Chapter 118: Why Is Your Face So Red?
"Teacher!" Liu Ling shouted in panic, his eyes filled with desperation as he rushed to support the collapsing Gu He.
"Teacher, are you alright?"
"I'm fine... it's just a moment of anger and frustration," Gu He replied weakly, slumping against his disciple.
For the first time, Gu He truly saw the chasm that existed between himself and this young man. His spirit was utterly crushed.
While many looked on with mixed emotions, their attention soon shifted upward, where the dark, oppressive clouds churned ominously.
They were about to witness something the Jia Ma Empire hadn't seen in a century: Pill Thunder.
The black clouds grew larger, exuding an aura so oppressive it felt as though a mountain was pressing down on them. Even Yun Shan's expression turned serious in the face of such a phenomenon.
Yet amidst the growing tension, Xiao Yan's demeanor remained light and carefree.
The true essence of the Heavenly Thunder Body Tempering Pill lay not in the rare medicinal ingredients but in the lightning itself.
"Boom!"
A streak of silver lightning split the sky, crashing down toward the pill.
"Refine it!" Xiao Yan's hands moved swiftly, forming seals. The seemingly inert pill suddenly soared upward, meeting the lightning head on.
"What is he doing? Using the pill to take a direct hit from the lightning? Isn't that going to destroy it?" some alchemists exclaimed in alarm.
But as the silver pill collided with the lightning, the terrifying thunderbolt abruptly dissipated, leaving the pill glowing faintly with crackling streaks of electricity.
"This pill can actually absorb the power of lightning!"
Many alchemists were overwhelmed with excitement, their minds racing with possibilities.
To some, it felt as though their understanding of alchemy was being rewritten before their very eyes.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
One bolt after another rained down from the heavens, each more ferocious than the last. Xiao Yan remained relaxed, intervening only when a particularly powerful bolt descended.
"Go!"
With a wave of his hand, the Yin Yang Twin Flames transformed into two colossal fire dragons.
The dragons roared, encircling the pill and shielding it from the relentless assault while simultaneously channeling the lightning's energy into the pill itself.
As the pill absorbed more and more lightning, the energy within it grew exponentially, causing many onlookers to marvel in awe.
"This young man is incredible. To witness such alchemy in my lifetime... I can die without regret," an elderly alchemist said, his face glowing with admiration.
By the time the 80th bolt of lightning struck, the oppressive energy in the air had reached a level that made even Yun Shan feel uneasy.
Yet Xiao Yan showed no fear.
"Crack!"
The final bolt of Pill Thunder tore through the sky, its sheer power causing cracks to ripple through space itself.
"If I tried to withstand that, I'd be gravely injured, if not killed," Yun Shan thought, a chill running down his spine.
To everyone's shock, Xiao Yan leapt into the sky, charging directly toward the descending lightning bolt.
"He's going to take it head on!" Yun Yun's face turned pale.
"What is he thinking? Does he want to die?"
Those with the strength to sense the true danger of the lightning couldn't believe their eyes.
"Get lost!"
Xiao Yan's domineering voice echoed through the plaza as he raised his fist, aiming a punch directly at the terrifying bolt of lightning.
"Boom!"
The deafening sound of impact reverberated through the mountains, leaving many clutching their ears.
When the dust settled, the once mighty bolt of lightning had been reduced to scattered sparks. These remnants were swiftly absorbed by the Yin Yang Twin Flames and refined into the pill.
The scene left everyone from Yun Shan to Yun Yun to the sect's disciples utterly stunned.
"Ah!"
Somewhere in the crowd, a female disciple screamed, triggering a chain reaction of excited cheers and shouts.
Many young alchemists jumped and waved their arms in exhilaration, unable to contain their enthusiasm.
At that moment, the image of the white robed youth in the sky, fearlessly smashing the heavens themselves, was etched into their hearts forever.
"That was awesome!" Xiao Yan thought, basking in the adoration of the crowd. His casual, nonchalant demeanor, as though he had done something trivial, only heightened the admiration of the Yun Lan Sect's female disciples.
"Damn it, he stole the spotlight again!" Nalan Yanran muttered, clenching her fists. Yet her eyes remained fixed on Xiao Yan, her cheeks betraying a slight blush.
"Hmm? Has Yanran already fallen for me?" Xiao Yan smirked subtly before glancing at Yun Yun.
Caught off guard by his gaze, Yun Yun quickly lowered her head, her flowing hair swaying in the breeze.
"She's wavering," Xiao Yan thought. "But she's not like Yanran. A mature woman like her will need a bit more effort."
He was confident, though. Sooner or later, Yun Yun's defenses would crumble.
With a final wave of his hand, Xiao Yan summoned the Heavenly Thunder Body Tempering Pill into his palm and placed it into a small jade bottle.
"Marvelous, absolutely marvelous!" Yun Shan's clapping broke the silence, his ingratiating smile directed at Xiao Yan.
The applause quickly spread, reverberating through the plaza in a thunderous wave.
"Xiao Yan, refining a seventh tier pill must have been taxing. Why not rest in our Yun Lan Sect for a while?" Yun Shan suggested with a sly grin.
"Hmm? Why does this old man's smile look so lecherous?" Xiao Yan thought, his eyes narrowing. But when he noticed Yun Shan glancing at Yun Yun, realization dawned.
"Ah, I see! He's setting me up with her! What a thoughtful host," Xiao Yan chuckled inwardly.
"Very well. I'll rest for a bit," Xiao Yan agreed, nodding firmly.
"Yanran, take Xiao Yan somewhere he can rest," Yun Shan instructed, still smiling.
"Yes, Master," Nalan Yanran replied obediently.
As Xiao Yan opened his arms, she hesitated briefly before stepping forward and wrapping her arms around his waist.
A gust of wind lifted them into the air. Nalan Yanran glanced down, noticing the jealous glares of her fellow disciples.
"This guy... always showing off," she thought, shaking her head. But as she looked up at Xiao Yan's face, her cheeks reddened once more.
"Why is your face so red?"
Xiao Yan's teasing voice reached her ears, making her blush even harder.
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