No, it was more painful than being sliced by blades!
A hundred, a thousand, even ten thousand times more painful!
Even someone with Xu Chang’an’s mental fortitude couldn’t stop the urge to cry out in pain.
CRACK!
Cracks began to form on Xu Chang’an’s fur, which had been as resilient as a Top-grade Magical Artifact.
The cracks grew, multiplying in number.
Until they covered his entire body.
Pain!
A bone-deep agony!
Xu Chang’an gritted his teeth and endured.
The cracks gradually began to change.
Purple patterns emerged, beginning to replace the cracks.
One, two, three...
Purple patterns also seemed to be appearing on his claws.
The markings were faint, like Secret Patterns painted across the surface.
The small Dragon Bone Scales on his back also showed purple markings, their complex patterns seeming to form a complete picture.
...
After nearly a full hour, Xu Chang’an’s transformation finally came to an end.
Name: Xu Chang’an
Bloodline: Purple-striped Earth Rock Rat (Middle-class Bloodline)
Lifespan: 252 Years
Realm: Mid-stage Foundation Establishment
Skills: Alchemy (Tier Two Low Grade)
Energy: (959/5000)
...
’A sixty-year life extension! A Middle-class Bloodline!’
A wide smile spread across Xu Chang’an’s face as he looked at the data on the panel floating in the void.
Thanks to the effects of the Purple Patterned Luo Wood Root, his bloodline had been improved to Middle-class.
The Purple-striped Earth Rock Rat’s bloodline was not far from being considered an Upper-class Bloodline.
The most direct manifestation of an improved bloodline was the increase in one’s maximum lifespan.
Different bloodlines and foundations corresponded to different maximum lifespans.
As Xu Chang’an transformed from an Earth Rock Rat into a Purple-striped Earth Rock Rat, his lifespan increased by a full sixty years.
A lifespan of 252 years!
This wasn’t considered long among the Demon Race, but it was on par with the maximum lifespan of an ordinary Human Race Foundation Establishment Cultivator!
Considering his cultivation was at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, his maximum lifespan was still slightly less than that of a typical human of the same realm.
But it wasn’t far off.
’Longevity is within reach! It’s really within reach!’
Xu Chang’an was elated.
The increase in his lifespan would undoubtedly allow him to be more composed.
He could face opportunities with a calmer mindset.
He had enough time to search slowly and accumulate the panel’s Energy.
Besides the improvement to his lifespan, Xu Chang’an’s Demon Body had also become far more resilient.
If the resilience of his previous Demon Body was comparable to an ordinary Top-grade Magical Artifact, it could now rival even the toughest of them.
In terms of sheer resilience, it wasn’t far off from a Supreme-grade Magical Artifact!
Meanwhile, the sharpness and durability of his Dragon Bone Scales and claws could now completely match a Supreme-grade Magical Artifact.
With such a physique, even without using his Demon Power, Magical Artifacts, or Quasi-Magical Treasures, Xu Chang’an could easily suppress veteran Great Demons of the same tier.
If he were to couple this with his full arsenal of techniques, his current combat power was enough to rival the most elite echelon of Top-tier Great Demons!
’With this physique, ordinary Supreme-grade Magical Artifacts have become all but useless to me! Only the absolute finest among them are of any use, and even then, not by much. It’s merely better than nothing!’
Xu Chang’an sighed with some emotion.
’It seems that by using the panel to improve my Bloodline, I’m truly embarking on the path of the Ancient Demon Race!’
He could imagine that if he broke through to the Late-stage Foundation Establishment and became a Top-tier Great Demon, his Demon Body would likely be comparable to a Supreme-grade Magical Artifact, while his sharp claws and Dragon Bone Scales would be like Quasi-Magical Treasures.
At that point, an attack from a Great Demon of the same tier wielding a Supreme-grade Magical Artifact would be nothing more than a scratch to him.
He could even shred a Top-grade Magical Artifact wielded by an ordinary Great Demon with a single swipe of his claw.
The sheer killing power was terrifying to even imagine!
’With this breakthrough, my foundation is even stronger! As long as no Quasi-Demon King or Demon King appears, I will be unstoppable in Peacock Demon City!
Once my Alchemy Skill improves, I’ll set about striking out on my own!’
Xu Chang’an felt exhilarated, his heart full of confidence and endless daydreams about the future.
From his beginnings as a mere Gray Rat Demon, he had broken through again and again, until today, here in the Red Cloud Mountain Range, he finally had the strength to truly protect himself!
’Still, it comes back to that same principle: always be vigilant, never grow complacent or careless!’
The alarm bells rang in Xu Chang’an’s mind once more.
’In my past life, I formed a Golden Core and reached the Late Stage, and I still died. How could I dare be careless now!’
’Right now, I only have enough strength to protect myself. I’m still a long way from being able to do as I please!’
...
After returning to Peacock Demon City, Xu Chang’an once again immersed himself in refining his Alchemy Skill.
Peacock Demon City remained as prosperous and bustling as ever.
Spring turned to autumn, and a year passed in the blink of an eye.
「Flame Leaf Elixir Workshop, Alchemy Room.」
"Open!"
With a thunderous shout from Xu Chang’an, the Pill Furnace flew open, releasing a rich, medicinal fragrance.
Several elixirs lay quietly within.
"I succeeded! Rejuvenation Pills!"
Joy lit up Xu Chang’an’s face.
The Rejuvenation Pill was a common elixir used for cultivation by veteran Great Demons at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment.
It was considered a Tier Two Middle-grade Elixir.
In terms of refining difficulty, it was one of the simplest among Tier Two Middle-grade Elixirs.
However, no matter how simple it was to refine, it was still a Tier Two Middle-grade Elixir.
This meant that Xu Chang’an’s Alchemy Skill was now on the cusp of the Tier Two Middle Grade level.
’I can start trying to refine Foundation Establishment Pills now!’
Xu Chang’an rejoiced inwardly.
’I’ve finally reached this step!’
The Foundation Establishment Pill was a Tier-Breaking Elixir used to cross a Great Realm, making it extremely difficult to refine.
Only a Tier Two Middle Grade Alchemist could hope to master the refining technique.
If he could successfully refine the Foundation Establishment Pill, Xu Chang’an could truly call himself a Second Order Middle Grade Alchemist.
In any faction, he would be worthy of the title of Alchemy Master.
The ability to refine Foundation Establishment Pills was equivalent to holding the lifeblood of a faction.
Thus, though both were Tier Two Alchemists, the status of a Second Order Middle Grade Alchemist was vastly superior to that of a Tier Two Low Grade Alchemist.
At that time, hordes of Demons would flock to him, fawning and currying favor, just to secure a slot for him to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill!
’And that’s just what happens if I can refine Foundation Establishment Pills!
If I could successfully refine the Golden Crow Pill, then...’
Xu Chang’an stared at the Alchemy Furnace before him, his gaze as deep and still as an ancient well.
The Golden Crow Pill was a Tier-Breaking Elixir within the Foundation Establishment Realm.
To break through from the Early-stage to the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, almost all Great Demons—with very few exceptions—needed the help of a Golden Crow Pill to achieve their breakthrough!
If he could refine the Golden Crow Pill, he could only imagine the countless Foundation Establishment Great Demons preparing for a breakthrough who would flock to his door, all seeking a single Tier-Breaking Elixir.
If he could successfully refine the Golden Crow Pill, his Alchemy Skill would be considered that of a highly experienced Second Order Middle Grade Alchemist.
He wouldn’t be far from reaching the Second Order Top-grade Skill Realm!
Great Demons at the Early-stage Foundation Establishment needed the Golden Crow Pill to break through to the Middle Stage.
And veteran Great Demons at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment needed the Profound Pill to break through to the Late Stage.
The Profound Pill was a Tier Two High-grade Elixir.
However, it was extremely difficult to refine; even a Second-Order High-grade Alchemist was not guaranteed to master it.
The reason Pill Master Ye was so renowned in Peacock Demon City was precisely because he could successfully refine the Profound Pill.
Therefore, all the Demons knew that Pill Master Ye’s skills were extremely close to the level of a Quasi-Third Tier Alchemist!
He could take that final step at any moment!
’Unfortunately, the higher the grade of an elixir, the more terrifying the amount of energy required to refine it. It’s impossible to perform it frequently.
After refining certain special elixirs, one might even need to recuperate for several years!
If that weren’t the case, I should be able to amass a fortune at an incredible speed with my Alchemy skills.’
’Foundation Establishment Pill, Golden Crow Pill, Profound Pill, Crystal Condensation Pill, Clear Heart Pill...’
A fire seemed to burn in Xu Chang’an’s eyes, but it vanished in an instant as his expression returned to calm.
Speaking of which, Yu Ruyan had sent him a letter a while ago.
She had written that she successfully broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and became a Great Demon.
However, since she hadn’t used a Foundation Establishment Pill, her foundation was still unstable after the breakthrough, and she would need a year to consolidate her Cultivation Realm.
After she consolidated her realm, she planned to hold a small Foundation Establishment Celebration, inviting him to attend for a small reunion at Red Cloud Mountain.
Xu Chang’an had, of course, replied to her letter and gladly accepted the invitation.
’I hope I can successfully refine a batch of Foundation Establishment Pills before I attend Yu Ruyan’s Foundation Establishment Celebration!’
Xu Chang’an already knew the refining method for the Foundation Establishment Pill by heart.
Over the past few years, he had occasionally observed when Pill Master Ye or the other two Second Order Middle Grade Alchemists refined Foundation Establishment Pills.
As a result, he had gained considerable insight into the process.
He simply hadn’t yet attempted to put his knowledge into practice.
After all, the materials for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill were precious. A single failure would mean a loss of at least twenty to thirty thousand Demon Stones!
A single Foundation Establishment Pill was worth more than ten thousand Demon Stones!
And a single batch could produce several Foundation Establishment Pills!