Chapter 304: Countdown to Tianhuo Venerable's Resurrection
Fusion was one of the most crucial steps in pill refinement. A single mistake would not only waste all previous efforts, but the resulting backlash could also be extremely dangerous. Even if Xiao Yan could endure it, the mental and spiritual toll would be considerable, making it nearly impossible to resume refinement immediately.
With that in mind, Xiao Yan's expression grew even more solemn. He took a deep breath of the heated air in the cave, turned his focused gaze into the cauldron, and with a single thought, the dark-golden Heavenly Flame surged forth, fully enveloping the three portions of purified medicinal essence.
Fusing medicinal energy demanded absolute control. Even the slightest disruption could ruin everything.
At this moment, Xiao Yan's focus had reached its peak. His immense soul power filled every inch of the cauldron, instantly detecting even the smallest fluctuation.
Thanks to this level of meticulous attention, the fusion proceeded relatively smoothly. Although the process was extremely slow, Xiao Yan knew better than to rush—it was better to be slow and steady than to ruin it all.
Among all the stages in pill refinement, fusion took the longest. This time, it took Xiao Yan seven entire days just to reach the final phase.
Time passed swiftly. In the blink of an eye, Tang Huo'er had broken through to two-star Dou Zong and entered the cave to quietly observe Xiao Yan's pill refinement with concern.
Cai Lin didn't argue with her this time. She simply pressed her lips together and continued guarding Xiao Yan in silence.
On this point, both women shared an unspoken understanding.
Xiao Yan, meanwhile, paid no attention to anything happening outside. All his focus was locked on the cauldron. After seven days of intense fusion, a small oval-shaped ball the size of a fist had begun to form within the rising flames.
This was the embryonic form of the Bone Fusion Pill—still far from a complete pill, but the most difficult step was now behind him. As long as he stayed focused, the rest of the process was within reach.
Tianhuo Venerable was equally excited. The smooth refinement meant his resurrection was getting closer and closer.
Before anyone realized it, another day quietly passed.
The next morning, inside the cauldron, the dark-golden flames blazed fiercely. The heat was so intense that the surface of the furnace had begun to glow faintly red. Xiao Yan, as always, remained locked in concentration, watching a small sphere rotating at a steady rhythm within the flames.
The sphere had shrunk from fist-sized to the size of a pigeon egg. It was becoming more refined and smooth with each rotation in the fire.
With the sphere's gradual compression, a powerful energy fluctuation began to take shape, one that even Xiao Yan found astonishing. It was becoming clear that this pill was approaching a level beyond typical high-grade seventh-tier pills.
It seemed all his efforts would pay off. The pill's quality and effects were going to be exceptional.
Suppressing his excitement, Xiao Yan stabilized his emotions. This was the critical moment—there was no room for distraction.
His hand seals shifted rapidly. Boundless soul power and Heavenly Flame surged forward, forming a swirling dark-golden vortex.
At the vortex's center, the sphere compressed further, and a dense medicinal aroma began to escape from the cauldron.
Cai Lin, though not an alchemist herself, had watched Xiao Yan refine pills for years and immediately recognized this as a sign of imminent success.
Tang Huo'er, with her own experience from her father, also noticed and smiled in joy.
He's about to succeed!
A moment later, a relaxed expression finally appeared on Xiao Yan's face. Within the dark-golden flames, a perfectly round pill hovered slowly. It glowed a deep crimson, as if formed from the essence of blood, with flickering flashes of light on its surface—like it was blinking. It gave off a mysterious and vivid aura.
At that same time, outside the cave—
The clear blue sky suddenly darkened with thick clouds, lightning flashing within.
"Judging by the fluctuations, this pill's tier is even higher than the Fire Bodhisattva Pill!" Tang Zhen murmured in awe as he looked up.
Xiao Yan was now not far from reaching the level of an eighth-tier alchemist!
Inside the cave, sensing the approaching pill tribulation, Xiao Yan summoned a puppet.
Its silver-white hair and lifeless silver eyes revealed its identity—Fei Tian.
This Dou Zong peak expert had reached the half-step Dou Zun realm before his death. As a result, the puppet created from his body retained peak Dou Zong strength.
After undergoing three months of thunder tempering, he was nearly ready to ascend into a Heaven Demon Puppet.
"Go. Maybe this pill tribulation will give you the final energy you need."
Xiao Yan didn't even look at him but softly spoke. Fei Tian turned into a golden-tinged silver blur and shot outside.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yan's pill refinement had reached its final stage.
Seeing the puppet fly out, Tang Zhen, who had been preparing to help, smiled and withdrew, stepping calmly into the cave.
Just as he entered, thunder boomed and lightning flashed.
Such phenomena were common in Burning Flame Valley.
Thunderstorms had echoed from deep within the valley for the past three months.
Inside the cave, Xiao Yan calmly tended to the pill. Outside, the puppet Fei Tian endured blow after blow, steadily growing stronger.
Ten minutes later, the half-golden, half-silver figure returned and stood silently by Xiao Yan's side like a statue.
At the same time, Xiao Yan struck the cauldron. The lid flew open, and the dark-golden flame carried the dark-red pill into the air.
"What kind of pill is that? It looks nearly eighth-tier!" Tang Zhen couldn't help but ask.
Only then did Xiao Yan notice he was there and replied:
"It's a peak seventh-tier pill—Bone Fusion Pill."
He sealed the pill with soul power and placed it into a prepared jade box.
"As for its effects... you'll see shortly, Uncle Tang."
Xiao Yan smiled mysteriously.
After three months of interaction, Xiao Yan's relationship with Tang Huo'er had grown much closer—and so had his rapport with Tang Zhen.
Of course, this new closeness wasn't something Xiao Yan forced. Tang Zhen, disliking the formal "Valley Master" title and satisfied with Xiao Yan's character and talent, insisted on the change in address.
"Oh? Now I'm curious!" Tang Zhen chuckled. Xiao Yan clearly had something big planned.
"Since the pill is ready, it's time to forge the body."
Xiao Yan took a deep breath, waved his hand, and a skeleton covered in black ice appeared—Tianhuo Venerable's remains.
With the Bone Fusion Pill now refined, Xiao Yan was confident he could use this very skeleton to forge the perfect body for its original owner.
Before Xiao Yan could speak, Tianhuo Venerable's soul appeared from the storage ring, bowed to Tang Zhen, then turned to Xiao Yan.
"Senior Tianhuo, we're ready. Are you prepared?" Xiao Yan asked, turning to meet his eager gaze.
"Mm." Tianhuo Venerable nodded gravely. Even with his calm temperament, he couldn't hide his excitement.
Summoning the skeleton into the air, Xiao Yan recalled the ancient body-forging method that Yao Lao had taught him. After a moment, he nodded to himself and began.
The dark-golden Heavenly Flame enveloped the skeleton, melting the icy coating under intense heat.
"Senior, please give me a wisp of your soul," Xiao Yan requested.
Tianhuo Venerable responded immediately, sending a strand of soul essence floating toward Xiao Yan.
He caught it and cast it into the skeleton. Then he handed the jade box containing the Bone Fusion Pill to Tianhuo.
"When I give the word, swallow the pill and enter the body."
With that, Xiao Yan summoned a jade vial filled with vibrant crimson blood. It was rich with terrifying energy—enough to shake the air.
This was the blood of a rare eighth-tier fire-attributed magic beast, supplied by Burning Flame Valley.
With a flick of his finger, the blood shot from the vial and coated the skeleton, releasing thick white smoke and hissing noises.
"Zzzzz!"
The blood spread rapidly, turning the skeleton crimson and imbuing it with powerful energy.
Xiao Yan lifted the skeleton, then unleashed intense Heavenly Flame to temper it. The blood came from the Flame Ape, a vicious fire-type beast. It was too volatile to be absorbed normally.
As the skeleton roasted in fire, a faint crimson glow appeared around it. Bubbles rose on its surface, occasionally bursting to release surges of energy.
This tempering process took nearly a full day. Finally, Xiao Yan opened his eyes.
Though the crimson had darkened, he knew this meant the energy had fully penetrated the bones.
"Whew…"
Xiao Yan exhaled and looked at Tianhuo Venerable, who nodded in satisfaction. Xiao Yan's flame control was no less than his own in the past.
After a day's forging, the bones had completely transformed—darker crimson in color, proof that the body forging was complete.
"Senior Tianhuo!"
Xiao Yan's voice turned solemn as he called out.
"Mm."
Tianhuo Venerable understood immediately. He took the pill from the jade box, swallowed it, and his soul form shot into the skeleton.
Boom!
The moment his soul entered, the skeleton trembled. Light gathered in its empty eye sockets, and powerful energy erupted from within.
Before their eyes, flesh began to grow over the bones.
The miraculous effect of the Bone Fusion Pill—reviving dead flesh from bone—was manifesting.
"Hang in there, Senior Tianhuo!"
Xiao Yan shouted. The dark-golden flame surrounding the skeleton blazed even hotter.
The newly formed flesh was instantly scorched to ash, but more immediately regenerated beneath the heat. Soon, new muscle fibers squirmed and grew at lightning speed.
After nearly ten hours of this destructive and regenerative cycle, skin finally formed.
Now, the skeleton had fully transformed into a human body. Even Xiao Yan's mighty Heavenly Flame could no longer burn it away.
All that remained was for Tianhuo Venerable to fully fuse with this body.
When that was done, this former Dou Zun powerhouse would rise again—from fire and bone!
(END CHAPTER)
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