Silence filled the entire area, and all eyes gazed at the unconscious Grand Master Huan lying on the ground with profound regret. No one had expected a failure at the last moment after he had persisted for ten days. Within the medicinal cauldron, two intertwining streams of azure and crimson light continuously swirled, and the rich aroma of medicinal herbs permeated the entire square. Yet, at this moment, no one could feel as uplifted as before; their hearts were heavy. Tang Zhen’s gaze was fixed on the cauldron, his despondent expression tugging at everyone’s heart. It was a poignant sight to see a great figure like him in such a state of dejection. At the edge of the square, Tang Huo’er’s beautiful face turned pale. After a brief moment, she gave a bitter smile, her delicate figure wavering slightly. Several disciples behind her quickly rushed forward to support her.
The entire square was deathly silent. The oppressive atmosphere made it hard for anyone to speak. The silence and tension continued for quite some time until a low, solemn voice suddenly broke through the heavy silence, breaking the hush.
“Master Tang, can I continue the refinement?”
Even in his dejected state, Tang Zhen couldn’t help but lift his head in surprise, looking at Yan Xiao’s serious face. He opened his mouth slightly, a flicker of hope lighting up in his despairing heart. “Young Friend Yan Xiao, can you refine the Fire Bodhi Pill alone?”
Yan Xiao slowly shook his head. This task was too much for him. Even now, his chances of successfully refining a high-rank Seventh-Grade pill were extremely low. But, nonetheless, it was better than doing nothing.
“If I continue refining, there might still be a chance. But if we give up here, it’s a complete failure!” Yan Xiao met Tang Zhen’s gaze, his eyes burning with the tenacious spirit of youth. Years of trials and tribulations had forged Yan Xiao’s unyielding character. The word “give up” rarely left his lips. If he had given up midway during his journey of cultivation, he would still be considered a waste by the Xiao family, let alone reach his current standing.
Feeling the intensity of Yan Xiao’s gaze, Tang Zhen’s heart was stirred. He turned to the cauldron, where the azure and crimson lights were surging. After a moment of hesitation, he clenched his teeth and said in a low, resolute voice, “Since you say so, then please go ahead. Even if we fail, I won’t hold you responsible!”
Seeing Tang Zhen’s agreement, Yan Xiao smiled and nodded slightly. “Master Tang, please guard me and ensure no one disturbs me. I will do my best. Whether or not I succeed will be determined by fate!”
With these words, Yan Xiao closed his eyes, and his hand seals rapidly changed. The soul power from his brow surged out without reservation, rushing into the fire-red medicinal cauldron like an endless wave.
As Yan Xiao began, Tang Zhen straightened slightly, his defeated expression quickly disappearing. His body gradually floated upward, and his sharp gaze swept the surroundings. “From now on, no one is to step within a hundred paces of the stone platform!” he declared, his voice firm.
Feeling the sternness in Tang Zhen’s words, the nearby Burning Flame Valley disciples grew solemn. They immediately bowed in acknowledgment, stepping back in an orderly manner without making a sound.
On the platform, the alchemy masters were stunned by this turn of events. Once they realized what was happening, their mouths gradually dropped open. Yan Xiao was actually trying to refine the Fire Bodhi Pill alone? Though the only remaining step was the final refinement, it was still a monumental task. High-rank Seventh-Grade pills were extremely rare even in the Pill Tower, and few people could refine them.
Though everyone was incredulous, they didn’t dare speak out when they saw Tang Zhen’s stern face. They kept their doubts buried deep in their hearts.
Inside the cauldron, Yan Xiao’s expression was gravely serious. His soul power almost controlled every inch of the cauldron, and this only made him more aware of the terrifying complexity of the high-rank Seventh-Grade pill. The concentrated medicinal power within could even trigger energy waves in the environment. If not for the mountain-melting cauldron, the surrounding natural energy would have been in utter chaos.
His soul power enveloped the azure and crimson lights, breaking them into countless threads that slowly merged into the two glowing entities. As soon as his soul power infiltrated the lights, Yan Xiao’s body jolted. The two viscous drops, one azure and one crimson, contained the essence of over a hundred precious medicinal herbs, each having grown over countless years. The combined medicinal power was overwhelmingly dense.
Moreover, due to the contact between the two viscous fluids, the medicinal power became particularly volatile. The fusion process was incredibly difficult, and the aggressive powers were constantly pushing back against each other.
After observing for a while, Yan Xiao noticed that the resistance in the two fluids was not diminishing; instead, it was growing stronger. The distance between the two fluids was also gradually increasing. At this rate, it would be impossible to bring them together, let alone fuse them.
This challenging situation was something Yan Xiao had never encountered before, even during his previous refinement inside the Inner Academy. Of course, that was partly due to the mystical state he had entered. Now, he had no such luck and could only rely on his own skills.
“This isn’t going well,” he muttered, exhaling deeply. With a thought, the soul power in the cauldron surged, compressing the two drops of fluid fiercely.
“Bang!” A low thud echoed inside the cauldron. Under the intense pressure of Yan Xiao’s soul power, the two fluid drops were forcefully compressed together. However, this only caused them to push back even more fiercely, generating even more chaotic energy waves. Each clash with the soul power made Yan Xiao’s body tremble slightly.
“All these years of refining, and I can’t subdue you two little things today?” Yan Xiao’s anger was aroused, and he gathered the vast soul power in the cauldron into a vortex, spinning wildly.
As the soul power condensed into a whirlpool, the pressure suddenly increased. In this fierce pressure, the two fluid drops gradually began to merge. The moment they made contact, Yan Xiao lowered the pressure slightly. At the same time, a green flame appeared and engulfed the fluids.
Yan Xiao’s precise control of pressure and flames was impeccable. Any slight error could have damaged the medicinal power, reducing the chances of success. Though he had forced the two drops to come together, it came at a significant cost to his soul. But now was not the time to dwell on that. Yan Xiao’s soul power steadily invaded the two drops, observing every subtle change, and carefully managed the pressure and heat.
Outside, complete silence reigned. Tang Zhen watched as Yan Xiao’s body trembled, his heart in his throat. Seeing Yan Xiao’s face turn increasingly pale, even Tang Zhen felt his heart race. Fortunately, Yan Xiao’s trembling gradually subsided. At that moment, Tang Zhen noticed the sudden appearance of a green flame inside the cauldron. He saw the fluids slowly turning, showing signs of coagulation.
This was a familiar sight to Tang Zhen. He recognized it as the precursor to pill formation. His heart raced, and a hint of excitement appeared on his face. He never imagined that Yan Xiao could actually complete the final step alone.
While Tang Zhen watched from the outside, seeming calm, Yan Xiao was exerting a tremendous effort. If not for his extraordinary soul power, he would never have completed this arduous task. Even so, his soul was starting to feel weak.
Taking a deep breath, Yan Xiao suppressed his weariness and focused on controlling the heat and pressure. Under the relentless heat and moderate soul pressure, the azure and crimson fluids gradually solidified.
The silence in the square persisted for a full day and night, yet no one left. Every eye was fixed on the stone platform, wondering if the young man could complete the final step.
A faint ray of dawn quietly pierced the darkness of the night. At that moment, the natural energy within the expansive Burning Flame Valley suddenly surged.
Sitting cross-legged on the stone platform, Tang Zhen’s eyes snapped open, delight filling his gaze as he saw the medicinal fragrance waft from the cauldron at the center.
“Rumble!” As Tang Zhen opened his eyes, a dark cloud suddenly gathered in the sky, rumbling with thunder and lightning.
“Dan… Dan Lei? Could he have really succeeded? How is this possible?” The alchemy masters in attendance were stunned, unable to believe their eyes.
At the edge of the square, Tang Huo’er, dressed in red, looked up at the stormy sky. Her slender figure trembled with uncontrollable excitement. “He… he succeeded?!”
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