in satisfaction.
In terms of size, this cave mansion wasn’t larger than the one he had on Yanfeng of Thousand Lakes and Thousand Islands.
The platform atop the cliff wasn’t large, but its different style offered Chu Ning a unique feeling.
Chu Ning wasn’t in a hurry to alter the array formations outside the cave or the alchemy room.
He planned to keep everything as it was for a while to avoid arousing suspicion from others about any anomalies.
Subsequently, Chu Ning examined the elixirs frequently refined by this person.
Although Alchemist Xiao’s Storage Bag contained numerous elixirs, Chu Ning wanted to comprehend and even refine these pill formulas to prepare for any potential buyers.
Fortunately, for Chu Ning, who possessed the Primordial Pill Spirit Body, this wasn’t challenging.
The elixirs Alchemist Xiao frequently refined were slightly different from those Chu Ning concocted on the East Saint Continent.
Most of them were meant to enhance the magical power of Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The most advanced among them was an Intermediate Middle Grade Elixir named the Foundation Building Pill.
It was greatly beneficial for Foundation Establishment Cultivators to advance their cultivation.
In just five days, Chu Ning mastered the common pill formulas here.
He also set to refining several kinds of elixirs.
On the morning of the sixth day, while Chu Ning was cultivating,
a voice suddenly echoed from the base of the cliff.
"Is Alchemist Xiao in? This junior has come to deliver the Spirit Medicine."