Chapter 168 Second Assessment, Departure to the Front

Ji Chang broke through the barrier with an unconcealable joy on his face.

As soon as he stepped out of the quiet room, he saw his concubine Liu Xuexuan coming towards him.

Liu Xuexuan was wearing a light green long dress. She had a graceful figure and an elegant face, and her eyes were full of concern and expectation for Ji Chang.

"Congratulations, Master, for successfully breaking through to the late stage of foundation building!" Liu Xuexuan said with a smile, her voice as warm as a spring breeze.

A gleam of determination flashed in Liu Xuexuan's eyes, "I believe that for the master, reaching the Fake Dan realm is only a matter of time."

Upon hearing this, Ji Chang just shook his head slightly.

He felt the magical power condensed in his body.

Ji Chang has now broken through to the late stage of foundation building, which makes the magic power in his body more condensed, and the moment when the magic power solidifies into a pill seems to be within reach.

However, the step of solidifying the magic power and turning the elixir into jade liquid is far from as easy as imagined.

Although compared with the breakthrough from the Qi Refining Stage to the Foundation Establishment Stage, breaking through the False Dan Stage only requires the solidification of magic power, without the need for the transformation of the soul and the birth of spiritual consciousness.

However, in the process of solidifying magic power, it is not only necessary to continuously condense the magic power, but also to purify the magic power.

Generally speaking, unless one has top-level qualifications such as natural spiritual roots, in the process of practicing to the later stage of foundation building, one will always take elixirs to a greater or lesser extent, or even swallow spiritual medicine directly.

As long as you don't take pills frequently and in large quantities, pill poison will not accumulate in your body.

However, apart from elixir, the medicinal power is difficult to fully refine.

Over time, these residual medicinal properties will accumulate into magical power.

This also brings up a new problem - residual drug effects.

Although these medicinal powers will not directly hinder cultivation like elixir, they will have an impact when the magic power is solidified.

If not handled, they will be mixed into the false pill when it is formed, reducing the quality of the false pill.

A fake pill of insufficient quality cannot carry a third-level spiritual object.

Even in the process of smelting spiritual objects, these residual medicinal powers may conflict with the medicinal properties of the spiritual objects for forming the elixir, resulting in failure in the promotion to the elixir stage.

However, these are not too difficult problems for Ji Chang, a second-level top-grade alchemist.

As an alchemist, he is naturally familiar with purifying elixirs and his techniques are superb.

Although the fake elixir is the inner elixir of the cultivator and is different in form and nature from the external elixir that is usually swallowed, in essence, one is the condensation and purification of magic power, and the other is the condensation and purification of medicinal power.

By analogy, there are some similarities in techniques.

Ji Chang's attainments in alchemy naturally played a significant role.

……

A few days later, Ji Chang informed Hu Qingsong, Wang Changsheng and Huo Youyi, several familiar cultivators, of the news that he had broken through to the late stage of foundation building.

When they heard the news, they all expressed their congratulations and proposed to have a small gathering in Ji Chang's cave to celebrate this important moment.

On that day, several of them came to Ji Chang's cave one after another. Even Wang Changsheng, who was now on a mission at the front line of the Shiwandashan Mountains, specially returned to Liaogu Immortal City to celebrate Ji Chang's breakthrough to the late stage of foundation building.

Although, after witnessing the cruelty of the Huangquan test, Wang Changsheng no longer works as hard as before, and even rarely accepts the mission of garrisoning the market town.

However, in order to earn resources for cultivation, Wang Changsheng often traveled to the front line of the Ten Thousand Mountains to complete some relatively less dangerous exploration missions.

Although Wang Changsheng mastered the art of alchemy, his family background was also extraordinary.

However, in order to squeeze into the Tiangang list, he was stationed at the front line to hunt monsters, which delayed the improvement of his attainments in alchemy.

You know, the real world is not like a game.

If you don't practice for a long time, your skills will become rusty.

Even if a cultivator has a photographic memory and possesses a strong memory, it is still inevitable for a cultivator who is building his foundation to lose touch with his hands.

What's more, his attainments in alchemy were only at the lower level of the second grade.

You know, in the Shiwandashan today, there are quite a few craftsmen who have mastered the second-level lower-grade skills because a group of cultivators from Zheng State's cultivation world have come to join in the fun.

The reason why Huo Youyi was able to live a relatively comfortable life in Liaogu Fairy City was because of her skills.

That's because in addition to her alchemy skills, her skill in brewing spiritual wine has reached the second-grade mid-grade level.

A few years ago, he successfully brewed second-grade premium spirit wine and became a second-grade premium spirit wine maker.

The spiritual wine brewed by Huo Youyi was supplied to Elder Huangquan Zongqi, who lived in Liaogu Fairy City, for a long time.

Although Qi Zhicheng's understanding of Huo Youyi is probably limited to just a passing mention.

In the courtyard of the cave, everyone sat together, raised their glasses and drank to celebrate Ji Chang's breakthrough to the late stage of foundation building.

Although this celebration was not as grand as when Hu Qingyun broke through to the late stage of foundation building, the atmosphere was still warm and cheerful.

Hu Qingsong first raised his glass and congratulated Ji Chang: "Brother Han, congratulations on your breakthrough to the late stage of foundation building. I hope you can go further and further on the path of cultivation and reach the false pill realm soon!"

Wang Changsheng also said with emotion: "Brother Han is really gifted. He is probably less than 150 years old. He has made such a great breakthrough at such a young age."

"Given time, I will definitely be able to break through to the False Dan realm, and even have a chance to glimpse the Jin Dan realm."

Ji Chang modestly said that Hu Qingsong and Wang Changsheng were really flattering. He picked up the wine glass and his eyes fell on the jade-like wine in the glass.

He praised Huo Youyi who was chatting with Liu Xuexuan, "Fellow Daoist Huo's winemaking skills are truly extraordinary. This wine is bright in color, fragrant, and sweet in the mouth, with an endless aftertaste."

Hu Qingsong also laughed after hearing this and said, "Brother Han is right. Fellow Daoist Huo's winemaking skills are indeed admirable."

"This second-grade premium spirit wine can only be tasted at grand celebrations, even in our Hu family."

"We are so lucky today. We are lucky to taste the wine brewed by Fellow Daoist Huo himself."

Huo Youyi smiled modestly, waved her hand and said, "Thank you both for the compliment. Winemaking is just a little hobby of mine. I am also very happy that you all like it."

"Today is a great day to celebrate Fellow Daoist Han's breakthrough to the late stage of foundation building, isn't it?"

Upon hearing this, everyone raised their glasses to congratulate Ji Chang.

……

A few days later, in the courtyard of the cave, the sun was shining brightly and the fragrance of flowers filled the air.

Ji Chang and Wang Changsheng sat opposite each other, sipping tea and chatting leisurely in front of the stone table.

Ji Chang took a sip of tea, then slowly put down the teacup and began to ask about the current situation on the front line of the Shiwandashan Mountains.

"Brother Wang, you often go to the front line, so you should know the situation there very well."

"Can you tell me about the recent situation on the front line of the Shiwandashan Mountains?"

Ji Chang's tone was full of anticipation.

Wang Changsheng smiled slightly, put down the teacup in his hand, and began to tell the story.

He described in detail the battle situation on the front line, the layout of the Huangquan Sect on the front line, and the distribution of the third-level monsters in the Shiwan Mountains.

Ji Chang listened with great interest, and his desire to go to the frontline became stronger. He knew that his cultivation had reached the late stage of foundation building, and in half a month, the second Huangquan assessment would begin.

He planned to go to the front line of the Shiwandashan Mountains immediately after the assessment, earn merits madly, and impact the Tiangang list.

At that time, even if he did not seek the qualification to participate in the Huangquan assessment, he would still have to rely on the privileges of the Tiangang list cultivators in exchange for the third-level spiritual objects needed for Dan formation.

During these twenty years, Ji Chang hardly left Liaogu Immortal City.

However, he earned a lot of merit by spying on other monks who took on exploration missions and submitting exploration intelligence.

After twenty years of accumulation, Ji Chang already has enough merits to exchange for Kuishui Yuanlian.

Now, Ji Chang only needs to squeeze into the Tiangang list and obtain the qualification to exchange for the third-level spiritual object, and then he can get the Kuishui Yuanlian.

In addition, he already has the Blood Jade Spirit Marrow, a third-level blood evil spiritual object.

According to the method of forming the elixir recorded in "The Art of Controlling Water in Huangquan", Ji Chang only needs to obtain another Xuanjiao Inner Pill, or Youjiao Inner Pill, to complete the third-level main ingredients for forming the Huangquan Inner Pill.

As for the other second-level spiritual objects that serve as auxiliary materials, it is not difficult to collect them.

Over the years, Ji Chang has collected about 50% of them.

The remaining 50% is because they are not yet ready to use the Black Dragon Inner Pill or the You Dragon Inner Pill to form the pill.

It’s not easy to collect.

Therefore, Ji Chang is now more concerned about the situation on the front line.

Although he was able to peek into the Dao Seeds, for many things, he could not feel as deeply as the cultivators who were actually on the front lines.

Among the cultivators that Ji Chang was familiar with, Huo Youyi had basically never been to the front line, and Hu Qingsong had rarely been to the front line in recent years, and he didn't even spend much time in the Shiwan Mountains.

Only Wang Changsheng, although he rarely participated in garrison missions, often rushed to the front line and was very familiar with the situation there.

Therefore, Ji Chang listened to Wang Changsheng's story very carefully.

Wang Changsheng naturally saw through Ji Chang's thoughts.

He knew that Ji Chang's cultivation had now reached the late stage of foundation building, and he had some hope of participating in the Huangquan assessment.

Naturally, he paid special attention to the affairs on the front line, hoping to earn more merits and contributions from the front line, so as to successfully squeeze into the Tiangang list.

The two of them drank tea and chatted in the courtyard for a long time, and only said goodbye when the sun set.

"Red Maple Market?"

Among the many markets on the front line today, the Red Maple Market has only been established for less than half a month.

Now there is a lack of foundation-building monks stationed there.

Wang Changsheng just suggested to Ji Chang that if he wanted to garrison on the front line, he could accept the garrison mission in the market ahead.

Ji Chang was interested, but did not leave immediately.

Instead, he planned to stay in Liaogu Immortal City for a while to see the difference between the second Huangquan assessment and the first Huangquan assessment.

……

Half a month later, the Huangquan assessment began.

Unlike the last Huangquan assessment, this Huangquan assessment was not conducted on the Huangquan Sect’s flying boat.

It was not like the last Huangquan assessment, which was a ring battle between cultivators.

But hunting monsters.

There is no limit on the number of people who can pass this Huangquan assessment.

As long as the cultivators who go to participate in the Huangquan assessment can kill the third-level demon king designated by Qi Zhicheng, then the surviving cultivators will be able to pass the assessment.

Ji Chang activated his peeping Dao Seed and saw that there were about sixty or seventy cultivators going to participate in the Huangquan assessment.

Although there are one hundred positions on the Tiangang list, as long as you are on the Tiangang list, you are eligible to participate in the Huangquan assessment.

However, some cultivators originally squeezed into the Tiangang List just to exchange for the third-level inheritance and third-level spiritual objects, not to enter the Huangquan Sect.

After the last Huangquan Assessment was over, seeing how cruel it was, more cultivators are now unwilling to take part in it.

At this time, the morning glow was just rising, and the monks taking part in the assessment had lined up neatly on the Huangquan Sect's flying boat, with a solemn look on everyone's face.

Suddenly, a dark red blood light flashed, and Qi Zhicheng appeared in front of everyone. His voice echoed in the silent venue:
"This time, we will conduct a monster hunting test. You will be sent to a monster's territory. Your goal is to kill the third-level monster king that I designate."

The cultivators were startled. A third-order demon king was a terrifying existence comparable to a Jindan-stage cultivator.

Although the fighting between cultivators in the last Huangquan assessment was already quite brutal.

But compared with this Yellow Springs assessment and the fight with the third-level monster, it was nothing.

Even if it is a third-level monster that has not yet awakened its bloodline ability, its strength is definitely not something that a foundation-building cultivator can match.

Therefore, when most of the cultivators learned that they had to fight a third-order monster, they had thoughts of retreating.

If I wasn't worried, I might be killed by Qi Zhicheng if I retreated at this moment.

It is estimated that at least 90% of the monks on the field will turn around and run away.

Qi Zhicheng's eyes were like torches as he continued, "There is no limit on the number of people in this assessment. As long as you can successfully kill the demon king and come back alive, you will pass the assessment."

There is no limit on the number of people, which means everyone has a chance.

But at this moment, they were not excited at all.

Almost all the cultivators ranked on the Tiangang List have seen the power of the third-level monster.

In front of a third-order monster, it's already good enough to be able to keep your life, how can you even try to kill it?

Following Qi Zhicheng's order, the monks began to make preparations and could only concentrate on completing the assessment.

They checked their magic weapons and adjusted their status, and everyone hoped to show their strength in the next battle.

Soon, under the leadership of the Huangquan Sect disciples, the monks’ flying boat rose high into the sky and flew towards the south.

The flying boat was like a streak of light, cutting through the sky.

As the flying boat continued to fly south, the scenery below kept changing, from lush forests to rugged mountains.

After a long time, the flying boat reached the sky above a basin.

Qi Zhicheng stood at the front of the flying boat, looking down.

He turned to the monks and said, "You have arrived at the assessment site. What happens next is up to you."

After saying that, he disappeared in a flash.

The monks who took part in the Huangquan assessment jumped off the flying boat and headed towards the basin.

(End of this chapter)