Why are alchemists so popular?
Because in this world, the only thing that can defy the heavens and alter fate, apart from cultivation techniques, is elixirs!
Those unimaginable cultivation techniques, once mastered, can instantly double a warrior's strength, enabling them to fight above their rank, and even kill opponents at higher levels. Just like Su Xiaobai, who, with only an advanced warrior's realm and the addition of a few micro-level techniques, can easily crush advanced martial masters beneath his feet.
But are cultivation techniques so easy to master?
Many people, even if they obtain an excellent technique, won't be able to unleash its power without exceptional comprehension. A top-tier technique is meaningless in the hands of someone who lacks the talent to utilize it.
Elixirs, however, are different.
The only challenge with elixirs lies in the high cost of acquiring the necessary medicinal herbs, beast materials, and rare treasures. As long as you have enough funds to purchase these or enough valuables to trade, you just need to find a high-grade alchemist to refine them for you. Once consumed, the effects are immediate!
Even innate factors like cultivation aptitude can be improved and modified through elixirs—though at a steep cost.
For example, an ordinary person with the lowest cultivation aptitude, who seems destined to remain unassociated with the path of warriors, could still become a quasi-warrior, warrior, or even advanced martial master if a powerful family poured resources into them.
But no family would ever do that.
With the same amount of resources, they could produce ten martial masters, ten martial generals, or even a martial commander. Why would they waste such vast resources on someone with the lowest cultivation aptitude?
Yet Su Xiaobai had the audacity to entertain such a crazy idea!
Despite having the lowest cultivation aptitude himself, Su Xiaobai didn't consider modifying it. Why? Because his "one-click cultivation" skill already established clear rules: one small cycle per minute, one large cycle per hour, and a breakthrough every 24 hours.
No matter how much he improved his cultivation aptitude, his rate of spiritual energy absorption wouldn't change unless he chose to cultivate manually. Even if he raised his aptitude to the highest level, it wouldn't affect his one-click cultivation space or increase his cultivation speed.
So, modifying his own aptitude never crossed Su Xiaobai's mind.
However, Su Ling'er, lacking Su Xiaobai's miraculous system, could only rely on elixirs to defy fate!
"From what I know, the lowest-grade elixir capable of improving cultivation aptitude is the fourth-grade 'One-Origin Heaven-Opening Pill'!"
The One-Origin Heaven-Opening Pill had the effect of purifying a person's meridians, making previously blocked pathways more accessible. When the meridians were unobstructed, one could naturally absorb more spiritual energy, thus enhancing their cultivation aptitude.
But a single pill wouldn't be enough!
To unblock the meridian obstructions of someone with the lowest cultivation aptitude, at least ten pills would be needed!
Each fourth-grade elixir starts at a price of one million spiritual coins, and it's not uncommon for the cost to soar into the tens of millions.
This means that just improving one's cultivation aptitude could cost over a hundred million spiritual coins—and that's not even counting the subsequent investment in cultivation resources.
From this, it's clear how difficult it is to defy fate!
If people learned that ten fourth-grade elixirs were used on someone with the lowest cultivation aptitude, they'd undoubtedly curse it as a waste of money!
But for Su Xiaobai, whether it's a billion, ten billion, or even a hundred billion, he'd spare no expense!
"Let's start with refining the One-Origin Heaven-Opening Pill!"
Su Xiaobai had a natural advantage over large families.
While large families held power, had many members, and vast influence, their expenses were also tremendous. They needed resources for monthly cultivation, purchasing techniques, weapon maintenance, and countless other expenses.
Therefore, they had to allocate resources wisely, focusing only on members with better cultivation aptitude to strengthen the family and generate more profits in a virtuous cycle.
Su Xiaobai, however, was different.
His only expense was himself!
He was a family unto himself, and the only other "family member" was Su Ling'er.
Moreover, Su Xiaobai didn't require any cultivation resources for himself. Instead, his five automatic grinding shadows generated tens of millions of spiritual coins every week. With such confidence, he could afford to pour resources into Su Ling'er!
"I'll spend the next few days looking for materials to refine the One-Origin Heaven-Opening Pill!"
Su Xiaobai had already set his sights on a clear goal.
A piece of news shook the core families and government officials in the core district.
"The Yuan family was annihilated?!"
Everyone who heard the news was shocked and outraged.
The Yuan family was a small family, with their strongest member only being an advanced martial master. In the core district, there were dozens, if not hundreds, of such minor families. The true ruling powers in Base No. 18, however, were the four great families.
What shocked everyone wasn't the Yuan family's destruction, but the fact that it happened in the core district!
It was well known that Base No. 18 strictly prohibited violence, and killing core district residents was absolutely forbidden. Anyone who dared to kill a core district resident was challenging the government and the four great families, facing either escape or severe punishment.
Yet now, hundreds of Yuan family members, including the head of the family, were wiped out overnight!
The great families and the government immediately launched an investigation.
However, the Yuan family had been fully prepared to ambush Su Xiaobai, leaving no clues behind. Investigators found no leads. The only information they uncovered was that the killer's strength was formidable—at least martial general level—because the Yuan family head had been killed instantly and cleanly.
The great families and the government were furious, quickly sealing off the news and launching further investigations.
Meanwhile, smaller families, hearing whispers of the event, rushed to claim the Yuan family's hunting grounds.
Only to discover that the Zhang family had already claimed everything, leaving only a few meager scraps for others to fight over.
Zhang Henglong couldn't contain his laughter.
Three Days Later The rightful source is novel⁂fire.net
The people from Beast Treasure Pavilion arrived as scheduled.
"Mr. Su, the total is 184.8 million spiritual coins. Please confirm the amount!"