"Valley Master Tang, please rise. I'll refine this pill."
Just a few words, yet they struck Tang Zhen like a blessing from the heavens. A wave of sheer relief and gratitude surged through his heart, and for the first time in days, a smile of genuine joy appeared on his face. Slowly straightening, his voice was firm and resonant. "Master Liu, such great kindness cannot be repaid in words. Should you ever require my aid in the future, even if it costs me my life, I will see it done."
Liu Xi nodded casually. Future matters can be dealt with in the future. But inwardly, he mused to himself:
'The Nine Dragon Lightning Flame will remain with you for now. Once the Hun Clan rises and the war before the world's end begins, I'll return to claim it. I'll save your daughter's life and later spare your Burning Flame Valley from calamity. Taking one Nine Dragon Lightning Flame in exchange—that's hardly excessive.'
With a light step, he rose into the air, gliding toward the center of the plaza. In an instant, he landed before the Mountain Melting Cauldron.
Tang Zhen's face was filled with gratitude, while beside him, Tang Huo'er's reddened eyes still glared at Liu Xi with open hostility.
To her, this was the man who had forced her father—her proud father, the Valley Master of Burning Flame Valley—to bow his head. All her former admiration for Liu Xi had been cast aside like ashes.
Clutching tightly onto Tang Zhen's arm, Huo'er's displeasure was written plainly on her face. Her tone was sharp and icy. "Father, I won't have you risk your life for him! Even if I die here, I'll never take the pill he refines!"
Tang Zhen could only let out a helpless sigh. He had finally convinced Liu Xi to act, and now his daughter was throwing another tantrum. Softly, he said, "Huo'er, this isn't the time for childish stubbornness. No matter what, I won't let you die with regrets…"
"I don't care! I don't care!" she cried, shaking her head violently.
Liu Xi's expression twitched slightly. Her words, when translated, essentially meant: I'm being unreasonable and I don't care.
Ignoring her, he glanced lazily at the eight clusters of medicinal essence within the cauldron, which still emitted a rich fragrance, and spoke indifferently, "Valley Master Tang, show me the complete Pill Recipe for the Fire Bodhisattva Pill. The fragmentary information I derived earlier isn't enough to complete it."
"Of course, no problem."
Tang Zhen immediately drew out a scroll and handed it over.
Liu Xi accepted it, his eyes sweeping briefly toward Huo'er, who stood with clenched teeth and fury blazing in her gaze. He chuckled softly. "What? Do you want to bite me now? I promised your father I'd finish this pill, and I'll do it. Whether you take it or not is none of my concern.
"But think about it—your father, a Dou Zun, bowed before me, not for pride or gain, but to keep you alive. And you? You repay him by dragging yourself closer to death. Tell me, who are you trying to punish? Your death won't bother me. The one left heartbroken will be your father, mourning over your corpse in silence. How pitiful… what an unfilial daughter."
"You—!"
Tang Huo'er's anger exploded. She looked like a furious cat, baring her teeth. Her chest heaved as she pointed a trembling finger at him. "Who are you calling unfilial? You're the unfilial one! You think I don't dare eat your pill? I'll eat it right in front of you!"
Watching the scene unfold, Tang Zhen was momentarily stunned—then his eyes softened with gratitude. He hadn't expected that a few sharp words from Liu Xi could succeed where persuasion had failed.
On the seats above, Xiao Yixian glanced from Liu Xi to the fuming, red-faced Tang Huo'er, then sighed, raising a hand to her forehead. "What a mess…"
Liu Xi's lips curved faintly in amusement. He then turned his focus to the scroll, letting his Spiritual Power pour into it. Within moments, the detailed instructions, cautions, and refining process of the 7th Tier High-Level Fire Bodhisattva Pill imprinted themselves clearly into his soul.
When he finished reading, he returned the scroll to Tang Zhen. For someone of his level, reading a 7th Tier recipe was child's play.
Casting a sidelong glance of mild annoyance at Huo'er, Liu Xi then said, "Valley Master Tang, take your daughter and leave the platform. Her constant noise will only distract me while I refine."
"Noise…? You think I'm making noise?"
Tang Huo'er had never been so insulted in her life. In Burning Flame Valley, everyone treated her with respect—yet here was Liu Xi, looking at her as though she were an annoying child. Her silver teeth clenched, eyes flashing with killing intent as her slender hand quietly gripped the whip at her waist.
'If I weren't worried about Father, I'd lash that arrogant face a few times until he learned humility…' The thought made her grin faintly, as though the fantasy alone soothed her anger.
Tang Zhen frowned, concern clouding his expression as he looked at his daughter. 'Have I truly spoiled her this much? She's acting like a completely different person today.'
He offered Liu Xi a quick, apologetic smile, then hurriedly pulled Tang Huo'er away from the stone platform, giving Liu Xi space to work.
At once, countless eyes gathered on Liu Xi—some filled with reverence, some with resentment, and some with barely restrained excitement.
Particularly among the surrounding alchemists, every gaze burned with intensity. To witness an 8th Tier Alchemy Grandmaster refine a pill was an opportunity beyond price. Even catching a glimpse of his technique would be a lifelong lesson.
Before the blazing Mountain Melting Cauldron, Liu Xi stood still for a moment, his eyes calm and focused as he looked upon the eight clusters of essence wrapped in the azure fire lotus. From between his brows, a torrent of majestic Spiritual Power surged forth, sweeping into the cauldron and filling every corner within.
The entire structure responded to his will—the scene inside the cauldron becoming crystal clear in his mind.
The corner of his lips lifted faintly as he willed the azure lotus to spin. The eight clusters—some liquid, some powder—began to rotate with it, drawn together by the lotus's pull.
Each cluster contained the refined essence of more than twenty rare herbs. As they drew closer, powerful waves of resistance surged between them, sending ripples of energy through the cauldron.
But Liu Xi was no ordinary alchemist. With the strength of an 8th Tier Grandmaster and a Spiritual Power on par with a mid-stage Spirit Realm expert, he could easily suppress even the ferocity of an 8th Tier Pill's energy—let alone that of a 7th Tier one.
With shifting hand seals, he guided his Spiritual Power to thread through the swirling essences, calming their violent energy and aligning their natures in preparation for fusion.
Under his flawless control, the eight clusters merged smoothly—eight into four, four into two…
The pressure grew stronger, the energy within more violent. Were it not for the Mountain Melting Cauldron's stabilizing might, even the surrounding heavens and earth would have fallen into chaos from the turbulence.
Liu Xi couldn't help but nod inwardly in appreciation. 'As expected of a cauldron ranked among the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking—comparable to my Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron. It truly saves me much effort.'
His hands moved in rapid succession, forming a final seal as his deep voice echoed across the plaza.
"Now for the final fusion—condense!"
(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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