Published: August 16, 2025
Chapter 155: Frustration
Han Li picked up a jade tube and gently blew on it, revealing its original verdant green appearance, vibrant and dripping with life.
He pressed the jade tube against his temple and slowly sank his mind into it. Suddenly, a method for refining pills appeared before his eyes—astonishingly, it was the foundation establishment pill refining technique he had long dreamed of. The entire process, from raw materials to how to condense the pill, was detailed completely, filling him with both surprise and joy.
For a moment, he forgot to look at the other jade tube and hurriedly browsed through all the contents with his mind. But when he came across the phrase "must be tempered with innate true fire to form the pill," Han Li was stunned, feeling utterly dumbfounded.
Innate true fire is the Taoist fierce fire possessed only by foundation establishment stage cultivators. It is a basic magical power that immortal cultivators naturally acquire after foundation establishment. Its power increases with the cultivator's qi refining and meditation, and when reaching the core formation stage, this true fire transforms into the legendary three-flavored fire, capable of incinerating all things in the world.
But how could Han Li, still in the qi refining stage, possibly manifest this innate true fire? Only after foundation establishment could he use it.
Yet if foundation establishment requires refining a foundation establishment pill, and refining such a pill cannot do without the innate true fire that only comes after foundation establishment, then a vicious cycle is formed—one that traps him in an inescapable loop.
Han Li was so frustrated he felt like banging his head against the wall!
Seeking help from foundation establishment stage cultivators to assist with pill refining was out of the question. That would be equivalent to exposing the secret of the small vial to others, and the helper might just end up becoming someone who wants to kill him to keep the secret.
Han Li stood at the table, his mind in chaos for a long time before finally removing the jade tube from his forehead and placing it back. Then, distractedly, he picked up the other jade tube and wiped it a few times, revealing a fiery red color.
"The foundation establishment pill matter can be dealt with later! Let’s see what this one contains first. Maybe it holds some other miraculous pill!" Han Li was also a decisive person, so he immediately put the foundation establishment pill issue aside and began examining the red jade tube, hoping for a big surprise.
"Beauty-Setting Pill." As soon as Han Li’s mind entered it, these three words appeared in his thoughts. Instantly, he felt a twinge of unease, but he comforted himself, "Although the name sounds like this, the pill’s effect might not be what it appears to be; maybe it has some other special efficacy."
But the next few lines completely shattered Han Li’s hopeful illusion: "Can make youth eternal and appearance everlasting"—this was the pill’s described effect, nothing else!
Han Li froze as if rooted to the spot, standing motionless without a word. Yet inside, he could no longer suppress the rising flame of anger, silently cursing to himself.
"What kind of storage room is this after all? Not a single proper pill formula to be seen, only a heap of messy rubbish! What use are these golden needle secret techniques and beauty-setting pills to us immortal cultivators? And yet they are displayed here so brazenly…"
Just when Han Li thought this trip was almost a total waste, that annoying voice came again.
"Time’s up again, if you—"
"Fine, I’m coming down!"
This time, Han Li wasn’t about to give the other side a free spirit stone, so he grabbed the jade tube containing the foundation establishment pill refining method and prepared to leave.
But just as he reached the stairwell, he hesitated. Although the beauty-setting pill didn’t help with improving magical power, it seemed sellable to other immortal cultivators. More importantly, it didn’t require the so-called innate true fire, so he could concoct it now.