Chapter 159: Pill Refining!
"She actually succeeded!"
Inside the room, gaze after gaze stared blankly at the dazzling badge in Xiao Yi Xian's hand. For a moment, utter silence reigned.
A sixth-tier alchemist—this was already an existence that most of the people present could only look up to. Yet now, this badge symbolizing glory had landed in the hands of Xiao Yi Xian, a seemingly so young and delicate woman...
Watching this dreamlike scene, a single thought streaked through everyone's mind.
The Cao clan's demon girl has met her match!
The examiner recovered his wits and gave Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian a complicated look. "This old man can only conduct examinations up to the low-grade sixth tier. Young friend Xiao Yi Xian's performance just now was fully sufficient to test for an even higher rank. Should you have the time, it would be best to take the examination at a higher-level main tower."
"Many thanks!" Xiao Yi Xian nodded with a smile. Then, the two of them pushed open the door and left together.
As they exited, the sixth-tier alchemist badge on Xiao Yi Xian's chest immediately drew the attention of the alchemists coming and going.
With her outstanding appearance, the crowd still had some impression of Xiao Yi Xian from earlier. They never imagined that she, who hadn't even been an alchemist before, was now already a sixth-tier alchemist.
This caused everyone's pupils to contract sharply. They couldn't help but swallow hard, their minds beginning to frantically search—which clan did this alchemy prodigy come from?
Unfortunately, even after racking their brains, they could not think of a suitable candidate.
By the time they came to their senses and wanted to go over and make her acquaintance, Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian had long since departed.
After leaving the examination area, Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian arrived at the trading zone. Although he had been gifted many medicinal ingredients by the Ancient Dragon Clan upon leaving Dragon Island, most of them of considerably high grade, he still very much enjoyed the thrill of treasure hunting. It was one of the few things on the Dou Qi Continent that could still bring him a sense of unknown delight.
At this moment, Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian had stopped before a jade stone counter.
Curling wisps of cold mist drifted up from the counter, then spread outward, causing the temperature in this area to drop considerably.
On the jade counter were scattered some medicinal ingredients, scrolls, and even pills. And judging by their appearance, none of them seemed to be ordinary items. Quite a crowd was gathered around the jade counter, clearly rather interested in the things upon it.
Jiang Yun's gaze fell upon a pale-yellow copper piece in the corner of the jade counter. He paused briefly, a trace of surprise flickering in his eyes.
"Kid, you recognize this thing?" In that single instant of abnormality, the disheveled old man across the counter noticed. With a beckoning wave, the copper piece fell into his hand. He looked at Jiang Yun with keen interest.
His gaze swept over the fifth-tier and sixth-tier alchemist badges on Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian's chests, and a flash of amazement streaked through his eyes.
"I do. How does the old gentleman plan to sell it?" Jiang Yun nodded, offering no denial. His gaze met the old man's frankly as he asked softly.
"It can be sold to you. However... first, you'll have to tell me what this is." The disheveled old man chuckled, then switched tack.
Hearing this, Jiang Yun shook his head indifferently and said quietly, "Old gentleman, there's no need to play little tricks. If I tell you, what if you try to drive up the price? One high-grade seventh-tier pill formula—take it or leave it."
The old man's heart stirred. He cast a surprised glance at the two of them. To be able to bring out a high-grade seventh-tier pill formula—it seems these two have quite the background!
And for this copper piece to actually be worth so much—it looks like it's really something good!
"Add one more high-grade seventh-tier pill!" Thinking this, a flash of greed appeared in the disheveled old man's eyes. His mind turning, he looked at Jiang Yun and spoke.
"We're leaving."
Toward the old man's price gouging, Jiang Yun did not indulge him. Without even a backward glance, he pulled Xiao Yi Xian along and headed elsewhere.
The old man was somewhat taken aback. So decisive? Not even going to haggle a little?
"Hey—! Just one high-grade seventh-tier pill formula!" Watching Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian walk further and further away, the old man shouted.
"Mid-grade seventh-tier pill formula!" Jiang Yun turned his head. His pitch-black eyes stared calmly at the other party.
"You—"
Jiang Yun's lowering of the price made the old man's heart surge with anger. Subconsciously, he was about to burst out cursing, but the moment he raised his head and met Jiang Yun's dark eyes, his heart clenched. An intangible, oppressive force transmitted directly into his soul.
He had only ever felt this sensation from the eight great elders of the Pill Tower. Yet now, he was feeling it from Jiang Yun as well.
"Sp-Spirit... Spirit Realm!!!"
His heart jolted violently. Taking in the calm, placid look in Jiang Yun's eyes, a chill rose within his heart.
"Mid-grade seventh-tier pill formula. Does the old gentleman want to trade or not?" Jiang Yun's voice remained even. Yet now, in the old man's ears, it carried an overwhelming pressure that brooked no argument.
"Fine!"
His mind a complete blank, the old man slowly forced out a single word. In the next instant, a pale-green scroll appeared in Jiang Yun's hand and was tossed toward the disheveled old man, who hurriedly caught it.
At the same time, the old man's palm suddenly felt empty. The copper piece flew into Jiang Yun's keeping. After pocketing the copper piece, Jiang Yun took Xiao Yi Xian's hand and continued on toward the distant counters.
"Where did this little monster come from!"
Only after Jiang Yun and Xiao Yi Xian had left did the old man finally recover from the mere tip of the iceberg Jiang Yun had revealed of his strength. Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, he gazed at Jiang Yun's retreating back and spoke with a trembling voice.
After taking several deep breaths to calm himself, he excitedly opened the scroll in his hand. The characters 'Yin-Yang Life-Soul Pill' appeared before his eyes.
Yin-Yang Life-Soul Pill, mid-grade seventh-tier pill. Possesses the wondrous effect of soul-melding and life-restoration. Refining ingredients: Soul-Returning Demon Fruit, Life-Soul Ghost-Face Flower...
After reading through the effects of the Yin-Yang Life-Soul Pill, the old man could not help but curse: "Stingy little brat!"
This Yin-Yang Life-Soul Pill was meant for reviving souls! Though exceptionally rare, giving a living, breathing person like him such a pill—wasn't this just cursing him to die?!
"What a huge loss..."
After cursing, the old man shoved the pill formula for the Yin-Yang Life-Soul Pill into his ring. At the same time, with a wave of his hand, he packed up the items on the jade counter.
He hadn't checked the almanac before going out today—today was not a good day to set up shop!
At the same time—
Within the inner district of Holy Pill City, in the Cao clan's residence. A middle-aged man dressed in a purple alchemist's robe looked at Cao Lin and said with a frown, "You're saying Cao Xuan was injured by a young Dou Zun?"
This man was precisely the current head of the Cao clan—Cao Cheng!
"Exactly!"
"Clan Leader, that man relied on his strength as a Dou Zun. In his words, he repeatedly showed disrespect toward our Cao clan. The Young Master merely wanted to step forward and reason with him. Who could have imagined the other party would be so vicious as to actually harm the Young Master..."
Listening to Cao Lin's endless, embellished account below, suddenly, an aged voice boomed forth.
"Enough!"
At the sound of this voice, both Cao Cheng and Cao Lin shuddered violently. Before long, an old man with snow-white hair and beard, bearing an irrefutable and imposing dignity, strode in through the doorway.
He was precisely one of the eight great elders of the Pill Tower, an eighth-tier alchemist, and the former head of the Cao clan.
"Father!"
"We pay respects to the Former Clan Leader!"
Upon seeing who had arrived, Cao Cheng and Cao Lin immediately bowed in deference.
"I have already gone to see Cao Xuan. That person's strength is exceedingly terrifying—not inferior to my own. However, he did not injure Cao Xuan's life. It was a minor punishment as a major warning. Cao Lin, recount the matter in its entirety. If there is so much as half a lie..."
"Hmph!"
Hearing the Former Clan Leader's words, Cao Lin shuddered. Immediately, he honestly told the whole story of what had happened, exactly as it had occurred.
"A troublemaking wretch!" After hearing it, Cao Cheng was instantly enraged. With a flick of his sleeve, a surge of force shot out. Cao Lin immediately coughed up a large mouthful of blood, was sent flying backward, and crashed outside the door.
"Go to the Disciplinary Hall and accept your punishment yourself!"
After dealing with Cao Lin, Cao Cheng looked at his father and spoke gravely: "Father, although Cao Lin and Cao Xuan were at fault first in this matter, the other party did indeed act with some disregard toward us!"
"That young man's strength is unfathomably deep. Even I do not have absolute confidence in defeating him. That flame he left within Cao Xuan's body—even this old man is at a complete loss as to what to do about it!" the Cao Former Clan Leader said in a heavy tone.
"What?!" Cao Cheng looked at his own father in disbelief.
"First, discreetly investigate their origins. When the time comes, I will pay a visit in person. He did not deal a killing blow—presumably, he has no desire to make an enemy of our Cao clan." The Cao Former Clan Leader cast a sidelong glance at the shocked Cao Cheng and spoke indifferently.
"Yes!"
Afterward, Jiang Yun took Xiao Yi Xian browsing for an entire day. Finding no further gains, they returned to the courtyard they had temporarily secured within Holy Pill City.
Inside the room, Jiang Yun looked at the pale-yellow copper piece before him. The copper piece was covered in many twisted, winding streaks of green patina, like earthworms. And it was precisely this patina that had corroded and obscured some of the patterns on the copper piece.
"Jiang Yun, what kind of secret is hidden within this, that it would be worth a high-grade seventh-tier pill formula?" Xiao Yi Xian looked at the utterly ordinary copper piece, then gazed curiously at Jiang Yun. Her violet eyes, gentle as water, were fixed on him.
"Within this is Spirit-Gestating Dust." Jiang Yun's soul power probed inside. Sensing a familiar fluctuation, he chuckled.
"Spirit-Gestating Dust?"
Hearing this name, simultaneously familiar and foreign, Xiao Yi Xian murmured softly under her breath.
Then, seeming to recall something, she spoke with surprise: "Could this be that legendary ancient substance—the one that can gestate the soul, gradually strengthening the spiritual nature within the soul, and thereby allow one to step into the Spirit Realm?"
"Exactly!"
Jiang Yun nodded. With a flick of his finger, a tiny wisp of black-and-white flame flared up and engulfed the copper piece.
Under the burning of the Saint Demon Flame, the copper piece did not melt immediately. However, after only a brief moment, the copper piece began to liquefy. The green lines on its surface gradually faded. Grain after grain of exceedingly fine, pale-yellow dust quietly detached from the melting patina, then hung suspended within the flame, twinkling like sprites, exuding an exceptionally rich sense of spirituality.
With a beckoning wave, Jiang Yun collected five grains of the Spirit-Gestating Dust. Feeling the spiritual luster within them, he smiled calmly and placed them into Xiao Yi Xian's hand beside him.
"Take these. They are enough for you to step into the Spirit Realm soul!"
Xiao Yi Xian felt the peculiar dust in her palm and gazed softly at Jiang Yun. An unidentifiable bright light shone in her eyes. Without any formal courtesy, she stowed it away within her ring.
After musing for a moment, Jiang Yun looked at Xiao Yi Xian and said, "Next, I am going to refine an eighth-tier pill and cause a bit of a big stir. How much you can learn will depend on yourself!"
Jiang Yun did not like being passive. Having arrived in Holy Pill City, rather than going door to door to build connections himself, he might as well draw all these people over to him in one go.
"Alright!" Hearing Jiang Yun's words, Xiao Yi Xian immediately grew serious. Pill refining was an energy-consuming task that permitted no disturbances.
With a wave of his hand, the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron gently landed on the floor before him.
Then, jade box after jade box appeared one by one. Wrapped in Dou Qi, they floated before Jiang Yun, arranged in a neat row.
Yuan Yang Ginseng, Earth Vein Blood Marrow, Nine Heavens Purple Zhi, Seven Aurora Lotus—principal ingredients and auxiliary ingredients alike numbered in the hundreds. Refining an eighth-tier pill was, after all, a massive undertaking.
What's more, the pill he was going to refine this time was the Sovereign King Pill. The Sovereign King Pill was a formula Jiang Yun had modified based on the Sovereign Origin Pill. An ordinary Sovereign Origin Pill could raise a Dou Zun by one star and summoned pill lightning of two or three colors at most.
But the Sovereign King Pill was different. According to Jiang Yun's calculations, the pill lightning it summoned would be five colors at minimum. If the quality was a bit better, it could fully summon six-colored pill lightning.
It could raise a Dou Zun's strength by two stars. With a bit of luck, it could raise it by a full three stars.
It could utterly be described as defying the heavens!
Using this pill to make his name resound across the continent was more than sufficient!
With a snap of his fingers, curling white flames blazed up. The temperature of the entire room soared. Looking closely, at the edges of the white flames, even the void itself was directly collapsing, faintly radiating pitch-black, dark light.
Jiang Yun flicked his finger. The Undying Sacred Flame shot toward the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron. In that instant, the flames within the cauldron blazed fiercely. The firelight illuminated the fierce beast forms on the cauldron as if they had come to life.
Baring fangs and brandishing claws—vivid and lifelike!
With another flick of his finger, the Yuan Yang Ginseng was tossed into the cauldron. The white flames swept in and wrapped around it.
"Fizz!"
Under the extraordinarily high temperature of the Undying Sacred Flame, the Yuan Yang Ginseng only held out for a brief moment before the flames scorched it until it rapidly withered, transforming into a mass of yellow powder.
Once the powder appeared, Jiang Yun did not immediately withdraw the flame. Instead, he repeatedly calcined this mass of powder many times. Only once it took on a crystalline luster did he stir his mind. A cluster of flames wrapped around the yellow powder and suspended it in one corner of the cauldron.
After finishing the refinement of the Yuan Yang Ginseng, Jiang Yun did not pause. He took out a fist-sized purple lingzhi. Gentle, warm waves of qi continuously radiated from within the lingzhi.
He followed the same method, guiding it into the Undying Sacred Flame for calcination.
As Jiang Yun gradually hit his stride, the dense mass of medicinal ingredients, under his control, moved in and out like an assembly line.
He rapidly calcined the ingredients. Everything was methodical and orderly, possessing a unique aesthetic. An aura of profound mystery spread outward.
Watching Jiang Yun's pill-refining techniques, as fluid as drifting clouds and flowing water, Xiao Yi Xian's face revealed a look of entranced fascination. Within her eyes, a blaze of fervent zeal burned intensely.
This refinement of ingredients continued for roughly two full days. Looking at the nearly thousand types of medicinal liquids of different colors floating there, after briefly pausing to rest for a moment, Jiang Yun's hands flew through rapid transformations before him, leaving countless afterimages that dazzled the eyes.
Suddenly, Jiang Yun's ceaselessly shifting hands came to an abrupt halt, assuming a rather peculiar, special posture. He gave a light shout: "Condense!"