Translucent Pill

"Elder Wen, this is what happened."

The Elder listened attentively to Han Lingyun's story. Over the two years at the White Tiger School, Han Lingyun had developed a close relationship with Elder Wen. Perhaps he even felt a closer bond to him than to his disciple friends. As such, Han Lingyun dutifully recounted the unexpected encounter. The only thing the young disciple didn't mention was the mysterious jade.

By the end, Elder Wen was left slack jawed. "I had no idea this mysterious senior was actually such a prominent figure. I always thought he was some kind of Rogue Cultivator with a Dao that revolved around teaching and knowledge. As for the pill, I will check the registers at the pill pavilion first, but I seem to have a vague recollection of it. I can't confirm that it doesn't have any hidden characteristics though.

If this pill appears to be what the Senior claimed, will you actually take it, disciple Lingyun?"

"I was leaning towards that choice but losing all my cultivation isn't so simple. I still wanted to hear your advice on the matter, teacher."

"It's indeed true that having to cultivate back will make you lose time in your prime years for cultivation. However, I am almost certain that it would be worth it in the end. You will keep your comprehension and spirit and getting back your initial cultivation will be much faster than the first time you cultivated. The opportunity for a grade 5 talent is very desirable.

Even though your body would have lost every trace of qi, you don't lose all the strength your body accumulated with time because qi has already modified your constitution. The body strengthening stage should therefore go much faster.

As for the qi condensation stage, you won't face any restrictions due to comprehension. Doubled with an increase in talent, I wouldn't be surprised if it takes you one year to get back your original cultivation, or even just half a year.

The thing is, you might be overwhelmed by a profound sense of weakness at first. When you were once able to fly in the skies and crush boulders with a distant wave of a finger, going back to being a mortal could be a huge mental blow. Well, you would still be a super strong mortal but you will become the weakest disciple of the whole promotion for a time. Only take this path if you think that you are mentally strong enough.

Everyone will continue to make progress when you are back to square one. The benefits on the long term however, are just too attractive to pass on this opportunity."

Han Lingyun was of a similar mind. "I think that mentally, there won't be an issue. What worried me more was the time lost and the consequences in future rankings and for my treatment."

"Hmm you are right. Actually, I think that the issue is too big to not involve a sect protector at the very least."

Han Lingyun looked hesitant. "Is it possible to not mention Elder Yi to the higher ups?"

"It's impossible to hide the involvement of a prominent cultivator. Or how would you know that your spirit root is degraded from grade 5? But hiding Elder Yi's identity isn't an issue. These figures often remain anonymous."

And so, Han Lingyun and Elder Wen came to the top floor of the Thousand Treasure Pavilion, where the Nascent Soul protector watching over market road was staying. He was deeply interested in the pill and in Han Lingyun's case. After a close examination, the protector also managed to confirm with some certainty that Han Lingyun indeed had a blocked spirit root.

This was huge news for the sect that could welcome another 5th grade talent, even though he would have 2 years to make up for. It was so important that the Nascent Soul protector chose to take additional precautions with the unknown pill and called in the best pill alchemist the Sect had. This alchemist wasn't even residing in the school but on the regiment's side.

Protector Shun was the only alchemist at the Nascent Soul level in the White Tiger Sect and he rapidly arrived after being messaged. He was one of the top alchemists of the whole continent. Protector Shun had brought with him two old manuals containing the pill's precise description. To ascertain the exact effects of the pill, he extracted a minuscule portion from it and performed some experiments. At the same time, he was scanning the pill with his powerful spirit sense to make sure nothing suspicious was hidden inside.

After a couple more measurements, protector Shun claimed that the translucent pill's effect where the ones that were advertised with 99.99% certainty. He only added that if the pill was risk free at the qi condensation realm, it would only work with 50% odds for cultivators at the Foundation Establishment realm and should be ineffective on a Core Formation cultivator.

Protector Shun was able to enumerate all the pills ingredients due to an extraordinary cauldron he was using. Han Lingyun's only worry was that Elder Yi had done something to the pill that was only detectable above the Nascent Soul level.

Elder Wen whispered to Han Lingyun that the sect protector would have been able to spot a problem even if some tinkering had been made by someone at the top of the Nascent Soul stage. As for someone above the Nascent Soul level? Elder Wen simply laughed it off. Such an individual could already dominate the world, so it wouldn't make much sense.

Everyone gradually parted and Han Lingyun was given the translucent pill back. None of the Nascent Soul cultivators had expressly told him to take it but none had made any objection either. It was a silent consent and encouragement from the higher ups.

Before taking the decisive step though, Han Lingyun had to placate himself a bit further. Even if he didn't want to admit it, thinking about all his cultivation and two years of hard work being lost was painful.

He had made a joking remark with the protectors about joining the ranks of the new first year disciples that would arrive but to his surprise they had actually considered it as a possibility. It could serve as a way to pressure the top disciples if one of them had a blistering cultivation speed. Well, he would definitely stick out among the new arrivals with his size of 1.7 meters though. In the end, the Nascent Soul cultivators agreed to leave the choice to Han Lingyun.

Before having such considerations, the first issue was still to consume that pill or not. Han Lingyun still needed some comforting, so he headed to Wang Yimo's house to inform her of his situation with his talent and the pill.

Wang Yimo listened attentively. At some point, she just cut the blabbering Han Lingyun. "If it was up to me, I would have already taken the pill. Where did all your decisiveness go to?"

Han Lingyun kept his head down in shame. He was going to eat the translucent pill but he subconsciously just wanted more encouragements.

"Don't worry Lingyun, I'll support you either way."

He smiled. "That's all I wanted to hear. It's decided, I'm eating it."

"All right you can go then. You really made your mind quickly. But I won't be waiting for you Lingyun so you better speed up."

"I will. Ah but before I go, I should talk to you about one's spirit world, I don't know if your teacher mentioned it before."

"I think she mentioned it when first explaining why picturing the yin concept would help in my cultivation, but I don't remember much."

Han Lingyun looked into her eyes. "If you manage to do it, you should try to incorporate more concepts. Or perhaps focus on that yin concept to a deeper level. For example, try to imagine different moons that represent different facets of the Yin idea. The increase in cultivation speed I have been experiencing is due to my ability to incorporate the concepts of Water then Wood and fire in my mental world, the world where I picture myself in with the qi around when in deep cultivation. When I imagine myself cultivating in my spirit world, it's as if the environment helps me circulate qi, it's quite a magical feeling."

"If it works so well, why wasn't I instructed to do it?"

"It's because you are not likely to be able to succeed before reaching the Foundation Establishment realm. But I have the feeling that you might have a good chance, especially with your already close nature with the Yin concept as you previously described to me."

"Okay, I'll try to follow your advice then." Wang Yimo smiled enchantingly.

The two went on to discuss some of the technicalities of the method along with what Han Lingyun may have to face after consuming his pill.

Like always after having passed some time with Wang Yimo, Han Lingyun exited with a smile on his face and reached his own house. He activated some formations he had previously installed and finally swallowed the translucent pill.