After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 34

The tempering effect brought by the Cold Marrow Tempering [Fluid/Pill] gradually settled, and the increase in physical strength, in turn, subtly accelerated the cultivation speed of the Netherworld Emperor Scripture. Ye Li clearly sensed that the barrier to the Meridian Condensation Realm within her body was becoming increasingly distinct, as if separated by only a thin veil, within reach.

However, she was not in a hurry to break through. Her experience as a Supreme Being in her previous life told her that the solidity of the foundation directly determined how far one could go in the future. Especially in her situation, burdened with a heaven-defying cultivation technique and a deep-seated blood feud, every step had to be taken surely and steadily, without any hint of instability.

“My shortcoming lies in the ‘foundation’,” Ye Li had a clear self-assessment. Although she stood at a great height in her previous life, many fundamental theories—especially the ‘miscellaneous arts’ that required extensive time and practice, such as alchemy, array formation, talismans, and various branches of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation—were either breezed through due to her exceptional talent or neglected due to her focus on combat and killing. Since her rebirth, her ability to refine simple medicinal liquids, draw talismans, see through illusionary killing formations, and utilize array patterns mostly relied on her high-level perspective from her past life and the aid of the Reincarnation Mirror, not a true systematic mastery.

Like a skyscraper lacking a strong, broad foundation, there would ultimately be a limit.

The Xuan Yun Sect, with its long history, and the vast collection of ancient texts in its Inheritance Pavilion, were precisely the best resources to make up for this deficiency!

On this day, she once again arrived at the main Inheritance Pavilion, located at the foot of the main peak, Qingyun Mountain. Unlike the branch halls in the various peaks, the main pavilion was majestic, soaring nine stories high into the clouds. It was said to house the sect’s most core inheritances, with the higher levels restricted to core disciples or those who had made great contributions.

Even the first floor was as vast as a small town. Countless tall jade-slip bookshelves were neatly arranged, emitting a soft light and a faint scent of ink. Disciples moved within, yet it was exceptionally quiet, with only the soft sound of footsteps and the rustling of turning jade slips.

At the entrance, a deeply experienced elder sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, like a statue. All disciples entering the first floor had to show their token to the elder, and after deducting contribution points, they could enter. Consulting basic texts cost ten contribution points per hour, with copying priced separately.

Ye Li paid fifty contribution points, reserving five hours. Time was precious, and she needed to use it efficiently.

Stepping onto the first floor, a sea of vast information seemed to rush towards her. The jade slips were classified into distinct areas: Foundation of Cultivation Techniques, Elementary Five-Element Spell Arts, Basic Alchemy, Talisman Introduction, Detailed Array Formations, Spiritual Herb Illustrated Guide, Mineral Compendium, Demonic Beast Lineages, Geographical Records, Sect History…

Ordinary disciples coming here mostly rushed directly to the cultivation technique or spell arts areas, hoping to find ways to instantly boost their combat strength. Ye Li, however, headed straight for the relatively quiet ‘Miscellaneous Arts’ areas.

Her goals were clear—Array Formation and Alchemy.

The path of array formation was profound and complex, involving the laws of heaven and earth, energy circulation, spatial changes, and was crucial for combat, defense, exploration, and even cultivation. Many contents in her ancient notebook involved highly advanced array principles, and without a solid foundation, she couldn’t interpret or utilize them.

The path of alchemy, on the other hand, was an indispensable aid on the road of cultivation, concerning cultivation advancement, healing, detoxification, and breaking through bottlenecks. To fully utilize materials like the Jade Marrow Ganoderma in her possession to refine a true Jade Marrow Body Tempering Pill, or even higher-grade pills, systematic theoretical knowledge was the foundation.

She first arrived at the “Detailed Array Formations” area. The bookshelves were densely packed with jade slips:

Fundamentals of Array Formation Overview, Analysis of Elementary Spirit Gathering Arrays, Principles and Countermeasures of Common Illusion Arrays, Essentials of Five-Element Array Base Deployment, The Correlation between Runes and Array Formations, Preliminary Glimpse of Spatial Arrays (Incomplete Volume)…

She didn’t aim too high, starting with the most basic, Fundamentals of Array Formation Overview. Her divine sense sank into the jade slip, and a wealth of information poured into her mind: the definition of arrays, classifications (Illusion Arrays, Killing Arrays, Confinement Arrays, Auxiliary Arrays, etc.), basic constituent units (Array Base, Array Eye, Array Pattern), principles of energy flow, characteristics of common array materials…

This most fundamental knowledge was like timely rain to her. Many previously vague concepts became clear, and many things she had vaguely sensed through experience now had systematic theoretical backing.

She immersed herself, absorbing the knowledge ravenously. Her powerful divine soul allowed her reading and comprehension speed to far surpass the average person; she could practically read ten lines at a glance and never forget what she read.

An hour later, she switched to The Correlation between Runes and Array Formations. Runes were the language of arrays, the foundation for constructing array patterns. This text detailed the structure, meaning, and energy guidance methods of basic runes, and how different combinations of runes could form array patterns with various effects.

This began to resonate wonderfully with the content in her ancient notebook. Many of the fragmented and obscure runes in the notebook could now be traced to corresponding simplified forms or variants in this basic text. As she read, she constantly deduced and verified them in her mind, and many past confusions were suddenly resolved!

She then picked up Analysis of Elementary Spirit Gathering Arrays and studied it carefully. The simple Spirit Gathering Array in her quiet room no longer held any secrets for her; she could even instantly identify several areas that could be optimized to improve its efficiency.

Time flew. Three hours passed quickly, and Ye Li was completely lost in the ocean of array formation knowledge. She didn’t directly try to learn how to deploy powerful arrays but focused entirely on the “fundamentals” and “principles.” She knew deeply that only with a solid foundation could she autonomously deduce, create, and even break through more advanced arrays in the future.

During this time, some disciples occasionally looked curiously at this “pretty Junior Sister” who consistently stayed in the basic area, their eyes reflecting confusion. In the eyes of these disciples, spending contribution points on these dry, fundamental theories instead of exchanging them for powerful spell arts was a bit “neglecting proper duties.”

Ye Li ignored the surrounding glances.

With the remaining time, she moved to the “Basic Alchemy” area.

Again, she started with the most basic texts: Elementary Analysis of Spiritual Herb Properties, Basic Control of Pill Refining Fire Heat, Overview of Medicinal Property Fusion Reactions.

Compared to the abstraction of array formations, alchemy emphasized practice, but theory was equally important. The attributes of various spiritual herbs, their compatibility and antagonism, extraction temperatures, fusion timing, pill-forming techniques… countless minute details needed to be mastered.

She focused on reading the principles of body-tempering pills and the analysis of several common pill formulas, cross-referencing them with the formulas included in the Netherworld Emperor Scripture. She gained a lot of insight. She also developed a clearer idea of how to maximize the utility of the Jade Marrow Ganoderma.

She specifically sought out a book, Analysis of Common Failures in Low-Grade Pill Formulas, and carefully studied the recorded reasons for various furnace explosions, refining failures, and poor pill quality. The lessons learned from the failures of predecessors were often more valuable than successful experiences.

As the reserved time was about to expire, Ye Li’s divine sense withdrew from the last jade slip, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Deep within her pupils, countless runes and medicinal herb images seemed to flash by, making them appear more profound and wise.

The five hours of systematic reading held a value for her that far exceeded the harvest of a simple mission. This laid a solid cornerstone for her future path in alchemy and array formation. Many vague experiences from her previous life were now connected by systematic theory, achieving full comprehension and forming a knowledge system that truly belonged to her.

She walked to the jade slip copying area. She did not copy any cultivation techniques or spell arts but spent contribution points to copy Basic Rune Compendium, Analysis of Common Array Nodes, Spiritual Herb Property Comparison Chart, and Low-Grade Pill Formula Failure Analysis—the four most fundamental texts that were currently most useful to her.

As she left the Inheritance Pavilion, the elder guarding the door seemed to slightly raise his eyelids, glancing at her. A hint of faint surprise flashed in his muddy eyes. Ordinary disciples emerged either excited, dejected, or exhausted. This woman, however, had clear and calm eyes, and her aura was steady, as if she had just taken an ordinary stroll. Yet, deep in those eyes, there seemed to be something indescribable added.

On her way back to Cloud Pill Peak, Ye Li’s mind was still racing. Combining her newly acquired knowledge, she had a clearer plan for her upcoming cultivation and resource utilization:

“The Spirit Gathering Array in the quiet room is too simple; I need to purchase materials and optimize it myself, increasing its efficiency by at least thirty percent.”

“Although the Cold Marrow Tempering [Fluid/Pill]’s medicinal power is potent, the absorption method can be improved. If a miniature array can be used to assist the medicine’s penetration, the effect will be better.”

“Before refining the Jade Marrow Body Tempering Pill, I should practice with the Tranquil Heart Pill to master the ‘Pill Coagulation Art’ and ‘Pill Collection Seal’.”

“That mysterious mineral ore… perhaps I can try using basic runes to guide it and see if I can stimulate some of its properties…”

Knowledge is power. At this moment, she genuinely felt the meaning of this phrase.

Returning to her small courtyard, she immediately started working.

First, she optimized the Spirit Gathering Array in the quiet room. She did not completely alter the original array base but used several cheap materials she had newly exchanged (spending less than twenty contribution points) to add auxiliary runes at key nodes and slightly adjust the energy flow lines.

In less than half an hour, the modification was complete. When she reactivated the Spirit Gathering Array, she clearly felt a significant increase in the speed and range of spiritual energy absorption! While still insufficient for the full operation of the Netherworld Emperor Scripture, it was more than adequate for daily cultivation.

Next, she began attempting to refine the Tranquil Heart Pill. Inside the earth-fire chamber, she no longer relied entirely on feeling and brute force control by her divine soul as she did the first time, but strictly followed the newly learned techniques for fire control and the sequence of medicinal property fusion.

Although she failed two furnaces due to lack of practice, wasting some materials, she finally succeeded in forming a pill on the third attempt!

Lifting the furnace lid, three round pills, emitting a faint fragrance and bearing a weak cloud pattern, lay quietly at the bottom of the furnace.

“Lower-grade pill, one cloud pattern.” Ye Li nodded slightly, reasonably satisfied. The first successful refinement of a finished pill was significant. More importantly, through practice, she deepened her theoretical understanding into practical feel.

She didn’t stop, continuing to use the remaining materials to practice. By the time all ten sets of ingredients were used up, she had succeeded with two more furnaces, obtaining seven lower-grade Tranquil Heart Pills. The success rate was steadily increasing.

Taking the refined pills, she returned to the market area of the Ten Thousand Manifestation Hall. Instead of setting up a stall, she sold them directly to a shop that acquired pills. Seven lower-grade Tranquil Heart Pills exchanged for thirty-five contribution points. Although she still incurred a loss of fifteen points after deducting the cost (fifty points), she didn’t mind. The increase in proficiency could not be measured by contribution points.

Having completed all this, she truly calmed down and took out the dark-blue mysterious mineral ore and the Basic Rune Compendium jade slip.

She attempted to outline the simplest “Spirit Gathering” rune in the air, using her spiritual energy as ink, and gently pushed it towards the ore, following the method described in the text.

The rune touched the surface of the ore, and instead of dissipating, it was slowly absorbed, like a drop of water merging into a sponge! The dark-blue glow on the ore’s surface seemed to brighten slightly!

It was effective!

Ye Li’s spirit was lifted, and she continued to try other basic runes: “Sturdiness,” “Sharpness,” “Ice Cold”…

Most of the runes were absorbed by the ore, producing a slight corresponding reaction. This ore was like a greedy sponge, capable of absorbing and storing the power of runes!

This discovery filled her with pleasant surprise! It meant that this object was an excellent material embryo for artifact refining, and could even serve as the core of certain special arrays!

She dared not try too much, for fear of causing an uncontrollable change. She carefully put the ore away, already having a preliminary idea of how to handle it in the future.

Moonlight sprinkled into the small courtyard. Ye Li sat cross-legged in the optimized Spirit Gathering Array, holding two lower-grade spirit stones, slowly absorbing spiritual energy.

Her cultivation remained at the peak of the Spirit Initiation Realm, but her “foundation” was becoming terrifyingly thick and broad at an alarming speed.

The seeds of alchemy, array formation, talismans, and even artifact refining were now sown, awaiting the day they would take root, sprout, and grow into towering trees.

The five hours of accumulation in the Inheritance Pavilion were quietly transforming into the formidable foundation for her future rise.