The establishment of the Flame Alliance, as expected, immediately caused a massive uproar in the Jia Ma Empire. Countless people were astounded by this alliance gathering many powerful figures, including the three major families of the Empire and the Alchemists’ Guild. Such a lineup was almost on par with the once dominant Yun Lantong Sect; no one had thought that Xiao Yan could quietly accomplish what even the Yun Lantong Sect had failed to do.
Many sensed that from now on, the Jia Ma Empire would likely be dominated by the “Flame Alliance.” The Yun Lantong Sect had truly been replaced…
While the world outside was in an uproar over the establishment of the Flame Alliance, Xiao Yan was completely oblivious, quietly hunkered down in a secret chamber, preparing to concoct a longevity pill for his second brother.
In the secret chamber, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on a stone bed, with a bright red medicine cauldron standing before him. On a stone slab to the side, various herbs were neatly arranged, emitting a rich medicinal fragrance that spread throughout the chamber like wisps of smoke.
“Qingming Longevity Pill…” Xiao Yan closed his eyes slightly, whispering the name of the pill, his mind bustling with the various methods of concoction and the critical points to remember. After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, staring intently at the cauldron, muttering softly, “These two sets of ingredients must be successfully refined into one pill. My second brother’s remaining life is less than two months. If all the ingredients are wasted, it will be difficult to find them again. If time runs out, the consequences…”
Thinking this, Xiao Yan frowned, exhaling deeply, his eyes showing determination. No matter what, today he must refine the Qingming Longevity Pill successfully!
With that, he took several deep breaths, quickly clearing his mind of distractions. He flicked his fingers, and a greenish emerald lotus heart fire appeared at his fingertips. A flick, and the flame shot out, engulfing the entire cauldron. In an instant, a roaring fire sprang up, the intense heat seeping through despite the barrier of the cauldron, gradually raising the temperature in the chamber.
Ignoring the rising temperature, Xiao Yan fixed his gaze on the cauldron. After a moment, he summoned a fruit with a green, thorny exterior and a rich, aromatic scent.
Glancing at the Qingming Fruit, one of the main ingredients for the Qingming Longevity Pill, Xiao Yan could sense the potent life force within. Holding the fruit in his hand, he flicked his finger, unhesitatingly sending it into the fiery embrace of the cauldron. His soul energy surged from his brow, penetrating the cauldron, controlling the heat and carefully monitoring the transformation of the Qingming Fruit.
Under the dual mystical flames of the Jade Lotus, even the toughest ingredients would surrender in no time. The Qingming Fruit was no exception. Despite the potent life force within, it soon gave way. Under Xiao Yan’s command, the flame roared, and a milky white liquid began to ooze out from the Qingming Fruit.
As the fire slowly evaporated, more of the milky white liquid flowed out, eventually forming a palm-sized pool in the cauldron.
Xiao Yan’s gaze remained fixed on the cauldron. About half an hour later, he changed his hand seal, the flames in the cauldron gradually dimming. The Qingming Fruit had completely dissolved, replaced by a pool of vibrant, milky white liquid.
Seeing the milky white liquid, Xiao Yan sighed in relief. He flicked his finger, and the flames surged higher. Under the intense heat, the milky white liquid shrank rapidly, its color deepening until it resembled a white pearl.
Satisfied that the Qingming Fruit had been refined without incident, Xiao Yan continued, summoning another herb and throwing it into the cauldron. As time passed, more and more herbs were thrown in, and the medicinal forces within the cauldron grew. Xiao Yan’s face became increasingly serious, his soul energy enveloping every medicinal force, controlling them at different temperatures for extraction.
After about three hours, a burst of intense firelight erupted in the cauldron. Though Xiao Yan tried to suppress it, three of the painstakingly extracted medicinal liquids evaporated in the sudden heat. Thus, the refining attempt failed.
Frowning, Xiao Yan shook his head, removing the remaining liquid and sinking into deep thought. Reviewing his mistakes, he refocused, ready to make another attempt. With no hesitation, he threw more herbs into the cauldron.
This time, Xiao Yan’s concentration was absolute, discarding any outside distraction. In his eyes, only the cauldron and the raging fire mattered. As he focused, his hands moved in a blur, the flames under his control shifting in complex patterns, leaving any alchemist in awe.
Herbs arced through the air, falling into the cauldron, turning into the needed powder and liquid. This second attempt, with extreme focus, did not fail. After nearly a day and night, a rough pill began to form, emitting a potent life force. Xiao Yan took a deep breath, his fatigue dissipating.
“Indeed, a miraculous life-extending pill…”
Praising silently, Xiao Yan was amazed. Life-extending pills were extremely rare, even in the Dou Qi continent. Unless one reached the peak of cultivation, everyone faced the end of their lifespan. If one could break through, their lifespan would naturally extend, but if they couldn’t, even a Battle Emperor or Battle Sect would have to accept their fate. This life-extending pill, however, could provide a significant boost, allowing one to reach new heights in both lifespan and strength.
Such pills were highly sought after, even more than those that directly enhanced one’s power. After all, while there were many recipes for enhancing strength, those for extending life were few and far between.
As his thoughts swirled, the uneven-shaped pill began to smoothen under the jade green fire, emitting a rich medicinal aroma.
“Is it finally successful?” Staring at the pearl-like pill in the fire, Xiao Yan felt a slight thrill. He dared not relax, continuing to monitor the pill’s progress. Any mistake now would be catastrophic.
Finally, the pearl-like pill emitted a blinding light and, wrapped in a white glow, burst from the cauldron. It flitted around the chamber, trying to escape but finding no exit.
“A remarkable Qingming Longevity Pill, born with the instinct to flee…” Seeing this, Xiao Yan chuckled, waving his hand to draw the glowing pill into a jade bottle.
As the pill settled, Xiao Yan let out a sigh of relief, feeling the exhaustion from the prolonged refining. Stowing the bottle, he suddenly trembled, closing his eyes briefly, sensing something. After a while, he opened his eyes, muttering, “I feel the barrier of the Battle Emperor level. It seems my breakthrough is imminent…”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage