Xiao Jietian's body swayed, and he instantly appeared in mid-air.
The Pill Tower elders couldn't help but feel curious when they saw his actions. "What is he trying to do? Go up and disperse the thunderclouds himself?"
Only Xuan Yi and the others knew what Xiao Jietian was planning. After all, these thunderclouds were also great tonics for him.
Xiao Jietian suddenly waved his hand. A terrifying suction force erupted from his body as a massive vortex appeared above his head. Its frightening pulling power immediately dragged the surrounding thunderclouds toward it.
The thunderclouds spun wildly inside the vortex. The lightning power within them was continuously extracted and poured down toward Xiao Jietian in an endless stream.
At this moment, Xiao Jietian looked like a Thunder God bathing in lightning from the Ninth Heaven. The violent lightning energy was devoured and refined by his Five Elements Heavenly Thunder Art, transforming into pure energy that was absorbed by the Wutu Thunder.
Gradually, the three-colored thunderclouds that had blotted out the sky began to thin. In the end, the thunderclouds were completely torn apart by the vortex, and the final trace of lightning power was fully absorbed into Xiao Jietian's body.
A profound silence fell over the world.
The clouds parted, and golden sunlight poured down, illuminating Xiao Jietian. He floated in mid-air like an immortal God of War, radiating an overbearing aura that awed everyone present.
It was the first time Xuan Yi had seen Xiao Jietian display such dominance. Her heart couldn't help but flutter. She had already decided that tonight, she would let him show her this overbearing and powerful side of his.
"What kind of technique is this? He's directly absorbing the power of the thunderclouds for his own use?" an elder muttered in disbelief.
"This is simply outrageous. Everyone else shatters the lightning bolts one by one, but he just swallows the entire thundercloud. Is this what it means to be strong enough to do whatever you want?"
"Exactly. If a young person isn't a little impetuous, can they still be called young? If I had his talent and strength at his age, I'd dare to challenge the heavens themselves."
"…Awesome!"
After completely absorbing the power of the thunderclouds, Xiao Jietian returned to his usual lazy demeanor and descended before Xuan Kongzi.
"President Xuan Kongzi." Xiao Jietian handed over the azure pill in his hand.
Xuan Kongzi gently took the pill. The other elders quickly gathered around, carefully examining the spiritually rich azure pill.
"This pill is almost showing pill patterns. Young friend, the quality of this pill is simply perfect," an elder said, pointing at a very faint, almost imperceptible pattern on its surface.
After sensing the strong spirituality within it, Xuan Kongzi chuckled and returned the pill to Xiao Jietian.
"Xiao Jietian, congratulations. You have passed this assessment. This pill has brought its medicinal effects to the extreme—it is a supreme-grade existence."
As he spoke, Xuan Kongzi gave Xiao Jietian a deep look. This kid was definitely hiding a lot. His true skill was probably no weaker than some of the core elders.
He then took out a dark-gold emblem. Flames swirled around it, and within the flames stood a towering giant pagoda. Eight purple-gold stars adorned the pagoda.
However, the eighth star was noticeably dim compared to the first seven.
This was the emblem of a Rank 8 Beginner Alchemist.
Two to four-colored pill lightning was considered low-grade, five to six mid-grade, seven to eight high-grade, and nine-colored was top-grade—already qualifying one as a quasi-Rank 9 Alchemist.
Xiao Jietian accepted the emblem from the president. A warm sensation spread from it, and the fatigue from refining the pill instantly lessened significantly.
It seemed the emblem was made from special materials soaked in medicinal herbs, giving it a nourishing effect.
"Thank you, President Xuan Kongzi, and all the elders, for taking time out of your busy schedules," Xiao Jietian said politely as he cupped his hands to everyone present.
The elders, who were usually quite arrogant outside, all smiled and nodded in return. The other party was so young yet already at this level, and he remained humble and courteous. What right did these old men have to act arrogant?
"To be able to witness such miraculous alchemy, we have not come in vain."
"If you have time in the future, we should exchange pointers and learn from each other!"
None of the elders put on airs. They all wore kind smiles and chatted warmly with Xiao Jietian.
Xiao Jietian cupped his hands slightly and replied with a faint smile, "No problem at all. I can also take this opportunity to seek guidance from all the elders."
The core elders present were greatly impressed by his words. A young man who was neither arrogant nor impetuous, yet exceptionally talented—if he didn't fall prematurely, he would surely stand at the pinnacle of the world one day. Perhaps the next President of the Pill Tower would be him.
Xiao Ling, who had been sitting beside Xuan Yi, suddenly darted over to Xiao Jietian's side. She stared intently at the emblem in his hand.
Then, as if she had made up her mind, her eyes became resolute.
"Uncle-Master Xuan Kongzi, I also want to take the alchemist assessment!!"
Xuan Kongzi looked at Xiao Ling in surprise. He had indeed sensed a very pure fire aura from her before—she was undoubtedly a good seedling for alchemy.
But remembering that Xuan Yi was present, he had dismissed the thought earlier. After all, the skill levels here were quite high.
"Oh? Then which rank would you like to assess?" Xuan Kongzi asked with a benevolent smile.
"Hmm~" Xiao Ling fell into thought. If she took the Rank 4 assessment, she could only attempt Rank 4 Beginner, and although it had four stars, the fourth one wouldn't be bright. If she took Rank 3 Advanced, all three stars would shine brightly, but she would be missing one star.
"Rank 4 Beginner, then!"
After some consideration, Xiao Ling finally made her decision.
In an instant, all the elders and the two presidents present stared at Xiao Ling in shock. A little girl who looked no older than four years old wanted to take the Rank 4 Alchemist assessment?
"Slap!" A crisp slapping sound rang out.
"Ow! What are you doing?"
"I'm checking if I accidentally ate a poisonous herb earlier and if I'm still dreaming."
"Then why the hell are you hitting me instead of yourself?"
"Hitting myself would hurt! I couldn't bear it! Looks like I'm not dreaming!"
"..."
What he said made so much sense that no one could refute it.
One by one, the old men looked at Xiao Ling with fervent eyes. Did this girl start refining pills while still in the womb?
However, when they glanced at the two monstrous talents—Xuan Yi and Xiao Jietian—standing beside her, they quickly dismissed that wild thought.
It was perfectly reasonable for two people with such strong talent to give birth to an even more monstrous daughter.
They had also heard Xiao Ling call Xuan Yi "Mother," confirming that the two girls were indeed Xuan Yi's biological daughters. Given that Xuan Yi often went into closed-door cultivation for years at a time, it all made sense.
Their gazes then shifted to Xiao Meng.
"I am not an alchemist!" Xiao Meng declared calmly, her expression unchanged.
The elders present immediately breathed a sigh of relief. If another one stepped forward, their poor old hearts really wouldn't be able to handle it.