Chapter 8: Lingxu Dan

For example, the spiritual herbs that Xu Yang brought back after three days of traveling.

Thousands of years ago, those herbs would have been indispensable components for refining advanced elixirs. Their appearance would have caused many cultivators to fight fiercely for them. But now, they grow on the roadside like weeds.

This made Xu Yang reflect on the state of this era. It was as if Heaven was finally on his side.

It was precisely this unique era that allowed Xu Yang to see a glimmer of hope for breaking through the Qi Refining Realm. After all, he had been stuck in the Qi Refining stage for a hundred thousand years. Even though he had reached the 9,999th level of Qi Refining, he was still unable to break through.

When Ling Qingshu returned to the main hall, bringing the spiritual materials Xu Yang had asked for, she was slightly stunned.

The cultivation method she had just handed to Xu Yang was now floating in mid-air.

Xu Yang was using his fingers like a pen, making markings on the method she had given him. It seemed as though he was revising the cultivation method. How could that be?

This was the true voice from Ling Qingshu's heart.

The cultivation method she practiced was the most unique in the entire Tianlan Sect. It was said that only the sect master's line could practice it.

This method was exceptional in terms of foundation and combat power.

Her master had said before that this method was already a very perfect one. If it wasn't for the lack of several legendary pills that could aid in cultivation, her master could have reached more than just the Golden Core stage.

As for Ling Qingshu, she wouldn't still be in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment at this point.

"Xu Ancestor, I've brought what you asked for."

Seeing Xu Yang continue to make marks for a long time, Ling Qingshu couldn't help but interrupt his actions.

Xu Yang glanced at the tray that Ling Qingshu was holding, gesturing for her to place it aside, before continuing to mark the cultivation method.

"This method was created by a genius from our Tianlan Sect 30,000 years ago. It focuses mainly on the foundation, making it a good choice even in the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages."

A figure from Xu Yang's memories appeared in his mind. He had a deep impression of this genius from the younger generation.

"However, the one you are practicing now is just the initial framework he drafted. Later on, he made several revisions to this method, removing many of the restrictions to turn it into a truly perfect cultivation method."

At this point, Xu Yang stopped, returning the revised method to Ling Qingshu.

He walked over to the tray, picking up several items and examining them one by one.

As for the cultivation method Ling Qingshu practiced, it was a matter of fate.

The creator of the method was a descendant of a junior cultivator Xu Yang had once favored. Because of this connection, that person's cultivation improved greatly, and they learned of Xu Yang's existence.

Thus, every time they made improvements to the method, they would send a copy to Xu Yang's cave. Over time, Xu Yang had become quite familiar with the method.

When Ling Qingshu took the method and initially thought that Xu Yang's revisions would be nonsensical, she took a closer look and realized that many of the changes Xu Yang had made addressed the very difficulties she had encountered in her cultivation.

After seeing the changes that Xu Yang had made, for Ling Qingshu, it was like the clouds parted and the moon emerged.

Her inner true qi involuntarily began to circulate according to the new method Xu Yang had written.

In just a few breaths, Ling Qingshu's aura suddenly changed, and her cultivation had clearly broken through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

Feeling Ling Qingshu's breakthrough, Xu Yang nodded in satisfaction.

The fact that she could gain insights into what he had written so quickly showed that Ling Qingshu's talent was truly remarkable.

While Ling Qingshu remained with her eyes closed, feeling the changes from her breakthrough, Xu Yang waved his hand, and a pill furnace appeared in the hall.

This was a pill furnace once used by a celestial ascendant from Tianlan Sect, who had been proficient in pill refining. Before ascending, this was their best pill furnace.

Upon ascending, they had brought it out as a gift for Xu Yang, their revered ancestor.

Similar events had occurred many times in Tianlan Sect.

Many ascendants, before they left for ascension, had left treasures for Xu Yang, their ancestor.

However, in the hundred thousand years that followed, Xu Yang had also favored many of his juniors, and countless treasures had been sent to him.

Now, the only items Xu Yang kept were those with special significance.

Everything else was rare and precious, like the pill furnace in front of him.

Xu Yang casually grabbed two spirit herbs and tossed them into the pill furnace.

The flames, which had not extinguished for tens of thousands of years, split into a small portion at that moment.

The flames enveloped the spirit herbs Xu Yang threw in, and in just a few breaths, the herbs turned into medicinal liquid.

Xu Yang then casually tossed in several other types of spirit herbs, and finally, he added the Lingxu Grass.

Just as Ling Qingshu woke up from her meditation, she saw Xu Yang throwing the Lingxu Grass into the pill furnace.

Ling Qingshu was greatly surprised by this.

She recognized the Lingxu Grass, and based on ancient texts and alchemist accounts, it was well-known that this herb, despite its mysterious name, was essentially useless.

It was even rejected as firewood or for cooking.

Yet now, Xu Yang was using this commonly regarded useless herb to refine pills. How could Ling Qingshu not be astonished?

"Ancestor Xu, may I ask what pill you are refining?"

Hearing Ling Qingshu's question, Xu Yang looked up at her and noticed her confused expression.

He then had some idea of what she was curious about.

"You're wondering why I'm using the Lingxu Grass?"

"Wise as always, Ancestor Xu."

"Since you've asked, I don't mind telling you, but you must keep it a secret."

Xu Yang laughed heartily and, without paying attention to what was happening in the pill furnace, began to explain the story of the Lingxu Grass to Ling Qingshu.

"A hundred thousand years ago, a pill formula appeared. This formula was quite extraordinary as it could increase the chances of ascension."

Upon hearing Xu Yang's words, Ling Qingshu gasped, "Increase the chance of ascension?"

"Exactly!" Xu Yang nodded.

"Anyone who reaches the tribulation-crossing stage of cultivation is already a person of superior talent and willpower.

But even they don't have much confidence when it comes to ascension.

Cultivation itself is difficult, and crossing the tribulation and ascending is even harder."

At this point, Ling Qingshu roughly guessed that the pill capable of increasing ascension chances must have caused fierce competition.

Countless powerful cultivators fought to the death for a single pill.

"So, what does this pill have to do with the Lingxu Grass?"

"This pill that can increase the chances of ascension is called the Lingxu Dan (Void Piercing Pill).

The primary ingredient is the Lingxu Grass, which you all currently regard as a worthless weed."

Xu Yang recalled that when he was younger, the Lingxu Grass was as worthless as it is now.

But after the Lingxu Dan appeared, finding a single Lingxu Grass became incredibly difficult.