Li Shiming was quite satisfied with the effect of the fourth-grade healing spirit pill. The elixir recipe given by Ancestor Lou indeed had a strong effect on healing for a Nascent Soul Ancestor.
The key reason behind this is his alchemy skills.
A fourth-grade advanced healing spirit pill, which maximizes the elixir recipe’s effectiveness, has never appeared on the Beishu Continent.
Even as Venerable Huijing resided in Qianye Temple, the temple’s healing spirit pills—just under the effect of two fourth-grade healing spirit pills—could not allow Venerable Huijing to recover to eighty percent in such a short time.
Normally, even with a fourth-grade healing spirit pill, Venerable Huijing would need decades or even hundreds of years of arduous cultivation to restore his strength.
Otherwise, why would Nascent Soul Ancestors be so fearful of battle? It’s because injuries are extremely troublesome.
Looking at Venerable Huijing, Li Shiming felt much relieved; possessing the combat power of a Nascent Soul Ancestor, he had at least obtained some measure of self-protection.
In recent years, every time he interacted with Nascent Soul Ancestors, even though they were exceedingly courteous to him, the vast difference in strength made him feel insecure.
However, thinking of Elder Jin Kai’s Nascent Soul middle stage realm, especially knowing that Nascent Soul early stage practitioners called Elder Jin Kai "senior," made Li Shiming feel his strength was still insufficient.
Venerable Huijing was only at the Nascent Soul early stage; due to the influence of a Heart Demon, aside from his life-bound treasure, the fourth-grade Treasure Appearance Ruyi Buddha Beads, all other artifacts were left in Qianye Temple.
Furthermore, he had lost his memory, making many of the secret techniques he once learned unusable, rendering his actual combat power likely the lowest among Nascent Soul Ancestors.
The thing that frustrated Li Shiming the most was his limited understanding of Nascent Soul emergence; Venerable Huijing had lost his memory, requiring him to control Venerable Huijing in battle.
Yet he knew nothing about the process of forming the Nascent Soul Dharma Form during Nascent Soul emergence, let alone controlling Venerable Huijing to form the Dharma Form.
He shook his head, thinking in the future he should see if he could enter the sect’s Nascent Soul stage Book Collection Pavilion.
"Mr. Lou, don’t worry. Shiming’s alchemy level has remained consistent with the past!" As ten days approached, Ancestor Fan comforted the somewhat anxious Ancestor Lou.
Ancestor Lou gave Ancestor Fan a difficult smile; he hadn’t left the Shushan Sect during these days, just waiting inside the sect.
His injuries were severe; if not for seeking the elixir, he should still be in seclusion within the Earth Evil Sect.
He had pinned his hopes on Li Shiming; unlike cultivation spirit pills, the quality of a fourth-grade healing spirit pill is directly linked to life.
With his injuries, if not controlled in a short time, his lifespan would be greatly affected.
"I should have delivered the Earth Evil Sect’s alchemy inheritance earlier!" Ancestor Lou said somewhat helplessly.
He wasn’t worried about Li Shiming’s alchemy ability, which had already been proven.
But this time he had brought the Earth Evil Sect’s elixir recipe; the fourth-grade recipe was recorded in the Earth Evil Sect’s alchemy inheritance.
Previously, Li Shiming had also raised issues regarding alchemy knowledge with the Earth Evil Sect’s Golden Core Elders, but they did not agree considering the importance of such inheritance.
Every time Ancestor Lou thought of this matter now, he couldn’t help but regret.
If Li Shiming had obtained the Earth Evil Sect’s alchemy inheritance earlier, he might have been more familiar with the crafting of this fourth-grade healing spirit pill.
It’s not just the Earth Evil Sect; no major sect was willing to fully share their alchemy inheritance with Li Shiming.
However, after this event, it was hard to say what would happen.
Regardless, Ancestor Lou had made his decision; no matter what opinions existed within the sect, he would definitely deliver the alchemy inheritance to Li Shiming.
In the future, he would also bring fourth-grade spiritual medicine and elixir recipes, asking Li Shiming to concoct fourth-grade cultivation assistance spirit pills.
With the Earth Evil Sect’s alchemy inheritance knowledge, the quality of alchemy would have increased assurance.
In any case, forming a connection with Li Shiming this way—isn’t sharing alchemy knowledge—it’s fine as long as Li Shiming doesn’t share it with others; the benefits of appealing to Li Shiming in the future are numerous.
"There shouldn’t be any problem!" Ancestor Fan said, though not very confidently this time.
At this moment, the Mountain Protection Array Formation of the Sword Holding Peak changed; Ancestor Fan, Ancestor Lou, and Elder Zuo all looked toward the mountaintop.
Li Shiming’s face was slightly pale; this time, the pallor was entirely feigned.
"Ancestor Lou, here is your spirit pill. I’ve taken one!" Li Shiming said, handing a jade bottle to Ancestor Lou.
"Master Li, it was hard work for you!" Ancestor Lou glanced at the spirit pill inside the jade bottle, showing excitement on his face, he looked at Li Shiming’s pale appearance, and respectfully saluted.
"Mr. Lou, how is it?" Elder Zuo asked curiously.
He was very confident in Li Shiming, and judging by Ancestor Lou’s excited expression, he also guessed the quality of the spirit pills in the jade bottle.
Still, he wanted to confirm; a completely unfamiliar fourth-grade elixir recipe—if it could be crafted into a full elixir and an advanced spirit pill within ten days, Li Shiming’s alchemy level would be higher than he imagined.
"A fourth-grade advanced full elixir! Master Li’s alchemy ability is unprecedented in the history of Beishu Continent!" Ancestor Lou praised unreservedly.
Unable to wait, he quickly sent one fourth-grade healing spirit pill into his mouth; it wasn’t impatience but because the feeling of injury was unbearable.
If dragged out further, he feared his lifespan would be greatly reduced.
Almost the moment the fourth-grade healing spirit pill entered his stomach, he closed his eyes, suspended in air to refine the medicinal power.
Elder Zuo and Ancestor Fan both shook their heads; they together took action to seal off the space where Ancestor Lou was located, bringing in spiritual energy.
Since Ancestor Lou was a guest at Shushan Sect during a time when the six major sects were united, they couldn’t let anything happen to Ancestor Lou within the sect.
"Shiming, we have just moved a Nascent Soul level spirit vein for you; do you want to change to a better mountain or stay at Sword Holding Peak?" Ancestor Fan turned around and asked Li Shiming.
"I still prefer Sword Holding Peak, so I won’t change!" Li Shiming replied after thinking.
In Shushan Sect, his status allowed him to independently possess a mountain.
This mountain, centered on his residing peak, will have surrounding affiliated peaks for his disciples; until his disciples’ status reaches certain conditions, they can move out and independently own a mountain.
The vast expanse of Shushan Sect’s territory is due to this reason; nearly all Golden Core Elders who branch out have their own mountains.
Li Shiming had no intention of taking disciples, compared to other Golden Core Elders, he had spent far too little time cultivating.
Additionally, he had too many secrets, and had no desire to take any disciples.
If he really wanted to nurture someone, his corpse refining and spiritual pets were more comforting than disciples.
Moreover, Sword Holding Peak was not small; without disciples, it was more than enough for him; he had invested quite a bit into Sword Holding Peak, large array formations made Sword Holding Peak the safest mountain within Shushan Sect.
"Alright, Old Zuo, let’s proceed!" Ancestor Fan nodded with a smile, waving at Elder Zuo.
He then took out a fourth-grade locking vein plate; terrifying spiritual power enveloped the plate, followed by a light ball being pulled out from the fourth-grade locking vein plate.
Li Shiming sensed a strong spiritual energy fluctuation and felt danger.
Inside the light ball before him, it seemed to have life, with incredibly intense spiritual energy reactions; if it exploded, it might rival the actions of a Nascent Soul Ancestor.
Elder Zuo simultaneously acted, guiding the Nascent Soul level spirit vein to Sword Holding Peak.
Li Shiming had long fully opened the Sword Holding Peak’s formation; the light ball was sent deep into the mountain by the two Nascent Soul Ancestors, replacing the original Golden Core level spirit vein, taking back the Golden Core level spirit vein conveniently.