The atmosphere inside the Chen Family Hall was electric, anticipation crackling in the air like a brewing storm. The gathered alchemists, elders, and disciples held their breath, waiting for the answer that could change everything.
Jing Yi, the esteemed Grand Alchemist, gazed at Chen Ying, his sharp eyes twinkling with intrigue. Then, with a slow, measured motion, he raised his hand in a graceful gesture, beckoning the young man forward.
"I will grant your request… But, Young Master Chen, would you consider joining the Alchemist Hall at Pill City?"
His voice, smooth yet commanding, echoed throughout the hall. At that moment, murmurs erupted among the gathered disciples and elders.
"He's personally inviting him?"
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
"With his talent, he could become an Alchemy Grandmaster!"
Eyes flickered with excitement, hopeful that Chen Ying would seize the prestigious offer.
Yet, amidst the rising whispers, Chen Ying remained composed.
His long, flowing white Hanfu swayed slightly as he lifted his gaze, his expression calm yet distant, like an immortal unfazed by worldly desires. Under the soft glow of the hall's lanterns, his porcelain-like skin and delicate features exuded an ethereal charm, enhanced by his long, raven-black hair, which cascaded down his back like flowing silk.
Then, with a serene elegance, he clasped his hands together and gave a slight bow.
"I appreciate your offer, Senior Jing... but I would rather walk my own path."
A heavy silence fell over the hall.
The disciples, who had been brimming with anticipation, suddenly deflated in disappointment.
"He refused?!"
"Why?! That's Pill City's Alchemist Hall!"
Even some of the elders looked bewildered, yet Jing Yi, instead of appearing offended, chuckled softly. A knowing smile played on his lips as he studied the young man before him.
"I see… So you choose freedom over affiliation. Many prefer the path of a lone cultivator rather than tying themselves to a sect. It is an admirable decision."
With a flick of his wide sleeves, he reached into his robes and retrieved a small, intricately carved jade token. The disciples around him gasped audibly—this was no ordinary object.
Holding it between his fingers, Jing Yi extended the token towards Chen Ying.
"Take this," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "This token grants you entry to the Alchemist Hall should you ever need assistance. When you arrive at Pill City, present it, and all doors will open for you."
Chen Ying reached out, his slender fingers brushing against the cool surface of the token, its faint glow reflecting in his deep, obsidian-like eyes. The token felt heavier than expected—not in weight, but in the significance it carried.
The disciples were stunned beyond words.
"A personal token from Master Jing?!"
"This level of favor is unheard of!"
Chen Ying remained impassive, slipping the token into his robes before bowing respectfully. "I am grateful for this honor, Senior Jing."
Jing Yi waved his hand dismissively. "No need for such formality. I have a feeling we will cross paths again soon."
Then, shifting his gaze toward the Patriarch, his demeanor turned brisk.
"Take me to the Alchemy Room."
The Patriarch, who had been silently observing the exchange, nodded without hesitation. With a single command, the guards stepped forward, leading the way.
Jing Yi strode ahead, his robes billowing behind him, his posture exuding the confidence of a man who had mastered the Dao of Alchemy itself.
Chen Ying followed behind, his footsteps steady and composed, yet an unreadable glint flickered in his eyes.
The Patriarch walked alongside him, occasionally stealing glances at Chen Ying, a mix of admiration and curiosity lingering in his aged gaze.
As the three figures disappeared through the grand doors, the hall erupted into a frenzy of discussions, speculation running rampant.
Inside the dimly lit Alchemy Room, an ancient, golden furnace stood at the center, its surface adorned with intricate runes that shimmered with dormant power. The room carried the scent of aged medicinal herbs, an aroma that mingled with the faint heat lingering in the air.
With a mere flick of his wide, flowing sleeves, Jing Yi materialized in the chamber, his presence alone commanding awe. He raised his hand, his fingers forming a mystical seal, and in a burst of golden light, his personal Alchemy Furnace appeared, hovering an inch above the ground before settling with a resonating hum.
Chen Ying, the Patriarch, and several Alchemist Hall members stood motionless, watching as the legendary alchemist prepared to perform his craft.
With a composed expression, Jing Yi lowered himself into a seated position, his posture as firm as an ancient pine. His hands, steady and practiced, moved with the precision of a master as he interlocked his fingers into a series of complex hand seals.
A pulse of golden energy surged from his fingertips—a flame as bright as the stars themselves—and with a final gesture, the fire leaped into the furnace, igniting the cauldron with a roaring burst of Voidstar Ember Flame.
BOOM!
The furnace trembled slightly as the fire inside danced like a celestial dragon.
Without hesitation, Jing Yi waved his sleeve, and several jade boxes levitated before him. With a mere thought, the lids snapped open, revealing three herbs Star Frost Grass,Blood Lotus Pollen and Sunfire Ginseng
With a swift, flowing movement, he gestured toward the ingredients, sending them into the furnace one by one.
As soon as the herbs entered the cauldron, the Voidstar Ember Flame reacted violently, flaring up as the medicinal essence began to break down.
Chen Ying observed silently, his eyes reflecting the flickering light.
"His control over the Voidstar Ember Flame... It's flawless. Even I did not expect him to wield it with such mastery."
Jing Yi's expression remained tranquil, yet his hands never ceased their elegant motions. He carefully rotated his palm, guiding the flame's intensity. The room pulsed with power as the herbs melted and fused, forming an embryonic core within the swirling fire.
Suddenly—
A surge of golden energy burst forth!
The refining was complete.
From within the furnace, a small, orange pill emerged, spinning gently in midair, wrapped in flickering golden lights. Intricate pill markings appeared along its surface—evidence of its superior quality.
Gasps echoed across the room.
"To think Master Jing could refine a pill of such purity so effortlessly..." murmured an alchemist, awestruck.
Jing Yi gracefully extended his hand, the pill floating above his palm like a celestial artifact. The radiant energy it emitted surged toward the ceiling, piercing through the roof and into the sky above the estate, creating a vortex of medicinal energy.
Outside, disciples and elders paused in astonishment, their eyes fixed on the spectacle in the heavens.
"Young Master Chen," Jing Yi said calmly, his voice laced with authority, "take this pill immediately."
With a flick of his fingers, the pill floated toward Chen Ying.
Without spiritual energy to manipulate it, Chen Ying reached out, catching the pill with his bare hand. He clenched his fist around it, feeling the heat radiating from within. Without hesitation, he swallowed it whole.
As soon as the pill slid down his throat, a sudden rush of energy surged through his body, expanding outward like rippling waves on a lake. He immediately sat down in a meditative position, his hands moving through the familiar gestures to form a core.
Then, something unexpected happened
A long-forgotten energy awoke within him.
His meridians, once dormant, began to expand. A gentle warmth spread through his dantian, pushing aside the lingering cold Yin energy.
"This body… already had a core… but it was withered. This pill… it has resurrected it!"
Chen Ying's breathing deepened, his entire being engulfed by a newfound power. His Saint Qi intertwined with the Lotus Constitution's spiritual energy, and with two raised fingers, he directed the energy to flow.
Yet, suddenly—
BOOM!
A surge of resentment energy erupted within him, like chains of the past binding his soul. His veins turned black, resembling poisoned tendrils slithering beneath his skin.
"Young Master…!" Huo Ye called out in alarm.
The sinister energy threatened to consume him, but Chen Ying gritted his teeth and forced himself to endure. Raising his free hand, he signaled for the others to stand back.
With unwavering focus, he invoked the Meridian Forging Mantra—a secret technique of the Saint Soul practitioners.
As he channeled his energy, the black veins began to recede, purged by the overwhelming purity of the Lotus Constitution.
At that moment—
The pond outside the chamber stirred.
Lotus petals detached from the water's surface, lifted by an unseen force, and drifted toward the chamber.
A collective gasp spread through the room.
"This child's body possesses a Lotus Element… How rare!" Jing Yi thought, his eyes narrowing in admiration.
The petals surrounded Chen Ying, their spiritual energy merging into his body, accelerating his cultivation at an unimaginable pace.
The resentment energy collapsed upon itself, dissipating completely.
His sea of consciousness expanded, blooming like a Lotus Garden, each flower brimming with vitality. In an instant—
He broke through the first stage of Qi Condensation.
Then, another wave of power surged.
Second stage—Qi Condensation!
The sheer force of his breakthrough sent a shockwave across the room. Alchemists stumbled back, caught in the blast of raw energy.
Across the estate, within a secluded ice-covered chamber, Yan Mei sat cross-legged, her breathing rhythmic as she refined her Ice Body Constitution.
Yet,
Her focus shattered as an enormous pulse of energy erupted from the Alchemy Room.
Her eyes snapped open, glistening with shock.
Above her, a massive projection of a Lotus flower appeared in the sky, its petals gently opening like the birth of a new star.
Her breath hitched.
"Ah Ying…?" she whispered, her heart pounding with curiosity and concern.
As she gazed at the sky, she realized something profound.