The Journey of Immortal Cultivation

Chapter 1014 - 555: Ahua (Third Update, Please Vote with Pink Ticket)

Therefore, it can be said that those who consume this elixir are actually cursed with the Hulian family’s curse of immortality.

This elixir is extremely difficult to refine, mainly because it involves the "Second Entry" of the elixir.

The second refinement of the elixir, as the name suggests, is to take the elixir refined for the first time and put it back into the furnace with other materials, recombining them to refine a new elixir.

The pharmacological reactions involved are dozens of times more complex than the first refining. Mastery of calculations and micro-control all rely on immensely strong Divine Thought manipulation. Without a realm above an Immortal, one simply cannot begin to comprehend it, with the failure rate firmly at one hundred percent. Even an expert in the Alchemy Dao like Xu Nongyou, due to insufficient strength, cannot refine this elixir.

Thus, even if someone figures out the Rejuvenation Pill’s formula, it is difficult to replicate it.

Ning Xiaoxian does not engage in this business for another reason: Each Lifespan Extension Pill is concentrated with the essence blood of mortals, and she cannot partake in the act of killing to extend life. Even purchasing Lifespan Extension Pills from an auction indirectly raises the elixir’s price. Do not utter childish words like "if you don’t buy it, others will," for her involvement would only further boost the price of this Forbidden Pill.

The clamor of the world is all for profit. The higher the price of the Lifespan Extension Pill, the more cultivators will seize the temptation to refine it; it is a law of iron. Although it is not tolerated by the Heavenly Dao, many cultivators don’t even know which realm they can endure to reach, so why would they care about the Heavenly Dao’s punishment? It is akin to the Earth where campaigns urge girls not to buy precious furs—where there’s demand, there’s killing.

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The music is not over, the banquet has not dispersed, the people not yet exhausted, and Ning Xiaoxian was already bidding farewell to the Old Grand Dowager with the Hidden Guards, quietly leaving.

She dislikes the feeling of returning to silence after the hustle and bustle, preferring to leave early.

The small banquet fades, bridges bathed in moonlight for the return. Now, night is deep, servants mostly congregate at the banquet serving the guests, as Ning Xiaoxian and others depart from the bright lights, the farther from the splendid clamor, the more tranquil the surroundings felt, the gardens peaceful. Qi Zai took a deep breath: "It’s more comfortable outside. Inside, it’s a mess full of people."

Ning Xiaoxian glanced at him amusingly. Originally the most playful one who loved crowds, since forming a couple with Qingluan, he had become much more composed. She was about to tease him, but her expression suddenly changed, halting her steps.

At this moment, a group of guards hurriedly turned from outside the gate into this section of the winding corridor, their eyes like torches, seemingly searching for someone, and upon meeting Ning Xiaoxian and others, they were momentarily stunned.

The leader of the guards glanced at the Token on Ning Xiaoxian’s waist, already aware that she was an honored guest, hurriedly cupped his fist in greeting, and urgently asked: "Apologies for startling the esteemed guests, but may I ask if you have encountered a suspicious male, short in stature and dressed in black, on your way?"

"Not encountered." The group looked at each other, Ning shook her head with curiosity, "The Old Grand Dowager’s birthday banquet, someone dared to sneak in to steal? The Mirror Sea King’s Mansion has also been burglarized? The timing is perfect."

This evening, many guests left one after another, and this team of guards encountered quite a few guests along the way, not doubting her words. They respectfully replied: "Unable to disclose, please forgive us. We are under orders to continue the search, apologies for the disturbance." They bowed again to Ning Xiaoxian and her companions, carefully searching while slowly distancing themselves.

She did not move, the Hidden Guards remained behind her, watching the guards walk further into the distance. Qi Zai said: "These guards all have deep cultivation, and are all at the Golden Core Stage or above. The Huangfu family at Mirror Sea King’s Mansion are all mortals, how can they command such devoted cultivators?" His doubts echoed the perplexity of many, for even if the Huangfu family lured them in with wealth, recruiting cultivators so extensively could be akin to inviting wolves into the fold if someone with malicious intent slipped in.

Ning Xiaoxian snorted lightly: "Idle worrying about things that don’t concern us! Did the Mirror Sea King’s Mansion pay you? Why worry on their behalf?"

Qi Zai immediately laughed: "Just waiting for your explanation!"

Ning Xiaoxian ignored him, waited until the guards’ figures vanished into the distance, and then lightly called out: "Cowardly rats, show yourselves!"

There were even people lurking here; how did they not detect them? The Hidden Guards’ faces changed, widened their stances, encircling Ning Xiaoxian in the center. Yet, as they extended their Divine Thought to search again, they still found nothing.