Chapter 481: Chapter 479: Restricted, Yet Seems Unrestricted_1

Lu Xuan immediately donned the Five-grade Clear Dragonfly Feather Robe, replacing his previous Hidden Spirit Cloak.

He glanced at the flourishing Primordial Essence Herb in his spirit field, as well as the tiny sprouts of the Jade Dew Fruits that had just sprouted, and decided to make a trip to the Dan Palace to acquire the seed condensation methods for these two types of spirit plants.

Once he obtained a formula of the Foundation Establishment Pill from the Dan Palace, he wouldn’t need to be so secretive when refining the Foundation Establishment Pill in the future.

The Primordial Essence Herb and Jade Dew Fruit were both main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill, but the herbs in his spirit field were entrusted to him by the Dan Palace for cultivation, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to use them casually.

Although he could purchase alchemical materials at a low price from the Dan Palace, the amount of materials he could buy was limited and the price was higher than that of plants he cultivated himself.

Once he got the seed condensation methods for the two types of spirit plants, he would be able to increase production and refine a large number of Foundation Establishment Pills.

He called over Fat Bird and rode it to the Hall of Agriculture.

“Uncle Lu.”

As he passed through the outer hall of the Hall of Agriculture, a familiar voice sounded.

A cultivator who looked like an old farmer was gazing at him.

“Friend Xia.”

The cultivator was Xia Chen, whom Lu Xuan had interacted with quite a bit during his time as an outer sect disciple. He had obtained a good number of second to fourth-grade spirit seeds from him.

“You look a bit unsteady, what happened?”

Noticing that Xia Chen’s tan face lacked color and his cultivation using the “Breaking Illusion Eye Technique” had greatly enhanced his visual perception, Lu Xuan readily noticed that the old farmer monk was not in good condition.

“I tried to breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm a while ago, but unfortunately failed.”

A hint of disappointment flickered in the old farmer monk’s eyes.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan paused.

“Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment is not an easy task. If you can’t make it in one go, then try again.”

“Take a good rest and adjust your spiritual power, physical body, and divine soul to their optimal state before trying again.”

He comforted Xia Chen with a few words before entering the inner hall.

As the old farmer monk watched Lu Xuan’s figure disappear, he was filled with mixed feelings.

He had a very deep impression of Lu Xuan. When Lu Xuan was still an outer sect disciple, he had started cultivating the third-grade Jian Hu Gourd, and even the fourth-grade Xuan Chong Vine.

He remembered that at that time, his cultivation level was slightly worse than his own. But after so many years, he still hadn’t succeeded in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm, whereas Lu Xuan was already in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment and his proficiency in spirit plants was renowned throughout the Sky Sword Sect.

“It’s a pity that I didn’t take the time to get to know Uncle Lu better back then. Maybe if I had, I might have been able to rely on our past relationship for his assistance.”

He felt a twinge of regret.

…

Lu Xuan entered the inner hall and approached an ordinary-looking young cultivator with a restrained and steady demeanor.

“Junior Brother Zhang, it’s been a long time.”

Seeing Lu Xuan, the youth looked up and a warm smile appeared on his face.

“So it’s Brother Lu, are you here to select spirit seeds again?”

The young man was named Zhang Ce. Lu Xuan had met him several times during his visits to the inner hall of the Hall of Agriculture, so they were somewhat acquainted.

“This time, I mainly want to exchange for two condensation methods, and also purchase some corresponding spirit seeds on the side.”

“Oh? I wonder which types of spirit plants’ condensation methods you want to exchange for?” The young man asked curiously.

“Third-grade Primordial Essence Herb and Jade Dew Fruit.”

“I remember that when you break through to the Foundation Establishment first term or mid-term, you can obtain a condensing method for a third-grade spirit species for free. I’ve exchanged for a Jian Hu Gourd once before, I wonder if I could get one of the seed condensation methods for free?”

Lu Xuan handed over his identity plaque.

Zhang Ce took the identity plaque and infused his spiritual sense into it.

“Indeed, you can exchange them for one type. Brother Lu, it’s your choice.”

“Then let’s choose the one that requires more sword seals.”

Lu Xuan laughed, even though he had thousands of sword seals on him, he still preferred to save where he could.

“The method for condensing the Primordial Essence Herb seed requires seven hundred sword seals, and the Jade Dew Fruit requires seven hundred and fifty sword seals. Shall we choose the Jade Dew Fruit?”

The young man asked Lu Xuan.

“Sure.”

Lu Xuan nodded.

The value of a third-grade condensing seed method has exceeded that of a fourth-grade spirit species by a lot. Nonetheless, it is understandably so. After all, a spirit species is just a consumable, while a condensing seed method can offer long-term access to spirit seeds.

“Also, I need some Primordial Essence Herb seeds and Jade Dew Fruit seeds. What would be their prices?”

Zhang Ce paused before saying to Lu Xuan:

“The Primordial Essence Herb seeds cost seventy sword seals each, while the Jade Dew Fruit seeds cost seventy-five sword seals each.”

“However, these two types of spirit plants are quite special. They are the main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill and are under strict regulation. When a Spirit Plant Master in the sect trades for spirit seeds, the number of seeds procured must not exceed three of each type within a certain period.”

“Is that so?”

Lu Xuan was somewhat surprised, but soon understood the reason behind it.

Being able to procure only three spirit seeds within a certain period could largely prevent the Foundation Establishment Pills from being leaked to the outside world on a massive scale.

Even if an Inner Sect Disciple has acquired both the pill formula for Foundation Establishment Pill and the corresponding seed condensation technique, large-scale production of Foundation Establishment Pills is not a trivial matter.

A third-grade spirit plant can usually condense only a few seeds. Even if one waits three or four years and all of them are used for condensation, only about a dozen can be obtained.

Even if the condensing process is repeated several times, the amount of materials obtained is extremely limited.

In addition, the Foundation Establishment Pill is very difficult to refine, and most alchemists have a low success rate. If you take into account the wastage of materials during the refinement process, the number of Foundation Establishment Pills obtained is even less.

Only when a cultivator has a strong level of spiritual plant cultivation, and can maximize the number of spiritual seeds obtained each time through condensation, while possessing a decent level of alchemy, can they potentially obtain a significant amount of Foundation Establishment Pills in a short time.

“I just happen to meet these two conditions.”

A faint smile surfaced at the corner of Lu Xuan’s mouth.

He can know the detailed status of spirit plants, and not only does he have a 100% success rate when condensing, but he can also get as many spirit seeds as possible.

In addition, after absorbing the Pill Formula Experience Package, although he hasn’t tried preparing Foundation Establishment Pill yet, his success rate is already fairly high.

If he absorbs a few more Pill Formula Experience Packages during the process of obtaining materials, his success rate will be even more impressive.

Hence, these limitations don’t greatly affect him.

Although he was restricted, it seemed he wasn’t.

“Then, could I trouble Junior brother Zhang to procure the Condensing Seed Methods for both the Primordial Essence Herb and the Jade Dew Fruit, and three seeds of each?”

Lu Xuan said to Zhang Ce with a smile.

“Please wait a moment, Brother Lu.”

After a while, Zhang Ce walked out of the Agricultural Department Hall, handing Lu Xuan two dark green jade slips and six spiritual seeds.

“The total is one thousand one hundred and thirty-five sword seals. Please check, Junior brother Zhang.”

With a wave of Lu Xuan’s hand, a small pile of sword seals floated in front of the young man.

The young man scanned them with his spiritual sense and confirmed it was correct, then nodded to Luan Xuan.

“There’s no problem.”

Upon seeing this, Lu Xuan slightly delved into the jade slips with his spiritual sense and verified they indeed taught the Condensing Seed Methods before departing contentedly.

“It’s a pity that I can’t let others see that I’ve advanced to the late-term Foundation Establishment realm, otherwise with the sect benefits from breaking through to the late-term Foundation Establishment realm, I could get another third-grade spirit plant’s Condensing Seed Method for free, saving another seven hundred sword seals.”

Lu Xuan sat on the back of the Fat Bird, and the various beautiful and perilous mountains beneath him passed one by one.