With a flick of Liu Xi's wrist, the azure lotus—delicate and radiant like carved jade—was tossed forward, flowing gracefully into the mouth of the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron.
Only then did the surrounding flames begin to stabilize. Those Beast Flames that had been nearly overwhelmed by the Green Lotus Core Flame gradually returned to normal. The nearby Alchemists finally let out a collective sigh of relief. If things had continued like that, they might as well have forfeited the competition altogether.
As Liu Xi's palm swept through the air, one exquisite jade box after another materialized around him, hovering in a perfect circular formation. There were well over a hundred in total, glimmering faintly beneath the dancing blue light.
His gaze locked onto the raging flame within the cauldron. When he sensed that the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron had reached optimal heat, his calm voice sounded, "Let's begin refining."
Curling his hand into a claw, he summoned one of the jade boxes into his grasp and flipped it open. Inside lay a translucent, emerald-green fruit, faint light rippling across its surface and emanating vibrant life force.
He plucked up the Green Origin Fruit and dropped it into the cauldron's fire. The azure flame instantly pounced on it like a pack of hungry wolves.
Under the fierce burn, the fruit quivered and struggled, its surface trembling with radiance—but all resistance was futile. Within minutes, its emerald glow split apart and the glossy fruit beneath was laid bare.
A wave of rich vitality burst forth before the fruit shriveled rapidly, finally bursting with a soft pop, scattering into ashes. Within the flame, the rising green mist condensed into a fist-sized droplet of pure, viscous liquid, shimmering faintly and exuding a refreshing fragrance.
Liu Xi smiled. Refining the Green Origin Fruit's essence wasn't difficult, but a smooth start was always a good omen.
He collected the refined essence and immediately reached for the next herb. Pill refinement was a long and demanding process, especially at higher tiers—every step tested the patience and control of an Alchemist.
At the same time, Cao Ying, Dan Chen, Mu Gu, and the others—those few worthy of being considered Liu Xi's rivals—had also begun their refinement.
The entire plaza fell into deep silence. Every Alchemist was wholly absorbed in their work, focusing all their energy on the refinement process.
Those who had made it this far were all of considerable skill; few made mistakes in these early stages. The air itself seemed to hold its breath, for everyone knew: alchemy demanded quiet.
No one wished to be distracted at such a critical moment—failure due to noise or disruption was the kind of misfortune that could drive any Alchemist to madness.
Though thousands of competitors dotted the vast plaza, most eyes were drawn inevitably toward a few figures—Liu Xi, Cao Ying, and Dan Chen. They were the undisputed frontrunners for the championship.
If a champion were to emerge, it would almost certainly be one of them. Mu Gu and Song Qing, though present, lacked the same renown—Mu Gu kept his identity hidden, and Song Qing's reputation simply didn't compare.
Liu Xi's story added even more intrigue. Cao Ying and Dan Chen came from illustrious alchemical bloodlines and had trained systematically within the Pill Tower. Liu Xi, on the other hand, was a self-made genius—a true underdog rising to stand among the best of the Central Plains. His humble origins only made his ascent all the more legendary.
Time flowed quietly, and five days passed in the blink of an eye.
During that period, occasional failures broke the silence—each explosion of a ruined cauldron echoed like thunder across the field. The ripple effect of one mistake often shattered the concentration of weaker-minded participants, eliminating them one after another.
Each failure meant one less competitor.
Even among those who succeeded, the results were modest. So far, none had summoned Pill Lightning, and the highest-quality pills produced were merely of the 7th Tier.
As a result, the number of Alchemists still refining dwindled sharply—from over a thousand at the start to just a few hundred remaining on the platforms.
At this moment, Liu Xi was immersed in the critical phase—fusing the refined essences. With his formidable Spiritual Power and precise soul control, the process was progressing smoothly.
Still, this was his first attempt at refining this particular pill. A small error during the integration of the Earth Core Essence had cost him some materials, though the issue wasn't serious.
Just then, a deafening boom of thunder rolled across the sky.
Liu Xi glanced up briefly to see storm clouds gathering, lightning crackling within. "A 7th Tier Pill…" he murmured, before turning his attention back to his cauldron, his mind calm as still water.
His fingers weaved seals as both Dou Qi and Spiritual Power surged outward, feeding into the cauldron. Inside, the refined essence of the Human Origin Fruit approached a larger swirl of multicolored liquid. The moment they touched, violent repulsion erupted.
Activating the Soul Tempering Technique, Liu Xi's spiritual force expanded, suppressing the volatile reaction. His spiritual control was razor-sharp—almost terrifying in precision.
One thread of Spiritual Power restrained the escaping medicinal energy, while another carefully guided the integration of the two essences. Every motion was deliberate, flawless.
Such mastery was possible only because of his recently stabilized advancement in soul rank. Without it, this step would have been far more treacherous.
As Liu Xi worked, a wave of energy rippled across the arena—another surge of excitement. Dozens of 6th Tier Pills emerged one after another, and even 7th Tier Pill Lightning began striking frequently.
To withstand Pill Lightning, each Alchemist displayed their own methods—some endured it with brute strength, others employed formations or artifacts. Success meant the pill was complete; failure meant total destruction.
Each strike thinned the ranks further.
By now, only forty-nine Alchemists remained on their platforms. Among them were Liu Xi, Cao Ying, Dan Chen, Mu Gu, Song Qing, and even Xiao Yan. Judging from the aura of their cauldrons, all were refining at least 7th Tier high-grade pills.
Suddenly, Liu Xi let out a long breath, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips—the fusion was complete.
Within the Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron, a milky-white, unevenly shaped pill embryo rolled gently amid the azure flames, glimmering faintly like a living creature stirring in its shell.
"Now… it's time to grant it spirit," Liu Xi murmured. "Let's see how many colors of Pill Lightning this one will summon."
His hand seals shifted, and immense Spiritual Power surged from between his brows, flooding into the cauldron.
The rippling soul energy wrapped tightly around the pill embryo, forming a whirling spiritual storm. A wave of suppressive power descended as his spiritual force sank deep into the pill.
A faint light of consciousness flickered upon the surface of the pill. A mysterious aura spread outward—subtle, pure, yet filled with the unmistakable breath of life.
(End of Chapter)
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