Exiting from Elder Liu’s room, Xiao Yan and Elder Hao exchanged a glance, both unable to stifle their laughter. “Thank you, Elder Hao,” Xiao Yan stepped closer and whispered, “I will certainly repay you in the future.”
“Hehe, it was nothing. Now that guy has lost his bragging rights in front of us. We can have some peace and quiet now,” Elder Hao said with a wave of his hand. However, the look on his face suggested that Xiao Yan’s words had indeed made him quite happy. After all, having seen Xiao Yan’s alchemy skills, he had long harbored the idea of befriending him. The fact that a fifth-grade alchemist owed him a favor, no matter how small, was already quite satisfying.
The two laughed and walked out of the tranquil area where the elders resided. Since Elder Hao needed to return to guard the medicine storeroom and Xiao Yan had to go back to the Pan Gate, they parted ways at a fork in the road.
Standing at the fork, watching Elder Hao’s disappearing figure, Xiao Yan let out a long breath. The joy in his heart couldn’t help but show on his face. Now that everything was complete, it was time to start the alchemy. However, the Earth Spirit Pill was a sixth-grade pill. With his current strength, he could only refine some slightly ordinary fifth-grade pills. A sixth-grade pill was simply out of the question. Therefore, the task of refining the Earth Spirit Pill would have to be left to Medicine Elder.
“With the time pressing, it’s uncertain when the Heartfall Face might erupt. So, the sooner we refine the Earth Spirit Pill, the better,” while Xiao Yan was deep in thought, Medicine Elder’s voice quietly echoed in his mind.
Xiao Yan raised his head slightly, looking around at the few people nearby, and nodded imperceptibly. He then set off towards the Pan Gate, asking softly, “When does Master want to start?”
“Best within the next few days,” Medicine Elder pondered. “Rest for a day or two first, then we need to go into the deep mountains again. Refining a sixth-grade pill will cause some celestial anomalies, and the Earth Spirit Pill is one of the top among sixth-grade pills, so the commotion will be even greater. If we refine it in the Inner Academy, it will definitely be exposed.”
Xiao Yan nodded, indicating his understanding. After a moment’s thought, he quickened his pace. Soon, he appeared outside the Pan Gate. Perhaps because it was getting late, those who wanted to challenge him were all gone. This saved Xiao Yan the trouble of sneaking in again. He straightened his robe and walked in through the main gate.
Over the next day or two, Xiao Yan remained in the Pan Gate, quietly cultivating. He didn’t even enter the Sky Burner Qi Tower. During these two days, the Pan Gate experienced no significant issues. The sales of pills now accounted for 70% of the Inner Academy market. More and more seniors were joining, attracted by the Pan Gate’s reputation. The Alchemy Team, which originally had only three members, had, after a strict selection process, increased to six. As a result, the speed of pill refinement had improved significantly.
With the support of the abundant Fire Energy, the Pan Gate’s strength was now on par with some of the top forces in the Inner Academy. Moreover, under the attraction of the Fire Energy reward and punishment system established by Xun’er and others, two Dou Spirit experts with a strength of around three stars were even drawn in. This was something Xiao Yan had not anticipated.
Including these two Dou Spirits, the Pan Gate now had three Dou Spirit experts. Such a lineup was qualified to become a true top force, coupled with its strong economic backing. Being a member of the Pan Gate was already a point of pride.
The Pan Gate now was almost like a completely different entity from the one composed entirely of freshmen just half a year ago. In that short half-year, a once insignificant force had become so powerful. Xiao Yan’s name was becoming increasingly well-known in the Inner Academy.
Although he was ranked only 34th on the “Strong List,” his reputation was on par with those in the top ten.
On the third day, Xiao Yan finally stopped his secluded cultivation. Over the past three days, he had solidified his strength at the level of a one-star Dou Spirit. Due to several rounds of pill refinement, his Dou Qi had also improved significantly. At this rate, he might soon reach the peak of a one-star Dou Spirit.
Leaving his room, Xiao Yan went down the stairs and saw Huo Jia in the hall. Sensing her much stronger aura, Xiao Yan realized that she had broken through to the level of a nine-star Great Dou Master after her injury. Given her cultivation talent, it wouldn’t be long before she truly broke through to Dou Spirit. When that happened, the Pan Gate would add another Dou Spirit expert.
Actually, it would be two, considering Wu Hao, the battle-obsessed madman. With his daily fights in the arena, Xiao Yan guessed that Wu Hao might break through to Dou Spirit even before Huo Jia.
Entering the hall, Xiao Yan casually ate some breakfast and briefly told Xun’er that he needed to go into the deep mountains again. Xun’er was surprised that Xiao Yan, who had just returned a few days ago, was going into the mountains again. However, seeing Xiao Yan’s serious expression, she didn’t object and merely nodded obediently.
“Go, be careful. I’ll take care of the Pan Gate,” Xun’er said softly, watching Xiao Yan finish his meal and head out.
“Yes, thank you. I’ll be back in a few days,” Xiao Yan smiled and nodded at the two, then opened the door. The blinding sunlight made him squint, and with a smile, he strode out confidently.
After leaving the Pan Gate, Xiao Yan headed straight for the outskirts of the Inner Academy. Once outside, he found a secluded spot and summoned his Purple Cloud Wings, quickly ascending into the sky. His figure turned into a dark shadow, speeding towards the deep mountains.
Flapping his Purple Cloud Wings, Xiao Yan flew for nearly an hour. Estimating that he had entered the mid-section of the mountain range, he gradually slowed down. After half an hour, he found a narrow, steep mountain peak, a few dozen feet wide, and slowly landed.
This mountain peak was almost vertical. Without the help of wings, climbing it would be impossible without a strong Dou Qi. The surrounding taller peaks formed a perfect cover, hiding the small peak in a lush forest.
As Xiao Yan landed on the small peak, Medicine Elder’s figure materialized. Surveying the surroundings, he nodded with satisfaction.
“When I refine the Earth Spirit Pill, stay close and observe my techniques carefully. Although your alchemy skills are highly sought after, there is still a huge gap between you and a true alchemy master,” Medicine Elder said solemnly.
“Yes,” Xiao Yan nodded eagerly. Observing a true alchemy master refining pills was a rare opportunity, and it would be of great benefit to him.
“Of course, if there are any celestial anomalies during the refinement, make sure to move away. You don’t want to get hurt accidentally,” Medicine Elder added, sitting cross-legged on the grass.
Xiao Yan nodded again.
“Bring out the herbs,” Medicine Elder instructed, his expression becoming serious as he took a deep breath.
Following his instructions, Xiao Yan quickly laid out several extremely rare herbs from his storage ring. Instantly, the rich medicinal fragrance enveloped the small peak, and taking a deep breath, one felt refreshed and invigorated.
Scanning the herbs, Medicine Elder nodded and waved his hand. The ancient, black ring on Xiao Yan’s finger automatically detached and floated in front of Medicine Elder.
The black ring glowed, and a half-zhang tall, pitch-black cauldron descended with a loud thud. The cauldron was adorned with strange flame patterns, which seemed to have a life of their own, moving slightly as if alive.
Seeing the cauldron, Xiao Yan felt his mouth watering. He had seen Medicine Elder summon it before, but back then, he was just a novice and didn’t understand its value in the alchemy world.
“Black Demon… tsk, a cauldron on the Heavenly Cauldron Rank. I wonder when I can get one,” Xiao Yan gazed at the imposing black cauldron, his voice full of desire. Compared to the Black Demon, the cauldrons he used before were mere trash.
Seeing Xiao Yan’s starry-eyed expression, Medicine Elder shook his head, smiling wryly. “These cauldrons on the Heavenly Cauldron Rank have their own spirit, and this Black Demon bears my soul imprint. You can’t use it now. Once I have a body to house my soul, I can remove the soul imprint, and then you can use it freely.”
Xiao Yan chuckled sheepishly.
“Alright, let’s start the refinement. Don’t get distracted, boy,” Medicine Elder said, his face becoming serious. To use the Black Demon for the refinement showed how seriously he took it.
His bony, phantom-like hand extended, and a ball of white-hot flames appeared out of nowhere. The temperature around dropped instantly, but the flames burned even more fiercely, creating a strange, contradictory feeling.
With a wave of his hand, the white flames rushed into the cauldron, and a raging fire erupted from within.
The refinement of the sixth-grade Earth Spirit Pill had officially begun.
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