Master Huan's expression grew solemn as the nine blazing dragons lunged toward him. He controlled the white serpent born of his Heavenly Cold Flame with every ounce of his strength, twisting and coiling to resist their ferocious assaults.
Within the inferno, the serpent and the fire dragons tangled violently. Sweat beaded across Master Huan's forehead, his face pale from the immense pressure. Each passing breath felt like an eternity.
As time trickled by, Tang Zhen and the surrounding alchemists watched with mounting anticipation.
When ten minutes finally elapsed, Master Huan flicked his wrist, recalling the serpent before it was completely devoured by the fire dragons. The white flame retreated swiftly back into his body.
"Excellent! Master Huan has succeeded!"
Tang Zhen clapped his hands and laughed, visibly more elated than Master Huan himself. The joy in his eyes was genuine.
Relieved, Master Huan wiped the sweat from his brow and forced a weary smile. "Truly worthy of being ranked 12th on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. The power of the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame… is beyond terrifying."
Tang Zhen chuckled lightly and turned toward the other Pill Tower elder. "Master Xiao, it's your turn."
Master Xiao hesitated but eventually stood, summoning a deep-blue flame. His Spiritual Power surged, molding the flame into the form of a massive fire whale. With a low hum, the whale lashed its tail and dove into the silvery inferno.
The nine lightning dragons immediately converged, tearing at the fire whale with savage ferocity. The creature roared in defiance, its body riddled with gashes as the battle raged.
Seconds crawled into minutes. Tang Zhen's face brightened with hope—only for it to falter again when, at the eighth minute, the whale's fiery form was ripped apart. Master Xiao's Spiritual Power was snuffed out in an instant.
The old man staggered backward, complexion pale, and sighed softly before shaking his head at Tang Zhen.
Tang Zhen's eyes dimmed with disappointment. He had thought Master Xiao might prevail, but fate proved otherwise. He exhaled deeply. "It seems I must trouble everyone further. I require two assistants… but it seems only Master Huan passed the test."
The red-clothed woman beside him bit her lip, her beautiful eyes tinged with sorrow. 'So even now… there's no hope left?'
Silence filled the hall until Tang Zhen's eyes hardened with resolve. He rose suddenly, his tone sincere and firm.
"Masters Huan, Xiao — I beg your aid in refining this pill. Should we fail, or should harm come to either of you, I will shoulder all consequences myself. Please… help me."
His plea carried heartfelt desperation. The two elders exchanged glances. Master Xiao hesitated, then slowly nodded. "Since Valley Master Tang has spoken so earnestly, I will give my full strength. Until I fall, I will not let this refinement fail."
Boom!
Suddenly, thunderous rumbling echoed across the sky. A strange surge of energy swept through the valley like a shockwave. Everyone present—each powerful and spiritually attuned—instantly sensed that something was amiss.
Master Huan frowned slightly. "Valley Master Tang… did you invite another alchemist? And quite a formidable one at that."
Tang Zhen blinked in surprise before realization dawned. Within the Burning Flame Valley, who else could it be… besides him?
He gave a helpless chuckle. "Let's go. We'll see for ourselves."
Rising to his feet, Tang Zhen led his daughter and the group of alchemists toward the depths of the valley.
Moments later, they saw it—the source of the disturbance.
A towering pillar of cyan light pierced the heavens, stirring the clouds into a violent vortex. Above, layers of thunderclouds rolled and boiled, each more terrifying than the last.
Gasps erupted around him as they saw the tri-colored lightning swirling through the clouds—azure, silver, and crimson.
"Three-colored… it's three-colored Pill Lightning! That's the tribulation of an 8th Tier Pill!"
"Valley Master Tang, if you could invite an 8th Tier Alchemist here, why summon us at all?"
"This must be that Alchemy Grandmaster at work! Compared to this, a mere 7th Tier Pill is hardly worth mentioning!"
The hall of alchemists erupted in chatter, their faces glowing with awe and reverence. For a true alchemist, what could be more sacred than witnessing the birth of a high-tier pill?
Tang Zhen could only give a bitter smile. He knew exactly who it was. 'So, the young man found out I contacted others and decided to give me a warning…'
If he could truly win over that person, what was a 7th Tier Pill in comparison? But the problem was—the man demanded his valley's ancestral Heavenly Flame!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Thunder roared from the sky as a streak of lightning as thick as a mountain crashed downward toward the courtyard below.
"Quickly, Valley Master Tang—act now! An 8th Tier Pill can't be allowed to be destroyed by the tribulation!"
Tang Zhen's mind flashed to Yao Tianhuo and Xiao Yixian. With two Dou Zun experts present, the lightning would be handled easily. There was no need for him to interfere.
"No need," Tang Zhen said calmly. "This one requires no protection. The strength of his followers is not beneath mine."
The crowd exchanged confused glances. Who could this mysterious Grandmaster be—young yet commanding followers of such terrifying might?
The red-robed woman's eyes shimmered with admiration as realization struck her. So it's him… that young man—handsome, calm, frighteningly talented. Her heart stirred faintly.
Then, under everyone's gaze, a radiant golden figure soared skyward like a meteor, colliding head-on with the descending lightning bolt.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With only a few punches and kicks, the golden figure shattered the roaring lightning into fragments. It stood tall and unmoving, like a war god defying heaven itself.
The heavens seemed enraged. Bolts of lightning poured down in torrents, each one brighter and fiercer than before.
The deafening roars filled the valley, yet the golden figure never retreated. It stood proudly, bathed in thunder and flame—unyielding, invincible.
One strike after another fell, only to be broken apart. The figure's brilliance grew stronger, its golden light blazing against the heavens.
Finally, when no lightning remained, the tri-colored clouds slowly dispersed in unwilling retreat. A rich, intoxicating fragrance spread through the air—pure pill aroma.
It was divine, serene, almost celestial.
"Elder Yao," Liu Xi's clear voice rang out, echoing across the valley, "if not now, then when?"
"Haha, understood!"
Yao Tianhuo's hearty laughter followed, his powerful aura flaring before vanishing in an instant—along with the overwhelming scent of the pill.
Only then did Tang Zhen, his daughter, and the others rush toward the courtyard of the Flame Spirit Pavilion.
Dozens of alchemists descended, filling the small courtyard in an instant.
Liu Xi, who had just finished his refinement, looked up to see Tang Zhen leading a crowd right to his doorstep. Narrowing his eyes with a faint smile, he spoke leisurely. "Oh? Valley Master Tang, what brings you here?"
Tang Zhen's face was a mix of embarrassment and awe. He cupped his hands respectfully. "I came to pay my respects, sir. The commotion drew us here—I hope we haven't disturbed your work."
Every alchemist present, including the two guest elders from the Pill Tower, stared in disbelief.
The man Tang Zhen addressed as sir looked far too young. Yet, age meant nothing before such power—an 8th Tier Alchemy Grandmaster was an 8th Tier Alchemy Grandmaster.
In unison, the assembled alchemists bowed deeply and exclaimed:
"Greetings, Master!"
(End of Chapter)
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This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on P4 treon, For those who want to read 2 chapters ahead for free, you can find me on P4 treon by searching for my username: Fallen_Archangel_.
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