Jia Ren cultivated for a whole night and then headed to the Inner City Market to browse through the stalls selling Monster Beast Meat.

Every few days, he would routinely seek out the meat vendors, offering a high price for Spirit Turtle Meat.

Unfortunately, Great Desolate Turtle Demons were too rare, and he had acquired none so far.

Cultivation with elixirs was not slow, but it still lagged far behind the Turtle Spirit Ointment. Moreover, the ointment had the miraculous effect of increasing lifespan.

I wonder if the Ming Family still has any Spirit Turtles?

I will ask Yang Bingzhi about it later.

Jia Ren walked towards the Pill Cauldron Pavilion, intending to purchase a batch of elixirs for his cultivation.

Having depleted his stock of Spirit Bud Elixirs and Major Restoration Elixirs, it was time to replenish them with new elixirs.

An enthusiastic shop assistant greeted the Late Stage Qi-Refining Cultivator, promoting the best-selling elixirs.

"There are two kinds of elixirs suitable for consumption in the Late Stage of Qi Refinement. One is the Spirit Enhancement Pill. It is the most broadly applicable, favored by Loose Cultivators, and priced at eight Spirit Stones each."

"The other is the Five Elements Spirit Pill. This elixir is bestowed upon Inner Sect Disciples by the Five Elements Sect and rarely makes its way outside. It is not cheap, costing fifteen Spirit Stones each."

Jia Ren was no stranger to the Spirit Enhancement Pill, having recently purchased some for Yang Shengwu. The price was as usual.

He had, however, learned about the Five Elements Spirit Pill for the first time. An elixir from the Five Elements Sect?

For an elixir also used in the Late Stage of Qi Refinement, it was priced much higher.

"Fellow Daoist, you may not know this, but sects and families rarely release truly high-quality elixirs to the public. Most of the ones Loose Cultivators can buy are of average quality."

"The Five Elements Spirit Pill consumed by Sect Disciples is a superior product. Inner Sect Disciples can only obtain one each month."

"If Fellow Daoist doesn't buy now, you won't be able to get them in a few days, even if you want to."

Jia Ren first inspected the Spirit Enhancement Pill to confirm its quality.

Then he picked up a Five Elements Spirit Pill and smelled it, comparing its medicinal fragrance.

The difference was indeed noticeable: the aroma was richer, indicating better quality.

After hesitating for a moment, Jia Ren decided to buy ten to test their efficacy.

Having spent two hundred and thirty Spirit Stones, Jia Ren returned to his residence with the elixirs and resumed his steady cultivation.

After consuming a Spirit Enhancement Pill, its effect was far from comparable to the Great Origin Pill or Spirit Bud Elixir. Each Spirit Enhancement Pill only added seven points to his cultivation progress.

The effect was average, merely ordinary.

Jia Ren took out a Five Elements Spirit Pill, which he had bought for fifteen Spirit Stones. The pill was multicolored and quite pleasing to the eye. After smelling its rich fragrance and confirming there were no issues, he swallowed it.

The medicinal power burst forth instantly. It was far denser than that of the Spirit Enhancement Pill, though not violent. He activated his Turtle Spirit Technique, gradually transforming the potency into Spiritual Power.

After a short while, Jia Ren opened his eyes, his joy unconcealable.

The medicinal effect is good! One Five Elements Spirit Pill increased my cultivation progress by fifteen points—far stronger than the Spirit Enhancement Pill.

Its cost-effectiveness was also high; it was truly worthy of being an elixir from the Five Elements Sect.

No wonder Sect Disciples' rate of strength improvement far surpassed that of Loose Cultivators. Even though both consumed elixirs incessantly, Sect Disciples' cultivation speed was much faster.

This won't do; I must buy more!

Without hesitation, Jia Ren rushed back to the Pill Cauldron Pavilion.

"Fellow Daoist, you've returned so soon! The Five Elements Spirit Pill's effect must have exceeded your expectations," the shop assistant observed.

"Unfortunately, you're a step too late. A few other Fellow Daoists just bought most of them; there are only three left."

Only three?

"I'll take them all!"

Jia Ren didn't mind and bought all of them.

"When will there be more Five Elements Spirit Pills?"

Having experienced the effects of the Five Elements Spirit Pill, the Spirit Enhancement Pill now seemed somewhat redundant.

"The Five Elements Spirit Pill seldom makes its way outside. The majority are... well, they are pills that Five Elements Sect Alchemists discreetly sell through the Pill Cauldron Pavilion. They appear in irregular quantities, with no set pattern."

This was also how the vast majority of Loose Cultivators reacted after trying the Five Elements Spirit Pill, and the shop assistant was long accustomed to this.

What a pity.

No wonder Loose Cultivators yearned for a sect. When they wished to purchase elixirs like the Five Elements Spirit Pill, they had to rely on luck. In contrast, it was not difficult for Five Elements Sect Cultivators to acquire them.

Jia Ren couldn't buy the Jade Yang Pill, used for breaking through to the Qi Refinement Seventh Level, at the Pill Cauldron Pavilion or any other elixir vendor. He could only wait for auctions.

Although a Sect required Sect contributions in exchange, at least there was a channel for acquisition.

Forget about joining a Sect; I don't want to be restricted by others.

The Five Elements Spirit Pill is certainly good. However, if I could get a large amount of Turtle Spirit Ointment, it would be no less effective. Most importantly, its cost is far cheaper than the Five Elements Spirit Pill.

Elixirs shouldn't be taken continuously. Jia Ren, holding the Medicinal Bath Ingredients given by Yang Bingzhi, began to learn the Mixed Refining Vajra Body.

He had possessed the Body Refining Techniques for some time, but his inability to gather the Medicinal Bath Ingredients had prevented him from starting.

With everything prepared, he decisively began his Body Refinement.

The Medicinal Bath Ingredients weren't elixirs; they were similar to Turtle Spirit Ointment and simple to prepare.

First, he boiled the carefully selected herbs and Spiritual Medicines for two full hours, until their medicinal properties fused.

He poured the concoction into a wooden tub filled with hot water, stripped off his clothes, and sat cross-legged in the medicinal bath.

Following the Method Gate of the Mixed Refining Vajra Body, he could clearly feel strands of medicinal power seeping through his skin and into his body. This power flowed into his skin and bones, subtly altering his physique.

His whole body itched intolerably, as if thousands of tiny insects were crawling on his skin, making it difficult to concentrate.

After several attempts, Jia Ren finally entered a meditative state and absorbed the medicinal power according to the Mixed Refining Vajra Body's Method Gate.

An hour later, the water in the wooden tub had turned turbid, its medicinal power depleted.

He felt as if he had just received a full-body massage; his body felt lighter.

He clenched his fists and could clearly feel the increase in his physical strength.

For a beginner, the improvement was most distinct.

Mastering the entry-level of the Mixed Refining Vajra Body had its own signs: the formation of the corresponding Vajra Body.

As he operated the Mixed Refining Vajra Body's Method Gate, a barely visible golden light suffused his body, eventually converging into a fist-sized golden spot over his heart.

Once the golden color fully permeated his body, the Indestructible Vajra Body would be considered at its minor accomplishment stage. At this stage, he would be capable of resisting Magic Artifacts and Spells, and engaging in close-quarter combat with First Order, inferior-grade Magical Beasts.

At major accomplishment, the body would turn crimson-gold and could withstand Medium-grade Magic Tools. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that lifting elephants with one hand would be effortless.

At perfection, the body would turn dark gold, and one could briefly withstand High-Grade Magic Artifacts, possessing indefatigable vitality and invincibility in same-tier close-quarter combat.

To progress beyond the perfection of body and vitality, advanced Body Refining Method Gates had to be cultivated, leading to the Unbreakable Mixed Refining Vajra Body.

It's unclear to what extent Yang Bingzhi has cultivated, but I fear he has achieved the major accomplishment stage, the Crimson Vajra Body.

Reaching such a level in less than a year was a testament to his extraordinary talent.

My talent in Body Refinement may not match his, but I have the Proficiency Panel!

After each medicinal bath, his Proficiency Level for the Mixed Refining Vajra Body steadily increased, paving a smooth path for his future.

With a new medicinal bath prepared, Jia Ren took another soak.

Jia Ren seemed determined to make up for all the baths he had missed while hidden in the tunnels, soaking as if he hadn't bathed in ages.

For seven consecutive days, apart from the time spent meditating and cultivating, Jia Ren spent almost all day in the wooden tub; he felt like he had shed three layers of skin.

He progressed from initially needing a full hour to absorb all the medicinal power in a bath, to eventually requiring a new bath in less than half an hour.

Haste makes waste.

Had it been anyone else undertaking such intense medicinal baths, the effects would have diminished over time.

But Jia Ren was different. With each bath, combined with the Mixed Refining Vajra Body, there was improvement, steadily increasing his Proficiency Level.

After seven days of hard work, there wasn't a single unrefined spot left on his entire body.

When he activated the Mixed Refining Vajra Body, he transformed into a dazzling, pure golden figure.

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