Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather Chapter 1341 - 863: Demon Essence Pill (2)

"When you get the chance, bring her to visit Yang Zhenshan frequently. Once Liu Yue achieves Foundation Establishment, she'll require his protection!" Yue E instructed.

"Yes!" Yue Qing agreed readily. This step safeguarded Liu Yue through her Foundation Establishment while also nurturing deeper connections and goodwill between Yang Zhenshan and the Illusion Moon Sect.

A protective favor might fall short of the master-disciple bond, yet it comes remarkably close. Serving as a guardian in the Foundation Establishment process equates to granting a life-saving boon.

Favors give birth to sentiments.

As favors pile up, relationships inevitably grow stronger.

Yue E and Yue Qing both aimed to fortify their alliance with Yang Zhenshan and bolster the partnership between the Illusion Moon Sect and the Yang family.

Yue E's earlier claim that the Yang family stood as the Illusion Moon Sect's paramount ally might have sounded overstated, but down the line, the Yang family could truly emerge as their foremost partner.

...

Yang Family Town.

Today, Yang Family Town buzzes with life and prosperity, rivaling or even eclipsing the old Lian Family Town.

In those days, Lian Family Town served only as a dwelling for the Lian family, but now Yang Family Town functions as a hub for Martial Cultivators, drawing in crowds from various affiliated families.

Folks from these affiliated families view the Yang and Lian families differently; they favor the Yang family far more.

It's straightforward: the Yang family governs its affiliates with a light touch, renting out spirit fields and permitting shops within Yang Family Town.

Provided they adhere to Yang family regulations and deliver tributes promptly, the Yang family leaves their internal matters alone.

Right now, Yang Family Town teems with activity, as throngs chatter excitedly about Yang Zhenshan's bold display at the Xuanqing Sect's entrance.

Most are affiliates of the Yang family, swelling with pride over the Yang family's might.

Crowds gaze at the patrolling guards with awe. Before, they refrained from defying the Yang family yet lacked deep respect or dread—after all, the Yang family once lingered at the bottom of the twelve families, neck-and-neck with the Lu family.

Circumstances have shifted dramatically now. Yang Zhenshan's defiance against the Xuanqing Sect demonstrates the Yang family's power fears no such sect.

Still, these shifts barely ripple through the Yang family itself. They press on with daily operations unchanged, and even Yang Xiangheng and his kin register only mild astonishment without disrupting their duties.

Within the Yang family's grand hall, Yang Xiangheng escorted Yun Xiao and Yun Xi into the council chamber.

Yang Zhenshan awaited them at the council hall doorway, offering a hearty welcome upon their arrival: "Greetings, fellow cultivators!"

At the Xuanqing Sect gate, he could maintain a chilly demeanor—even flashing a stern look at Yun Xiao—but back home, he dared not slight Yun Xiao and Yun Xi.

His earlier clash with the Xuanqing Sect justified some ire, yet hosting visitors demanded he avoid excessive aloofness.

"Haha, Yang!" Yun Xiao brushed off Yang Zhenshan's shift in demeanor, responding with a broad grin.

Following brief courtesies, Yang Zhenshan ushered the pair inside the council hall.

Refreshments and spirit fruits awaited within. The trio settled into seats, trading polished phrases like "I’ve long admired you" and similar niceties.

Harmony filled the air, free of any tension.

Wang Qiutang and the Wang family went unmentioned by the three.

Yun Xiao and Yun Xi had accompanied Wang Qiutang here, and with the Yang family now holding Wang Qiutang, that affair stood resolved.

Amid light banter, Yun Xiao finally voiced their true purpose.

"I heard that Yang excels in alchemy?"

Escorting Wang Qiutang was merely a pretext; their core aim centered on Yang Zhenshan's prowess as an Alchemist.

In cultivation realms, skills like pill refining, artifact forging, talisman inscription, and array setup rank among the noblest pursuits.

Alchemists hold the loftiest status, for every Immortal Cultivator depends on elixirs.

A Second-rank Alchemist's esteem dwarfs that of a typical Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Be it in the Sea of Spirit, Qingli Dynasty, or White Cloud Immortal City, Second-rank Alchemists draw eager pursuit.

Yang Zhenshan boasts authentic Second-rank Alchemist credentials, validated by his Illusion God Pill mastery.

Hence, Yun Xiao and Yun Xi accorded Yang Zhenshan exceptional deference.

"Haha, I possess only modest knowledge of it, hardly noteworthy!" Yang Zhenshan demurred humbly.

"Haha, Yang, no need for such modesty; otherwise, I might hesitate to continue!" Yun Xiao chuckled.

Yang Zhenshan smiled inwardly, sensing a fresh business prospect unfolding.

Naturally, an Alchemist's prime trade involves crafting pills on commission.

Through the years, he had concocted elixirs for clients like Yue Ming, Jing Shui, Xuanzhen, and the Illusion Moon Sect.

Yet his fame remained limited, and unlike famed Alchemists swarmed by pill-refining requests, he saw few such opportunities.

Celebrated Alchemists find queues at their doors from those begging elixir refinements.

With Yang Zhenshan's reputation not yet resounding across the Sea of Spirit, seekers were scarce.

"Yang, do you know the Demon Essence Pill?" Yun Xiao inquired softly.

Yang Zhenshan's eyes narrowed faintly, his face turning grave: "Certainly, I know it well!"

The Demon Essence Pill arises from refining a Demon Core into an elixir. Lacking a set rank, its quality hinges on the Demon Core's own grade.

A Demon Core forms the essence of a demon beast. Unlike Mutant Beasts, which shun cultivation methods and thus lack cores, demon beasts do cultivate.

Demon beasts practice cultivation techniques to form cores, mirroring how Immortal Cultivators form Golden Cores.

Immortal Cultivators struggle mightily to form Golden Cores, needing Foundation Establishment's pinnacle first, while demon beasts form demon cores upon starting cultivation.

Consequently, demon cores begin at Second-Order.

First-Order demon cores? None exist.

First-Order demon beasts are Mutant Beasts; only upon cultivating a demon core do they ascend to Second-Order demon beasts.

Demon Essence Pills extract a demon core's essence as the key component, yielding vast pure spiritual energy to boost cultivation. A Third-Order version can even aid Golden Core formation, much like Foundation Establishment Pills.

No standard recipe governs the Demon Essence Pill. Alchemists must tailor formulas to each core's attributes and rank.

Each demon core varies uniquely, defying a universal Demon Essence Pill recipe.

Thus, crafting Demon Essence Pills demands profound herbal insight and supreme alchemy mastery.

Other elixirs permit experimentation—failures teach lessons, paving the way to success via recipe mastery.

Demon Essence Pills offer no such margin; a failed batch destroys the irreplaceable demon core, forcing recipe tweaks and technique shifts for the next.

Refining Demon Essence Pills proves immensely challenging, eluding most Second-rank Alchemists.

Yang Zhenshan had delved into Demon Essence Pill lore, gleaning ancient refinement insights from an Ancient Relic Array, though he never put it to practice.

Lacking demon cores was the chief barrier. The Sea of Spirit hosted no demon cultivation methods, birthing no demon beasts.

Yunxiao Mountain Range sheltered demon beasts, but protective edicts barred casual hunts.

Qingli Dynasty markets sporadically offered demon cores, snapped up swiftly by its six great Immortal Cultivation Families.

Yang Zhenshan never secured one for purchase.

"Can you succeed in refining it?" Yun Xiao pressed, eyes alight with hope.

Yang Zhenshan pondered briefly before shaking his head: "I’ve never refined a Demon Essence Pill, merely studied its techniques and approaches."

"I see!" Yun Xiao and Yun Xi shared a look, their letdown mild.

Yang Zhenshan's inability to refine Demon Essence Pills made perfect sense.

As noted, Second-rank Alchemists adept at Demon Essence Pills are vanishingly rare—not in Sea of Spirit, Qingli Dynasty, or Nether Prison Sect. Only White Cloud Immortal City in the Yunxiao region harbors a handful of such elite Second-rank talents.