After arriving at the Sect, the five junior disciples handed over their belongings and then scurried away dejectedly.
Zhang Fei Xuan also wanted to leave, but was grabbed by Song Yin.
"Junior brother, not tired, are you?"
Zhang Fei Xuan squeezed out a smile, "No, not tired..."
"That's good, considering you're at the 'Using Wisdom' stage, you'll definitely have more energy when you reach 'Fighting Strength'. You shouldn't be tired. Since you're not, why not join me in alchemy? It's a good time to produce what our fellow disciples will need for tomorrow." Song Yin said cheerfully.
"Now, right now?" Zhang Fei Xuan glanced at the darkening sky.
"Of course now. If we wait until tomorrow, wouldn't that make the junior disciples and those common folks who have sought refuge with us eat grass cakes? Not only does it scratch the throat, but it also lacks nutrition. Every time I think about us eating these on regular days, I feel as if my heart is being cut by a knife. It is a dereliction of duty on my part as the big senior brother!" Song Yin expressed some guilt.
Back at the foot of his master's mountain, there was always meat and vegetables in sufficient amounts to keep them full, a sign of his master's great expectations which he remembered deeply.
But upon arriving at the Sect, as the big senior brother, it was his turn to give back. The Jinxian Sect wasn't just his master's Sect, but now it was also his, Song Yin's Sect!
Song Yin, while pulling Zhang Fei Xuan's wrist, didn't care about the expression on his face. While dragging him toward his side hall, he said, "Our Jinxian Sect isn't some ascetic Sect; it's just that we lack resources. As the second senior brother, you will also need to lead people to gather resources in the future. I can't promise to satisfy all our cravings right now, but let's at least ensure everyone gets enough nutrition."
Before he joined the Sect, he thought that as part of the Alchemical Faction, they would pop pills like candy, and through Qi Refinement could forgo food altogether.
However, once he actually began Qi Refinement, he realized that it was all nonsense.
Even if he had only been in the Sect for a day, with his Great Immortal's Talent and having reached the 'Fighting Strength' stage, plus being extremely familiar with the "Jin Xian Grand Elixir Scripture", he naturally knew how the journey of Qi Refinement should proceed.
The first step, 'Guarding Simplicity', involves the initial phase of refining Qi to keep the mana and true Qi from dissipating within the body, which requires daily meditation to stabilize oneself.
Even this first step required a large amount of nutrition, and the Second Stage Solid Foundation is about stabilizing the mana and true Qi within the body so it doesn't overflow. Only then can one move freely, but the nutritional needs were only higher, not lower.
He looked at the dozen or so disciples; apart from Zhang Fei Xuan being at the Fifth Stage 'Using Wisdom', the others were mostly at the First Step Guard Clumsiness. Occasionally there was someone at the Second Stage Solid Foundation, but their Qi was loose, clearly indicating that their foundation wasn't stable.
By the Third Stage Combat Power, one could use their Qi and mana for oneself, and their strength would surge. Though Song Yin had reached this stage in one step with the Flawless True Body, his dietary needs grew even larger.
Perhaps the other disciples under him weren't as formidable, but the necessity for food was certain to be the same.
How could one gather the required nutrition and blood Qi from eating grass cakes? Meditating daily would only diminish their cultivation farther.
"The master is good indeed, but he doesn't pay attention to all the disciples. However, as his disciple, I shouldn't speak ill of the master. The Sect is also our Sect, so managing these affairs is something we senior brothers ought to do. You're at the Fifth Stage 'Using Wisdom', which should be the highest realm among us at the moment. Thankfully, we have you; otherwise, I would have to trouble the master to ignite the Pill Fire for me." Song Yin said with a smile.
"Senior brother, this Pill Fire technique is rather low-level. Can't you do it?" Zhang Fei Xuan couldn't help asking, "Aren't you capable of transmuting stone into gold?"
The Third Stage Combat Power, Fourth Stage Crafty, Fifth Stage Using Wisdom. By the Fifth Stage, one can use a variety of spells, including inciting the Pill Fire.
But that also depends on the person. He had used a spell during the day that was almost like transmuting stone into gold. One couldn't simply categorize him with ordinary realms. Igniting a Pill Fire, how could he possibly not know how.
Song Yin gave him a curious look, "That spell was merely a crude application of mana. If you practice it more frequently, you'll be able to do it too. Compared to that, the Pill Fire technique is something you can only grasp at your current realm."
Crude...
Practice...
"Senior brother makes a good point." Zhang Fei Xuan could only muster a smile that was both polite and awkward.
He didn't even bother to ask Song Yin how he was able to discern his realm.
He had never heard of anyone capable of seeing another's realm through Qi Refinement. After all, isn't 'refining Qi' all about knowing one's own energy? Knowing how much mana you have was already quite impressive, since isn't it all about refining one's own Qi?
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Without revealing some apparent effect, no one knows how far you've progressed.
But Song Yin was very strange and couldn't be pondered upon too closely. After all, even with further pondering, one wouldn't understand, which would instead affect one's own state of mind.
Upon reaching the side hall, Song Yin opened his pack and looked at the clothes of various sizes inside, then glanced at Zhang Fei Xuan.
"Big Senior Brother, these clothes..."
Zhang Fei Xuan was about to explain when Song Yin waved his hand: "The mountain breeze is cool at night, preparing some clothes is proper, I understand."
He spread out the wild vegetables and roots he had gathered, along with some herbs, and said to Zhang Fei Xuan, "Go fetch some water."
"Yes, Big Senior Brother," Zhang Fei Xuan replied, about to leave to fetch water, but just then, a strange sound suddenly came from the half-human-high Pill Furnace in the center of the hall.
"Heehee..."
Like the sound of a baby's light laughter, cheerful and delicate, filled with sheer joy.
As the laughter rang out, Song Yin and Zhang Fei Xuan both looked in that direction.
Slowly climbing out from the edge of the Pill Furnace was a small green creature, two of them, each the size of a palm. One had a single eye and the other two, their eyes taking up a third of their bodies. The one-eyed creature had a nose and was grinning foolishly with big teeth. The two-eyed creature had no nose but three mouths spread across its tiny frame.
Their limbs were tiny, just like a palm-sized baby doll, entwined with each other—now the one-eyed creature would clamber onto the head of the three-mouthed, and then the three-mouthed would press against the back of the one-eyed. They reached the edge of the Pill Furnace and played and frolicked there.
"Hmm?"
Song Yin furrowed his brow, pointed at the creatures, and looked at Zhang Fei Xuan, "What are these?"
At that moment, Zhang Fei Xuan was utterly dumbfounded at the sight of these creatures, seemingly unable to hear Song Yin's voice.
Seeing that Zhang Fei Xuan was ignoring him, Song Yin looked again to see the two little creatures clinging to each other, climbing down the Pill Furnace with their tiny hands and feet, hopping and jumping toward Song Yin. Reaching his feet, they seemed to want to climb up further.
Song Yin nudged the creatures with his foot. Touched by his toe tip, the two little ones immediately fell backwards, giggling ceaselessly, then quickly climbed up his leg, reaching his shoulder where they frolicked and played.
No malice...
Song Yin's eyes opened wide, a white glimmer flickering within, as he looked more closely at these creatures.
Joy...
Benevolence...
They seemed like some kind of little spirits.
But this feeling...
Suddenly Song Yin turned to look at the green round gemstone on the incense table, feeling that it was somewhat similar to these creatures.
"Hun Yuan Heavenly Venerate?" Song Yin wondered aloud.
"It, it..."
Suddenly, Zhang Fei Xuan's voice rang out next to him. He pointed at the little creatures on Song Yin's shoulder, his finger trembling, his eyes full of shock.
This time it wasn't fear or astonishment at what strange thing Song Yin had figured out; it was as if he had seen some legendary treasure.
"Hun Yuan True Spirit! Big Senior Brother, these are Hun Yuan True Spirits!" Zhang Fei Xuan's voice became shrill.
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