"Jun Muqing was currently at the fifth level of the Spirit Transformation Realm. In a month, it was likely he could break through to the sixth level. As the disciple of the dean, with the nurturing resources of the Jun Family and the Royal Family, he undoubtedly possessed many powerful trump cards."
Zhang Hao furrowed his brows and said this.
Mo Wangchen nodded. He knew well that defeating Jun Muqing was no simple task, let alone that in a month, it would be a life-and-death duel, and Jun Muqing would certainly not show mercy.
Fortunately, he still had enough time to enhance his own cultivation.
During the previous assessment, he had vaguely sensed that he was not far from the second level of the Spirit Transformation Realm. Now that he was back at the academy, with the help of the Artifact Refining Tower, he should be able to break through quickly.
Importantly, when he went to the Xu Family earlier, Mo Wangchen had already obtained the Heavenly Soul Grass. With all the ingredients for refining the Nine Apertures Spirit Pill gathered, he could perhaps ask Elder Ling to help him refine it.
Currently, Mo Wangchen’s perception was at the peak of the third stage. Once he consumed the Nine Apertures Spirit Pill, he would undoubtedly see a significant improvement. Even facing the oppressive aura of a Returning Ruins Realm powerhouse would hardly affect him.
Moreover, the improvement in perception not only enhanced his alchemy skills but also his combat strength. The stronger the perception, the more formidable he was within the same realm.
Furthermore, with the Xuanlong Palm and Silent Killing Finger, two powerful Xuan Rank martial techniques, along with the Heavenly Dao Body, Mo Wangchen naturally had some confidence that he could defeat Jun Muqing in a month.
Early the next morning, Mo Wangchen left the academy directly and headed to the Alchemist Alliance.
In a room on the fifth floor, Elder Ling and Wan Quan had already arrived.
Seeing Mo Wangchen come in, Elder Ling slightly furrowed his brow. "I’ve heard about you and Jun Muqing from Yu Qiu. You’re too reckless, that Life and Death Platform has no retreat. Given Jun Muqing’s strength, how could you possibly be her match?"
Mo Wangchen, however, smiled. "Whether I’m his match, we’ll find out in a month. I came today to ask for your help, Elder Ling."
"Speak then. If I can help you, I certainly will," Elder Ling sighed and said.
"I have some herbs for refining a sixth-grade Pill. These herbs are very precious, and it took me a long time to collect them. I hope Elder Ling can help me refine them."
"Sixth-grade Pill?" Hearing this, Elder Ling was slightly surprised. Although he was a sixth-grade alchemist, the success rate for refining a sixth-grade Pill was only about fifty percent, so he couldn’t guarantee success.
"Let me first see the alchemy recipe and the herbs," Elder Ling said.
Mo Wangchen nodded, then brought out the Heavenly Soul Grass and other prepared herbs.
Since the Nine Apertures Spirit Pill was of great importance, Mo Wangchen had written the recipe and various insights in great detail, fearing any small mishap during the refining might ruin the herbs.
"Will this Pill help your cultivation?" After carefully studying the recipe, Elder Ling suddenly asked.
With just a month until Mo Wangchen’s duel with Jun Muqing, he would certainly do everything to improve his cultivation. Now he was asking for alchemy help, especially with a sixth-grade Pill, presumably to boost his cultivation.
Mo Wangchen paused for a moment, then nodded. "This Pill is called the Nine Apertures Spirit Pill, a rare kind that can enhance perception. I’m currently at the peak of the third stage. If I could consume one, my perception would surely break through to the fourth stage or even its peak!"
"A Pill that enhances perception?!"
Listening to Mo Wangchen, Elder Ling became astonished. He had never heard of such a Pill.
"Every cultivator has perception, but not everyone is suitable to be an alchemist. Are you sure this so-called Nine Apertures Spirit Pill truly enhances perception?" Though skeptical, Elder Ling had known Mo Wangchen long enough to believe he wouldn’t speak empty words.
You see, ordinary Spirit Transformation Realm experts have perception only at the peak of the first stage, while those above the seventh level in that realm break through to the second stage.
However, some with exceptional talent might possess third-stage perception at the seventh level of the Spirit Transformation Realm, though Elder Ling had yet to see anyone like that in Yun Country, unless they were an alchemist.
Alchemists had much stronger perception than average people. A second-grade alchemist, though at the first level of the Spirit Transformation Realm, could have second-stage perception, a notch above those in the same realm.
So generally, if two people at the first level of the Spirit Transformation Realm faced off, the alchemist would have a much higher chance of winning because of superior perception.
Yet, enhancing perception was incredibly difficult. Plus, it required dedicating oneself to alchemy. Therefore, most alchemists hadn’t the heart for martial arts. Even if their alchemy prowess improved, their cultivation realm fell behind due to lack of focus.
Achieving exponential progress in both alchemy and martial arts seemed quite a challenging task to everyone.
Now, Mo Wangchen, with a perception at the peak of the third stage, was akin to the level only Returning Ruins Realm experts achieved.
With his current perception, in his first-level Spirit Transformation Realm, it was almost impossible for anyone in the same realm to be his match, not to mention his other powerful trump cards.
Someone like Mo Wangchen, at his age, possessing a first-level Spirit Transformation Realm cultivation and peak third-stage perception, was unique in Yun Country.
Still, while perception added to one’s strength, it wasn’t decisive. In life-and-death combat, victory depended on both parties’ practical experience and powerful martial techniques.
"I’ll keep the herbs for now. To be safe, I’ll research the recipe some more before starting to refine it for you," Elder Ling said.
Mo Wangchen nodded, trusting Elder Ling’s character not to steal what was rightfully his. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come here.
"I heard from Senior Sister Liang that Elder Ling was looking for me a few days ago?" Mo Wangchen suddenly remembered something and asked.