My Informative Cultivation Life

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Demon Essence Pill is Ready, The Sea of Demonic Stench

"Since we've come to an agreement, these Demon Companion Herbs..." Yang Ji gave Jin Suanpan a smile.

"Brother Dao, here you go!" Jin Suanpan curled his lips but still handed over three stems of Demon Companion Herb, plus a recipe for the Temptating Demon Pill, "Since it's a thirty-seventy split, I won't buy the Spiritual Medicine needed to concoct the Temptating Demon Pill. You'll have to refine it and give it to me."

"Sure!" Yang Ji readily agreed and took the Demon Companion Herb and pill recipe.

The Demon Companion Herb didn't look much different from other aquatic plants, but instead of green, it was a transparent shade of water blue. The older it was, the richer the blue became, and the more intense the blue radiance it emitted from its surface.

This Demon Companion Herb exuded a special fishy scent. At first, it was quite faint, but as one continued to smell it, the scent became increasingly stronger, as if one were standing in a festering fish market, which was quite uncomfortable.

"The scent of this Demon Companion Herb is quite unique!" After glancing at the herb and confirming it was in fact the Demon Companion Herb, Yang Ji couldn't help but frown.

"Heh, if you dislike it, then return it. This is something Demonic Beasts enjoy; it's naturally different from what humans like. Demonic Beasts simply adore this scent, as if they feel like they're ascending to immortality when they smell it every day," Jin Suanpan said with a laugh.

Upon hearing this, Yang Ji nodded and accepted the Spiritual Medicine.

"The Demon Stench Sea Area is quite far from the Thousand-Islands Sea Area. It would be troublesome to go back and forth alone. Let's go there together tomorrow. Today, we'll purchase the items we need and get prepared," said Jin Suanpan.

"Alright." Yang Ji nodded in agreement. He also needed to purchase some Spiritual Medicine for concocting the Demon Essence Pill and the Temptating Demon Pill.

After agreeing on a departure time, they left the tavern and went to various shops to buy what they needed.

Although the Demon Companion Herb needed to concoct the Demon Essence Pill was rare and valuable, the other auxiliary medicines, including the Demon Core, were quite easy to acquire.

Similarly, the auxiliary medicines needed for the Temptating Demon Pill were also easy to purchase.

Yang Ji had many Spirit Stones on him and bought fifty batches of each ingredient in one go.

After all the purchases were in order, he rented a quiet cultivation room in the city to prepare for concocting the Demon Essence Pill.

As night fell, his Pill Furnace had also warmed up accordingly.

Yang Ji threw an eight-level Demon Core into the Pill Furnace. The Earth Spirit Fire lapped around it with tongues of flame, promptly enveloping it.

Soon, the Demon Core began to melt, turning into a viscous liquid that slowly spread out.

It was at this moment that a semi-transparent and ferocious Demonic Beast appeared within the Demon Core. It resembled a carp, its body covered in brown scales, with its dorsal fin filled with long, slanting spikes sharp as spears, and its bulging fish eyes exuding a vicious air.

This was the Demon Fierce Carp, a Level Eight Demon Beast.

This semi-transparent Demon Fierce Carp was actually the residual demonic soul inside the Demon Core. If not removed, a Cultivator with low cultivation who consumed it would be eroded by the demonic qi, leading to madness at best and death at worst.

To eliminate this demonic soul, the Demon Companion Herb was required.

Without hesitation, as soon as the demonic soul revealed itself, Yang Ji immediately took out a hundred-year-old Demon Companion Herb.

The Earth Spirit Fire split in two, one part melting the Demon Core, the other part melting the Demon Companion Herb so its herbal essence would drop by drop merge with the melting Demon Core, dissolving the demonic qi.

Following the steps of the pill recipe and combining his own alchemy experience, Yang Ji methodically and unhurriedly proceeded with the process.

Once the Demon Core and Demon Companion Herb had completely melted and fused together,

he then stretched out his Divine Sense to feel for any traces of demonic qi. Finding none, it was apparent that the Demon Companion Herb had neutralized it all.

At this step, a smile finally emerged on Yang Ji's face.

The Demon Essence Pill was more than halfway done and was, in fact, the most important half.

Yang Ji then continued to take out several auxiliary medicines to melt. His operations flowed smoothly, and soon all the Spiritual Medicine had been fully melted.

After completing steps like fusing the pills, dividing them, turning them, and nurturing them, two hours had passed.

When Yang Ji slapped the Pill Furnace, a rich Pill Fragrance surged out. He waved his sleeve swiftly to disperse it and, without waiting, reached into the furnace to grab ten blue-colored pills.

After feeling the immense Spiritual Energy contained within the medicine pills, Yang Ji's expression brightened.

He immediately sat down cross-legged, took one pill, and as the medicine's power surged, he activated his cultivation technique to refine it.

After refining the first strand of pure spiritual energy through his spiritual root, he knew that the Demon Essence Pill, made from a Level Eight Demon Core and a hundred years' worth of Demon Companion Herb, could provide him with about 20 cultivation points per day.

In other words, as long as he could continuously consume medicine pills of this quality for the remaining four years, he would definitely reach the Tenth Layer of Qi Refining by the time the three major sects recruited External Affairs Disciples, or perhaps even go further.

At that moment, Yang Ji finally let out a long sigh of relief, and a strong flame of hope kindled in his heart.

If a Level Eight Demon Core combined with a hundred-year Demon Companion Herb could have such an effect, what about the pills refined from Level Ten Demon Cores, Demon General Level Cores, or even Demon Marshal Level Cores, paired with even older Demon Companion Herbs? How much more rapidly could they improve one's cultivation speed?

He felt a surge of excitement within him, almost seeing before him a smooth journey post-Foundation Establishment and Golden Core.

Yang Ji was truly radiant, his face beaming with high spirits.

He got up, allowing the spiritual power vortex to refine the medicine pills on its own, as he prepared to craft the Temptating Demon Pill.

Time passed quickly during alchemy.

By dawn, Yang Ji had already finished refining the pills early, and he stepped out just as the first rays of sunlight fell on Canglan City.

Canglan Island, the port.

Yang Ji had only just arrived when Jin Suanpan flew over to him.

"Brother Dao, you look exceptionally well today," Jin Suanpan came over with a smile.

"The medicine pills are refined, so naturally I'm in a good mood," Yang Ji said with a slight smile, handing over the Tempting Demon Pill, "Can these Tempting Demon Pills, refined from sixty-year Demon Companion Herbs, be exchanged for hundred-year Demon Companion Herbs?"

Jin Suanpan took the medicine pill, examined it briefly, and was astounded, "Can they be exchanged? Of course, they can, and far more! Brother Dao, the purity of your refined medicine pills is nearly flawless; this quality is considered premium among its kind. Your alchemy skills have nearly reached that of an Alchemy Master, right? Haha, we've struck it rich, struck it rich!"

Jin Suanpan laughed heartily, looking at Yang Ji with fiery enthusiasm as he patted his chest,

"The Tempting Demon Pill is extremely useful in the Stench Sea, this kind of medicine pill is attractive even to Level Ten Demon Beasts, it will definitely be exchangeable for high-grade Demon Companion Herbs."

"If so, then that's the best," Yang Ji said, feeling pleased upon hearing this; after all, it concerned his grand cultivation plans.

"How many hundred-year Demon Companion Herbs can I exchange for ten Tempting Demon Pills?" he asked.

"Usually, five Tempting Demon Pills refined from sixty-year Demon Companion Herbs can be exchanged for one hundred-year herb, but if the pills are made with hundred-year herbs, nearly two can be exchanged for one," Jin Suanpan explained.

Yang Ji nodded and said, "In that case, I'll use one hundred-year Demon Companion Herb to refine Tempting Demon Pills, increasing my bartering power. I'll exchange one for five; it'll be easier after that."

"That's the best way," Jin Suanpan chuckled.

"Let's go, we'll take a ship to the Stench Sea, it might take about a month," Jin Suanpan said.

"A month's journey? The Teleportation Grand Hall is right beside us," Yang Ji pointed out, puzzled.

"Teleportation? The Stench Sea is different from the Thousand-Islands Sea Area. There, beast tides erupt often, and if it's a terrifying beast tide initiated by a Demon Emperor, it would not only affect the Thousand-Islands Sea Area but have a wide-ranging impact."

"That's why there are no cities built in that area, let alone teleportation arrays. Maybe you build one today and by tomorrow a beast tide washes away everything. The cost of continual repairs would be enormous."

"Don't think that all demonic beasts swim in the water; some amphibious demonic beasts are invincible in the sea and equally dominant on land, capable of destroying cities and pushing islands, incredibly powerful."

"Once you reach the Stench Sea, the sky is your blanket and the earth is your bed. Find a cave on an islet that suits your fancy, and it's home,"

Jin Suanpan said with a smile.

"I see!" Yang Ji nodded in understanding.

After waiting for a while, the two of them boarded a ship bound for the Stench Sea, and the month passed quickly amidst cultivation.

One day, Yang Ji suddenly detected a stench unlike that of the Thousand-Islands Sea Area as he breathed.

He slowly stood up and looked out from the deck, and there before him was an unfamiliar sea area; the water was no longer deep blue but green. A stretch of green as far as the eye could see.

"Is this the Stench Sea?" Yang Ji's gaze swept lightly across the sea ahead.

"Welcome to the Stench Sea," Jin Suanpan smiled at Yang Ji.