When Xiao Yan emerged from the magma world, he did not immediately rush to refine the Heavenly Soul Merging Blood Pill. A seventh-grade elixir was no ordinary matter. With his current strength, even at his peak and with the aid of a heterogenous flame, his success rate would barely exceed fifty percent. To say nothing of his current state, enervated after crafting the Earth Demon Puppet. Moreover, he had yet to fully gather all the herbs required for the Heavenly Soul Merging Blood Pill. Refining such an elixir would not be a one-off affair; therefore, Xiao Yan had to prepare sufficient materials in advance to avoid running short halfway through.
The search for the herbs was not a taxing task for Xiao Yan. After informing Xiao Li of the names of the herbs, he set the forces of the Xiao Sect on the hunt. This large-scale search proved far more efficient than if Xiao Yan had undertaken it alone. After entrusting the hunt to Xiao Li, Xiao Yan felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. Most days, he roamed the Inner Academy, occasionally guiding some members of the Rock Gate before retreating to quiet cultivation, hoping to soon reach his so-called ‘peak state.’ This period of waiting lasted nearly ten days. In that time, the herbs Xiao Yan needed were finally collected by the Xiao Sect, through considerable effort. The abundance of the harvest bolstered Xiao Yan’s confidence to go all-in.
Three days after the delivery of the herbs to Xiao Yan, he, deep in the stillness of his chamber, slowly opened his eyes. As his gaze unfurled, a sudden whistling wind echoed through the sealed room, mingled with the low rumble of distant thunder. An invisible force buffeted Xiao Yan’s robes, and within his dark eyes, a faint glimmer of spirit flashed. At this moment, Xiao Yan was almost at the peak of his six-star Battle Emperor state!
“It is time,” a soft murmur escaped Xiao Yan’s lips. He then rose slowly, followed by a sudden, low crackle reminiscent of rushing thunder resounding in the still room, and his form began to blur.
As his silhouette faded, it dissipated oddly. In the center of the Inner Academy stood a towering stone staircase, culminating in a small platform, barely spacious enough for two people to sit cross-legged. This spot, the highest in the Inner Academy, was usually off-limits to regular students. Viewing it from the Inner Academy, it appeared as a slim stone ladder, hoisting the tiny platform into the air. Standing atop, one could take in the entire academy. Similarly, anyone up there would be the first to capture the attention of the entire inner academy.
This stone-platform staircase, built long ago, was used by the mysterious Headmaster for his daily practice, according to Senior Great Elder Su Qian. Ordinary students were typically forbidden to ascend. Yet, upon hearing that Xiao Yan intended to refine a seventh-grade elixir, Su Qian specially opened it for him. Naturally, this place was not as ordinary as it appeared. The space around the stone platform bore subtle, undetectable spatial fluctuations, drawing in and concentrating the energy around it like a magnet.
Here, training was particularly effective, and the subtle spatial vibrations added a layer of protection, making it safer. In the Inner Academy, very few were worthy of cultivating here. Now, after a long silence, a faint rumbling sound suddenly reverberated from the stone platform. In the distance, a figure streaked like a lightning bolt, appearing on the platform in a flash, then sitting cross-legged.
It was Xiao Yan, fresh from his meditation, now in a rare and peak state of form. His dense Dou Qi overflowed, creating a sense of power that even some at the peak of Battle Emperor seldom achieved. Such a presence, like a light in the darkness, was impossible to ignore. As he appeared, figures shot out from every corner of the Inner Academy, gathering hundreds of meters away, their gazes fixed on Xiao Yan.
After the elders, several more figures darted to the sky. The elders bowed upon recognizing them. In the Inner Academy, the only one who could command such respect was Su Qian. He gazed at Xiao Yan from afar, feeling the undulating Dou Qi around him, an expression of surprise flashing across his face. Turning to the Little Healer Immortal beside him, he chuckled, “It seems this youngster has put in a lot of effort for today.”
The Little Healer Immortal nodded slightly, her gaze drifting to the multitude below. “Will refining elixirs here disturb him?”
“Rest assured, the space waves around the platform, set by the Headmaster, make it nearly impossible for external forces to interfere. I suggested this place for refinement, considering the natural phenomena that arise when high-grade elixirs are forged. The arrangement could provide some assistance to him,” Su Qian replied, waving his hand.
The Little Healer Immortal nodded, her grayish-purple eyes turning back to Xiao Yan. The sudden appearance of so many elders from the Inner Academy naturally caused a commotion. Many pairs of eyes followed their gaze, fixing on the black-robed youth meditating on the platform, causing a burst of whispers to erupt.
“Isn’t that Senior Xiao Yan? Why is he there?”
“I heard from the Rock Gate that he’s planning to refine a high-grade elixir.”
“Really refining elixirs? Rumor has it that Senior Xiao Yan is not just strong but also a Grade 6 Alchemist. Seeing him work today, I can boast to my family about it!”
As the murmurs spread, more and more students paused their daily tasks, spilling out of their rooms and into the open, craning their necks to watch the platform. Their gaze fell on the slightly gaunt black figure, a mix of awe and reverence in their eyes. After the fierce battle with the Earth Fiend Old Ghost, Xiao Yan had become a figure of great esteem, even among the elders.
On a high pavilion near the platform, a group stood, each wearing the Rock Gate emblem. Among them were Wu Hao, Hu Jia, Xiao Yu, Xin Lan, and others. They knew more about Xiao Yan’s upcoming alchemy. Seventh-grade elixirs, a grade that made one shudder, were extremely rare, even in the Black Corner Domain. Such alchemists had not been seen in the domain for years. Achieving this level placed one among the best in the entire Central Plains, able to stir considerable unrest. The rarity of this tier meant even Grand Elders might vie for it…
“He’s always restless, even on the eve of his departure. Today’s scene may be the grandest in Inner Academy history,” Wu Hao remarked, glancing down at the mass of students, all eyes on the black-clad youth above.
“If he succeeds, he could be the greatest student since Gan Nan Academy’s founding,” Xiao Yu smiled, her eyes misty as she watched the lean figure. Who would have thought the boy once dubbed a waste in the clan would now sit in Gan Nan Academy’s most honored place?
“Since Gan Nan Academy was established, two students ascended to Battle Emperor, and one to Battle Sect, the latter with extraordinary cultivation talent. But if Xiao Yan can refine a seventh-grade elixir, he will surpass them all,” Hu Jia added, smiling at Xiao Yan. “This guy is truly impressive. Even I’m a bit charmed. No wonder the fair lady Xun’Er was swept off her feet.”
Xin Lan also smiled, her eyes alight with excitement. If Xiao Yan could produce a seventh-grade elixir, his potential would be terrifying, especially for such a young alchemist, even in the Central Plains.
Unaware of the stir he caused, Xiao Yan focused entirely on his task, the outside world fading away. Exhaling a breath laced with heat, his eyes grew intensely serious. With a wave, a massive crimson cauldron materialized, landing with a clang on the platform. Xiao Yan’s most challenging alchemical undertaking had begun.
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