It had been several days since Feiyin had successfully stepped into the Yin Refining Phase. Though his advantage in sensing and refining yin was clear, he had quickly come to recognize two challenges that would inevitably slow his pace.
The first was sheer volume. His three qi nexuses brimmed with essence qi- each full to the point of overflowing. Refining that much energy into a perfected yin aspect would take time no matter how skilled he was.
The second was quality. Yin refining wasn't just about transforming qi- it was about giving every single strand of essence qi a painstaking, thorough refinement, imbuing it with shape and form. Rushing would only weaken the foundation.
Thus, he had set a steady rhythm for himself: nights spent refining, days devoted to his family. It was a balance that kept his spirit light and his cultivation firm.
But today was different.
Today was for alchemy.
Since completing his elemental infusion, he hadn't had the chance to refine a single pill. Not only that, but he had even stepped into the Yin Refining Realm since his last attempt- an advancement that, he suspected, would change everything.
More than anything, he wanted to know if he could finally achieve his long-sought goal: forming runes in his products.
After breakfast, Feiyin left Baiyu and Meimei in the courtyard. The little girl had grown attached to her new "Baibai," and Baiyu seemed equally happy to let Meimei decorate her scales with flowers.
Feiyin walked to the outer courtyard with a spring in his step, carrying his cauldron and a carefully arranged set of ingredients. Today, he would refine a standard fifth-tier product: the Yin Accumulating Pellet- a pill designed to help draw yin energy into the body.
He set the cauldron down, ran his hand along its surface, and inhaled deeply. His oscillation sense unfurled, brushing over the ingredients. Each had its own distinct note- subtle, incomplete, but full of potential.
This time, he would refine not as a craftsman, but as a conductor of the world's own orchestra.
The seven steps of alchemy unfolded in his mind, each one carrying the weight of its element.
First came Purification, and with it the gentle yet absolute dominance of Fire. His control wrapped the flame around each ingredient, heat dancing in precise waves. Impurities burned away like mist before the sun, leaving behind the purest essence. The air shimmered with a faint, cleansing heat.
Then Extraction, guided by Water's patient embrace. He coaxed the freed essence from each purified piece, as though drawing nectar from a flower. The flow was smooth, the essences separating into crystal-clear streams that pooled together without conflict.
Refinement followed, the whisper of Wind turning the streams into something sharper. His oscillation sense traced every waver and shift, the air currents stripping away hidden flaws, polishing each essence until it resonated like a perfectly tuned note.
With Fusion, the strength of Metal took over- firm, unyielding, binding the refined streams together. Under his will, they merged into a single, cohesive whole, their once-different resonances now resonating in harmony.
Solidification was brought forth through Ice. Cooling currents wrapped the fusion, slowing its motion, crystallizing its form. The mixture condensed into a dense core, each layer locking into place with perfect precision.
The stage of Growth called upon Wood. Vital energy surged into the solid core, coaxing it to expand inward, deepening its foundation, strengthening the bonds within and building from within to surge with a new beginning. The pill seemed to breathe, each pulse adding depth to its potential.
Finally came Transformation, heralded by Lightning and grounded by Earth. It was the binding thread- the moment where all previous steps linked together. A single crack of light surged through the pill, not destroying but welding each element's contribution into one unbreakable whole. The cauldron glowed faintly as the lightning's echo settled, the product now holding the memory of every stage it had endured.
Feiyin's oscillation sense moved with the process, not merely hearing but feeling the harmony. His musical intent intertwined with his prismatic elemental intent, each adjustment precise, each movement deliberate. In his mind, he wasn't refining a pill- he was playing the Song of the World.
The cauldron trembled faintly. A soft hum filled the air.
When the transformation reached its zenith, the pill seemed to break through its own limits. Faint golden light welled from deep within, stretching outward until it traced delicate lines across its surface- ancient curves and spirals that carried a weight older than his craft.
A rune.
Feiyin froze. The heavens themselves seemed to lean closer. The essence in the courtyard began to stir, drawn toward the pill. The air thickened, heavy with an invisible pressure.
His heart skipped.
He knew what this meant.
Rune-formed pills were blessed by the world- an act that could not go unnoticed. If a sect member saw this, if word reached the wrong ears…
He clenched his jaw and acted. With a decisive wave of his hand, he severed the process. The flames died. The cauldron's hum faded to silence.
The unfinished pill rolled gently against the cauldron's base, still holding the faintest trace of the rune's pattern before it dissolved away.
Feiyin exhaled slowly. Disappointment and exhilaration warred in his chest.
He had been right. He could create runic products now.
That had been the point all along- the reason he had gathered so many elements, mastered multiple intents, and pushed himself through the elemental infusion. And now, he had proof.
Even without completing it, he could still feel the shift in his own skill. The world had answered. The next time he attempted it- under safer circumstances- he would not hesitate.
He understood why he'd crossed that threshold when so many failed. Other alchemists worked with a handful of strings on their zither- two, three elements at most- mastering variations and counterpoints within a narrow range. There were geniuses in the records who could make those few strings sing like a choir, yes, but the composition itself remained limited by the instrument. Feiyin had spent countless efforts adding those strings. Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, Fire… then Wind, Ice, and Lightning. Each new element widened his tonal range, added harmonics he could braid into one another, let him modulate not only pitch but timbre and meaning. Where others shaped essence as craftsmen, he conducted it as music- him as the maestro, his musical intent the bridge, and his prismatic elemental intent the orchestra. With more strings, the Song of the World could finally be played without missing notes.
Footsteps padded over the stone. "Son?" Mei Liao's voice came from the kitchen passage, Cai Feng just behind her. "We felt a stir just now. Did something-"
Feiyin turned, a wry smile tugging at his mouth. "Almost caused a commotion with the heavens."
Both parents stiffened. "What?" Cai Feng's eyes widened.
"I pulled back before it finished," Feiyin said, gesturing at the quiet cauldron. "The pill started to script its own pattern. A rune was forming. If I'd let it complete, the blessing would've drawn eyes I don't want on us."
Silence. Then identical looks of stunned disbelief.
"You… forged the first steps of a rune pill here?" Cai Feng asked, half incredulous, half proud.
Mei Liao's hand flew to her mouth, eyes bright. "Already?"
Feiyin couldn't help it- he laughed, the sound breaking the tension. "Already. I stopped it. But the path is open."
Cai Feng's shock melted into a grin he couldn't hide. "As expected of my son."
Mei Liao exhaled and swatted his shoulder lightly. "And as expected of my heart to nearly leap out of my chest. Next time, warn us before you make the world look this way." Still, pride warmed her voice.
"I will," Feiyin promised. "When it's safe."
For now, he packed away the ingredients and cauldron, glancing toward the inner courtyard where Baiyu and Meimei were still playing. A faint smile curved his lips.
Soon, he thought. Very soon.