Longevity Begins With The Birth Of A Daughter At An Old Age

Chapter 14: Breaking through the Fourth Level

"200 proficiency points just to get started?!" Xu Mu's face looked a little unpleasant.

He realized that the difficulty of refining second-grade elixirs would increase, but he didn't expect it to increase this much.

But unwillingness and helplessness were of no use. The system was only responsible for displaying data and couldn't be adjusted, nor would it negotiate or bargain with him.

Frowning and thinking for a moment, he could only accept it.

No matter how many proficiency points the Jade Marrow Pill required, he would have to learn it sooner or later.

Although the skill had already been displayed, Xu Mu didn't immediately allocate points. Instead, he spent two days memorizing the steps and practicing the elixir's formula until he could recite them effortlessly.

When he checked the system again, the familiarity of the Jade Marrow Pill had reached the beginner level: 22/200.

Then he pulled out Sun Daocheng's experience in refining and carefully pondered it until he fully understood it.

The proficiency of the Jade Marrow Pill increased to the beginner level: 30/200.

At this point, no matter what attempts he made, the proficiency of the Jade Marrow Pill did not increase at all.

It was only at this point that Xu Mu started allocating points.

【Jade Marrow Pill +10】!

【Jade Marrow Pill +10】!

【Jade Marrow Pill +10】!

...

【Jade Marrow Pill Mastery; 200/800】

After spending another day, Xu Mu consumed 770 points of Luck value to raise the Jade Marrow Pill to the mastery level, and then he stopped increasing it.

Mainly because his Luck value was running out quickly, with only a little over 200 left. He planned to save it to enhance the Fire Control Technique after breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Refining.

After allocating points, Xu Mu didn't immediately start refining the Jade Marrow Pill. Instead, he first refined two furnaces of Gathering Qi Pills.

On one hand, it was to warm up, and on the other hand, he was worried that during the process of refining the Jade Marrow Pill, his spiritual power would be insufficient. So he refined two furnaces of Gathering Qi Pills as a backup.

After all, the Jade Marrow Pill was a second-grade elixir, and its refining difficulty far exceeded that of the Gathering Qi Pill. It would be a pity if he failed due to insufficient spiritual power.

Although the Gathering Qi Pill was not specifically used to replenish spiritual power, it still had some effect to a certain extent.

If taken in large quantities, it could also supplement spiritual power.

After finishing the refining of the Gathering Qi Pills, he rested for another day and adjusted his state to the best condition before starting to refine the Jade Marrow Pill.

Bone-Generating Flower, Essence of Yellow Lotus, Essence of Blood Lotus, Ice Spirit Flame Grass, Purple-Blue Leaf, White Spirit Ginseng Fruit, Snow Lotus Seed, Red Spirit Fruit...

Carefully counting the medicinal materials.

Ignite!

Preheat!

The flame in Xu Mu's hand already had a spiritual quality.

The Fire Control Technique, which was approaching the extraordinary realm, had made the flame become his arm. He no longer needed to pinch the incantation; with a flick of his finger, various changes could be produced.

On the alchemy furnace, there were flickering fluorescent lights, mysterious runes intertwined to form intricate patterns, covering the entire furnace.

Sensing that the temperature was sufficient, Xu Mu sequentially added the medicinal materials into the furnace, controlling the flames to stabilize the properties of the herbs.

Time passed continuously during the refining process. Apart from eating a few Qi Gathering Pills to replenish spiritual energy, Xu Mu stared at the furnace without blinking.

Finally, after two days and one night of arduous refining, the Jade Marrow Pill was finally completed.

The air was filled with a strong medicinal fragrance, taking a breath made one feel completely comfortable.

"With the cultivation of the third level of Qi Refining, it is indeed a bit difficult to refine a second-grade pill. Fortunately, my refining technique has reached mastery!" Xu Mu sighed.

To avoid any accidents, he also added an additional two hundred points of proficiency. Otherwise, he might not have succeeded on the first attempt.

However, the quality of the pills he refined...

Three were of medium quality, seven were of low quality, and not even one was of high quality.

But being able to successfully refine them already satisfied him.

If he wanted to refine a high-quality Jade Marrow Pill, he probably had to reach the Consummation level.

However, even if it was a low-quality Jade Marrow Pill, it was still a second-grade pill, which was ten times more expensive than the Qi Gathering Pill.

If he sold this batch of pills, he could easily earn more than eighty low-grade spirit stones, equivalent to half a month's worth of Qi Gathering Pills.

He could only refine one furnace of Qi Gathering Pills per day, and after refining, he had to rest for a day. At most, he could refine around fifteen furnaces in a month.

Calculating based on ten pills per furnace, that would be one hundred and fifty pills. Deducting the cost of two spirit stones per furnace (the initial price), he would make a profit of one hundred and twenty spirit stones.

As for the Jade Marrow Pill, calculating based on one furnace every three days, even if he rested for three days in between, he could still refine five furnaces. Calculating based on ten pills per furnace, that would be fifty pills.

After deducting the cost of twenty spirit stones per furnace, he would still have a profit of up to four hundred low-grade spirit stones.

If he worked a bit harder, rested for two days, or even one day, and started refining the next furnace, the profit could even exceed one thousand.

Compared to before he had the system, his income had increased by a hundred times.

After all, this was a second-grade pill!

In the entire Baishi Fang market, there weren't many people who could refine second-grade pills, so having such exaggerated profits was not surprising.

"Recently, prices have skyrocketed, and the price of Jade Marrow Pills has definitely increased a lot. Maybe my income can easily exceed one thousand!" Xu Mu was in a very happy mood, feeling that he had added so much Luck value to the Jade Marrow Pills, which was the right decision.

"But the price of Jade Marrow Pills is expensive, so I still need to be cautious when selling them!"

The Li brothers had not been dealt with yet, and he didn't want to attract the attention of others.

After resting for a day, Xu Mu prepared to take the refined Jade Marrow Pill to see if it could help him break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining.

Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, there was a knocking sound from outside the door.

Through the crack in the door, Xu Mu saw a chubby figure.

"Fellow Daoist Jia, is there something you need?" Xu Mu opened the door and looked at Jia An, who was frowning and lost in thought.

"Xu Fellow Daoist, you really have a lot of patience! Don't you know that the rent has increased again?" Jia An looked up at Xu Mu and smiled bitterly.

"Increased again? How much did it increase?" Xu Mu frowned.

Recently, he had been either refining pills or improving his cultivation, so he hadn't paid much attention to the situation in the shantytown.

"Five low-grade spirit stones!" Jia An held up five short and thick fingers and said weakly.

To be honest, this price had already exceeded his limit of affordability.

If it weren't for the recent increase in prices, which had raised his income, he would have moved out long ago.

"So much? I remember it was only three spirit stones last month!" Xu Mu exclaimed.

Five spirit stones might not be much for him now, but for the lower-level cultivators living in the shantytown, it was enough to be life-threatening.

After all, their monthly income might not even be five spirit stones, and after paying the rent, they couldn't afford to eat.

"Who said it wasn't? It seems like the Chi family is determined to force us out!" Jia An sighed.

"The Chi family? Did they take over our area?" Xu Mu was surprised.

He remembered that the entire Baishi Fang market should be under the jurisdiction of the Song family.

"Don't you know?" Jia An looked puzzled.

After confirming that Xu Mu really didn't know, he explained it again.

It turned out that recently, in addition to many scattered cultivators seeking refuge, several Foundation Building stage families had also moved in, including the Chi family.

The Chi family had the decree of the Qinghe Sword Sect, so the Song family had to give up a portion of their territory to provide them with a settlement.

And the area they were in was one of them.

During his seclusion, the entire Baishi Fang market had already been redivided among the various forces.

"No wonder the person who collected the rent last time was different!" Xu Mu suddenly realized.

"Did Jia Fellow Daoist come to find me just to tell me this?" Xu Mu asked.

"Of course not!" Jia An looked around and lowered his voice, saying, "I discussed it with several Fellow Daoists in the nearby alleys and we all think that continuing to raise the rent is not a solution. So we want to unite and go to the Chi family to demand an explanation. I came here to ask if you're willing to go with us!"

"Jia Fellow Daoist, are you joking? They are a Foundation Building family. If we go over with just us, wouldn't that be seeking death?" Xu Mu exclaimed.

It wouldn't come to killing, but according to Xu Mu's guess, the other party probably wouldn't even bother with them.

The main reason was the huge gap in status between the two sides!

Those living in the shantytown were all low-level cultivators, and there were hardly any in the middle stage of Qi Refining. How could they negotiate with others?

"Rest assured, Xu Fellow Daoist. When the time comes, there will naturally be late-stage Qi Refining cultivators coming forward. We just need to stand behind and show our stance!" Jia An said confidently.

Xu Mu hesitated for a moment and nodded.

Originally, he didn't want to get involved in this kind of thing just for a few spirit stones.

But the beauty of the wood stands out in the forest, and the wind will surely destroy it!

If he behaves too differently from the group, it is likely to cause rejection from others.

Seeing Xu Mu's agreement, Jia An's face showed a smile. After mentioning the agreed time, he hurriedly went to the next house.

Xu Mu returned to the house and briefly told Ye Yingying about going to the Chi family to demand an explanation.

"Husband, our family is not currently lacking spiritual stones. Otherwise, it would be better for you not to go!"

Ye Yingying was obviously worried.

A group of low-level scattered cultivators going to demand an explanation from the Foundation Building family clearly felt like ants shaking a giant tree.

"You can rest assured, I'm not a fool. If things don't look good, I will naturally retreat behind the crowd!"

Xu Mu pinched her hand, reassuring her.

After hugging his daughter, Xu Mu returned to the miscellaneous room and took out the refined jade marrow pill, preparing to take it and see the effect.

The agreed time with Jia An is tomorrow, so it won't delay taking the medicine.

Just hoping that nothing unexpected happens tomorrow!

Xu Mu prayed in his heart.

He put the jade marrow pill into his mouth, emitting a faint sweet fragrance.

Xu Mu didn't chew it, but swallowed it directly.

As soon as the pill entered his stomach, a hot medicinal power immediately spread throughout his body.

Xu Mu's skin visibly turned red at a rapid speed, as if his whole body had entered a steam room, with white mist steaming from his body.

In this state, Xu Mu didn't feel uncomfortable at all, but rather felt comfortable all over, like soaking in a hot spring.

He didn't use his cultivation technique to absorb this medicinal power, but allowed it to release within his body, slowly eliminating impurities.

When the medicinal power was completely released and the heat gradually subsided, Xu Mu rubbed his hands and found a thin layer of dead skin on them.

He took off his clothes and performed a purification spell, cleaning off all the dead skin and sweat from his body.

The originally rough and dark skin became much fairer as the dead skin was removed, as if a layer of foundation had been applied.

Xu Mu tried to sit cross-legged and circulated his cultivation technique.

He found that his spiritual power was running much faster, and there were signs of a breakthrough in his cultivation.

"The jade marrow pill indeed has the effect of rebirth and improving physique!"

Xu Mu was overjoyed.

Then he swallowed the remaining nine jade marrow pills.

After fully absorbing and digesting them, Xu Mu's physique improved significantly. His skin became fairer, he looked much younger, and even his originally graying hair noticeably turned black.

Opening the system panel, he found that his lifespan had increased by three years, becoming 107 years old.

This was something Xu Mu had never expected!

At this moment, he once again circulated his cultivation technique, encountering no bottlenecks at all. It was as if everything was going smoothly. He easily broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, and his spiritual power increased by fifty percent in a short period of time.

(End of this chapter)